Pen carousel, pen sensing and indexing
US4754288A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 19, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K15/22
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a multi-position graphics plotter pen carousel system employing a pen capping mechanism therein at each pen position for capping and uncapping pens held by the carousel, an improvement for allowing the sensing of pen presence at the pen positions and the indexing of the carousel with a single sensor. Each pen capping mechanism is adapted to assume a first position with a pen in the pen position and assume a second position with no pen in the pen position. A plurality of first sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen capping mechanisms for exhibiting a first characteristic when a pen is contained at the associated pen position and for exhibiting a second characteristic when no pen is contained at the pen position. A plurality of second sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen positions for constantly exhibiting the first characteristic. There is a single sensor for sensing the first and second characteristics and for developing a sensible signal at an output thereof indicating whether the first or second characteristic is presently being sensed. The plotter logic is adapted to sense the first sensible attributes and step the car…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.