Media level indicator
OwnerThomas J Halpennyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A media level indicator is provided to identify the amount of media in an input stack of a sheet processing device. The media level indicator includes an odometer mechanism configured to survey the printer's feed mechanism so that it may quantify movement of a selected sheet during a predetermined feed operation. The quantified movement thereafter is interpreted to indicate the amount of media in the input stack.
Claims18
An apparatus that determines an amount of media in an input stack, comprising:
- a sheet processing device which receives media sheets through an input port, the sheet processing device including a feed mechanism configured to selectively move the input stack between a predetermined first position wherein a selected sheet of the input stack is spaced from the input port and an operation-specific second position wherein the selected sheet is positioned for passage into the input port;
- and
- an odometer mechanism configured to survey the feed mechanism to quantify movement of the selected sheet during a feed operation, such quantified movement being indicative of an amount of media in the input stack.
A media level indicator for use in a sheet processing device having an input port through which media is received, the media level indicator comprising:
- an input tray configured to hold a stack of sheet media;
- a feed mechanism including a feed roller configured to pass a selected sheet of the stack to the input port;
- and
- an odometer mechanism configured to survey the feed mechanism to quantify a distance traveled by the selected sheet during a feed operation wherein the input tray is moved between a predetermined at-rest orientation where the selected sheet is spaced from the feed roller and an operation-specific feed orientation where the selected sheet engages the feed roller for delivery into the input port, such distance being indicative of an amount of media in the input stack.
A media level indicator method for use a sheet processing device to in indicate a level of media within an input tray which delivers stacked media to an input port, the media level indicator method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the input tray in a predetermined at-rest orientation where a selected sheet of the stacked media is spaced from the input port;
- moving the input tray to an operation-specific feed orientation where the selected sheet is positioned for passage into the input port;
- and
- identifying a distance traveled by the input tray during movement between the at-rest orientation and the feed orientation, such distance being indicative of the level of media within the input tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.