Sheet Surface Sensing for Accurate Media Type Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses struggle with incorrect sheet type settings, leading to issues such as image abnormalities, jams, and fixing failures due to variations in sheet properties, and existing sheet measurement devices provide inadequate identification accuracy due to unevenness and manual insertion inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A sheet property measurement device with a reading sensor that reads the sheet surface multiple times and a controller that measures properties and displays potential types based on consistent reading results, while an image forming apparatus adjusts conditions based on user input and error detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the measuring device reads the sheet surface multiple times to improve identification accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reading sensor performs periodic readings of the sheet surface multiple times during sheet conveyance. The controller compares these periodic reading results to determine consistency, and only when consistent does it output the measurement result, thereby improving identification accuracy through repeated periodic measurement.
2Measurement precision
If the reading sensor reads a wider region of the sheet surface to account for unevenness, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reading sensor reads the sheet surface not only across the width dimension but also along the conveyance direction by performing multiple readings during sheet movement. This adds the time/conveyance dimension to the measurement, allowing the system to capture surface properties across a wider effective region without expanding the sensor's physical footprint.
3Reliability
If the image forming apparatus controls image forming conditions based on accurate sheet type detection, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device provides feedback to the image forming apparatus by outputting the determined sheet type or sheet profile. The image forming apparatus uses this feedback information to automatically control image forming conditions such as conveyance speed, fixing temperature, and transfer voltage, thereby improving reliability through closed-loop control.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet property measurement device includes an insertion portion into which a sheet is to be inserted, a reading sensor configured to read a surface of the sheet inserted into the insertion portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to measure a property of the surface of the sheet based on a plurality of reading results given by the reading sensor, and output a measurement error in a case where all the plurality of reading results given by the reading sensor do not change from a reading result given at one location on the surface of the sheet with respect to an insertion direction of inserting the sheet.