Rotating Background Section for Stable Document Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading devices face instability in reading quality when handling documents of varying thicknesses due to a constant gap between the platen roller and the reading sensor, leading to potential document jams and damage to the background sections.

Innovation Solution

The image reading device incorporates a rotation member with separable background sections of different colors, which adjusts its position based on document thickness, and a guide member that separates from the transport path to accommodate varying document thicknesses, ensuring stable reading quality and preventing jams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a constant gap between the platen roller and reading sensor is maintained, then the device structure is simple, but the reading quality becomes unstable when handling documents of varying thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidreading quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The background section is made rotatable relative to the reading sensor, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted according to document thickness. The rotation amount is determined based on the thickness of the document being read, enabling the gap between the background section and reading sensor to vary dynamically while maintaining stable reading quality across different document types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the background section position is adjusted for thick documents, then reading quality is stabilized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading qualityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The background section is separated from the main platen roller structure, allowing it to be independently rotated and positioned. This segmentation enables the background section to be adjusted without affecting the overall platen roller structure, achieving reading quality stabilization with minimal additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation mechanism serves multiple functions: it adjusts the background section position for different document thicknesses, maintains optimal reading gaps, and prevents document jams. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the gap between platen roller and reading sensor is constant, then the device structure is simple, but document jams may occur with thick documents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoiddocument transport smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The background section's rotatable design allows the gap between it and the reading sensor to dynamically adapt to document thickness. This dynamic adjustment prevents thick documents from jamming while maintaining simple structural implementation through the rotation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the background section is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the background section may be damaged by thick documents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidbackground section durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable background section can dynamically adjust its position to accommodate thick documents, preventing them from contacting and damaging the background section. This dynamic protection mechanism is achieved through the rotation capability rather than complex protective structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4456520A1Image reading device
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP4456520A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4456520A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4456520A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It includes a transport section configured to transport a document, a reading section configured to read an image of the document transported in a transport direction by the transport section, and a rotation member that is provided with, on a peripheral surface, at least two background sections having colors different in brightness from each other, that is provided at a position facing the reading section, and that, by rotating, changes a position of the background section with respect to a reading position of the reading section, wherein the rotation member is separable from the reading section.