Patent Publication Number: US-8123213-B2

Title: Sheet size detection device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to sheet size detection devices as could be used in a number of devices such as, for example, multi-functional devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Multi-functional devices (MFD) often include adjustable sheet trays which facilitates use of a range of media sizes. A single adjustable sheet tray can typically accommodate common American- and European-sized media. Additionally, the trays often have the ability to detect a size of the media that is held therein. In MFDs that have the ability to detect a size of the media, users may simply confirm the media size via the User Interface (UI) instead of using the UI to input the dimensions. 
     In these types of MFDs, when the user places custom size (i.e., non-standard size) media in the sheet tray, a signal is sent to the UI. The signal typically does not relay any information about the media, other than that the media was not detected as a standard size. The user may then confirm that the media is indeed custom and may then be prompted to use the UI to input the dimensions of the media. The UI is unable to determine whether the size inputted by the user is the correct size of the media held in the sheet tray. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sheet size detection device for detecting a size of sheets which are held in a sheet tray. The sheet size detection device comprises a first guide member, a second guide member, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a plurality of switches. The first guide member defines a position of the sheets in a first direction of said sheets, the first guide member is movable in accordance with a first dimension of the sheets. The second guide member defines a position of the sheets in a second direction of the sheets, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction. The second guide member is movable in accordance with a second dimension of the sheets. The first bracket is operatively connected to the first guide member and includes a plurality of slots extending through a solid surface. The second bracket is operatively connected to the second guide member and is moveable with respect to the first bracket. The second bracket includes a plurality of slots extending through a solid surface. The plurality of switches is configured for selective engagement by at least one of the first bracket and the second bracket. The solid surface and the plurality of slots of the first bracket, and the solid surface and the plurality of slots of the second bracket are configured to interact with one another to selectively engage the plurality of switches. The selective engagement of the plurality of switches enables conveyance of two dimensions of the sheet size. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sheet tray positionable in a printing device. The sheet tray comprises a base, a length guide, a width guide, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a plurality of switches. The length guide is slidably disposed with relation to the base. The width guide is slidably disposed with relation to the base. The first bracket is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the length guide and includes a solid surface having a plurality of slots therethrough. The second bracket is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the width guide and includes a solid surface having a plurality of slots therethrough. The plurality of switches is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first bracket and with the second bracket. The solid surface and the plurality of slots of the first bracket, and the solid surface and the plurality of slots of the second bracket are configured to interact with one another to selectively engage the plurality of switches. The selective engagement of the plurality of switches enables conveyance of two dimensions of the sheet size. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a multi-functional device comprising a sheet size detection device. The printing device comprises a sheet tray positionable in the printing device. The sheet tray comprises a base, a length guide, a width guide, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a plurality of switches. The length guide is slidably disposed with relation to the base. The width guide is slidably disposed with relation to the base. The first bracket is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the length guide and includes a solid surface having a plurality of slots therethrough. The second bracket is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the width guide and includes a solid surface having a plurality of slots therethrough. The plurality of switches is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first bracket and with the second bracket. The solid surface and the plurality of slots of the first bracket, and the solid surface and the plurality of slots of the second bracket are configured to interact with one another to selectively engage the plurality of switches. The selective engagement of the plurality of switches enables conveyance of two dimensions of the sheet size. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a Multi-Functional Device (MFD) in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  perspective view of a sheet tray for use with the MFD of  FIG. 1  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of the sheet tray of  FIG. 2  illustrated with various parts removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear end view of the sheet tray of  FIGS. 2-4  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the sheet tray of  FIGS. 2-4  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A multi-functional device (MFD)  100  in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . While MFD  100  is shown as a specific type of device in  FIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that the present disclosure encompasses any suitable apparatus, such as printers, digital copiers, bookmaking machines, facsimile machines, etc. which performs a print outputting function for any purpose. 
     A sheet size detection device  200  is shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . Device  200  is used in combination with MFD  100  to detect the size of sheets held in an adjustable sheet tray  300 . Additionally, appropriate software may be used in connection with device  200 . Sheet tray  300  includes a base  302 , a first guide member  310  (e.g., a length guide member), a second guide member  320  (e.g., a pair of width guide members), a first bracket  330  (e.g., a length bracket), a second bracket  340  (e.g., a width bracket), and a plurality of switches  350 . 
     The first guide member  310  is movable relative to the base  302  in the general direction of arrow A-A (see  FIG. 2 ) in accordance with a first dimension (e.g., length) of the sheets held in the sheet tray  300 . The second guide member  320  is movable relative to the base  302  in the general direction of arrow B-B (see  FIG. 2 ) in accordance with a second dimension (e.g., width) of the sheets held in the sheet tray  300 . 
     The first bracket  330  is operatively connected to the first guide member  310 . By way of example,  FIG. 6  illustrates a first link  400  operatively connecting the first bracket  330  and the first guide member  310 . Here, when the first guide member  310  moves in the direction of arrow A-A, the first link  400  transfers this movement to the first bracket  330 . Accordingly, as the first guide member  310  moves in the direction of arrow A-A, the first bracket  330  moves in the general direction of arrow C-C, which is generally parallel to arrow A-A. 
     The second bracket  340  is operatively connected to the second guide member  320 . By way of example,  FIG. 4  illustrates a second link  410  operatively connecting the second bracket  340  and the second guide member  320 . Here, when the second guide member  320  moves in the direction of arrow D-D, the second link  410  transfers this movement to the second bracket  340 . Accordingly, as the second guide member  320  moves in the direction of arrow D-D, the second bracket  340  moves in the general direction of arrow E-E, which is generally perpendicular to arrow D-D and generally parallel to arrow C-C. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , each of the first bracket  330  and the second bracket  340  includes a plurality of slots  332 ,  342 , respectively, extending through a solid surface  334 ,  344 , respectively, thereof. The plurality of switches  350  is shown on a printed circuit board (PCB)  352 . In  FIG. 2 , two sets of switches are shown, each set of switches being configured for engagement by a single sheet tray  300  (one sheet tray  300  is shown). Each of the plurality of switches  350  is configured for selective engagement by at least one of the first bracket  340  and the second bracket  350 . More specifically, the solid surface  334  and the plurality of slots  332  of the first bracket  330  are configured to interact with the solid surface  344  and the plurality of slots  342  of the second bracket  340  to selectively engage the plurality of switches  350 . This selective engagement of the plurality of switches  350  enables conveyance (e.g., via a suitable signal) of two dimensions (i.e., length and width) of the sheet size. 
     More specifically, the first bracket  330  and the second bracket  340  are configured to slide adjacent each other (in the directions or arrow C-C and arrow E-E, respectively) with respect to the sheet tray  300 . As can be appreciated, when the guide members  310 ,  320  are stationary (e.g., after they have been moved to accommodate a particular sheet size), the respective brackets  330 ,  340  are stationary, are juxtaposed with one another, and a portion of each of which is aligned with each of the plurality of switches  350 . That is, depending on the positions of brackets  330 ,  340 , and more particularly the slots  332 ,  342  in the respective brackets, each of the plurality of switches  350  is aligned with either a solid surface (i.e., either solid surface  334  of first bracket  330  and/or solid surface  344  of second bracket  340 ) or two slots (i.e., slot  332  and slot  342 ). 
     It is envisioned that when a solid surface  334  or  344  is aligned with a particular switch  350 , the switch  350  is mechanically engaged (or otherwise activated, e.g., optically). For illustrative purposes, an activated switch  350  receives a value of “1”; a non-activated switch (i.e., when the switch  350  is aligned with slots  332  and  342 ) receives a value of “0.” In the illustrated embodiments, the plurality of switches  350  includes five individual switches and each switch is capable of being in an activated position or a non-activated position. Thus, there are 32 (i.e., 2 5 ) possible switch configurations. 
     In the illustrated embodiments, the slots  332 ,  342  of the respective brackets  330 ,  340  are each oriented in five rows. As can be appreciated, the position and dimensions of the slots  332 ,  342  determine the amount of the plurality of switches  350  that are activated based on the particular dimensions (i.e., length and width) of the sheets held in the sheet tray  300 . That is, based on which of the plurality of switches  350  that have been activated, the sheet size detection device  200  is able to determine the range of lengths and the range of widths of the particular media held in the sheet tray  300 . 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the orientation of the slots  332  in the first bracket  330  and the slots  342  in the second bracket  340  is configured to correspond to at least seven ranges of possible lengths and at least three ranges of possible widths, which form at least 21 two-dimension ranges. An example of such ranges is shown in Chart 1, reproduced below. It is envisioned that the width and length ranges are configured such that only one size of standard media (including seven standard US media sizes and four standards European media sizes) corresponds to a single two-dimensional range. It is also envisioned that there is at least one pair of sizes that fail within the same two-dimensional range, such that at least 19 of the two-dimensional ranges correspond to only one size of standard media. 
     In such situations, (i.e., when a two-dimensional range is detected that can correspond to two different standard media sizes), it is envisioned that the user is prompted (e.g., via the UI  110 ) to select (e.g., from a list including the two different standard media sizes) the actual media that is held in the paper tray  300 . In various embodiments, it is envisioned that the user is given the option to select a secondary media size, e.g., based on the two-dimensional range that is detected. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 CHART 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In the example shown in Chart 1, a majority of the transition lines (i.e., the lines that separate the length and width ranges) are at least 6 mm away from a standard media size. This positioning of the transition lines helps ensure robustness of the MFD  100 . That is, the 6 mm range allows for the build up of mechanical tolerances. 
     When a custom-sized media (i.e., not a standard size) is held in the sheet tray  300 , the sheet size detection device  200  is able to determine that the media is a custom size if the custom-sized media is within the dimensional ranges above (in the shaded area labeled “Detects Custom” in Chart 1). As shown, there are no standard-sized media within the “Detects Custom” ranges. It is further envisioned that when custom media is detected in the sheet tray  300 , the information about the media (i.e., the length range and the width range) is transmitted to a user interface (UI)  110  ( FIG. 1 ). The UI  110  may then prompt a user to confirm the media is custom and to input the length and width dimensions of the custom media. Since the UI  110  has received the information about the custom media, the UI  110  will be able to detect if the user incorrectly enters dimensions that are outside of the detected ranges. Thus, it is envisioned that the amount of errors related to incorrect user inputs will decrease. Moreover, if the custom-sized media is not within the “Detects Custom” ranges, it is envisioned that the user will be able to input the media size using the UI  110 . 
     Additionally, in various embodiments, the UI  110  is configured to give the user the option of selecting a custom media size even when the sheet size detection device  200  detects media within one of the two-dimensional ranges that is associated with a standard size media. 
     The present disclosure also includes embodiments of the device  200  where consecutive ranges of possible lengths and/or widths share four common switch positions. An example of an embodiment where both the lengths and widths of consecutive ranges is shown in Chart 2 below. That is, only one switch position changes between adjacent length ranges and only one switch position changes between adjacent width ranges. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 CHART 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In such embodiments, when media sheets are held on sheet tray  300  and the device  200  detects that the first guide  310 , for example, is at a position that corresponds to the first bracket  330  being at or near the boundary between two different lengths, the device  200  will detect a single range associated with each dimension. More specifically, for example, if the media held in the sheet tray  300  is 9.5″×8.5″, the device  200  will detect that the width is in the “B” range and that the length is in either of length range “2” or “3.” Moreover, the only difference is switch positions in these ranges is the position of the fifth switch. That is, in the embodiments illustrated in Chart 2, for media having a width in the “B” range (e.g., about 8.5″) and a length in the “2” range (e.g., 8.5″), the switch positions is “0 0 0 1 1”; for media having a width in the “B” range (e.g., 8.5″) and a length in the “3” range (e.g., 10.5″), the switch positions is “0 0 0 1 0.” Therefore, if the device  200  detects the first four switch positions as “0 0 0 1,” the media in the sheet tray  300  must be within the “B” width range and within either the “2” or “3” length range. With this information, the UI  110  will be able to prompt (or confirm) user-inputted information accordingly. That is, the single switch changes across the boundaries helps ensure that there is essentially no missed range detections at those boundaries. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, it is envisioned that the first two switch positions correspond to a media&#39;s width and the third three switch positions correspond to its length. It is further envisioned that activation of the first two switch positions signifies that an envelope is detected in sheet tray  300 . An example of the assignment of switch positions and associated media sizes is illustrated in Chart 3, below. Here, when a combination of switches is not assigned to a particular size of media, it is noted as “FREE.” 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 CHART 3 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.