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US 6,666,602 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for controlling print media shape during media transport
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorBruce G Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is described for feeding a print media through a closed, curved path such that any abrasion of any special coating on the printing surface of the media is prevented. A motor driven pulley subsystem bridging the entrance and exit of the path is selectively adjustable to change the positioning and shape of the media as it passes therethrough.
Claims11
A print media transport comprising:
- a curved frame defining a media path therein;
- mounted with respect to the path, a pair of upstream rollers and a pair of downstream rollers, the downstream pair having one pulley roller, the pair of upstream rollers having one driven roller;
- a flexible coupling connecting the one driven roller and the pulley roller of the downstream pair;
- and
- a selectively positionable mechanism for changing tension of the flexible coupling such that predetermined shaping and positioning of media is maintained in the path, the selectively positionable mechanism movable between at least two positions, a first position in which the media is underfed through the path and a second position in which the media is overfed through the path when the media is engaged by the pair of upstream rollers, wherein when the media is contacted simultaneously by the pair of upstream rollers and the pair of downstream rollers, a printing surface of the media does not contact an adjacent guide surface of the frame.
2 more elements
A printer having a printing zone therein, comprising:
- a supply of sheets of print media;
- an ink-jet writing instrument mounted for depositing ink on a sheet in the printing zone;
- and a print media transport device for sequentially delivering picked sheets to the printing zone, the device including a first curved frame member and a second curved frame member defining a curvilinear print media path therebetween, a first set of media drive rollers having a first drive roller and a first pinch roller mounted upstream of the print media path, a second set of media drive rollers having a second drive roller and a second pinch roller mounted downstream of the print media path, a motor coupled to one drive roller, a flexible coupling connecting the first drive roller and the second drive roller, and a selectively positionable mechanism for changing tension of the flexible coupling such that a predetermined buckling of a segment of the print media in the path between the first curved frame member and second curved frame member is maintained wherein there is no contact between a printable surface of the media to be printed and a surface of either curved frame member, the selectively positionable mechanism movable between at least two positions, a first position in which the media is underfed through the path and a second position in which the media is overfed through the path when the media is engaged by the pair of upstream rollers, wherein when the media is contacted simultaneously by the pair of upstream rollers and the pair of downstream rollers, a printing surface of the media does not contact an adjacent guide surface of the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.