Sheet height sensor using movable and stationary mirrors
First Claim
1. A printing apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor moving in a processing direction;
a print head positioned adjacent said conveyor;
a light source positioned adjacent a first side of said conveyor, said first side of said conveyor being parallel to said processing direction;
a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of said conveyor, said second side of said conveyor being parallel to said processing direction, said second side of said conveyor being across said conveyor from said first side of said conveyor in a second direction, said second direction being approximately perpendicular to said processing direction;
a fixed mirror positioned adjacent said first side of said conveyor, said fixed mirror being positioned along said first side of said conveyor between said light source and said print head; and
a light sensor positioned adjacent said second side of said conveyor, said light sensor being positioned along said second side of said conveyor between said movable mirror and said print head,said light source outputting light to said movable mirror,said movable mirror directing said light to said fixed mirror, andsaid fixed mirror directing said light to said light sensor.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses include a conveyor moving in a processing direction, a print head positioned adjacent the conveyor, a light source positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyor, a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of the conveyor, that is across the conveyor from the first side of the conveyor, a fixed mirror positioned adjacent the first side of the conveyor (the fixed mirror is between the light source and the print head), and a light sensor position adjacent the second side of the conveyor. The light sensor is between the movable mirror and the print head. The light source outputs light to the movable mirror across the conveyor, the movable mirror directs the light back across the conveyor to the fixed mirror, and the fixed mirror directs the light again across the conveyor to the light sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A printing apparatus comprising:
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a conveyor moving in a processing direction; a print head positioned adjacent said conveyor; a light source positioned adjacent a first side of said conveyor, said first side of said conveyor being parallel to said processing direction; a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of said conveyor, said second side of said conveyor being parallel to said processing direction, said second side of said conveyor being across said conveyor from said first side of said conveyor in a second direction, said second direction being approximately perpendicular to said processing direction; a fixed mirror positioned adjacent said first side of said conveyor, said fixed mirror being positioned along said first side of said conveyor between said light source and said print head; and a light sensor positioned adjacent said second side of said conveyor, said light sensor being positioned along said second side of said conveyor between said movable mirror and said print head, said light source outputting light to said movable mirror, said movable mirror directing said light to said fixed mirror, and said fixed mirror directing said light to said light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A printing apparatus comprising:
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a perforated vacuum belt having a surface moving in a processing direction; a print head positioned adjacent said perforated vacuum belt; a light source positioned adjacent a first side of said perforated vacuum belt, said first side of said perforated vacuum belt being parallel to said processing direction; a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of said perforated vacuum belt, said movable mirror rotating in a plane parallel to said surface of said perforated vacuum belt, said second side of said perforated vacuum belt being parallel to said processing direction, said second side of said perforated vacuum belt being across said perforated vacuum belt from said first side of said perforated vacuum belt in a second direction, said second direction being approximately perpendicular to said processing direction; a fixed mirror positioned adjacent said first side of said perforated vacuum belt, said fixed mirror being positioned along said first side of said perforated vacuum between said light source and said print head; and a light sensor array positioned adjacent said second side of said perforated vacuum belt, said light sensor array being positioned along said second side of said perforated vacuum between said movable mirror and said print head, said light source outputting light to said movable mirror, said movable mirror directing said light to said fixed mirror, and said fixed mirror directing said light to said light sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An inkjet printer comprising:
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a perforated vacuum belt having a surface moving in a processing direction; an inkjet print head positioned adjacent said perforated vacuum belt; a light source positioned adjacent a first side of said perforated vacuum belt, said first side of said perforated vacuum belt being parallel to said processing direction; a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of said perforated vacuum belt, said movable mirror rotating in a plane parallel to said surface of said perforated vacuum belt, said second side of said perforated vacuum belt being parallel to said processing direction, said second side of said perforated vacuum belt being across said perforated vacuum belt from said first side of said perforated vacuum belt in a second direction, said second direction being approximately perpendicular to said processing direction; a fixed mirror positioned adjacent said first side of said perforated vacuum belt, said fixed mirror being positioned along said first side of said perforated vacuum between said light source and said inkjet print head; and a light sensor array positioned adjacent said second side of said perforated vacuum belt, said light sensor array being positioned along said second side of said perforated vacuum between said movable mirror and said inkjet print head, said light source outputting light to said movable mirror, said movable mirror directing said light to said fixed mirror, and said fixed mirror directing said light to said light sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification