Carriage Moving Device Error Identification via Reversing Motor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carriage moving devices in inkjet printers face challenges in determining the cause of errors, as the operation check cannot differentiate between motor and linear encoder disorders, leading to unclear error identification.
Innovation Solution
A carriage moving device equipped with a motor, a first sensor unit for emitting and receiving light, and a second sensor unit for movement detection, along with a controller that performs a reversing process and notification process to identify errors based on signal changes and absence of pulse signals, providing specific error notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the carriage is moved in one direction to check the pulse signal and then moved in an opposite direction to check the pulse signal, then the motor operation can be verified, but the cause of error cannot be determined when the pulse signal cannot be verified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the error detection process into separate phases: forward movement phase and reverse movement phase. By segmenting the verification process and checking pulse signals in different directions independently, the system can identify whether the error occurs during forward movement, reverse movement, or in both directions, thereby determining the specific cause of the error.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs reverse movement as a diagnostic tool. By moving the carriage in the opposite direction after the initial forward movement, the system can differentiate between motor errors and encoder errors. If the pulse signal is obtained during reverse movement but not during forward movement, it indicates a motor error; conversely, if the pulse signal is obtained during forward movement but not during reverse movement, it indicates an encoder error.
2Reliability
If the pulse signal check is performed in both forward and reverse directions, then more comprehensive verification is achieved, but the complexity of the control process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the pulse signal status during both forward and reverse movements. The controller receives feedback from the pulse signal and adjusts the verification process accordingly. When the pulse signal is obtained in one direction but not in the other, the system automatically identifies the error source and can notify the user, reducing the need for complex manual diagnostic procedures.
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
The solution enables accurate identification of error causes, facilitating quicker troubleshooting and maintenance by distinguishing between motor and encoder issues, thus improving device reliability and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor unit mounted on the carriage at a position where the first sensor unit faces the facing object, the first sensor unit having a light emitting unit configured to emit light to the facing object and a light receiving unit configured to receive light reflected by the facing object
Data Source
AI summary
A carriage moving device has a motor, and a carriage. The carriage moves in a first direction when the motor rotates forwardly, while the carriage moves in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction when the motor rotates reversely. The carriage moving device further includes a facing object having a plurality of reflection ratios at a plurality of positions in the scanning direction. A first sensor unit has a light emitting unit configured to emit light to the facing object and a light receiving unit configured to receive light reflected by the facing object. A second sensor unit is configured to output a second signal in response to movement of the carriage. The controller notifies an error of the second sensor unit in response to a condition where a changing amount of the first signal in the reversing step exceeds a threshold amount and the controller cannot obtain the second signal.