Image Reading Device Open Conveying Unit Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading devices in image forming apparatuses often inadvertently convey documents when the document conveying unit is open, leading to potential jamming issues, as existing technologies lack effective mechanisms to accurately determine the open or closed state of the conveying unit during document processing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light transmissive plate and a document placing plate on the image reading device's main body, with a movable image reading unit that reads an image pattern portion on the document conveying unit's bottom surface, allowing the device to determine the conveying unit's state and control document conveyance accordingly, preventing accidental document feeding when the unit is open.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the document conveying unit is made openable and closable for document feeding, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental document conveyance when open
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the document conveying unit's state (open or closed) using the image reading unit to read the image pattern portion before initiating document conveyance. This preliminary action prevents accidental conveyance by ensuring the unit is in the correct closed state before feeding documents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the state of the document conveying unit by having the image reading unit read the image pattern portion and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines whether to permit or prohibit document conveyance, creating a closed-loop control system that enhances reliability.
2Reliability
If an image pattern portion is added to detect the conveying unit state, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image reading unit serves multiple functions: it reads document images during normal operation and also reads the image pattern portion on the document conveying unit to detect its state. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The document conveying unit itself provides the detection mechanism by incorporating an image pattern portion that can be read by the existing image reading unit. The system uses its own reading capability to detect its operational state, eliminating the need for external or additional sensing components.
3Measurement precision
If the image reading unit stops to read the image pattern portion, then the measurement precision is improved, but the productivity decreases due to additional stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The image reading unit performs periodic reading of the image pattern portion at appropriate intervals (when the conveying unit needs to be checked). This periodic detection ensures accurate state measurement while minimizing interruptions to the overall document processing flow, balancing precision and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces the likelihood of documents being accidentally conveyed while the conveying unit is in the open state, thereby minimizing the risk of jamming and ensuring accurate document handling by determining the conveying unit's state through the image pattern reading mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmissive plate made of a light transmissive material and disposed on the top surface of the reading device main body
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading device includes a main body including a light transmissive plate on a top surface of the main body, a document placing plate on the top surface of the main body adjacent to the light transmissive plate in a first direction to place a document, and an image reader movable under the light transmissive plate and the document placing plate in the first direction to read image on the document, and a document conveyor including a document setting unit to set the document, a document conveyor movable between an open position and a closed position, and an image pattern portion at a bottom surface of the document conveyor, the image pattern portion having an image pattern to be read by the image reader at a position under the light transmissive plate.