Sheet Discriminator Optical Sensor for Curl Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately discriminating sheet types due to deformations like curls and waveforms, which affect the accuracy of optical information detection and degrade the precision of sheet type discrimination.
Innovation Solution
A sheet discriminator with a sheet loading table and an optical sensor system that includes a VCSEL array, collimator lenses, and polarizing filters, which emits linearly polarized light and receives specular and diffused reflection light to accurately detect sheet information without being affected by deformed portions, allowing for precise sheet type discrimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional optical sensor is used to detect sheet information during conveyance, then the detection process is simple and fast, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sheet deformations like curls and waveforms
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor system is segmented into multiple functional components: light emitting elements (VCSEL array), light receiving elements (photodetector array), and signal processing units. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the photodetector array positioned to detect light from specific regions of the sheet, thereby achieving high measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional single-point or line detection to two-dimensional area detection using an array of photodetectors. By detecting light reflected from multiple points across the sheet surface simultaneously, the system obtains comprehensive optical information that is insensitive to local deformations, thereby improving sheet type discrimination accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Measurement precision
If multiple detection points are used to avoid deformation effects, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple photodetectors are merged into a single integrated array structure that simultaneously detects light from multiple points on the sheet. The combined output of all photodetectors provides comprehensive optical information about the sheet's surface properties, thickness, and other characteristics. This merging approach achieves high measurement precision through multi-point detection while managing complexity through integrated sensor design and unified signal processing
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 solution enables precise discrimination of sheet types based on surface properties, thickness, and other characteristics, reducing measurement errors and improving the accuracy of sheet handling and image forming conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting element and a light receiving element... causes the light emitting element of the optical sensor to emit light
Implementation Method 2
the light receiving element of the optical sensor to receive the light reflected on a surface of the sheet
Implementation Method 3
detects sheet information based on optical information including a light amount of the received light
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet discriminator includes a sheet loader on which a recording medium is loaded, an information detector to detect information of the recording medium loaded on the sheet loader, and a sheet distinguisher to distinguish a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the information detector. The information detector detects the information of the recording medium with the recording medium being inserted between the sheet loader and the information detector. An image forming apparatus incorporates the sheet discriminator and an image forming part to form an image on the recording medium.