Charge Elimination Apparatus Contact Detection Wrinkled Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charge-eliminating apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting electrostatic charge on sheets, especially when the sheets are wrinkled or curled, leading to decreased detection accuracy of non-contact type surface potential sensors.
Innovation Solution
A charge-eliminating apparatus that includes a contacting member to detect the voltage applied to it or the current flowing through it, allowing for more stable control of the charge-elimination process based on the detected electrostatic charge. The apparatus uses constant current control for the contacting member and constant voltage control for the charge-eliminating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-contact type surface potential sensor is used to detect electrostatic charge on sheets, then the detection process is non-contact and convenient, but the detection accuracy decreases when sheets are wrinkled or curled due to varying distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a contacting member as an intermediary between the sheet and the detection system. This contacting member maintains constant contact with the sheet surface, thereby stabilizing the detection distance regardless of sheet wrinkles or curls. The contacting member acts as a mediator that translates the sheet's electrostatic charge into a measurable voltage signal while maintaining a fixed geometric relationship, thus resolving the contradiction between non-contact convenience and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the non-contact optical/electromagnetic detection system with a contact-based electrical measurement system. By using a contacting member that physically touches the sheet, the system substitutes the distance-dependent non-contact measurement with a direct electrical contact measurement, eliminating the distance variability issue caused by sheet deformation while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If a contacting member is used to detect voltage or current, then detection accuracy improves for wrinkled or curled sheets, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting member is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a detection element for measuring voltage/current and a charge-eliminating element when voltage is applied. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy for wrinkled or curled sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection function and charge-elimination function into a single contacting member structure. The same member that contacts the sheet to detect voltage or current also serves as the charge-eliminating surface when voltage is applied, thereby reducing component count and simplifying the overall device structure despite the added detection capability.
3Reliability
If constant voltage control is used for the charge-eliminating member, then charge elimination is stable, but the contacting member requires constant current control to maintain detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms where the detection circuit monitors the voltage or current at the contacting member and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the power source output accordingly, maintaining constant current control for the contacting member while allowing constant voltage control for the charge-eliminating member. This feedback system manages the control complexity by automatically balancing the two control modes.
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
The apparatus achieves more stable and accurate control of electrostatic charge elimination on sheets, reducing the risk of misalignment and sticking due to electrostatic attraction, even when sheets are wrinkled or curled.
Implementation Method 1
a charge-eliminating member configured to be brought into contact with the sheet and perform charge elimination on the sheet
Implementation Method 2
a detection circuit configured to detect a voltage applied to the contacting member or a current flowing in the contacting member
Data Source
AI summary
A charge-eliminating apparatus configured to perform charge elimination on a sheet includes a charge-eliminating member configured to perform charge elimination on the sheet, a power source configured to apply a voltage to the charge-eliminating member, a contacting member configured to be brought into contact with the sheet, a detection circuit configured to detect a voltage applied to the contacting member or a current flowing in the contacting member, and a controlling unit configured to control the power source, wherein the controlling unit determines a value of the voltage applied from the power source to the charge-eliminating member during charge elimination by the charge-eliminating member based on a detection result from the detection circuit during passage of the sheet along the contacting member, and wherein the voltage applied to the contacting member undergoes constant current control, and the voltage applied to the charge-eliminating member undergoes constant voltage control.