摘要:
A printer has a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A valve sheet overlays or underlies the platen, and includes a plurality of shut-off elements, each movable in response to temperature changes between a closed position in which the element contacts a portion of the platen to prevent air flow through that portion of the platen, and an open position, in which the element is spaced apart from the platen to admit air to the platen portion. The shut off elements may include resistive heaters and bimetallic strips so that application of electricity generates heat to flex the strip to an open position.
摘要:
A printer has a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A valve sheet overlays or underlies the platen, and includes a plurality of shut-off elements, each movable in response to temperature changes between a closed position in which the element contacts a portion of the platen to prevent air flow through that portion of the platen, and an open position, in which the element is spaced apart from the platen to admit air to the platen portion. The shut off elements may include resistive heaters and bimetallic strips, so that application of electricity generates heat to flex the strip to an open position.
摘要:
In one example, an encoding station of a printing system forms a pattern of non-printed features onto flowing print media. The non-printed features are detected, and timing signals generated from the detected features. The timing signals cause the media to be printed at a desired resolution in the direction of the flow.
摘要:
An ink jet printing system that includes a print media strip dispenser that advances a strip of test print media through a test print zone and then through a detect zone. Test dots are printed on a test portion of the strip of print media that is in the test print zone, and such test portion is then advanced to the detect zone for detection by an optical detector. Pursuant to such test print media strip advance, another test portion of the media strip is advanced into the test print zone and ready for printing of further test dots. By way of specific implementation, the print media strip dispenser comprises a cassette that includes a supply reel on which an elongated strip of unprinted test print media has been wound and a take-up reel for taking up and winding the elongated strip of print media as it is advanced.
摘要:
A print media detection system for use in a printing device is disclosed. An embodiment of the print media detection system includes a source configured to transmit a light signal and a sensor configured to detect the light signal and generate an electrical signal in response to the light signal, the electrical signal having a magnitude that increases up to a substantially constant value as an intensity of the light signal from the source increases. The sensor is also configured to generate the electrical signal with a first magnitude for a transparent print media through which the light signal from the source travels to the sensor. The sensor is further configured to generate the electrical signal with a second magnitude less than the first magnitude for nontransparent print media positioned in a path of the light signal from the source to the sensor. A printing device including the print media detection system is also disclosed. A method of detecting transparent and nontransparent print media for use in a printing device is additionally disclosed. Further characteristics and features of the print media detection system, printing device, and method are described herein, as are examples of various alternative embodiments.
摘要:
The present invention relates to Ink Level Detection in a Pressure Regulated Pen. A liquid level detector for a liquid containment device, such as an ink-jet pen, provides a signal indicative of a lowering level of liquid in the containment device. In exemplary embodiments, a refillable or replaceable ink reservoir supplies ink to the printhead of the pen under pressure. Electrical or electromagnetic devices are used individually or in combination with a pressure regulator apparatus to sense a back pressure in the containment device after the reservoir has gone dry to trigger a signal indicating a low or out-of-ink condition.
摘要:
A print media level sensor and method for determining a height of a stack of print media for use in printing devices are disclosed. An embodiment of a print media level sensor includes a print media stack follower configured to contact a top of a stack of print media and remain in contact with the top as a height of the stack changes. The print media stack follower also includes encoded data representative of a plurality of heights of the stack of print media. The print media level sensor additionally includes a decoder configured to read encoded data on the print media stack follower and output a signal representative of the encoded data. The print media stack follower may further include a computing device that receives the signal representative of the encoded data from the computing device and converts the signal representative of the encoded data into a signal representative of the stack height. An embodiment of a method includes tracking a height of a stack of print media via a print media stack follower and encoding data representing a plurality of different stack heights via the print media stack follower. The method additionally includes decoding the encoded data and generating a signal representative of the encoded data. The method may further include converting the signal representative of the encoded data into a signal representative of the height of the stack. Further characteristics and features of this apparatus and method are disclosed herein, as are exemplary alternative embodiments.
摘要:
A media handling system having an endless belt which carries a media sheet through a print zone achieves improved media advance accuracy by including closed loop feedback control. The position of either a drive shaft which rotates the endless belt or the endless belt itself is monitored to provide feedback to a drive motor. The drive motor is linked to the drive shaft through a gear train. The endless belt is rotated by the drive shaft, either directly, or through rollers mounted to the drive shaft.
摘要:
A shuttling media movement system moves media in a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, a facsimile machine or a multi-function device. The shuttling media movement system has a first member with a first set of fingers for periodically supporting the media, and a second member having a second set of fingers for periodically supporting the media. A motor drive is coupled to the second member to periodically interleave the second set of fingers into and out of engagement with the first set of fingers to move the media with respect to the first member in the interaction zone. Vacuum forces or electrostatic forces are used to periodically grip the media against the sets of fingers. A hardcopy device is provided with such a shuttling media movement system, along with a method for moving media in an interaction zone of a hardcopy device.