Image Reading Unit Variable Conveyance Speed for Mixed-Size Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in reading mixed-size documents, particularly when using automatic zoom selection and different-size mixed documents reading modes, as they often require constant conveyance speeds, leading to increased document intervals and reduced performance due to the need for image enlargement, which can degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus determines whether an automatic magnification function is set and adjusts the document reading mode accordingly, using a constant conveyance speed for all documents if not set, and varying speeds for each document if set, to optimize reading performance while maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constant conveyance speed is used for all documents, then the reading process is simple and stable, but document intervals increase and reading performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance speed variable rather than constant. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance speed based on document size detection, allowing the system to optimize reading performance for each document while maintaining operational stability through automated control.
2Productivity
If the reading speed is changed for each document to improve performance, then productivity increases, but the reading unit cannot read the next document until the previous document passes completely through, increasing document intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting document size before the reading process begins. This allows the control unit to pre-determine the appropriate conveyance speed for each document, enabling smoother transitions and reducing waiting time between documents by having the next document ready to be conveyed at the appropriate speed before the previous document completes reading.
3Adaptability or versatility
If image enlargement is performed to adapt to different document sizes, then adaptability improves, but image quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting document size before the reading process. This allows the system to pre-set the appropriate conveyance speed and reading parameters for each document size, eliminating the need for post-reading image enlargement and thus preserving image quality while maintaining adaptability to different document sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the conveyance speed parameter based on document size rather than changing image dimensions. By modifying the physical conveyance parameters rather than the digital image parameters, the system maintains original image quality while adapting to different document sizes through speed adjustment alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus having an image reading unit capable of conveying and reading a plurality of documents of different sizes includes determining whether an automatic magnification function is set in a case where an instruction to read a plurality of documents of different sizes is given, and performing control such that, in a case where the determining determines that the automatic magnification function is not set, a first document reading mode in which the plurality of documents is conveyed at a constant conveyance speed and is read is set to the image reading unit, and, in a case where the determining determines that the automatic magnification function is set, a second document reading mode in which the plurality of documents is conveyed at a different conveyance speed for each document and is read is set to the image reading unit.