# US 10,118,419 B2 · Sheet detection device and printer

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- Number: US 10,118,419 B2
- Document ID: US10118419B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/640,857
- Filed: 2017-07-03
- Published: 2018-01-04
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-04
- Assignees: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Takehiro Kikui; Takuro Kohyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118419B2

## CPC

- B41J 13/0009: {control of the transport of the copy material}
- B41J 3/4075: {Tape printers; Label printers}
- B41J 11/0095: {Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end}
- B41J 11/46: by marks or formations on the paper being fed
- B41J 13/10: Sheet holders, retainers {, movable guides}, or stationary guides
- B41J 15/046: {for the guidance of continuous copy material, e.g. for preventing skewed conveyance of the continuous copy material}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A sheet detection device includes a sheet guide between a sheet feeding opening into which a sheet is to be inserted and a printing mechanism for printing on the sheet, the sheet guide including a guide surface through which the sheet is to pass, a sheet detector including an optical sensor configured to detect a predetermined position of the sheet, an opening defined in the guide surface, the sheet detector being inside the opening and the optical sensor being exposed through the opening, and a transparent guide cover configured in the guide surface to cover at least a first border position between the sheet detector and the opening on an upstream side in a sheet transport direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sheet detection device comprising:
a sheet guide between a sheet feeding opening into which a sheet is to be inserted and a printing mechanism for printing on the sheet, the sheet guide including a guide surface through which the sheet is to pass;
a sheet detector including an optical sensor configured to detect a predetermined position of the sheet;
an opening defined in the guide surface, the sheet detector being inside the opening and the optical sensor being exposed through the opening; and
a transparent guide cover positioned in the guide surface to cover at least a first border position between the sheet detector and the opening on an upstream side in a sheet transport direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sheet detection device according to claim 1, wherein:
a recess having a depth greater than a thickness of the transparent guide cover is defined in the guide surface, and
the transparent guide cover is inside the recess.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sheet detection device according to claim 1, wherein:
the opening extends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction,
the sheet detector is configured to be movable along an extending direction of the opening,
the transparent guide cover covers a part of the guide surface on an upstream side of a second border position between the sheet detector and the opening on a downstream side in the sheet transport direction, and
the opening has an end portion on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction, the end portion being lower than an end portion of the transparent guide cover on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sheet detection device according to claim 1, wherein:
the sheet guide includes a lower sheet guide configured to face a rear surface of the sheet and an upper sheet guide configured to face a top surface of the sheet,
the optical sensor includes a lower sensor exposed by a lower opening defined in the lower sheet guide and an upper sensor exposed by an upper opening defined in the upper sheet guide, and
the transparent guide cover is in at least one of the lower sheet guide and the upper sheet guide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A printer comprising the sheet detection device according to claim 1.

### Claim 6

A sheet detection device comprising:
a sheet guide between a sheet feeding opening into which a sheet is to be inserted and a printing mechanism for printing on the sheet, the sheet guide including a guide surface through which the sheet is to pass;
a sheet detector including an optical sensor configured to detect a predetermined position of the sheet;
an opening defined in the guide surface, the sheet detector being inside the opening and the optical sensor being exposed through the opening; and
a transparent guide cover positioned in the guide surface to cover at least a first border position between the sheet detector and the opening on an upstream side in a sheet transport direction,
wherein:
the opening extends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction,
the sheet detector is configured to be movable along an extending direction of the opening,
the guide surface is configured with a scale display on an upstream side of the first border position in the sheet transport direction, the scale display being configured to indicate a position of the optical sensor in a movement direction, and
the scale display is covered by the transparent guide cover.