Method of determining a media class in an imaging device using an optical translucence sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9451111-B1
Application number	US-201514833648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2015
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A method of determining a media class using an optical translucence sensor (OTS) in an imaging device. A media sheet for processing by a media processing device (MPD) in the imaging device passes through an OTS positioned on a media path prior to the MPD. The OTS has an output that is periodically sampled in several predefined interest zones to provide a plurality of intrinsic variables related to the media sheet. The intrinsic variables are combined with extrinsic variables to form a variables data set that is normalized then fed to a controller having a predefined set of media class determining equations for determining a media class for the media sheet. A media class determining equation is provided for each class of media expected to be used in the imaging device. The determined media class is then used to set one or more operating parameters for the media processing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In an imaging device using a media set having a predetermined number of media classes, the imaging device including a media processing device, a plurality of media input sources, a media feeding system in communication with the media processing device and the plurality of media input sources, an optical translucence sensor (OTS) mounted on a media path between the plurality of media input sources and the media processing device, the imaging device operable at a plurality of media process rates, the media feeding system feeding a media sheet to the media processing device for processing thereat, the OTS having an output signal representative of the translucence of the media sheet, a method of determining a media class from media set for a media sheet to be processed by the media processing device in the imaging device, the method comprising:
storing in memory of the imaging device media class determining equation set incorporating a predetermined plurality of media class determining equations using a predetermined set of variables wherein each media class determining equation corresponds to one media class of the media set;
at a controller in the imaging device:
determining a selected media source from the plurality of media sources;
determining a process rate from the plurality of process rates;
forming an extrinsic variables data set including the selected media source and the determined process rate;
providing an indication that the media sheet to be processed is in position to enter the OTS;
passing the media sheet to be processed through the OTS;
measuring the output signal of the OTS at a plurality of predefined interest zones during the passage therethrough of the media sheet to be processed;
forming an intrinsic variables data set from the measurements of output signal of the OTS;
normalizing the intrinsic variables data set and the extrinsic variables data set;
solving the media class determining equation set using the normalized intrinsic and extrinsic variables data sets to determine for the media sheet to be processed a media class from the media set; and,
selecting, based upon the determined media class, at least one operational parameter for the media processing device for processing the media sheet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the media set includes light weight media, normal weight media, heavy weight media, cardstock, and transparencies.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality interest zones include a first interest zone where the media sheet to be processed initially enters the OTS and the output signal of the OTS reaches an initial peak value, a second interest zone subsequent to the first interest zone where the output signal of OTS settles to a first steady state value, a third interest zone where the output signal of the OTS begins to increase in value from the first steady state value, and a fourth interest zone where the output signal of the OTS reaches a second steady state value.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the measurements of the output signal of the OTS in the first interest zone includes an initial maximum value, in the second interest zone includes a first mean value, a first minimum value, a first early maximum value, and a first range value, in the third interest zone includes a second mean value, a second minimum value, a second maximum value and a second range value, and, in the fourth interest zone includes a third mean value, a third minimum value, a third maximum value and a third range value, and a first delta between the first mean and the initial maximum values, a second delta between the first mean and the second mean values, a third delta between the first mean and third mean values, and a fourth delta between the second mean and third mean values.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to passing the media sheet to be processed through the OTS, performing a calibration of the OTS sensor wherein, with no media sheet present therein, the output signal of the OTS is set to a predetermined value by adjusting an input current to the OTS.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from a group of operating parameters consisting of: a media speed within the print engine, a duplex control scheme, a fuser temperature, a transfer voltage, an output location, and a finishing process.

7. In an imaging device using a media set having a predetermined number of media classes, the imaging device including a media processing device, a plurality of media input sources, a media feeding system in communication with the media processing device and the plurality of media input sources, an optical translucence sensor (OTS) mounted on a media path between the plurality of media input sources and the media processing device, a temperature sensor, and a relative humidity sensor, the imaging device operable at a plurality of predetermined media process rates, the media feeding system feeding a media sheet to the media processing device for processing thereat, the OTS having an output signal, a method of determining a media class from media set for a media sheet to be processed by the processing device in the imaging device, the method comprising:
storing in memory of the imaging device a media class determining equation set incorporating a predetermined plurality of media class determining equations using a predetermined set of variables wherein each equation corresponds to one media class of the media set;
measuring the temperature and relative humidity;
calculating a moisture content value using the measured temperature and relative humidity values;
determining a selected media source from the plurality of media sources;
determining a process rate from the plurality of process rates;
forming an extrinsic variables data set including the selected media source, the determined process rate, the calculated moisture content, the measured temperature, and the measured relative humidity;
passing the media sheet to be processed by the media processing device through the OTS
measuring the output signal of the OTS at a plurality of predefined interest zones during the passage therethrough of the media sheet to be processed;
forming an intrinsic variables data set from the measurements of output signal of the OTS;
normalizing the intrinsic variables and the extrinsic variables data sets;
solving the media class determining equation set using the normalized intrinsic variables and extrinsic variables data sets to determine for the media sheet to be processed a media class from the media set; and,
selecting, using a look up table and based upon the determined media class, at least one operational parameter for the media processing device for processing the media sheet.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the media set includes light weight media, normal weight media, heavy weight media, cardstock, and transparencies.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein, prior to passing the media sheet to be processed through the OTS, performing a calibration of the OTS sensor wherein with no media sheet present therein, the output signal of the OTS is set to a predetermined value by adjusting an input current to the OTS.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from a group of operating parameters consisting of: a media speed within the print engine, a duplex control scheme, a fuser temperature, a transfer voltage, an output location, and a finishing process.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality interest zones include a first interest zone where the media sheet to be processed initially enters the OTS and the output signal of the OTS reaches a peak value, a

Assignees

• Lexmark Int Inc

Inventors

• Bradley Ryan Thomas
• Combs James Lee
• Murrell Niko Jay
• Palumbo Franklin Joseph
• Steinberg Daniel
• Whitney Julie Ann Gordon

Classifications

• H04N1/0075

  Detecting a change in reflectivity · CPC title

• H04N1/00724 Primary

  Type of sheet, e.g. colour of paper or transparency · CPC title

• H04N1/00734

  Optical detectors · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/00058

  using a separate apparatus · CPC title