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AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJames K. Lucey, Barry Klimuszka, Arthur A. Whitfield, Andrew R. LaPietra
Estimating the term…
A media width detecting system is adapted to measure an absolute width of media without the need for human intervention or without the need for media to be referenced against a known location. The media width detecting system includes a measuring pattern that is provided across a media path for media. The measuring pattern can be in the form of, for example, a bar code pattern. The system further includes a reader that is provided relative to the measuring pattern so as to read the width of the measuring pattern. When media traverses the measuring pattern, a portion of the measuring pattern, for example, a subset of the bars of the bar code pattern, is covered by the media. The reader would then be adapted to determined a width of the measuring based on the covered portion of the media pattern in relation to the uncovered portion or uncovered bars.
A media width detecting system comprising:
A media width detecting system comprising:
A media width detecting system comprising:
A media width detecting system comprising:
A media size detecting system comprising:
A media size detecting system comprising:
A method of measuring a size of media being conveyed along a media path, the method comprising:
A printing apparatus comprising:
A printing apparatus comprising:
A media width detecting system comprising:
A printing apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving: for measuring width
Handling copy materials differing in width: paper-size detection, i.e. automatic detection of the length and/or width of copy material
Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable: photoelectric devices
Size; Dimensions: width
Term ended 24 Jul 2021 (estimated)
The present invention relates to a system and method for measuring and/or detecting the width of media, such as photosensitive paper, and an imaging apparatus such as a photographic printer which uses the media width detecting system.
Currently, photographic printers are capable of utilizing multiple paper widths. However, these printers do not provide for a convenient and accurate system for communicating the paper width to the printer as new unexposed rolls of paper are placed into the printer. Some printers rely on a person that operates the machine to input the paper width manually, either via a computer interface or setting switches or dials. Other printers utilize switches or magnets that are part of an input paper cassette magazine where the switches are set by the person operating the printer. Finally, it is known that an array of discrete sensors, often photo-optic, can be used to directly measure the width of paper without operator intervention.
In the case where an array of discrete sensors are used to directly measure the paper width without operator intervention, the sensors are physically placed on the paper track such that they detect the popular widths of photosensitive paper. However, when using a discrete array of sensors, one edge of the paper being measured is required to be geometrically known. In other words, one paper edge must be located against a guide of known location from the sensor array. Without this reference edge, the true paper width cannot be accurately measured.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a media width detecting system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2A is an example of a measuring pattern in the form of a bar code having spaced bars that can be utilized in the media width detecting system of the resent invention;
FIG. 2B is a further example of a measuring pattern;
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a media width detecting system 100 in accordance with a feature of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a paper track or media path 10 can be located inside an imaging apparatus, such as, for example, a photo printer, at the location where media paper width measurement is desired. As will be described later, the present invention is not limited to placing media width detecting system 100 inside an imaging apparatus. As a further example, media width detecting system 100 can be placed at an outlet of a paper cassette which feeds media to the imaging apparatus.
Permanently or removably placed on media path 10 is a measuring pattern 22. Measuring pattern 22 can be in the form of a barcode pattern or a series of uniform bars 25 (FIG. 2A) that span across a width of media path 10 (FIG. 3). Bars 25 can be alternating reflective/non-reflective (white and black), as noted in FIG. 2A, and can be comprised of a fixed and known number of bars X. With the arrangement of the present invention, measuring pattern 22 is spaced across a width of media path 10 such that media 21 which is conveyed along media path 10 will traverse measuring pattern 22 to block a portion of measuring pattern 22. Media 21 can be photographic paper, photosensitive film, cut sheets, a web, etc. The size or width of the portion of measuring pattern 22 blocked by the media depends on the width of media 21. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when media 21 traverses measuring pattern 22, in the example where measuring pattern 22 is in the form of a bar code pattern, a subset of the total bars of the bar code pattern will be covered. The bars which are not covered are identified by reference numerals 30 and 31 in FIG. 3. For example, in the situation of FIG. 3, the total number of bars of measuring pattern or bar code pattern 22 is equal to X. The total number of bars 30, 31 which are uncovered or not blocked by media 21 can be equal to N, wherein N equals the total number of uncovered bars 30, 31 on one side and/or either side of media 21.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a reader 40 such as an optical detection apparatus, a scanner, a sensor or an optical bar code reader is provided relative to media path 10 so as to view media 21 as well as the width of media path 10. In the example of FIG. 1, reader 40 is positioned so as to provide for a swept laser or beam 105 across measuring pattern 22 in media path 10. Reader 40 determines by well established methods, the number of bars that are visible on each side of media 21. More specifically, when media 21 traverses measuring pattern 22, a portion of measuring pattern 22, such as for example, a subset of bars 25 will be covered by media 21. The uncovered bars (30, 31) (FIG. 3) on each or both sides of media 21 can be read by reader 40. Therefore, in this embodiment, reader 40 can determine via well established methods the number of bars visible on each side of media 21. In the example of FIG. 3, the total number of exposed bars (30 and 31) are equal to N.