Skew Correction in Image Reading Apparatus Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in handling mixed sizes of sheets, leading to skewing issues during feeding, which requires manual adjustment of the feed roller to maintain accurate image reading, making the process time-consuming and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a first and second restricting portion to manage sheet width, a skew correcting roller to align sheets correctly, and a conveying roller system that ensures the center of conveyance is positioned to minimize skewing, allowing for automatic correction and stable feeding of sheets of varying sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the feed roller is moved to contact the widthwise center of small sheets to suppress skew, then small sheets are fed without skew, but large sheets require manual restriction and the apparatus must be halted for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller center position is preliminarily set to the widthwise center position of small sheets before operation. This preliminary positioning enables automatic skew suppression for small sheets without requiring manual adjustment during operation, while large sheets are restricted by restricting plates to achieve centered feeding
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller serves multiple functions: it automatically suppresses skew for small sheets when positioned at the widthwise center, and works in conjunction with restricting plates to center large sheets. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for different sheet sizes
2Manufacturing precision
If the feed roller is moved to contact the widthwise center of small sheets, then skew is suppressed, but the apparatus must be halted every time the feed roller is moved
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller center position is preliminarily determined and fixed at the widthwise center position of small sheets before the sheet feeding operation begins. This preliminary setup eliminates the need to halt the apparatus for position adjustments during operation, maintaining continuous productivity while ensuring precise alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed so that the feed roller automatically serves its function of skew suppression by being positioned at the widthwise center. The system self-adjusts and maintains proper alignment without requiring external intervention or halting of the apparatus during operation
3Manufacturing precision
If restricting plates are used to center large sheets, then large sheets are fed without skew, but the apparatus structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting plates serve multiple purposes: they center large sheets by restricting their widthwise position, and they define the widthwise boundaries for all sheets in the stack. This multi-functional use of simple restricting plates achieves precise alignment for different sheet sizes without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus is provided with a registration roller configured such that a downstream end in a sheet feeding direction of a sheet abut to correct a skew of the sheet, and a pulling roller that conveys the sheet to the registration roller. The pulling roller is disposed such that a center of an arrangement in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction of the pulling roller is located on a side of the first restricting plate from a widthwise center of the sheet conveying path.