Patent Grant
9783382
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-135535 filed Jul. 6, 2015.
The present invention relates to a transport device and an image forming apparatus.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a transport device including:
a first transport section that is driven at a first transport speed and transports a recording medium interposed therein;
a second transport section that is driven at a speed different from the first transport speed, is located at a downstream of the first transport section in a transport direction, and transports the recording medium interposed therein;
a detection section that detects variations in a driving load of the second transport section before and after the recording medium is discharged from the first transport section; and
a derivation section that derives a thickness of the recording medium based on the variations.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment for implementing the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to
Overall Configuration
As illustrated in
In addition, image forming units 16 that form toner images of respective colors are disposed at intervals on the center side of the apparatus main body 10A so as to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. In addition, a primary transfer unit 18 to which tonner images, formed by the image forming units 16 of the respective colors, are to be multiply transferred is disposed above the image forming units 16 of the respective colors in a vertical direction.
Further, a secondary transfer roller 22 that transfers the toner images, multiply transferred to the primary transfer unit 18, to paper P as an example of a recording medium transported along a transport path 60 by a supply transporting unit 30 to be described later is provided on the lateral side of the primary transfer unit 18 (on the left side in
A fixing device 24 as an example of a transport section that transports the paper P with an image formation surface of the paper interposed therebetween is provided on a downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 22 in a transport direction of the paper P (hereinafter, referred to as a “paper transport direction”). In addition, the fixing device 24 fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P onto the paper P by heat and pressure.
The fixing device 24 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a heating belt 24A and a pressing roller 24B. The fixing device 24 is a so-called induction heating (IH) fixing device which is a type of fixing device that heats the heating belt 24A using electromagnetic induction. In addition, the pressing roller 24B is driven (rotated) by a motor 112 (see
In addition, an exit roller 28 that discharges the paper P having the toner image fixed thereto to an exit section 26, provided in the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10A of the image forming apparatus 10, is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 24 in the paper transport direction.
On the other hand, the supply transporting unit 30 that supplies and transports the paper P is provided on the lower and lateral sides of the image forming unit 16 in the vertical direction. In addition, four toner cartridges 14 (14K to 14Y), provided to be attachable to and detachable from the front surface of the apparatus main body 10A and filled with a toner replenished to a developing device 38, are disposed above the primary transfer unit 18 in the vertical direction for the respective colors so as to be lined up in the width direction of the apparatus. The toner cartridge 14 of each color is formed to have a cylindrical shape extending in the depth direction of the apparatus, and is connected to the developing device 38 of each color through a replenishing pipe not shown in the drawing.
Image Forming Unit
All of the image forming units 16 of the respective colors are configured in the same manner as illustrated in
In addition, the image forming unit 16 includes a light emitting diode (LED) head 32 that irradiates the charged surface of the image holding body 34 with exposure light. In addition, the image forming unit 16 includes the developing device 38 that develops an electrostatic latent image, formed by the exposure light irradiated by the LED head 32, using a developer (toner charged to a negative electrode in the present exemplary embodiment) and visualizes the developed electrostatic latent image as a toner image. In addition, the image forming unit 16 includes a cleaning blade, not shown in the drawing, which cleans the surface of the image holding body 34.
A developing roller 39 is disposed in the developing device 38 so as to face the image holding body 34, and the developing device 38 develops an electrostatic latent image formed in the image holding body 34 by the developing roller 39 using a developer and visualizes the developed electrostatic latent image as a toner image.
The charger 36, the LED head 32, the developing roller 39, and the cleaning blade are disposed in this order from the upstream side toward the downstream side of the image holding body 34 in the rotation direction so as to face the surface of the image holding body 34.
Transfer Section (Primary Transfer Unit and Secondary Transfer Roller)
The primary transfer unit 18 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 42 and a driving roller 46 on which the intermediate transfer belt 42 is wound. The driving roller 46 is driven (rotated) by a motor 114 (see
In addition, the primary transfer unit 18 has the intermediate transfer belt 42 wound thereon, and includes a tension applying roller 48 that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 42, and an assist roller 50 which is disposed above the tension applying roller 48 in the vertical direction and is rotated following the intermediate transfer belt 42. In addition, the primary transfer unit 18 includes primary transfer rollers 52 that are respectively disposed on sides opposite to the image holding bodies 34 of the respective colors with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween.
With such a configuration, toner images of Y, M, C, and K colors sequentially formed on the respective image holding bodies 34 of the image forming units 16 of the respective colors are multiply transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 42 by the primary transfer rollers 52 of the respective colors.
Further, a cleaning blade 56 that cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 42 while being in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 42 is disposed on a side opposite to the driving roller 46 with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween.
In addition, the secondary transfer roller 22 that transfers a toner image, transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 42, to paper P to be transported is provided on a side opposite to the assist roller 50 with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween. The secondary transfer roller 22 is grounded, the assist roller 50 constitutes a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roller 22, and a secondary transfer voltage is applied to the assist roller 50, thereby transferring the toner image to the paper P. Meanwhile, the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22 are examples of transport sections of the present invention.
Supply Transporting Unit
The supply transporting unit 30 is disposed below the image forming units 16 in the vertical direction within the apparatus main body 10A, and includes a paper feeding member 62 in which plural pieces of paper P are accumulated.
Further, the supply transporting unit 30 includes a paper feeding roller 64 that sends out the pieces of paper P accumulated in the paper feeding member 62 to the transport path 60, a separation roller 66 that separates the pieces of paper P sent out by the paper feeding roller 64 one by one, and a positioning roller 68 that adjusts a transport timing of the paper P. The rollers are disposed in this order from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the paper transport direction.
In addition, the positioning roller 68 is connected to a motor for rotating the positioning roller 68 through a clutch mechanism not shown in the drawing. In the image forming apparatus 10, the clutch mechanism is set to be in a non-connection state until the paper P reaches a position where the positioning roller 68 is installed, and the tip of the paper P in the paper transport direction is made to abut on the positioning roller 68. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 10 performs positioning by correcting the inclination of the paper P with respect to the paper transport direction. The clutch mechanism is set to be in a connection state after the positioning is performed, and thus the positioning roller 68 is rotated, thereby transporting the paper P.
With such a configuration, the paper P supplied from the paper feeding member 62 is sent out to a contact portion (secondary transfer position) between the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22 by the rotating positioning roller 68 at a determined timing.
The paper P transported to the fixing device 24 is heated by the heating belt 24A, and is pressed by the heating belt 24A and the pressing roller 24B, thereby fixing a toner image onto one surface (image formation surface) of the paper P.
Further, the supply transporting unit 30 includes a double-sided transport device 70 which is used to form a toner image on one surface of paper P without discharging the paper, having the other surface onto which a toner image is fixed by the fixing device 24, to the exit section 26 by the exit roller 28 as it is.
The double-sided transport device 70 includes a double-sided transport path 72 through which the paper P, having the front and back sides reversed, is transported from the exit roller 28 toward the positioning roller 68, and a transport roller 74 and a transport roller 76 that transport the paper P along the double-sided transport path 72.
Others
The image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper detection sensor 80 provided on the upstream side of the fixing device 24 in the paper transport direction along the transport path 60, and a paper detection sensor 82 provided on the downstream side thereof. The paper detection sensors 80 and 82 according to the present exemplary embodiment are reflective sensors that include a set of light emitting element and light receiving element. The paper detection sensors 80 and 82 irradiate a detection position on the transport path 60 corresponding to the installation position with light from the light emitting element. In addition, the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 output a signal (hereinafter, referred to as a “detection signal”) of a signal level corresponding to the amount of light received by the light receiving element. The light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the paper P during a period for which the paper P is transported through the detection position. Therefore, the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 output detection signals of different signal levels during a period for which the paper P is transported through the detection position and a period for which the paper is not transported through the detection position.
As described above, reflective sensors are used as the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 in the present exemplary embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, other sensors such as transmissive sensors may be used.
Image Forming Process
First, pieces of tone data of respective colors are sequentially output from the image processing section 12 to the LED heads 32 of the respective colors. The surfaces of the image holding bodies 34 which are charged by the charger 36 are irradiated with exposure light emitted from the LED heads 32 in accordance with the pieces of tone data. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of each of the image holding bodies 34. The electrostatic latent images formed on the image holding bodies 34 are developed by the developing devices 38 of the respective colors, and are visualized as toner images of Y, M, C, and K colors, respectively.
Further, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the image holding bodies 34 are multiply transferred onto the circulating intermediate transfer belt 42 by the primary transfer rollers 52 of the primary transfer unit 18.
The toner images of the respective colors multiply transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 42 are secondarily transferred onto the paper P, transported from the paper feeding member 62 along the transport path 60 by the paper feeding roller 64, the separation roller 66, and the positioning roller 68, at the secondary transfer position by the secondary transfer roller 22.
Further, the paper P having the toner images transferred thereto are transported to the fixing device 24. The toner images are then fixed onto the paper P by the fixing device 24. The paper P having the toner images fixed thereto is discharged to the exit section 26 by the exit roller 28.
On the other hand, when an image is formed on both surfaces of the paper P, the paper P having one face (surface) onto which a toner image is fixed by the fixing device 24 is not discharged to the exit section 26 by the exit roller 28 as it is. A transport direction of the paper P is switched by the reverse rotation of the exit roller 28. The paper P is then transported along the double-sided transport path 72 by the transport rollers 74 and 76.
The paper P transported along the double-sided transport path 72 is transported to the positioning roller 68 again in a state where the front and back sides thereof are reversed. After a toner image is transferred and fixed onto the other face (rear surface) of the paper P, the paper P is discharged to the exit section 26 by the exit roller 28.
Next, main electrical components of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a communication line interface (I/F) section 108 that transmits and receives communication data to and from an external device. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation display section 110 receiving a user's instruction for the image forming apparatus 10 and displaying various pieces of information regarding an operation condition of the image forming apparatus 10, and the like with respect to the user. Meanwhile, the operation display section 110 includes a display which is provided with a touch panel on a display surface, on which a display button for receiving an operation instruction by executing a program and various pieces of information are displayed, and hardware keys such as a numeric keypad and a start button.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a torque detection section 116 as an example of a detection section that detects a load (torque) of the motor 112 rotating the pressing roller 24B. The torque detection section 116 according to the present exemplary embodiment is connected to the motor 112, detects the torque of the motor 112 as a current value flowing to the motor 112, converts the current value into a voltage value, and outputs the converted voltage value.
Meanwhile, the configuration of the torque detection section 116 according to the present exemplary embodiment is not particularly limited insofar as the torque of the motor 112 may be detected. For example, a configuration in which a voltage between shunt resistors is measured to detect a current may be used as the configuration of the torque detection section 116. In addition, for example, a configuration in which resistors are provided on a path through which a current flows to the motor 112 and a voltage between the resistors is measured to detect a current may be used as the configuration of the torque detection section 116. In addition, for example, a configuration in which a current sensor is provided by a Hall element on a path through which a current flows to the motor 112 to detect a current may be used as the configuration of the torque detection section 116. Further, for example, a torque detector that detects the torque of the motor 112 may be used as the torque detection section 116.
The sections of the CPU 100, the ROM 102, the RAM 104, the storage section 106, the communication line I/F section 108, the operation display section 110, the motor 112, the motor 114, the torque detection section 116, and the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 are connected to each other through a bus 118 such as an address bus, a data bus, or a control bus.
With such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment has access to the ROM 102, the RAM 104, and the storage section 106, and transmits and receives communication data to and from an external device through the communication line I/F section 108 by the CPU 100. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 acquires various pieces of instruction information through the operation display section 110 and displays various pieces of information on the operation display section 110 by the CPU 100. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 controls the motor 112, controls the motor 114, and acquires a voltage value which is output from the torque detection section 116, by the CPU 100.
Further, the image forming apparatus 10 acquires a detection signal which is output from each of the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 by the CPU 100. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 detects a timing at which each of the tip and the rear end of the paper P in the paper transport direction passes through a detection position obtained by each of the paper detection sensors 80 and 82 by the CPU 100, based on a variation in a signal level of the acquired detection signal. Meanwhile, hereinafter, the tip and the rear end of the paper P in the paper transport direction will be simply referred to as the tip and the rear end of the paper P.
Incidentally, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a detection function of detecting the thickness of the paper P.
The detection function will be described in detail with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, a principle of time-series variations in voltage values illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
That is, the timing t1 illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
However, a period during which a voltage value increases and decreases before and after the timing t1 and a period during which a voltage value decreases and increases before and after the timing t3 are shorter than a period during which a variation in voltage value before and after the timing t2 is relatively small.
For this reason, as illustrated in
Consequently, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment derives the thickness of paper P from a variation ΔV in a voltage value which is output from the torque detection section 116 during periods T1 and T2 before and after the paper P is discharged from the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22.
Next, a process of specifying the timing t2 will be described. The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment derives a difference between a timing when the tip of the paper P passes through a detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80 and a timing when the rear end of the paper P passes through the detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80, and the length of the paper P in the paper transport direction from the transport speed of the paper P at the detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80. Meanwhile, when a user's image forming instruction is input, the length of the paper P in the paper transport direction which is set in advance may be used.
The image forming apparatus 10 specifies the timing t2 based on the timing when the tip of the paper P passes through the detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80, the length of the paper P, and the transport speed of the paper P transported by the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22.
Meanwhile, a process of specifying the timing t2 is not limited to the above-described process. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 may specify, as the timing t2, a timing when a voltage value is set to a value within a range, determined in advance as a range in which the paper is being transported by the intermediate transfer belt 42, the secondary transfer roller 22, and the fixing device 24, and then exceeds a threshold value equal to or greater than an upper limit in the range, or a timing when a variation in voltage value per unit period exceeds a threshold value. The range determined in advance includes, for example, a range of a voltage value during a period in which a variation in the voltage value for each detection interval mentioned above is within an allowable range (for example, a range of ±10%) after the voltage value is decreased from the peak value P1.
Next, reference will be made to
As described above, the variation ΔV is set to be a value that increases as the paper P becomes thicker. Consequently, in the present exemplary embodiment, voltage values output from the torque detection section 116 which correspond to thicknesses of plural types of pieces of paper P are measured in advance by a real machine of the image forming apparatus 10, an experiment using pieces of paper P having plural types of thicknesses, and the like, and variations ΔV are derived in advance. Examples of average values of voltage values during the periods T1 and T2 and variations ΔV which are obtained in advance with respect to pieces of paper P having four types of thicknesses are shown in the following Table 1. Meanwhile, each of the average values and the variations ΔV shown in Table 1 indicates a value obtained by being rounded to the second decimal place.
As illustrated in
T=aV+b (1)
Further, the image forming apparatus 10 derives the thickness T of the paper P from the variation ΔV using Expression (1). Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the above, and the thickness T of the paper P may be derived from the variation ΔV, for example, by a look-up table (LUT) or the like showing a relationship between the variation ΔV and the thickness T of the paper P.
Meanwhile, the period T1 is not particularly limited insofar as a variation in voltage value per unit period (for example, a variation in voltage value for each detection interval mentioned above) within a period between the timing t1 and the timing t2 is in a period within an allowable range (for example, a range of ±10%). For example, the period T1 may be a period within the allowable range including the center of the period between the timing t1 and the timing t2, or may be a period within the allowable range immediately before the timing t2.
In addition, the period T2 is not particularly limited insofar as a variation in voltage value per unit period within a period between the timing t2 and the timing t3 is in a period within the allowable range. For example, the period T2 may be a period within the allowable range including the center of the period between the timing t2 and the timing t3, or may be a period within the allowable range immediately after the timing t2. In addition, the length of the period T1 and the length of the period T2 may be the same as each other or may be different from each other.
Next, operations of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment during the execution of the detection function will be described with reference to
In step 150 of
When the result of the determination is negative, the CPU 100 returns to step 150 mentioned above. On the other hand, when the result of the determination is affirmative, the CPU proceeds to a process of step 154.
In step 154, the CPU 100 acquires a voltage value V which is output from the torque detection section 116. In the subsequent step 156, the CPU 100 acquires a detection signal which is output from the paper detection sensor 82. In the subsequent step 158, the CPU 100 determines whether the rear end of the paper P has passed through a detection position on the transport path 60 which is obtained by the paper detection sensor 82, based on the detection signal acquired by the process of step 156 mentioned above.
When the result of the determination is negative, the CPU 100 returns to step 154 mentioned above. On the other hand, when the result of the determination is affirmative, the CPU proceeds to a process of step 160. The pieces of time-series data of the voltage values V illustrated in
In step 160, as described above, the CPU 100 derives the length of the paper P in the paper transport direction from a difference between a timing when the tip of the paper P passes through a detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80 and a timing when the rear end of the paper P passes through the detection position, and the transport speed of the paper P at the detection position obtained by the paper detection sensor 80. The CPU 100 specifies the timing t2 based on the timing when the tip of the paper P has passed through the paper detection sensor 80, the derived length of the paper P, and the transport speed of the paper P transported by the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22.
In step 162, the CPU 100 derives an average value of the voltage values V during the period T1 before the timing t2 specified by the process of step 160 mentioned above. In the subsequent step 164, the CPU 100 derives an average value of the voltage values V during the period T2 after the timing t2 specified by the process of step 160 mentioned above.
In step 166, the CPU 100 derives a thickness T of the paper P from a difference (variation ΔV) between the average value derived by the process of step 162 mentioned above and the average value derived by the process of step 164 mentioned above, using Expression (1) mentioned above. In the subsequent step 168, the CPU 100 determines whether the thickness T of the paper P which is derived by the process of step 166 mentioned above falls outside an allowable range.
Specifically, in the present exemplary embodiment, as an example, when an absolute value of a difference between the derived thickness T of the paper P and a thickness of the paper P which is set in advance by a user is equal to or greater than a ratio (for example, 10%) of the thickness which is determined in advance, the CPU 100 determines that the thickness of the paper falls outside the allowable range.
When the result of the determination in step 168 mentioned above is affirmative, the CPU 100 proceeds to a process of step 170.
In step 170, the CPU 100 displays an error notification screen, indicating that the thickness T of the paper P which is derived by the process of step 166 mentioned above falls outside the allowable range, on a display of the operation display section 110, and then terminates the thickness derivation process program.
On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step 168 mentioned above is negative, the CPU 100 terminates the thickness derivation process program without performing the process of the step 170 mentioned above.
As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the paper P is derived based on the torque of the motor 112 that drives the pressing roller 24B of the fixing device 24. A force for pinching an image formation surface of the paper P by the fixing device 24 is stronger than those of other transport sections such as the secondary transfer roller 22, the intermediate transfer belt 42, the positioning roller 68, and the separation roller 66. Therefore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the paper P is derived with a high level of accuracy, compared to a case where the thickness of the paper P is derived based on the torque of the motor that drives the above-mentioned other transport sections.
While the exemplary embodiment has been described so far, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above-described exemplary embodiment. Various modifications and improvement may be made to the above-described exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, and the exemplary embodiment subjected to the modifications and improvements is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In addition, the above-described exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention according to claims, and not all combinations of the features described in the exemplary embodiment are essential. The above-described exemplary embodiment includes various stages of invention, and various inventions are extracted by combinations of plural components disclosed. Even when some of all components described in the exemplary embodiment are deleted, a configuration in which some of the components are deleted may be extracted as the invention as long as effects are obtained.
For example, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a case where the thickness of paper P is derived from a variation ΔV has been described using Expression (1) mentioned above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration in which it is determined whether the paper P is thick paper of which the thickness exceeds a thickness determined in advance may be adopted by comparing the variation ΔV and a threshold value. In this case, for example, a configuration is illustrated in which the paper P is determined to be thick paper when the variation ΔV exceeds a variation (0.10 in the example of
In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of a case where the intermediate transfer belt 42, the secondary transfer roller 22, and the fixing device 24 are used as plural transport sections of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as the plural transport sections of the present invention, other transport sections such as the positioning roller 68, the intermediate transfer belt 42, and the secondary transfer roller 22, or the separation roller 66 and the positioning roller 68 which transport paper P with an image formation surface of the paper interposed therebetween may be used. Also in this case, similarly to the above-described exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the paper P is derived from a variation ΔV in a load of a driving section that drives a transport section located on a downstream side in a paper transport direction.
In addition, when a transport section located on an upstream side of a transport path is used as the transport section of the present invention, a configuration may be adopted in which a member located on a downstream side of the transport path is controlled based on the derived thickness of the paper P.
In this case, similarly to the above-described exemplary embodiment, for example, the thickness of the paper P is derived from a variation ΔV in a load (torque) of a motor that drives the positioning roller 68. A configuration is illustrated in which a voltage value of a secondary transfer voltage to be applied to the assist roller 50 in accordance with the derived thickness of the paper P. Further, a configuration in which the transport speed of the paper P in the transport path 60 at the downstream side of the positioning roller 68 is changed in accordance with the derived thickness of the paper P, or a configuration in which the amount of heat obtained by heating of the heating belt 24A is also illustrated.
In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of a case where a transport speed of paper P transported by a transport section (the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 22) located on an upstream side in the paper transport direction is higher than a transport speed of the paper P transported by a transport section (fixing device 24) located on a downstream side in the paper transport direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the transport speed of the paper P transported by the transport section located on the upstream side in the paper transport direction is lower than the transport speed of the paper P transported by the transport section located on the downstream side in the paper transport direction.
A graph, corresponding to
In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention may be applied to another apparatus, such as an image reading apparatus or auto document feeder (ADF), which includes transport sections transporting a recording medium in a state of being interposed therebetween.
In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of a case where a thickness derivation process program is installed in the ROM 102 in advance, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration in which the thickness derivation process program is provided in a state of being stored in a storage medium such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), or a configuration in which the thickness derivation process program is provided through a network may be adopted.
Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of a case where a thickness derivation process is realized by a software configuration using a computer by executing a program, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the thickness derivation process is realized by a hardware configuration or a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.
In addition, the configuration (see
In addition, a flow (see
Further, the configuration (see
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-135535 | Jul 2015 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6029023 | Munemori | Feb 2000 | A |
| 20090309297 | Murakami | Dec 2009 | A1 |
| 20100226676 | Funamoto | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20110150549 | Imaizumi | Jun 2011 | A1 |
| 20130243508 | Mori | Sep 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-029555 | Jan 2003 | JP |
| 2003-285484 | Oct 2003 | JP |
| 2005148767 | Jun 2005 | JP |
| 2009-202955 | Sep 2009 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170008715 A1 | Jan 2017 | US |
