MEDIA TRANSPORT

• US 20200130380A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: YRACEBURU, ROBERT, REIER, MATTHEW DOUGLAS, CHURCH, KYNAN LON, DOWNING, ELLIOTT
• Granted Patent: US 10,662,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/007 Conveyor belts or like feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/08 Conveyor bands or like feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/22 Clamps or grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/12 with two or more endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/022 Flat
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/06 with projections engaging abutments on belts or chains, e.g. sprocket wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/26 Applications of clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2812/016 for conveying material by co-operating units in tandem
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2812/02148 Driving means for the belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2812/02217 characterised by the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/00 Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/44712 carried by chains or bands
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/20 Belt drives
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/21 Timing belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/25 Arrangement for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/30 Chain drives
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/72 Clutches, brakes, e.g. one-way clutch +F204
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/721 Positive-contact clutches, jaw clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/252 Details of idler roller
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/255 Arrangement for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/04 : the grippers being carried by endless chains or bands
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/045 : Details of grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/085 : by combinations of endless conveyors and grippers suction belts B65H5/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/12 : Revolving grippers, e.g. mounted on arms, frames or cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/14 : Details of grippers; Actuating-mechanisms therefor

Abstract

A media transport system, includes a transport path, a drive gear at one end of the transport path, a driven gear at an opposite end of the transport path, an endless loop transmission element engaged with the drive gear and the driven gear, a media clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element, and a one-way clutch coupled with the driven gear. The endless loop transmission element is to rotate in one direction to move the media clamp and transport media from the one end of the transport path toward the opposite end of the transport path, and the one-way clutch is to allow rotation of the driven gear in the one direction and resist rotation of the driven gear in an opposite direction.

Claims

1. A media transport system, comprising:

a transport path;

a drive gear at one end of the transport path;

a driven gear at an opposite end of the transport path;

an endless loop transmission element engaged with the drive gear and the driven gear;

a media clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element; and

a one-way clutch coupled with the driven gear,

the endless loop transmission element to rotate in one direction to move the media clamp and transport media from the one end of the transport path toward the opposite end of the transport path, and the one-way clutch to allow rotation of the driven gear in the one direction and resist rotation of the driven gear in an opposite direction.

2. The media transport system of claim 1, the media clamp to receive media at the one end of the transport path, transport the media toward the opposite end of the transport path, and release the media at the opposite end of the transport path.

3. The media transport system of claim 1, the one-way clutch including an inner race coupled for rotation with the driven gear, and an outer race retained for non-rotation.

4. The media transport system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shaft having a first end interlocked with the driven gear and a second end supporting the one-way clutch.

5. The media transport system of claim 1, further comprising:

a drive motor operatively coupled with the drive gear,

the drive motor to be operated to rotate the endless loop transmission element in the one direction, and the one-way clutch to allow rotation of the driven gear in the one direction from the operation of the drive motor.

6. The media transport system of claim 5, the drive motor to be operated in reverse, and the one-way clutch to resist rotation of the driven gear in the opposite direction from the reverse operation of the drive motor.

7. The media transport system of claim 6, wherein reverse rotation from the reverse operation of the drive motor exceeding a threshold indicates insufficient tension of the endless loop transmission element.

8. A media transport system, comprising:

a transport path;

a media clamp guided by the transport path; and

a drive system to move the media clamp along the transport path,

the drive system comprising;

an endless loop transmission element rotatably supported by the transport path, the media clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element;

a drive gear at one end of the transport path to drive the endless loop transmission element;

a driven gear at an opposite end of the transport path driven by the endless loop transmission element; and

a one-way clutch to allow rotation of the driven gear in one direction and resist rotation of the driven gear in an opposite direction,

the drive system to rotate the endless loop transmission element in the one direction to move the media clamp along the transport path and transport media from the one end of the transport path toward the opposite end of the transport path.

9. The media transport system of claim 8, wherein the one-way clutch includes an inner race mounted on a clutch shaft interlocked with the driven gear and an outer race retained by a clutch holder.

10. The media transport system of claim 8, wherein the drive system includes a drive motor to rotate the endless loop transmission element in the one direction with the drive gear.

11. The media transport system of claim 10, wherein the drive motor is to be operated in reverse, and reverse rotation from the drive motor exceeding a threshold indicates insufficient tension of the endless loop transmission element.

12. A method of operating a media transport system, comprising:

rotating a drive gear in a first direction;

transmitting rotation of the drive gear to a driven gear with an endless loop transmission element engaged with the drive gear and the driven gear, and

allowing rotation of the driven gear in the first direction with a one-way clutch and resisting rotation of the driven gear in a second direction opposite the first direction with the one-way clutch,

wherein rotating the drive gear in the first direction is to transport media toward the driven gear with a clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein rotating the drive gear includes operating a drive motor and transmitting rotation from the drive motor to the drive gear.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reversing operation of the drive motor,

wherein resisting rotation of the driven gear in the second direction includes resisting reverse rotation from the drive motor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining tension of the endless loop transmission element, including reversing operation of the drive motor and measuring reverse rotation from the drive motor,

wherein measuring reverse rotation from the drive motor exceeding a threshold indicates insufficient tension of the endless loop transmission element.