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US 5,584,589 AGranted
Graphics printer roller transport apparatus and method
AssigneeDataCard Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Adkins, Steven J. Fitzsimmons, James M. Jordan, Richard C. Nubson, Ronald L. Sattler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A graphics printer apparatus and method using sensors to detect the position of a work piece relative to a print head. A single drive motor driving the feed rollers and a print roller.
Claims29
A workpiece transport apparatus used with a graphics printer having a print head, the transport apparatus comprising:
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward the print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from the print head, the input feed roller means and output feed roller means both engaging the workpiece prior to the input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with the print head and disposed intermediate of the input and output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of the print roller means and the print head;
- a single drive motor driving the input and output feed roller means and the print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to the print head, said sensor means including a trailing edge sensor means disposed upstream of the input feed roller means for sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece, said trailing edge sensor means detecting said trailing edge of the workpiece as the workpiece is moved toward the print head;
- control means responsive to signals received from the sensor means for controlling operation of the drive motor;
- wherein said transport apparatus is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing;
- and
- means for moving said support frame laterally wherein the transport apparatus includes means for moving the transport apparatus out of alignment with a first color ribbon and into alignment with a second color ribbon.
5 more elements
A method of transporting a workpiece past a print head, said method comprising:
- transporting the workpiece through cleaning rollers upstream of input feed rollers;
- sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece upstream from the input feed rollers as the workpiece is moved toward the print head to determine its position;
- transporting the workpiece so sensed through the input feed rollers in a direction toward the print head;
- engaging the workpiece with output feed rollers while the workpiece is still engaged by the input feed rollers;
- printing on the workpiece, wherein said step of printing comprises laterally moving a transport apparatus out of alignment with a first ribbon and into alignment with a second ribbon;
- and
- transporting the workpiece in a direction away from the print head using the output feed rollers.
4 more elements
A graphics printer comprising:
- a print head;
- a print ribbon supply spool and print ribbon take-up spool adapted to feed a print ribbon into position between said print head and a workpiece;
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward said print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from said print head, said input feed roller means and said output feed roller means both engaging workpiece prior to said input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with said print head and disposed intermediate of said input and said output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of said print roller means and said print head;
- a single drive motor driving said input and said output feed roller means and said print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to said print head, said sensing means including a trailing edge sensor means disposed upstream of the input feed roller means for sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece as the workpiece is moved toward the print head;
- control means responsive to signals received from said sensor means for controlling operation of said drive motor;
- rotary encoder means cooperating with said print ribbon supply spool for generating control signals representing the length of print ribbon fed from said supply spool;
- and
- control means responsive to said signals from said rotary encoder means for controlling the operation of the printer
- a transport apparatus that is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing;
- and
- means for moving said support frame laterally, wherein the transport apparatus includes means for moving the transport apparatus out of alignment with a first color ribbon and into alignment with a second color ribbon.
10 more elements
A workpiece transport apparatus used with a graphics printer having a print head, the transport apparatus comprising:
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward the print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from the print head, the input feed roller means and output feed roller means both engaging the workpiece prior to the input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with the print head and disposed intermediate of the input and output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of the print roller means and the print head;
- a single drive motor driving the input and output feed roller means and the print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to the print head;
- control means responsive to signals received from the sensor means for controlling operation of the drive motor;
- and
- lateral drive means for moving the transport apparatus laterally whereby the transport apparatus can be moved out of alignment with a first ribbon and into alignment with a second ribbon.
4 more elements
A workpiece transport apparatus used with a graphics printer having a print head, the transport apparatus comprising:
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward the print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from the print head, the input feed roller means and output feed roller means both engaging the workpiece prior to the input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with the print head and disposed intermediate of the input and output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of the print roller means and the print head;
- a single drive motor driving the input and output feed roller means and the print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to the print head;
- and
- control means responsive to signals received from the sensor means for controlling operation of the drive motor;
- wherein said transport apparatus is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing and further comprising means for moving said support frame laterally whereby the transport apparatus can be moved out of alignment with a first ribbon and into alignment with a second ribbon.
4 more elements
A workpiece transport apparatus used with a graphics printer having a print head, the transport apparatus comprising:
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward the print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from the print head, the input feed roller means and output feed roller means both engaging the workpiece prior to the input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with the print head and disposed intermediate of the input and out put feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate from the print roller means and the print head;
- a single drive motor driving the input and output feed roller means and the print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to the print head, said sensor means including a trailing edge sensor means disposed upstream of the input feed roller means for sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece as the workpiece is moved toward the print head;
- control means responsive to signals received from the sensor means for controlling operation of the drive motor;
- and
- sine wave drive means for sinusoidally driving the drive motor, said drive means producing sinusoidal current control in continuous fashion to each of the windings of the transport motor, and said sine wave drive means including a bipolar stepper motor controller chip and an embedded microcontroller wherein the current limit of the bipolar stepper motor controller chip is controlled by the embedded microcontroller;
- wherein said transport apparatus is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing;
- and
- means for moving said support frame laterally, wherein the transport apparatus includes means for moving the transport apparatus out of alignment with a first color ribbon and into alignment with a second color ribbon.
7 more elements
A workpiece transport apparatus used with a graphics printer having a print head, the transport apparatus comprising:
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward the print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from the print head, the input feed roller means and output feed roller means both engaging the workpiece prior to the input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with the print head and disposed intermediate of the input and output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of the print roller means and the print head;
- a single drive motor driving the input and output feed roller means and the print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to the print head, said sensor means including a trailing edge sensor means disposed upstream of the input feed roller means for sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece;
- control means responsive to signals received from the sensor means for controlling operation of the drive motor;
- a color supply system including a color ribbon, color ribbon supply spool, a color ribbon take-up spool, and a color ribbon drive motor for printing on the workpiece with various pigments;
- wherein said transport apparatus is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing;
- and
- means for moving said support frame laterally wherein the transport apparatus includes means for moving the transport apparatus out of alignment with a first color ribbon and into alignment with a second color ribbon.
6 more elements
A graphics printer comprising:
- a print head;
- a print ribbon supply spool and print ribbon take-up spool adapted to feed a print ribbon into position between said print head and a workpiece;
- input feed roller means for feeding the workpiece toward said print head and output feed roller means for feeding the workpiece away from said print head, said input feed roller means and said output feed roller means both engaging workpiece prior to said input feed roller means disengaging from the workpiece;
- print roller means aligned with said print head and disposed intermediate of said input and said output feed rollers for supporting the workpiece intermediate of said print roller means and said print head;
- a single drive motor driving said input and said output feed roller means and said print roller means;
- sensor means for sensing the position of the workpiece relative to said print head, said sensing means including a trailing edge sensor means disposed upstream of the input feed roller means for sensing a trailing edge of the workpiece;
- control means responsive to signals received from said sensor means for controlling operation of said drive motor;
- rotary encoder means cooperating with said print ribbon supply spool for generating control signals representing the length of print ribbon fed from said supply spool;
- control means responsive to said signals from said rotary encoder means for controlling the operation of the printer;
- and
- cleaning roller means, said cleaning roller means being driven by the single drive motor;
- a transport apparatus that is mounted on a support frame in a graphics printer housing;
- and
- means for moving said support frame laterally, wherein the transport apparatus includes means for moving the transport apparatus out of alignment with a first color ribbon and into alignment with a second color ribbon.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.