Printing Apparatus Sheet Discharge Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses face challenges in correctly arranging sheets with copy numbers when printing multiple copies, as sheets are discharged in a face-up state, leading to incorrect order and increased printing time due to the need for manual rearrangement.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a determination unit and control unit that adjusts the discharge state of sheets based on whether copy numbers are to be printed, discharging in face-up or face-down states to maintain correct order and reduce printing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are discharged in a face-up state to reduce printing time, then printing speed is improved, but the copy numbers appear in incorrect order requiring manual rearrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by discharging sheets in a face-down state instead of the conventional face-up state. This reverses the discharge orientation so that the first discharged sheet (copy 1) ends up at the bottom of the stack and the last discharged sheet (copy N) ends up at the top, achieving correct sequential order without manual rearrangement. The control unit inverts the discharge orientation based on whether copy numbers are printed, resolving the contradiction between speed and arrangement correctness.
2Ease of operation
If sheets are discharged in a face-down state to maintain correct copy number order, then sheet arrangement is improved, but printing time increases due to additional reversing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the discharge orientation adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically selects between face-up and face-down discharge modes based on the printing conditions (whether copy numbers are printed and the number of copies). This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for either speed or arrangement correctness depending on the specific job requirements, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
3Loss of information
If copy numbers are printed on multiple copies, then copy identification is improved, but sheets must be discharged in face-down state requiring additional processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the discharge orientation based on whether copy numbers will be printed. The control unit decides in advance to use face-down discharge when copy numbers are printed, preventing the need for manual rearrangement later. This preliminary decision eliminates subsequent time-consuming operations and resolves the contradiction between maintaining copy identification and minimizing printing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus is provided that, in a case where copy numbers are printed on the single-sheet document and the sheets are then discharged, prevents the copy numbers from going out of order while preventing the time it takes to complete printing from being extended. A method for controlling such a printing apparatus includes performing control such that, in a case where processing of printing an image on a single sheet per copy is carried out for a plurality of copies, the sheet on which the image is printed is discharged in a face-up state or in a face-down state depending on printing of the copy number.