摘要:
A printer device includes a housing (32) that defines an interior space. A platform (36) includes a first position extending along a plane within the interior space for receiving media to be printed with fluid. A mechanism (200) selectively applies a force to the platform (36) to move the platform (36) to a second position at an angle relative to the plane.
摘要:
A sheet media handling system is provided for use in supporting a sheet which has been expelled from an ink-jet printer's output port while ink on a preceding sheet is allowed time to dry. The system employs a guide mechanism with an elongate channel which receives a predetermined side edge of an expelled sheet. The channel is provided with an elongate first channel segment which extends in substantially parallel fashion with a generally horizontal media outflow axis, and an elongate second channel segment which turns upwardly and inwardly from the first channel segment, thereby establishing a sheet-stiffening bow in the expelled sheet.
摘要:
A method and apparatus is achieved for creating or restoring a high friction surface to a drive roller 52. Abrasive pads 12 define a scrubbing surface for acting upon a media roller's surface 54-58. As the roller's surface is scrubbed, creping occurs which increases the surface's coefficient of friction, and more particularly, the coefficient of friction between the roller and media sheet ("COF(rm)"). In one embodiment, the creping apparatus is formed by a pair of plates 16, 18 hinged along one edge 30 and open along an opposite edge 28. A spring 19 is positioned between the plates biasing the plates apart at the open end. One or more abrasive pads are attached to the outer surface of one plate 18. The spring is selected to provide a specific biasing force. To create or restore a high friction surface, the apparatus 10 is positioned adjacent to the roller 52. By approximately defining the force applied between the roller 52 and abrasive pads 12 and by using an abrasive pad of known grit, initially surface contaminants, if any, are scrubbed from the roller surface 54-58. As the scrubbing continues, the elastomer surface 54-58 begins to fatigue. Small pieces of rubber tear from the surface while scrubbing the fatigued surface. After several minutes of operation, the scrubbing action generates a creped surface having an increased coefficient of friction.
摘要:
An apparatus for use as part of an inkjet printer to clear an ink drop stalagmite in the printer. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a clearing device coupled to an access door of the inkjet printer, wherein upon operation of the access door the clearing device at least partially clears the ink drop stalagmite.
摘要:
A multi-purpose, transmissive paper sensor includes a light beam projector and light detector having an analog output signal. Changes in the output signal from an open loop condition indicate the presences of at least one print medium being in the field-of-view of the sensor. Output signals indicative of print media leading edge, trailing edge, and number of sheets interrupting the light beam provide improved print media transport control for hard copy apparatus.
摘要:
A printer in which a single pinch roller serves the dual function of a pinch roller cooperating with the drive roller to feed paper to the printing zone, and a carriage guide to guide movement of the printhead carriage. This roller automatically properly references the printhead to the printing surface, regardless of paper thickness. The printhead carriage, which is pivotally mounted to a carriage guide rod, rests in contact with and rides along the roller. Preferably, the center of gravity of the printhead carriage is spaced from the carriage guide rod and is disposed above the pinch roller, and the pinch roller is spaced from the carriage guide rod, so that the printhead carriage is preloaded into continual contact with the carriage guide rod. The carriage guide rod may be disposed either on the same side of the printhead carriage as the pinch roller, or on the opposite side of the carriage from the pinch roller.
摘要:
Method and apparatus are provided for moving perforated continuous paper (10) through a dual axis printer (12), with both axes (14, 30) driven, while regulating the feed with the perforations and maintaining a controlled tension (38a) in the paper between the two driven axes. The novel approach in this invention is the addition of a set of spring-loaded friction surfaces (56a-62a), incorporated into a gear transmission (50), which limit the amount of torque which can be transmitted to the unregulated drive axis, with the direct effect of controlling the tension in the paper between the two axes.In order to create this tension, the unregulated axis is driven at a slightly greater speed than the regulated axis (with speed measured in terms of inches of paper per revolution of the driven gear (20)). In normal operation, the slack in the paper is taken up, to the point at which the tension is at the correct level, and then enough slip occurs at the friction surfaces to drive the same amount of paper at both the regulated drive (16) and unregulated drive (32). The unregulated drive is only overdriven slightly (e.g., about 0.2%) to allow accurate feeding of single sheets (which are not driven by the regulated drive). This slight overdrive requires only minimal slip at the friction surfaces when driving continuous paper and thus keeps the amount of wear small.
摘要:
A multi-purpose, transmissive paper sensor includes a light beam projector and light detector having an analog output signal. Changes in the output signal from an open loop condition indicate the presences of at least one print medium being in the field-of-view of the sensor. Output signals indicative of print media leading edge, trailing edge, and number of sheets interrupting the light beam provide improved print media transport control for hard copy apparatus.
摘要:
An ink jet printing system with a pen body having a first chamber and a second chamber. A print head on the pen body is connected to the second chamber, and an ink-transmissive barrier separates the second chamber from the first chamber. A pump is connected to the pen body in communication with the first chamber, and operates to generate a positive pressure in the first chamber to motivate ink from the first chamber, through the barrier, and into the second chamber. An ink supply cartridge may be provided that removably connects to the pen body, and which has openings in registration with corresponding openings in the pen body into the first and second chambers, respectively. A sliding shutter or other valve may be provided on each of the pen body and the cartridge to close the openings when the cartridge is removed from the pen body. An actuator portion of the cartridge may operate to engage the pump upon installation of the cartridge, and to displace any gas bubble from the second chamber to the supply cartridge; upon disengagement of the cartridge, the actuator may release the pump, drawing ink from the cartridge into the first chamber.