End Fence Control for Media Ejection Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medium ejection apparatuses face issues with displacement and image deficiencies due to contact between the end fence and the upper surface of media during the restriction operation, leading to potential scraping and misalignment of media during the ejection process.
Innovation Solution
A medium ejection apparatus with a control unit that manages the movement of the end fence and side fences to prevent contact with the media's upper surface by controlling their positions and operations based on the presence of media, ensuring the end fence performs the leading-edge restriction operation only when not in contact, thereby avoiding displacement and image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the end fence performs the leading-edge restriction operation by moving from the retracted position to the restriction position, then the media alignment is improved, but the end fence contacts the upper surface of the media causing displacement and image deficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether the end fence would contact the media by checking the relationship between the media thickness and the distance between the end fence and placement mount. Based on this preliminary determination, the control unit decides whether to execute the leading-edge restriction operation, preventing contact before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from detected media thickness and end fence position information to dynamically control the leading-edge restriction operation. The control unit continuously monitors whether the end fence would contact the media and adjusts or cancels the operation accordingly, ensuring alignment without contact.
2Measurement precision
If the end fence moves to the restriction position to restrict media position, then the media leading-edge positioning is improved, but contact between the end fence and media upper surface causes scraping
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs a preliminary determination by comparing media thickness with the distance from the end fence to the placement mount before executing the restriction operation. This advance check prevents the end fence from contacting and scraping the media upper surface while still achieving accurate leading-edge positioning when appropriate.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the leading-edge restriction operation is performed continuously, then the media alignment consistency is improved, but the risk of contact and displacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether the leading-edge restriction operation should be executed by assessing media thickness and end fence position. This selective execution approach maintains alignment consistency through controlled restriction operations while preventing displacement by avoiding operations when contact would occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from media thickness detection and end fence position monitoring to dynamically control the restriction operation. This feedback mechanism ensures that restriction operations are performed only when safe, maintaining both alignment consistency and media position stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium ejection apparatus including: a placement mount on which media are placed; a medium-leading-edge position restriction part that moves between a restriction position at which the restriction part restricts a position of a leading edge portion of a medium ejected toward the placement mount with reference to an ejection direction of the medium and a retracted position retracted from the restriction position; and a medium position control unit that controls the medium-leading-edge position restriction part such that the medium-leading-edge position restriction part performs a leading-edge restriction operation of moving from the retracted position to the restriction position and moving from the restriction position to the retracted position when the medium-leading-edge position restriction part and an upper surface of a medium are not in contact with each other.