Printers, printer spindle assemblies, and methods for determining media width for controlling media tension
First Claim
1. A printer spindle assembly comprising:
- a media spindle having a first end and a second end;
a commutator disposed circumferentially at the first end of the media spindle;
at least two brushes in electrical contact with the commutator and connected to a voltage source, the voltage source, the at least two brushes, and the commutator forming a closed electrical circuit;
a plurality of electrically conductive springs serially disposed on the media spindle in electrical communication with the commutator, wherein each electrically conductive spring is configured to be in an uncompressed state in the absence of media on the media spindle and one or more of the electrically conductive springs is configured to be in a compressed state in the presence of the media on the media spindle; and
a continuous electrically conductive path formed of electrically resistive material disposed along a longitudinal axis of the media spindle and configured to be in electrical contact with a first spring end of the one or more electrically conductive springs in the compressed state to form a series circuit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Printer spindle assembly is provided including media spindle having first end and second end, a commutator disposed circumferentially at first end, at least two brushes in electrical contact with commutator and connected to voltage source, a plurality of electrically conductive springs serially disposed on media spindle in electrical communication with commutator, and a continuous electrically conductive path formed of electrically resistive material disposed along longitudinal axis of media spindle and configured to be in electrical contact with first spring end of one or more electrically conductive springs in the compressed state to form series circuit. Voltage source, brushes, and commutator form closed electrical circuit. Each electrically conductive spring is configured to be in uncompressed state in absence of media on media spindle and one or more of electrically conductive springs is configured to be in compressed state in presence of media on media spindle.
595 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A printer spindle assembly comprising:
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a media spindle having a first end and a second end; a commutator disposed circumferentially at the first end of the media spindle; at least two brushes in electrical contact with the commutator and connected to a voltage source, the voltage source, the at least two brushes, and the commutator forming a closed electrical circuit; a plurality of electrically conductive springs serially disposed on the media spindle in electrical communication with the commutator, wherein each electrically conductive spring is configured to be in an uncompressed state in the absence of media on the media spindle and one or more of the electrically conductive springs is configured to be in a compressed state in the presence of the media on the media spindle; and a continuous electrically conductive path formed of electrically resistive material disposed along a longitudinal axis of the media spindle and configured to be in electrical contact with a first spring end of the one or more electrically conductive springs in the compressed state to form a series circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A printer comprising:
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a spindle assembly comprising; a media spindle having a first end and a second end; a commutator disposed circumferentially at the first end of the media spindle; at least two brushes in electrical contact with the commutator and connected to a voltage source, the voltage source, the at least two brushes, and the commutator forming a closed electrical circuit; a plurality of electrically conductive springs serially disposed on the media spindle in electrical communication with the commutator, wherein each electrically conductive spring is configured to be in an uncompressed state in the absence of media on the media spindle and one or more of the conductive springs is configured to be in a compressed state in the presence of the media on the media spindle; and a continuous electrically conductive path formed of electrically resistive material disposed along a longitudinal axis of the media spindle and configured to be in electrical contact with a first spring end of the one or more electrically conductive springs in the compressed state to form a series circuit; and a processor configured to determine a width of the media loaded on the media spindle based on the resistance of the series circuit and configured to adjust torsion on the media based upon the determined width of the media. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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loading media on a media spindle of a printer spindle assembly, the media spindle having a first end and a second end and the printer spindle assembly comprising; a commutator disposed circumferentially at the first end of the media spindle; at least two brushes in electrical contact with the commutator and connected to a voltage source, the voltage source, the at least two brushes, and the commutator forming a closed electrical circuit; a plurality of electrically conductive springs serially disposed on the media spindle in electrical communication with the commutator, wherein each electrically conductive spring is configured to be in an uncompressed state in the absence of the media on the media spindle and one or more of the electrically conductive springs is configured to be in a compressed state in the presence of the media on the media spindle; and a continuous electrically conductive path formed of electrically resistive material disposed along a longitudinal axis of the media spindle and configured to be in electrical contact with a first spring end of the one or more electrically conductive springs in the compressed state to form a series circuit; connecting the at least two brushes to a voltage source; determining an electrical resistance of the series circuit; and determining, from the electrical resistance, a width of the media loaded on the media spindle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification