Traction surfaces for thermal printer capstan drives
US5264873A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J15/16
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A continuous tone thermal printing apparatus of the type having a printing station and a receiver drive station. The drive station repeatedly advances receiver back and forth through the printing station in conjunction with the advance of successive thermal transfer donor dye colors on a carrier web through the printing station to successively print the overlying different color image separations. The drive station preferably comprises a motor driven capstan roller mounted to bear against one surface of the receiver and a pinch roller mounted to bear and exert pressure against the other surface of the receiver and to press the receiver against the capstan roller and define a nip therebetween. The capstan roller has a high friction receiver engaging surface and is relatively hard and uncompressible, and the pinch roller has a low friction receiver contacting surface and is relatively soft and compressible, such that when the receiver is within the nip, it is driven in the advance direction by motor driven rotation of the high friction capstan surface, and the interfacial shear stress between each roller and the respective receiver surface in the nip area is minimized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.