Print media tensioning apparatus including gimbaled roller
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorChristopher M. Muir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for maintaining uniform tension across a width of a web including a frame, a roller, a shaft about which the roller rotates, a first arm rigidly connected to a first end of the shaft, a second arm pivotally connected to a second end of the shaft, and a third arm rigidly connected to the second end of the shaft. The first arm is pivotally connected to the frame by a first joint. The second arm is pivotally connected to the shaft by a second joint and to the frame by a third joint. The third arm is coupled to the frame through a fourth joint. The first, third, and fourth joints are offset from the axis of the shaft by substantially the same distance. The first and third joints are offset in the same direction. The fourth joint is offset in the opposite direction.
Claims10
An apparatus for maintaining uniform tension across a width of a web, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a roller including a shaft about which the roller rotates, the roller shaft defining an axis of rotation, the roller shaft including a first end and a second end;
- a first coupling that couples the first end of the roller shaft to the frame such that the roller shaft is free to rotate, the first coupling including a first arm and a first joint, the first end of the roller shaft being rigidly connected to the first arm, the first arm extending away from the roller shaft to the first joint, the first joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a first distance;
- a second coupling that couples the second end of the roller shaft to the frame, the second coupling including a second arm, a second joint, and a third joint, the second arm being free to pivot relative to the roller shaft and the frame through the second joint and the third joint, respectively, the third joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a second distance that is substantially equal to the first distance and in the same direction relative to the roller axis;
- and
- a third coupling that couples the second end of the roller shaft to the frame, the third coupling including a third arm and a fourth joint, the third arm being rigidly coupled to the second end of the roller shaft and coupled to the frame through the fourth joint, the fourth joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a third distance that is substantially equal to the first distance, the offset being in an opposite direction relative to the roller axis.
A method of maintaining uniform tension across a width of a web of media comprising:
- providing an apparatus including:
- a frame;
- a roller including a shaft about which the roller rotates, the roller shaft defining an axis of rotation, the roller shaft including a first end and a second end;
- a first coupling that couples the first end of the roller shaft to the frame such that the roller shaft is free to rotate, the first coupling including a first arm and a first joint, the first end of the roller shaft being rigidly connected to the first arm, the first arm extending away from the roller shaft to the first joint, the first joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a first distance;
- a second coupling that couples the second end of the roller shaft to the frame, the second coupling including a second arm, a second joint, and a third joint, the second arm being free to pivot relative to the roller shaft and the frame through the second joint and the third joint, respectively., the third joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a second distance that is substantially equal to the first distance and in the same direction relative to the roller axis;
- and
- a third coupling that couples the second end of the roller shaft to the frame, the third coupling including a third arm and a fourth joint, the third arm being rigidly coupled to the second end of the roller shaft and coupled to the frame through the fourth joint, the fourth joint being offset relative to the roller axis by a third distance that is substantially equal to the first distance, the offset being in an opposite direction relative to the roller axis;
- and
- causing a media to move around a portion of the roller of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.