Medium discrimination device, image forming apparatus, and program having simplified mechanism

• US 20060164456A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Miki, Katsuhiko, Yamagishi, Masaru, Gaman, Yasuharu, Inoue, Nobuo, Sakamoto, Kouki, Shimodaira, Nobuyuki, Koshinuma, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/16
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/31 Supports for sheets fully removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/416 of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/51 Presence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/524 Multiple articles, e.g. double feed
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2515/60 Optical characteristics, e.g. colour, light
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/412 in barrier arrangements, i.e. emitter facing a receptor element
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/23 Recording or storing data
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/64 for detecting type or properties of handled material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/62 diverting faulty articles from the main streams control devices detecting faulty articles B65H43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 7/125 sensing the double feed or separation without contacting the articles

Abstract

A medium discrimination device includes a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity at each time the medium is conveyed, a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device, a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of medium to be used, a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity assigned to each medium to be set by the medium setting device, and a control processing unit configured to perform paper type detection on a first medium, and double feed detection on following mediums.

Claims

1. A medium discrimination device, comprising:

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity each time the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of medium to be used;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity assigned to each medium to be set by the medium setting device; and

a control processing unit configured to perform paper type detection on a first medium, and double feed detection on following mediums.

2. The medium discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement value memory device rewrites memory contents each time measurement is performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device on a medium conveyed on the conveyance route, and the control processing unit performs the paper type detection based on comparison between a result of the measurement by the transmitted light quantity measurement device and memory contents written by the medium information memory device in accordance with a medium set by the medium setting device, and performs the double feed detection by using the memory contents written by the measurement value memory device.

3. The medium discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyed medium is a medium first conveyed after a predetermined event in which a medium stored in a storage may be replaced.

4. The medium discrimination device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a reset device configured to reset a value stored in the measurement value memory device after the predetermined event; and

a mode judgment device configured to perform selected one of the paper type detection and the double feed detection depending on whether a value is set in the measurement value memory device.

5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a conveyance route on which a medium is conveyed one by one after being separated from a plurality of mediums and brought out of a storage in which the mediums are overlaid; and

a medium discrimination device, comprising;

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity each time the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of medium to be used;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity assigned for each medium to be set by the medium setting device; and

a control processing unit configured to perform paper type detection on a first medium, and double feed detection on following mediums.

6. The image forming apparatus comprising the medium discrimination device according to claim 5, wherein the medium discrimination device comprises:

at least one of a recording medium storage attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus, wherein attachment and detachment thereof is detected, and a storage member variably attached to the image forming apparatus, wherein presence of a medium stored therein is detected, and the first conveyed medium is a medium first conveyed after a predetermined event in which the medium stored in a storage may be replaced.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a storage configured to store a medium; and

a device configured to bring out the medium from the storage, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to change timing of successively bringing out from the storage a medium following a medium subjected to selected one of the paper type detection and the double feed detection.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a control device configured to make a judgment on whether respective results of the paper type detection and the double feed detection are normal, and to at least partially stop an image forming operation when the results are determined to be not normal, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to change the timing of bringing out the medium between timing which comes after the judgment is made on the medium subjected to the detection, and predetermined timing which comes earlier than the timing.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the timing, which comes after the judgment is made, is when the result is determined to be normal, and when the result is determined to be not normal, the medium is not brought out.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a selection device configured to select whether to change timing of successively bringing out a medium following a medium subjected to selected one of the paper type detection and the double feed detection, wherein the predetermined timing which comes earlier refers to the timing for bringing out the medium when not performing the change is selected.

7. A medium discrimination device, comprising:

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

a control processing unit configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement device and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory device and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory device, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

8. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined timing is when a first medium is conveyed, and the control processing unit is configured to perform the paper type detection in the timing.

9. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined timing is when a medium following the first medium is conveyed, and the control processing unit is configured to perform the double feed detection in the timing.

10. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of medium to be used, wherein information of a transmitted light quantity assigned to each medium by the medium setting device can be optionally set to the medium information memory device.

11. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein an operation device is provided for setting whether the paper type detection to be performed in the predetermined timing is actually performed.

12. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein an operation device is provided for setting whether the double feed detection to be performed in the predetermined timing is actually performed.

13. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of measurement value memory devices are provided for a plurality of storages each storing a medium from which the medium is selectively brought out on the conveyance route.

14. The medium discrimination device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of medium information memory devices are provided for the plurality of storages each storing the medium from which the medium is selectively brought out on the conveyance route.

15. The medium discrimination device according to claim 13, wherein an operation device is provided for setting for each of the plurality of storages whether the double feed detection to be performed in the predetermined timing is actually performed.

16. The medium discrimination device according to claim 14, wherein an operation device is provided for setting for each of the plurality of storages whether the paper type detection to be performed in the predetermined timing is actually performed.

28. The medium discrimination device according to claim 16, wherein an information table for the medium information memory device is provided for each of a plurality of medium conveyance routes.

29. The medium discrimination device according to claim 16, wherein an information table for the medium information memory device is provided for each storage.

17. A medium feeding device, comprising:

a storage configured to store a medium;

a device configured to bring out the medium in the storage; and

a medium discrimination device, comprising;

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

a control processing unit configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement device and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory device and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory device, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

18. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a medium discrimination device, comprising;

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

a control processing unit configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement device and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory device and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory device, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control processing unit is configured to perform one of paper type detection and double feed detection when the predetermined timing is when a medium, having an image printed on one side thereof, is conveyed.

24. A medium discrimination method, comprising the steps of:

measuring a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route when a medium is conveyed;

storing a measurement value being a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity;

storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

selectively performing paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the step of storing information of the transmitted light quantity and the transmitted light quantity stored in the step of storing the measurement value, and selectively performing the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

25. A computer program product stored on a computer readable recording medium, storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer programmed with the instructions, causes:

transmitted light quantity measurement means to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

measurement value memory means to store a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement means and;

medium information memory means to store information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

control processing unit means to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement means and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory means and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory means, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

26. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product, storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer programmed with the instructions, causes:

transmitted light quantity measurement means to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory means to store a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement means;

medium information memory means to store information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

control processing unit means configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement means and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory means and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory means, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing;

to perform the steps of;

measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route when a medium is conveyed;

store a measurement value being a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity;

store information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the step of storing information of the transmitted light quantity and the transmitted light quantity stored in the step of storing the measurement value, and selectively performing the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

27. A medium discrimination device, comprising:

a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, disposed in vicinity of a registration device where a plurality of medium conveyance routes meet, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is temporarily stopped by the registration device;

a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device;

a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

a control processing unit configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement device and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory device and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory device.

30. A computer program product stored on a computer readable recording medium, storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer programmed with the instructions, causes the computer to perform the following steps:

measuring a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route when a medium is conveyed;

storing a measurement value being a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity;

storing information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

selectively performing paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the step of storing information of the transmitted light quantity and the transmitted light quantity stored in the step of storing the measurement value, and selectively performing the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.

31. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product, storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer programmed with the instructions, causes:

transmitted light quantity measurement means to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity when the medium is conveyed;

a measurement value memory means to store a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement means;

medium information memory means to store information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

control processing unit means configured to selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured by the transmitted light quantity measurement means and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the medium information memory means and the transmitted light quantity stored by the measurement value memory means, and to selectively perform the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing;

to perform the steps of;

measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route when a medium is conveyed;

store a measurement value being a result of the measurement of the transmitted light quantity performed in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity;

store information of a transmitted light quantity in accordance with a medium previously set for use; and

selectively perform paper type detection and double feed detection based on a result of a comparison between the transmitted light quantity measured in the step of measuring the transmitted light quantity and selected one of the transmitted light quantity corresponding to the medium previously set in the step of storing information of the transmitted light quantity and the transmitted light quantity stored in the step of storing the measurement value, and selectively performing the paper type detection and the double feed detection according to predetermined timing.