Motor Torque Control for Medium Tray Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium conveying apparatuses face challenges in efficiently conveying media while preventing damage to objects caught between the housing and the medium tray, especially when the medium tray is raised.

Innovation Solution

A medium conveying apparatus with a motor that can adjust torque based on supplied power, a medium tray that can be raised and includes a placing surface, and a processor that controls the motor to position the medium tray so that the uppermost medium abuts a roller for conveyance, while detecting the placing surface position and adjusting torque accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the medium tray is raised to convey media, then media conveyance is enabled, but objects caught between the housing and the tray may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia conveyance efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to objects caught between housing and tray

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The motor torque is dynamically adjusted based on the detected position of the placing surface. When the placing surface is at a lower position, higher torque is applied to ensure reliable media conveyance. When the placing surface is at a higher position, reduced torque prevents damage to objects caught between the housing and tray. This dynamic torque adjustment resolves the contradiction between conveyance reliability and object protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the torque parameter of the motor according to the vertical position of the medium tray. By detecting the placing surface position and adjusting torque accordingly, the system optimizes both media conveyance effectiveness and protection against object damage at different tray heights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the motor torque is increased to ensure reliable tray positioning, then media conveyance reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray positioning reliabilityVSAvoidmotor power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor torque is dynamically adjusted based on the detected position of the placing surface. When the placing surface is at a lower position, higher torque is applied to ensure reliable media conveyance. When the placing surface is at a higher position, reduced torque prevents damage to objects caught between the housing and tray. This dynamic torque adjustment resolves the contradiction between conveyance reliability and object protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the torque parameter of the motor according to the vertical position of the medium tray. By detecting the placing surface position and adjusting torque accordingly, the system optimizes both media conveyance effectiveness and protection against object damage at different tray heights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12291423B2Medium conveying apparatus to set torque of motor according to position of medium tray

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 PFU LTD

AI summary

A medium conveying apparatus includes a motor, a medium tray, a roller, and a processor to control the motor so that the medium tray is located at a position at which the medium placed on the uppermost side of the media placed on the medium tray abuts on the roller each time a particular number of media of the media placed on the medium tray is conveyed, and detect a position of the placing surface. The processor sets the torque of the motor to a first torque when a position of the placing surface is a first position, and sets the torque of the motor to a second torque smaller than the first torque when a position of the placing surface is a second position above the first position.