Printer Tray Controller Prevents False Jam Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing post-processing apparatuses mistakenly determine sheet bundles as jammed when users remove them during discharge, leading to unnecessary error messages due to sensor detection.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a processing tray, a sheet detection sensor, and a controller that differentiates between the last sheet bundle of a job and others, preventing erroneous error outputs by controlling the discharge and determining the presence of the sheet bundle accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to detect the sheet bundle during discharge, then the sheet bundle presence can be detected, but false jamming errors occur when users remove the sheet bundle during discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stores discharge information in advance, including whether the sheet bundle is the last one to be discharged and the discharge status. This preliminary recording allows the controller to differentiate between intentional user removal and actual jamming conditions, preventing false error determinations while maintaining accurate sheet bundle detection
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors sensor output during discharge and compares it against the pre-stored discharge information. This feedback mechanism enables real-time differentiation between normal user actions (removing the last sheet bundle) and abnormal conditions (jamming), resolving the contradiction by providing context-aware error determination
2Productivity
If the sensor detects the sheet bundle during discharge, then the discharge status can be monitored, but unnecessary error messages are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-stores discharge information including the discharge status and whether the sheet bundle is the last one. This advance preparation enables the controller to interpret sensor detections in context, allowing continuous monitoring without generating false error messages when users intentionally remove sheet bundles
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of generating an error whenever the sensor detects a sheet bundle during discharge, the system inverts the logic by checking whether the detection corresponds to an abnormal condition based on the stored discharge information. This inversion prevents false error messages while maintaining effective discharge monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a processing tray on which a sheet bundle is placed for discharging onto a discharge tray, a detector configured to detect presence or absence of the sheet bundle on the processing tray, and a controller. The controller is configured to control driving of the processing tray to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray and to determine whether or not to output an error if a detection result of the detector after the processing tray has been driven to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray indicates presence of the sheet bundle. The controller outputs the error if the sheet bundle is not a last sheet bundle of a post-processing job and does not output the error if the sheet bundle is the last sheet bundle of the post-processing job.