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US 11,446,944 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus
AssigneeKYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
InventorTakuya Hamada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder, an image former, an ultrasonic sensor, and a controller. The image former forms an image on a sheet conveyed. The ultrasonic sensor is used to detect the sheet conveyed. The ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitter circuit which sends ultrasonic waves and a receiver circuit which receives the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor outputs an output voltage in accordance with a strength of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiver circuit. The controller recognizes a current air pressure based on a magnitude of the output voltage.
Claims9
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a sheet feeder which feeds a sheet;
- an image former which forms an image on the sheet conveyed;
- an ultrasonic sensor
- which is used for detecting the sheet conveyed,
- which includes a transmitter circuit which sends ultrasonic waves and a receiver circuit which receives the ultrasonic waves from the transmitter circuit, and
- which outputs an output voltage in accordance with a strength of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiver circuit;
- a controller which recognizes a current air pressure based on a magnitude of the output voltage of the ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- a temperature sensor which detects an air temperature,
- wherein
- the controller
- recognizes the air temperature based on an output of the temperature sensor,
- determines an air-temperature correction coefficient in accordance with the air temperature recognized,
- recognizes a pre-correction air pressure based on the magnitude of the output voltage of the ultrasonic sensor, and
- obtains, as the current air pressure, a value resulting from multiplying the pre-correction air pressure recognized by the air-temperature correction coefficient.
12 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a sheet feeder which feeds a sheet;
- an image former which forms an image on the sheet conveyed;
- an ultrasonic sensor
- which is used for detecting the sheet conveyed,
- which includes a transmitter circuit which sends ultrasonic waves and a receiver circuit which receives the ultrasonic waves from the transmitter circuit, and
- which outputs an output voltage in accordance with a strength of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiver circuit;
- and
- a controller which recognizes a current air pressure based on a magnitude of the output voltage of the ultrasonic sensor,
- wherein
- the image former includes a head which performs printing by ejecting ink,
- the head includes a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of drive elements,
- the drive elements are provided one for each of the nozzles,
- each of the drive elements is more deformed as a drive voltage applied thereto is larger,
- the nozzle that corresponds to a deformed one of the drive elements ejects ink,
- the controller
- applies the drive voltage to one of the drive elements that is to be made to eject ink,
- increases the drive voltage as the current air pressure recognized is higher, and
- reduces the drive voltage as the current air pressure recognized is lower.
15 more elements
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
- feeding a sheet;
- forming an image on the sheet conveyed;
- using, to detect the sheet conveyed, an ultrasonic sensor
- which includes a transmitter circuit which sends ultrasonic waves and a receiver circuit which receives the ultrasonic waves from the transmitter circuit, and
- which outputs an output voltage in accordance with a strength of the ultrasonic waves received by the receiver circuit;
- recognizing a current air pressure based on a magnitude of the output voltage of the ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- detecting an air temperature,
- wherein
- the air temperature is recognized based on an output of a temperature sensor,
- an air-temperature correction coefficient is determined in accordance with the air temperature recognized,
- a pre-correction air pressure is recognized based on the magnitude of the output voltage of the ultrasonic sensor, and
- as the current air pressure, a value resulting from multiplying the pre-correction air pressure recognized by the air-temperature correction coefficient is obtained.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.