Edge Position Detection for Dog Ear Prevention in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with detecting and addressing dog ears and skew in recording media during transfer operations, leading to paper jams and increased downtime, which results in waste and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an image forming apparatus with an edge position detector, position recognizer, and inclination calculator to detect dog ears and skew by comparing detection results from multiple positions along the recording medium's travel path, allowing for controlled operations to prevent jams and maintain productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a recording medium with a dog ear is conveyed through the image forming apparatus, then the dog ear may be detected, but the recording medium may get jammed in the conveying path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the dog ear condition before the recording medium reaches critical conveying points. The edge position detector identifies dog ears at detection positions, and the controller stops the conveying operation in advance, preventing the dog ear from causing jams in the conveying path while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the edge position detector detects at multiple positions including within the dog ear region, then dog ear detection accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the detection system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the detection process into multiple discrete detection positions along the recording medium. The edge position detector measures edge positions at several specific locations, and the controller compares these segmented measurements to determine if a dog ear is present, achieving high detection precision without requiring a single complex detector.
3Reliability
If the conveying operation is stopped frequently to check for dog ears, then detection reliability is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring edge positions at multiple detection points during the conveying operation. The controller receives real-time measurement data, compares it against predetermined thresholds, and provides feedback by stopping the conveyance only when a dog ear is confidently detected, thereby maintaining high reliability while minimizing interruptions to productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus conveying a recording medium through a sheet conveying path may include a recording medium conveying device, and includes an edge position detector to detect a position of a side edge of a recording medium along a width direction perpendicular to a sheet travel direction of the recording medium in the sheet conveying path, and an edge position recognizer to recognize, based on detection results obtained by the edge position detector, the position of the side edge at multiple detection positions of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction of the recording medium. The multiple detection positions includes a detection position located within a dog ear region in the vicinity of either a leading edge or a trailing edge of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction.