Printing Apparatus Dynamic Separation Sheet Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses waste separation sheets and incur extra time by always discharging a separation sheet even when the user immediately picks up the printed sheets from the tray, leading to unnecessary discharge.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus determines if a user is present when executing a print job, and if so, it operates in a mode where the separation sheet is not discharged, thereby suppressing unnecessary discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separation sheet is always discharged after each print job, then printed sheets of different print jobs can be distinguished, but separation sheets are wasted and extra time is incurred when users immediately pick up sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the separation sheet discharge mechanism adaptable rather than static. The control unit dynamically adjusts whether to discharge a separation sheet based on real-time detection of user presence near the discharge tray. When a user is detected, the separation sheet discharge is suppressed; when no user is present, the separation sheet is discharged to ensure job discrimination. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable job discrimination and reducing separation sheet waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of separation sheet discharge from a fixed state (always discharge) to a variable state (conditional discharge). The discharge behavior is modified based on the parameter of user presence detection. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between ensuring job discrimination (when needed) and reducing waste (when users are present to collect sheets immediately).
2Reliability
If a separation sheet is always discharged after each print job, then printed sheets of different print jobs can be distinguished, but extra time is incurred for discharging the separation sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the separation sheet discharge timing based on user presence detection. When a user is detected near the discharge tray, the system suppresses separation sheet discharge, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with discharging unnecessary separation sheets. This dynamic response maintains job discrimination reliability when needed while minimizing time loss by avoiding redundant discharge operations when users are present to collect sheets immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automatic user presence detection to determine whether separation sheet discharge is necessary, making the system self-regulating. The detection unit automatically identifies user presence, and the control unit automatically adjusts discharge behavior accordingly, eliminating the need for manual user input while optimizing both job discrimination and time efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If user presence detection is implemented to suppress separation sheet discharge, then waste and time loss are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual systems with an automated detection unit that uses sensors (such as optical or proximity sensors) to detect user presence. This substitution of mechanical detection with electronic sensing reduces the overall mechanical complexity while achieving the same functional goal of determining whether separation sheet discharge is necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit and control unit work together to automatically determine and execute the appropriate separation sheet discharge behavior without requiring manual user input or complex external control systems. The system serves itself by automatically detecting user presence and adjusting its operation accordingly, which simplifies the overall system architecture despite adding detection capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing apparatus is provided, which includes an instruction receiving unit which receives an execution instruction of a print job, a sheet receiving unit which receives printed sheets; a sorting unit which discharges a separation sheet for separating the printed sheets, a determination unit which determine whether the print job is a first job to be executed while a user exists in the vicinity or a second job to be executed while the user dose not exist in the vicinity, and a control unit which executes the print job in a first mode where the sorting unit does not discharge the separation sheet, when the print job is the first job, and executes the print job in a second mode where the sorting unit discharges the separation sheet, when the print job is the second job.