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:
Jun. 26, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1998
Masanori Kaneko, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Makoto Takemura, Irvine, CA (US);
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cover for an alignment sensor that provides sensor output so as to align printer output from multiple print heads in an ink jet printer. The cover is preferably mounted for hinged movement between an open position and a closed position so that a sensing face of the alignment sensor is protected from ink mist during printing operations. A chassis of the printer may be provided with projections that engage with the cover when the carriage is moved to extreme rightward and leftward positions on the printer, so that the cover may be hinged to the open and closed position simply through movement of the printer carriage. Preferably, the cover is formed of an electrically conductive material with a tab that grounds the cover to a metallic portion of the printer chassis. Forming the cover from an electrically conductive material provides the additional benefit of protecting the alignment sensor from static discharge.