1. A resonant sensor for measuring properties of a fluid, comprising:
(a) an elastic tube defining an interior surface;
(b) a conductor threaded through said elastic tube;
(c) solid material joining said conductor to said elastic tube interior surface, so that force exerted on said conductor is directly transferred to said elastic tube; and
(d) a magnet assembly that creates a magnetic field, thereby providing a Lorentz force on said conductor when a current is passed through said conductor.
2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said elastic tube is electrically conductive and said solid material electrically insulates said conductor from said elastic tube.
3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein said solid material comprises insulation, covering said conductor, and hardened resin, filling any space between said insulation and said elastic tube interior surface.
4. The sensor of claim 1, further including a solid structure, defining a first aperture and a second aperture and wherein said elastic tube extends from said first aperture to said second aperture and is joined to said solid structure around said first aperture and around said second aperture, in a fluid impermeable manner.
5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein said elastic tube is in a U-Shape.
6. The sensor of claim 4, wherein said elastic tube is in the form of a letter \u201cM\u201d with rounded angles.
7. The sensor of claim 4, wherein said tubular element is attached to said solid structure around said first aperture and said second aperture by being welded to said solid structure around said first aperture and said second aperture.
8. The sensor of claim 4, wherein said solid structure is in the form of a base.
9. The sensor of claim 4, wherein said solid structure in the form of a frame.
10. The sensor of claim 1, further including a resistance measurement sensor being connected across said conductor, a resultant measurement of resistance providing a measure of the temperature of said sensor and said fluid surrounding said sensor.
11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein said current passed through said conductor is an alternating current, said alternating current having a frequency, producing an alternating voltage with said frequency across said resistance of said conductor, and wherein said resistance is measured by synchronous detection means synchronized with said frequency of said alternating current.
12. A fluid properties sensor, comprising:
(a) a solid structure defining a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourth aperture;
(b) a first extent of elastic tube extending from said first aperture to said second aperture, extending along a first plane, and being attached to said solid structure about said first and second apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner;
(c) a second extent of elastic tube, extending from said third aperture to said fourth aperture, extending along a second plane that is parallel to said first plane, and being attached to said solid structure about said third aperture third and fourth apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner; and
(d) a conductor threaded through said first and second extents of elastic tube.
13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said tube extents have interior surfaces and wherein solid material fills any portion of said tubes between said conductor and said interior surfaces, and insulates said conductor from said tube.
14. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first elastic tube extent and said second elastic tube extent are both in shape of a letter \u201cM\u201d having rounded angles, and wherein a middle portion of each said tube corresponds to a middle portion of a letter \u201cM\u201d and extends downwardly to approach said base, and wherein a magnet is placed in said base to apply force to current passing through said conductor at said middle portion.
15. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said solid structure is a mechanical coupling base, and further comprising:
(a) a compliant column supporting said mechanical coupling base;
(b) a massive base supporting said column.
16. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first and second tube extents are two segments of a single tube.
17. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said solid structure is a frame.
18. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first tube and said second tube each have the same shape and extend parallel to each other.
19. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first tube extent and said second tube extent each include two bends.
20. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first tube extent and said second tube extent each include at least three bends.
21. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said first tube extent and said second tube extent each include an arc.
22. The sensor of claim 12, wherein said solid structure is a base.
23. A fluid properties measurement device, comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a torsional resonator, supported by said base and driven by a torsional resonator current source and magnet assembly enclosed in said base; and
(c) a translational motion resonator that is also supported and driven by a translational motion resonator current source and magnet assembly enclosed in said base.
24. The fluid properties measurement device of claim 23, wherein said translational motion resonator is mounted on a portion of said base that defines a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourth aperture and includes:
(a) a first elastic tube, in the shape of a letter \u201cM\u201d having rounded angles extending from said first aperture to said second aperture, and being attached to said base about said first and second apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner;
(b) a second elastic tube, identical to said first elastic tube, extending from said third aperture to said fourth aperture and being attached to said base about said third aperture third and fourth apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner; and
(c) a conductor threaded through said tubular elements wherein a middle portion of each said tube corresponds to a middle portion of a letter \u201cM\u201d and extends downwardly to approach said base, and wherein a magnet is placed in said base to apply force to current passing through said conductor at said middle portions.
25. The fluid properties measurement device of claim 23 further including a torsional resonator current driver and current measurement device and a translational motion current driver and current measurement device and further includes a data processor that collects data from said current measurement devices and uses said data more accurately measure both fluid density and viscosity.
26. A method for measuring properties of a fluid by means of a resonant tubular sensor immersed in said fluid, comprising:
(a) providing a sensor, having:
(i) at least one elastic tube defining a lumen, said tube having an outer surface, an inner surface, and two opposed ends;
(ii) a conductor threaded through said lumen;
(iii) insulation surrounding said conductor to prevent flow of current from said conductor to said tube;
(iv) pliable material filling space between said conductor and said inner surface of said tube such that any force exerted on said conductor is transmitted to said inner surface of said tube;
(v) a support assembly joined hermetically to said two ends of said tube so as to provide a vibrational nodal support impermeable to said fluid in which said tube is immersed;
(vi) a source of electrical energy connected to said conductor;
(vii) a magnet assembly; and
(viii) a signal sensing and processing system, connected to said conductor; and
(b) introducing said tube into a fluid and using said magnet assembly to produce a magnetic field across said conductor, while said electrical energy source is used to produce an alternating current through said conductor, said Lorentz forces thereby created on said conductor causing said tube to resonate in said fluid, and using said signal sensing and processing system to measure the response signal produced by the motion of said conductor in said magnetic field; and
(c) calculating fluid properties from said response measurements.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein the physical structure of said sensor defines a set of resonant frequencies and a resonant transfer function and in which said sensor is driven in such a manner as to respond near at least one of said resonant frequencies.
28. The method of claim 24 in which said excitation and said sensing means measure said resonant transfer function of said sensor.
29. The method of claim 26 in which properties of said fluid are determined by analysis of said resonant transfer function of said sensor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An erasing apparatus comprising:
a sheet feeding section configured to feed a sheet;
a reading section configured to read an image on a sheet;
an erasing section configured to erase an image on a sheet;
a discharge section into which a sheet is discharged;
a first conveying path configured to convey a sheet fed from the sheet feeding section and to be provided with the reading section and with the discharge section downstream of the reading section in a sheet conveying direction;
a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path downstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and upstream of the discharge section in the sheet conveying direction, the second conveying path merging with the first conveying path upstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and provided with the erasing section;
a sorting member located at a branch point at which the second conveying path is branched from the first conveying path and configured to sort a sheet into either the first conveying path where the discharge section is available or the second conveying path; and
a recording section located on the first conveying path and configured to record count information indicative of an erase count on a sheet.
2. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording section is located on the first conveying path opposite to the second conveying path.
3. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the reading section includes a first reading section configured to read one surface of a sheet and a second reading section configured to read the other surface of the sheet, an upstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being opposed to the first reading section with the first conveying path interposed therebetween and a downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being extended toward downstream from the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, and
the recording section is located on the first conveying path on the same side as that of the first reading section and downstream of the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, the recording section being at least partially opposed to a downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction with the first conveying path interposed therebetween.
4. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the discharge section includes a first discharge section and a second discharge section, and
the erasing apparatus further comprises
a transmitter section configured to transmit image data to a recipient, the recipient being configured to analyze the count information recorded on a sheet on the basis of first image data on the sheet before being erased and to make a predetermined determination on the basis of second image data on the sheet after being erased,
a receiver section configured to receive an analysis result and a determination result from the recipient, and
a controller configured to perform: causing the reading section to read an image on a sheet in the first conveying path so as to acquire the first image data and thereafter causing the sheet to be conveyed to the second conveying path; causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet; subsequently causing the reading section to read an erased surface of the sheet so as to acquire the second image data; causing the sorting section to sort the sheet into the first conveying path at the branch point; causing the sheet to be discharged to one of the first discharge section and the second discharge section, the one being associated with the determination result received by the receiver section; and causing the recording section to record count information on the sheet, from which the image has been erased, on the basis of the analysis result received by the receiver section.
5. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the sheet feeding section feeds a sheet on which an image has been formed with a toner which is decolorized by heating, and
the erasing section heats the sheet to decolorize the image, thereby erasing the image.
6. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording section records count information on a sheet with an ink which is not decolorized by heating.
7. The erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the recording section is interposed between the first conveying path downstream of the branch point in the sheet conveying direction and the second conveying path extending from the branch point.
8. A method for erasing an image using an image erasing apparatus, the image erasing apparatus including: a sheet feeding section; a reading section; an erasing section; a discharge section into which a sheet is discharged; a first conveying path provided with the reading section and the discharge section downstream of the reading section in a sheet conveying direction; a second conveying path branched from a branch point in the first conveying path, the branch point being located at a position downstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and upstream of the discharge section in the sheet conveying direction, the second conveying path configured to merge with the first conveying path upstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and to be provided with the erasing section; and a sorting member located at the branch point, the method comprising:
causing the sheet feeding section to convey a sheet having an image formed thereon to the first conveying path or to convey the sheet to the second conveying path and thereafter to the first conveying path;
causing the reading section to read the image on the sheet in the first conveying path;
causing the sorting member to sort, at the branch point, the sheet in the first conveying path into the second conveying path;
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet in the second conveying path;
causing the reading section to read the erased surface of the sheet having been conveyed from the second conveying path to the first conveying path;
causing the sorting member to sort, at the branch point, the sheet in the first conveying path into the first conveying path; and
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet and thereafter causing count information to be recorded on the sheet.
9. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein the count information is recorded on the sheet in the first conveying path from the first conveying path opposite to the second conveying path.
10. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein
the reading section includes a first reading section configured to read one surface of a sheet and a second reading section configured to read the other surface of the sheet, an upstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being opposed to the first reading section with the first conveying path interposed therebetween and a downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being extended toward downstream of the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, and
the count information is recorded on the sheet from a position on the first conveying path on the same side as that of the first reading section and downstream of the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, the position being at least partially opposed to the downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction with the first conveying path interposed therebetween.
11. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein
the discharge section includes a first discharge section and a second discharge section, and the method comprises
transmitting image data to a recipient, the recipient being configured to analyze the count information recorded on a sheet on the basis of first image data on the sheet before being erased and to make a predetermined determination on the basis of second image data on the sheet after being erased,
receiving an analysis result and a determination result from the recipient,
causing the reading section to read an image on a sheet in the first conveying path so as to acquire the first image data and thereafter causing the sheet to be conveyed to the second conveying path,
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet,
causing the reading section to read an erased surface of the sheet so as to acquire the second image data,
causing the sorting section to sort the sheet into the first conveying path at the branch point,
causing the sheet to be discharged to one of the first discharge section and the second discharge section, the one being associated with the determination result received, and
causing count information to be recorded on the sheet, from which the image has been erased, on the basis of the analysis result received.
12. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein
the sheet feeding section feeds a sheet on which an image has been formed with a toner which is decolorized by heating, and
the erasing section heats the sheet to decolorize the image, thereby erasing the image.
13. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein the count information is recorded on the sheet with an ink which is not decolorized by heating.
14. The image erasing method according to claim 8, wherein the count information is recorded on the sheet from between the first conveying path downstream of the branch point in the sheet conveying direction and the second conveying path extending from the branch point.
15. A computer-readable storage medium configured to non-temporarily store an erase program executed by a computer to cause an image erasing apparatus to erase an image, the image erasing apparatus including: a sheet feeding section; a reading section; an erasing section; a discharge section into which a sheet is discharged; a first conveying path provided with the reading section and the discharge section downstream of the reading section in a sheet conveying direction; a second conveying path branched in the first conveying path from a branch point, the branch point being located at a position downstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and upstream of the discharge section in the sheet conveying direction, and configured to merge with the first conveying path upstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and to be provided with the erasing section; a sorting member located at the branch point; and a recording section located on the first conveying path and configured to record count information indicative of an erase count on a sheet; the erase program comprising:
causing the sheet feeding section to convey a sheet having an image formed thereon to the first conveying path or to convey the sheet to the second conveying path and thereafter to the first conveying path;
causing the reading section to read the image on the sheet in the first conveying path;
causing the sorting member to sort, at the branch point, the sheet in the first conveying path into the second conveying path;
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet in the second conveying path;
causing the reading section to read the erased surface of the sheet having been conveyed from the second conveying path to the first conveying path;
causing the sorting member to sort, at the branch point, the sheet in the first conveying path into the first conveying path; and
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet and thereafter causing the recording section to record count information on the sheet.
16. The medium according to claim 15, wherein the recording section records the count information on the sheet in the first conveying path from the first conveying path opposite to the second conveying path.
17. The medium according to claim 15, wherein
the reading section includes a first reading section configured to read one surface of a sheet and a second reading section configured to read the other surface of the sheet, an upstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being opposed to the first reading section with the first conveying path interposed therebetween and a downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction being extended toward downstream of the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, and
the recording section records the count information on the sheet, the recording section being located at a position on the first conveying path on the same side as that of the first reading section and downstream of the first reading section in the sheet conveying direction, the position being at least partially opposed to the downstream portion of the second reading section in the sheet conveying direction with the first conveying path interposed therebetween.
18. The medium according to claim 15, wherein
the discharge section includes a first discharge section and a second discharge section, and the program comprises
transmitting image data to a recipient, the recipient being configured to analyze the count information recorded on a sheet on the basis of first image data on the sheet before being erased and to make a predetermined determination on the basis of second image data on the sheet after being erased,
receiving an analysis result and a determination result from the recipient,
causing the reading section to read an image on a sheet in the first conveying path so as to acquire the first image data and thereafter causing the sheet to be conveyed to the second conveying path,
causing the erasing section to erase the image on the sheet,
causing the reading section to read an erased surface of the sheet so as to acquire the second image data,
causing the sorting section to sort the sheet into the first conveying path at the branch point,
causing the sheet to be discharged to one of the first discharge section and the second discharge section, the one being associated with the determination result received, and
causing the recording section to record count information on the sheet, from which the image has been erased, on the basis of the analysis result received.
19. The medium according to claim 15, wherein
the sheet feeding section feeds a sheet on which an image has been formed with a toner which is decolorized by heating, and
the erasing section heats the sheet to decolorize the image, thereby erasing the image.
20. The medium according to claim 15, wherein the recording section records the count information on the sheet with an ink which is not decolorized by heating.