Image Forming System Stacker Tray Descent Timing Control

Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming systems, removing paper sheets with abnormal images from a stacker is inefficient due to the need for manual descent of the elevating tray and opening of the front door, which decreases productivity.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system with a hardware processor that controls the stacker and image reader to automatically determine the timing for the elevating tray to descend and the front door to open, allowing for automated removal of abnormal paper sheets during the ejection process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the elevating tray is manually descended and the front door is manually opened to remove abnormal paper sheets, then the paper sheets can be removed from the stacker, but the operation time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removing abnormal paper sheetsVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines the timing to descend the elevating tray in advance, before the removal operation is needed. By pre-determining when the tray should be descended based on the stacker being set as the ejection destination, the system prepares the removal mechanism proactively, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the state of the stacker and the ejection destination settings, and automatically adjusts the elevating tray descent timing based on this feedback. When the stacker is identified as the ejection destination, the system automatically triggers the tray descent sequence, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to operational conditions without manual input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the elevating tray is manually descended and the front door is manually opened to find and remove abnormal paper sheets, then the paper sheets can be removed, but the operation becomes troublesome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removing abnormal paper sheetsVSAvoidtime required for removal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the removal preparation operation automatically without requiring manual intervention. The control unit self-manages the elevating tray descent timing by monitoring the stacker state and ejection destination, allowing the system to service itself and eliminate the need for operators to manually descend the tray and open the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines the timing to descend the elevating tray in advance, before the removal operation is needed. By pre-determining when the tray should be descended based on the stacker being set as the ejection destination, the system prepares the removal mechanism proactively, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If abnormal paper sheets are ejected into the stacker, then the stacker can store the paper sheets, but the removal process requires manual intervention and becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity of stackerVSAvoidwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the state of the stacker and the ejection destination settings, and automatically adjusts the elevating tray descent timing based on this feedback. When the stacker is identified as the ejection destination, the system automatically triggers the tray descent sequence, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to operational conditions without manual input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the removal preparation operation automatically without requiring manual intervention. The control unit self-manages the elevating tray descent timing by monitoring the stacker state and ejection destination, allowing the system to service itself and eliminate the need for operators to manually descend the tray and open the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10594883B2Image forming system

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image forming system includes a hardware processor that acquires results of reading of an image on a recording medium read by an image reader, determines quality of the image, and controls an ejector and sheet ejection into the ejector, the recording medium being ejected into the ejector, the ejector including a stacker, wherein the stacker includes an elevating tray on which ejected recording mediums are stacked, and has a mechanism that enables removal of a recording medium placed on the elevating tray while the elevating tray is descending, the elevating tray being capable of ascending and descending, and, when the stacker is set as an ejection destination at a time of reading of the image and ejecting the recording medium into the ejector, and the image is determined to be abnormal, the hardware processor determines a timing to cause the elevating tray of the set stacker to descend.