Sheet Transport Detention and Reversing for Multifeed Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet transport apparatuses do not effectively accommodate sheets with formed images when malfunctions such as multifeed occur, leading to inefficiencies and potential loss of printed documents.
Innovation Solution
A transport apparatus with a detention device that accommodates sheets with formed images, incorporating a reversing device to reverse sheet orientation and a switching device to redirect sheets between detention and reversing paths, allowing for efficient handling and storage of sheets during malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are transported continuously through the image forming apparatus, then productivity is improved, but sheets with formed images may be lost or damaged during malfunctions such as multifeed
Solution Approach 1:
A detention device is introduced as an intermediary component between the transport device and the reversing device. This detention device temporarily stores sheets with formed images during malfunctions, acting as a buffer that protects completed work from loss while allowing the rest of the system to continue operating. The switching device controls the flow of sheets to the detention device when malfunction is detected, ensuring sheet safety without halting overall productivity.
2Reliability
If a detention device is added to accommodate sheets during malfunction, then sheet safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detention device is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. It can accommodate sheets during malfunctions, serve as a temporary storage buffer, and work in conjunction with the switching device to control sheet flow. The reversing device also serves dual purposes by being able to reverse sheets both during normal operation and during malfunction handling. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to achieve improved reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If sheets are stopped and accommodated in the detention device during malfunction, then sheet loss is prevented, but processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
When a malfunction is detected, the switching device extracts sheets from the main transport flow and redirects them to the detention device. This separation allows the malfunctioning portion of the system to be isolated while other sheets continue to be processed through the normal workflow. By taking affected sheets out of the main stream and placing them in temporary storage, the system prevents sheet loss during malfunction while minimizing the impact on overall processing time, as the detention device holds only the necessary sheets and does not halt the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport apparatus includes a transport device, a detention device, a reversing device, and a switching device. The transport device sequentially transports sheets, each having an image formed on an upper face thereof, from an image forming apparatus in a predetermined direction. The detention device accommodates therein the sheet delivered from the transport device. The reversing device reverses upper and lower faces of the sheet delivered from the transport device. The switching device switches a destination of the sheet from the transport device, between the detention device and the reversing device. The reversing device includes a reversed sheet supply route through which the reversed sheet is supplied to the image forming apparatus, and a delivery route through which the reversed sheet is discharged.