Media sensors for a printer
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printed label sensor for a printer comprising:
- a light emitter for emitting a sensing beam;
a light detector for detecting the absence of said sensing beam when a printed label is located in a path between said emitter and said detector, and for detecting the presence of said sensing beam when said path is not blocked by a printed label; and
a single light pipe for receiving said sensing beam from said emitter and reflecting said beam at a predetermined angle towards said detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides media sensors for sensing the position of a media in a printer, such as a thermal demand printer. A repositionable media sensor for monitoring the location of a web of label media which utilizes a visible light source projected onto the label media to accurately indicate the position of the media sensor to the operator relative to the label media and facilitate any required adjustment thereof. A printed label sensor is provided for use with a thermal demand printer and includes a light emitter and light detector pair wherein a single light pipe for receiving a sensing beam from the emitter and reflecting the sensing beam at a predetermined angle towards the detector is provided. Preferably, the light pipe is mounted in a peel bar and no electronics are required outside the electronic housing of the printer.
57 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A printed label sensor for a printer comprising:
a light emitter for emitting a sensing beam;
a light detector for detecting the absence of said sensing beam when a printed label is located in a path between said emitter and said detector, and for detecting the presence of said sensing beam when said path is not blocked by a printed label; and
a single light pipe for receiving said sensing beam from said emitter and reflecting said beam at a predetermined angle towards said detector.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- 6. A media sensor for monitoring the location of a web of labeled media in a label handling device, said media sensor comprising a visible indicator of a sensing beam projected onto the label media to accurately indicate the position of, and facilitate the adjustment of the location of the media sensor relative to the label media.
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11. A media sensor for monitoring the location of a web of label media in a label handling device, said media sensor comprising an emitter for projecting a sensing beam toward said label media and a detector for receiving a reflected part of said sensing beam, both of said emitter and said detector mounted on the same side of a supply of said label media within said label handling device such that the label media does not travel between the emitter and the detector, said media sensor further including means for providing a visible indicator of the location of said sensing beam to an operator of said label handling device.
- 12. A media sensor for monitoring the location of a web of label media in a label handling device, said media sensor comprising an emitter for projecting a sensing beam toward said label media and a detector for receiving a reflected part of said sensing beam, both of said emitter and said detector mounted on the same side of a supply of said label media within said label handling device such that the label media does not travel between the emitter and the detector, wherein said media sensor is repositionable relative to the label media.
Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
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Original AssigneeZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
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InventorsWest, David A., Torchalski, Karl
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Primary Examiner(s)Allen, Stephone B.
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Application NumberUS09/183,817Time in Patent Office865 DaysField of Search250/559.39, 250/559.4, 250/559.44, 250/227.11, 101/484, 101/485, 400/708, 400/709US Class Current250/559.4CPC Class CodesB41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy ma...B41J 15/02 Web rolls or spindles; Atta...B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or gui...B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printersB65C 11/0289 using electrical or electro...B65C 9/0006 Removing backing sheetsB65H 18/04 Interior-supportingB65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a f...B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which ...B65H 2301/4132 Cantilever arrangementB65H 2405/45 Shafts for winding/unwindingB65H 2511/51 PresenceB65H 2511/515 AbsenceB65H 2513/40 MovementB65H 2513/512 Starting; StoppingB65H 2553/414 involving receptor receivin...B65H 2701/194 Web supporting regularly sp...B65H 37/002 Web delivery apparatus, the...
