# US 2016/0355033 A1 · Printer

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- Number: US 2016/0355033 A1
- Document ID: US20160355033A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/166,393
- Filed: 2016-05-27
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-02
- Assignees: Fujitsu Component Limited
- Applicants: Fujitsu Component Limited
- Inventors: Katsuaki Koshimura; Masahiro Kaneko; Nobuo Yatsu; Yayoi Tokuhara; Kohei Takahashi; Chuqi Liang; Miki Kitahara; Kiwa Imai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355033A1

## CPC

- B41J 11/04: Roller platens
- B65H 5/06: by rollers {or balls, e.g. between rollers (transport by suction rollers B65H5/226)}
- B65H 2403/20: Belt drives
- B65H 2403/82: Variable speed drive units
- B65H 2404/16: Details of driving
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

A printer includes a platen roller, a first pulley connected to the shaft of the platen roller, a motor, a second pulley connected to the shaft of the motor, and a belt wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley. At least one of the first pulley and the second pulley has a variable diameter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printer, comprising:
a platen roller;
a first pulley connected to a shaft of the platen roller;
a motor;
a second pulley connected to a shaft of the motor; and
a belt wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley,
wherein at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley is configured to have a variable diameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley includes
a frame;
extension parts provided on the frame to be radially movable with respect to a center of the frame, the extension parts contacting the belt;
arms each having a first end connected to one of the extension parts; and
a switch connected to a second end of each of the arms, and configured to be pressed to move the arms to move the extension parts radially outward, so as to increase the diameter of the one of the first pulley and the second pulley.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley includes
a frame;
extension parts provided on the frame to be radially movable with respect to a center of the frame, the extension parts contacting the belt;
a shaft configured to move in a direction of an axis of the frame;
first magnets each attached to one of the extension parts; and
a second magnet attached to the shaft,
wherein, as the shaft moves in the direction of the axis, the first and second magnets repel or attract each other to radially move the extension parts, so as to change the diameter of the one of the first pulley and the second pulley.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley includes
a frame;
extension parts provided on the frame and contacting the belt; and
a dome provided in a center of the frame, wherein a periphery of the dome contacts the extensions parts, the dome being configured to be pressed to have the periphery spreading outward to press and move the extension parts radially outward with respect to the center of the frame, so as to increase the diameter of the one of the first pulley and the second pulley.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first pulley and the second pulley includes
a changing member including disks having different diameters that are coaxially stacked one over another, and
extension parts each having a shape of an annular sector, provided around the changing member and contacting the belt,
wherein the changing member is configured to contact inner edges of the extension parts to radially move the extension parts relative to the changing member, so as to change the diameter of the one of the first pulley and the second pulley in accordance with one of the disks that contacts the inner edges of the extension parts.

### Claim 6

A printer, comprising:
a platen roller;
a first pulley connected to a shaft of the platen roller;
a motor;
a second pulley connected to a shaft of the motor; and
a third pulley that contacts the first pulley and the second pulley,
wherein
the periphery of the first pulley and the periphery of the second pulley are sloped to taper the first pulley and the second pulley in opposite axial directions, and
the third pulley is configured to move on the sloped periphery of the first pulley and the sloped periphery of the second pulley, so as to change a rotational speed of the platen roller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The printer as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
a lever having a first end to which a shaft of the third pulley is connected, and having a center to which a shaft aligned with an axis of the platen roller is connected, the lever being configured to rotate on the center thereof to press the shaft of the third pulley in a direction away from the shaft aligned with the axis of the platen roller, so as to move the third pulley, when the lever is operated.