Ultrasonic Waveguide Housing for Cleanable Feed Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic devices face issues with foreign matter adherence, leading to reduced transmission and reception sensitivity due to mesh design, which either requires frequent cleaning or results in sensitivity loss.

Innovation Solution

The ultrasonic device incorporates a housing with a reflection surface, waveguide, and an opening, along with a configuration that inclines the ultrasonic wave path to minimize adherence and facilitate easy cleaning, maintaining stable sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a mesh-like protector is provided in the opening to suppress intrusion of foreign matter, then foreign matter intrusion is suppressed, but foreign matter such as paper dust adheres to the surface of the ultrasonic device and transmission and reception sensitivity become lower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter intrusion suppressionVSAvoidtransmission and reception sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the mesh-like protector from the opening entirely. Instead of using a mesh structure that traps foreign matter, the design allows the opening to remain clear, preventing foreign matter adhesion to the ultrasonic device surface while still providing protection through the device housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than placing a protective mesh at the opening that causes adhesion problems, the patent inverts the approach by designing the housing to protect the ultrasonic device internally while keeping the opening clear. The protection function is achieved through the housing structure itself rather than an external mesh barrier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the mesh is made finer to suppress foreign matter intrusion, then foreign matter intrusion is suppressed, but cleaning becomes necessary and moisture of cleaning liquid mixes with paper dust during cleaning, causing transmission and reception sensitivity to become lower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter intrusion suppressionVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the mesh-like protector that requires cleaning maintenance. By eliminating the mesh structure entirely, the design removes the source of cleaning problems while maintaining foreign matter suppression through alternative housing design approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure is designed to be inherently protective without requiring additional mesh components that need cleaning. The design allows the system to maintain functionality without manual intervention for cleaning, as the clear opening prevents foreign matter accumulation in the first place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the mesh is made finer, then foreign matter intrusion is suppressed, but the transmission and reception sensitivity of ultrasonic waves becomes lower due to adhesion of moisture and paper dust

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter intrusion suppressionVSAvoidtransmission and reception sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the mesh-like protector that causes both foreign matter adhesion and sensitivity degradation. The opening is left clear to allow ultrasonic waves to pass without obstruction while the housing structure provides the necessary protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a fine mesh that obstructs ultrasonic waves and accumulates contaminants, the patent inverts the protection approach by using the housing structure itself to protect the ultrasonic device while maintaining a clear opening for optimal ultrasonic transmission and reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 configuration ensures the ultrasonic device is easily cleaned and maintains sensitivity, achieving stable transmission and reception sensitivity by effectively addressing the adherence and facilitating easy cleaning, the technical problem of adherence and sensitivity sensitivity can be secured, ensuring stable sensitivity can be secured, ensuring stable sensitivity can be secured, ensuring stable sensitivity.

Implementation Method 1

the housing includes a reflection surface that reflects the ultrasonic waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a waveguide through which the ultrasonic waves propagate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWaveguide: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentUS20260003088A1Ultrasonic Device, Multi-Feed Detector, Transport Device, And Scanner

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ultrasonic device includes an ultrasonic element that performs at least one of transmission of ultrasonic waves and reception of ultrasonic waves, and a housing that houses the ultrasonic element, wherein the housing includes a reflection surface that reflects the ultrasonic waves, a waveguide through which the ultrasonic waves propagate, and an opening that is provided at one end of the waveguide and through which the ultrasonic waves pass.