Media guidance system for a scanning system
First Claim
1. In an optical scanner including a media support surface and a media loading system for directing a supply of recording media onto said media support surface during a media loading procedure, a media guidance system comprising:
- means for guiding said recording media against said media support surface during said media loading procedure;
means for positioning said guiding means a predetermined distance away from said media support surface, thereby forming a gap through which said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure;
wherein said media support surface includes an exit aperture toward which a leading end of said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure, and wherein said media guidance system further includes means for flattening the leading end of said recording media against said media recording surface at said exit aperture to prevent the leading end of said recording media from jamming at said exit aperture.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A media guidance system for substantially reducing media jamming as the leading (head) end of a web of recording media is directed over the drum surface of an internal drum type laser imagesetter during a media loading procedure. The media guidance system includes a hollow shield, at least one outrigger extending laterally away from the hollow shield, and at least one retractable plate assembly for selectively applying a pressure load against the leading end of the recording media as it approaches the exit aperture of the internal drum.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In an optical scanner including a media support surface and a media loading system for directing a supply of recording media onto said media support surface during a media loading procedure, a media guidance system comprising:
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means for guiding said recording media against said media support surface during said media loading procedure; means for positioning said guiding means a predetermined distance away from said media support surface, thereby forming a gap through which said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure; wherein said media support surface includes an exit aperture toward which a leading end of said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure, and wherein said media guidance system further includes means for flattening the leading end of said recording media against said media recording surface at said exit aperture to prevent the leading end of said recording media from jamming at said exit aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for guiding a supply of recording media onto a media support surface of an optical scanner, including the steps of:
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directing a leading end of the recording media toward an exit aperture of said media support surface during a media loading procedure; and preventing the leading edge of said recording media from lifting away from said media support surface at said exit aperture by providing a plate member and removably sandwiching said plate member against the leading end of said recording media at said exit aperture, said plate member and said media support surface forming a gap through which said recording media is directed during said media loading procedure.
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10. A media guidance system for a scanning system, said scanning system including a drum for supporting a supply of recording media, a media transport system for displacing a leading end of said recording media onto said drum toward an exit aperture, a scanning laser mechanism for directing a scanning laser beam toward said drum, and a hollow shield for enclosing said scanning laser beam, comprising:
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means, mounted to a distal end section of said hollow shield, for preventing a first portion of said recording media, adjacent said hollow shield, from lifting away from said drum as said media transport system displaces the leading end of said recording media toward said exit aperture during a media loading procedure; at least one projecting member, extending transversely away from said hollow shield, for preventing a second portion as said recording media from lifting away from said drum; and means for flattening the leading end of said recording media against said drum at said exit aperture to prevent the leading end of said recording media from jamming at said exit aperture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In an optical scanner including a media support surface and a media loading system for directing a supply of recording media onto said media support surface during a media loading procedure, a media guidance system comprising:
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a guide assembly for directing said recording media against said media support surface during said media loading procedure; and a device for positioning said guide assembly a predetermined distance away from said media support surface, thereby forming a gap through which said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure; wherein, during said media loading procedure, a leading end of said recording media passes through an entrance aperture of said scanner, passes over the surface of said media support surface through said gap, and passes into an exit aperture of said scanner, said guide assembly extending across a portion of said media support surface between the entrance and exit apertures of said scanner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical scanner comprising:
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a media support surface; a media loading system for directing a supply of recording media onto said media support surface during a media loading procedure; a media guidance system including a guide assembly for directing said recording media against said media support surface during said media loading procedure, and a device for positioning said guide assembly a predetermined distance away from said media support surface; and
,a scanning laser mechanism for producing a scanning laser beam, wherein said positioning device includes a hollow shield for enclosing said scanning laser beam; wherein said media support surface is a drum having a given surface curvature, and wherein a distal end section of said guide assembly has a curvature corresponding to the surface curvature of said drum, said positioning device positioning the distal end section of said guide assembly a predetermined distance away from said media support surface forming a gap through which said recording media is directed during said media loading procedure. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A media guidance system for an optical scanner, said optical scanner including a media support surface and a media loading system for directing a supply of recording media onto said media support surface during a media loading procedure, comprising:
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a guide assembly for directing said recording media against said media support surface during said media loading procedure; and a device for positioning said guide assembly a predetermined distance away from said media support surface, thereby forming a first gap through which said recording media is directed by said media loading system during said media loading procedure; wherein said media support surface includes an exit aperture toward which a leading end of said recording media is directed during said media loading procedure, and wherein said guide assembly includes an assembly for directing the leading end of said recording media against said media recording surface adjacent said exit aperture, said directing assembly including at least one plate member, and a system for selectively applying said at least one plate member against the leading end of the recording media, forming a second gap through which said recording media is directed during said media loading procedure. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification