Multifunction Machine Document Conveyance Thickness Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multifunction machines face issues with document conveyance, such as paper jams, due to varying document thicknesses, especially when users do not set the thickness while the copy screen is displayed, leading to inefficient document handling and potential jams during scanning and printing.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction machine equipped with a detection unit for document placement, a display unit for thickness setting, a storage unit for thickness information, and a conveying unit that adjusts document conveyance based on the set thickness, allowing users to set document thickness before or during the copy function selection, ensuring proper handling and reducing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveying speed is increased to improve productivity, then the scanning efficiency is improved, but paper jams occur more frequently at curved portions of the conveyance path
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying speed is made variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveying speed based on the detected document thickness, using higher speeds for thin documents and lower speeds for thick documents to prevent paper jams at curved portions while maintaining overall scanning efficiency
2Reliability
If the conveying speed is decreased to prevent paper jams, then the reliability is improved, but the scanning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic speed adjustment where the conveying speed is optimized for each document type. Thin documents are conveyed at higher speeds to minimize scanning time, while thick documents are conveyed at lower speeds to prevent paper jams, thereby reducing overall time loss compared to a fixed low speed
3Extent of automation
If a sensor is used to detect document thickness to improve automation, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the document's own physical property (thickness) to automatically trigger the appropriate conveying speed. The thickness detection sensor measures the document thickness and the control unit automatically selects the conveying speed without requiring manual user input or complex processing, simplifying the automation approach
4Ease of operation
If the document thickness is not set while the copy screen is displayed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the conveying accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs thickness detection automatically when the document is placed on the document tray, before the user needs to set any parameters. This preliminary action ensures that the thickness information is already available when the copy screen is displayed, allowing the system to convey the document with appropriate accuracy without requiring the user to manually set the thickness
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a multifunction machine includes detecting placement of a document on a document tray, displaying an object in accordance with document placement detection, storing information indicating the thickness of the document set using the object, conveying the document based on the information, and scanning the conveyed document. The object is displayed in accordance with document placement detection while a function selection screen is displayed, the information is received from a user through the object, and the document is conveyed based on the information in a case where execution of the copy function is commanded through a copy screen displayed after selection of the copy function. Even when a user places a document while a function selection screen is displayed, the thickness of the document can be set with certainty, and the document is scanned based on the set thickness.