Media sensor system for printer mechanism

• US 6,394,676 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Dresher, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cone, Darius N.
• Application Number:
  US09/501,868
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 400/703,708,709.1,711,716,582,621,621.2 347/234,236,238,253,262,264,105 250/559.29,559.3,227.14,206.2,206.1 101/288
• US Class Current: 400/703
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/42 Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/46 by marks or formations on the paper being fed

Abstract

A media sensor system includes a light source directing light towards media stock, a photo-detector positioned to detect light reflected from the media stock and a photo-detector positioned to detect light passing through the media stock. The light source and photo-detectors may be positioned in a media stock guide. The energization level of the light source and the photo-detector monitored may be set according to a media type being used.

Claims

1. A printer media sensor system, comprising:

a media stock guide having a first guide rail spaced from a second guide rail for allowing media stock to pass there between;

a light source positioned on the first guide rail and positioned to direct light toward the second guide rail;

a first photo-detector positioned on the first guide rail and positioned for detecting light emitted from the light source and reflected from media stock passing between the first and second guide rails; and

a second photo-detector positioned on the second guide rail and positioned for detecting light emitted from the light source and passing through media stock passing between the first and second guide rails.

2. The printer media sensor system of claim 1 wherein the light source directs light toward media stock in a direction defined by a first line of sight, and a second line of sight of the first photo-detector intersects the first line of sight at an angle of about forty degrees.

3. The printer media sensor system of claim 2 wherein a third line of sight of the second photo-detector is substantially coincident with the first line of sight.

4. The printer media sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic controller connected for controlling energization of the light source and for receiving signals from the first and second photo-detectors.

5. The printer media sensor system of claim 4, wherein the electronic controller includes associated memory, at least two different light source energization levels stored in memory, each corresponding to a media type, the controller operable to effect energization of the light source according to the media type being used.

6. The printer media sensor system of claim 5, further comprising:

an input device connected for providing a media type indicative signal to the electronic controller.

7. The printer media sensor system of claim 5 wherein the electronic controller comprises a light source driver connected to the light source, a buffer portion connected to the photo-detectors, a print controller connected to the buffer portion for receiving buffered photo-detector signals therefrom, and an image controller connected to the print controller for receiving photo-detection level indicative signals therefrom and connected to the light source driver for controlling the light source energization level.

8. The printer media sensor system of claim 4 wherein the electronic controller is connected to a feed roller for feeding media stock through the media stock guide, the electronic controller operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from one of the first and second photo-detectors.

9. The print head media sensor system of claim 8 wherein the electronic controller is operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from the first photo-detector when using a first media type including a series of spaced black bars imprinted thereon and wherein the electronic controller is operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from the second photo-detector when using a second black bar free media type.

10. The print head media sensor system of claim 9, further comprising:

an input device connected for providing a media type indicative signal to the electronic controller.

11. A printer media sensor system, comprising:

a light source positioned to direct light towards media stock;

a first photo-detector positioned for receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected from the media stock;

a second photo-detector positioned for receiving light emitted from the light source and passing through the media stock; and

an electric controller connected for controlling energization of the light source and for receiving signals from the first and second photo-detectors, the electronic controller controlling an energization level of the light source according to a known media type being used, where a first energization level of the light source is set if the known media type is a first media type and a second energization level of the light source is set if the known media type is a second media type, the first energization level being different than the second energization level;

wherein the electronic controller is connected to a feed roller for feeding media stock past a print head, the electronic controller operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from one of the first and second photo-detectors.

12. A method of configuring a printer mechanism for use with one of a plurality of media stocks, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a light source for directing light toward media stock;

providing a first photo-detector for receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected from media stock;

providing a second photo-detector for receiving light emitted from the light source and transmitted through media stock;

identifying a type of media stock to be used in the printer mechanism;

setting an energization level of the light source based upon the identified media stock type; and

selecting which photo-detector to monitor based upon the identified media stock type.

13. A printer media sensor system, comprising:

a light source positioned to direct light towards media stock;

a first photo-detector positioned for receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected from the media stock;

a second photo-detector positioned for receiving light emitted from the light source and passing through the media stock;

an electronic controller connected for controlling energization of the light source and for receiving signals from the first and second photo-detectors, the electronic controller operable to control an energization level of the light source according to the media type being used;

wherein the electronic controller is connected to a feed roller for feeding media stock past a print head, the electronic controller operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from one of the first and second photo-detectors; and

wherein the electronic controller is operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from the first photo-detector when using a first media type including a series of spaced black bars imprinted thereon and wherein the electronic controller is operable to control the feed roller in response to signals received from the second photo-detector when using a second black bar free media type.

14. A method of sensing media stock movement in a printer mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a light source for directing light toward media stock;

providing a first photo-detector for detecting light reflected from media stock;

providing a second photo-detector for detecting light transmitted through media stock;

controlling an energization level of the light source based upon a type of media stock being used in the printer mechanism;

controlling movement of a media stock feed roller according to signals received from the first photo-detector when a First media stock type is used in the printer mechanism;

controlling movement of the media stock feed roller according to signals received from the second photo-detector when a second media stock type is used in the printer mechanism;

wherein the first media stock type comprises label stock having a series of spaced black bars imprinted thereon.

15. A method of sensing media stock movement in a printer mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a light source for directing light toward media stock;

providing a first photo-detector for detecting light reflected from media stock;

providing a second photo-detector for detecting light transmitted through media stock; and

determining a type of media stock inserted in the printer mechanism;

retrieving from memory a stored light source energization level for the determined media stock type;

controlling an energization level of the light source based upon the determined type of media stock according to the stored energization level retrieved from memory.