Multi-media printer including paper path sensors

• US 7,116,343 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Codonics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Codonics Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Joseph, Bias, James, Tainer, Christopher, Patton, Owen, Colbrunn, Robert, Botten, Peter, Srnka, Lawrence, Roach, Kevin, Adam, Peter, Dzodzo, Vladimir, Lab, Eric, Somos, Neal, Rahe, Donald, Kolberg, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HUAN HUU
• Application Number:
  US10/998,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 347/218
• US Class Current: 347/218
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0075 Low-paper indication, i.e. indicating the state when copy material has been used up nearly or completely
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/008 Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/42 Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/485 Means for selecting a type of copy material amongst different types of copy material in the printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/009 Diverting sheets at a section where at least two sheet conveying paths converge, e.g. by a movable switching guide that blocks access to one conveying path and guides the sheet to another path, e.g. when a sheet conveying direction is reversed after printing on the front of the sheet has been finished and the sheet is guided to a sheet turning path for printing on the back
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/03 driven, e.g. feed rollers separate from platen
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

A printer capable of transferring images to different types of media is disclosed. Media sheets of different sizes and types may be dispensed through a single input path to a print station including a printhead and a platen. The printhead is adapted for transferring images to media using either a direct thermal or dye diffusion process. A capstan roller, platen roller, picker assemblies and kicker assemblies are driven by a single motor, allowing for substantial cost and space savings. Other features are directed to improving the quality of images using the direct thermal and dye diffusion processes.

Claims

1. A printer for transferring images to media sheets using a direct thermal process, comprising:

a print station including a printhead, the printhead thermally transferring images to the media sheets;

a capstan and pinch roller combination for translating the media sheets in a forward direction through the print station in response to a torque applied to the capstan and pinch roller combination;

a platen roller for translating the media sheets in both a backward direction and a forward direction; and

a clutch to drive the platen roller to translate the media in the backward direction, to then drive the platen roller to translate the media sheets in a forward direction as the printhead thermally transfers a blackened border on the leading edge of the media sheets, and to stop driving the clutch once the media sheets are translated back to the capstan and pinch roller combination.

2. A printer for transferring images to media sheets using a direct thermal process, each media sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the printer comprising:

a print station including a printhead and a platen for receiving media sheets translated through an input path, the printhead thermally transferring images to the media sheets leaving an unprinted border on at least the leading edge of the media sheets; and

a capstan and pinch roller combination for translating the media sheets in a forward direction through the print station in response to a torque applied to the capstan,

wherein the platen roller, in response to a torque applied thereto, translates media sheets in the forward direction while the printhead blackens the border at the leading edge.

3. A printer for transferring an image to a media sheet, the media sheet having a first side edge and a second side edge, the printer comprising:

a print station including a printhead and a platen for receiving the media sheet translated through an input path;

a capstan and pinch roller combination for translating the media sheet through the print station to an output path; and

a sensor in the output path positioned to detect a first side edge of the media sheet while the media sheet is being translated through the output path, said sensor producing output indicating a lateral alignment of the media sheet relative to the printhead.

4. The printer according to claim 3, the printer including a light source positioned in the output path for transmitting light energy to the sensor where the sensor includes a plurality of light sensitive elements, and a printer controller for determining the lateral alignment of the media sheet in the output path relative to the printhead based upon the light energy from the light source received at the light sensitive elements as the media sheet is translated over the sensor.

5. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer is capable of direct thermal printing, the printhead thermally transfers an image to the media sheet within a first border of the first edge, and the printer controller controls the printhead to blacken the first border while maintaining the image transferred to the media sheet based upon the detected lateral alignment of the media sheet.

6. The printer according to claim 3, the printer including a light source for transmitting light energy across the output path to the sensor, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of light sensitive elements for receiving the light energy and circuitry for detecting a difference in the light energy received by said light sensitive elements.

9. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the printer controller controls the printhead to blacken a second border of the second side edge while maintaining the image transferred to the media sheet.

7. A printer for transferring images to a media sheet, said media sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the printer comprising:

a print station including a printhead and a platen for receiving said media sheet translated through an input path, the printhead thermally transferring images to the media sheet;

a capstan and pinch roller combination for translating said media sheet from the print station through an output path; and

a sensor in the output path at a known distance from the printhead for detecting the leading edge of the media sheet when translated in the output path,

wherein the printhead thermally blackens the trailing edge of the media sheet after the printhead thermally transfers the images to a media sheet.

8. A method of transferring images to media sheets using a direct thermal process, comprising:

translating a media sheet from a picker assembly to a capstan and pinch roller combination causing the media sheet to move in a forward direction;

registering the media sheet to create proper alignment in the capstan and pinch roller combination;

applying a torque from a clutch to drive a platen roller in a reverse direction, wherein the driving of the platen roller causes the media sheet to move in the reverse direction;

applying a torque from the clutch to drive the platen roller in the forward direction and printing a blackened border on a top margin of the media sheet;

stopping the clutch from driving the platen roller when the media sheet is translated to the capstan and pinch roller combination, the capstan and pinch roller combination translating the media sheet in a forward direction; and

printing an image on the media sheet as the capstan and pinch roller combination translates the media sheet in the forward direction.

10. A printer for transferring an image to a media sheet, the media sheet having a first side edge and a second side edge, the printer comprising:

a print station including a printhead and a platen for receiving the media sheet translated through an input path;

a capstan and pinch roller combination for translating the media sheet through the print station to an output path;

a transmitter to transmit light across the output path;

a receiver to receive the light across the output path; and

a pair of polarizers and a wave retarding filter, the pair of polarizers and the wave retarding filter being positioned between the transmitter and receiver, wherein

the wave retarding filter and the pair of polarizers filter the transmitted light to adjust light energy received by the receiver to allow the receiver to detect the first side edge of the media sheet.

11. The printer of claim 10, wherein the media sheet is a transparent media sheet.

12. The printer of claim 10, wherein the media sheet is an opaque media sheet.