Patent ID: 7182338
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for discriminating a kind of a sheet material, comprising: a substrate having a recessed portion; a press member situated so that a sheet material can be deflected using the recessed portion; a support member for supporting the press member such that the sheet material situated to cover the recessed portion is pressed by the press member; a sensor for detecting information corresponding to a deformation amount of the sheet material; means for discriminating a kind of the sheet material on basis of the information on the deformation amount of the sheet material detected by the sensor; and press member holding means for holding the press member, wherein the press member holding means holds the press member at a distance from the substrate when the sheet material is set in the substrate, moves the press member to a position near the recessed portion when the sheet material is pressed, and holds the press member so that the press member contacts the sheet material at a position other than the recessed portion, and wherein the press member holding means moves the press member along the sheet material, the sheet material is not deflected when the press member is located in a position other than the recessed portion, and the sheet material is deflected when the press member is located near the recessed portion.