Tape Drive and Method of Operation of a Tape Drive

• US 20140225970A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dover Europe Sarl (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dover Europe Sarl (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Lakin, Phillip, Starkey, Simon, Roberts, Paul Christopher, Gloag, Jonathan Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,272,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/214
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/325 by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 33/14 Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 33/34 driven by motors independently of the machine as a whole

Abstract

A method of controlling tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool and a second spool by a tape drive, the tape drive having a motor control system which includes two DC motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, the tape drive also having two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors, the method including only one tension setting step during a printing operation.

Claims

1. A method of controlling tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool and a second spool by a tape drive, the tape drive having a motor control system which includes two DC motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, the tape drive also having two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors, the method including only one tension setting step during a printing operation.

2. A method of controlling tension in a tape according to claim 1 wherein maintaining the tension in the tape does not include separate steps of measuring tension and correcting tension.

3. A method of controlling tension in a tape according to claim 1 wherein each of the motors is operable in a first control mode and a second control mode, the method including, when the tape is substantially stationary, operating one motor in the first control mode whilst the other motor operates in the second control mode, to maintain tension in the tape.

4. A method of detecting reduction in tension in a tape according to claim 3 including switching the motor which was in the second control mode whilst the tape was stationary into the first control mode to transfer tape between spools.

5. A method of controlling tension in a tape according to claim 1 wherein each printing operation includes a printing phase and a non-printing phase.

6. A method of controlling tension in a tape according to claim 5, wherein the tension is set during a non-printing phase of the printing operation.

7. A method of controlling tension in a tape according to claim 1, wherein the tension is set whilst the tape is stationary.

8. A tape drive for transferring tape between a first spool and a second spool, the tape drive having a motor control system which includes two DC motors, and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, the tape drive also having two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors, wherein the motor control system is operable in accordance with a method according to claim 1.

9. A tape drive according to claim 8 wherein each of the motors is operable in a first control mode and a second control mode.

10. A tape drive according to claim 9 wherein the first control mode is a position control mode.

11. A tape drive according to claim 9 wherein the second control mode is a torque control mode.

12. A tape drive according to claim 9 wherein the controller controls operation of both of the motors such that each motor is switchable between the first control mode and the second control mode.

13. A tape drive according to claim 12 wherein each of the motors has an associated sensor and each sensor enables the controller to determine the position and velocity of a rotor of the respective motor.

14. A tape drive according to claim 12 wherein the switch between the first control mode and the second control mode is a smooth transition.

15. A printing apparatus including a tape drive according to claim 9.

16. A printing apparatus according to claim 15 being a thermal transfer printer.