By Pin-feed Means (e.g., Reciprocating Pin, Etc.) Patents (Class 400/616)
  • Patent number: 11160692
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an article including an absorbent body includes: first and second rolls, in cooperation with each other, for trimming a continuous laminate to be the absorbent body so as to successively form the narrowed portions along the continuous laminate; a third roll for rotating in contact with the second roll to receive the continuous laminate from the second roll; and a separating cutter for successively severing the continuous laminate being carried by the third roll into units of individual articles, thereby obtaining the absorbent body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Utani, Daisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 10322593
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a carriage motor that moves a carriage, a carriage driving part that drives the carriage motor, a control value calculating part that calculates a total control value (Wt) composed with a control value for a feedback control and a control value for a feedforward control, which are respectfully referred as a feedback control value (Wb) and a feedforward control value (Wf), and an abnormality judging part that judges whether an abnormality has occurred to the carriage movement based on whether a proportional component (Wp) of the feedback control value has exceeded a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: OKI Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzuru Iioka
  • Patent number: 8882375
    Abstract: A print apparatus includes a print-medium sender configured to send out a print medium, a print-medium transportation unit disposed downstream of the print-medium sender in a print-medium transportation direction, and configured to transport the print medium, a print unit disposed between the print-medium sender and the print-medium transportation unit, and configured to perform printing on the print medium while moving in a direction perpendicular to the print-medium transportation direction, and a transport-amount correction controller configured to correct the amount of transportation of the print medium by the print-medium sender or the print-medium transportation unit in accordance with the position of an end of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Katahira
  • Patent number: 8270034
    Abstract: When the length of a print area in a print tape is designated and an instruction to print a symbol image of a two-dimensional code and character information is given, a printing apparatus sets the print size of the symbol image of the two-dimensional code to a predetermined print size defined as the initial setting, but changes the print attributes of the character information from the initial values to adjust the length of the character string, so that the character information can be printed together with the symbol image of the two-dimensional code within the print area in the print tape, that has the designated length. The printing apparatus prints the character information whose print size is adjusted and the symbol image of the two-dimensional code maintained at the predetermined print size, in a serial arrangement, in a range of the print tape having the designated length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Handa, Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Hirotaka Kuronuma
  • Patent number: 7201522
    Abstract: A printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer houses and dispenses a roll of label media, and includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel to, the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller. Ratchet teeth fixed relative to at least one of the housing and yoke engage structure of the other of the housing and the yoke to prevent the yoke from pivoting away from the label media drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Bandholz, Richard L. Carriere
  • Patent number: 7066670
    Abstract: A printer (24) for printing upon a continuous web of print receivable media (18) is provided. The printer includes a print head (28) having a media drive assembly side and a media drive assembly for moving the media across the print head. The media drive assembly is disposed only on the media drive assembly side of the print head. The printer further includes a platen (30) disposed adjacent the print head and a controller (102) coupled to the print head, the media drive assembly, and the platen. The controller controls the printer during continuous printing and single sheet printing. During continuous printing, the media is moved in a downstream direction past the print head. During single sheet printing, the media is moved past the print head in an upstream direction one sheet at a time. Further, the printer may perform single sheet pull printing or single sheet push printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Tallygenicom LP
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bakken, Craig J. Cornelius, Gary A. Gesellchen, Kenneth R. Hallock, Michael B. O'Leary, Scott D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6910819
    Abstract: A printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer houses and dispenses a roll of label media. The cartridge includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel, to the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller and defines a beginning of a media path. In one embodiment, the yoke is adjustable to accommodate different label media widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Carriere, Kevin L. Wilken
  • Patent number: 6602007
    Abstract: A pin tape has a series of pins mounted on a pin tape, which can then be releasably secured at a desired position in a printing process and produce more efficient collection of scrap paper, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the crane process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Robert E. Majus
  • Patent number: 6183406
    Abstract: A paper stacker for use with a printer which prints connected sheets that are to be stacked in a folded relationship having a surface for receiving the paper with a frame surrounding the paper that is raised in relationship to the paper in order to maintain paper within the confines of the frame as the frame moves upwardly. The frame is balanced by a constant force spring, and is indexed by optical sensors. The frame includes two adjustable fences for variously sized paper which adjustably moves with paddles to press the paper edges downwardly in the stack. Pinch rollers for driving the paper include low inertia drive rollers formed of a relatively low density plastic material with a pair of idler rollers. To improve stacking, ironing tractor idler rollers iron the tractor perforations, and chains orient the catenary stacking movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon B. Barrus, Moshe Ben-Yeoshua, Saul Gutnik, Fritz Dietiker
  • Patent number: 6168332
    Abstract: A transfer printing station is provided which has two pairs of tractor drives movably arranged side-by-side on two drive shafts. During operation with only a single paper web, the unused tractor drives can be moved to a lateral parking position. The two pairs of tractor drives can be easily moved to match two different webs of paper of different widths. The structure enables a user to adapt the paper conveyor of a transfer printing station to operate with only a single paper web or two parallel webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Puritscher, Adolf Höfler, Josef Windele
  • Patent number: 5868507
    Abstract: In a sprocket-driven plotter, a pair of drive sprockets are spaced apart from each other and keyed to a common sprocket shaft, and a drive motor is drivingly connected to the shaft to rotatably drive the sprockets, and in turn move the sheets engaged by the sprockets relative to a tool carriage for plotting by drawing lines, cutting or performing a variety of other operations on the sheets. A sheet support defines an arcuate support surface fixedly secured to the apparatus, and extending in its elongated direction between the sprockets for conformably contacting the laterally-extending section of each sheet engaged by the sprockets. The arcuate support surface defines a plurality of relatively raised or outermost surface areas, and each raised surface area is defined by an arcuate surface segment extending in the axial direction of the support for contacting and supporting the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Thomas, Joseph W. Stempien
  • Patent number: 5816722
    Abstract: A printer allowing attachment and detachment of an external device for improving a paper feed system. The printer allows either an automatic sheet feeder for successively feeding a plurality of cut sheets of paper or a tractor device for feeding a continuous sheet of paper as the external device to be selectively mounted, and the printer itself includes a permanent tractor, in which the permanent tractor and the external device can be driven by a common driving source. More specifically, the printer includes a printing mechanism, a paper feed path communicating with the printing mechanism, a driving source for the paper feed system, and an output gear connected to an output shaft of the driving source. The permanent tractor is located so as to communicate with the paper feed path, and includes an input gear connected to the output shaft of the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TEC
    Inventors: Tsutomu Fujiwara, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 5810494
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing, cutting or otherwise working sheets of sheet material has a friction sheet advance mechanism and a sheet loading mechanism in advance of the feed mechanism having rows of sprocket pins cooperating with complementary rows of sprocket holes in a sheet to assure accurate insertion of a sheet into the sheet advance mechanism and subsequent accurate movement of the sheet through the advance mechanism and past a work station. A photosensor carried by the work head of the apparatus senses one side edge of the sheet as a reference for laterally positioning the work process relative to the sheet, and a transversely extending index edge of an index hole in the proof sheet is detected and used as a reference for the longitudinal positioning of the work process relative to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Gerber Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Menard, Robert V. DeMartino, John E. Markowski, III, Nabil Mishriki, Ronald G. Goulet, William J. Tortora
  • Patent number: 5791794
    Abstract: A printing station includes pins for engaging into edge perforations of continuous paper. The pins are mounted on a toothed belt at the gaps between the belt teeth. A two part pin mounting has a portion engaged between the teeth of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Kopp, Ernst Puritscher, Gerhard Klapettek
  • Patent number: 5746525
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printer and comprises a printing mechanism, a paper guiding path connecting with the printing mechanism, a driving source for a paper conveying system, an output gear connected to an output shaft of the driving source, and a permanent tractor having an input gear. The selective transmission of power from the driving source to either the output gear or the input gear provided in the permanent tractor is performed by a power selecting mechanism operated by an operating member. Further, the printer comprises a second drive force selecting mechanism for independently displacing a cam member in the printer and a clutch section for severing the connection between the output gear and the auxiliary tractor in order to feed only the cut paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TEC
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sanda, Tsutomu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5718526
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for selecting printing either continuous paper or single sheet paper in a printer having a printing section at which each paper may be printed. Continuous paper is fed on a first path to the printing section. Sheet paper is fed on a second path to the same printing section. Upon a first detector detecting that single sheet paper is in the second path, the continuous paper is retracted back along the first path out of the printing section. Upon a second detector detecting the retraction of the continuous paper out of the printing section, the sheet paper is transported to the printing section along the second path. As a result, only one of the continuous paper or the single sheet paper is at the printing section to be printed at one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventor: Yuji Yokota
  • Patent number: 5573337
    Abstract: To provide a printer in which leakage to the outside of noise produced inside the printer during printing using continuous paper is made low. A printer having a cut sheet feeder 5 which automatically feeds paper into a printing portion 4, an opening for cut paper 7 and a tractor 6 which feeds continuous paper to the printing portion to selectively use automatically-fed cut paper, manually-fed cut paper and continuous paper for printing. The printer has a paper receiving tray (manually-fed paper guide plate) 9 which can form the opening portion 7 between itself and a part 1a of the printer housing 1. The paper receiving tray is movable between a manual paper-feeding position which it forms the opening portion 7 and during manual paper-feeding guides printed cut paper into the opening portion, an automatic paper-feeding position which forms the opening portion 7 and during automatic paper-feeding receives printed cut paper, and a closed position to close off the opening 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 5544966
    Abstract: Printer with multifunctional paper handling capability having a lambda rear front structure section, a first (P1) paper path for paper front feeding by a first removable tractor set (21), a second paper path (P2) for cut sheet frontal feeding by driving rollers (22) and a third paper path (P3) for paper rear feeding by the first tractor set or a second tractor set (41), all the manual paper loading operations being performable from the printer front having a dihedral recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vittorio Pagliaro, Paolo Urso, Lorenzo Caro
  • Patent number: 5516221
    Abstract: A paper edge trimmer for a printer using pin-feed paper with holed edges has a edge trimmer body that fits on a support member in close proximity to a feed roller. In several embodiments, the body has two opposing portions joined by an integral hinge and separated by a split to permit the body to be pinched apart and installed on a support rod. Several alternative embodiments are shown for securing the body to the printer. The cutting edge extends down through the score line of the paper to separate the holed edge portions from a main portion on which matter is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Richard L. Lake
  • Patent number: 5244293
    Abstract: An occurring positioning error is electronically corrected during the positioning of edge-perforated continuous form paper (10) in a print position (PP) relative to a print station (13) of a printing device (1). Edge perforation holes (EH1 . . . EHv) on the continuous form paper (10) are scanned for the electronic correction and the positioning error is determined for a block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu) of the continuous form paper (10). The positioning error is composed in this case for each block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu) of at least one slippage value (Sv-1, Sv) as well as of a residual error (RE1 . . . REm . . . REu). While the slippage value (SVv-1, SVv) for a block (Bm) is corrected immediately, a residual error (REm) is taken into consideration during the correction of the position error for a next following block (Bm+1). In addition to the electronic correction of the positioning error, determined for the block (B1 . . . Bm . . . Bu), the positioning process is surveyed relative to interventions (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfs Ludger, Franz Kristen
  • Patent number: 5199806
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for feeding fanfold paper to a printer is provided. A cylindrical platen is rotatably mounted in the printer. A paper feeding tractor is provided upstream from the platen in a paper feeding direction. A power mechanism drives the platen and the paper feeding tractor. A pair of rollers is located above the platen downstream from the platen in the paper feeding direction. One of the rollers is coupled to the power mechanism causing it to rotate with a circumferential speed which is greater than or equal to the circumferential speed of the platen. A pressing member presses the fanfold paper which is fed out from the platen towards the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujioka, Tatsuya Seshimo, Koichiro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 5158380
    Abstract: Apparatus for the selectably alternative feeding of single sheets and of endless webs of paper in a printer includes a guide roll (7), and first and second groups (8, 9) of friction rollers concurrently movable between first and second positions to define respective single sheet and endless web feeding modes of operation. In their first positions, the first friction rollers (8) contact the guide roll (7) to define a first single sheet feed channel (4) and the second friction rollers (9) contact the guide roll (7) to define a second single sheet feed channel (5). When shifted to their second positions, the first friction rollers (8) are displaced from their first position contact with the guide roll (7) to substantially eliminate the first single sheet feed channel (4), and the second friction roller (9) are lowered to form with the guide roll (7) an endless web feed channel (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hauslaib, Gunter Gomoll, Ulrich Buschmann
  • Patent number: 5129748
    Abstract: A sheet or tractor media handling system for a compact printer having a housing, a cut-sheet supply station and a rotatable print platen constructed and located to feed top sheets from said supply station through a print path ingress past a print zone and out a print path egress. The system includes a mode control assembly for selectively controlling the movement of said supply station for sheet or tractor media; a pair of guide wheels constructed and mounted for engagement with tractor media along a tractor media inlet passage; bail rollers engaging the platen between the print path ingress and egress; and a variable spring system for urging the bail rollers against the print platen with higher or lower nip pressures for sheet or tractor media conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John M. Brandon, Brian D. Bradley, Richard J. Ratermann
  • Patent number: 5123762
    Abstract: A printer tractor drive assembly is specified having a belt with pins which engage paper which is to be moved across a print station. The assembly includes a split lid covering the paper being driven. One portion of the split lid can be opened to expose and remove the paper along its perforations, while the other portion of the split lid retains the paper on the tractor pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. McCartney
  • Patent number: 5122004
    Abstract: A label separating system for separating labels from a backing web after the labels have been printed is disclosed. This system utilizes the paper holding roller which is used for holding paper against the platen as it is printed and a separating roller upstream from the paper holding roller. A tractor feed upstream of the separating roller draws the backing web from the platen over the separating roller. A holding member is positioned to limit movement of the paper holding roller as the backing web is placed under tension by the tractor feed, thereby insuring that the backing web disposed between the platen and the separating roller is urged toward a line connecting the center of the platen and the center of the separating roller. This insures that the backing web is bent to a sufficient degree as it passes over the separating roller to cause separation of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumihiro Yamada, Mitsumasa Kako
  • Patent number: 5100251
    Abstract: A paper tractor unit is disclosed. The tractor unit which is movably provided for a support member can be selectively moved between a position at which a continuous paper is fed and a position from which the paper is drawn, a paper drawing drive roller and a pinch roller being provided at the position from which the paper is drawn. A release lever is provided which moves in synchronization with a switching position to the position from which the paper is drawn. A pinch roller and a guide shaft are provided for a support plate which is capable of being moved by the release lever. The pinch roller can come into contact with the paper-drawing drive roller and move away from the same. The guide shaft can freely move along a guide portion in a direction in which the pinch roller comes into contact with and moves away from the drive lever. A guide pin is a pinion and a rack is formed on the guide portion for the purpose of engaging with the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 5087142
    Abstract: A sheet feeder for a printer selectively feeds a continuous sheet and a cut sheet to a printing mechanism including a platen and a print head. The continuous sheet is fed by a pair of pin tractors and the platen while the cut sheet is fed only by the platen. At least one sheet presser roller is provided for guiding the feeding of the cut sheet, which moves toward the platen when the cut sheet is fed so as to hold the latter against the platen, and moves away from the platen when the continuous sheet is fed. A switching lever sets the sheet feed mode, which when moved to a first position causes to feed the cut sheet by rotating the platen and when moved to a second position causes to feed the continuous sheet by rotating both the pin tractors and the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Eiji Arakawa, Kazuhiko Takagi, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5069564
    Abstract: A printing system prints characters or figures on a label removably adhered to a backing web on a platen roller. Separating rollers are disposed on the downstream side of the platen roller. A backing web with labels fed out from the platen roller after printing is bent by the separating rollers. The backing web bent by the separating rollers is drawn out from the separating rollers by a backing web feeding mechanism. When the backing web is bent by the separating rollers and drawn out from the separating rollers by the backing web feeding mechanism, a label is peeled off from the backing web to which it has been adhered. The separating rollers and the backing web feeding mechanism are coupled in an integral relation to constitute a label separating device. The label separating device is removably supported on a body of the print system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Kako, Toshiki Morita, Motoji Wakita
  • Patent number: 5069565
    Abstract: A portable personal computer printer adapted for printing heavy print media such as tags and label stock by drawing the media vertically through the printer without substantial bending of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ayd
  • Patent number: 5064305
    Abstract: A pin platen mechanism includes coiled springs mounted in respective retaining holes formed in a sprocket wheel for biasing respective sprocket pins to the outside at all times. A cam groove in a cam member has freely fitted therein projections of the sprocket pins. A wider part of the cam groove enables the pins to be withdrawn inwardly only when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Matsuda, Minoru Mizutani
  • Patent number: 5059049
    Abstract: For a simple adjustment of a printer from paper sheet transport to endless paper transport mode and conversely, an adjustment assembly is adjustable through selective engagement by a ram of the print head carriage according to the carriage position and is in operative connection with an endless paper feed tractor, a paper path switch and pressure rollers to selectively place these elements in the sheet and endless paper feed modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Manfred Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 5048987
    Abstract: An accessory for use with perforated paper of the type used in electro-mechanical printers having a tractor wheel feed mechanism facilitates inserting the leading edge of a length of paper into the tractor feed mechanism. The paper guide accessory consists of a thin, rectangular sheet of strong, flexible material, preferably made of transparent plastic film such as polyester film, folded over on itself and creased to form a lower, rear half-sheet and a somewhat shorter upper, front half-sheet, thereby forming a pocket between the upper and lower half-sheets. Laterally aligned pairs of circular perforations located near the outer longitudinal edges of the guide, are provided through the thickness dimension of both upper and lower half-sheets. Pairs of perforations are provided at regular longitudinal intervals, and are of the proper size and spacing to register with perforations in paper inserted into the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Inventor: Phyllis S. Golden
  • Patent number: 5034758
    Abstract: A dust shield for preventing paper dust from fouling a printer and printhead mechanism is disclosed. In a sprocket-wheel paper drive printer, the sprockets are at least partially encased as they enter and exit the holes in the paper. Paper particles are trapped and then channelled away from mechanisms, such as a thermal ink jet cartridge printhead, whose operation may be detrimentally affected by such dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Anthony W. Ebersole, Robert W. Beauchamp, Chuong C. Ta
  • Patent number: 5030024
    Abstract: A printer system having a sheet feeding device for selectively feeding one of a single sheet and a continuous includes a platen arranged adjacent a printing unit; a sheet detector disposed on a sheet feeding path along which the single and continuous sheets are fed, for detecting the presence of one of the single and continuous sheets; a sheet feeder positioned near the platen, for feeding one of the single and continuous sheets to a predetermined position; a selector for selecting one of a single-sheet feeding mode and a continuous-sheet feeding mode; and a sheet feeding and removing switch for allowing the sheet feeder to operate to feed and remove out of the single and continuous sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Seshimo
  • Patent number: 5017943
    Abstract: In a thermal transfer type color printer, an ink film on which plural color inks are sequentially painted in its longitudinal direction is sequentially transported forward between an ink film supply roll and winding roll, while a printing paper is repeatedly transported forward and backward in order to print out a color image by overlapping plural color inks. In color printing, the printing paper and ink film are partially overlapped and wound around a platen roller, and a thermal head is pressed against the platen roller by sandwiching the ink film and printing paper therebetween so that the thermal head transfers the color inks on the printing paper. In order to prevent wrinkles from being formed on the ink film, tension applying means applies tension force to the ink film by temporarily controlling or stopping revolution of the ink film supply roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Ogita, Akikazu Toida
  • Patent number: 4934849
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding recording paper forwardly and backwardly in a printing apparatus comprising a pair of paper feed devices, one on each side of a printing unit. The upstream paper feed device is lower in forward feed speed than the downstream paper feed device. The apparatus includes a larger- and a smaller-diameter gear portions provided integrally on a drive gear wheel which transmits a drive force to the upstream paper feed device. A reverse-feed gear wheel, mounted on the drive shaft, meshes with the larger-diameter gear portion via a one-way clutch. A forward-feed gear wheel, loosely fitted over the drive shaft, meshes with the smaller-diameter gear portion. A clutch spring, wound around the outer periphery of the shaft of the forward feed gear wheel and a seat coupled to the drive shaft, is engaged with a rotary body with a one-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 4896980
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for quickly and accurately advancing paper between the platen and printing mechanism on a line-by-line basis in a high speed printer for printing lines of text including a platen and a printing mechanism disposed adjacent the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Royden C. Sanders, Jr.
    Inventors: Royden C. Sanders, Jr., John L. Forsyth
  • Patent number: 4859098
    Abstract: A paper feeder for a printer which is adapted for feeding both continuous printing paper and cut sheet printing paper. A second frame which may carry the platen supports the rear end of a first frame which in turn supports the tractor feeder in such a manner that the first frame can be rotated backward from a first position adapted for feeding continuous paper to a second position adapted for making a room for mounting a paper guide to the printer. If the tractor feeder is adapted for pushing continuous paper towards the platen, continuous paper can be kept on the tractor feeder even when the second frame is at its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventors: Norio Kawashima, Hidemi Haga
  • Patent number: 4834277
    Abstract: The paper feeder incudes an upstream friction roller pair for single sheet feeding, a pushing tractor for endless sheet feeding, and a common downstream (behind the platen) friction roller pair. Each pair has one roller mounted on a pivot lever and the two levers linkedly held in a spring biased linkage such that consistently the downstream roller pair exert a smaller friction force while rotating at a higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Guenter Gomoll, Wolfgang Hauslaib
  • Patent number: 4828157
    Abstract: A pin tractor assembly for feeding a medium having feed perforations such that the perforations engage drive pins provided on an outer surface of a rotating endless belt which engages a pair of wheels rotatably supported between two spaced-apart frames. The two spaced-apart frames are connected to each other by a connecting portion, into an integral tractor body having a slot portion which accommodates the pair of wheels and the endless belt. The assembly has a device for inhibiting radial movement of the pair of wheels positioned in the slot portion of the tractor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 4828417
    Abstract: A printer housing which can be adapted for both cut sheet printing paper and continuous printing paper without replacing any of its paper guide members with any external paper guide members. The printer housing comprises a first cover which is pivotably supported at its front end and a second cover which is povoted to the first cover at its middle part and can cover an opening in the upper face of the printer housing main body by complementing the first cover. When the second cover is thus covering the upper opening of the printer housing main body in cooperation with the first cover, the printer housing is adapted for continuous printing paper. When the second cover is brought to an oblique position, the second cover can serve as a guide for feeding cut sheet printing paper into the printer. The printer is preferably provided with a tractor feeder which can be thrown backward to be out of way for cut sheet printing paper and to support the second cover at its oblique position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventors: Osamu Tano, Tsugutaka Sugawara
  • Patent number: 4799812
    Abstract: A flexible elongated transparent computer page place marker having a longitudinal marking surface for locating specific printed lines of information on a standard printed computer page and raised projections extending from the underside thereof for engagement of the tractor drive holes on the computer page. The marker includes a longitudinal slit having a plurality of column locators positioned within the slit and slidably moveable therein for locating column information on said computer page. In one embodiment, the marker includes a tab at one end thereof adapted to be placed under a computer printed page when the marker is supported on top of the page to secure the marker to the paper and aid in positioning thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Amparo A. Warwick
  • Patent number: 4752145
    Abstract: The device for paper guidance in printing facilities comprising a paper tractor that transports continuous form paper comprises a plurality of paper guide elements displaceably arranged on a transport shaft dependent on the width of the paper. Compression springs that are supported on the paper guide elements are arranged between the paper guide elements. The hollow-cylindrically fashioned paper guide elements are interrupted in denticular fashion at their surface areas, whereby the respectively neighboring toothings of the paper guide elements displaceably mesh via their teeth in order to thus form a variable-width paper guide cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lorenz Schelshorn, Gerhard Turini
  • Patent number: 4707157
    Abstract: Matrix printers exhibit the tendency to develop electrostatic charges on account of various movements in sliding contact between the print medium such as paper on one hand and the transport device and print styli or hammer on the other hand. In order to eliminate these charges the traction means for transporting the paper is driven by a drive shaft which is held in electrical insulation from the transport device but is electrically connected through a paper support structure which is in turn is electrically connected to a connecting rod completing a frame structure for the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hauslaib
  • Patent number: 4697941
    Abstract: In a wire-dot impact type printer a cylindrical platen and a printing paper are rotated or transported at the same rate, by connecting them to a single and common electric motor through a first and second transmission mechanisms, respectively. The first transmission mechanism directly connects the platen to the motor to cause the former to rotate together with rotation of the latter in any direction, whereas the second transmission mechanism includes a clutch composed of a first and a second members rotatable about a common center axis but separately from each other in which the first member is caused to rotate together with rotation of the motor in any direction while the second member is caused to rotate together with the first member being rotated in one direction but prevented from rotating when the first member is rotated in the other direction. In the latter case the platen is rotated for color changing operation, but the printing paper is prevented from running through the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Takenoya, Fumiyuki Mishima
  • Patent number: 4688957
    Abstract: The sheet feeder is formed by a separate unit (10) which can be easily mounted spaced from the platen roller (14) on a typewriter (12) or printer of a data processing system. The print carriers comprise either a continuous web (22) or individual sheets (20). The continuous web is advanced by pin wheels (72) and guided towards the platen roller. The individual sheets (20) which are supported on a feed tray (30) are fed one at a time by means of stripper rollers (40) and passed towards the platen roller (14). The printed sheets are passed into a collector tray (60) by means of collector rollers (54, 56). The pin wheels (72) device and the stripper rollers (40) are rotated selectively from the platen roller by way of a mechanical transmission including a clutch which is actuated by a manual control (116) to connect the pin wheels (72) or the stripper rollers (40) alternatively to the platen roller (14). The manual control also moves the paper guide (52) away from the platen for continuous form feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Ingf. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Prevignano
  • Patent number: 4682904
    Abstract: A paper feed mechanism for use in a printer has a pin tractor unit disposed on one side of a platen which is opposite to a print head, and a paper guide plate located below the pin tractor unit. The pin tractor unit has an endless tractor belt trained around a plurality of pulleys to form a first guide passage above the pin tractor unit and a second guide passage inclined from the first guide downwardly toward a position beneath the platen. The tractor belt has pins for fitting into perforations defined in the side margins of continuous paper. The continuous paper is inserted between the pin tractor unit and the paper guide plate, threaded between the platen and the print head, and then extended along the first guide passage. By moving the tractor belt in a prescribed direction, the continuous paper can be pulled by the pin tractor unit so as to be fed along in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshimura, Ryouhei Ohsaki
  • Patent number: 4606663
    Abstract: There is disclosed a paper transport device for printers. The device transports either single sheets or continuous paper through a printer in such a manner that switching between single sheet feed or continuous paper feed does not degrade print quality. When feeding single sheets, the platen determines the paper feed rate and is driven at a first circumferential speed. When feeding continuous paper, the platen is driven at a second and faster circumferential speed, which is slightly greater than the rate at which the paper tractor feeds the paper to the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Christoph, Heinz Stickel
  • Patent number: 4545695
    Abstract: A horizontal printing type printer including a head feeding motor serving as a shaft feeding motor; a feeding shaft coupled to the motor so that it is rotatable in both directions, the shaft being arranged in a vertical direction perpendicular to the printing line direction; two sheet feeding tractors mounted on the shaft, two one-way clutches provided on the tractors, respectively, the one-way clutches being engaged with the shaft to rotate together with the latter in the sheet feeding direction to feed the printing sheet; and a printing head movably supported on the shaft and a guide rod parallel with the latter, the printing head being moved backwards and forwards in the vertical direction of rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: NEC Home Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Agata
  • Patent number: 4454975
    Abstract: A sheet-feed tractor of the type that includes a belt with pins for advancing edge-perforated paper is provided with an extension on its web-retention door for mounting an idler roller that is used for friction feed of paper that does not have edge perforations. A drive roller is provided opposite the idler roller on a drive shaft that also is used to drive the belt containing the pins. As a consequence, paper located between the drive and idler rollers is advanced when the drive shaft is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Integral Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil A. Rosenberg