Intermediate Tray Sheet Guide Control for Mixed Stapling Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses experience decreased productivity due to frequent switching of sheet guide positions for post-processing operations, particularly when mixed print jobs with and without stapling or shift sorting are executed successively.
Innovation Solution
A controller in the image forming apparatus controls the sheet guide to maintain its position unless the next print job requires a different alignment, minimizing unnecessary position changes and optimizing the alignment process for mixed print jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sheet guide position is switched for every print job with post-processing, then the sheet alignment accuracy is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to frequent position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the post-processing requirements of each print job. The guide can be positioned at a first position when post-processing is needed and at a second position when it is not needed, enabling the system to adapt to varying operational requirements while minimizing unnecessary movements to maintain productivity.
2Productivity
If the sheet guide is kept at the first position continuously, then the productivity is improved by reducing position changes, but the sheet alignment accuracy deteriorates when post-processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control device monitors the post-processing requirements of each print job and uses this information to determine the appropriate sheet guide position. When a print job requiring post-processing is detected, the control device positions the sheet guide at the first position to ensure proper alignment. When no post-processing is needed, the guide is positioned at the second position, thereby optimizing both productivity and alignment accuracy based on real-time job requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sheet guide position is switched frequently for mixed print jobs, then the adaptability to different job types is improved, but the time loss increases due to repeated position adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines in advance whether each print job requires post-processing and pre-positions the sheet guide accordingly before the printing process begins. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for time-consuming position adjustments during or between print jobs, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining the system's adaptability to handle mixed print jobs with and without post-processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller moves a sheet guide on an intermediate tray from position to position. The controller executes a print job with stapling processing. When the print job with stapling processing is followed by a print job without the stapling processing, the controller keeps from moving the sheet guide and executes the print job without the stapling processing. In doing so, each printed sheet is placed on the intermediate tray and, after completion of printing of all sheets in the print job without the stapling processing, the printed sheets are ejected all together to a sheet output tray.