Rotatable Scanner Body Adjusting Transport Path for Rigid Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding type scanners face challenges in efficiently discharging documents with high rigidity and large size, often leading to jams or device breakage, due to the limitations of their transport path configurations.
Innovation Solution
The image reading device incorporates a rotatable main body with a rigidity detecting unit and a control unit that adjusts the transport path's angle based on detected document rigidity, switching between postures to accommodate documents of varying stiffness, thereby preventing jams and improving usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the transport path is set to the U-turn path, then it is possible to discharge sheets with lower rigidity, but sheets with high rigidity and large size cannot be discharged properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transport path configurable between two different postures (U-turn path and straight path) depending on the document characteristics. The system dynamically switches between transport configurations based on real-time detection of document rigidity, allowing the same device to adapt to different document types without requiring multiple fixed transport paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by altering the geometric parameters of the transport path (angle relative to horizontal plane, path configuration) based on the detected document rigidity. When rigid documents are detected, the system changes the transport path angle and configuration to accommodate the higher rigidity, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and discharge reliability.
2Reliability
If the straight path is used to discharge rigid documents, then discharge reliability improves, but the lower-side space of the U-shaped transport path becomes narrow limiting document size
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between U-turn path and straight path configurations based on document characteristics. For rigid documents, the straight path is activated which provides sufficient space and appropriate geometry for reliable discharge, while for smaller documents the U-turn path is used to maintain compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport path is segmented into two distinct configurations (U-turn path and straight path) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to optimize the transport geometry for specific document types, providing adequate space for rigid documents when needed while maintaining compactness for smaller documents.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sheets with great thickness are transported in the U-turn path, then the transport path can handle various document types, but this possibly leads to jams or breakage of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of document thickness and rigidity before the document enters the transport path. Based on this advance information, the control unit pre-configures the transport path (selecting between U-turn and straight paths) to be appropriate for the detected document characteristics, preventing jams and breakage before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detection unit that measures document thickness and rigidity to automatically adjust the transport path configuration. This closed-loop control ensures that thick documents are routed through the appropriate path configuration, maintaining both adaptability and reliability by preventing transport errors.
Data Source
AI summary
When a device main body acquires detection information corresponding to a second original document from a rigidity detecting unit in a state where the device main body is in a first posture, a control unit of an image reading device performs a first step of stopping transporting an original document and a second step of controlling a driving source to switch the posture of the device main body from a first posture to a second posture in which a sloped angle of the device main body is smaller than that in the first posture.