Media Ejecting Apparatus Skew Control for Scattering Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Media ejecting apparatuses face challenges in conveying media at high speeds without causing the ejected media to scatter or jump off the ejection table, leading to increased user effort in aligning the media.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a conveyance roller and an ejection roller, with circuitry that reduces the ejection speed based on detected skew of the media, adjusting the conveyance speed or stopping the conveyance roller to prevent media scattering, thereby improving alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the media ejecting apparatus ejects media at high speeds, then the conveyance speed is improved, but the ejected media are scattered on the ejection table or jump out from the ejection table

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyance speedVSAvoidmedia alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus performs preliminary actions by detecting media skewness before ejection and adjusting conveyance speed or ejection timing in advance. The control unit determines skewness based on sensor signals and proactively adjusts parameters to prevent scattering, rather than reacting after media are ejected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts conveyance speed and ejection parameters based on real-time skewness detection. The control unit changes conveyance speed, ejection timing, and other parameters on-the-fly according to detected media conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying media states during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the conveyance roller conveys media at high speeds, then the productivity is improved, but the media may be distorted or jammed during conveyance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyance throughputVSAvoidmedia conveyance stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus uses feedback from sensors that detect media position and skewness to control the conveyance roller. The control unit receives signals from sensors monitoring media state and adjusts conveyance speed accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains stability while operating at high throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters such as conveyance speed, ejection timing, and roller rotation speeds based on detected media conditions. When skewness is detected, the control unit modifies these parameters to prevent distortion and jamming, allowing the system to maintain both high productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240375898A1Media ejecting apparatus, media ejecting method, and non-transitory recording medium

Publication Date: 2024.11.14 PFU LTD

AI summary

A media ejecting apparatus includes a conveyance roller, an ejection roller, and circuitry. The conveyance roller conveys a first medium and a second medium following the first medium. The ejection roller ejects the first medium and the second medium. The circuitry reduces a first ejection speed at which the ejection roller ejects the first medium. The circuitry determines a first skew of the first medium and a second skew of the second medium, and changes at least one of a reference for determining whether to reduce the first ejection speed, when to reduce the first ejection speed, a conveyance speed at which the conveyance roller conveys the second medium, or a time during which the conveyance roller stops conveying the second medium, based on the first skew or the second skew.