Medium Feeding Device Interval Forming for Bound Document Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium feeding devices in image reading apparatuses face difficulties in detecting feeding abnormalities, particularly when documents are bound, as the interval between the trailing ends of stacked documents may not be adequately formed, leading to undetected skew or staple abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A medium feeding device is designed with an interval forming unit that creates a detection interval between the trailing ends of bound documents by using a protrusion, blowing unit, or eaves portion to ensure proper detection, preventing damage and improving feeding accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tracking-type optical sensor is used to detect document movement, then feeding abnormalities such as skew can be detected, but staple abnormalities in bound documents cannot be reliably detected because the interval between trailing ends of bound documents is not adequately formed
Solution Approach 1:
The interval forming unit performs preliminary action by creating a detection interval between the trailing ends of bound documents before the optical sensor detects them. This is achieved through mechanical structures (protrusions, eaves portions) or pneumatic means that separate the documents upstream, ensuring the interval exists before detection occurs, thereby enabling reliable detection of staple abnormalities
Solution Approach 2:
The interval forming unit acts as an intermediary between the bound documents and the optical sensor. It mediates the detection process by creating a physical gap that allows the optical sensor to detect the interval, thereby enabling the detection of staple abnormalities that would otherwise be undetectable
2Productivity
If the feeding unit feeds the lowest medium by coming into contact with it, then feeding efficiency is maintained, but bound documents may advance together causing undetected feeding abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The interval forming unit segments the bound documents by creating a detection interval between their trailing ends. This segmentation allows the optical sensor to distinguish between individual documents, enabling reliable detection of feeding abnormalities while maintaining the efficiency of feeding the lowest medium
Solution Approach 2:
The interval forming unit performs preliminary separation of documents upstream before they reach the feeding unit. This preliminary action ensures that even when the feeding unit feeds the lowest medium by contact, the interval between documents is already formed, enabling detection of feeding abnormalities
3Device complexity
If no interval forming structure is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but the operation detection unit cannot reliably detect feeding abnormalities in bound documents
Solution Approach 1:
The interval forming unit serves as a simple intermediary structure that enables detection without requiring complex modifications to the feeding unit or sensor. By introducing this intermediate element, the system achieves reliable detection of bound documents while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The interval forming unit can be implemented through pneumatic means (blowing unit) rather than complex mechanical structures. This substitution uses airflow to create the detection interval, achieving the detection function with a simpler system that avoids complex mechanical interval-forming mechanisms
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
The solution effectively detects feeding abnormalities by forming a consistent interval, preventing document damage and ensuring accurate feeding, even when documents are bound, thereby enhancing the reliability of the medium feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing unit that blows air, and wherein the interval forming unit includes the blowing unit
Data Source
AI summary
A medium feeding device includes: a medium mounting section that a medium is mounted; a feeding unit that feeds the medium in a feeding direction; a separation unit that separates the medium with the feeding unit; an operation detection unit that is disposed at a position facing a surface of the medium in the medium mounting section and detects a movement of the medium in the feeding direction; an interval forming unit that forms an interval in the feeding direction between a trailing end of a first medium which is the lowest medium fed among media mounted on the medium mounting section and a trailing end of a second medium which is bound with the first medium and stacked on the first medium; and a control unit that stops feeding of the medium based on a detection interval by a detection value of the operation detection unit.