Paper transport for a printer test unit
AssigneeThe Mead Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Scranton, James R. Meckstroth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A paper transport simulates movement of a plurality of documents past the print station of a ink jet printer. The transport includes an arrangement for transporting a continuous paper web past the print station and a tachometer drive roller for contacting the tachometer wheel of the printer system. The transport further includes a document simulator wheel aligned with the photo-optical document detector of the printer system such that the movement of a succession of documents past the print station may be simulated while the printer system prints upon the continuous paper web.
Claims19
A paper transport for use with a printer system of the type arranged to print documents as said documents are successively transported past a print station, said system including a photo-optical document detector for detecting movement of successive documents past said print station by directing a beam of light across the path of said documents at said print station and detecting changes in the amount of light reflected to said photo-optical document detector, comprising:
- means for transporting a paper web past said print station for printing on said web, and
- document simulator means, positioned at said print station, for cyclically altering the amount of light reflected to said photo-optical document detector, whereby movement of documents past said print station is simulated and printing may be effected on said paper web in response to changes in the amount of light reflected from said document simulator means.
A printer test unit for simulating movement of a plurality of documents past the print station of an ink jet printer system, said printer system including a photo-optical document detector mounted adjacent said print station which directs a beam of light toward said documents at said print station and which senses changes in the amount of light reflected thereto as said documents pass said print station, said ink jet printer system further including a tachometer wheel, rotatably mounted at said print station and connected to a tachometer, for providing an indication of the speed of said documents moving past said print station, comprising:
- a test unit cabinet including a paper supporting platen for supporting a paper web at said print station,
- web supply means mounted on said cabinet, for providing a paper web for transport across said platen,
- web receiving means, mounted on said cabinet, for receiving said paper web after said web is transported across said platen,
- web drive roller means, for engaging said web of paper and transporting said web from said web supply means across said platen to said web receiving means,
- motor means, connected to said web drive roller means, for rotating said web drive roller means,
- document simulator means, positioned adjacent said web at said print station, for cyclically altering the amount of light reflected to said photo-optical document detector whereby movement of documents past said print station is simulated and printing may be effected on said paper web in response to changes in the amount of light reflected from said document simulator means, and
- tachometer drive means, connected to said motor means, for rotating said tachometer wheel in synchronization with movement of said paper web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.