Abstract: A multi-functional sensor for deriving information on a recording sheet material comprising an impact-applying unit for applying an external mechanical force onto the recording sheet material, a signal-detecting unit for detecting a signal of response of the recording sheet material to the external mechanical force, a signal-processing unit for processing the signal, and a signal-judging unit for deriving a property of the recording sheet material by comparison of a signal from the signal-detecting unit or the signal processing unit with information memorized preliminarily, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises a separation section for separating the signal from the signal-detecting unit into output signals on the properties of the recording sheet material, and a processing section for deriving, by statistical treatment, a correlation equation showing a correlation between the separated output signal and the properties of the recording sheet material.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet material discrimination apparatus including: an impact force applying member for colliding with the surface of a sheet material, an impact force receiving member for receiving the impact force applying member through the sheet material, a detecting unit for outputting an electric signal corresponding to an impact force received by the impact force receiving member, and a cushioning material for absorbing the impact force transmitted to the detecting unit, wherein a support member having a bending rigidity higher than the bending rigidity of the detecting unit with respect to the impact force is arranged between the detecting unit and the cushioning material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information detecting device capable of reducing fluctuation in detection accuracy. A recording sheet P transported through a transport path comes into contact with a displacing member, and, in this state, a motor is driven to rotate a cam, and the resilient force of a coil spring causes a pressurizing member to collide with the recording sheet P. The impact force at that time is detected by a detection sensor, and transmitted to a sheet material information obtaining means. Then, on the basis of the detection result, it is possible to detect the type, density, thickness, surface irregularities, etc. of the recording sheet P. At this time, the recording sheet P is in contact with the displacing member, whereby it is possible to reduce fluctuation in detection accuracy due to positional deviation of the recording sheet P.

Abstract: Upon fixing fine particulate active element members, which are carbon nanotube, rod-shaped semiconductor crystal, or the like, in an electronic device at predetermined positions thereof respectively, a method for producing an electronic device includes: dispersing the fine particulate active element members in a dielectric liquid and filling the liquid in a space between a process-objective substrate and a mask which is placed opposite to the substrate and which has predetermined pattern electrodes formed therein; and applying a predetermined voltage to the predetermined electrodes to concentrate the fine particulate active element members at positions which correspond to positions of the pattern electrodes, respectively. In this state, a light is irradiated to the substrate and the fine particulate active element members in the liquid so as to fix the fine particulate active element members to the substrate by a photochemical reaction.

Abstract: An external force application unit is allowed to impact on a sheet material, and an external force detection unit detects an impact force through the sheet material. Further, there is provided a push-in sensing unit for detecting abnormality of the sheet material entering a space between the external force application unit and the external force detection unit. When the push-in sensing unit detects the abnormality, a control circuit operates a motor to rotate a cam, thereby moving the external force application unit to be retracted in a direction in which the external force application unit is moved away from an entering position of the sheet material.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus for detecting information of at least a portion of a stack of sheet media includes an illuminating unit and a detecting unit. The illuminating unit illuminates a side of the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof with electromagnetic waves. The detecting unit detects electromagnetic waves transmitted through or reflected by the stack of sheet media, or a portion thereof. The detecting apparatus is adapted to compare information of the electromagnetic waves detected by the detecting unit with information about attenuation of electromagnetic waves due to moisture contained in the sheet medium, and detect information of the moisture content of at least a portion of the stack of sheet media.

Abstract: A sheet member information acquiring device has a load-applying member configured to come into contact with the sheet member and to apply a load to the sheet member, a rotation bearing configured to hold the load-applying member rotatably around at least a rotation axis, a protrusion provided at the end portion of the load-applying member that contacts the sheet member, the protrusion being located at a position offset by a predetermined distance from the rotation axis, a changing portion configured to change relative positions of the sheet member and load-applying member while in a contact state, and a detecting portion configured to detect a displacement of the load-applying member. The device acquires the information of the sheet member on the basis of information provided by the detecting portion.

Abstract: A motion member (1) urged by an application spring 4 is made to collide with a surface of a sheet material supported by a support member (14) so as to be deflectable and deformable. The velocity of the motion member (1) during the collision process is detected every second by a measuring portion (17) of a laser Doppler velocimeter. A control circuit (121) measures the velocity of the motion member (1) immediately before the collision of the motion member (1) with the sheet material, the time period of deflection deformation until the sheet material collides with an opposing member (15), and the time period of compression deformation after the collision of the sheet material with the opposing member (15), and outputs a result thereof as sheet material information to a control portion (120). The timing at which the sheet material collides with the opposing member (15) is detected by an output of a piezoelectric element (16) connected to the opposing member (15).

Abstract: A signal output apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. An apparatus for determining the type of sheet comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact, wherein the type of the sheet is determined based on the signal from the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. A method for determining the type of sheet comprises the steps of applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step, and determining the type of sheet based on the signal. An apparatus carries out the method for determining the type of sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet material discrimination apparatus including: an impact force applying member for colliding with the surface of a sheet material, an impact force receiving member for receiving the impact force applying member through the sheet material, a detecting unit for outputting an electric signal corresponding to an impact force received by the impact force receiving member, and a cushioning material for absorbing the impact force transmitted to the detecting unit, wherein a support member having a bending rigidity higher than the bending rigidity of the detecting unit with respect to the impact force is arranged between the detecting unit and the cushioning material.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet material discrimination apparatus including: an impact force applying member for colliding with the surface of a sheet material, an impact force receiving member for receiving the impact force applying member through the sheet material, a detecting unit for outputting an electric signal corresponding to an impact force received by the impact force receiving member, and a cushioning material for absorbing the impact force transmitted to the detecting unit, wherein a support member having a bending rigidity higher than the bending rigidity of the detecting unit with respect to the impact force is arranged between the detecting unit and the cushioning material.

Abstract: A sheet material information detection device has an external force applicator that applies an external force to a sheet material, a drive unit that drives the external force applicator, and an external force detector that detects through the sheet material the external force applied by the external force applicator. The drive unit produces motion vectors in at least two directions including a direction perpendicular to a surface of the sheet material.

Abstract: A motor rotates a cam, thereby pulling up an external force application member while compressing an application spring. After that, the motor releases the external force application member to impact a sheet material. An impact force caused at a time when an external force receiving member receives an external force application member through the sheet material is detected by a piezoelectric element. When an electric power supply to the motor is stopped, a retraction spring allows the motor to idle through a wheel and rotates the cam to allow the external force application member to retract to a highest position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information detecting device capable of reducing fluctuation in detection accuracy. A recording sheet P transported through a transport path comes into contact with a displacing member, and, in this state, a motor is driven to rotate a cam, and the resilient force of a coil spring causes a pressurizing member to collide with the recording sheet P. The impact force at that time is detected by a detection sensor, and transmitted to a sheet material information obtaining means. Then, on the basis of the detection result, it is possible to detect the type, density, thickness, surface irregularities, etc. of the recording sheet P. At this time, the recording sheet P is in contact with the displacing member, whereby it is possible to reduce fluctuation in detection accuracy due to positional deviation of the recording sheet P.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming an image on a surface of medium having variable surface attributes affecting image formation. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form images on a surface on which images are to be formed, including a plurality of areas with different attributes, in a medium for forming images, on the basis of input image information, and a determination unit configured to determine, for the plurality of areas, conditions for forming images or positions in which images are formed. The image forming unit forms images on the basis of conditions for forming images or positions in which images are formed determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: A signal output apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. An apparatus for determining the type of sheet comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact, wherein the type of the sheet is determined based on the signal from the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. A method for determining the type of sheet comprises the steps of applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step, and determining the type of sheet based on the signal. An apparatus carries out the method for determining the type of sheet.

Abstract: A sheet material information-detecting apparatus is provided which is capable of detecting the type of a sheet material even if the sheet material is anisotropic. When recording paper sheet P is fed, feed rollers 1a and 1b are moved to narrow the nip of the rollers and front edge of recording paper sheet is pushed thereto to correct the oblique feed. Thereafter, external force is applied to recording paper sheet P by external force applying member 2. A signal based on the external force is detected by signal detecting means 3, and sheet material information-acquiring means 5 identify the type of the recording paper sheet. Owing to the oblique feed correction, the type of the sheet material can be identified precisely even if the sheet material is anisotropic.

Abstract: A signal output apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. An apparatus for determining the type of sheet comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact, wherein the type of the sheet is determined based on the signal from the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. A method for determining the type of sheet comprises the steps of applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step, and determining the type of sheet based on the signal. An apparatus carries out the method for determining the type of sheet.

Abstract: A sheet member information acquiring device has a load-applying member configured to come into contact with the sheet member and to apply a load to the sheet member, a rotation bearing configured to hold the load-applying member rotatably around at least a rotation axis, a protrusion provided at the end portion of the load-applying member that contacts the sheet member, the protrusion being located at a position offset by a predetermined distance from the rotation axis, a changing portion configured to change relative positions of the sheet member and load-applying member while in a contact state, and a detecting portion configured to detect a displacement of the load-applying member. The device acquires the information of the sheet member on the basis of information provided by the detecting portion.

Abstract: A sheet material information detection device has an external force applicator that applies an external force to a sheet material, a drive unit that drives the external force applicator, and an external force detector that detects through the sheet material the external force applied by the external force applicator. The drive unit produces motion vectors in at least two directions including a direction perpendicular to a surface of the sheet material.