Scanner Feeding Interval Control for Printer Speed Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scanners with automatic document feeders struggle to effectively manage varying scan speeds requested by multiple printers, leading to inefficiencies in image forming systems due to limited basic setting speeds and differing print engine performances.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a scanner adjusts the feeding interval of documents to match requested scan speeds by calculating and controlling the feeding interval using a controller with a feeding interval calculator and controller, allowing selection of a higher basic setting speed if the requested speed is not supported, and adjusting the scan speed while maintaining scan time for each document.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the scanner uses basic setting speeds only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to various printing speeds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner's feeding interval is made dynamically adjustable based on the requested scan speed. The controller modifies the feeding interval in real-time to match the printing speed of connected printers, allowing the system to adapt between different speeds without requiring multiple fixed speed settings or complex hardware changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scanner adjusts feeding interval to match requested speed, then the adaptability to various printing speeds is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves speed adaptation by changing a single key parameter - the feeding interval - rather than modifying multiple system parameters or hardware components. This simple parameter adjustment allows the scanner to match different printing speeds while keeping the control mechanism relatively straightforward.
3Ease of operation
If the scanner maintains fixed scan speed, then the operation simplicity is preserved, but the productivity deteriorates due to speed mismatches with printers
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner incorporates a feedback mechanism where the controller receives the requested scan speed from the printer and automatically adjusts the feeding interval accordingly. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for manual speed matching by the user while ensuring optimal productivity by synchronizing scanner and printer speeds.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the scanner supports multiple basic setting speeds, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing multiple fixed speed settings, the system uses a single dynamic feeding interval that can be adjusted continuously to match different requested speeds. This dynamic approach provides flexibility for multiple speed scenarios without requiring the system to manage multiple discrete speed configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner including an automatic document feeder includes a communication interface unit to perform a communication with an external printer; a scan operation performing unit to perform a scan operation; an automatic feeding unit to automatically feed scan-target documents to the scan operation performing unit; and a controller to control the scan operation and a scan speed, wherein when the communication interface unit receives a request speed for a scan operation from the external printer, the controller adjusts a feeding interval between the scan-target documents that are fed from the automatic feeding unit, so that the scan operation is performed at the received request speed.