Printer Feeding Control for Stable Successive Media Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, the successive feeding operation often results in unstable feeding stops, leading to misalignment and positional shifts between printing media, causing overlaps and shifts in image positions due to mechanical instability during the feeding process.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus includes a control unit that manages the feeding unit's operating states, allowing it to change between stable and unstable states, and controls the feeding of subsequent printing media without stopping until they reach a stoppable position upstream of the conveying unit, ensuring stable feeding and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the feeding unit stops feeding midway to wait for image printing completion, then printing speed is reduced, but feeding stability is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the feeding unit's operating state based on real-time conditions. It transitions between a first operating state (where stopping is stable) and a second operating state (where stopping is unstable), allowing continuous feeding during printing while maintaining stability when stopping is necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the feeding unit by defining different operating states with different stopping characteristics. The control unit selects appropriate operating states based on whether the feeding unit needs to stop, thereby resolving the contradiction between feeding stability and printing speed.
2Productivity
If the feeding unit stops midway during successive feeding, then misalignment occurs, but continuous feeding increases printing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the feeding unit's operating state to match the required operation. When continuous feeding is needed for speed, it operates in the second state. When stopping is necessary for precision, it switches to the first state, thereby achieving both high speed and high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the printing process and feeding state, making real-time decisions about which operating state to use. This feedback mechanism ensures that the feeding unit operates in the appropriate state to maintain both speed and precision requirements.
3Speed
If the feeding unit operates in a mechanically unstable state, then feeding speed can be increased, but stopping becomes unstable causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention defines different operating states with different parameter characteristics. The first operating state has stable stopping characteristics, while the second has unstable stopping but allows continuous operation. The control unit selects the appropriate state based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding unit's operation is segmented into distinct operating states, each optimized for specific conditions. This segmentation allows the system to switch between stable stopping mode and continuous high-speed mode, resolving the contradiction between speed and stopping stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a feeding unit, a conveying unit, a printing unit, and a control unit. The control unit performs a successive feeding operation. An operating state of the feeding unit changes between a first operating state and a second operating state in which a feeding stop is more unstable than that in the first operating state, in a period from a start of feeding a printing medium until the printing medium reaches the conveying unit. In the successive feeding operation, a subsequent printing medium is fed without stopping until a leading end of the subsequent printing medium reaches a stoppable position. The stoppable position is arranged on an upstream side of the conveying unit. The subsequent printing medium can be stopped in the first operating state at the stoppable position.