Printer Jam Removal Notification Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing image forming apparatuses, users face difficulties in determining how much to rotate an operation handle to remove jammed sheets, especially when the jam is not directly observable, leading to potential sheet tearing and incomplete removal.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus incorporates a notification mechanism with a notification plate and window that changes color to indicate the completion of sheet removal, allowing users to visually confirm the jam's clearance through an observable window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually remove jammed sheets without visual feedback, then the operation can be performed, but users cannot accurately determine when removal is complete leading to potential sheet tearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet removal completion accuracyVSAvoidoperation handle rotation control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The notification plate changes color from red to green based on the position of the recording material during removal operation. When the material is in the nipping state (red), the user should continue rotating; when it moves to the discharged state (green), the user should stop. This color feedback enables accurate determination of removal completion without direct observation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The notification mechanism provides real-time visual feedback to the user during the sheet removal process. The notification plate rotates and changes color according to the material's position, giving continuous information about the removal progress and allowing the user to precisely control the operation handle rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the notification plate is positioned to be always visible, then users can continuously monitor the process, but the notification plate cannot accurately indicate the nipping state position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial position detection accuracyVSAvoidnotification plate visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The notification plate is designed to rotate dynamically according to the position of the recording material. As the material moves through different positions during removal, the notification plate rotates to corresponding angular positions, providing accurate visual indication of the material's state at any moment during the operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9108813B2Image forming apparatus and recording-material-transporting device

Publication Date: 2015.08.18 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image, a transport path section along which a recording material that is yet to undergo or has undergone image formation performed by the image forming section is transported, a transport unit that is provided in the transport path section and transports the recording material while nipping the recording material, an operated portion that is operated by a user and activates the transport unit such that the recording material is removed from the transport unit, and a notification unit that notifies a completion of the operation of the operated portion on the basis of a position of the recording material that is removed from the transport unit by the user's operation of the operated portion.