Printer Image Reading Layout for Media Slip Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses inaccurately determine the operation state of a printing unit due to instability in medium transport, which occurs when the medium slips relative to transport rollers due to contamination or deterioration, leading to incorrect readings by the reading unit.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus includes a transport unit that moves the medium in a specific direction, a printing unit to form images, and a reading unit that reads the images, with the reading unit's extending direction inclined relative to the transport direction, allowing it to capture information about both transport and width directions, thereby improving determination accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a reading unit reads an image formed on a medium to determine the operation state of a printing unit, then the operation state can be checked, but determination accuracy deteriorates when medium transport is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The reading unit is configured to read images in a direction inclined relative to the medium transport direction. This dimensional change in the reading direction allows the system to capture images that include reference markings, enabling correction of transport instability effects and improving determination accuracy of the printing unit operation state
2Measurement precision
If the reading unit is extended in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, then the reading structure is simplified, but determination accuracy deteriorates due to inability to capture transport direction information
Solution Approach 1:
The reading unit is configured to read images in a direction inclined relative to the medium transport direction. This inclined reading direction enables the reading unit to capture both width direction image data and transport direction reference marking data, improving determination accuracy without requiring complex additional hardware
3Reliability
If the medium slips relative to transport rollers due to contamination or deterioration, then transport instability occurs, but the reading unit cannot detect this instability when reading orthogonal to transport direction
Solution Approach 1:
The reading unit reads images in an inclined direction relative to the transport direction, which allows it to capture reference markings that indicate medium transport position and stability. This enables detection of medium slipping relative to transport rollers, improving reliability of transport instability detection while maintaining reading accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus including a transport unit configured to transport a medium in a transport direction, a printing unit configured to form an image on the medium, and a reading unit extended in an extending direction intersecting the transport direction and configured to read the image formed on the medium, wherein the extending direction of the reading unit is inclined with respect to a width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. With the printing apparatus having such a configuration, it is possible to improve determination accuracy of an operation state of the printing unit.