Printer with variable torque distribution
US5820280A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19102
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A printer includes a variable torque assembly that allows a printer controller to vary torque on supply and take-up reels in response to monitored diameter of the supply or take-up reels. In one embodiment, the variable torque assembly is a torque divider that divides a fixed amount of torque between a supply reel and a take-up reel. The ratio of torques on the supply and take-up reels is controller by a control stepper motor that adjusts respective Acme gears to adjust pressure on respective clutch plates to increase or decrease the amount of "drag" applied by the clutch plates. In another embodiment, separate control stepper motors control torque to each of the supply and take-up reels so that the overall amount of torque can be varied to accommodate changes in print media lengths.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.