Document Feeder Switch-Back Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document feeders face challenges in safely discharging documents remaining in the feed path after a stoppage, such as paper jams, and in maintaining the correct page orientation for double-sided scanning, which can lead to damage or misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A document feeder system that includes a control unit and a driving power transmission mechanism, allowing for the detection of document position and direction, and the use of guide flaps to manage the feed path, ensuring safe discharge and correct orientation of documents during both single-sided and double-sided scanning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the document feeder performs double-sided scanning by reversing the document, then both sides of the document can be scanned, but the document may remain in the feed path with incorrect orientation after stoppage, causing damage or misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback from document position sensors to determine the current state of the document in the feed path. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the rotation direction of the discharge roller to ensure the document is discharged safely with correct orientation, preventing damage or misalignment after stoppage during double-sided scanning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge roller is designed to dynamically change its rotation direction based on real-time document position detection. The system transitions from fixed-direction rotation to variable-direction rotation, allowing the discharge roller to adapt its rotation sense (forward or reverse) according to the document's location and orientation in the feed path, thereby ensuring safe discharge during complex double-sided scanning operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge roller rotates in two directions for switch-back feeding, then document feeding flexibility is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
A single discharge roller serves multiple functions by rotating in both forward and reverse directions. Instead of requiring separate rollers or complex mechanical switch-back mechanisms, the discharge roller itself performs both forward feeding and reverse switch-back operations, simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining feeding flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical switch-back mechanisms (such as additional clutches or gear systems) with an electronically controlled single-direction motor that can reverse polarity. This substitution of mechanical complexity with electronic control achieves the same switch-back feeding functionality with fewer mechanical components and simpler maintenance requirements
3Reliability
If the document position is not detected accurately, then the discharge roller may rotate in the wrong direction, but implementing precise detection increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The document itself serves as the detection target for the sensors, utilizing its physical presence and optical properties (such as reflecting or blocking light) to provide detection signals. The system leverages the document's own characteristics rather than requiring additional markers or complex identification mechanisms, achieving accurate position detection with minimal added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Optical sensors act as intermediaries between the document and the control unit. These sensors detect the document's position and orientation by sensing light interactions (reflection, blockage, or transmission) and convert this information into electrical signals for the control unit, enabling accurate discharge direction control without direct mechanical contact or complex detection mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
In a document feeder, a driving control unit feeds a document by a switch-back feeding unit, guides again the document from a document feed path to a bidirectional feed path, and then discharges the document from the document feed path to a document discharging section, when the feeding of the document is in a double-sided scanning feeding mode and in a status during first side feeding. The driving control unit feeds the document by the switch-back feeding unit and then discharges the document from the document feed path, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and in the status during second side feeding. The driving control unit discharges the document from the document feed path without feeding the document in the switch-back manner, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and after the second side feeding.