Printing Medium Length Detection for Precise Equal-Part Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues in accurately cutting sheets due to variations in sheet size and positional deviations during conveyance, leading to inconsistent lengths of cut papers.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a holder, conveyor, printer, cutter, and detector system that calculates the length of the printing medium and sets a cutting position based on detected front and rear ends, ensuring precise cutting into desired sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance between the detector and cutter is increased to accurately measure the full length of the printing medium, then measurement precision is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector measures the length of the printing medium before the cutting operation. The controller calculates the cutting position based on the measured length, and then the cutter divides the medium accordingly. This preliminary measurement approach ensures accurate cutting while maintaining a compact apparatus structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the detector and the cutter. It receives the length measurement from the detector, calculates the appropriate cutting position to divide the medium into n equal parts, and then commands the cutter to execute the cutting operation. This intermediary processing enables precise cutting without requiring the detector to be positioned far from the cutter.
2Measurement precision
If the detector is positioned far upstream from the cutter to detect the entire printing medium, then detection accuracy is improved, but the conveying time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The length measurement is performed preliminarily as the printing medium is conveyed to the cutter. The controller uses this measured length to calculate and set the cutting position, enabling the cutter to divide the medium into n equal parts efficiently. This approach maintains both detection accuracy and cutting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses the length measurement feedback from the detector to dynamically calculate and adjust the cutting position. This feedback mechanism ensures that the cutting operation is based on actual measured dimensions, achieving high precision while maintaining efficient production flow.
3Device complexity
If the cutting position is set based on fixed standard dimensions, then the control process is simplified, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to sheet size variations
Solution Approach 1:
The controller changes the cutting position parameter based on the actual measured length of each printing medium sheet. Instead of using fixed standard dimensions, the system dynamically adjusts the cutting position to account for variations in sheet size, ensuring precise division into n equal parts despite dimensional tolerances and cue process deviations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the detector measures the actual length of each sheet, and the controller uses this information to calculate and set the appropriate cutting position. This closed-loop approach compensates for sheet size variations and maintains high cutting precision without overly complicating the control process.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a holder configured to accommodate a printing medium; a conveyor configured to convey the printing medium along a conveying direction; a printer; a cutter configured to cut the printing medium; a first detector configured to detect front and rear ends of the printing medium; and a controller. A distance in the conveying direction between the first detector and the cutter is shorter than a length of one of media generated by dividing the printing medium into n-pieces of media. The controller is configured to: calculate a length in the conveying direction of the printing medium by using a result of the detecting of the front and rear ends, and set a cutting position of the printing medium; and cause the cutter to cut the printing medium at the set cutting position.