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:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2001
Paul C Coffin, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Richard Lynn Gardner, Jr., Greeley, CO (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling the position of a plunge mechanism which is mounted to a cartridge engaging assembly are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a cartridge engaging assembly includes a plunge mechanism which is mounted to the cartridge engaging assembly. The plunge mechanism is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A reference mark is provided on the plunge mechanism so that the reference mark moves with the plunge mechanism. A detector is also mounted to the cartridge engaging assembly. As the plunge mechanism is extended, the detector detects the reference mark and produces an output signal which is related thereto. A control system is operatively associated with the detector and is responsive to the output signal produced thereby. The control system is also operatively associated with the plunge mechanism. As a result, the control system can regulate the position of the plunge mechanism based on the output signal produced by the detector.