Mechatronic Design and Control of Media Handling Mechanisms for Printing Engines

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The objective of this GOALI research project is to study fundamental principles for using advanced sensor, actuation and decision making methodologies in the design of media handling system for the next generation of copiers and printers. Many problems in copiers and printers are due to malfunctions in the media handling system. These include paper jams, machine shut downs due to impending paper jams (soft shutdown), smearing, damage to original documents, and poor compilation. Current media handling systems are based upon open-loop control systems and rely on the robustness of the system's mechanical design. The use of sensors is limited to the detection of failures and are only used to trigger a machine shutdown. This joint research project between the industry (Xerox) and the university (U C Berkeley) addresses the issues concerned with media handling in printers and copiers. The research utilizes and makes advances in: mechatronics, discrete event and hybrid dynamic systems, identification and adaptive control, intelligent and reconfigurable control systems, fault detection and failure recovery, and integrated mechanical design and control. The result from this research will be deployed in future copiers and printers. The elimination of jams in media handling system will improve productivity by reducing time lost in production. The current yearly lost production due to time lost is valued at $ 0. 7 Billion. The ability to handle paper of very wide lattitude serves to reduce cost of paper manufacturing and encourages the use of the more economical recycled paper. Finally, this research is of critical importance for American industries to maintain a position of technical leadership in the extreme competitive photocopier and printer markets.