Transparent Guide Electrostatic Dissipation for Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image reading apparatuses face issues with electrostatic attraction of foreign matters like toner powder and dust onto transparent guides during dual-sided document scanning, leading to striped image defects, and existing solutions complicate the configuration and increase cost and size by requiring lengthy grounding lines.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates first and second transparent guides coated with conductive material, with a grounding portion and conductive connection between them, allowing for simultaneous dual-sided document scanning while grounding the guides without the need for lengthy grounding lines, thereby reducing electrostatic attraction and preventing striped image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductive member is provided on the transparent guide to prevent electrostatic charging, then image quality is improved by preventing striped defects, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional grounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transparent guide structure with the grounding function by providing a conductive coating directly on the transparent guide surface. This integration eliminates the need for separate conductive members and complex grounding line routing, thereby maintaining image quality while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conductive coating as an intermediary layer on the transparent guide. This thin conductive layer acts as a mediator that dissipates electrostatic charges without requiring extensive grounding infrastructure, thus preventing striped image defects while avoiding the complexity of lengthy grounding lines.
2Reliability
If lengthy grounding lines are used to ground the transparent guide in the ADF, then electrostatic prevention is achieved, but the apparatus size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the grounding function from the complex routing system and concentrates it at a specific location. By providing a grounding portion at a predetermined position on the transparent guide, the system eliminates the need for lengthy grounding lines that would otherwise extend throughout the ADF structure, thereby reducing apparatus size while maintaining electrostatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the grounding approach from extensive line routing to a localized grounding structure. By concentrating the grounding function at a specific position with appropriate conductive materials, the system achieves the same electrostatic control effect with significantly reduced spatial requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents foreign matters from being electrostatically trapped on the guides, reducing the occurrence of striped images and simplifies the grounding process, maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first and second transparent guides includes a guide surface coated with conductive material
Implementation Method 2
a grounding portion provided in one of the first and second transparent guides and grounding the first and second transparent guides
Implementation Method 3
a part of the foreign matters G conveyed together with the document D is frictionally slid between the document D and the transparent guide 401 of the reading apparatus body or the transparent guide 501 of the ADF, and is electrostatically trapped on the transparent guide 401 or 501
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes first and second image reading units, and first and second transparent guides disposed along a conveyance path and guiding a document passing through a conveyance path. The first and second transparent guides are disposed to oppose to each other across the conveyance path. The image reading apparatus also includes a grounding portion provided on one of the first and second transparent guides and a conductive portion electrically connecting the first and second transparent guides with each other.