Adaptable media motor feed system for printing mechanisms
First Claim
1. A method of advancing printable media through a printing mechanism using a variable speed motor, comprising the steps of:
- attempting to advance the media through the printing mechanism with the motor set to run at an initial speed;
detecting whether the motor is able to advance the media through the printing mechanism; and
,whereupon detecting that the motor is unable to advance the media through the printing mechanism with the motor set at said initial speed, repeating the two steps of (i) varying the speed of said motor to run at a slower speed, and (ii) said step of detecting, until the speed is varied to a speed at which said step of detecting detects that the motor is able to advance the media through the printing mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to printing mechanisms, particularly those that use stepper motors to advance paper through the mechanisms. The invention also relates to a method of advancing paper through a printing mechanism. The method involves an iterative sequence for controlling a variable speed motor. Before advancing the paper through the printing mechanism with the motor set to run at an initial speed, a sensor detects whether the motor is able to advance the paper. If the motor is unable to advance the paper, the speed of the motor is varied according to the iterative sequence until the paper is able to advance through the printing mechanism. The invention also relates to a printing mechanism that incorporates the use of such an iterative sequence.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of advancing printable media through a printing mechanism using a variable speed motor, comprising the steps of:
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attempting to advance the media through the printing mechanism with the motor set to run at an initial speed; detecting whether the motor is able to advance the media through the printing mechanism; and
,whereupon detecting that the motor is unable to advance the media through the printing mechanism with the motor set at said initial speed, repeating the two steps of (i) varying the speed of said motor to run at a slower speed, and (ii) said step of detecting, until the speed is varied to a speed at which said step of detecting detects that the motor is able to advance the media through the printing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printing mechanism having a variable speed motor adapted to advance printable media through the printing mechanism, comprising:
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a media sensor for detecting whether the media is advancing through the printing mechanism; and a motor speed controller adapted to vary the speed of the motor in response to an indication from the media sensor; wherein, upon receiving indication from the media sensor that the motor is unable to advance the media through the printing mechanism when the motor is set at a certain speed, said motor speed controller repeatedly incrementally lowers the speed of the motor until it reaches a speed at which the media sensor detects that the motor is able to advance the media through the printing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A media advance system for advancing a media sheet through a printing mechanism, said system comprising:
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a motor for advancing a media sheet through the printing mechanism, said motor initially being set at an initial speed which is proximate the highest speed at which the motor, when it is new, is able to consistently advance media; a media sensor for detecting whether the media sheet is advancing through the printing mechanism; a non-volatile memory which stores a prevailing speed at which the motor was most recently able to advance a media sheet through the printing mechanism; and a motor speed controller adapted to vary the speed of the motor in response to an indication from the media sensor that the motor is unable to advance the media sheet through the printing mechanism with the motor set at a current speed; wherein, upon receiving indication from the media sensor that the motor is unable to advance the media sheet through the printing mechanism with the motor is set at the current speed, said motor speed controller lowers the speed of the motor to the prevailing speed and thereafter incrementally lowers the speed of the motor until it reaches a speed at which the motor is able to advance the media sheet through the printing mechanism.
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Specification