Recording medium feed mechanism for a printer and method of medium feed control

A printer having a printer section and means for transport of a slip or sheet like recording medium from an inlet along a pathway and through an entrance to the printer section and exit from the printer section to an outlet, comprising:

• a first recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway adjacent to said inlet and comprising a first drive roller and a first corresponding pressure roller,
• a second recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately prior to the entrance of said printer section and comprising a second drive roller and a second corresponding pressure roller,
• a third recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately after the exit of said printer section and comprising a third drive roller and a third corresponding pressure roller,
• said first, second and third drive rollers being driven in common from a single power source and corresponding pressure rollers,
• a first opening/closing mechanism in operative engagement with said first transport section for selectively opening and closing said first drive and pressure rollers for engagement of the recording medium to transport the recording medium through said first transport section,
• a second opening/closing mechanism in operative engagement with said second transport section for selectively opening and closing said second drive and pressure rollers engagement of the recording medium to transport the recording medium through said second transport section,
• a third opening/closing mechanism in operative engagement with said third transport section for selectively opening and closing said third drive and pressure rollers engagement of the recording medium via said third drive and pressure rollers to transport the recording medium through said third transport section,
• blocking means positioned along said pathway between said first and second transport sections to engage the leading edge of the recording medium inserted into said inlet,
• detection means positioned along said pathway between said first transport section and said blocking means,
• one of said second and third transport means providing for continuous engagement with said recording medium adjacent to said printer section entrance and exit to permit the accurate printing of data in the margins at the leading edge to the trailing edge of recording medium,
• said first opening/closing mechanism being in operative engagement with said third opening/closing mechanism such that said third opening/closing mechanism closes to engage the recording medium when said first opening/closing mechanism is opened to disengage with the recording medium.

A printer having a printer section having a print head with printing elements aligned relative to an opposing platen adjustable in spacing relative to said printing elements to form a print gap of a selected gap size and means for transport of a slip or sheet like recording medium from an inlet along a pathway and through an entrance to the printer section and exit from the printer section to an outlet, comprising:

• a first recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway adjacent to said inlet and having a first opening and closing mechanism for at least one of engaging said first transport section with and disengaging said first transport section from a recording medium positioned at said transport section,
• a second recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately prior to the entrance of said printer section and having a second opening and closing mechanism for at least one of engaging said second transport section with and disengaging said second transport section from a recording medium when its leading edge is positioned at said transport section, said second opening and closing mechanism also supporting said platen for adjusting said print gap upon engagement of the recording medium at said second transport section,
• a third recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately after the exit of said printer section and having a third opening and closing mechanism for at least one of engaging said third transport section with and disengaging said third transport section from a recording medium when its leading edge is positioned at said transport section,
• blocking means positioned along said pathway between said first and second transport sections to engage the leading edge of the recording medium inserted into said inlet,
• detection means positioned along said pathway between said first transport section and said blocking means,
• first power means for operating said first opening/closing mechanism to place said first opening/closing mechanism in either its open or closed position for respectively engaging said first transport section with or disengaging said first transport section from the recording medium,
• second power means for operating said second opening/closing mechanism to place said second opening/closing mechanism in either its open or closed position for, respectively, engaging said second transport section with or disengaging said second transport section from the recording medium and concurrently positioning said platen to form or not form said print gap,
• wherein said first power means is operative on said first opening/closing mechanism to place said mechanism in its closed position and remove said blocking means from said pathway when the recording medium is detected by said detection means, and
• wherein said first power means is operative on said third opening/closing mechanism to place said mechanism in its closed position whereby said third transport section is engaged to the recording medium if said second power means has previously been activated to place said second opening/closing mechanism in its closed position.

A printer having a printer section having a print head and means for transport of a slip or sheet like recording medium from an inlet along a pathway and through an entrance to the printer section and exit from the printer section to an outlet, comprising:

• a first recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway adjacent to said inlet and having a first opening/closing mechanism for at least one of closing said first transport section to engage with a recording medium in the pathway and opening said first transport section to disengage from a recording medium present in the pathway,
• a second recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately prior to the entrance of said printer section and having a second opening/closing mechanism for at least one of closing said second transport section to engage with a recording medium in the pathway and opening to disengage from a recording medium present in the pathway,
• a third recording medium transport section disposed in said pathway immediately after the exit of said printer section and having a third opening/closing mechanism for at least one of closing said third transport section to engage a recording medium in the pathway and opening said third transport section to disengage from a recording medium present in the pathway,
• linking means for releasably interconnecting said first opening/closing mechanism with said third opening/closing mechanism,
• blocking means positioned along said pathway between said first and second transport sections for engaging the leading edge of the recording medium inserted into said inlet,
• detection means positioned along said pathway between said first transport section and said blocking means,
• first control means for closing said first opening/closing mechanism and concurrently moving said blocking means from the pathway when said detection means initially determines the presence of a recording medium in said pathway thereby facilitating transfer of the recording medium along the pathway by said first transport means,
• second control means for closing said second opening/closing mechanism when the recording medium has been transported along the pathway a predetermined amount based from the initial determination of the presence of the recording medium by said detection means and initiation of printing at said printer section on the recording medium starting at its leading edge,
• said first control means for opening said first opening/closing mechanism, concurrently moving said blocking means into the pathway and closing said third opening/closing mechanism via said linking means when the recording medium has been transported along the pathway a further predetermined amount based from the initial determination of the presence of the recording medium by said detection means and completing the printing at said printer section on the recording medium terminating at its trailing edge.

A method for controlling the transport of a recording medium by means of first, second and third transport sections positioned along a pathway in a printer, the pathway being defined starting at a medium inlet, thence through an entrance to a printer section for printing on its printing surface and exit from the printer section to an outlet, comprising the steps of

• providing the first transport section adjacent to the medium inlet having a first opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing the first transport section to respectively inhibit or permit the transport of the medium in the first transport section,
• providing the second transport section at the entrance to the printer section having a second opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing the second transport section to respectively inhibit or permit the transport of the medium in the second transport section,
• providing the third transport section at the exit of the printer section having a third opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing the third transport section to respectively inhibit or permit the transport of the medium in the third transport section, the third opening/closing mechanism being operatively engaged to the first opening/closing mechanism,
• detecting the insertion of the medium in the printer when the leading edge of the medium is inserted into the printer inlet to a predetermined point along the pathway,
• engaging the medium by closing the first opening/closing mechanism and transporting the recording medium along the pathway,
• determining whether or not the medium has passed a point wherein the medium can be engaged by the second transport section,
• engaging the medium by closing the second opening/closing mechanism and transporting the recording medium along the pathway via the first and second transport sections,
• determining whether or not the recording medium has passed a point wherein the medium can be engaged by the third transport section,
• engaging the medium by closing the third opening/closing mechanism when the first opening/closing mechanism, which is operatively engaged to the third opening/closing mechanism, is opened and transporting the recording medium along the pathway via the third transport.