Integrated media and media tray sensing in an image forming device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorEdward Triplett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming device determines a plurality of conditions in the device. In one embodiment, a signal source positioned downstream from a media input tray emits a signal. The signal reflects off of a reflective member and is received by a detector. Based on the amounts of the signal detected by the detector, a controller can determine a media input tray condition and a media sheet condition.
Claims31
A method of detecting a condition within an image forming device comprising:
- receiving a media sheet indication from a sensor indicating whether a media sheet is present at a predetermined point along a media path downstream of a media input tray;
- and
- receiving a media tray indication from the sensor indicating whether the input media tray is disposed in an operating position.
A method of detecting a condition within an image forming device comprising:
- emitting a signal at a predetermined point downstream from an input media tray;
- detecting an amount of the emitted signal based on whether a media sheet is positioned at the predetermined point along the media path;
- and
- detecting a different amount of the emitted signal based on whether the input media tray is disposed in an operating position.
A method of detecting a condition within an image forming device comprising:
- determining a first condition wherein no media sheet is positioned at a predetermined point downstream from a media input tray based on a first amount of a signal received by a sensor;
- determining a second condition wherein a media sheet is positioned at the predetermined point based on a second amount of signal received by the sensor;
- determining a third condition wherein the media sheet positioned at the predetermined point is a transparency based on a third amount of signal received by the sensor;
- and
- determining a fourth condition wherein the input media tray is positioned to introduce the media sheet into the media path based on a fourth amount of signal received by the sensor.
An image forming device comprising:
- a sensor positioned downstream from a media input tray to detect amounts of emitted signals;
- and
- logic operatively connected to the sensor to determine a media input tray condition and to determine a media sheet condition based on the amounts of signals detected by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.