Patents Assigned to Howtek, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4591281
    Abstract: A sheet-feed mechanism (10) for a rotary print head (12) includes a track (16) that defines a paper path in the form of a partial circular annulus. Belts (40 and 42) carry tabs (36, 38, 72, and 74) that support the lower end of a paper sheet, and movement of the belt causes the tabs to raise the paper sheet as it is printed. A guide structure (60) keeps the paper sheet in the proper cylindrical shape until it has left the track, at which time a curved portion (67) of a cam post (66) urges the paper out so that it pops open to a flat shape and falls into a tray (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Howtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Howard, Richard R. Helinski, John R. Larsen, Herbert E. Menhennett