Multi-position light irradiation for media detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium supply devices struggle to accurately detect multiple media when they are irradiated with light from only one position in the up-down direction, leading to potential jamming or double feeding issues.
Innovation Solution
A medium supply device equipped with a loading unit, an air supply unit to float and separate media, a transporting unit, a photographing unit, and a light irradiation unit that illuminates the media's end portions from multiple positions in the up-down direction, allowing for accurate detection and prevention of jamming or double feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If media are irradiated with light from only one position in the up-down direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of multiple media detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light irradiation unit is divided into multiple lighting units (first lighting unit and second lighting unit) positioned at different locations in the up-down direction. Each lighting unit independently irradiates the end portions of media from its specific position, enabling the system to capture multiple media accurately without requiring a single complex irradiation structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the up-down direction as an additional spatial dimension for light irradiation positions. By arranging lighting units at different heights (first position and second position in the up-down direction), the system achieves better detection of multiple media stacked in the thickness direction, transforming a one-dimensional detection problem into a three-dimensional solution.
2Reliability
If air supply amount is increased to float and separate media, then the reliability of media separation is improved, but the possibility of double feed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors photographed images of the media and dynamically adjusts the air supply amount based on the detected state. When multiple media are properly separated and floated, the system maintains the current air supply; when separation is insufficient or double feed is detected, the air supply amount is automatically adjusted to prevent harmful occurrences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the air supply parameter (air supply amount) based on the photographed image analysis. By adjusting this parameter in real-time according to the actual media state, the system achieves reliable separation while preventing double feed, avoiding the need for consistently high air supply that would cause harmful effects.
3Measurement precision
If multiple lighting units are arranged at different positions in the up-down direction, then the measurement precision of media detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lighting units are designed with identical or similar structures, each capable of independently irradiating the media end portions from its specific position. This universal design allows the system to achieve multi-position irradiation functionality without requiring fundamentally different components, reducing the actual complexity increase while maintaining detection precision.
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 device achieves accurate detection of multiple media, reducing the likelihood of jamming or double feeding by adjusting air supply based on image analysis and using multiple light sources for improved illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a supply unit that supplies air to a plurality of the media loaded on the loading unit to float and separate the plurality of media
Implementation Method 2
a light irradiation unit that irradiates end portions of the media on a photographing side of the photographing unit with light from a plurality of different positions in the up-down direction
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A medium supply device (10) includes: a loading unit (12) on which media (P) are loadable in an up-down direction; a supply unit (14) that supplies air to a plural media loaded on the loading unit to float and separate the plural media; a transporting unit (16) that sequentially feed the media that are floated and separated by the supply unit; a photographing unit (18) that photographs a state in which the media are floated and separated by the supply unit; and a light irradiation unit (22) that irradiates end portions of the media on a photographing side of the photographing unit with light from a plural different positions in the up-down direction.