Rotating Cleaning Member for Image Reading Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image reading apparatuses face limitations in increasing reading speed due to the need to retract cleaning mechanisms, which prevents narrowing the gap between documents and detecting end portions in the width direction effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image reading apparatus with a rotating cleaning member and end portion detection area, where the cleaning member and detection area are adjacent without a white reference area in between, allowing for efficient cleaning and end portion detection during the paper interval, enabling faster document conveyance and improved detection precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the cleaning means is completely retracted from the reading position when a document passes, then the document can pass freely, but the gap between documents cannot be narrowed and reading speed cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member is configured to rotate dynamically between a retracted position (when a document is being read) and a cleaning position (during paper intervals), allowing the system to adapt its state based on operational timing rather than remaining static
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning operation is performed periodically during paper intervals between documents, rather than continuously or only after each document passes, enabling the system to utilize idle time for maintenance functions
2Measurement precision
If the black plate is used to detect end portions of the document, then detection function is added, but the document cannot pass between the black plate and translucent member
Solution Approach 1:
The detection area rotates dynamically between facing the opposing surface (for detection) and facing away (for smooth document passage), resolving the conflict between detection capability and conveyance smoothness through temporal separation of functions
Solution Approach 2:
The end portion detection is performed during the paper interval before the next document arrives, allowing detection to occur without interfering with document conveyance
3Reliability
If the cleaning member and white reference area are separated by the white reference area, then the white reference function is maintained, but the cleaning operation takes more time
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member and detection area are positioned adjacent to each other without the white reference area interposed, merging their spatial arrangement to reduce the rotation distance and enable faster cleaning operations during paper intervals
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus for separating and conveying documents from a bundle of documents, causing the document to pass through a reading position, and reading an image from the document, includes: a reading translucent plate; a rotation member capable of rotating around a shaft; and a rotation driver that rotates the rotation member, wherein in the rotation member, each of: a cleaning member; a white reference area; and an end portion detection area is formed partially with regard to a circumferential direction, the cleaning member and the end portion detection area are arranged adjacent to each other, the rotation driver is arranged so that the end portion detection area faces an opposing surface, and the rotation member is rotated in a paper interval period from when a trailing edge of the document passes the reading position to when a leading edge of a subsequent document reaches the reading position.