Sheet attribution detection sensor device, paper sheet attribution detection method, and image forming apparatus

• US 9,033,455 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Isoda, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Manish S
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMEH, YAOVI M
• Application Number:
  US14/336,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 347/19, 347/14, 347/16, 347/106
• US Class Current: 347/19
• 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

Abstract

A sheet attribution detection sensor device includes a light emission element configured to emit incident light to a paper sheet, a light receiving element configured to receive a specular reflection component of reflection light from the paper sheet of the incident light in order to specify a thickness of the paper sheet, and light receiving elements configured to receive a diffuse reflection component of the reflection light in order to specify one of surface roughness and color of the paper sheet.

Claims

1. A sheet attribution detection sensor device including:

a light emission element configured to emit incident light to a paper sheet;

a condensing lens configured to condense the incident light emitted from the light emission element into light in a spot shape;

a first light receiving element configured to

cause electric charge produced by the light in the spot shape being incident on a semiconductor surface receiving a specular reflection component of reflection light from the paper sheet of the incident light to reach electrodes on both sides of a sensor and

detect a position of the incident light in the spot shape based on an amount of the electric charge reaching the electrodes,

in order to specify a thickness of the paper sheet;

a second light receiving element configured to detect a diffuse reflection component of the reflection light in a form divided into red, green, and blue color signals in order to specify paper sheet color; and

a third light receiving element including a filter configured to block visible light and transmit infrared light out of the diffuse reflection component of the reflection light in order to specify sheet surface roughness.

2. The sheet attribution detection sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an incident angle of the incident light to the paper sheet is smaller than 45 degrees.

3. An image forming apparatus including:

the sheet attribution detection sensor device according to claim 1;

an image output portion configured to print an image on the paper sheet; and

a controller configured to control the image output portion based on a plurality of attributions of the paper sheet detected by the sheet attribution detection sensor device.

4. A sheet attribution detection method including:

emitting light in a spot shape as incident light to a paper sheet;

receiving a specular reflection component of reflection light from the paper sheet of the incident light on a semiconductor surface;

detecting a position of the incident light in the spot shape based on an amount of electric charge produced by the light in the spot shape being including on the semiconductor surface and reaching electrodes on both sides of a sensor, to specify paper sheet thickness;

receiving a diffuse reflection component of the reflection light to specify paper sheet color; and

receiving the diffuse reflection component of the reflection light to specify sheet surface roughness.

5. The sheet attribution detection method according to claim 4, wherein an incident angle of the incident light to the paper sheet is smaller than 45 degrees.