Printer media transport for variable length media

• US 20050275150A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, Brian Dale, Klein, William Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 271/109
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/0018 in the sheet input section of automatic paper handling systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/40 Toothed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1441 involving controlled actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/16 Details of driving
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/11 Length
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/51 Presence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2515/32 Torque e.g. braking torque
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/0676 with two or more separator rollers in the feeding direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/06 by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers transport by suction rollers B65H5/226
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 7/02 by feelers or detectors

Abstract

Printer (1) has a pivotally mounted autocompensating system (19) mounted at an intermediate position in paper guide (17). That system (19) is driven by a motor (40) through a slip drive (70, 72, 74). The motor also drives paper feed system (15). When the motor turns in a direction to feed by system (15), the intermediate system is moved away from the paper guide. When a sheet reaches a position to be fed by the intermediate system, the motor is reversed, and the intermediate system pivots against the paper for moving it further through the paper guide.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising

an imaging station,

a sheet media tray spaced from said imaging station,

a media guide path between said imaging station and said media tray

a media drive member to move sheet media from said sheet media tray into said paper guide path,

a pivotally mounted first autocompensating system located in said paper guide path for driving media, and

a motor to provide torque to said autocompensating system.

2. The imaging device as in claim 1 in which said first autocompensating system comprises a slip drive from said motor operative to move said first autocompensating system away from said media guide path when said motor is rotating to provide torque to said first autocompensating system opposite to torque for media feed in said guide by said first autocompensating system.

3. The imaging device as in claim 2 also comprising a second pivotally mounted autocompensating system to feed media from said sheet media guide through said media guide path at least to a location at which said first autocompensating system can feed said media.

4. The imaging device as in claim 3 also comprising a media-presence sensor located to sense media fed in said sheet media guide to a location to be fed by said first autocompensating system, said motor also providing torque to said second autocompensating system.

5. The method performed with the apparatus of claim 4 comprising the steps of feeding media from said tray through said guide while operating said motor to provide torque to said first autocompensating system to move said first autocompensating system away from said media path, sensing said media presence with said sensor, and then operating said motor to provide torque to said first autocompensating system to feed media by said first autocompensating system.

8. The imaging device as in claim 4 also comprising a media-presence sensor located to sense media fed in said sheet media guide to a location to be fed by said first autocompensating system.

6. An imaging device comprising

an imaging station,

a sheet media tray spaced from said imaging station,

a media guide path between said imaging station and said media tray,

a pivotally mounted first autocompensating system located in said paper guide path for driving media,

a pivotally mounted second autocompensating system to feed media from said sheet media tray through said media guide path at least to a location at which said first autocompensating system can feed said media, and

a motor to provide torque to said first autocompensating system and said second autocompensating system.

7. The imaging device as in claim 6 in which said first autocompensating system comprises a slip drive from said motor operative to move said first autocompensating system away from said media guide path when said motor is rotating to provide torque to said first autocompensating system opposite to torque for media feed in said guide by said first autocompensating system.

9. The method performed with the apparatus of claim 7 comprising the steps of feeding media from said tray through said guide while operating said motor to provide torque to said first autocompensating system to move said first autocompensating system away from said media path, sensing said media presence with said sensor, and then operating said motor to provide torque to said first autocompensating system to feed media by said first autocompensating system.