Typewriting machines – Sheet or web – For feeding web record-medium
Patent
1984-02-17
1985-10-22
Sewell, Paul T.
Typewriting machines
Sheet or web
For feeding web record-medium
400 48, 400636, 400641, 400619, B41J 1303
Patent
active
045485232
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to printing or typing equipment involved in the use of the pressure process of dry transfer impression onto an image carrying tape. Specifically, this invention is directed to a mechanism for handling the tape.
CROSS REFERENCE
This application hereby incorporates by reference the disclosure of our co-pending applications filed on even date herewith the following titles:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of commercial art, there is a significant need for a simple means of tranferring prefabricated letters or characters to a "paste up" sheet for later photographing or printing. A dry rub-on transfer letter process is well known. However, these materials are supplied in sheets and the transfer must be made very carefully to produce carefully aligned and spaced images. Machines were later developed which prepared such letters on a continuous tape and this solved many of the aligment problems. An example of such machine is shown in PCT publication No. WO82/03600 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,912,064 and 4,243,333. Since the paste up may be used in an enlargement with high resolution printing, the spacing of the characters must be accurately controlled. Even small errors in spacing or kerning would be very apparent upon enlargement.
Prior art devices provide mechanical means for advancing the tape, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,800,195 and 3,768,619. Unfortuntely, wear of the mechanism over time will cause slight changes in the forward incrementation of the tape and accuracy will not be maintained. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a simple electromechanical system which uses a minimum of precision parts yet maintains constant tape feed incrementation even after the replacement of parts.
Furthermore, it is also essential to have a reliable tape holding mechanism to insure that the characters will be perfectly aligned in their vertical orientation. In addition, this alignment means must be capable of releasing the tape rapidly so that an automated printing mechanism can produce a stream of characters without impediment. The present invention also provides for such a tape guiding mechanism particularly well suited to automated printing machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a tape feed mechanism for incrementally feeding an image-carrying tape through a printing station, including a first generally incompressible roller aligned to advance the image-carrying tape; a second roller, parallel and adjacent to the first roller, for biasing the tape against the first roller; means for releasably biasing the rollers in contact with each other to engage the tape therebetween, the second roller having side edges including circumferential and generally incompressible surface having a circumferential recess therein between the edges, at least one compressible O-ring being fitted onto said recess so that first roller and O-ring contact the tape when the biasing means in engaged. According to another aspect of the invention, a tape feed mechanism for incrementally feeding an image-carrying tape through a printing station is disclosed having a stationary guide member affixed to a support having a longitudinal recess sized to receive the tape, the guide being positioned in the printing station, a second guide member being pivotally mounted adjacent the stationary guide and having hold down fingers operable to overlie the tape when it is in the recess and to be pivotally liftable from the tape.
Various advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part thereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D
REFERENCES:
patent: 1800195 (1931-04-01), Porter et al.
patent: 2909341 (1959-10-01), Kingsley
patent: 3042179 (1962-07-01), Stern
patent: 3768619 (1973-10-01), Lewis
patent: 3952652 (1976-04-01), Hamisch, Jr.
patent: 4015700 (1977-04-01), Paque
patent: 4243333 (1981-01-01), Bradshaw et al.
IBM Tech. Disc. Bulletin, by M. K. Bullock, vol. 22, No. 6, Nov. 1979, pp. 2230-2231, 400-636.
McGourty Lawrence F.
McGourty Thomas K.
Sewell Paul T.
Varitronic Systems, Inc.
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