Sheet Discharge Position Adjustment for Orientation Distinction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, distinguishing between sheets with different rotation amounts, such as 0° and 180°, is challenging due to similar appearances in a discharged state, leading to difficulties in determining the correct orientation without visual inspection.
Innovation Solution
A sheet discharge device with a control unit adjusts the discharge position of sheets based on the rotation amount of print data, ensuring sheets with different rotation amounts are discharged to distinct positions, utilizing energization information to determine the need for rotating print data to optimize power consumption and distinguish between different orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If sheets with different rotation amounts (0° and 180°) are discharged to the same position, then the discharge device structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between different orientations without visual inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by utilizing the spatial position dimension to encode orientation information. Sheets with different rotation amounts are discharged to different positions on the discharge tray, transforming the invisible orientation difference into a visible positional difference. This allows users to distinguish sheet orientations by location rather than requiring visual inspection of the printed content.
2Loss of information
If the discharge position is adjusted according to rotation amount, then orientation distinction is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines the rotation amount of print data before the sheet is discharged and pre-calculates the appropriate discharge position. By performing this determination action in advance, the system can smoothly control the discharge position adjuster without requiring complex real-time decision-making mechanisms, thereby reducing control system complexity while maintaining effective orientation distinction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the print data rotation amount information to control the discharge position. The control unit receives information about the rotation amount, processes this feedback, and automatically adjusts the discharge position accordingly. This closed-loop control mechanism simplifies the overall system by using information already available in the printing process.
3Device complexity
If visual inspection is required to distinguish rotation amounts, then no additional discharge position adjustment is needed, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge device automatically performs the orientation distinction function by adjusting discharge positions based on rotation amount information from the print data. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually inspect each sheet visually, allowing the system to handle orientation differentiation autonomously and maintain high operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet discharge device includes at least one sheet discharge tray, a sheet discharge position adjustment actuator, and a controller. The sheet discharge tray receives discharged sheets. The discharge position adjustment actuator adjusts discharge positions of the discharged sheets on the at least one sheet discharge tray. The controller compares a first rotation amount of first print data printed on a first sheet with a second rotation amount of second print data printed on a second sheet. In response to a determination that the first rotation amount is different than the second rotation amount, the controller controls the sheet discharge position adjustment actuator to (a) discharge the first sheet to a first discharge position and (b) discharge the second sheet to a second discharge position different than the first discharge position.