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US 11,535,045 B2Granted
Adjustable web handling mechanism
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorStuart Boland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A web handling apparatus is disclosed. The web handling apparatus includes a first web guide to engage a print medium, a second web guide to engage the print medium to adjust a contact area between the first web guide and the print medium upon moving between a plurality of points on a guide path and a third web guide to engage the print medium to form a web path with the first web guide.
Claims18
A web handling apparatus, comprising:
- an entrance to receive a print medium;
- a first web guide to engage the print medium;
- a second web guide to engage the print medium to adjust a contact area between the first web guide and the print medium upon moving between a plurality of points on a guide path, wherein the contact area has a first angle value when the second web guide is located at a first position on the guide path, and has a second angle value when the second web guide is located at a second position on the guide path, wherein the length of a web path remains the same as the web guide changes positions between the second position and the first position and adjusting a contact area between the first web guide and the print medium is based on a temperature of the first web guide;
- a guideway coupled to the second web guide to enable movement of the second web guide between the plurality of points on the guide path;
- a third web guide to engage the print medium to form the web path with the first web guide;
- and
- an exit.
4 more elements
A web handling system, comprising:
- a web handling device, including:
- an entrance to receive a print medium;
- a first web guide to engage the print medium at a contact area;
- a second web guide to engage the print medium to adjust the contact area between the first web guide and the print medium, wherein the contact area has a first angle value when the second web guide is located at a first position on the guide path, and has a second angle value when the second web guide is located at a second position on the guide path, wherein the length of a web path remains the same as the web guide changes positions between the second position and the first position and adjusting a contact area between the first web guide and the print medium is based on a temperature of the first web guide;
- a guideway coupled to the second web guide to enable movement of the second web guide between the plurality of points on the guide path;
- an exit;
- and
- a controller, communicatively coupled to the web handling device, to transmit one or more signals to an actuator to move the second web guide between a plurality of points on a guide path.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.