Sheet Feed Tray Switching to Prevent Toner-Wasting Retries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with unnecessary toner consumption and reduced productivity due to erroneous detection of paper-end states, particularly when switching between sheet feed trays, leading to wasteful retry operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control mechanism that adjusts image spacing or forming speed based on sheet detection, such as enlarging image spacing or lowering transfer belt speed when near-end or paper-end states are detected, to prevent wasteful retry operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus uses a retry function when sheets run out in a sheet feed tray, then the print image can be reformed, but unnecessary toner consumption occurs due to erroneous detection of paper-end state
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the paper-end state using a detector before the actual paper exhaustion occurs. When the detector signals that sheets are running low, the control circuitry proactively adjusts image spacing or slows down image forming speed in advance, preventing the erroneous retry function from being triggered and avoiding wasteful toner consumption.
2Productivity
If the image forming apparatus switches sheet feeding to another sheet feed tray when sheets run out, then continuous operation is maintained, but productivity decreases due to retry operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects the paper-end state in advance using a detector before complete sheet exhaustion occurs. When the detector signals low sheet remaining amount, the control circuitry proactively adjusts image spacing or slows down image forming speed, ensuring smooth transition to another sheet feed tray without triggering retry operations, thereby maintaining continuous productivity without time loss.
3Productivity
If the image forming apparatus maintains normal image forming speed, then productivity is maximized, but erroneous paper-end detection causes wasteful retry operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a detector to continuously monitor the sheet remaining amount in the sheet feed tray and provides feedback to the control circuitry. When the detector signals that sheets are running low, the control circuitry adjusts image spacing or slows down image forming speed in response to this feedback, preventing erroneous paper-end detection and the subsequent wasteful retry operations that would consume toner.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a transfer section, a plurality of sheet feed trays, processing circuitry, and a detector. The image forming device forms an image. The transfer section transfers the image onto a sheet. The plurality of sheet feed trays store sheets and supply the sheets from sheet feed ports to the transfer section. The processing circuitry switches sheet feeding from one sheet feed tray in use to another sheet feed tray when the sheets run out in the one sheet feed tray in use. The detector detects a remaining amount of sheets in the one sheet feed tray in use. The processing circuitry enlarges spacing between images formed by the image forming device when the remaining amount of sheets in the one sheet feed tray in use is equal to or less than a threshold value, based on a detection result of the detector.