JP4072373B2 - Material discrimination method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a material discrimination method for discriminating the material of an object to be detected, and more particularly, to a method for discriminating a material by using fluid passing through the object to be detected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in various technical fields, a material discriminating apparatus for discriminating a material has attracted attention. Hereinafter, as an example thereof, a discrimination device used in a printer apparatus, which discriminates the quality of a recording medium (whether it is OHP paper, photo glossy paper, coated paper, or plain paper). I will explain things.
[0003]
In the recent inkjet printer market, the need for photographic quality printing is increasing due to the spread of digital cameras and the like. In addition, due to the low price of inkjet printers, color printing can be easily performed even in ordinary households. In this way, the market for inkjet printers has expanded compared to before, and the applications of inkjet printers have become diverse. Along with this, the types of recording media are increasing, such as OHP paper, photo glossy paper, coated paper, plain paper, and the like.
[0004]
By the way, the type of the recording medium is discriminated by the user himself. However, the more types of the recording medium, the more difficult the discriminating and the more likely it is to make a mistake.
[0005]
Therefore, as a discriminating apparatus for automatically discriminating the type of recording medium, a paper type is identified based on the degree of light scattering or the like when light is irradiated onto the paper from a light source. No. 4, JP-A No. 2000-301805, JP-A No. 2001-63870, and the like.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described discriminating apparatus is an optical type and requires many parts such as a light source and a lens, so that the apparatus structure becomes complicated.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a material discrimination method that prevents the structure from becoming complicated.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes a pressure vessel, a movable wall that moves within the pressure vessel, a drive unit that drives the movable wall, and a movement that detects the amount of movement of the movable wall. A material detection method using a quantity detection means,
Stopping the movable wall at an initial position;
Clogging the opening of the pressure vessel with an object to be detected;
Moving the movable wall from the initial position using the drive unit so that gas passes through the object to be detected;
Making the movable wall moved from the initial position freely movable, and detecting the stationary position where the movable wall is pushed back in the direction opposite to the direction moved from the initial position by the movement amount detecting means;
And determining the material of the object to be detected based on the difference between the initial position and the stationary position of the movable wall .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0010]
Material discrimination device according to the present invention is an apparatus for determining the material of the test object, as shown at A ₁ in FIG. 1, the wall portion by said detection object P with the fluid is filled A pressure chamber C partially configured, pressure adjusting means 1 for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber, and pressure detecting means 2 for detecting the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber. In the state where the pressure of the fluid is adjusted by the adjusting means 1, the material of the detected object P is determined based on detecting the pressure of the fluid by the pressure detecting means 2.
[0011]
The pressure chamber C described above may be formed by the pressure vessel 5 having an opening (see reference numeral E in FIG. 1) and the detection object P arranged so as to close the opening.
[0012]
As the pressure vessel 5, a cylinder may be used, or a vessel having another shape may be used. Further, the area of the opening E may be smaller than the area of the piston as shown in FIG. Thereby, even if the pressure adjustment means 1 is small, a required pressure can be obtained. That is, it is not necessary to use a large-sized pressure adjusting means 1, and the discrimination device can be made smaller accordingly.
[0013]
On the other hand, when a cylinder is used as the pressure vessel 5, the pressure adjusting means 1 may be configured by a piston 11 slidably disposed in the cylinder and a drive unit 12 that drives the piston 11. The drive unit 12 may be configured by a motor, a device that drives the motor, a gear, or the like, or may be configured by a solenoid valve or other drive source. Further, a plunger, a fluid pump, or the like may be used as the pressure adjusting means.
[0014]
The cylinder 5 is preferably formed of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum, or a polymer material such as plastic. Further, in order to maintain airtightness with the cylinder, the piston 11 is formed of a polymer material such as rubber at a portion in contact with the cylinder, and the other portion is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum, or a high material such as plastic. It is good to form with molecular material.
[0015]
In addition, an elastic member (ex. Polymer material such as rubber or resin) 6 is disposed between the pressure vessel 5 and the detected object P, and the pressure vessel 5 and the detected object P are separated by the elastic member 6. You may make it prevent the leakage of the fluid from between. Thereby, the material discrimination accuracy can be improved.
[0016]
Incidentally, the pressure detection means 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a general pressure sensor, but a pressure detection means having a structure as indicated by reference numeral 102 in FIG. 2 may be used. That is, the pressure detection means 102 is
A movable wall that is disposed so that one surface is in contact with the fluid and moves by an amount corresponding to the pressure of the fluid (the piston itself indicated by reference numeral 11 in the figure also corresponds to the movable wall when it is in a movable state) )When,
A movement amount detection means D for detecting the movement amount of the movable wall (for example, the piston 11);
You may comprise by. In such a case, the material discrimination is
The pressure of the fluid is adjusted by the pressure adjusting means 1 (in the case where a movable wall other than the piston 11 is used as the movable wall, the movable wall needs to be fixed during pressure adjustment);
-Thereafter, the movable wall (for example, the piston 11) is brought into a movable state,
-After the movable wall (for example, the piston 11) has moved by an amount corresponding to the pressure of the fluid, the movement amount is detected by the movement amount detection means D.
You can do that. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the piston 11 as a component part of the pressure adjusting means 1 is also used as the movable wall of the pressure detecting means 102. Accordingly, the number of parts can be reduced as a whole device, and the assembly work can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. However, a movable wall dedicated to the pressure detection means may be provided in addition to the piston 11. In this case, the movable wall is in a fixed state until the pressure is adjusted after the piston 11 is moved, so that the pressure adjustment is not affected, and the movable wall needs to be in a movable state when pressure is detected.
[0017]
The material discrimination when using a general pressure sensor 2 as shown in FIG.
A first memory 3 storing a relationship between the pressure of the fluid and the material of the object to be detected;
A first determination unit 4 for determining the material of the detected object P from the detection result of the pressure detection means 2 and the memory 3;
It is good to carry out using these.
[0018]
Further, the material discrimination when using the pressure detecting means 102 as shown in FIG.
A second memory 103 that stores the relationship between the amount of movement of the movable wall (for example, the piston 11) and the material of the detected object;
A second determination unit 104 for determining the material of the detected object from the detection result of the movement amount detection means D and the memory 103;
It is good to carry out using these.
[0019]
Furthermore, the pressure detection in the case of the apparatus shown in FIG.
Even if it is performed immediately after adjusting the pressure of the fluid by the pressure adjusting means 1 and performed on the degree of pressure change (that is, the amount of pressure change per unit time),
Even when a certain time has elapsed since the pressure of the fluid was adjusted by the pressure adjusting means 1,
good. In the former case, accurate determination cannot be made unless the operating state of the pressure adjusting means 1 (for example, the position of the piston 11) is detected one by one and pressure is detected at a timing that takes into account the operating state. Therefore, it is preferable to provide an operating state detecting means as indicated by reference numeral 8 in FIG. 4 so that the operating state of the pressure adjusting means 1 can be detected.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, it is only necessary to provide a pressure difference between the front and back of the object to be detected by the pressure adjusting means 1, and the pressure chamber may have a higher pressure or a lower pressure than the pressure chamber. good.
[0021]
Examples of the detected object P include various shapes. Detection object P is a sheet-like (e.g., paper such as a recording paper) in the case of the該被detected object, it is preferable to retain as not to bend the test object holding means B _1. That is, in the material discrimination device according to the present invention, a pressure difference is generated between the front and back of the object to be detected. Therefore, if the object to be detected is a sheet-like object, there is a risk of bending to the low pressure side. The detection result may be inaccurate. You may place the detection object holding means B ₁ in order to prevent such deflections. The detected object holding means B ₁ shown in FIG. 1 acts to sandwich the detected object P with the pressure vessel 5, but applies tension to the sheet-shaped detected object P to reduce the amount of bending. It is good to make it. In addition, a structure that restricts the bending (for example, a structure in which a later-described through hole 7 is made small and plural, or a net-like member is arranged on the side where the sheet-like object P is bent) may be used. In the case of using a plate-shaped member such as shown at B ₁ in FIG. 1 as a detection object holding means, may a position corresponding to the pressure chamber C is previously provided with a through hole 7 as the path through which fluid flows .
[0022]
Examples of the fluid described above include a liquid such as air, a liquid, and a gel material. In the case of using a liquid, a volatile liquid such as alcohol is preferable because it has a quick drying property (for example, when the detected object P is paper, the paper can be prevented from being swollen, and the influence on the printing surface can be prevented. Less).
[0023]
When the detected object P is paper, the first memory 3 may store the fluid pressure for each general paper (for example, OHP paper, glossy paper, etc.), depending on the paper thickness. It is good to memorize the fluid pressure. The same applies to the second memory 103, and the movement amount may be stored for each general sheet, and the movement amount corresponding to the sheet thickness may be stored.
[0024]
The material discriminating apparatus having the above structure is preferably mounted on a printing apparatus such as a copying machine or an ink jet printer.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0026]
Now, the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber is adjusted to a predetermined value by the pressure adjusting means 1. As a result, a pressure difference is generated inside and outside the pressure chamber across the detected object P, and the fluid moves through the detected object P. As a result, the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber changes, and the material of the detection object P is determined by detecting the change by the pressure detection means 2.
[0027]
Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described.
[0028]
According to the present embodiment, the material of the detection object P can be determined.
[0029]
Further, unlike the optical detection method, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.
[0030]
When the material discrimination device according to the present embodiment is applied to recording paper, the paper type can be discriminated more accurately. This will be described below.
[0031]
Since the recording paper needs to have different ink absorption rates and the like depending on the application, the material and the layer structure also differ depending on the paper type. Accordingly, the relationship between the ease of removal of fluid such as air and the paper type is almost uniquely determined (air is less likely to escape in the order of plain paper, coated paper, glossy paper, and OHP sheet). By detecting the fluid pressure using, the paper type can be determined accurately.
[0032]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.
[0033]
Example 1
In the present example it was manufactured the material discrimination device A ₃ having the structure shown in FIG. 4, and configured to detect the sheet type of the recording sheet.
[0034]
The cylinder 5 and the base B ₁ were arranged so as to sandwich the paper (object to be detected) P. That is, in this embodiment, the cylinder 5 is used as the pressure vessel, and the pressure chamber C is formed by the cylinder 5 and the paper P (the paper P as the detection object constitutes a part of the wall portion of the pressure chamber C. Will be.) Further, a through-hole 7 having a size substantially the same as that of the opening E is formed in the base B ₁ at a position corresponding to the opening E of the cylinder 5. In the present embodiment, the sizes of the opening E and the through hole 7 are substantially the same. By providing the through hole 7 in the portion corresponding to the pressure chamber C in this way, the degree to which the air in the pressure chamber escapes to the outside depends solely on the paper quality, and the degree of air escape is as described above. By detecting with the pressure sensor 2, the paper quality can be detected reliably.
[0035]
An adhesive layer 6 made of rubber is disposed at the edge of the opening E of the cylinder 5 so that air leakage from between the cylinder 5 and the paper P is prevented by the adhesive layer 6.
[0036]
Further, a slidable piston 11 is arranged inside the cylinder 5, and the piston 11 is driven by a drive unit 12. That is, the pressure adjusting means 1 described above is constituted by the piston 11 and the drive unit 12. Moreover, air was used as the fluid, and a pressure sensor (pressure detection means) 2 capable of measuring the air pressure was disposed in the pressure chamber C. Further, a stroke sensor (operating state detection means) 8 is arranged along the cylinder 5 so that the position of the piston 11 can be detected.
[0037]
The pressure sensor 2 described above is configured to be connected to a paper quality determination unit (first determination unit) 4 to send a detection result. The paper quality determination unit 4 is also connected to a memory (first memory) 3 that stores the relationship between air pressure and paper quality, and can detect the detection result from the pressure sensor 2 and the paper quality from the memory 3. I did it.
[0038]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[0039]
In determining the paper quality by operating the driving unit 12 the initial position the piston 11 allowed to stop (position shown in FIG. 4), arranged the recording sheet P on the foundation B _1, cylinder 5 thereon Set. In this state, the adhesion layer 6 is uniformly adhered to the recording paper P.
[0040]
Next, the drive unit 12 is operated to move the piston 11 from the initial position (position shown in FIG. 4) (see FIG. 5). The piston position at that time is confirmed by the stroke sensor 8, but the pressure change amount (pressure change amount per unit time) while the piston 11 moves from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. Detect.
[0041]
At this time, since a pressure difference is generated between the front and back of the recording paper P, the air in the pressure chamber leaks outside through the recording paper P. The amount of leakage differs depending on the paper quality, and increases in the order of OHP paper, coated paper, and plain paper. Therefore, when the degree of pressure change in the pressure chamber is measured by the pressure sensor 2 as described above, the paper quality can be determined by the paper quality determination unit 4. The print mode can be automatically set by sending a signal from the determination unit 4 to the printer apparatus main body.
[0042]
Next, the effect of the present embodiment will be described.
[0043]
According to the present embodiment, the paper quality can be accurately determined with a simple structure.
[0044]
(Example 2)
In this embodiment, to prepare a material discrimination device A ₂ having the structure shown in FIG. 2, and configured to detect the sheet type of the recording sheet.
[0045]
A stroke sensor (movement amount detection means) D is arranged along the cylinder 5 so that the movement amount (and movement position) of the piston 11 can be detected. The piston 11 corresponds to the above-described movable wall, and is disposed so that one surface thereof is in contact with the air in the pressure chamber. After the pressure adjustment, the piston 11 is allowed to move and moves by an amount corresponding to the pressure in the pressure chamber. It becomes like this. That is, in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 102 is constituted by the stroke sensor D and the piston 11, and the pressure in the pressure chamber is detected by detecting the movement position of the piston 11.
[0046]
The stroke sensor D is connected to the paper quality determination unit (second determination unit) 104 to send the detection result. The paper quality discrimination unit 104 is also connected to a memory (second memory) 103 that stores the relationship between the piston movement position and the paper quality, and discriminates the paper quality from the detection result from the stroke sensor D and the memory 103. I was able to do it. Other structures were the same as those in Example 1.
[0047]
Next, the effect | action of a present Example is demonstrated along FIG.2 and FIG.6.
[0048]
In determining the paper quality by operating the driving unit 12 the initial position the piston 11 allowed to stop (position shown in FIG. 2), to place the recording paper P on the foundation B _1, cylinder 5 thereon Set.
[0049]
Next, the drive unit 12 is operated to move the piston 11 from the initial position (position shown in FIG. 2) (see FIG. 6A).
[0050]
At this time, since a pressure difference is generated between the front and back of the recording paper P, the air in the pressure chamber leaks outside through the recording paper P. The amount of leakage differs depending on the paper quality, and increases in the order of OHP paper, coated paper, and plain paper.
[0051]
Thereafter, the piston 11 is brought into a movable state. As a result, the piston 11 is pushed back by an amount corresponding to the pressure in the pressure chamber (see FIG. 6B). This position is detected by the stroke sensor D, and the paper quality determination unit 104 determines the paper quality based on the detection result.
[0052]
According to the present embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0053]
According to the present embodiment, since the pressure sensor 2 is unnecessary, the structure is further simplified as compared with the apparatus of the first embodiment.
[0054]
(Example 3)
In this example, the paper type was determined using the same apparatus as in Example 1, but alcohol was used as the fluid.
[0055]
Also in this example, the same effect as in Example 1 was obtained.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the material can be accurately determined while having a simple structure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of a material discrimination device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the structure of the material discrimination device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining another example of the shape of a cylinder.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another example of the structure of the material discrimination device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the material discrimination device.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the material discrimination device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressure adjustment means 2 Pressure detection means 3 Memory (1st memory)
4 Paper quality discrimination unit (first discrimination unit)
5 Cylinder (pressure vessel)
6 Adhesive layer (elastic member)
11 Piston (movable wall)
12 drive unit 103 memory (second memory)
104 Paper quality discrimination unit (second discrimination unit)
A ₁ Material discrimination device A ₂ Material discrimination device A ₃ Material discrimination device B ₁ Base (Detected object holding means)
C Pressure chamber D Stroke sensor (Movement detection means)
E Opening P Recording paper (detected object)

Claims (4)

A material discrimination method using a pressure vessel, a movable wall that moves in the pressure vessel, a drive unit that drives the movable wall, and a movement amount detection means that detects a movement amount of the movable wall,
Stopping the movable wall at an initial position;
Clogging the opening of the pressure vessel with an object to be detected;
Moving the movable wall from the initial position using the drive unit so that gas passes through the object to be detected;
Making the movable wall moved from the initial position freely movable, and detecting the stationary position where the movable wall is pushed back in the direction opposite to the direction moved from the initial position by the movement amount detecting means;
And a step of discriminating a material of an object to be detected based on a difference between the initial position and the stationary position of the movable wall. The material discrimination method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the pressure vessel becomes higher or lower than the pressure outside the pressure vessel by moving the movable wall from the initial position. The material discrimination method according to claim 1, wherein the object to be detected has a sheet shape. 4. The material of the object to be detected is determined using a memory storing a relationship between a moving amount of the movable wall moved from the initial position to the stationary position and paper quality. The material discrimination method according to any one of the above items.

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