# US 10,319,169 B2 · Medium processing apparatus and method of controlling the medium processing apparatus

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- Number: US 10,319,169 B2
- Document ID: US10319169B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/629,485
- Filed: 2017-06-21
- Published: 2017-12-28
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-22
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Ryota Kondo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10319169B2

## CPC

- G07D 7/162: Length or width
- G07D 7/12: Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
- G07D 7/164: Thickness
- G07D 7/183: Detecting folds or doubles
- G01B 11/043: {for measuring length}
- G01B 11/0691: {of objects while moving (G01B11/0616 takes precedence)}
- G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

## Abstract

A medium processing apparatus includes a sensor that is intermittently energized and detects a predetermined physical quantity and outputs the detection value in the energization period, the sensor stabilizing its output after an output stabilization period, which is shorter than the energization period, has lapsed, a storage unit that stores the detection value that has been detected by the sensor before the lapse of the energization period and after the lapse of the output stabilization period, and a controller that reads the detection value from the storage unit and performs a predetermined process by using the detection value read.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medium processing apparatus comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a medium and output a detection value;
a storage configured to store the detection value; and
a controller configured to control the sensor and the storage,
the controller being configured to intermittently energize the sensor, acquire the detection value from the sensor after a lapse of a predetermined period of time from start of energization, and acquire the detection value from the storage after start of energization and before the lapse of the predetermined period of time, wherein the period of time is determined in accordance with characteristics of the sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is a period at least from the energization of the sensor to the stabilization of the output.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a motor configured to transport the medium,
wherein the controller intermittently energizes the sensor in synchronization with driving of the motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage is configured to store the detection value obtained from the sensor after the period of time has lapsed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to acquire the detection value from the storage after the completion of the energization of the sensor and before the start of the next energization.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage is configured to update the detection value every time the sensor is energized.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a multi-sheet feed of the media or the presence of the medium.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photosensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage is a latch circuit.

### Claim 10

A method of controlling a medium processing apparatus including a sensor configured to detect a medium and output a detection value and a storage configured to store the detection value, the method comprising:
intermittently energizing the sensor; and
acquiring the detection value from the sensor after a lapse of a predetermined period of time from start of energization, and acquiring the detection value from the storage after start of energization and before the lapse of the predetermined period of time,
wherein the period of time is determined in accordance with characteristics of the sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the period of time is a period at least from the energization of the sensor to the stabilization of the output.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
intermittently energizing the sensor in synchronization with the driving of a motor that transports the medium.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
storing the detection value from the sensor after the period of time has lapsed.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
acquiring the detection value from the storage after the completion of the energization of the sensor and before the start of the next energization.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
updating the detection value every time the sensor is energized.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of controlling the medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
detecting a multi-sheet feed of the media or the presence of the medium.