Adjustable low paper sensor
US5915690A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00725
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sensor is disclosed for use with a paper feeding machine such as a printer, copier, or the like wherein a removable module comprises a paper source, the sensor determining when the paper in said module reaches a predetermined level corresponding to a low paper condition indicating the need to refill the cartridge. The sensor is mountable in the paper feeding machine adjacent the insertion point of the module, where a lever extending into the path of the module detects the presence and absence of the module. An arm is biased away from the insertion point of the module when the lever is in the position indicating no module, which allows the module to be inserted into the machine without interference with the arm, and is biased to contact the uppermost sheet of paper in the module when the lever indicates the presence of the module. Dominant and subservient springs operating in opposite directions are preferably used to accomplish the biasing of the arm and lever, and a rod contacting the lever and the arm is used to communicate the position of the lever to the arm and determine the position of the arm. The sensor also preferably includes an interrupter plate which rotates in a fixe…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.