Linear rotary encoder
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorJohn Peter Duffield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear rotary encoder includes a pair of rotational surfaces. A contact belt has a first end coupled to a first rotational surface in the pair and a second end coupled to a second rotational surface in the pair. The contact belt is driven to rotate around the pair of rotational surfaces by a driving force applied to media to move the media from the first end toward the second end. An encoding scale is coupled to an inner surface of the contact belt. A reader is positioned to read the encoding scale as the contact belt rotates around the pair of rotational surfaces. The reader generates an output signal indicating a position of the media based on reading of the encoding scale.
Claims18
A linear rotary encoder system, comprising:
- a pair of wheels comprising a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel;
- a contact belt having a first end coupled to the first wheel and a second end coupled to the second wheel, the contact belt driven to rotate around the pair of wheels by a driving force applied to media to move the media from the first end toward the second end;
- an encoding band having an encoding scale, wherein the encoding band is a belt that is separate from the contact belt but coupled to an inner surface of the contact belt, wherein the encoding scale comprises an inductive element;
- and
- a reader positioned to read the encoding scale as the contact belt rotates around the pair of wheels, the reader generating an output signal indicating a position of the media based on reading of the encoding scale, wherein the reader comprises an inductive sensor corresponding to the encoding scale.
A printer system, comprising:
- a driver configured to drive media through the printer system;
- one or more print heads configured to deposit ink on the media;
- and
- a linear rotary encoder that generates an output signal indicative of a position of the media in the printer system as the driver drives the media relative to the print heads, the linear rotary encoder comprising:
- a pair of rotational surfaces comprising a first rotational surface and a second rotational surface spaced apart from the first rotational surface;
- a contact belt having a first end coupled to the first rotational surface and a second end coupled to the second rotational surface, the contact belt driven to rotate around the pair of rotational surfaces by a driving force applied by the driver to the media to move the media from the first end toward the second end;
- an encoding band having an encoding scale, wherein the encoding band is a belt that is separate from the contact belt but coupled to an inner surface of the contact belt, wherein the encoding scale comprises a magnetic element or a capacitive element;
- and
- a reader positioned to read the encoding scale as the contact belt rotates around the pair of rotational surfaces, wherein the reader comprises a magnetic sensor or a capacitive sensor corresponding to the encoding scale, the reader generating the output signal indicating a position of the media based on reading of the encoding scale.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.