Grammage Detection Sensor for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face misidentification issues when determining the type of recording target media due to the lack of a proper sensor that can directly detect grammage, relying on indirect measures like thickness and light transmittance.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a medium sensor that determines the type of recording medium, a determining unit to convert sensor output into grammage values, and a control unit to adjust image forming conditions based on classified grammage ranges, with boundaries set to minimize misidentification by ensuring a difference of at least 20 g/m2 between neighboring grammage types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a medium sensor is used to determine paper type based on thickness or light transmittance, then automation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to misidentification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from indirect properties (thickness, light transmittance) to direct property (grammage). By installing a grammage detection sensor that directly measures the weight per unit area of the paper, the system achieves both automation and high precision in paper type identification, eliminating the misidentification problem inherent in indirect measurement methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical/electrical measurement system (thickness sensor, light transmittance sensor) with a mechanical measurement system (grammage detection sensor). This substitution enables direct measurement of the paper's mass per unit area, providing more accurate and reliable paper type determination while maintaining automation
2Measurement precision
If grammage ranges are classified with narrow intervals to improve precision, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining grammage range classifications (first grammage range, second grammage range, etc.) based on typical paper types and their grammage characteristics. These predetermined ranges are stored in the determining unit, allowing the system to quickly and accurately classify detected grammage values without complex real-time analysis, thus achieving high precision with minimal complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the continuous grammage measurement scale into discrete, non-overlapping ranges (first grammage range, second grammage range, third grammage range). Each range corresponds to specific paper types, enabling simplified classification logic while maintaining precise paper type identification. This segmentation transforms a continuous measurement problem into a discrete classification problem
Data Source
AI summary
With respect to principal papers distributed in the market and used in an image forming apparatus, a boundary between grammage ranges is set at the center of a section where neighboring grammage values of paper has a large difference, and an image is formed under optimum image forming conditions in accordance with the determined grammage range.