Ribbon tensioning mechanisms
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Identity document processing equipment, comprising:
- a document processing mechanism configured to process an identity document by performing a processing operation on the identity document;
a supply roll containing consumable ribbon to be used by the document processing mechanism;
a motor in driving engagement with the supply roll to rotate the supply roll;
a take-up roll for taking up used ribbon;
a ribbon path along which the ribbon travels between the supply roll and the take-up roll and to the document processing mechanism;
a plurality of ribbon guides guiding the ribbon along the ribbon path, wherein one of the ribbon guides is mounted so as to be movable to change the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, and a resilient member is connected to the ribbon to apply a generally constant tension to the ribbon, and the movable ribbon guide is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll,the movable ribbon guide comprises a guide mounted on an arm that is pivotally mounted adjacent to, and generally away from a central axis of, the supply roll so that the arm can pivot relative to the supply roll, and the resilient member is connected to the arm, andwherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon guides is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the ribbon guide that is mounted to be movable.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Identity document processing equipment with a mechanism designed to maintain tension in a ribbon used in a processing operation in the processing equipment. The tension maintaining mechanism is separate from the supply roll and the take-up roll for the ribbon, eliminating the need for clutches or brakes attached to the supply or take-up rolls to achieve tensioning. Since the tension maintaining mechanism is separate from the supply roll and the take-up roll, the inertia of the supply roll or the take-up roll does not affect the tension on the ribbon during use of the processing equipment.
39 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. Identity document processing equipment, comprising:
-
a document processing mechanism configured to process an identity document by performing a processing operation on the identity document; a supply roll containing consumable ribbon to be used by the document processing mechanism; a motor in driving engagement with the supply roll to rotate the supply roll; a take-up roll for taking up used ribbon; a ribbon path along which the ribbon travels between the supply roll and the take-up roll and to the document processing mechanism; a plurality of ribbon guides guiding the ribbon along the ribbon path, wherein one of the ribbon guides is mounted so as to be movable to change the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, and a resilient member is connected to the ribbon to apply a generally constant tension to the ribbon, and the movable ribbon guide is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, the movable ribbon guide comprises a guide mounted on an arm that is pivotally mounted adjacent to, and generally away from a central axis of, the supply roll so that the arm can pivot relative to the supply roll, and the resilient member is connected to the arm, and wherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon guides is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the ribbon guide that is mounted to be movable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. Identity document processing equipment, comprising:
-
a document processing mechanism configured to process an identity document by performing a processing operation on the identity document; a supply roll containing consumable ribbon to be used by the document processing mechanism; a motor in driving engagement with the supply roll to rotate the supply roll; a take-up roll for taking up used ribbon; a ribbon path along which the ribbon travels between the supply roll and the take-up roll and to the document processing mechanism; a plurality of ribbon guides guiding the ribbon along the ribbon path, wherein one of the ribbon guides is mounted so as to be movable to change the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, and a resilient member is connected to the ribbon to apply a generally constant tension to the ribbon, and the movable ribbon guide is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, wherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon guides is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the ribbon guide that is mounted to be movable, and wherein the movable ribbon guide comprises a guide mounted on a slide that is mounted for linear movement in a direction parallel to the ribbon path past the document processing mechanism and the resilient member is connected to the slide. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of maintaining tension in a ribbon in identity document processing equipment having a document processing mechanism configured to process an identity document by performing a processing operation on the identity document, the method comprising:
-
providing a movable ribbon guide in a ribbon path between a supply roll supplying the ribbon and a take-up roll, the movable ribbon guide being engaged with the ribbon, wherein the ribbon is stationary during the processing operation, and wherein the movable ribbon guide is stationary during the processing operation; providing a fixed ribbon guide in the ribbon path between the movable guide ribbon and the supply roll, the fixed ribbon guide being engaged with the ribbon; applying a resilient bias to the ribbon to apply a generally constant tension to the ribbon; and after a processing operation, rotating the supply roll using a motor in driving engagement with the supply roll. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of tracking usage of a consumable ribbon in identity document processing equipment having a document processing mechanism configured to process identity documents by performing processing operations on the identity documents that use the consumable ribbon, the method comprising:
-
providing a movable ribbon guide in a ribbon path between a supply roll supplying the ribbon and the document processing mechanism, the movable ribbon guide being engaged with the ribbon and which moves as the ribbon is used in the processing operation; after a processing operation, determining the amount of ribbon remaining based at least in part on the extent of movement of the movable ribbon guide; and storing information on the amount of the ribbon remaining in a radio frequency identification tag disposed in the identity document processing equipment; and after a subsequent processing operation, determining a new amount of ribbon remaining based at least in part on the extent of movement of the movable ribbon guide, and storing information on the new amount of ribbon remaining in the radio frequency identification tag. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification