# US 8,542,260 B2 · Device detecting curl of sheet and image erasing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,260 B2 - Document ID: US8542260B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/045,418 - Filed: 2011-03-10 - Published: 2011-09-15 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-15 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi; Takahiro Kawaguchi; Isao Yahata; Hiroyuki Taguchi; Ken Iguchi; Hiroyuki Taki - Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi; Takahiro Kawaguchi; Isao Yahata; Hiroyuki Taguchi; Ken Iguchi; Hiroyuki Taki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542260B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/0005: {Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material} - B65H 7/06: responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed (B65H7/14 takes precedence) - B65H 7/12: responsive to double feed or separation - B65H 29/62: diverting faulty articles from the main streams (control devices detecting faulty articles B65H43/04) - B65H 31/24: multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling - B65H 43/04: detecting, or responding to, presence of faulty articles (B65H43/08 takes precedence; diverting faulty articles from main streams B65H29/62) - B65H 2301/511: Processing surface of handled material upon transport or guiding thereof, e.g. cleaning - B65H 2404/611: arranged to form a channel - B65H 2404/68: reciprocating in transport direction - B65H 2511/13: Thickness - B65H 2511/17: Deformation, e.g. stretching - B65H 2511/512: Marks, e.g. invisible to the human eye; Patterns - B65H 2511/516: Marks; Patterns - B65H 2511/524: Multiple articles, e.g. double feed - B65H 2513/42: Route, path - B65H 2553/30: using acoustic or ultrasonic elements - B65H 2553/61: Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract There is provided a device detecting curling of a sheet, the device including a first guide member carrying the sheet; a second guide member including a carriage path that is broader than the carriage path of the first guide member and accepting the curling of the sheet; and sensors with detection ranges into which a portion of the curling of the sheet enters, in the carriage path of the second guide member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device detecting curl of a sheet comprising: a first guide member carrying the sheet; a second guide member including a carriage path that is broader than the carriage path of the first guide member and accepting the curling of the sheet; and sensors with detection ranges into which a portion of the curling of the sheet enters, in the carriage path of the second guide member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the second guide member narrows the carriage path toward the sheet carriage direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are respectively disposed at positions interposing the carriage path of the second guide member therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sensors with the same detection ranges is disposed at positions of a distance different from the carriage path, on at least one of the positions interposing the carriage path of the second guide member therebetween. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the sensors lines up along the sheet carriage direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 further comprising: a third guide member including a carriage path narrower than the carriage path of the second guide member and moving inside the second guide member; and a drive mechanism driving the third guide member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the movement speed of the third guide member is higher than the movement speed of the sheet moving in the second guide member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein when the sensors detect the end of the sheet in the carriage direction, the third guide member is distant from the end of the sheet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the detection ranges are distant from a reference position of the carriage path of the second guide member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are disposed at positions along the edge of the sheet extending in the carriage direction. ### Claim 11 An image erasing device comprising: a first guide member carrying a sheet; a second guide member including a carriage path that is broader than the carriage path of the first guide member and accepting the curling of the sheet; sensors with detection ranges into which a portion of the curling of the sheet enters, in the carriage path of the second guide member; and a heater erasing the color of a developer attached to the sheet by heating the sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the heater heats the sheet carried from the second guide member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 further comprising: a plurality of boxes containing sheets; a plurality of carriage paths carrying the sheets to each of the boxes; flappers switching the carriage paths of the sheets with respect to each of the boxes; and a controller controlling drive of the flappers based on outputs of the sensors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the second guide member narrows the carriage path toward the sheet carriage direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the sensors are respectively disposed at positions interposing the carriage path of the second guide member therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 further comprising: a third guide member including a carriage path narrower than the carriage path of the second guide member and moving inside the second guide member; and a driving mechanism driving the third guide member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the movement speed of the third guide member is higher than the movement speed of the sheet moving in the second guide member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the detection ranges are distant from a reference position of the carriage path of the second guide member.