Image Scanning Device Staple Detection and Reversal Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Image scanning devices face damage and document damage when attempting to scan documents with staples, leading to incomplete scanning and user inconvenience due to the need for a carrier sheet.

Innovation Solution

An image scanning device with a controller that switches to a first scanning mode when detecting a staple, allowing partial scanning of the top sheet while reversing document transport to avoid staple contact, and subsequent full scanning of other sheets without a carrier sheet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the document feeding device transports a stapled document to the image scanning unit, then the document can be scanned, but the staple contacts the image scanning unit causing damage to the device or document

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning capabilityVSAvoiddamage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning process is divided into two phases: first scanning sheets before the staple (from front end to position before staple), then reversing and scanning sheets after the staple. This segmentation allows complete scanning without the staple contacting the image scanning unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transportation direction is reversed after scanning the first portion of sheets. By inverting the transport direction, the document is fed back through the image scanning unit in reverse, allowing the staple to remain on the opposite side and avoid contact with the scanning unit while still enabling scanning of all sheets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the document feeding device stops transportation when detecting a staple, then damage is prevented, but image scanning of the stapled document cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage preventionVSAvoidscanning completion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning process is divided into two phases: first scanning sheets before the staple (from front end to position before staple), then reversing and scanning sheets after the staple. This segmentation allows complete scanning without the staple contacting the image scanning unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transportation direction is reversed after scanning the first portion of sheets. By inverting the transport direction, the document is fed back through the image scanning unit in reverse, allowing the staple to remain on the opposite side and avoid contact with the scanning unit while still enabling scanning of all sheets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If a carrier sheet is used to scan stapled documents, then damage is prevented and scanning is performed, but the carrier sheet must be prepared making it inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage preventionVSAvoidoperational convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The document feeding device itself performs the function previously requiring an external carrier sheet. By automatically detecting the staple and reversing transport direction, the device enables stapled document scanning without requiring the user to prepare or insert a separate carrier sheet, making the operation as convenient as regular document feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11330138B2Image scanning device

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image scanning unit optically scans a document image of a document. A transportation device performs transportation of the document set at a front insertion-ejection port as an insertion port and ejection port of the document. A controller performs in a first scanning mode image scanning of a top sheet of the document if the document has been bound with a staple. In the first scanning mode, the controller performs image scanning of a partial scanning area in the top sheet while transporting the document using the transportation device, and reverses a transportation direction of the document at a time point that the image scanning of the partial scanning area is finished. The partial scanning area is from a front end to a predetermined position of the top sheet, and the predetermined position is a position nearer to the front end than a binding position of the staple.