Method and device for determining fiber orientation of paper, and apparatus for removing image forming substance from paper
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsKan Tomita, Nobuo Sakuma, Takashi Mama
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Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a device for removing an image forming substance from a paper or similar image holding medium senses the orientation of fibers constituting the paper. While a light beam is emitted obliquely toward the paper, the diffused distribution distribution of the resulting reflection is measured in order to determine the orientation of the fibers. A preselected relation is set up between the fibers and the direction of paper transport on the basis of the determined orientation. Further, a condition for applying an unstabilizing liquid to the paper and a condition for drying the paper are varied on the basis of the determined orientation.
Claims34
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding medium having at least a surface thereof on which the image forming substance is deposited, comprising:
- an image removing unit for removing the image forming substance from the image holding medium;
- a fiber orientation sensing member located upstream of said image removing unit in a direction in which the image holding medium is transported, for sensing an orientation of fibers of the image holding medium;
- and
- a control member for controlling said image removing unit based on the orientation of fibers sensed by said fiber orientation sensing member.
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding medium having at least a surface thereof on which the image forming substance is deposited, comprising:
- an image removing unit for removing the image forming substance from the image holding medium;
- a thickness sensing member located upstream of said image removing unit in a direction in which the image holding medium is transported, for sensing a thickness of the image holding medium;
- and
- a control member for controlling said image removing unit based on the thickness sensed by said thickness sensing member.
A method of removing an image forming substance deposited on an image forming medium, comprising the steps of:
- determining a fiber orientation of the image holding medium;
- controlling an image removing unit based on the orientation of fibers determined in said determining step;
- and
- removing said image forming substance from the image holding medium via said image removing unit.
A method of removing an image forming substance from an image forming medium, comprising the steps of:
- determining a thickness of the image holding medium;
- controlling an image removing unit based on the thickness determined in said determining step;
- and
- removing said image forming substance from the image holding medium via said image removing unit.
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a surface of a moving image holding medium, comprising:
- an image removing unit;
- a fiber orientation sensor located upstream of said image removing unit in a direction of movement of the image holding medium;
- and
- a controller constructed and positioned to receive signals from said fiber orientation sensor, said controller being operatively connected to said image removing unit and controlling said image removing unit based on the orientation of fibers sensed by said fiber orientation sensor.
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a surface of a moving image holding medium, comprising:
- an image removing unit constructed and positioned to remove the image forming substance from the image holding medium;
- a thickness sensor located upstream of said image removing unit in a direction of movement of the image holding medium, the thickness sensor being constructed and positioned to sense a thickness of the image holding medium;
- and
- a controller constructed and positioned to receive signals from the thickness sensor and to control said image removing unit based on the sensed thickness of the image holding medium.
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from a surface of a moving image holding medium, comprising:
- an image removing unit;
- a fiber orientation sensor located upstream of said image removing unit in a direction of movement of the image holding medium, wherein said image removing unit comprises an agent applying member constructed and positioned to selectively apply an unstabilizing agent to the image holding medium in dependence on the orientation of fibers sensed by said fiber orientation sensor, and an image removing part constructed and positioned to remove the image forming substance from the image holding medium;
- a controller constructed and positioned to receive signals from said fiber orientation sensor, said controller being operatively connected to said image removing unit and controlling said image removing unit based on the orientation of fibers sensed by said fiber orientation sensor;
- a stocker constructed and positioned to store the image forming medium to which the unstabilizing agent is not applied;
- a drying member constructed and positioned to dry the image holding medium wetted by the unstabilizing liquid applied by said liquid applying member;
- and
- a drying condition controller constructed and positioned to control a drying condition of said drying member based on the orientation of fibers sensed by said fiber orientation sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.