Print roll unit provided with pinch rollers and a drive roller

• US 7,588,329 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US12/019,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20080152414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/104, 347/108, 347/218, 355/18, 355/47, 358/296
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A print roll unit with a housing comprising a first cover portion attached to a second cover portion, the housing including a slot. A longitudinally extending core is rotatably mounted inside the housing and an ink supply is contained within the core. A substantially cylindrical former is positioned about the core and a roll of print media is wound about the former. At least two pinch rollers are arranged with respect to a drive roller so that a de-curling force is imparted to the print media as the print media exits the housing via the slot.

Claims

1. A print roll unit comprising:

a housing comprising a first cover portion attached to a second cover portion, the housing including a slot;

a longitudinally extending core rotatably mounted inside the housing;

an ink supply contained within the core;

a substantially cylindrical former positioned about the core;

a roll of print media wound about the former; and

,

at least two pinch rollers arranged with respect to a drive roller so that a de-curling force is imparted to the print media as the print media exits the housing via the slot.

2. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core includes an ink outlet at one end to establish fluid communication between the ink supply and an external printhead.

3. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ink supply includes a plurality of elongate compartments for storing different coloured inks.

4. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive roller mechanically engages an external drive motor so as to be rotated and thereby transport the print media from the roll of print media to the slot.

5. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive roller has a geared axle that extends beyond the housing for engagement with the external drive motor via a corresponding gear.

6. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cover portion and the second cover portion include complementary formations to enable the cover portions to be snap-fitted together.

7. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot is provided as a slot in one of the cover portions.

8. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pinch rollers are passive rollers.

9. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive roller is mounted to the first cover portion and the pinch rollers are mounted to the second cover portion.

10. The print roll unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pinch rollers are snap fitted to formations defined by the housing.

11. A camera comprising a print roll unit as claimed in claim 1 and a printer in fluid communication with the core and configured to print captured images on the print media with ink stored in the core.