Plotter pen

Claim 2

In a pen for a graphics plotter having a hollow, cylindrical body having top, middle and bottom portions wherein the bottom portion is adapted to carry a writing tip and the middle portion is adapted to be releasably gripped by a gripping means and includes a circumferential guide ridge for repeatably positioning the pen longitudinally with respect to the gripping means, the improvement for permitting the pen to be accurately and repeatably optically scanned by a light beam for data-coveying indicia comprising: (a) a retaining ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of the pen body adjacent the top end of the top portion; (b) a support ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of the pen body adjacent the boundary of the top and middle portions, said support ridge being of substantially the same height above the outer surface of the pen body as said retaining ridge; (c) a stop shoulder disposed between said support ridge and the guide ridge at a distance from the guide ridge such that will put the area between said stop shoulder and said retaining ridge adjacent said stop shoulder repeatably and accurately in the path of the scanning light beam when the pen is in the gripping means; and, (d) a cylindrical sleeve having an inside diameter sized with relationship to said retaining ridge and said support ridge such that said sleeve can be slid over said ridges into abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve also having circumferentially disposed gripping projections along its inner surface adapted to releasably snap over said retaining ridge and hold said sleeve against movement in abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve further having a reflective outer surface for reflecting a light beam.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein: (a) said sleeve is of a resiliently deformable plastic material; and, (b) said reflective outer surface comprises a reflective tape heat-bonded to said sleeve.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein: said reflective outer surface comprises a reflective metal foil disposed circumferentially about said sleeve.

Claim 5

A pen for use in a turret headed graphics plotter which includes a gripping arm for releasably gripping pens and optical scanning means for optically scanning the pens with a light beam sensor, the pen comprising: (a) a hollow, cylindrical body having top, middle and bottom portions, said bottom portion being adapted to carry a writing tip and said middle portion being adapted to be releasably gripped by the gripping arm and including a circumferential guide ridge for repeatably positioning the pen longitudinally with respect to the gripping arms; (b) a retaining ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of said pen body adjacent the top end of said top portion; (c) a support ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of said pen body adjacent the boundary of said top and middle portions, said support ridge being of substantially the same height above the outer surface of said pen body as said retaining ridge; (d) a stop shoulder disposed between said support ridge and said guide ridge at a distance from said guide ridge such that will put the area between said stop shoulder and said retaining ridge adjacent said stop shoulder repeatably and accurately in the path of the scanning light beam when the pen is in the gripping arm; and, (e) a cylindrical sleeve having an inside diameter sized with relationship to said retaining ridge and said support ridge such that said sleeve can be slid over said ridges into abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve also having circumferentially disposed gripping projections along its inner surface adapted to releasably snap over said retaining ridge and hold said sleeve against movement in abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve further having a reflective outer surface for reflecting the light beam.

Claim 6

A pen for use in a turret headed graphics plotter which includes a gripping arm for releasably gripping pens and optical scanning means for optically scanning the pens with a light beam sensor, the pen comprising: (a) a hollow, cylindrical body having top, middle and bottom portions, said bottom portion being adapted to carry a writing tip and said middle portion being adapted to be releasably gripped by the gripping arm and including a circumferential guide ridge for repeatably positioning the pen longitudinally with respect to the gripping arms; (b) a retaining ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of said pen body adjacent the top end of said top portion; (c) a support ridge disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of said pen body adjacent the boundary of said top and middle portions, said support ridge being of substantially the same height above the outer surface of said pen body as said retaining ridge; (d) a stop shoulder disposed between said support ridge and said guide ridge at a distance from said guide ridge such that will put the area between said stop shoulder and said retaining ridge adjacent said stop shoulder repeatably and accurately in the path of the scanning light beam when the pen is in the gripping arm; and, (e) a cylindrical sleeve having an inside diameter sized with relationship to said retaining ridge and said support ridge such that said sleeve can be slid over said ridges into abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve also having circumferentially disposed gripping projections along its inner surface adapted to releasably snap over said retaining ridge and hold said sleeve against movement in abutment with said stop shoulder, said sleeve further having a reflective outer surface for reflecting the light beam.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 4 wherein: (a) said sleeve is of a resiliently deformable plastic material; and, (b) said reflective outer surface comprises a reflective tape heat-bonded to said sleeve.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 4 wherein: said reflective outer surface comprises a reflective metal foil disposed circumferentially about said sleeve.