Portable scanning spectrophotometer

A color measurement instrument comprising:

• an optical pick-up;
• drive means for pulling a sample past said optical pick-up in a first direction;
• and
• tension means for impeding the free movement of the sample in the first direction and thereby creating tension on the sample as the simple is pulled by said drive means.

A color measurement instrument comprising:

• a color measurement engine;
• drive rollers for engaging and pulling a generally two-dimensional simple put said color measurement engine;
• and
• tension rollers engaging the sample and acting opposite said drive rollers for generating tension in the sample as said drive rollers pull the sample, said drive rollers and said tension rollers located on opposite sides of said color measurement engine, whereby the sample is maintained in a generally consistent plane.

A color measurement instrument comprising:

• a base including only idler rollers defining a fast plane;
• an upper assembly including upper rollers defining a second plane, said upper rollers aligned with said base rollers to at least partially support said upper assembly on said base;
• drive moans within mid upper assembly for driving at least selected ones of said upper rollers to move a sample located between said upper rollers and said idler rollers;
• a color measurement engine within said upper assembly for color analyzing the sample located between the rollers, said engine having a desired physical registration with the second plane;
• and
• said upper assembly including a generally planar portion generally coplanar with the second plane, said planar portion engaging the sample to register the color measurement engine with respect to the sample.

A color measurement instrument comprising:

• a base;
• an upper assembly including an underside facing said base;
• a color measurement engine within said upper assembly;
• drive means within said upper assembly for engaging and moving a sample between said base and mid upper assembly for analysis by said color measurement engine;
• tension means for creating tension in the sample as the sample is moved by mid drive means;
• and
• a generally planar media guide on said underside of said upper assembly, said media guide defining an aperture aligned with the color measurement engine, said media guide engaging the sample and applying at least a portion of the weight of the upper assembly to the engaged portion of the sample to reduce flexing and bowing of the sample.

A spectrophotometer capable of operation in either a reflective analysis mode or a and transmissive analysis mode measurements, said spectrophotometer comprising:

• a scanning station;
• drive means for moving a sample through mid scanning station in at least a linear direction, said drive means engaging the sample downstream of said scanning station;
• a spectral measurement engine including an optical pick-up means for collecting spectral information from a the sample, said spectral measurement engine means including at least one optical pick-up being located on a first side of said scanning station;
• a first illuminator located on the first side of the scanning station for activation only when said spectrophotometer is operated in the in conjunction with reflective analysis mode measurements;
• and
• a second illuminator located on a second side of the scarring station for activation only when said spectrophotometer is operated in said in conjunction with transmissive analysis mode measurements, the second side being opposite the first side across said scanning station.

A spectrophotometer capable of performing both reflective and transmissive spectral analysis, said spectrophotometer comprising:

• a base;
• an upper assembly supported by said base;
• a at least one spectral measurement engine supported by above said upper assembly base;
• drive means for moving a sample between said at least one spectral measurement engine and said base, said drive means engaging the sample downstream of said at least one special measurement engine;
• a first illumination source supported by said upper assembly to be activated when said spectrophotometer performs reflective analysis;
• and
• a second illumination source supported by said base to be activated when said spectrophotometer performs transmissive analysis.

A spectrophotometer comprising:

• a scanning station;
• drive means for moving a sample through said scanning station;
• spectral measurement engine means for collecting spectral information from the sample, said spectral measurement engine means located on a first side of said scanning station;
• engine support means for supporting said spectral measurement engine means at a controlled distance from the sample, said engine support means adapted to engage the sample to maintain a desired physical relationship between the sample and the spectral measurement engine means;
• and
• a first illuminator located on the first side of the scanning station for illuminating the sample for reflective measurement.

A spectrophotometer comprising:

• a base;
• at least one spectral measurement engine;
• drive means for moving a sample between said at least one spectral measurement engine and said base;
• engine support means for supporting said at least one spectral measurement engine means above said base a controlled distance in registration with the sample, said engine support means adapted to engage the sample to maintain a desired physical relationship between the sample and the spectral measurement engine means;
• and
• a first illumination source to be activated for reflective measurement of the sample.