The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 1993
Filed:
May. 01, 1992
Stephen W Bauer, San Diego, CA (US);
Mark W Majette, San Diego, CA (US);
Michael T Dangelo, San Diego, CA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for protecting optical elements of an optical ink drop detector that detects the presence of an ink drop in a drop detection zone, and for maintaining an aperture plate used in conjunction with the ink drop detector. The apparatus includes a movable plate having an apertured region and a non-apertured region. The plate is movable relative to the optical elements of the drop detector and is configured to have the aperture region adjacent a drop detection zone of the optical ink drop detector when in a first position and to have the non-apertured region adjacent the detection zone when in a second position. Cleaning brushes are provided for cleaning ink from the aperture region of the movable plate when the plate is moved between the first and second positions, and an enclosure is provided for enclosing the aperture region of the plate when said plate is in the second position. Thus, when the plate is in the second position, the optical elements of the optical drop detector are covered by the non-aperture region of the plate, while the apertured region of the plate is protectively contained in the enclosure.