Optical sensor for printer media motion detection
OwnerThomas D. Pawlik, Mark C. Rzadca +1inventors
InventorsThomas D. Pawlik, Mark C. Rzadca, Thomas F. Powers
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Abstract
An inkjet printer includes a paper tray for holding print media; a pick-up roller for moving the print media along at least a portion of a pre-print zone of a paper transport path; a light source disposed along the pre-print zone of the paper transport path that directs light toward a non-print side of the print media for illuminating the non-print side of the print media; and an array sensor that receives reflected light from the non-print side of the print media; wherein data from the sensor is used to determine an amount of motion of the print media in the pre-print zone.
Claims10
An inkjet printer comprising:
- (a) a paper tray for holding print media;
- (b) a pick-up roller for moving the print media along at least a portion of a pre-print zone of a paper transport path;
- (c) a light source disposed along the pre-print zone of the paper transport path that directs light toward a non-print side of the print media for illuminating the non-print side of the print media;
- (d) an array sensor that receives reflected light from the non-print side of the print media;
- and
- (e) image analysis electronics that receives data from the array sensor and uses the data from the sensor to determine an amount of motion of the print media in the pre-print zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.