Recording Media Conveyance Control for Jam-Free Direction Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face issues with paper jams and increased operation time due to shared driving sources causing recording media to get caught in the conveyance path during feed preparation operations, especially when a medium is still present in the conveying device.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a conveyance path divided into permitted and prohibited regions, allowing controlled direction changes of the conveying unit based on the recording medium's position, enabling simultaneous execution of feed and discharge operations without jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the conveying device and feeding device share the same driving source, then the apparatus size and cost are reduced, but paper jams occur when switching driving direction during feed preparation operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines the trailing edge position in advance before switching the conveying direction. By predicting where the trailing edge will be when direction switching occurs, the system performs preliminary positioning to avoid paper jams, thus resolving the contradiction between using a shared driving source (reducing size) and preventing paper jams (maintaining reliability).
2Reliability
If feed preparation operation is performed after completely discharging the recorded medium, then paper jams are prevented, but recording operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting until complete discharge to perform feed preparation, the control unit performs preliminary determination of the trailing edge position and executes feed preparation operation at the optimal timing while the recorded medium is still in the conveyance path. This allows overlapping of feed preparation with the discharge process, preventing paper jams while reducing overall recording operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous operation by performing feed preparation for the next medium during the time the current medium is being discharged. This overlapping of operations maintains continuous useful action, reducing idle time and improving productivity while preventing paper jams through proper timing control.
3Device complexity
If the trailing edge position is not monitored, then the control system is simpler, but paper jams occur due to uncontrolled direction switching
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from trailing edge position detection (via sensors or position calculation) to dynamically control the conveying direction switching timing. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable conveyance by adjusting operations based on actual medium position, resolving the contradiction between simple control systems and conveyance stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a conveyance path through which a recording medium is caused to pass from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction; a conveying unit disposed on the conveyance path and configured to convey a recording medium; a detecting unit configured to detect an edge of a recording medium in the conveyance path; and a control unit configured to execute first control for conveying a recording medium toward the upstream side with the conveying unit and second control for conveying the recording medium toward the downstream side with the conveying unit. After the detecting unit detects a trailing edge of a recording medium, the control unit executes the first control or the second control based on a position of the trailing edge of the recording medium.