Sheet Tag Communication Setup for Reliable Image Forming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently setting appropriate parameters for wireless communication with radio tags on sheets, requiring complex and repetitive operations to avoid erroneous data reading or writing.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit that acquires pre-associated setting information from an external device, such as a server or storage, to facilitate easy and accurate parameter setting for radio tag communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If repeated attempts and manual calibration are performed to set radio tag communication parameters, then communication reliability is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidparameter setting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing optimal communication parameters in a database before actual communication occurs. The control unit retrieves these pre-configured parameters based on radio tag type information, eliminating the need for manual calibration during operation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high communication reliability through pre-optimized settings while dramatically reducing operation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting radio tag type information and autonomously selecting appropriate communication parameters from stored data. The control unit independently completes the parameter configuration process without requiring user intervention or manual adjustment, thereby maintaining reliable communication while simplifying the operation significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If repeated attempts and manual calibration are performed to set radio tag communication parameters, then communication reliability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidparameter setting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses copying by replicating optimal parameter settings from pre-stored data for different radio tag types. Instead of performing time-consuming calibration for each tag type, the control unit copies and applies previously determined optimal parameters, thereby maintaining communication reliability while significantly reducing the time required for parameter setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If transmission output and polarized-wave direction are adjusted through repeated attempts, then data accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidparameter adjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining and storing optimal transmission output and polarized-wave direction parameters for different radio tag types before actual communication. The control unit simply retrieves these pre-optimized parameters based on detected tag type information, achieving high data accuracy without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms or repeated calibration attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements parameter changes by storing and applying different optimal parameter sets corresponding to different radio tag types. The control unit changes parameters based on pre-stored configurations rather than through complex real-time optimization, thereby achieving accurate data transfer while maintaining simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and streamlined parameter setting for radio tag communication, reducing the need for manual calibration and ensuring reliable data transfer with radio tags on sheets.

Implementation Method 1

a tag communication unit that performs a first communication with a radio tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit and a second communication with the radio tag provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250383623A1Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys the sheet. The tag communication unit performs a first communication with a radio tag brought close to a reading position different from the conveying unit and a second communication with the radio tag provided on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit. The control unit acquires setting information used in the second communication pre-associated with information that is read in the first communication and causes the tag communication unit to perform the second communication in accordance with the acquired setting information.