Image Reading Apparatus Dynamic Transport Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in generating image data with desired resolution when the transport speed of documents varies, often leading to transport failures like paper jams, especially with thin or color documents.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a control unit that switches between two reading modes: a first reading mode and a second reading mode. Both modes generate image data with the same resolution, but the second reading mode transports documents at a lower speed, reducing the risk of transport failures. The apparatus also uses a sonic wave sensor to detect document thickness and automatically select the appropriate reading mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transport speed is reduced to prevent paper jams when transporting thin documents, then transport reliability improves, but image resolution becomes excessively high beyond user requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transport speed adjustable based on document thickness. The system dynamically adapts the transport speed to match the specific reading task: using lower speeds for thin documents to prevent jams, and higher speeds for thick documents where jam risk is lower. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing both reliability and resolution control for different document types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transport speed parameter based on document characteristics and reading requirements. By controlling the transport speed within a specific range (0.5 to 5 mm/s) and adjusting it according to document thickness and resolution needs, the system achieves both reliable transport and appropriate image quality without excessive resolution.
2Productivity
If the transport speed is increased to improve reading efficiency, then productivity improves, but transport failures such as paper jams increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transport speed based on real-time conditions including document thickness and type. For thin documents, lower speeds prevent jams while maintaining adequate reading efficiency. For thick documents, higher speeds can be used safely, thus improving overall productivity without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the transport speed parameter within the range of 0.5 to 5 mm/s based on document characteristics. This parameter control allows the system to achieve high productivity when conditions permit (thick documents) while maintaining high reliability when needed (thin documents), resolving the productivity-reliability contradiction.
3Reliability
If the transport speed is lowered for thin documents to prevent paper jams, then transport reliability improves, but the reading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines transport speed based on document thickness detection. When thin documents are detected, the system lowers speed only for those specific documents while maintaining higher speeds for thick documents, thus minimizing overall reading time while ensuring reliability for vulnerable documents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the transport speed parameter within the 0.5 to 5 mm/s range based on document characteristics. This selective parameter adjustment ensures that speed reduction (and associated time loss) occurs only when necessary for thin documents, while thick documents are processed faster, balancing reliability and time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a transport unit which transports a document, and reading units which read an image of the document which is transported. It is assumed that an operation of reading an image when specific setting information is not input to a control device of the image reading apparatus is set to a first reading mode, and an operation of reading an image when specific setting information is input to the control device is set to a second reading mode. In this case, in the second reading mode, image data of an image with a resolution which is equal to that in the first reading mode is generated, while causing the reading units to read an image from a document which is transported by the transport device at a lower speed than that in the first reading mode.