Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Tension control or brake – Supply controlled
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-03-20
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Tension control or brake
Supply controlled
C400S642000, C400S619000, C400S633000, C347S153000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202954
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a media tracking guide, and more particularly, relates to a media tracking guide used to guide the transport of printing media in a printing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern printers, a variety of feed and take-up mechanisms are required to be driven and/or wound in order to transport printing media, ribbon, backings, etc. In most applications, these feed and take-up mechanisms require tensioning structure to maintain a desired amount of tension on the transport system and printing media in order to minimize or eliminate roll out or jamming and provide smooth transport of the printing media. One structure used in the art to provide tension is a clutch mechanism. Such a mechanism typically includes a friction plate intended to impart a predetermined torque to the feed and/or take-up mechanisms during operation. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,690. Although adequate for their intended function, these clutch mechanisms are typically expensive, require several assembly and adjustment steps to insure proper operation and cannot be removed or disabled when desired.
Another form of supplying tension to printing media as it is transported across printing mechanisms is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,460. In that system, fan-fold type printing media is kept at a continuous proper tension by sprocket wheels and pins which are aligned with perforations located along outer edges of the fan-fold printing media. While this system was adequate and inexpensive, it required that the printing media contain perforations which added to the cost of the printing media.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks of previously known printing media guides, it would be desirable to provide a printing media guide which effectively provides a bi-directional tracking force along printing media as it is fed along the transport of a printing apparatus. In addition, a need exists in the art for a simple and versatile media tracking guide which is easily installed and removed from a printing apparatus and configurable for different types and sizes of printing media particularly of the fan-fold type. A need also exists for a media tracking guide which can provide positive tracking forces to printing media which is not dispensed from a media hub within a printing apparatus but preferably, from a source that is outside the printing apparatus such as an independent roller hub or source of fan-fold media.
Accordingly, the present disclosure obviates the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a media tracking guide, which is simple in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, easily installed and removed and capable of providing positive tracking of printing media supplied to a printing apparatus.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure is directed to a media tracking guide mechanism for guiding the transport of printing media in a printing apparatus. The media tracking guide mechanism is designed to provide positive tracking forces to print media of various types passing through the guide as the print media is supplied to a printing apparatus.
Accordingly, a print media tracking guide for providing positive tracking of print media passing through a printing apparatus is disclosed. The print media tracking guide preferably includes a guide housing configured and dimensioned for mounting along a hub portion of a printing apparatus and an armature rotatably coupled to the guide housing. The guide housing includes a core member having a print media transport path along an outer peripheral portion thereof and an overhang support positioned in a spaced relationship from the core member. The overhang support includes a slotted area for receiving the lever component as well as the print media therethrough. The core member and overhang support are rigidly coupled to a flange portion along a common side thereof. The armature is coupled by a spring member and is equipped with a head member and associated lever component for selectively biasing the head member against the guide housing. Preferably, the head member includes a roller for providing tracking forces along the print media transport path of the core member.
In another preferred embodiment, a print media tracking guide for providing positive tracking of print media is disclosed as including a guide housing having a central core member configured and dimensioned for mounting along a hub of a printing apparatus. The guide housing further includes an overhang support wherein the core member and overhang support are in a spaced relationship from one another and define a print media transport path therebetween wherein the print media transport path includes a portion of an outer peripheral portion of the core member. A flange projection is coupled to the core member and overhang support along a common side thereof. An armature is rotatably coupled to the guide housing and includes a roller head member and a lever component for selectively biasing the roller head member against the guide housing. The overhang support further includes a slotted area for receiving the lever component and the print media therethrough.
Preferably, the core member of the print media tracking guide includes ribbed sections and is mounted to the hub of the printing apparatus by frictional forces between the core member and the hub. Also, the bias of the roller head member against the print media transported over the print media transport path of the core member is accomplished by a spring member coupled to both the armature and guide housing.
In addition, the present disclosure discloses a method of providing positive traction to print media. The method includes providing a media tracking guide having a guide housing configured and dimensioned for mounting along a hub of a printing apparatus and an armature rotatably coupled to the guide housing wherein the armature includes a head member selectively positionable against the guide housing. The method further includes mounting the media tracking guide to the hub of the printing apparatus and loading print media through the media tracking guide including insertion of the print media between the head member of the armature and the guide housing.
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Christensen Christopher
Colonel Kenneth
Tobin Dwayne
Datamax Corporation
Dilworth & Barrese LLP
Walsh Donald P.
Webb Collin A.
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