LEONG SHYH CHIJE (SG)
US20040135311A1 | 2004-07-15 | |||
US20100025924A1 | 2010-02-04 | |||
US20070029725A1 | 2007-02-08 | |||
US20060087070A1 | 2006-04-27 | |||
US20060071400A1 | 2006-04-06 |
CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A media flag, comprising: an arm thai can rotate about an axis of rotation, between a. first position and a second -position, the ami having a tip; the tip located in a media, path when the arm is in the first position and not located in the media path when the arm is in the second position; a iapered surtace coupled to the arm, the tapered surtace adjacent to a roaiching tapered surface on a media flag mount: a spring coupled to the ami and urging the arm parallel to the axis of rotation, towards the tapered surtace on the arm. such that the arm translates parallel to the axis of rotation when the arm rotates between the first position and the second position. 2. The media flag of claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor to detect when the arm is at the first position, 3. The media flag of claim 1 , wherein the tapered surface has only one lobe. 4. The media flag of claim 3 , wherein the media flag translates parallel to the axis of rotation by distance d, where distance d is between 0, 1. mm and 2.0 mm. 5. The media flag of claim 1 , wherein the media pa th is inside at least one of the following devices: an automatic document feeder (ADF), a printer, a scanner, and a multi-functional printer (MFP). 6. The medi flag of claim 1, wherein the tapered surtace is fabricated with a high polish, surface finish. 7. A method of moving media past a media flag, comprising: moving media in a media path until a leading edge of the media contacts a media flag in the media path, the media flag rotatable about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the media flag in the first position; advancing the media in the media path until the media flag rotates into the second position, the media flag translating parallel to the axis of rotation as the media flag rotates from the first position to the second position thereby compressing a spring acting paraliei with the axis of rotation, wherein, the spring urges a. tapered surface on the media flag against a matching tapered surface on a media flag mount, 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the medi a fla¾ rotates through an ansle between 15 degrees and 180 degrees when rotating between the first position and the second position. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the medi a path, is inside at least one of the following devices: an automatic document feeder (ADF), a printer, a scanner, and a mu!ti-mneiional printer (MFP). 10. A imaging device, comprising: a media path; a media flag comprising: an arm that can. rotate ab ut an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the arm having a tip; the tip located in. a media path when the arm is in the first position and not. located in the media path when the arm is in the second position; a tapered surface coupled to the ami, the tapered surface adjacent to a matching tapered surface on a media flag mount; a. spring coupled to the am and. urging the ami parallel to the axis of rotation towards the tapered surface on the arm such that the media flag translates parallel to the axis of rotation when t e ami rotates between the first position and. the second position; and a sensor to detect when the arm is at the first position. 11. The imaging device of claim 10, further comprising: an automatic document feeder (ADF) wherein the media path is in the ADF between an input tray and an output tray. 12. The imaging de vice of claim 10, further comprising: at least one of either a print engine or a scan engine. 13. The imaging device of claim 10, wherein the tapered surface has multiple lobes. 14. The imaging devic of claim 10, wherein the media flag translates parallel to the axis of rotation by distance d, where distance d is 0.5 mm or less. 35. The imaging device of claim 10, wherein there are multiple media fl ags. |
BACKGROUND
10001 j Printers create images on media by moving the media past a print engine, ite media moves through a media path.
BRI EF DESCRIPTIO OF II I E DRA WINGS
{0002] FIG. I A is a front view of an example media flag.
{0003] FIG. I B is the example media flag from figure 1 rotated into a second position,
{0004] FIG. 2 is a side view of the example m edia flag of FIG. 1.
{O0OS] FIG. 3 is a partial view of an example media flag having a tapered surface with multiple lobes.
{0006] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example imaging device.
{0007} FIG. 5 i s an example fl ow chart for a method of mo ving media past a media flag,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
{0008] A printe m track where the media is in the media path using a media flag. A media flag typically has a part that blocks part of the media path. As leading edge of the media contacts the blocking part of the media flag, th media flag begins to rotate. As the media continues through the media path the media flag rotates out of the media path. A senso detects the media flag rotation, for example an optical sensor. Ilierefore the location of the l eading edge of the media ca n be determined. Scanners and automatic document feeders (ADF) also track the position of media in their media paths. Some scanners and ADFs use media flag to determine the location of the media in their media paths. {0009} As explained above, imaging devices move media through a media path, imaging devices include printers, scanners, copiers, multi-functional printer (MFP) and the like. A media path is any structure in the device thai guides media from one location in the device to another location in the device. For example a device may have an input tray and an output tray; the media path would guide medi from the input tray, through the device and into the output tray. Media paths may comprise pick rollers, pinch rollers, guiding members, output rollers and the like. The media path may move the media past a print engine, a scan engine, a dryer or the like. f OI j Some devices have multiple media paths, tor example a printer may have a. simplex media path and a duplex- media path. When printing on only one side of the media the media may follow the simplex media path. When printing on both sides of the media the media may follow the duple media path, fOOt 1] The device may track where the media is in the media pat using a media flag. A media flag typically has an arm that can rotate, around an axis of rotation, between a first position and a second position. The tip of the arm typically blocks part of the media path when the arm is in the first position. As a leading edge of the media, contacts the tip of the ami, the media flag begins to rotate. As the media continues through the media path the medi causes the tip of the arm to roiate out of the media path. A sensor detects the media flag rotation, for example an optical sensor. The media flag typically has a spring force acting against the arm perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This causes the media flag to snap back into the media path once the trailing edge of the media has passed b the media flag,
{0012] The media flag typically requires a large stroke of rotation for the media to clear the flag. Unfortunately the large stroke or rotation of the media flag causes a large deflection of the spring. The large spring deflection .results in a high spring force. The high spring force may create a dent on the leading edge of the media. I addition the large spring force may cause the arm of the media flag to bounce as it snaps back into the first position. This may trigger the sensor and give a false reading, if the spring force is too low the media flag may not he fast enough to snap back into the first position, before the next piece of media reaches the media flag. This creates a narrow design window for the spring force for the media flag.
J0013) In one example, a media flag may have ihe spring force acting parallel wit die axis of rotation. A ta pered surface on the media flag will act against a mating tapered surface on the media flag mount to move the media flag parallel to the axis of rotation as the media flag rotates. The translation of the media flag parallel to the axis of rotation will act against the spring force and create a force thai will snap the media flag hack into the first position after the trailing edge of ihe media has passed the media flag.
{0014] Figure ] A is a front view of an example media flag. The media flag comprises an arm 104, .an arm tip 106, a spring 226, a body 228 and a tapered surface 220 (see figure 2 for a better view of 104 and 106). The body 228 is shaped as a cylinder and fits inside holes in two media flag mounts (224 A and 224B), The media, flag can rotate about axis of rotation 108 between a first position and a second position. The media flag is shown in the first position in figure 1 A and in the second position in figure IB. The ami 104 is attached to the body 228 and extends perpendicularly from the body 228.
{00.15! The tapered surface 220 is located near one end of the body 228 and mates with, a mating tapered surface on media flag mount 224A. in this example the tapered surface onl has one lobe 223. A lobe is defined as the high spot on the tapered surface, along the axis of rotation, with respect to the mating tapered surface. The spring 226 is mounted between the opposite media flag mount 22415 and a shoulder 230 on the body 228. The spring acts to force the two tapered surface together,
10 161 As the media flag is rotated about axis 108 from the first position towards the second position, the tapered surface 220 is rotated against the mating tapered surface 222 on the media flag mount 224A, thereby forcing the media flag parallel with axis 108 towards media flag mount 224B. The lateral, displacement of the media flag along axis 108 compresses the spring 2.26. Figure IB Is the example media flag from figure 1 rotated into positio 2. The tapered surface 220 is rotated compared to the mating tapered surface 222 on the media flag mount 224A and the media flag has been moved along axis of rotation 108 by distance d * Therefore the spring 226 has also been compressed by distance d. In some examples distance d is between 0..1 and 2.0 mm,, for example 0,5 mm. Distance d can be changed by changing the angle the two tapered surfaces make wi th respect to the axis of rotation 108.
{0017] Figure 2 i s a side view of the example media flag of figure 1. The media flag comprises an arm .104 and an arm tip 106. The media flag can rotate about an axis of rotation 108 between a first position and a second position as shown by arrow 1 16. In some examples the angle of rotation between the first position and the second position is between 15 degrees and 1 SO degrees, for example 45 degrees. Media flag 102 A is shown in the first position and media flag I.02B is shown in .the second position. 0018} The media flag is mounted in media, flag mount 224 near a media path. The media path, is partiall defined by media guide 1 1 . When the media flag is in position 1 (as shown by media flag 1.02 A) the arm tip 10 A is in the media path. When the media flag is in position 2 (as shown by media flag 102B) the arm tip Ϊ06Β is not. in the media path.
{0019] A piece of media 11.2A is shown in the media path. The media travels along the media path in the direction shown by arrow 1 14. The leading edge 230 of the piece of media 1 1.2A is shown just before it reaches the arm tip 106.A of media flag 1.02 A. As the piece of media 1 12A continues- along the media path, the media 1.1.2A will push against the arm tip Ϊ0 Α and rotate the media flag 102 A towards the second position fas shown by arrow 1 16). Another piece of media 1 J 2B is shown further along the media path. This piece of media 112B has rotated the media flag into the second position where the arm tip 106 is no longer in the media path. Once the trailing edge 232 of the piece of media 112B passes by the arm ti 106B, the media flag 102B will snap hack into position 1 due to the force created by the two tapered surfaces (220 and 222) and spring 226.
{0020] The tapered surface 220 shown in figure 1 and 2 has only one lobe. In other examples the tapered surface may have multiple lobes. A. lobe is defined as the high spot on the tapered surface, along the axis of rotation, with respect to the mating tapered surface. Figure 3 is a partial view of an. example media flag having a tapered surface with multiple lobes 323. The media flag comprises a body 328 and a tapered surface 320 attached to the body 328. The body is cylindrical in shape and is inserted ίιτίο a circular hole formed in media flag mount 324A. The media flag can rotate between a first position and a second position about axis 308. The tapered surface 320 is adjacent to a mating tapered surface 322 formed on media flag mount 324A. The media, flag is shown in position 2 where the media flag has been translated along axis 308 by distance d.
|0 2i I in this example the tapered surface 320 is in the form of a sinusoidal wave that has multiple lobes. Other types of waveforms may be used to create the lobes on the tapered surfaces, in other examples the tapered surface may not have smooth transitions between the lobes but may use triangular ramps.
| 022] In some examples the media flag and media flag mounts ma be fabricated from plastic, for example acry!omtrile butadiene styrerie (ABS). In other examples the media flag and media flag mounts may be fabricated from metal, for example aluminum, in some examples the surface finish of the two tapered surfaces may be fabricated to a high polish or coated with a friction reducing coating, for example Teflon. In the examples above the spring is shown as a compression spring. In other examples the spring may be a tension spring that acts to pull, the two tapered surfaces together.
|0 23j An imaging device is any device that, converts a digital image into a physical image or converts a physical image into a digital image. Imaging devices include printers, scanners, copiers, multi-functional printers (MFP) and the like. MFPs may also be known as all-in-one (AiO) devices, multi-functional devices (MFD) and the like. Imaging devices may include an automatic document feeder (ADF).
10024] F gure 4 is a block diagram of an example imaging device 400. Imaging device 400 comprises an imaging engine 440, a media path 442, a media flag 444 and a sensor 446, Imaging device 400 may also inciude an automatic document feeder (ADF) 448, Imaging engine 440 may be a print engine that marks images onto media, a scan, engine that creates a digital image of images on media or the like. The media path 442 is any structure in the device that guides media from one location in the device to another location in the device. Media paths may comprise pick rollers, pinch rollers, guiding members, output rollers and the like. The media flag 444 has a spring acting parallel to the media flag's axis of rotation, for example the media flag shown in figure 1. {0025} The media flag is positioned .near the media path such that the ami tip is positioned in the media path when the media flag is rotated in the first position. The sensor 446 is positioned adjacent the media flag and is used to detects the rotation of the media flag. The sensor 446 ma be any type of sensor, for example an optical sensor, a contact sensor or the like. In some examples media path may move media past th imaging engine, in other examples the media path may move media between an input tray and an. output tray in a ADF. In some examples there may be multiple media paths, in these examples there may be multiple media flags for the different media paths. f 026j Figure 5 is an example flow chart for a method of moving media past a. media flag. At block 550 media is moved in a media path until a leading edge of the media contacts a media flag. The media flag is rotatab!e about an. axis of rotation between a first position and a second position. The media flag is initially in the first position. At block 552 the media is advanced in the media path until the media flag rotates into the second position. As the media flag rotates the media flag translates parallel to the axis of rotation, thereby compressing a spring acting parallel to the axis of rotation. Hie spring urges a tapered surtace on the media, flag against a .matching tapered surtace on a media flag mount.