Sheet Conveyance Apparatus Mixed Size Document Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic document feeders (ADFs) struggle with efficiently handling mixed size documents, including non-standard sizes, as they typically assume documents have standard sizes like A4 and B5, leading to unnecessary repositioning and standby issues when mixed size documents are stacked together.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a control unit that selectively switches between modes for feeding and reading, allowing the document tray to remain at a lower position until instructed to lift for mixed size documents, including non-standard sizes, to facilitate easier repositioning and reduce standby time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the document tray is lifted to the first position in advance for mixed size documents including non-standard sizes, then the feeding operation can start immediately, but the documents require frequent repositioning due to size differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the document tray position adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the tray position based on document size detection: keeping it at the second position during setup for non-standard mixed sizes to allow repositioning, then automatically moving it to the first position when ready to feed. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between immediate feeding readiness and repositioning ease.
2Ease of operation
If the document tray remains at the second position for mixed size documents, then repositioning is easier, but the ADF stands by unnecessarily increasing standby time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the control unit that continuously monitors document size detection results and automatically adjusts the tray position accordingly. When non-standard mixed size documents are detected, the system feedbacks to keep the tray at the second position for easy repositioning. Once documents are properly positioned and ready for feeding, the feedback triggers automatic movement to the first position, eliminating unnecessary standby time. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction between repositioning ease and standby time.
3Reliability
If the ADF uniformly stands by without lifting the document tray in mixed stacking mode, then all document types are handled consistently, but non-standard size documents require unnecessary repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the document tray position parameter based on detected document size characteristics. Instead of uniformly maintaining a fixed position for all document types, the system changes the tray position parameter dynamically: maintaining the second position for non-standard mixed size documents during setup, then transitioning to the first position for feeding operations. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between operational consistency and repositioning ease.
Data Source
AI summary
In a sheet conveyance apparatus a control unit controls lifting and lowering of a sheet supporting portion by a lifting unit and executes a mixed feeding in one of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode. The mixed feeding is an operation in which a plurality of sheets having different lengths in a width direction orthogonal to a feed direction of a sheet feeding unit are fed by the feeding unit, wherein in the first mode, the control unit causes the lifting unit to move the supporting portion from the second position to the first position based on an instruction to start sheet feeding, and in the second mode, the control unit causes the lifting unit to move the supporting portion from the second position to the first position based on a detection of a sheet by the detection unit.