IN-LINE SELF SPACING OPTICAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A PRINTER
First Claim
1. An optical sensor assembly that measures optical reflection density on a printed sheet horizontally conveyed and supported by a paper transport section of a printer, comprising:
- a densitometer including a frame having an engagement portion that engages said moving printed sheet, a light source mounted on said frame that illuminates a portion of said printed sheet at a continuous intensity, and a photo-detector mounted on said frame and positioned to receive light from said light source that is reflected off said printed sheet, anda mounting that floatably mounts said densitometer in said printer such that said engagement portion of said frame engages said printed sheet in constant sliding contact as it moves through said paper transport section as a result of the weight of the densitometer,wherein a constant, predetermined distance is maintained between said photo-detector and said illuminated portion of said moving printed sheet regardless of vertical movement of said printed sheet within said paper transport section as a result of said sliding contact.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line optical sensor assembly that measures optical reflection density on a printed sheet horizontally conveyed and supported by a paper transport section of a printer is provided. The sensor assembly includes a densitometer having frame provided with a pair of tapered blades that engage the moving printed sheet, a light source disposed on said frame that illuminates a portion of said printed sheet at a continuous intensity, and a photo-detector mounted on the frame and positioned to receive light from the light source that is reflected off said printed sheet. The optical sensor assembly also includes a mounting that floatably mounts the densitometer in a position over the printed sheet. The mounting can be formed from an opening in a cover plate of the paper transport section that slidably receives the densitometer such that the pair of tapered blades continuously engages the moving sheet in ski-like fashion due to the weight of the densitometer. The floating mounting arrangement maintains a constant, predetermined distance between the photo-detector of the densitometer and the illuminated portion of the moving printed sheet regardless of vertical movement of the printed sheet within said paper transport section.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical sensor assembly that measures optical reflection density on a printed sheet horizontally conveyed and supported by a paper transport section of a printer, comprising:
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a densitometer including a frame having an engagement portion that engages said moving printed sheet, a light source mounted on said frame that illuminates a portion of said printed sheet at a continuous intensity, and a photo-detector mounted on said frame and positioned to receive light from said light source that is reflected off said printed sheet, and a mounting that floatably mounts said densitometer in said printer such that said engagement portion of said frame engages said printed sheet in constant sliding contact as it moves through said paper transport section as a result of the weight of the densitometer, wherein a constant, predetermined distance is maintained between said photo-detector and said illuminated portion of said moving printed sheet regardless of vertical movement of said printed sheet within said paper transport section as a result of said sliding contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical sensor assembly that measures optical reflection density on a printed sheet horizontally conveyed and supported by a paper transport section of a printer, comprising:
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a densitometer including a frame having an engagement portion that engages said moving printed sheet;
a light source mounted on said frame that illuminates a portion of said printed sheet at a continuous intensity, and a photo-detector mounted on said frame and positioned to receive light from said light source that is reflected off said printed sheet, anda mounting that floatably mounts said densitometer in said paper transport section such that said engagement portion of said frame engages said printed sheet in constant sliding contact as it moves through said paper transport section exclusively as a result of the weight of the densitometer, wherein a constant, predetermined distance is maintained between said photo-detector and said illuminated portion of said moving printed sheet regardless of vertical movement of said printed sheet within said paper transport section as a result of said sliding contact. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification