Printer Delay Measurement for Irregular Sheet Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses experience delays when switching between different types of recording media due to sheet feeding delays, which are difficult to predict, especially for irregular delay factors like retrial of sheet feeding and communication errors.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a measurement mode that stores and displays delay information related to irregular delay factors, allowing users to anticipate and address these unpredictable delays by displaying them on the operation panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sheet feed sources are switched among multiple storage portions, then different types of recording media can be printed, but delays occur in sheet feeding every time switching occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning recording media of different types in multiple storage portions and pre-configuring the sheet feed sources. When a print job requires different media types, the system has already prepared the appropriate media in each storage portion, allowing for faster switching without delays. The control portion pre-loads and organizes media before the actual printing sequence begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion monitors the sheet feeding process and detects when switching between storage portions is required. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the sheet feeding timing and coordinates the switching of storage portions with the printing sequence to minimize delays. The system learns from each switching event to optimize future switching operations.
2Loss of information
If delay information is stored and displayed for all delay factors, then complete printing performance data is available, but irrelevant information increases user burden
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion applies different levels of information processing to different types of delay factors. Regular delay factors (such as media type switching) are processed with standard information display, while irregular delay factors (such as sheet feeding errors or communication issues) are highlighted with special attention. This local differentiation allows the system to provide complete information while reducing user burden by emphasizing only the most relevant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay information is segmented into distinct categories: regular delay factors and irregular delay factors. Each category is processed and displayed separately, allowing users to focus on irregular factors that require attention while understanding that regular factors are being monitored. This segmentation transforms a large volume of undifferentiated information into manageable, actionable segments.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance portion, a printing portion, a delay storage portion, a control portion, an input portion, and a display portion. The delay storage portion can store delay information. The control portion performs a measurement mode. The input portion receives instructions to start and end the measurement mode. When an instruction to perform the measurement mode is entered, the control portion deletes the delay information stored in the delay storage portion and stores the delay information generated thereafter during printing in the delay storage portion. When an instruction to end the measurement mode is entered, the control portion displays on the display portion delay information on predetermined irregular delay factors that occur irregularly during printing, out of the delay information stored in the delay storage portion.