Printer multi-function drive train apparatus and method

US5820275A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Tektronix, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Timothy L. Crawford · Saint Paul, US
• James D. Rise · Lake Oswego, US
• Barry D. Reeves · Lake Oswego, US
• Nathan E. Hult · Wilsonville, US
• William Pong · Concord, US
• Richard G. Chambers · Portland, US
• Michael Edward Jones · Ruthin, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 1995
• Grant date: Oct 13, 1998
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J23/025
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A process motor (82) provides bidirectional motive force to a printer (50) drive train (80) that selectively engages with multiple self-homing printing functions. A print head (52) is tiltable to a maintenance position and a transfer roller (64) is loadable against a transfer drum (54) by respective missing tooth gear (96, 160) latching mechanisms. A print media pick roller (122) and transfer drum maintaining devices (70, 72) are actuated by spring-wrap clutches (114, 236) that are protected from reverse rotation by a one-way clutch (106). Print media transport rollers (140, 142) are selectively engaged with the one-way clutch by an electro-mechanical clutch (128). A picked and transported print medium (56) receives an ink image from the transfer drum and is stripped therefrom by stripper fingers (66) and directed into media exit rollers (212, 220) for delivery to a media output tray (68). The stripper fingers and exit rollers are actuated sequentially by cams (180, 182) that are slaved to the transfer roller loading function.