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:
May. 20, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 21, 2004
Willliam P. Cook, Lexington, KY (US);
Daniel L. Carter, Georgetown, KY (US);
Niki J. Murrell, Lexington, KY (US);
Raymond J. Barry, Lexington, KY (US);
Willliam P. Cook, Lexington, KY (US);
Daniel L. Carter, Georgetown, KY (US);
Niki J. Murrell, Lexington, KY (US);
Raymond J. Barry, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A media stack height sensor in an image forming apparatus with a flag arm that is in contact with a top surface a media stack. The arm is coupled to a flag characterized by varying transmissivity. The flag is moveable by the flag arm so that as the position of the arm changes in relation to the stack height, a different portion of the flag is positioned between a transmitter and receiver of an optical sensor disposed within the body of the image forming apparatus. The flag accordingly reduces the amount of optical energy received by the receiver. The receiver output signal indicates the height of the media stack. The flag also includes features that further limit light transmission to the receiver to provide discrete stack height indications such as low, empty, full, or intermediate states.