IP Library Granted Patent US 7,483,668
Granted Patent B2
US 7,483,668 · App. 11/378,216 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

Method for achieving accurate page margins on a media and duplex imaging apparatus thereof

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,483,668
App. No.
11/378,216
Granted
Jan 27, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for achieving accurate page margins on a media and a duplex imaging apparatus thereof. The method comprises: detecting a leading edge position by an edge sensor and a first left-to-right position of the media by an alignment sensor in a first imaging path; imaging a first side of the media in a print zone of the duplex imaging apparatus; removing the media from the print zone and disposing the media in a second imaging path; detecting a leading edge position by the edge sensor and a second left-to-right position of the media by the alignment sensor; determining a carrier reset distance by calculating a difference between first and second left-to-right positions, and shifting a print image by a distance substantially equal to the carrier reset distance thereby achieving accurate page margins for imaging a second side of the media with the print image. In another embodiment, the first left-to-right position can be determined by feeding the media into a preset first left-to-right position.

Claims (50)

1. A method for achieving accurate page margins on a media in a duplex imaging apparatus, comprising:

determining a first left-to-right position of the media in a first imaging path;

detecting a second left-to-right position of the media in the second imaging path;

determining a carrier reset distance based on the first left-to-right position and the second left-to-right position;

shifting a second print image based on the carrier reset distance for imaging a second side of the media; and

imaging the second side of the media with the second print image in a print zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first left-to-right position further comprises feeding the media into a preset first left-to right position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first left-to-right position further comprises detecting the first left-to-right position.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first left-to-right position or the second left-to-right position of the media is detected using an alignment sensor.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the alignment sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises detecting a leading edge position of the media in a second imaging path prior to imaging the second side wherein the leading edge position of the media is detected using an edge sensor of the duplex imaging apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the edge sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shifting of the second print image based on the carrier reset distance occurs when the carrier reset distance equals or exceeds a preset distance.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a leading edge position of the media in a first imaging path;

imaging a first side of the media with a first print image in a print zone of the duplex imaging apparatus; and

removing the media from the print zone and disposing the media in a second imaging path.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises aligning the media with a feed roller of the duplex imaging apparatus such that during imaging the media is fed perpendicular to the print zone of the duplex imaging apparatus.

11. A method for achieving accurate left-to-right page margin on a media in a duplex printer, comprising:

determining a first left-to-right position of the media in a first imaging path;

detecting a second left-to-right position of the media in a second imaging path;

determining a carrier reset distance by calculating a difference between the first left-to-right position and the second left-to-right position; and

shifting a print image by a distance substantially equal to the carrier reset distance for achieving accurate left-to-right page margin for imaging a second side of the media with the print image.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the first left-to-right position further comprises feeding the media into a preset first left-to right position.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the first left-to-right position further comprises detecting the first left-to-right position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first left-to-right position and the second left-to-right position of the media are detected using an alignment sensor of the duplex printer.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the alignment sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein a leading edge position of the media in the first imaging path and a leading edge position of the media in the second imaging path are detected using an edge sensor of the duplex printer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the edge sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the shifting of the second print image based on the carrier reset distance occurs when the carrier reset distance equals or exceeds a preset distance.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the media is aligned with a feed roller of the duplex printer such that the media is fed perpendicular to a print zone of the duplex printer.

20. A duplex imaging apparatus, comprising:

a printhead carrier disposed perpendicularly to a print zone;

a feed roll unit for feeding a print media into the print zone;

an alignment sensor communicatively coupled to the printhead carrier;

an edge sensor communicatively coupled to one of the printhead carrier, the feed roll unit and both the printhead carrier and feed roll unit; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the printhead carrier, alignment sensor, edge sensor and the feed roll unit, the controller having programmable instructions for performing a method, comprising:

detecting a leading edge position of the print media in a first imaging path using the edge sensor;

detecting a first left-to-right position of the print media in the first imaging path using the alignment sensor;

imaging a first side of the print media with a first print image in the print zone;

removing the print media from the print zone and disposing the print media in a second imaging path;

detecting a leading edge position of the print media in the second imaging path using the edge sensor;

detecting a second left-to-right position of the print media in the second imaging path using the alignment sensor;

determining a carrier reset distance by calculating a difference between the first left-to-right position and the second left-to-right position;

adjusting the printhead carrier for shifting a second print image by a distance substantially equal to the carrier reset distance for achieving accurate page margins for imaging a second side of the media; and

imaging the second side of the print media with the second print image in the print zone.

21. The duplex imaging apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the duplex imaging apparatus is communicatively coupled to a host computer with a memory having printer driver capable of sending print instructions to the duplex imaging apparatus.

22. The duplex imaging apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the edge sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

23. The duplex imaging apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the alignment sensor is an optical sensor comprising a light source and a reflectance detector.

24. The duplex imaging apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the adjusting of the second print image by a distance substantially equal to the carrier reset distance occurs when the carrier rest distance equals or exceeds a preset distance.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074202/0293 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074202/0192 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073007/0118 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 073007/0346 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2024
From: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066345/0026 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT U.S. PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046989 FRAME: 0396. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 24, 2018
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047760/0795 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046989/0396 →
R/F 017705/0777 CORRECTION OF THE NAME OF THE RECEIVING PARTY ON THE RECORDATION COVER SHEET Recorded Apr 30, 2014
From: COOK, BRIAN DALE
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 032825/0217 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2006
From: COOK, BRIAN DALE
To: PEZDEK, JOHN VICTOR
Reel/Frame 017705/0777 →