Carriage Stop Position Detection in Image Scanners

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading devices struggle to accurately detect and specify the location of abnormal stop positions of the carriage, leading to inefficient malfunction classification and potential unnecessary component replacement.

Innovation Solution

The image reading device incorporates a motor for reciprocating the carriage, a reference position detector to monitor passage and non-passage through a reference position, and circuitry to detect abnormalities in the carriage's stop position and specify the location of abnormal stops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If malfunction classification is performed without accurate stop position detection, then maintenance time is reduced, but measurement precision of stop position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance timeVSAvoidstop position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reference position detector pre-establishes a known reference location before the carriage moves. This preliminary reference point enables subsequent abnormal stop positions to be accurately determined by comparing against the pre-set reference, allowing fast malfunction classification without sacrificing position detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reference position detector acts as an intermediary element between the carriage movement system and the control unit. It provides a stable reference framework that mediates the measurement of abnormal stop positions, enabling the control unit to quickly classify malfunctions based on position deviations from the reference without requiring complex real-time measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If reference position detector is added to detect carriage passage, then stop position detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestop position detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference position detector serves multiple functions: it detects the carriage's reference position, establishes a reference framework for abnormal position detection, and provides timing reference for malfunction classification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection systems, minimizing the increase in device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference position detector utilizes the carriage's own movement and existing structural features as the detection target, rather than requiring external complex measurement systems. The carriage passes through the detector's detection field, and the detector automatically records the reference position without requiring additional active components on the carriage, thereby limiting complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250159091A1Image reading device, image reading method, and non-transitory recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image reading device including: a motor to reciprocate a carriage, a reference position detector to detect passage and non-passage of the carriage through a reference position and output a detection result, and circuitry configured to, in a case where an abnormality of a stop position of the carriage has been detected based on the detection result, specify a location at which the carriage has abnormally stopped.