Image Recorder Orientation Detection Speed Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image recording apparatuses experience paper jams due to the orientation of recording media, such as envelopes and sheets, during conveyance, leading to user inconvenience and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

An image recording apparatus equipped with a controller that detects the orientation of recording media and adjusts the conveying speed to prevent jams, allowing for image recording regardless of the media's orientation by using a sheet supplier, first conveyor, and recording portion, with specific speed adjustments for envelopes and sheets based on their orientation relative to the conveying direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the envelope is conveyed with the flap portion as the upstream end portion to prevent paper jams, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users must set the envelope in a specific orientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper jam preventionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying speed is dynamically adjusted based on the detected orientation of the recording medium. When the flap portion is detected at the downstream end, the conveying speed is reduced to prevent paper jams, while allowing users to load envelopes in any orientation without manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying speed parameter is changed according to the orientation of the envelope. The controller detects the orientation and adjusts the conveying speed to an appropriate value, enabling the system to handle both orientations optimally without requiring user intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the envelope is conveyed with the flap portion as the downstream end portion to allow free orientation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased probability of paper jams

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidpaper jam prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller detects the orientation of the envelope and provides feedback to adjust the conveying speed accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the conveying conditions are optimized based on the actual orientation, preventing paper jams while maintaining user convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the recording sheet is conveyed with the paper fiber direction coinciding with the conveying direction to prevent paper jams, then the reliability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates because users cannot set the sheet in any orientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper jam preventionVSAvoidorientation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying speed is dynamically adjusted based on the detected orientation of the recording medium. When the paper fiber direction is detected to be different from the conveying direction, the conveying speed is reduced to prevent paper jams, while allowing users to load sheets in any orientation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying speed parameter is changed according to the orientation of the recording sheet. The controller detects the orientation and adjusts the conveying speed to an appropriate value, enabling the system to handle both orientations optimally without requiring user intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9139390B2Image recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image recording apparatus including a sheet supplier configured to supply a recording medium, a first conveyor configured to convey the recording medium supplied from the sheet supplier in a conveying direction, and a recording portion configured to record an image on the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor may further include a controller configured to detect an orientation of the recording medium with respect to the conveying direction while the recording medium is conveyed and change a conveying speed of the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor depending on the detected orientation of the recording medium.