Completed plot rolling mechanism for a plotter

In a pen plotter ejecting completed plots comprising sheets of a flexible media, apparatus for receiving the completed plots at a horizontal exit point and for rolling and delivering the media to a receiving bin located below the exit point comprising:

• a) a horizontally-disposed stationary member comprising a first input guide portion connected to a first partially-cylindrical portion, said first input guide portion being disposed adjacent the exit point behind a path followed by a leading edge of a completed plot upon being ejected from the pen plotter;
• b) a horizontally-disposed shaft disposed adjacent an edge of said first partially-cylindrical portion opposite said first input guide portion;
• c) first drive means for bi-directionally rotating said shaft;
• d) a horizontally-disposed rotating member mounted on and rotating in combination with said shaft, said rotating member comprising a second input guide portion connected to a second partially-cylindrical portion along an edge opposite an edge mounted on said shaft, said rotating member being rotatable between a closed position with said first partially-cylindrical portion and said second partially-cylindrical portion in combination forming a cylindrical rolling chamber and said first input guide portion and said second input guide portion in combination forming a guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber and an open position with said second partially-cylindrical portion and said second input guide portion opened towards the receiving bin;
• e) drive roller means disposed through horizontal slot means in said first input guide portion for contacting and moving individual ones of the completed plots through said guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber when said rotating member is in said closed position;
• f) second drive means for rotating said drive roller means;
• g) sensor means for determining when a leading edge and a trailing edge of sheets of a completed plot are adjacent to said drive roller means;
• and,
• h) logic means connected to said first drive means, said second drive means, and said sensor means,
• h1) for first activating said first drive means to rotate said rotating member to said open position,
• h2) for then activating said first drive means to rotate said rotating member to said closed position upon said leading edge of a completed plot being adjacent to said drive roller means,
• h3) for then activating said second drive means to rotate said drive roller means to move a completed plot through said guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber, and
• h4) for then deactivating said second drive means and activating said first drive means to rotate said rotating member to said open position upon said trailing edge of a completed plot being adjacent to said drive roller means whereby rolled completed plots from said cylindrical rolling chamber are ejected to the receiving bin.

In a pen plotter ejecting completed plots comprising sheets of a flexible media, a method for receiving the completed plots at a horizontal exit point and for rolling and delivering the media to a receiving bin located below the exit point comprising the steps of:

• a) prior to a time of plotting,
• a1) positioning a horizontally-disposed stationary member comprising a first input guide portion connected to a first partially-cylindrical portion with the first input guide portion disposed adjacent the exit point behind a path followed by a leading edge of a completed plot upon being ejected from the pen plotter,
• a2) positioning a horizontally-disposed rotating member comprising a second input guide portion connected to a second partially-cylindrical portion for rotation about a pivot line along an edge opposite the second partially-cylindrical portion and adjacent an edge of the first partially-cylindrical portion opposite the first input guide portion so that the rotating member is rotatable between a closed position with the first partially-cylindrical portion and the second partially-cylindrical portion in combination forming a cylindrical rolling chamber and the first input guide portion and the second input guide portion in combination forming a guide slot into the cylindrical rolling chamber and an open position with the second partially-cylindrical portion and the second input guide portion opened towards the receiving bin, and
• a3) horizontally positioning a drive roller in the first input guide portion whereby to contact and move individual ones of the completed plots through the guide slot into the cylindrical rolling chamber when the rotating member is in the closed position;
• and,
• b) at a time of plotting,
• b1) rotating the rotating member to the open position,
• b2) continuously sensing for leading edges of completed plots,
• b3) rotating the rotating member to the closed position upon determining that a leading edge of a completed plot is adjacent the drive roller,
• b4) rotating the drive roller to move the completed plot through the guide slot and into the cylindrical rolling chamber where it is rolled, and
• b5) rotating the rotating member to the open position upon determining that a trailing edge of the completed plot is adjacent to the drive roller whereby a rolled completed plot from the cylindrical rolling chamber is ejected to the receiving bin.

In a pen plotter ejecting completed plots comprising sheets of a flexible media, apparatus for receiving the completed plots at a horizontal exit point and for rolling and delivering the media to a receiving bin located below the exit point comprising:

• a) a horizontally-disposed stationary member comprising a first input guide portion connected to a first partially-cylindrical portion, said first input guide portion being disposed adjacent the exit point behind a path followed by a leading edge of a completed plot as it is ejected from the pen plotter;
• b) a horizontally-disposed shaft disposed adjacent an edge of said first partially-cylindrical portion opposite said first input guide portion;
• c) first drive means for bi-directionally rotating said shaft;
• d) a horizontally-disposed rotating member mounted on and rotating in combination with said shaft, said rotating member comprising a second input guide portion connected to a second partially-cylindrical portion along an edge opposite an edge mounted on said shaft, said rotating member being rotatable between a closed position with said first partially-cylindrical portion and said second partially-cylindrical portion in combination forming a cylindrical rolling chamber and said first input guide portion and said second input guide portion in combination forming a guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber and an open position with said second partially-cylindrical portion and said second input guide portion opened towards the receiving bin;
• e) drive roller means disposed through horizontal slot means in said first input guide portion and in contact with completed plots in said guide slot when said rotating member is in said closed position for contacting and moving individual ones of the completed plots through said guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber;
• f) second drive means for rotating said drive roller means;
• g) sensor means for providing signals when a leading edge of sheets of a completed plot are adjacent thereto;
• h) free-wheeling roller means carried by said second input guide portion to be disposed opposite said drive roller means when said rotating member is in said closed position for holding a completed plot against said drive roller means;
• and,
• i) logic means connected to said first drive means, said second drive means, and said sensor means for activating said first drive means and said second drive means to feed received completed plots through said guide slot into said cylindrical rolling chamber and for thereafter ejecting rolled completed plots to the receiving bin;
• wherein,
• j) said stationary portion and said rotating portion are formed of a plurality of slats having low contact area edges disposed for completed plots to move along whereby the completed plots move along a low friction path.