Rotatable Contact Sensor for Recording Material Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording material detection sensors face challenges in accurately following and detecting the characteristics of various recording materials, especially when the conveyance path curves, leading to decreased precision and potential damage to non-rigid materials.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a detection unit with rotatable contact members that can nip and follow the recording material, allowing for precise detection of surface properties and basis weight using a combination of light and ultrasonic sensors, ensuring the sensor remains in contact regardless of material rigidity or curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressing forces of the springs are increased to surpass the rigidity of the recording material, then the sensor can follow rigid recording materials, but non-rigid recording materials cannot enter the sensor nip portion and may get shocked
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are designed to be rotatable about an axial line extending in the conveyance direction, allowing them to dynamically adjust their orientation based on the rigidity and shape of the recording material. This rotational freedom enables the sensor to adapt to both rigid and non-rigid materials without requiring high pressing forces that could damage delicate materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter is made adjustable and material-dependent. The control unit sets appropriate pressing forces based on the detected characteristics of the recording material, using lower forces for non-rigid materials to prevent damage and higher forces for rigid materials to ensure proper contact and detection.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor is positioned at a curve location on the conveyance path, then it can detect recording materials, but rigid recording materials incline in the thickness direction and separate from the contact members
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are designed with rotational freedom about an axial line, allowing them to dynamically adjust their orientation in response to the curvature of the conveyance path and the inclination of rigid recording materials. This enables the sensor to maintain stable contact with the material surface even at curve locations where rigid materials would otherwise separate from fixed contact members.
3Device complexity
If the contact members are fixed and rigid, then the sensor structure is simple, but it cannot follow recording materials with varying shapes, widths, or rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are designed to be rotatable about an axial line extending in the conveyance direction, adding minimal mechanical complexity while significantly improving adaptability. This rotational degree of freedom allows the sensor to follow recording materials with varying shapes, widths, and rigidity without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable contact member design creates a universal sensor structure that can handle diverse recording materials (different rigidity, shape, and width) with a single unified mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sensors or complex adjustment systems for different material types.
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
This solution enhances the precision and reliability of recording material detection, maintaining contact and accurate identification even with non-rigid materials and those that curl or have varying widths, thereby improving image formation conditions and reducing material damage.
Implementation Method 1
An optical sensor known as one of the sensors for identifying the kind of a recording material includes a light source that faces a surface of the recording material and detects transmitted light that has been transmitted through the recording material to find the thickness of the recording material.
Implementation Method 2
Another sensor recently proposed detects reflected light that has been reflected from a surface of a recording material to find surface properties of the recording material.
Implementation Method 3
Another one uses ultrasonic waves to find the basis weight of the recording material.
Data Source
AI summary
A detection unit includes a first contact member that comes into contact with a surface of a recording material and a second contact member that comes into contact with the other surface of the recording material, and the first contact member and the second contact member face each other and are capable of nipping the recording material. The first contact member and the second contact member are movable in a direction in which the first contact member and the second contact member nip the recording material. The first contact member and the second contact member are rotatable about an axial line that extends in a direction in which the recording material is conveyed.