IP Library Granted Patent US 12692118
Granted Patent B2
US 12692118 · App. 18/591,658 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Sheet characteristic detection device and image forming system

Inventors: Satoshi Ogata (Hachioji, JP); Hitoshi Asano (Toyokawa, JP); Yumiko Izumiya (Hachioji, JP)
Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
B65H29/62B65H43/04G03G15/5029G03G15/6552G03G15/6558B65H2511/13B65H2515/805B65H2515/81B65H2553/40B65H2701/1131G03G2215/0062G03G2215/00717G03G2215/00734G03G2215/00738G03G2215/00742G03G2215/00751G03G2215/00776
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692118
App. No.
18/591,658
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet characteristic detection device includes a first conveyance path on which a sheet is conveyed, a second conveyance path that is branched from the first conveyance path and on which a sheet to be purged is conveyed without passing through an image former, and a first detector that is disposed on the first conveyance path and allows detection of sheet characteristic information corresponding to at least one of a size, a sheet thickness, a basis weight, or a moisture amount of the sheet.

Claims (45)

1 . A sheet characteristic detection device comprising:

a first conveyance path on which a sheet is conveyed;

a second conveyance path that is branched from the first conveyance path and on which a sheet to be purged is conveyed without passing through an image former; and

a second detector that is disposed on the second conveyance path and allows detection of a sheet characteristic.

2 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detector allows detection of sheet characteristic information corresponding to at least one of a stiffness, and a resistance of the sheet.

3 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 2 , further comprising a first detector disposed on the first conveyance path, wherein the first detector detects the sheet characteristic while the sheet is being conveyed.

4 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 2 , further comprising a first detector disposed on the first conveyance path, wherein the first detector detects the sheet characteristic corresponding to at least one of a type of the sheet or a change in a state of the sheet.

5 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 2 , further comprising a first detector disposed on the first conveyance path, wherein the first detector includes at least one of a size sensor, a sheet thickness sensor, a basis weight sensor, or a moisture amount sensor that allows detection of the sheet characteristic corresponding to the size, the sheet thickness, the basis weight, or the moisture amount, respectively.

6 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein the first detector includes the moisture amount sensor.

7 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein

the first detector includes the sheet thickness sensor, the basis weight sensor, and the moisture amount sensor, and

the basis weight sensor and the moisture amount sensor are disposed downstream of the sheet thickness sensor on the first conveyance path.

8 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein

the first detector includes the moisture amount sensor and the basis weight sensor, and

the moisture amount sensor and the basis weight sensor are disposed at a same position in a conveyance direction and at different positions in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction on the first conveyance path.

9 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein

the first detector includes the size sensor and another sensor corresponding to another sheet characteristic different from the size, and

the size sensor is disposed upstream of the another sensor on the first conveyance path.

10 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein the size sensor is an image sensor, and allows detection of the size of the sheet in the conveyance direction and the width direction from read image data obtained by reading the sheet being conveyed.

11 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein

the first detector includes the moisture amount sensor, and

the moisture amount sensor includes a light emitter that comprises a first emitter and a second emitter that each irradiate the front surface of the sheet with a light having a predetermined wavelength, and a light receiver that receives a light reflected when the front surface of the sheet reflects the light having the predetermined wavelength.

12 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detector detects the sheet characteristic while stopping the sheet conveyed on the second conveyance path, or detects the sheet characteristic while conveying the sheet at a lower conveyance speed than a conveyance speed on the first conveyance path.

13 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detector includes at least one of a stiffness sensor, a surface property sensor, or a resistance sensor that allows detection of sheet characteristic information corresponding to a stiffness, a surface property, or a resistance of the sheet, respectively, and

the at least one of the sensors of the second detector detects the sheet characteristic information while stopping the sheet conveyed on the second conveyance path.

14 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 13 , wherein the second detector includes the resistance sensor and at least one of the stiffness sensor or the surface property sensor, and

the at least one of the stiffness sensor or the surface property sensor is disposed upstream of the resistance sensor on the second conveyance path.

15 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 13 , wherein the second detector includes the stiffness sensor and the surface property sensor, and

the stiffness sensor is disposed upstream of the surface property sensor on the second conveyance path.

16 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 13 , wherein the second detector includes the stiffness sensor, and

the stiffness sensor includes a presser that is disposed on the second conveyance path extending vertically upward and presses, from a lateral direction, a trailing end that is a free end of the sheet being stopped, the stiffness sensor including a pressure detector that detects a pressing force of the presser against the sheet.

17 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 13 , wherein

the second detector includes the resistance sensor,

the resistance sensor includes a pair of rollers that abut against a front surface and a back surface of the sheet, respectively, and

the resistance sensor measures the resistance of the sheet by applying a voltage between the pair of rollers and measuring a current that flows between the pair of rollers.

18 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

a moisture amount sensor that detects sheet characteristic information corresponding to the moisture amount of the sheet and a resistance sensor that detects sheet characteristic information corresponding to the resistance of the sheet are disposed on at least one of the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path, and

the moisture amount sensor is disposed upstream of the resistance sensor.

19 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyance path is a conveyance path connected to the image former.

20 . An image forming system comprising:

the sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 ; and

an image forming apparatus including the image former, wherein

the image forming apparatus is disposed downstream of the first conveyance path.

21 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detector detects the sheet characteristic by applying a pressing force or a voltage to the sheet.

22 . The sheet characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first detector that is disposed on the first conveyance path and allows detection of sheet characteristic information corresponding to at least one of a size, a sheet thickness, a basis weight, or a moisture amount of the sheet.