# US 11,993,088 B2 · Integrated sensor assembly for media processing devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,088 B2 - Document ID: US11993088B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/580,133 - Filed: 2022-01-20 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-20 - Assignees: Zebra Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Zebra Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Yong Liu; Huanhua Liao; Yunbo Yuan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993088B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/325: by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A media processing device includes: a print head; a housing supporting the print head, and defining chambers to receive a media supply, and a ribbon supply; a media guide coupled to the housing, and defining a portion of a media path extending from the media supply to the print head; a first sensor support affixed to the media guide on a first side of the media path, between the media path and a ribbon path extending from the ribbon chamber to the print head; a ribbon sensor on a ribbon-facing side of the first sensor support; a first media sensor on an opposite, media-facing side of the first sensor support; a second sensor support affixed to the media guide on a second side of the media path, opposite the first side of the media path; and a second media sensor on a media-facing side of the second sensor support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A media processing device, comprising: a print head; a housing supporting the print head, and defining (i) a media chamber configured to receive a media supply, and (ii) a ribbon chamber configured to receive a supply of ribbon; a media guide coupled to the housing, the media guide defining a portion of a media path extending from the media supply to the print head; a first sensor support affixed to the media guide on a first side of the media path, the first side located between the media path and a ribbon path extending from the ribbon chamber to the print head; a ribbon sensor on a ribbon-facing side of the first sensor support; a first media sensor on an opposite, media-facing side of the first sensor support; a second sensor support affixed to the media guide on a second side of the media path, opposite the first side of the media path; and a second media sensor on a media-facing side of the second sensor support wherein the media guide comprises: an inner surface defining a boundary of the media path; a first carriage extending from the inner surface for receiving the first sensor support; and a second carriage extending from the inner surface for receiving the second sensor support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The media processing device of claim 1, wherein the media guide comprises: a media holder including a spindle to support the media supply; and a guide arm extending along the media path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The media processing device of claim 2, wherein the media holder is movable relative to the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The media processing device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor support comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB); and wherein the second sensor support comprises a second PCB. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The media processing device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller supported within the housing; and a set of electrical conduits connecting the first and second sensor supports to the controller; wherein the media guide includes an opening adjacent to the first and second sensor supports, from the inner surface to an outer surface; and wherein the electrical conduits extend through the opening towards the controller along a common conduit path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The media processing device of claim 5, wherein the housing defines a guide surface adjacent to the media guide; and wherein the guide surface includes a slot defining a portion of the common conduit path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The media processing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensor supports are substantially symmetrical relative to the media path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The media processing device of claim 7, wherein the first media sensor includes a gap sensor with a first optical detector; and wherein second media sensor includes a blackline sensor with an optical emitter and a second optical detector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The media processing device of claim 7, wherein the first media sensor includes a blackline sensor with an optical emitter and a first optical detector; and wherein the second media sensor includes a gap sensor with a second optical detector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The media processing device of claim 1, wherein the ribbon sensor includes an optical emitter, and an optical detector. ### Claim 11 A media processing device, comprising: a print head; a housing supporting the print head, and defining a media chamber configured to receive a media supply; a media guide coupled to the housing, and defining a portion of a media path extending from the media supply to the print head; a sensor support affixed to the media guide on a first side of the media path; a first sensor on a first side of the sensor support; and a media sensor on a second side of the sensor support, opposite the first side wherein the media guide comprises: an inner surface defining a boundary of the media path; and a carriage extending from the inner surface for receiving the sensor support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The media processing device of claim 11, wherein the media guide comprises: a media holder including a spindle to support the media supply; and a guide arm extending along the media path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The media processing device of claim 12, wherein the media holder is movable relative to the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The media processing device of claim 11, wherein the sensor support comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The media processing device of claim 11, wherein the media sensor includes a blackline sensor.