Compact C-Frame Scanner Layout for Half-Width Web Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional C-shaped scanners require a frame displacement equal to the width of the web being monitored, limiting their versatility in applications where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A compact C-shaped scanner design with two sensors and a mechanism for sensor calibration, allowing the scanner to monitor the entire width of a continuous sheet by advancing back and forth along a scanning distance equal to half the sheet width, reducing the required off-sheet displacement distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional C-shaped scanner uses a single sensor and moves the frame across the entire web width, then the entire web width can be monitored, but the required off-sheet displacement distance equals the full web width, consuming excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning function is segmented into multiple sensors positioned at different locations on the C-frame. Each sensor monitors a specific portion of the web width, allowing the frame to cover the entire web by moving only a fraction of the total width. This segmentation enables reduced displacement distance while maintaining full monitoring coverage.
2Volume of moving object
If a C-shaped scanner reduces its displacement distance to half the web width, then space requirements are reduced, but a single sensor cannot cover the entire web width
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors are merged into a single C-frame structure, with each sensor positioned to monitor a specific zone. The data from all sensors is combined to provide comprehensive monitoring of the entire web width. This merging allows the reduced-displacement C-frame to achieve full monitoring coverage through cooperative sensing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a C-shaped scanner uses multiple sensors positioned at different locations, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The C-frame structure serves multiple functions: it supports multiple sensors, provides a moving platform for all sensors, and acts as the scanning mechanism itself. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional supporting structures and simplifies the overall device configuration despite having multiple sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A compact C-shaped scanner employs at least two sensors and has a mechanism to standardize or calibrate the sensors. The upper and lower elongated beams of the C-frame include a mid-beam sensor and an outer beam sensor. The scanner can monitor the entire width of a continuous sheet by advancing the scanner back and forth along a scanning distance that is only about half that of the sheet width thereby minimizing the required offsheet distance by an amount approaching half the width of the sheet being monitored. Standardization tiles consisting of references materials that are positioned laterally from the edges of the moving sheet allow for calibration of the sensors which operate either in the transmissive or reflective mode. Selected sheet properties or characteristics of the sheet material can be measured. The two sensors can operate in the transmissive or four sensors can operate in the reflective mode.