Image Forming Apparatus Sheet Discharge Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with inconsistent sheet discharging due to erroneous speed control, leading to sheets being dropped or not fully discharged from the discharge port, particularly when dealing with sheets of varying flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a controller that acquires information on the type of recording medium based on thickness detection, adjusting the conveying speed to ensure proper discharge by decelerating the sheet after passing through the image forming device, thereby preventing sheets from being blown off or caught by the discharge port structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sheet is conveyed at a high speed through the image forming device, then the productivity is improved, but the sheet may be blown off by the discharge port or not completely discharged due to excessive speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveying speed variable rather than constant. The controlling section adjusts the conveying speed dynamically based on the detected flexibility of the recording medium. Flexible sheets are conveyed at a first (slower) speed, while inflexible sheets are conveyed at a second (faster) speed. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity for inflexible sheets while preventing discharge issues for flexible sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of conveying speed based on the flexibility parameter of the recording medium. By detecting flexibility and adjusting the speed parameter accordingly, the system optimizes both productivity and discharge reliability for different sheet types.
2Productivity
If the conveying speed is increased to improve productivity, then the discharge efficiency is improved, but sheets of flexible material may be blown off by the discharge port structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different conveying speeds for different types of recording media based on their flexibility characteristics. Flexible recording media receive a slower conveying speed (first speed) to prevent them from being blown off, while inflexible recording media receive a faster conveying speed (second speed) to maintain productivity. This localized quality adjustment resolves the contradiction between discharge efficiency and preventing harmful effects.
3Device complexity
If a single conveying speed is used for all sheet types, then the device complexity is reduced, but the discharge consistency deteriorates for sheets with varying flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the conveying system to automatically adapt to different sheet types through flexibility detection. The controlling section detects the flexibility of each recording medium and autonomously adjusts the conveying speed without manual intervention. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains discharge consistency across different sheet types while avoiding the complexity of manual speed setting for each sheet type.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming device, a discharge port of a recording medium, a conveying device of the recording medium, and a controller. The controller judges a kind of the recording medium and the discharge port that is a conveying destination of the recording medium. The controller controls a conveying speed of the recording medium to be discharged from the discharge port by the conveying device, in accordance with the kind of the recording medium and the conveying destination of the recording medium which have been judged.