Printing Apparatus Overlap Control for Productivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses require confirmation of the marginal amounts of the trailing edge of a preceding sheet and the leading edge of a succeeding sheet before starting to feed the succeeding sheet, leading to delays in the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a conveyance control unit that allows the feeding of a succeeding sheet even if the marginal amounts are not confirmed, using a determination unit to control the conveyance and overlap state between sheets, and a method that includes a conveyance control step, a determination step, and a detection step to manage the overlap and feeding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the apparatus waits for confirmation of marginal amounts before feeding the succeeding sheet, then the alignment precision between sheets is improved, but the printing productivity deteriorates due to time delay
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary actions by detecting the leading edge position of the succeeding sheet in advance and calculating the required conveyance amount before the printing operation completes. This allows the system to prepare the overlap state beforehand, enabling the succeeding sheet to be fed immediately after the current sheet without waiting for marginal amount confirmation, thus resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and printing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit uses feedback from the detection unit's measurements of the leading edge position and calculates the conveyance amount based on this feedback. The conveyance control unit then adjusts the conveying mechanism based on this calculated amount, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains alignment precision while enabling continuous feeding operations
2Productivity
If the apparatus starts feeding the succeeding sheet without confirming marginal amounts, then the printing productivity is improved, but the alignment precision between sheets deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus replaces the traditional mechanical measurement system (physical confirmation of marginal amounts) with an optical detection system. The detection unit detects the leading edge position optically, and the determination unit calculates the conveyance amount through computational logic, substituting mechanical measurement and confirmation processes with optical detection and calculation, thereby enabling faster operation while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being measured from the marginal amount (which requires physical confirmation) to the leading edge position (which can be detected optically). By detecting the leading edge position and calculating the conveyance amount based on this parameter, the system enables faster detection and feeding operations while maintaining alignment precision through computational control
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprises a feeding roller, a conveyance roller, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet, a conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet overlap each other, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, wherein if a non-printing area of the succeeding sheet cannot be detected before a printing operation of a last row of the preceding sheet, the conveyance control unit controls to convey the preceding sheet while feeding of the succeeding sheet stops, and to convey only the succeeding sheet to the position facing the printing unit.