Multifunctional cassette with web brake for a printer

• US 4,764,041 A
• Filed: 01/23/1987
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bierhoff, Waltherus C. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiecking, David
• Application Number:
  US07/008,110
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 400/208, 400/234, 400/236, 400/236.1, 400/236.2, 400/613, 400/618, 400/611, 40/471, 40/518, 188/65.1, 188/82.8, 188/82.84, 188/136, 226/127, 226/128, 226/147, 226/149, 226/151, 242/75.2, 242/75.4, 242/99, 242/198
• US Class Current: 400/618
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/58 Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 17/32 Detachable carriers or holders for impression-transfer material mechanism

Abstract

A multifunctional cassette (1) for a printer (131), in which the cassette (1) that can be arranged in the printer (131) is provided with first, second and third chambers (31, 35, 37). The second chamber (35) and the first chamber (31) can accommodate a supply reel (59) and a takeup reel (57), respectively, for transport of a color transfer strip (55) past the printing head (143), while the third chamber (37) can comprise a supply of a data strip (41) to be transported along the printing head (143). Pins (103, 105) brake the web when the cassette is not in the printer. Whether using or not using the first and second chambers (31, 35), the multifunctional use of the cassette (1) becomes possible for different types of printers, such as black-and-white printers and color printers.

Claims

1. A multifunctional cassette for a printer comprising a first chamber in which a cylindrical take-up reel can be journalled for rotation on an axis and a second chamber in which a cylindrical supply reel can be journalled for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said take-up reel, said cassette including a window which is located between the first and the second chambers and extends from a first cassette side to an opposite second cassette side thereby forming an opening in the cassette which is accessible from outside said cassette on each of said two sides, said cassette also including a third chamber for storing a data strip with a flat surface and two side edges and a releasable brake means for said data strip, said brake means being accessible for release through said window, said brake means including an elongated pin located at each side edge of said data strip stored in said third chamber, each said pin having a frictional surface, each said pin for engaging with its frictional surface said data strip stored in said third chamber along a narrow border on the flat surface thereof along an associated side edge.

2. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third chamber is located between said window and said second chamber, said third chamber having a supply of a fold-up data strip which projects to the outside of said cassette through said window.

3. A cassette as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said elongated pin is associated with a spring and a slide which is movable by compressing said spring, each said slide being connected to its associated elongated pin.

4. A cassette as claimed in claim 2 wherein a take-up reel is rotatably journalled in said first chamber and a supply reel is rotatably journalled in said second chamber, said second chamber having a supply of a transfer strip which is guided past said window from said supply reel to said take-up reel in a take-up direction wherein a stretching device is coupled to said supply reel for stretching said transfer strip and a blocking device prevents said take-up reel from turning in a direction opposite to said take-up direction.

5. A cassette as claimed in claim 4 wherein said take-up reel includes a gear wheel which is accessible through an opening in the cassette.

6. A cassette as claimed in claim 4 wherein a shaft is secured to said supply reel and said stretching device is a frictional coupling which comprises a helical spring slipped over said shaft secured to said supply reel, said helical spring having a first end bearing on a wall in said cassette and a second end, said shaft having a first part and a second part, said first part having a comparatively large diameter for engaging said helical spring on its inner side, said second part of said shaft having a comparatively smaller diameter than said first part whereby said second part is out of engagement with the inner diameter of said helical spring.