Image Reading Device Dual-Direction Scanning for Booklet Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading devices face disturbances in reading images of documents with varying thicknesses, such as booklets, due to the movement of image reading means, leading to poor image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image reading device with a control unit that performs a first reading operation while transporting the medium in one direction, followed by a second reading operation in the opposite direction, and combines image data from both operations to exclude disturbed areas, using a combination process to acquire clear image data of a page.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the image reading means moves toward and away from the sheet transporting surface according to sheet thickness, then reading adaptability to different sheet thicknesses is improved, but image disturbance occurs when document thickness changes violently
Solution Approach 1:
The reading process is divided into multiple segments: a first reading operation in the first direction and a second reading operation in the opposite direction. By segmenting the reading process and combining results from both directions, the system compensates for image disturbances caused by violent thickness changes, maintaining both adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic reading operations in alternating directions (first direction, then opposite direction). This periodic action allows the image reading means to adapt to thickness variations while the alternating direction readings compensate for disturbances, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and image quality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the image reading means is pressed toward the transport path, then reading stability is improved, but image disturbance occurs when document thickness varies irregularly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs readings in the opposite direction to compensate for disturbances. By inverting the reading direction in the second operation, image disturbances caused by pressed reading on irregular documents are corrected, maintaining both stability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit combines image data from both reading operations, using the second reading (in opposite direction) as feedback to correct disturbances detected in the first reading. This feedback mechanism maintains reading stability while compensating for image quality degradation.
3Reliability
If dual reading operations in opposite directions are performed, then image quality is improved by excluding disturbance areas, but reading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial readings in both directions and combines only the necessary portions. By using partial action (reading only required areas in each direction) and combining results, the system achieves improved image quality without the full time cost of complete dual-directional readings of the entire document.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit of an image reading device is configured to execute image correction control after performing a first reading operation of reading a medium while transporting the medium in a first direction, and the image correction control includes a second reading operation of reading the medium while transporting the medium in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a combination process for combining a first area serving as a part of image data acquired through the first reading operation with a second area serving as a part of image data acquired through the second reading operation to acquire image data of one page.