Synchronized motion printer with continuous paper movement

A printer for printing on a web of material moving continuously in a single direction along a linear path, the printer comprising:

• a pivot beam extending orthogonally across and adjacent to the linear path of the web, the pivot beam having oppositely disposed first and second end portions;
• a print head carriage assembly supported on the pivot beam including at least one print head, the print head carriage assembly being moveable along the pivot beam from a first end position adjacent the first end portion of the pivot beam to a second end position adjacent the second end portion of the pivot beam;
• drive means connected to the print head carriage assembly for reciprocally pushing and pulling the print head carriage assembly between the first and second end positions;
• actuator means for selectively pivoting the first end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head carriage assembly is disposed for moving from the second end position to the first end position and pivoting the second end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head carriage assembly is disposed for moving from the first end position to the second end position.

A printer for printing on a web of material moving in a single direction along a linear path, the linear path having oppositely disposed left and right sides, the printer comprising:

• a frame having fixed left and right members adapted for straddling the linear path;
• a feed drum rotatably mounted to the left and right members of the frame, the feed drum having an outer surface adapted for frictionally engaging and pulling web material along the linear path;
• drive means coupled to the feed drum for rotating the feed drum;
• print means adapted for printing on the web of material;
• a take-up shaft having an outer surface adapted for mounting a leading end of the web of material extending between the take-up shaft and the feed drum and winding the web material thereon;
• and
• first free floating mounting means for moveably mounting the take-up shaft to the left and right members of the frame, the first free floating mounting means comprising a first pendulum system having first and second pendulum arms, each of the pendulum arms having oppositely disposed first and second end portions, the first end portions of the first and second pendulum arms being independently pivotally mounted to the left and right members of the frame, respectively, the take-up shaft being rotatably mounted to the second end portions of the first and second pendulum arms;
• wherein, web material wound on the take-up shaft runs in contact with the feed drum, whereby the displacement of the web exiting the feed drum is equal to the displacement of the paper winding on the take-up shaft, winding the web with minimal tension.

A printer for printing on a web of material moving in a single direction along a linear path, the linear path having oppositely disposed left and right sides, the printer comprising:

• a frame having fixed left and right members adapted for straddling the linear path;
• a feed drum rotatably mounted to the left and right members of the frame, the feed drum having an outer surface adapted for frictionally engaging and pulling web material along the linear path;
• drive means coupled to the feed drum for rotating the feed drum;
• print means adapted for printing on the web of material;
• a take-up shaft having an outer surface adapted for mounting a leading end of the web of material extending between the take-up shaft and the feed drum and winding the web material thereon;
• first free floating mounting means for moveably mounting the take-up shaft to the left and right members of the frame;
• a supply shaft rotatably mounted to the left and right members of the frame, the supply shaft being adapted for rotatably mounting a supply roll of web material;
• a paper tension roller having an outside surface adapted for engaging the web material disposed intermediate the supply shaft and the feed drum;
• and
• a second free floating mounting means for moveably mounting the paper tension roller to the left and right members of the frame;
• wherein, web material wound on the take-up shaft runs in contact with the feed drum, whereby the displacement of the web exiting the feed drum is equal to the displacement of the paper winding on the take-up shaft, winding the web with minimal tension.

A printer for printing on a web of material moving continuously in a single direction along a linear path, the web having a printable area, the printer comprising:

• a frame;
• a single motor;
• a feed drum rotatably mounted to the frame, the feed drum having an outer surface adapted for frictionally engaging and pulling web material along the linear path;
• first drive means coupling the motor to the feed drum for rotating the feed drum;
• a take-up shaft having an outer surface adapted for mounting a leading end of the web of material extending between the take-up shaft and the feed drum and winding the web material thereon;
• a supply shaft rotatably mounted to the frame, the supply shaft being adapted for rotatably mounting a supply roll of web material;
• a paper tension roller having an outside surface adapted for engaging the web material disposed intermediate the supply shaft and the feed drum;
• free floating mounting means for moveably mounting the take-up shaft and the paper tension roller to the frame
• a pivot beam extending orthogonally across and adjacent to the linear path of the web, the pivot beam having oppositely disposed first and second end portions;
• a print head carriage assembly supported on the pivot beam including at least one print head, the print head carriage assembly being moveable along the pivot beam from a first end position adjacent the first end portion of the pivot beam to a second end position adjacent the second end portion of the pivot beam;
• second drive means coupling the motor to the print head carriage assembly for reciprocally pushing and pulling the print head carriage assembly between the first and second end positions;
• actuator means for selectively pivoting the first end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head carriage assembly is disposed for moving from the second end position to the first end position and pivoting the second end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head carriage assembly is disposed for moving-from-the first end position to the second end position.

A printer for printing on a web of material moving continuously in a single direction along a linear path having first and second oppositely disposed sides, the web having a printable area, the printer comprising:

• a single motor;
• a frame;
• advance means adapted for providing motive power for advancing the web of material along the linear path, the advance means comprising a feed drum rotatably mounted to the frame, the feed drum having an outer surface adapted for frictionally engaging and pulling web material along the linear path,
• first drive means coupling the single motor to the advance means for supplying the motive power to the advance means;
• print means adapted for printing on the web of material along a print path extending across the linear path between a first end position adjacent the first side of the linear path and a second end position adjacent the second side of the linear path;
• second drive means coupling the single motor to the print means for reciprocally pushing and pulling the print means between the first and second end positions;
• and
• tensioning means adapted for tensioning the web of material as it is advanced by the advance means, the tensioning means comprising a take-up shaft and first free floating mounting means for moveably mounting the take-up shaft to the frame, the take-up shaft having an outer surface adapted for mounting a leading end of the web of material extending between the take-up shaft and the feed drum and winding the web material thereon.

A printer for printing on a web of material moving continuously in a single direction along a linear path having first and second oppositely disposed sides, the web having a printable area, the printer comprising:

• a single motor;
• advance means adapted for providing motive power for advancing the web of material along the linear path;
• first drive means coupling the single motor to the advance means for supplying the motive power to the advance means;
• print means adapted for printing on the web of material along a print path extending across the linear path between a first end position adjacent the first side of the linear path and a second end position adjacent the second side of the linear path, the print means comprising
• a pivot beam extending orthogonally across and:
• adjacent to the linear path of the web, the pivot beam having oppositely disposed first and second end portions;
• at least one print head supported on the pivot beam, the print head being moveable along the pivot beam between the first and second end positions;
• and
• actuator means for selectively pivoting the first end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head is disposed for moving from the second end position to the first end position and pivoting the second end portion of the pivot beam in the direction of the linear path when the print head is disposed for moving from the first end position to the second end position;
• and
• second drive means coupling the single motor to the print means for reciprocally pushing and pulling the print means between the first and second end positions.