Ultrasonic Recording Material Detection with Burst and Continuous Wave Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional recording material determination devices using ultrasonic waves face accuracy issues due to nonuniform basis weight distribution across the recording material, leading to inconsistent image formation in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A recording material determination device that employs a transmission unit to send ultrasonic waves and a reception unit to receive them, utilizing both burst and continuous wave signals to calculate the mean value and change rate of basis weight, improving accuracy by enhancing resolving power and accounting for basis-weight nonuniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single ultrasonic wave transmission mode is used to determine recording material type, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision decreases due to nonuniform basis weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between burst wave mode and continuous wave mode transmissions. The control unit outputs drive signals in a periodic manner, switching between these two transmission modes to measure both mean basis weight and basis weight nonuniformity. This periodic switching allows the system to gather comprehensive material characteristics without requiring multiple simultaneous transmission paths, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the transmission mode parameter between burst wave and continuous wave. The control unit changes the drive signal characteristics (number of drive signals, transmission duration) to extract different parameters from the same recording material. By changing the transmission mode parameter, the system can determine both the mean basis weight and the nonuniformity parameter, thereby improving measurement precision without adding physical complexity to the device structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If only mean basis weight is measured, then the measurement process is simplified, but the manufacturing precision of image formation deteriorates due to unaccounted nonuniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the measurement process into two distinct phases: one using burst wave mode to measure mean basis weight, and another using continuous wave mode to measure basis weight nonuniformity. This segmentation allows the system to separately determine both the average property and the variability of the recording material. By segmenting the measurement process, the system can comprehensively characterize the material for precise image formation control without requiring a single overly complex measurement procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the measured nonuniformity parameter to adjust image formation conditions. The control unit feeds back the nonuniformity information to determine appropriate image formation parameters, such as adjusting transfer characteristics or fixing conditions based on the detected basis weight variations. This feedback mechanism ensures that image formation precision is maintained by adapting the process parameters to the actual material characteristics, resolving the contradiction between simplified measurement and precise manufacturing.
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 device accurately determines the type of recording material and adjusts image forming conditions, such as secondary transfer and fixing, to ensure optimal image formation by effectively addressing basis-weight nonuniformity, thereby improving the precision and quality of image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission unit (31a) configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, a drive unit (32) configured to output a drive signal for transmitting the ultrasonic wave from the transmission unit (31a)
Implementation Method 2
a reception unit (31b) configured to receive the ultrasonic wave
Data Source
AI summary
A recording material determination device includes a transmission unit, a drive unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The drive unit outputs a drive signal for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the transmission unit to the reception unit. The control unit determines a type of a recording material, based on a first value of the ultrasonic wave through the recording material received by the reception unit in a first mode for outputting a first number of drive signals from the drive unit in a first period, and a second value of the ultrasonic wave through the recording material received by the reception unit in a second mode for outputting a second number of drive signals from the drive unit in a second period. The second number of drive signals is greater than the first number of drive signals.