Method And System For Feeding Media Sheets Into Media Processing Device

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program product for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device. The method includes receiving a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. Further, the method includes exerting a normal force on the media sheet using a pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device. The normal force exerted on the media sheet is based on the user input.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, ETC.

None.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to media processing devices, and more particularly to method and system for feeding various types of media sheets into a media processing device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Media processing devices, such as printers, scanners and photocopiers utilize feeder mechanisms for feeding various types of media sheets into the media processing devices. Examples of the various types of media sheets include, but are not limited to, printing paper, butter paper and carbon paper. Almost all the feeder mechanisms include a pick roller that feeds a media sheet into the media processing device for further processing. In a feeder mechanism, various arrangements of the pick roller may exist for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device.

In one such arrangement of the feeder mechanism, the pick roller may be coupled with other components of the feeder mechanism to exert a normal force on the media sheet. Examples of the other components that may be coupled to the pick roller include solenoids, cams, pick arms, gears, shafts, and the like. Simultaneously, the pick roller may be rotated due to the coupling with the other components to push the media sheet into the media processing device due to friction between the pick roller and the media sheet. Herein, pushing the media sheet into the media processing device refers to pushing the media sheet into a specific section of the media processing device, for example, pushing the media sheet into a ‘printing zone’ in case of the media processing device being a printer.

In existing feeder mechanisms, the normal force, which is applied substantially perpendicular to the flat surface of the media sheet by the pick roller, is generally of a constant value for all types of the media sheets. For example, the pick roller may exert a constant normal force on a butter paper, as well as, a carbon paper. The butter paper and the carbon paper may have different densities, weights, thickness and stiffness. Further, the normal force required to feed the butter paper into the media processing device may be greater than the normal force required to feed the carbon paper. Accordingly, due to the application of the constant normal force on all types of the media sheets in existing feeder mechanisms, multiple feeds or misfeeds of the media sheet may occur.

Further, over time the normal force exerted by the pick roller may decrease due to wearing off of the pick roller. However, the existing feeder mechanisms may not facilitate for increasing the normal force exerted by the pick roller on the media. This limitation may result in replacement of the pick roller in the media processing device.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a method and system for feeding various types of media sheets into a media processing system by precluding misfeeds and multifeeds. Further, the method and system should also facilitate varying a normal force exerted on a media sheet based on type of the media sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a method, system and computer program product for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device. The method includes receiving a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. Further, a normal force is exerted on the media sheet using a pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device. The normal force exerted on the media sheet is based on the user input.

Further, in another aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device. The system includes a solenoid and a pick roller. The solenoid is capable of being operated at a duty cycle. The duty cycle of the solenoid is based on a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. The pick roller is operatively connected to the solenoid and is capable of rotating and applying a normal force on the media sheet. The rotation of the pick roller and the normal force exerted by the pick roller on the media sheet are capable of feeding the media sheet into the media processing device. The normal force exerted by the pick roller on the media sheet is based on the user input.

Furthermore, in yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for feeding a media sheet into a media processing device. The media processing device includes a pick roller capable of rotating and a solenoid controlling the rotation of the pick roller. The computer program product includes a program module having instructions for receiving a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. Further, the program module has instructions for generating a signal to operate a solenoid at a duty cycle. The duty cycle of the solenoid is based on the user input. The operation of the solenoid transforms into a normal force exerted on the media sheet by the pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a pick roller for feeding a media sheet into a media processing device;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a media processing device in which media sheets are fed by a pick roller embodying the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method for feeding a media sheet into a media processing device embodying the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” and “coupled,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections and couplings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure include both hardware and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic based aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the present disclosure. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the present disclosure and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible.

The present disclosure provides a method, system and a computer program product for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device. The media sheet may be fed into the media processing device by placing the media sheet in a tray, prior to feeding the media sheet in an Automated Document Feeder (ADF). The ADF may facilitate in feeding the media sheet into the media processing device. Examples of the media processing device may include a printer, a scanner, a photocopying machine, and similar devices.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram depicting a pick roller 100 for feeding a stack of media sheets 102 into the media processing device (not shown). Pick roller 100 is a component of the ADF (not shown). The ADF includes other components, such as a solenoid, a cam, pick arms, gears, shafts, and the like, that along with pick roller 100 facilitate in feeding a media sheet of stack of media sheets 102, into the media processing device. The ADF will be explained in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.

Pick roller 100 of the ADF may be made of various materials, such as plastics, rubber, and the like. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that pick roller 100 may be made of a combination of these materials. Pick roller 100 may be coupled to the other components of the ADF for feeding the media sheet from stack of media sheets 102 into the media processing device. During operation, pick roller 100 exerts a normal force 104 in a direction normal to stack of media sheets 102. Simultaneously, pick roller 100 is configured to rotate in a direction, such that, a topmost media sheet (hereinafter referred to as ‘media sheet’) from stack of media sheets 102 is pushed into the media processing device.

Upon coming in contact with media sheet 102, pick roller 100 applies normal force 104 on the media sheet. Further, there exists a coefficient of friction μ between pick roller 100 and the media sheet. The rotation of pick roller 100 alongwith normal force 104 and the coefficient of friction μ result in a driving force 106 in a direction, such that, the media sheet is fed into the media processing device. Normal force 104 (referred to as ‘N’), the coefficient of friction μ (referred to as ‘μ’) and driving force 106 (referred to as ‘D’) may be related by the following equation:

D=μ*N

As per the relation in the above equation, normal force 104 (N) is directly proportional to driving force 106 (D). It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that a particular value of driving force 106 (D) drives the media sheet into the media processing device. However, it is also evident from the above equation that driving force 106 (D) also depends upon the coefficient of friction A, and accordingly any variation in the coefficient of friction μ may vary driving force 106 (D). The coefficient of friction (μ) may differ for various types of the media sheet. Herein, the various types of the media sheet correspond to media sheets, which may be composed of various different materials.

Various different materials of the media sheet may include plastic sheet, inkjet paper, electronic paper, bond paper, coated paper, cotton paper, and the like. It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that based on the relation provided above, the magnitude of normal force 104 (N) may need to be increased when the coefficient of friction (μ) between the media sheet and pick roller 100 decreases, in order to maintain the particular value of driving force 106 (D required to feed the media sheet in the media processing device. Similarly, the magnitude of normal force 104 (N) may need to be decreased when the coefficient of friction μ between the media sheet and pick roller 100 increases, to feed the media sheet in the media processing device. An exemplary media processing device is explained in more detail in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a media processing device 200 in which media sheets are fed by a pick roller, such as pick roller 100 explained in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Media processing device 200 includes a system 202 for feeding a media sheet (not shown) placed in an input tray 204 of media processing device 200. System 202 will hereinafter be referred to as ‘feeder system’. Further, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the feeder system may be an ADF.

The feeder system includes a solenoid 206 and a pick roller 208. Solenoid 206 is capable of being operated at a duty cycle. The duty cycle is based on a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. Pick roller 208 is operatively connected to solenoid 206. Pick roller 208 is capable of rotating and applying a normal force, such as normal force 104 (N) explained in conjunction with FIG. 1, on the media sheet. The rotation of pick roller 208 and the normal force applied on the media sheet are capable of feeding the media sheet into media processing device 200. The normal force exerted by pick roller 208 on the media sheet is based on the user input.

In an embodiment, solenoid 206 may be operatively coupled to pick roller 208 through components such as a cam 210 and a pick arm 212. Cam 210 and pick arm 212 are operatively coupled to solenoid 206 and pick roller 208. As shown in FIG. 2, in an exemplary representation, solenoid 206 is shown as an electromechanical solenoid with a plunger 214. Plunger 214 is capable of moving in and out of solenoid 206 to produce a lateral force ‘F1’ when solenoid 206 is activated by an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as ‘signal’).

Solenoid 206 is associated with a duty cycle. Herein, the duty cycle of a solenoid may be expressed as a ratio of ON time of a cycle of operation of the solenoid by total time (ON time+OFF time) of the cycle of operation. The ON time refers to duration in the duty cycle for which power is supplied to the solenoid. The OFF time refers to duration in the duty cycle for which no power is supplied to the solenoid. Accordingly the motion of the plunger 214, which is in and out of solenoid 206, depends upon the duty cycle of solenoid 206.

Accordingly, the value of the lateral force F1 produced by plunger 214 of solenoid 206, may be varied by varying the duty cycle of solenoid 206. The lateral force F1 created by plunger 214 of solenoid 206 strikes cam 210 and causes cam 210 to rotate about a cam shaft 216. Cam 210 may be coupled to a pick arm shaft 218 through a coupling mechanism, such as, gears, linkage bars, belts, and the like. Cam 210 may provide a torque force ‘T1’ to pick arm shaft 218. Simultaneously, pick arm shaft 218 may also rotate due to the coupling mechanism between cam 210 and pick arm shaft 218. Pick arm shaft 218 is coupled to pick arm 212 as shown in FIG. 2. Pick arm 212 is also subjected to the torque force T1 and the rotation caused by cam 210.

Pick arm 212 under influence of the torque force T1 exerts a normal force on pick roller 208, such as normal force 104 (N) exerted on pick roller 208, as explained in conjunction with FIG. 1. Pick arm 212 may be coupled to pick roller 208 through linkage bars 220 to exert the normal force on pick roller 208. Further, pick arm 212 may also be coupled to pick roller 208 through gears, such that the rotation of pick arm 212 may cause pick roller 208 to rotate. Pick roller 208 may rotate in a direction so that the media sheet (not shown) placed in input tray 204 may be fed to media processing device 200. During operation, pick roller 208 is adapted to couple with the media sheet and is capable of exerting the normal force on the media sheet for feeding the media sheet in media processing device 200.

The normal force exerted by pick roller 208 on the media sheet derives from the lateral force F1 exerted by plunger 214 of solenoid 206. As explained previously, the lateral force F1 exerted by plunger 214 is based on the duty cycle of solenoid 206. Further, the duty cycle of solenoid 206 is based on the user input received from the user, thereby implying that the normal force exerted by pick roller 208 on the media sheet is based on the user input. The user input may include at least one of information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet and a duty cycle information. Further, the user input may be associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. Attributes of the media sheet may be a weight of the media sheet, a density of the media sheet, a thickness of the media sheet, a stiffness of the media sheet and a coefficient of friction of the media sheet.

The feeder system may receive the user input through a receiver (not shown) included in media processing device 200. The receiver may receive the user input from a processing device (not shown), such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone, and the like, through cable, Bluetooth™, Wireless Fidelity, and the like. Further, the processing device may include a user interface module (not shown) capable of receiving the user input from the user.

Alternatively, the user interface module may be included in media processing device 200. The user may feed the user input in the user interface module of media processing device 200. Examples of the user interface module may include components, such as a keypad, a touch screen, a mouse, and the like. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the user interface module may also be a combination of these components. In an embodiment, the user interface module may include various menu options from which a menu option may be selected by the user. In another embodiment, the user may enter a particular value as the user input.

The user interface module may be a combination of hardware, software and firmware components. Further, solenoid 206, cam 210, pick arm 212 and pick roller 208 may be a combination of electrical and hardware components that may be coupled together mechanically or electrically for feeding the media sheet in media processing device 200.

In an embodiment, the feeder system may include a storage module (not shown) for storing the user input, such as the duty cycle information of the solenoid, information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet, and the like, and, a processing module (not shown) capable of managing the user interface module. Further, the processing module may determine the duty cycle of solenoid 206 based on the at least one attribute of the media sheet. The processing module may determine the duty cycle of solenoid 206 from a map included in the storage module. The map may include a mapping of an attribute of a media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of solenoid 206. Therefore, for a given attribute of the media sheet provided by the user, a suitable value of the duty cycle may be selected for solenoid 206 from looking at the map. The map may be stored in the storage module in form of a table, a database, pointers, and the like.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that media processing device 200 and the feeder system may include requisite electrical connections for communicably coupling various components of media processing device 200 and the feeder system. A method for feeding the media sheet in media processing device 200 is explained in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method 300 for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device, such as media processing device 200 explained in conjunction with FIG. 2. Method 300 begins at 302. At 304, a user input is received from a user. The user input is associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet. At 306, a force is exerted on the media sheet using a pick roller, such as pick roller 208 to feed the media sheet into media processing device 200. The force exerted on the media sheet is based on the user input. At 308, method 300 ends.

For the purpose of description of the present disclosure, the media processing device operates in a manner similar to media processing device 200 described in FIG. 2. The media processing device receives the user input from the user. The user input is associated with the at least one attribute of the media sheet. Examples of the media sheet include plastic sheet, inkjet paper, electronic paper, bond paper, coated paper, cotton paper, and the like. As mentioned previously, the at least one attribute of the media sheet may be at least one of a weight of the media sheet, a density of the media sheet, stiffness of the media sheet and a coefficient of friction of the media sheet.

The user input may be received from the user through the user interface module that may be included in the media processing device. In an embodiment, the user interface module may include various menu options from which the user may select a menu option as the user input. In another embodiment, the user may enter a particular value as the user input.

In an embodiment, the user input may include duty cycle information of a solenoid, such as solenoid 206, explained in conjunction with FIG. 2. The duty cycle information may include a percentage value of the duty cycle at which the user requires to operate the solenoid. In another embodiment, the user input may include information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet. The information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet may include values of at least one of weight, density, stiffness, thickness and coefficient of friction of the media sheet. Alternatively, the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet may include type of media sheet, such as inkjet paper, electronic paper, bond paper, and the like. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet may be a combination of values of the at least one attribute and type of the media sheet.

The information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet may be used to determine the duty cycle of the solenoid for operating the solenoid. In an embodiment, determining the duty cycle of the solenoid may include mapping the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid. The information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet may be mapped to the corresponding duty cycle by a processing module in the media processing device, as explained in FIG. 2.

The media processing device may also include a storage module, as explained in FIG. 2, that may be capable of storing the user input, such as the duty cycle information of the solenoid, the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet, and the like. The storage module may store a map, as explained in FIG. 2. The map may include the values of the at least one attribute of the media sheet against the corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid for all combinations of the values. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the storage module may maintain tables, databases, pointers, and the like, for storing the user input and the map. The user input, either as the duty cycle information or the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet is associated with the at least one attribute of the media sheet. Further, as explained previously, the duty cycle for operating the solenoid is based on the user input.

As explained in FIG. 2, the solenoid is operatively coupled to a pick roller, such as pick roller 208, for feeding the media sheet in the media processing device. As explained in FIG. 2, power may be supplied to the solenoid during the ON time in form of a signal from a power supply. The signal may be transmitted to the solenoid to operate the solenoid at the duty cycle. The signal transmitted to the solenoid may be based on the duty cycle information of the solenoid. Alternatively, the signal transmitted to the solenoid may be based on the determined duty cycle of the solenoid. As mentioned before, the duty cycle may be determined from the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet. The signal may be transmitted to the solenoid prior to exerting the normal force on the pick roller for feeding the media sheet in the media processing device.

The signal transmitted to the solenoid transforms into the normal force exerted on the media sheet by the pick roller. Further, as explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, the normal force exerted on the media sheet is based on the user input.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the method and system for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device, permit a user to vary a normal force exerted by a pick roller, such as the pick roller 208, on the media sheet, based on a user input from a user. The normal force may be varied based on at least one attribute of the media sheet, thereby, optimizing the use of the pick roller. Further, wearing of the pick roller may be minimized by optimizing the normal force exerted by the pick roller. Furthermore, multifeeds or misfeeds of media sheets may be avoided by exerting required normal force on the media sheet. The required normal force may be computed automatically by the media processing device based on the user input.

As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a computer program product for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device, such as media processing device 200 explained in FIG. 2. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also be embodied in the form of program module containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program module is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the present disclosure. The program module includes instructions for receiving a user input from a user. The user input is associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet to be fed in the media processing device. The media processing device includes a pick roller, such as pick roller 208, capable of rotating, and a solenoid, such as solenoid 206, controlling the rotation of the pick roller.

The program module also includes instructions for generating a signal to operate the solenoid at a duty cycle, which is based on the user input. The operation of the solenoid transforms into a normal force exerted on the media sheet by the pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device. The user input may include at least one of information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet and duty cycle information of the solenoid. In an embodiment, the program module further includes instructions for determining the duty cycle of a solenoid when the user input is the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet. The instructions for determining the duty cycle of the solenoid may further include instructions for mapping the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure as described above, may be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the present disclosure. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

The foregoing description of several methods and an embodiment of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A method for feeding a media sheet into a media processing device, the method comprising:

receiving a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet; and

exerting a normal force on the media sheet using a pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device, wherein the normal force exerted on the media sheet is based on the user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises duty cycle information of a solenoid, the solenoid operatively coupled to the pick roller for feeding the media sheet in the media processing device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a signal to the solenoid for exerting the normal force by the pick roller on the media sheet, the signal based on the duty cycle information of the solenoid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining a duty cycle of a solenoid based on the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet to operate the solenoid at the duty cycle, the solenoid operatively coupled to the pick roller for feeding the media sheet in the media processing device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the duty cycle of the solenoid comprises mapping the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising transmitting a signal to the solenoid for exerting the normal force by the pick roller on the media sheet, the signal based on the determined duty cycle of the solenoid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one attribute of the media sheet comprises at least one of a weight of the media sheet, a density of the media sheet, stiffness of the media sheet and a coefficient of friction of the media sheet.

9. A system for feeding a media sheet into a media processing device, the system comprising:

a solenoid, the solenoid capable of being operated at a duty cycle, the duty cycle based on a user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet; and

a pick roller operatively connected to the solenoid, the pick roller capable of rotating and applying a normal force on the media sheet, the rotation of the pick roller and the normal force capable of feeding the media sheet into the media processing device, wherein the normal force exerted by the pick roller on the media sheet is based on the user input.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user input comprises one of information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet and a duty cycle information.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a storage module for storing the user input; and

a processing module for determining the duty cycle of the solenoid based on the at least one attribute of the media sheet.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage module comprises a map, the map comprising a mapping of an attribute of a media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processing module determines the duty cycle of the solenoid from the map of the storage module.

14. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for feeding a media sheet in a media processing device, the media processing device comprising a pick roller capable of rotating and a solenoid controlling the rotation of the pick roller, the computer program product comprising a program module having instructions for:

receiving a user input from a user, the user input associated with at least one attribute of the media sheet; and generating a signal to operate the solenoid at a duty cycle, the duty cycle based on the user input, wherein the operation of the solenoid transforms into a normal force exerted on the media sheet by the pick roller for feeding the media sheet into the media processing device.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14 wherein the user input comprises at least one of information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet and duty cycle information of the solenoid.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the program module further comprises instructions for determining the duty cycle of a solenoid when the user input is the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the instructions for determining the duty cycle of the solenoid further comprises instructions for mapping the information of the at least one attribute of the media sheet to a corresponding duty cycle of the solenoid.