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. 23, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2007
Stacy L. Arrington, Raleigh, NC (US);
Richard H. Harris, Raleigh, NC (US);
Dean F. Herring, Youngsville, NC (US);
Robert A. Myers, Cary, NC (US);
Robert D. Yoder, Cary, NC (US);
Stacy L. Arrington, Raleigh, NC (US);
Richard H. Harris, Raleigh, NC (US);
Dean F. Herring, Youngsville, NC (US);
Robert A. Myers, Cary, NC (US);
Robert D. Yoder, Cary, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A low paper sensor mechanism including first and second support rollers rotatable about a first and second rotational axis to support a paper supply roll, the first and second support rollers and rotational axes configured to translate in a path between a first position and a second position, first and second biasing members biasing the first and second support rollers toward the second position and a detection device, including a light emitting element and a light detecting element, disposed adjacent to the first and second support rollers, wherein the first and second support rollers move from the first position to the second position when a diameter of the paper supply roll is less than or equal to the predetermined distance between the first and second support rollers and the paper supply roll disrupts a line of sight between the light emitting element and the light detecting element.