US Patent 9802427 Printers and methods for detecting print media thickness therein

Printer is provided having support base on which print media travels. Printer includes thickness detection module and processor. Thickness detection module includes pinch arm assembly with pinch arm having first and second ends, encoder, and proximate dual channel encoder sensor. First end is biased toward support base. Encoder with number of circumferentially spaced line pairs is disposed at second end. Pinch arm and encoder configured to rotate in response to engagement of pinch arm with at least print media portion. Dual channel encoder sensor configured to detect rotation direction and encoder count and output signal representing encoder count. Encoder count is number of circumferentially spaced line pairs that pass by dual channel encoder sensor as pinch arm and encoder rotate. Processor is communicatively coupled to dual channel encoder sensor and configured to receive signal and calculate print media thickness of portion from encoder count using conversion factor.