Multifunction Sensor for An Image Forming Device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsNiko Jay Murrell, Brian Allen Blair, Jason Lee Rowe, William Paul Cook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining the presence of a module and presence of a media sheet in a media path using output signals from a single sensor in an image forming device. One embodiment includes a sensor which may be oriented in a variety of positions through interaction with the module and the media sheet. An algorithm may be used to determine the presence of the module in a module insertion path and presence of the media sheet in the media path based on the position of the sensor.
Claims20
A dual-purpose sensor to detect a module inserted into an image forming device and a media sheet within a media path comprising:
- a body with a main section, a first arm that extends outward from the main section in a first direction, and a second arm that extends outward from the main section in a second direction;
- a detector including a transmitter and a receiver that form a pathway therebetween, the transmitter positioned on a first side of the body and a receiver positioned on a second side of the body;
- and
- a detection section positioned on the main section of the body, the detection section configured to interact with the detector;
- the body being pivotal between first, second, and third positions, the first position including the first arm positioned in an insertion path of the module and the second arm positioned away from the media path, the second position including the second arm positioned in the media path, and the third position including the first arm positioned out of the insertion path of the module and the second arm positioned out of the media path;
- the detection section being positioned within the pathway formed by the transmitter and the receiver when the body is in at least one of the first, second, and third positions, and being positioned out of the pathway when the body is in at least one of the first, second, and third positions.
A dual-purpose sensor to detect a module inserted into an image forming device and a media sheet within a media path comprising:
- a movable body including first and second sections and an actuation feature, the body being positioned in proximity to a module insertion path and the media path;
- the body being in a first position with the first section extending into the module insertion path, a second position with the second section extending into the media path when the first section is in contact with the module in the module insertion path, and a third position with the module in the module insertion path and a media sheet in the media path;
- the actuation feature actuating a sensor circuit to sense the movement of the body between the first, second, and third positions.
A method of detecting a module and a media sheet within an image forming device comprising:
- biasing a body towards a first position with an arm that extends outward from the body positioned in a module insertion path and a second arm that extends outward from the body being away from a media path;
- positioning the body to be moved to a second position due to contact with the module being inserted into the module insertion path, the second position including the second arm extending into the media path;
- positioning the body to be moved to a third position due to contact between the second arm and the media sheet in the media path;
- determining a status of a media sheet feed event;
- sensing the movement of the body between the first, second, and third positions;
- and
- determining the positions of the module and the media sheet based on the position of the body and the status of the media sheet feed event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.