Sheet Feeding Tray Foreign Object Detection Using Sensor Flag
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet feeding apparatuses with large capacity trays face issues in detecting foreign objects without impairing user operability, as current methods require the tray to be lowered to the lowest position for detection, leading to increased waiting time and potential erroneous detection of normal sheets as foreign objects, especially when handling multiple sheet sizes.
Innovation Solution
A sheet feeding apparatus equipped with a tray that lifts and lowers, featuring a first detecting unit capable of detecting foreign objects as the tray goes up, using a sensor flag system where the first detecting sensor is positioned higher than the second detecting sensor, allowing for foreign object detection without requiring the tray to be lowered to its lowest position, thus improving operability and reducing erroneous detections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tray is lowered to the lowest position for foreign object detection, then foreign object detection is enabled, but the waiting time increases and user operability is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor flag is preliminarily positioned to protrude from the tray at the lowest position before tray movement begins. This allows the detection system to be pre-configured and ready, eliminating the need to wait for the tray to reach the lowest position before detection can begin, thus reducing waiting time while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of detecting foreign objects only at the lowest tray position (one-dimensional approach), the sensor flag is designed to protrude at multiple predetermined positions throughout the tray's movement range. This multi-position detection capability transforms the system into a two-dimensional detection approach, enabling foreign object detection at various tray levels and eliminating the need to wait for the lowest position
2Reliability
If the tray is lowered to the lowest position for foreign object detection, then foreign object detection is enabled, but user operability is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor flag is preliminarily positioned to protrude from the tray at the lowest position before tray movement begins. This allows the detection system to be pre-configured and ready, eliminating the need to wait for the tray to reach the lowest position before detection can begin, thus reducing waiting time while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of detecting foreign objects only at the lowest tray position (one-dimensional approach), the sensor flag is designed to protrude at multiple predetermined positions throughout the tray's movement range. This multi-position detection capability transforms the system into a two-dimensional detection approach, enabling foreign object detection at various tray levels and eliminating the need to wait for the lowest position
3Reliability
If sensors are positioned to detect foreign objects, then foreign object detection is enabled, but normal sheets may be erroneously detected as foreign objects depending on sheet size
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor flag protrudes at multiple predetermined positions throughout the tray's movement range rather than at a single location. This multi-position arrangement creates a detection pattern that normal sheets cannot trigger, as they maintain consistent positioning throughout the tray range. Foreign objects, being irregularly positioned, will trigger the sensor at specific positions, enabling reliable detection without erroneous false positives from properly positioned sheets of various sizes
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus provided with a tray which goes up and down with sheet stack being supported, a pickup roller which feeds the sheet on the tray a first detecting sensor which detects a object placed on the tray other than the sheets to be fed by the pickup roller, as the tray goes up.