Image Sensor for Ink Ejection and Sheet Position Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses face challenges in detecting both ink ejection failures and sheet conveying errors, leading to image quality issues, and existing solutions complicate the structure and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus equipped with a single image sensor that performs both ink ejection failure detection and sheet position recognition, using image data to correct recording data for proper image formation, maintaining a simple structure while ensuring high image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two image sensors are provided (one for ink ejection failure detection and one for sheet conveying error detection), then both ink ejection failures and sheet conveying errors can be detected, but the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single image sensor to perform both ink ejection failure detection and sheet conveying error detection. The image sensor captures images of the recording sheet, and the controller analyzes the image data to detect both types of errors through different processing methods, thereby eliminating the need for separate sensors and reducing structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of detecting ink ejection failures and sheet conveying errors into a single detection system. The image sensor and its associated processing circuitry are merged to handle both detection tasks, integrating what would traditionally require separate systems into one unified apparatus, thus simplifying the overall structure while achieving dual detection objectives
2Productivity
If conveying speed of the recording sheet is increased to meet high speed recording demand, then productivity improves, but the possibility that the recording sheet is conveyed while being shifted and inclined increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using the image sensor to continuously monitor the position of the recording sheet during high-speed conveying. The controller analyzes the captured images to detect sheet shifts and inclinations, then uses this information to correct positioning errors, enabling high-speed operation while maintaining precise sheet alignment through real-time feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting sheet position deviations before they result in defective recordings. The image sensor captures sheet position information in advance, allowing the system to preemptively adjust positioning or compensate for errors before the recording process is affected, thus maintaining precision during high-speed operation
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus including: a medium-convey mechanism; a recording head; an image sensor configured to perform an image-pickup operation for a recording medium; an image-pickup controlling section which controls the image sensor to perform the image-pickup operation; a liquid-ejection-failure recognizing section which recognizes presence and absence of a liquid ejection failure on the basis of a portion of image data obtained by the image-pickup operation, which portion corresponds to the image; a medium-position recognizing section which recognizes a position of the recording medium relative to the recording head, on the basis of a portion of the image data which includes data corresponding to an outline of the recording medium; a medium-position judging section which judges whether the position is normal or not; and a recording data correcting section which corrects, where the position is not normal, recording data such that an image to be recorded becomes proper.