Variable Speed Roller for Sheet Spacing Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium transport devices in image forming and recording systems consume high power when continuously feeding multiple sheets, as they maintain constant speed throughout the transport process, leading to inefficiencies in power usage and potential deterioration in throughput.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport device with a control unit that decelerates the first roller to a slower speed when the rear end of one medium is downstream and the leading end of the next medium is upstream, allowing for optimized power consumption and reduced throughput impact by adjusting the transport speed based on the distance between sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first roller maintains constant speed throughout the transport process, then the transport reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the roller speed variable rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the rotation speed of the first roller based on the detected distance between sheets, rotating at a first rotation speed when the distance is greater than a threshold and at a second (lower) rotation speed when the distance is less than or equal to the threshold. This dynamic speed adjustment reduces power consumption while maintaining transport reliability through conditional control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (rotation speed) of the first roller based on the distance parameter between sheets. By detecting the distance and switching between two rotation speed parameters (first rotation speed and second rotation speed), the system optimizes power consumption while ensuring reliable transport under different sheet spacing conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the first roller decelerates to a slower speed between sheets, then the power consumption is reduced, but the throughput may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotation speed parameter of the first roller based on the detected distance between sheets. When the distance is greater than a threshold, the roller rotates at a first (higher) rotation speed to maintain throughput. When the distance is less than or equal to the threshold, it rotates at a second (lower) rotation speed to reduce power consumption. This conditional parameter change balances power consumption and throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the rotation speed based on the local condition (distance between sheets). Instead of using a uniform speed throughout, the system applies different rotation speeds in different spatial conditions, optimizing power consumption when sheets are close together while maintaining higher speed when there is sufficient spacing, thus balancing power consumption and throughput.
3Productivity
If the first roller rotates at a higher speed, then the throughput is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the roller speed adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the first roller based on the real-time detected distance between sheets, rotating at a higher first rotation speed when spacing is sufficient to maintain throughput, and at a lower second rotation speed when sheets are close to reduce power consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the trade-off between throughput and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transport device includes a first roller that transports a medium in a transport direction, and a control unit that controls the first roller. The control unit rotates the first roller at a first speed when the first roller transports a first medium. When a rear end of the first medium is located downstream of the first roller in the transport direction and a leading end of a second medium transported subsequently to the first medium is located upstream of the first roller in the transport direction, the control unit can perform a deceleration control of decelerating the first roller to a second speed slower than the first speed.