Medium Feeding Device Dynamic Threshold Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium feeding devices in image reading apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting abnormalities such as jamming and skewing due to variations in user settings and document sizes, leading to potential damage and decreased usability.

Innovation Solution

A medium feeding device with adjustable edge guides and a control system that dynamically sets threshold values and feeding speeds based on the positions of the edge guides relative to the medium, enhancing abnormality detection sensitivity and preventing jams by adjusting settings according to the detected positions and sizes of the medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a fixed threshold value is used for abnormality detection, then the device is easy to operate, but the detection accuracy decreases when feeding conditions vary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidusability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold value is changed dynamically based on edge guide positions. The control section automatically adjusts the threshold value according to the detected edge guide position, making the system adaptive to different feeding conditions without requiring user intervention for threshold setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the edge guide position detection to automatically adjust the threshold value. The control section receives position information and accordingly modifies the threshold value for abnormality detection, creating a closed-loop system that maintains high detection accuracy across varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the edge guides are positioned to accommodate larger documents, then larger documents can be fed, but smaller documents may not be properly guided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument size compatibilityVSAvoidabnormality detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold value is dynamically adjusted based on the edge guide position. When edge guides are moved to accommodate different document sizes, the control section automatically changes the threshold value to maintain optimal detection sensitivity for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different threshold values are applied for different edge guide positions and document sizes. The system tailors the detection parameters to the specific local condition of document size and edge guide configuration, ensuring optimal performance for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the threshold value is set to be sensitive to detect all abnormalities, then detection accuracy improves, but false alarms increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse alarm rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold value parameter is changed according to edge guide position and document size. By adjusting this critical parameter based on operating conditions, the system maintains high detection sensitivity while minimizing false alarms through condition-appropriate threshold settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Different threshold values are applied for different operating conditions (edge guide positions and document sizes). This localized parameter adjustment ensures that each condition has an optimized threshold that balances sensitivity with false alarm reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3528483B1Medium feeding device and image reading apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3528483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3528483B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3528483B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A medium feeding device includes: a placement unit on which a medium is placed; a pair of edge guides that is provided at the placement unit such that the edge guides are movable in a medium width direction to guide edges of the medium in the medium width direction that is a direction intersecting a medium feeding direction; feeding rollers that feed the medium placed on the placement unit; a path state detection section that detects a detection value in accordance with a state of the medium feeding path; a guide position detection section that detects positions of the edge guides; and a control section that determines whether or not the detection value detected by the path state detection section has exceeded a threshold value.