Patent · US Expired

Completed plot rolling mechanism for a plotter

US5177497A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 1991
Grant dateJan 5, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H29/008
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This is an apparatus and associated method for rolling large pieces of a flexible media such as completed plots produced by a plotting pen plotter. The rolling mechanism is placed adjacent an exit of the pen plotter to received ejected media pieces therein. Upon detecting the leading edge of a media piece while in an open position, the mechanism closes to form a guide slot to a cylindrical rolling chamber. The media piece is then urged along the guide slot and into the rolling chamber where it is rolled by a drive roller. Upon detecting the trailing edge of the media piece, the mechanism opens allowing the rolled media piece to fall into a receiving bin. The stationary portion and the rotating portion are formed of a plurality of slats having low contact area edges disposed for media pieces to move along whereby the media pieces move along a low friction path.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.