# US 2014/0192358 A1 · Color measurement apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192358 A1 - Document ID: US20140192358A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/239,623 - Filed: 2011-08-31 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31 - Inventors: Markus Barbieri; Stefan Barbieri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192358A1 ## CPC - G01J 3/0256: {Compact construction} - G01J 3/0272: {Handheld} - G01J 3/0291: {Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements} - G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry - G01J 3/46: Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters (measuring colour temperature G01J5/60) - G01J 3/50: using electric radiation detectors - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a color measurement apparatus (100) for measuring a color on a printed item (9). The color measurement apparatus (100) comprises a first body (1), a second body (2) including a sensor (26) for measuring color data of a printed item (9), and a guiding rail (3). The second body (2) is movable relative to the first body (1) along a measurement direction (210) and the guiding rail (3) guides the movement of the second body (2) relative to the first body (1). The guiding rail (3) is positioned between the first body (1) and the second body (2). The second body (2) is slidingly mounted on the guiding rail (3) and can slide along the guiding rail (3) in a first sliding direction (210); the guiding rail (3) is slidingly mounted on the first body (1) and can slide along the first body (1) in a second sliding direction (310) parallel to the first sliding direction (210). The movement of the second body (2) relative to the first body (1) is a combined movement including a sliding movement of the second body (2) relative to the guiding rail (3) and a sliding movement of the guiding rail (3) relative to the first body (1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A color measurement apparatus, comprising: a first body; a second body that is movable relative to the first body along a measurement direction; a guiding rail for guiding the movement of the second body relative to the first body, the guiding rail being positioned between the first body and the second body, wherein the second body is slidingly mounted on the guiding rail and is configured to slide along the guiding rail in a first sliding direction, and wherein the guiding rail is slidingly mounted on the first body and is configured to slide along the first body in a second sliding direction that is parallel to the first sliding direction, whereby the movement of the second body relative to the first body is a combined movement including a sliding movement of the second body relative to the guiding rail and a sliding movement of the guiding rail relative to the first body, the color measurement apparatus being configured to measure a color on a printed item, the second body including a sensor for measuring color data of the printed item. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first body includes a first casing having a first perimetral side, the guiding rail being mounted at said first perimetral side, wherein the guiding rail is configured to slide along the first perimetral side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first perimetral side has a first end and a second end, the guiding rail being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the guiding rail in the first position is at a middle position that is centered between the first end and the second end, and the guiding rail in the second position is off-centre and protrudes from the first end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guiding rail is further movable between the first position and a third position, wherein the guiding rail in the third position is off-centre and protrudes from the second end, the first position being between the second position and the third position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guiding rail has a length and, in the second position, a guiding rail section protrudes from the first end and has a length that is more than half of the length of the guiding rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first perimetral side has a length between the first end and the second end, the guiding rail having a length lower than the length of the first perimetral side, whereby the guiding rail in the first position is fully arranged between the first end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, comprising directing means for directing a translational movement of the color measurement apparatus along a translation direction which is perpendicular to the measurement direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first body includes a first casing having a bottom face, the directing means comprising at least one wheel or roller, said wheel or roller protruding from the bottom face and having a pivot perpendicular to the translation direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the directing means comprises two of said wheels or rollers, the two wheels or rollers being spaced-apart and being mounted on a common pivot, whereby the two wheels or rollers are configured to rotate jointly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first casing has a first perimetral side, the guiding rail being mounted at said first perimetral side and the guiding rail being configured to slide along the first perimetral side, wherein the first casing has a second perimetral side, the first perimetral side and the second perimetral side being opposite sides of the first casing, said wheel or roller being close to the second perimetral side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a frictional element positioned at the bottom face and close to the first perimetral side, wherein, in use, the first body rests on a support table, the bottom face facing the support table, and the frictional element is configured to contrast any movement of the first body on the support table by creating a friction between the frictional element and the support table. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the bottom face comprises at least one bulge positioned between the frictional element and the wheel or roller, the bulge being a protrusion such that, when the first body rests on the support table, the frictional element and the wheel or roller are prevented from simultaneously touching the support table. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the bulge is positioned between a centre of gravity of the color measurement apparatus and the wheel or roller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first body includes a processing unit and a display. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises at least one laser pointer configured to emit a beam aligned with the measurement direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises a second casing and at least one reference tongue, the at least one reference tongue protruding from the second casing along the measurement direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second body comprises two reference tongues that are positioned at opposite side faces of the second casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second body includes a camera configured to take an image of the printed item. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second body is configured to be moved by hand during use of the color measurement apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 1, the color measurement apparatus being portable. ### Claim 21 (depends on 4) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the third position, a guiding rail section protrudes from the second end and has a length that is more than half of the length of the guiding rail. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The color measurement apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second body comprises a second casing and two laser pointers that are positioned at opposite side faces of the second casing.