Device for detecting width of sheet-like medium, and image formation apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorMinoru Imahara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paper whose width is to be detected is placed on a base. Two limiting members that can move towards or away from each other are situated on the two sides of the paper. The limiting members are moved to make a physical contact with the side of the paper. In this state, a rotation angle detection sensor detects an angle based on positions of the limiting members and outputs a signal based on the angle and an auxiliary sensor judges presence or absence of the limiting members in a certain range and outputs a signal. A width detection sensor detects the width of the paper based on the signals output from the rotation angle detection sensor and the auxiliary sensor.
Claims7
A width detecting device for detecting a width of a sheet-like medium, comprising:
- a placing base for placing a sheet-like medium having a first side and a second side perpendicular to a width direction of the sheet-like medium;
- a first limiting member situated on the first side and a second limiting member situated on the second side of the sheet-like medium;
- an interlocking unit that moves the first limiting member and the second limiting member along the width direction;
- a rotation angle detection sensor that detects an angle based on positions of the first limiting member and the second limiting member and outputs an angle signal based on the angle;
- an auxiliary sensor that judges any one of presence and absence of the first limiting member and the second limiting member in a moving range of the first limiting member and the second limiting member and outputs a presence/absence signal based on the judgment;
- and
- a width detection sensor that detects the width of the sheet-like medium based on the angle signal and the presence/absence signal.
An image formation apparatus comprising:
- a medium feeding unit that feeds a sheet-like medium having a first side and a second side perpendicular to a width direction of the sheet-like medium, the medium feeding unit feeding the sheet-like medium with any one of an automatic and manual operation;
- a placing base for placing the sheet-like medium;
- a first limiting member situated on the first side and a second limiting member situated on the second side of the sheet-like medium;
- an interlocking unit that moves the first limiting member and the second limiting member along the width direction;
- a rotation angle detection sensor that detects an angle based on positions of the first limiting member and the second limiting member and outputs an angle signal based on the angle;
- and
- an auxiliary sensor that judges any one of presence and absence of the first limiting member and the second limiting member in a moving range of the first limiting member and the second limiting member and outputs a presence/absence signal based on the judgment;
- and
- a width detection sensor that detects the width of the sheet-like medium based on the angle signal and the presence/absence signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.