Calibration Chart Reading Feedback in Image-Forming Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-forming apparatuses face calibration failures due to component deterioration, vibrations, impacts, or excessive loads, which cause deviations in characteristics, leading to incorrect calibration even after user attempts to reload sheets.
Innovation Solution
An image-forming apparatus with a control unit that determines correct sheet reading and outputs a notification to adjust reading conditions if the sheet is not read correctly, allowing users to optimize sheet reading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If factory adjustment is performed before shipping, then reading conditions are optimized for initial use, but component deterioration and environmental factors cause deviation over time leading to calibration failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects reading abnormalities by analyzing whether the read image contains the chart image at expected positions and orientations. When abnormalities are detected, the system notifies the user to adjust reading conditions, creating a feedback loop that maintains calibration reliability throughout the service life without requiring factory re-adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to independently adjust reading conditions (such as start position, reading range, or orientation) based on abnormality notifications. This self-service capability allows users to resolve calibration issues without returning to the factory, extending the effective service life while maintaining reliability
2Productivity
If automatic sheet conveyance is used for calibration reading, then reading efficiency is improved, but misalignment and skewing abnormalities occur during the reading process
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects alignment abnormalities by checking whether the chart image appears at the expected position and orientation in the read image. When misalignment or skewing is detected, the system notifies the user to adjust reading conditions, allowing automatic conveyance to continue operating efficiently while maintaining precision through feedback-based correction
3Ease of operation
If user is instructed to reload sheets when abnormality occurs, then simple abnormalities can be resolved, but component deviations caused by deterioration cannot be corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides intelligent feedback by notifying users to adjust reading conditions when abnormalities are detected. This feedback mechanism distinguishes between simple abnormalities (resolvable by reloading) and component deviations (requiring reading condition adjustment), enabling users to effectively resolve both types of issues without returning to the factory
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to adjust reading condition parameters (such as start position, reading range, or orientation) in response to abnormality notifications. This parameter adjustment capability enables correction of calibration failures caused by component deterioration, extending the system's reliable operation beyond the initial factory adjustment period
Data Source
AI summary
An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit; a calibration unit configured to execute calibration of the image-forming unit on the basis of a chart image formed by the image-forming unit; a reading unit configured to generate a read image including the chart image by reading, according to at least one reading condition, a sheet on which the chart image is formed while conveying the sheet along a conveyance path; and a control unit configured to determine, on the basis of the read image, whether the sheet has been correctly read by the reading unit. The control unit is configured to output a notification prompting a user to adjust the at least one reading condition in a case where it is determined that the sheet has not been correctly read by the reading unit.