Image Recording Device Side End Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording devices face challenges in accurately detecting the side end position of a record medium due to variations in the state of the medium and conveyance mechanism, such as patterns or holes on the medium and conveying belt, leading to potential misdetection and difficulties in displacing the medium in the width direction.
Innovation Solution
An image recording device with a conveyance mechanism, a recording unit, a side end detection unit, and a storage unit that continuously detects and stores side end position data, using an average value of detection results after excluding outliers to determine the accurate side end position, thereby minimizing the influence of medium and conveyance mechanism states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If light reflection detection is used to detect the side end position of the record medium, then the detection method is simple and cost-effective, but misdetection occurs when images are formed on the medium or when there are holes and spots on the conveying belt
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the side end position using the simple light reflection method, then uses preliminary action by detecting multiple times before final determination. The control unit accumulates detection results over a predetermined period and determines the side end position based on statistical processing of multiple detections, which eliminates misdetection caused by images or holes while maintaining the simplicity of the original detection method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the light reception levels and comparing them against threshold values. The control unit receives feedback from the light receiving elements, processes the signals to identify valid side end detections versus false detections caused by images or holes, and adjusts the determination based on accumulated feedback over time. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple detection hardware while achieving high accuracy through intelligent signal processing.
2Measurement precision
If the recording paper is returned to the downstream to detect the side end position, then the side end position can be detected, but it is hard to displace the recording paper in the direction of width and the technique is hard to apply to conveyance mechanisms that only move in the conveyance direction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical approach of returning the recording paper to the downstream with an optical detection system. The light emitting element and light receiving elements detect the side end position optically as the paper passes by in the normal conveyance direction, eliminating the need for mechanical paper displacement in the width direction. This substitution makes the system adaptable to conveyance mechanisms that only move paper in the conveyance direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a mechanical dimension approach (moving paper in width direction to return it) to an optical detection dimension. By using light emission and reception to detect the side end position while the paper moves in the conveyance direction, the system adds an optical detection dimension that works with unidirectional conveyance mechanisms, thereby improving versatility.
3Measurement precision
If multiple detection results are collected and averaged to determine the side end position, then detection accuracy is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary accumulation of detection results over a predetermined period, storing multiple detection values before final determination. This preliminary action allows the system to gather sufficient data for accurate statistical processing without requiring complex real-time computation, thereby improving accuracy while managing complexity through staged processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system collects more detection results than the minimum single detection would provide, using excessive detection actions over a predetermined period. By accumulating multiple detection results and processing them statistically, the system achieves higher accuracy. The predetermined period is optimized to gather sufficient data without excessive processing burden, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.
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 approach allows for precise determination of the side end position without misdetection, even with complex patterns or holes, and enables accurate recording without ink jetting outside the medium boundaries, reducing maintenance needs and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the end position of a medium is determined by the level difference of the reflected light from the medium and the member (for example, a conveying belt) which supports the medium
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an image recording device including: a conveyance mechanism moving a record medium in a first direction; a recording unit having a recording device arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction in which the record medium moves; a side end detection unit detecting in a desired period a side end position in the second direction of the record medium which moves in the first direction; a storage unit storing detection results of the side end position; and a side end position determination unit reading the plurality of continuous detection results from the storage unit, and determining as the side end position of the record medium an average value of the detection results remaining after excluding at least one detection result indicating the side end position at a relatively outside a central portion of the record medium from the plurality of read detection results.