Signal output and image forming apparatus with method of judging sheet type by impact detection

• US 7,583,413 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Takehiko, Kaneko, Norio, Nakanishi, Koichiro, Nojiri, Hidetoshi, Gemma, Naoyo, Morimoto, Toshitsugu, Akaike, Masatake
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; Scott A
• Application Number:
  US12/049,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.12, 358/3.24, 358/504, 358/406, 358/296, 358/498, 73/120.1, 73/120.9, 73/121.1, 73/121.2, 73/121.3, 731/59, 347/105, 347/106, 347/153, 347/155, 347/158, 347/262, 347/264, 399/45, 271/258.01, 271/262
• US Class Current: 358/3.24
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/012 Phase angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0237 Thin materials, e.g. paper, membranes, thin films
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2632 flat
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 with stored values, e.g. threshold values
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/60 for providing a permanent recording

Abstract

A signal output apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. An apparatus for determining the type of sheet comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact, wherein the type of the sheet is determined based on the signal from the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. A method for determining the type of sheet comprises the steps of applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step, and determining the type of sheet based on the signal. An apparatus carries out the method for determining the type of sheet. An information output apparatus used in an image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a target from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting information by the impact.

Claims

1. A method for determining a type of sheet, comprising the steps of:

applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof;

outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step; and

determining the type of sheet based on the signal,

wherein the impact applied to the sheet causes bending of the sheet, whereby the sheet and the detection unit are made to come into contact with each other to output the signal from the detection unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said applying step is carried out at the time when said sheet is in the static state.

3. An information output apparatus used in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet;

an impact receiving unit for receiving the impact through the sheet; and

a signal output unit for outputting a signal according to a mechanical property of the sheet, the signal output unit being provided on at least one of the impact applying unit side and the impact receiving unit side,

wherein the impact applied to the sheet by the impact applying unit causes bending of the sheet, whereby the sheet and the impact receiving unit are made to come into contact with each other to output the signal from the signal output unit.

4. A signal output apparatus comprising:

an impact applying unit for applying an impact to a sheet;

an impact receiving unit for receiving the impact through the sheet; and

a signal output unit for outputting a signal according to a mechanical property of the sheet, the signal output unit being provided on at least one of the impact applying unit side and the impact receiving unit side,

wherein the impact applied to the sheet by the impact applying unit causes the bending of the sheet, whereby the sheet and the impact receiving unit are made to come into contact with each other, to output the signal from the signal output unit.

5. The signal output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet is bended at a recess provided to the impact receiving unit side, by the impact applied to the sheet by the impact applying unit.

6. The signal output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet and the impact receiving unit are made to come into contact with each other at a portion of the impact receiving unit which is opposite to the impact applying unit.

7. The signal output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the signal output unit is comprised of a piezoelectric element.

8. The signal output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the signal output unit is provided on an elastic deformable member.

9. The signal output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the impact is applied at the time when the sheet is in the static state.

10. A method for determining a sheet type, comprising the step of using (i) a signal outputted from a signal output unit of a signal output apparatus according to claim 4, when an impact is applied to a sheet in the situation that the sheet exists between an impact applying unit and an impact receiving unit in the signal output apparatus, and (ii) a signal outputted from the signal output unit when an impact is applied in the situation that a sheet does not exist between the impact applying unit and the impact receiving unit, to determine the kind of material of the sheet.

11. An image forming apparatus, which comprises a signal output apparatus according to claim 4, a conveying means which conveys a sheet and an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet.

12. An information output apparatus for outputting information as to a sheet, comprising:

a detecting unit for detecting at least one of a temperature and moisture condition associated with a sheet;

an external force-applying unit for applying an external force to the sheet;

an information obtaining unit for obtaining information of a force, damped by the existence of the sheet, when the external force is applied to the sheet by the external force-applying unit; and

a judging unit for judging information as to the sheet based on information from the detecting unit and the information obtaining unit.

13. A method of judging a type of sheet, which comprises:

a first step of applying an external impact to a sheet;

a second step of outputting a signal from a detecting unit, which detects a force, damped by the sheet, when the external impact is applied to the sheet in the first step;

a third step of measuring at least one of a temperature and moisture condition associated with the sheet; and

a fourth step of judging a type of the sheet from the signal obtained in the second step and information as to at least one of the temperature and moisture condition obtained in the third step.