Sheet Tray Movement Timing in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MFPs increase processing time due to sheet tray movement, as they stop the sheet at the aligning roller before conveying it to the image forming unit, which disrupts the continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus starts the image forming process only when the sheet tray movement time does not exceed the image formation processing time, allowing for continuous operation by comparing the two times and adjusting the conveying time accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sheet is stopped at the aligning roller during sheet tray movement, then the sheet tray can be moved to the correct position, but the processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet tray is moved to the discharge port position in advance before the sheet arrives, so that when the sheet is discharged, the tray is already in the correct position. This eliminates the need to stop the sheet during tray movement, as the tray positioning is completed preliminarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet conveying process continues without interruption. The sheet is conveyed from the aligning roller to the image forming unit and then discharged continuously, while the sheet tray moves independently to the correct position. This continuous action eliminates idle time and maintains workflow efficiency.
2Reliability
If the sheet tray movement time is longer than the image formation processing time, then the sheet tray cannot reach the discharge port in time, but waiting for the tray increases idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the sheet tray movement time in advance and compares it with the image formation processing time. If the movement time is longer, the sheet tray is moved to the discharge port position in advance before the sheet is ready for discharge, ensuring timely arrival without causing idle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors and compares the sheet tray movement time with the image formation processing time, adjusting the timing of sheet tray movement based on this feedback to optimize both accuracy and throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus for discharging a sheet from a discharge port to a sheet tray, includes a main unit provided with a discharge port and movably provided with a sheet tray to hold the sheet discharged from the discharge port, a drive unit to start movement of the sheet tray toward a position of the discharge port on the basis of an instruction of image forming start, and an image forming unit to compare sheet tray movement time which is time required for the sheet tray to reach the discharge port by the drive unit with image formation processing time which is time of an image forming process performed before discharging the sheet from the discharge port and when the sheet tray movement time does not exceed the image formation processing time, to start the image forming process.