Printer Sheet Conveyer Position Detection for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, when the movable unit is removed from the guide position, the conveyance of sheets is stopped, increasing the user's load for maintenance operations, as they need to manually remove sheets from the main body guide, which can be cumbersome, especially for longer sheets.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a position detector and controller that determine the movable unit's position and control the conveyer to feed the sheet by a specific amount if it's not in the guide position, allowing easy removal by guiding it to the guide position, reducing maintenance load. The controller also adjusts the feeding amount based on sheet length and stops feeding if the unit is in the guide position to prevent jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the movable unit is removed from the guide position, then the user can access the main body guide for maintenance, but the sheet conveyance is stopped and the user must manually remove sheets increasing maintenance load
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the movable unit's position status before maintenance operation begins. When the movable unit is detected to be in the guide position, the system automatically executes a feeding operation to advance the sheet by a predetermined amount, preparing the sheet for easy removal during maintenance without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service maintenance by automatically detecting when the movable unit is in the guide position and autonomously performing the sheet feeding operation. This eliminates the need for users to manually manipulate sheets during maintenance, allowing the system to serve itself in preparing for maintenance access.
2Reliability
If the movable unit is not in the guide position, then the sheet may not be guided properly and conveyance stops, but manual sheet removal becomes necessary increasing maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback through position detection means that continuously monitor whether the movable unit is in the guide position. Based on this feedback, the control means automatically determines whether to execute the feeding operation, ensuring reliable sheet guidance while simplifying maintenance operations through automated decision-making.
3Ease of operation
If the feeding operation is not performed when the movable unit is not in the guide position, then sheet guidance may be compromised, but user load during maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary feeding of the sheet by a predetermined amount when detecting that the movable unit is in the guide position, preparing the sheet for optimal removal position before maintenance begins. This preliminary action ensures both ease of sheet removal and maintains positioning precision through controlled automated movement.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a printer (1), if it is determined that a sheet tray (31) is not in a guide position Z (NO at S11), a sheet M that is on a main body side re-convey guide (63) is fed toward the guide position Z (S15, S16). Accordingly, the sheet tray (31) is moved from the guide position Z with respect to a main body (2), the sheet M is easily removed from the re-convey guide (63) compared to a configuration without performing feeding of the sheet. This reduces a user's load of a maintenance operation.