Media jam and bent corner detector

• US 20070134008A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Heiles, Tod, Hui, Kit, Gudaitis, Algird
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/21
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/70 Detecting malfunctions relating to paper handling, e.g. jams
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1675 jam treatment

Abstract

This invention relates to a media jam and media bent corner detector, comprising: a carriage; a transducer operatively connected to or adjacent to the carriage; and a piezoelectric film beam operatively connected to the transducer such that a portion of the beam substantially extends into a media path to detect the presence of a media jam or a media bent corner.

Claims

1. A media jam and media bent corner detector, comprising:

a carriage;

a transducer operatively connected to the carriage; and

a piezoelectric film beam operatively connected to the transducer such that a portion of the beam substantially extends into a media path to detect the presence of a media jam or a media bent corner.

2. The detector, as in claim 1, wherein the detector is further comprised of:

a bracket located substantially over the transducer and the piezoelectric film beam and attached to the carriage.

3. The detector, as in claim 2, wherein the bracket is further comprised of:

a plurality of isolation grommets such that the grommets attach the bracket to the carriage.

4. The detector, as in claim 1, wherein the transducer is further comprised of:

a printed circuit assembly.

5. The detector, as in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric film beam is further comprised of:

a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film beam.

6. A media jam and media bent corner detector, comprising:

a carriage;

a transducer located substantially adjacent to the carriage; and

a piezoelectric film beam operatively connected to the transducer such that a portion of the beam substantially extends into a media path to detect the presence of a media jam or a media bent corner.

7. The detector, as in claim 6, wherein the detector is further comprised of:

a bracket located substantially over the transducer and the piezoelectric film beam and attached to the carriage.

8. The detector, as in claim 7, wherein the bracket is further comprised of:

a plurality of isolation grommets such that the grommets attach the bracket to the carriage.

9. The detector, as in claim 6, wherein the transducer is further comprised of:

a printed circuit assembly.

10. The detector, as in claim 6, wherein the piezoelectric film beam is further comprised of:

a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film beam.

11. A method for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

12. The method, as in claim 11, wherein the actuating step is further comprised of:

contacting the detector with the media jam or media bent corner;

deforming a piezoelectric film beam in the detector;

creating a strain in a transducer;

generating an electric charge in the transducer;

amplifying the electric charge;

thresholding the electric charge to generate a firmware interrupt; and

determining the presence of a media jam or media bent corner.

13. The method, as in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the detector to determine if the media jam or media bent corner has been removed.

14. A method for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum;

reversing the rotation of the media drum; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

15. The method, as in claim 14, wherein the actuating step is further comprised of:

contacting the detector with the media jam or media bent corner;

deforming a piezoelectric film beam in the detector;

creating a strain in a transducer;

generating an electric charge in the transducer;

amplifying the electric charge;

thresholding the electric charge to generate a firmware interrupt; and

determining the presence of a media jam or media bent corner.

16. The method, as in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the detector to determine if the media jam or media bent corner has been removed.

17. The method, as in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

reversing a motion of a media path to remove the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

18. A method for moving the carriage to a service/capping mode when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum;

moving the carriage to a servicing/capping mode; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

19. The method, as in claim 18, wherein the actuating step is further comprised of:

contacting the detector with the media jam or media bent corner;

deforming a piezoelectric film beam in the detector;

creating a strain in a transducer;

generating an electric charge in the transducer;

amplifying the electric charge;

thresholding the electric charge to generate a firmware interrupt; and

determining the presence of a media jam or media bent corner.

20. The method, as in claim 18, wherein the moving step is further comprised of:

servicing/capping the print head.

21. The method, as in claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the detector to determine if the media jam or media bent corner has been removed.

22. A method for determining if a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

determining if media is present.

23. The method, as in claim 22, wherein the method is further comprised of:

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

24. The method, as in claim 22, wherein the method is further comprised of:

inspecting the detector for defects.

25. The method, as in claim 22, wherein the actuating step is further comprised of:

contacting the detector with the media jam or media bent corner;

deforming a piezoelectric film beam in the detector;

creating a strain in a transducer;

generating an electric charge in the transducer;

amplifying the electric charge;

thresholding the electric charge to generate a firmware interrupt; and

determining the presence of a media jam or media bent corner.

26. The method, as in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the detector to determine if the media jam or media bent corner has been removed.

27. A computer readable medium having instructions for a method for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

28. A computer readable medium having instructions for a method for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum;

reversing the rotation of the media drum; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

29. A computer readable medium having instructions for a method for moving the carriage to a service/capping mode when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum;

moving the carriage to a servicing/capping mode; and

removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

30. A computer readable medium having instructions for a method for determining if a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

determining if media is present.

31. A system for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

means for actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

means for stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

means for removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

32. A system for interrupting a print job when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

means for actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

means for stopping the rotation of a media drum;

means for reversing the rotation of the media drum; and

means for removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

33. A system for moving the carriage to a service/capping mode when a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

means for actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

means for stopping the rotation of a media drum;

means for moving the carriage to a servicing/capping mode; and

means for removing the media jam or the media having a bent corner.

34. A system for determining if a media jam or media bent corner has been detected, comprising:

means for actuating a media jam and media bent corner detector;

means for stopping the rotation of a media drum; and

means for determining if media is present.