Multi-feed Detection Sensor Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face delays and unnecessary user interventions due to paper jams caused by multi-feed situations, where multiple papers are fed at once, leading to incomplete scan jobs and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a multi-feed detection sensor and return device, which detect and manage multi-feed events by enabling or disabling the detection function based on user input and paper type settings, allowing for controlled operation and minimizing user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-feed detection sensor is always enabled to detect paper jams, then paper jam detection reliability is improved, but unnecessary user interventions increase due to false detection of thick papers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the multi-feed detection sensor by switching between enabled and disabled states based on paper thickness detection. The controller enables the sensor only when thin paper is detected and disables it when thick paper is detected, making the system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high detection reliability when needed while avoiding false alarms that cause unnecessary user interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (sensor enable/disable state) based on the detected paper thickness parameter. When the paper thickness exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller changes the sensor state from enabled to disabled, and vice versa. This parameter-based control strategy allows the system to optimize detection reliability for each paper type without causing unnecessary user interventions.
2Reliability
If multi-feed detection sensor is always enabled to ensure complete scan jobs, then scan job completion is improved, but operational efficiency decreases due to frequent paper jam interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the detection sensor's operational state based on real-time paper thickness measurement. By enabling the sensor only for thin papers that are prone to multi-feed issues and disabling it for thick papers, the system ensures scan job completion for vulnerable paper types while maintaining high operational efficiency for thick paper processing without unnecessary interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller modifies the detection parameter (sensor enable/disable) according to the paper thickness parameter. This selective activation ensures that scan jobs are completed reliably when needed (for thin papers) while avoiding detection-related interruptions that would reduce operational efficiency (for thick papers).
3Adaptability or versatility
If detection function is enabled for all paper types, then detection coverage is improved, but false positive rate increases leading to unnecessary return operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection function's operational state based on the paper thickness parameter. For thick papers exceeding the predetermined threshold, the detection function is disabled, preventing false positives. For thin papers, the detection function remains enabled to ensure proper multi-feed detection. This parameter-based adaptation maintains broad detection coverage where needed while eliminating false alarms that waste time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches the detection function between enabled and disabled states based on real-time paper thickness assessment. This adaptive approach ensures comprehensive detection coverage for thin papers that require monitoring while avoiding unnecessary return operations for thick papers that would be falsely identified as multi-feed events.
Data Source
AI summary
An example image forming apparatus includes a scanner including a feeding device, a multi-feed detection sensor to detect an event corresponding to a multi-feed of a paper fed from the feeding device, a return device to return a target paper detected as the event, a user interface device, a processor, and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor. The processor is to execute the instructions to control an operation of the return device based on the setting information of the multi-feed detection sensor input through the user interface device.