Sheet Feed Conveying Amount Measurement Under Multi-Sheet Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet conveying devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring the conveying speed of sheets due to potential misalignment or interference when multiple sheets are fed, leading to reduced accuracy in conveying speed measurement.

Innovation Solution

A sheet conveying device with a lift portion, a sheet supply portion, and a detection portion that includes a first determination processing to assess execution conditions for measuring conveying speed, followed by a measurement processing to acquire speed information and a second acquisition processing to determine the conveying amount based on reference rotations, ensuring accurate speed measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the conveying member rotates to supply sheets to the conveying path, then the sheet supply function is achieved, but the measurement precision of conveying speed deteriorates due to potential misalignment or interference when multiple sheets are fed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet supply functionVSAvoidconveying speed measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination processing before measurement to assess whether execution conditions are satisfied. This preliminary check ensures that only when proper conditions are met (single sheet feeding without interference) does the measurement proceed, thereby preventing inaccurate measurements caused by multiple sheet interference while maintaining continuous sheet supply capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through the determination processing portion that continuously monitors whether execution conditions are satisfied based on detection portion data. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust measurement execution, ensuring high measurement precision by preventing measurements during multi-sheet interference conditions while maintaining productive sheet supply operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the detection portion detects sheets on the conveying path, then the sheet supply status is monitored, but the measurement precision deteriorates when multiple sheets cause interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet supply monitoringVSAvoidconveying speed measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Before executing measurement processing, the determination processing portion performs preliminary verification of execution conditions using detection portion data. This preliminary action ensures that measurements are only taken when single-sheet feeding conditions are confirmed, eliminating interference from multiple sheets while maintaining continuous monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determination processing portion provides feedback by continuously evaluating detection portion information to assess whether execution conditions are satisfied. This feedback loop enables the system to distinguish between valid single-sheet measurement conditions and invalid multi-sheet interference conditions, thereby maintaining both monitoring functionality and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4671173A1Sheet conveying device capable of acquiring conveying amount of uppermost sheet in stack of sheets by conveying member, image forming apparatus, and acquisition method
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP4671173A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4671173A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4671173A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet supply portion (28), a first acquisition processing portion (62), a measurement processing portion (63), and a second acquisition processing portion (64). The sheet supply portion (28) includes a conveying member (22) which rotates while being in contact with an upper surface of a stack of sheets (SB1) lifted by a lift portion (31), and supplies a sheet (SH1) in contact with the conveying member (22). The first acquisition processing portion (62) acquires speed information regarding a conveying speed of the sheet (SH1). The measurement processing portion (63) measures an elapsed time from a start of supply of the sheet (SH1) by the sheet supply portion (28) to when the sheet (SH1) is detected by a detection portion (25) after the conveying member (22) is rotated by a reference amount. The second acquisition processing portion (64) acquires a conveying amount of the sheet (SH1) when the conveying member (22) is rotated by the reference amount based on the acquired speed information and the elapsed time.