比利时专利BE1025507B1 MOVABLE MEDIA CONDUCTOR FOR MEDIA PROCESSING DEVICES

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专利摘要:
A media processing apparatus comprises a cavity adapted to receive a supply of media; a media output; a fixed media guide adapted to guide the media along a media supply path from the cavity to the media output; a platen roller adapted to move the media along the media feed path from the feed to the media output; and a movable media guide extending laterally across the media feed path at a position between the platen roller and the cavity. The movable media guide is biased toward the media supply path and is adapted to exert a force on the media. The movable media guide is convexly bent to the media supply path.
公开号:BE1025507B1
申请号:E2017/5953
申请日:2017-12-15
公开日:2019-03-28
发明作者:Mun Hon Randal Wong；Petrica Dorinel Balcan；Kuan-Ying Lu；Lawrence E. Smolenski；David L. Garbe
申请人:Zebra Technologies Corporation；Zih Corp.；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

MOVABLE MEDIA CONDUCTOR FOR MEDIA PROCESSING DEVICES
BACKGROUND
Media processing devices such as printers usually include a feed of media such as paper or labels, and a mechanism that pulls media from the feed past a printhead. The printhead generates human and / or machine readable indications on a surface of the media before the media is released. The quality of the indications can be negatively influenced by irregularities in the movement of the media from the feed to the printhead.
According to the invention, a media processing apparatus is provided comprising a cavity adapted to receive a supply of media; a media output; a fixed media guide that is adapted to guide the media along a media supply path from the cavity to the media outlet; a platen roller adapted to move the media along the media feed path from the feed to the media output; and a movable media guide extending laterally across the media feed path at a position between the platen roller and the cavity, the movable media guide being biased toward the media feed path and adapted to exert a force on the media, the movable media guide is convexly bent to the media supply path.
The feed may further comprise a spool, the media being in a storage condition on the spool, and wherein the movable media guide is adapted to straighten the media as the media moves from the spool to the media output.
The movable media guide can be arranged to dampen movement of the media from the media supply path as soon as the platen roller starts to move the media.
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The movable media guide may further comprise a surface extending laterally over the media supply path; and a biasing device adapted to bias the movable media guide to the media feed path.
The media processing apparatus may further comprise a printhead, the platen roller and the printhead forming a nip.
The media processing apparatus may further comprise a cover adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, the movable media guide being movably coupled to the cover.
The fixed media guide can further include an arm that is coupled to the cover, the movable media guide being movably coupled to the arm.
For example, the arm may be movably coupled to the cover and be arranged to move between a maintenance position when the cover is in the open position and an operating position when the cover is in the closed position.
The arm can be fixed in the operating position when the cover is in the closed position.
The movable media guide may include a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide and adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the arm to rotatably couple the movable media guide to the arm.
The arm may further comprise a shoulder extending from one side of the arm near the media supply path; wherein the shoulder defines a cavity therein.
The movable media guide may further include a pawl that extends laterally from one side of the movable media guide and which is adapted to engage a wall of the cavity when the movable media
BE2017 / 5953 media guide is in an extended position.
The biasing device may further be coupled between the arm and the movable media guide.
The biasing device may further comprise a spring coupled between the arm and the movable media guide.
The pair of pins may extend laterally from the opposite sides near an upstream edge of the movable media guide.
The pawl can extend laterally from the side near a downstream edge of the movable media guide.
The fixed media guide may further include a frame that is fixed to the cover; wherein the movable media guide is movably coupled to the frame.
The movable media guide may comprise a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide and adapted to engage corresponding recesses of the frame to rotatably couple the movable media guide to the frame.
The movable media guide may further comprise a pawl that extends laterally from one side of the movable media guide and which is adapted to engage a wall of the frame when the movable media guide is in an extended position.
A media processing apparatus may be provided including a cavity adapted to receive a supply of media; a media output; a fixed media guide adapted to guide the media along a media supply path from the cavity to the media output; a platen roller adapted to move the media along the media feed path from the feed to the media output; and a movable media guide extending laterally across the media feed path at a position between the platen roller and the cavity. The movable
BE2017 / 5953 media guide is pre-stressed to the media supply path and is arranged to exert a force on the media. The movable media guide is convexly bent to the media supply path.
The present invention will be further explained with reference to figures of exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The enclosed figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally like elements in the different views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the description and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts described herein and different principles and to explain the advantages of the versions mentioned.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary media processing device.
FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, wherein the media processing device is displayed in a quiescent state.
FIG. 4 shows a further cross-sectional elevation view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, wherein the media processing device is displayed in an operating state.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a media supply path and corresponding components of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, in transition between the states shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 6 depicts an arm and a movable media guide of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, in an extended position.
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FIG. 7 depicts the arm and the movable media guide of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, in a compressed position.
FIG. 8 shows a view of the arm and the movable media guide of FIGS. 6 and 7 in an unfolded state.
FIG. 9 depicts the movable media guide of FIGS. 6-8.
FIG. 10 shows the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, in an open state.
FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary media processing apparatus.
FIG. 12 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a partial side view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 11.
FIG. 14 depicts a view of a frame of a movable media guide of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 11 in an unfolded state.
Those skilled in the art will understand that elements in the figures are shown for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated other elements to better understand the embodiments of the present description.
The arrangement components are indicated where appropriate by conventional symbols in the figures, only displaying the specific details necessary to understand the implementation of the present description, so that it does not obscure the disclosure with details obvious to those skilled in the art making use of of the description herein.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Media processing devices such as printers of labels, labels, wristbands, transaction receipts and the like usually contain a supply of print media, such as a roll of paper, a roll of labels applied to a liner, or a roll of a liner-free material with an adhesive layer. As used herein, "print media" refers to media on which human and / or machine readable markings can be applied. The supply of print media is sometimes described herein as a "sheet" (web). For example, when the printer is loaded with adhesive labels arranged on a liner, the term "sheet" refers to a combination of the liner and the print media, which contains a single or multiple number of layers, for example, heat-reactive paint, protective coating, label substrate , lining substrate, release coating and / or glue. When the printer is loaded with a roll of liner-free print media, "sheet" refers to the print media that contain a single or multiple number of layers, or, for example, label substrate, heat-reactive paint, protective coating, release coating and / or glue.
Such devices often include a mechanism such as a platen roller to draw the sheet from a storage location containing the feed to the printhead for applying dye, heat, or any other suitable treatment that provides indicia on the print media. When such printers are in a quiescent state, the roll of print media sometimes shifts, causing play to develop in the sheet extending to the platen roll. When the operation of the printer is resumed, the play is absorbed by the platen roller before the roller starts rotating to issue additional print media. The sudden transition from taking up the play to rotating the roll can cause a jerk on the print media in its movement (in other words, suffer a sudden change in the moving speed). This jerk may be more pronounced at higher print speeds (for example, at speeds
BE2017 / 5953 where the print media moves past the print head at a speed greater than six inches per second (IPS). In some cases, the jerk affects print quality in a negative way. For example, the print media under treatment of the printhead during the jerk may endure unwanted artifacts, such as an unwanted dark line. Although such a negative influence is undesirable in any kind of application, unwanted markings are particularly problematic in bar code generation. In particular, media processing devices that print barcodes suffer from such artifacts such as the aforementioned dark line because of the negative impact on the readability of the printed barcodes. Another unwanted artifact may include variation of the relative width of the broad line with respect to the narrow line, or in distances between the lines, which can both make it more difficult for a machine to read the barcode.
Examples described herein are directed to a media processing apparatus comprising: a cavity adapted to receive a supply of media; a media output; a fixed media guide adapted to guide the media along a media supply path from the cavity to the media output; a platen roller adapted to move the media along the media supply path from the supply to the media output; and a movable media guide extending laterally over the media supply path at a position between the platen roller and the cavity. The movable media guide is biased toward the media supply path and is adapted to exert a force on the media. The movable media guide is convexly bent to the media supply path.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary media processing apparatus 100 built in accordance with the teachings of this description. The media processing apparatus 100 includes a housing described by a cover 104 and a base 108. As described herein, the media processing apparatus 100 stores a feed of
BE2017 / 5953 print media and generate indicia on the print media prior to outputting the print media from the media output 112 in the housing. In the illustrated example, the media processing apparatus 100 uses thermal transfer printing technology to transfer ink from a ribbon to the print media. Additional or alternative printing technologies, such as direct thermal printing technology, can be used to generate the indications. In some examples, the processing of the print media also includes coding of data in an integrated circuit, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the media.
Referring to FIG. 2, a partially cut-away view of the exemplary media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, in which a portion of the base 108 has been omitted. As seen in FIG. 2, the media processing apparatus 100 includes a cavity 200 adapted to receive a supply of print media. The supply of print media, in the example media processing apparatus 100, is a spool (omitted in FIG. 2) that is arranged to be received in the cavity 200. The print media is a sheet of paper, synthetic material, wrist bands, labels or such that it is wrapped around the spool in a stowed state and the spool rotates in the cavity 200 to output (ie, unroll) the print media. In the example media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 2, the spool is adapted to be mounted on an axis (and on an opposite spindle 204 that is not shown in FIG. 2) and to rotate about an axis defined by the spindle 204 to output the print media.
The spool is rotated about the above-mentioned axis by means of a platen roller 208 which, in conjunction with a print head 212, forms a nip through which the print media passes in the direction of the media exit 112. The platen roller 208 pulls the sheet of the spool through the pinched and
BE2017 / 5953 to the media output 112. In this example, the media processing device 100 is a thermal transfer printer. Accordingly, during print jobs, an ink ribbon (not shown) moves from a feed roller 220, through the nip and then to a take-up roller 216. Accordingly, the ink ribbon moves along an ink ribbon path other than a path along which the print media moves. The ink ribbon moves through the nip as the sheet at the same time. When the ink ribbon and the sheet move through the nip, the ink ribbon is in contact with the print media of the sheet. To provide indications, some elements (e.g., printhead points) of the printhead 212 are selectively energized (e.g., heated) in accordance with machine-readable instructions (e.g., print line data or a bitmap). When energized, the elements of the print head 212 apply energy (e.g., heat) to the ink ribbon to transfer ink to specific parts of the print media. In other examples, when the media processing apparatus is arranged for direct thermal printing, direct thermal media (but not an ink ribbon) is passed along the print head and the elements of the print head directly apply energy to the print media, which changes color ( for example from white to black or color) in response to the energy.
The exemplary media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 includes a fixed media guide that is adapted to guide the sheet of the spool along a media supply path - which will be described in more detail below - from the cavity 200 to the media outlet 112. The platen roller 208 is arranged to move the sheet along the media feed path, from the cavity 200 to the media exit 112. The fixed media guide includes an arm 224. As will become apparent from the discussion below, the fixed media guide also contains any suitable number of surfaces that must be contiguous to the arm 224 and is referred to as "fixed" because it is immobile
BE2017 / 5953 with respect to the cover 104 at least during the operation of the media processing apparatus 100 (i.e., during treatment and dispensing of media). In other words, the fixed media guide is part of the stationary frame of the media processing apparatus 100. As described below, it is permitted, in the example media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 2, for certain parts of the fixed media guide (in particular the arm 224) to move relative to the cover 104 during maintenance of the media processing apparatus 100.
The exemplary media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 includes a movable media guide 228 at a position along the media supply path between the cavity 200 and the platen roller 208. The movable media guide 228 extends laterally over the media supply path; that is, a longest dimension of the movable media guide 228 is perpendicular to the moving direction of the sheet represented by the arrows 232. As will be described below, the movable media guide 228 is biased toward the media feed path and is arranged to exert a damping force on the sheet when the sheet moves over the media feed path.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the exemplary media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, part of the base 108 being omitted. In addition to the components introduced above, FIG. 3 a spool 300 that stores a rolled-up media sheet in the cavity 200. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a media supply path 304 as mentioned above in connection with FIG. 2. The media supply path 304 starts at the spool 300 and runs along the movable media guide 228 and the fixed media guide (containing at least the arm 224) before it reaches the nip formed by the platen roller 208 and the printhead 212, and finally the media output 112.
The media supply path 304 shown in FIG. 3 is the path
BE2017 / 5953 along which the media sheet of the spool 300 lies when the media processing apparatus 100 is at rest (when the platen roller 208 does not pull the sheet toward the nip). In particular, the media supply path 304 as shown in FIG. 3 shows a gradation of play adjacent to the movable media guide 228. The play is produced, for example, by residual movement of the spool 300 when the platen roller 208 stops rotating. When the movable media guide 228 is biased toward the media feed path 304, the movable media guide 228 is shown in FIG. 3 in an extended position, in which the movable media guide 228 is in contact with the media sheet that lies along the media feed path 304. In some examples, as a result of its bias to the media feed path 304, the movable media guide 228 exerts a force on the media sheet sufficient to straighten the sheet downstream (i.e., toward the platen roller 208) of the movable media guide 228 to make. In other examples, however, the movable media guide 228 does not need to exert any force on the media sheet when the media sheet is in a resting state and lies along the media supply path 304.
Referring to FIG. 4, a further cross-section of the exemplary media processing apparatus 100 is shown. In FIG. 4, however, the media processing apparatus 100 is shown in the operating state. That is, the platen roller 208 is shown in rotation and therefore serves to pull the sheet from the spool 300 along the media supply path 304 to the media output 112. As soon as the platen roller 208 starts to rotate, the platen roller 208 is adapted to both play in the sheet as shown in the rest condition in FIG. 3, as if to accelerate the spool 300 from the idle state to issue additional print media. During the recording of the play in the sheet and the acceleration of the coil 300 to an operating speed, the platen roller 208 rapidly increases the tension on the sheet. The rapid increase in the tension on the sheet causes the sheet to deviate from the media
BE2017 / 5953 feed path 304 to a modified media feed path 304 'shown in FIG. 4.
The movable media guide 228 is adapted to, as a result of its bias to the media supply path 304 (ie, the idle media supply path as shown in FIG. 3), exert a force on the sheet to move the sheet, from the media supply path 304 to the modified media supply path 304 '. In damping the movement of the sheet from the media supply path 304 to the modified media supply path 304 ', the movable media guide 228 is arranged to move from the extended position as shown in FIG. 3 to a compressed position as shown in FIG. 4. The movable media guide 228 is adapted to damp the movement of the sheet such that when the deviation of the sheet from the media supply path 304 to the media supply path 304 'is complete, the recording of play in the media sheet and the acceleration of the coil 300 are substantially complete. In other words, the movable media guide 228 experiences a degree of freedom of movement between the extended position and the compressed position, which makes the rapid increase in tension on the sheet more uniform.
During the operation of the media processing apparatus 100, the sheet continues to run from the spool 300 along the modified media supply path 304 '. When the platen roller 208 stops rotating, the sheet also stops running through the nip. The coil 300 slows down and comes to a stop. However, during the delay of the spool 300, additional print media from the spool 300 is output that is not pulled along the media feed path 304 '(since the platen roller 208 is no longer moving). Therefore, the media sheet incurs some play and returns to lie along the media supply path 304 at rest, as shown in FIG. 3. Releasing the play in the media sheet, together with the bias of the movable
BE2017 / 5953 media guide 228 causes the movable media guide 228 to resume the extended state as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 5, the transitions of the sheet and the movable media guide 228 between the operating and resting states are illustrated in more detail. As described above, the media sheet extending from the spool 300 to the platen roller 208, both at rest and at the beginning and end of the operating periods, lies along the media supply path 304, and the movable media guide is in an extended position 500 ( shown in dotted lines) due to the bias from the movable media guide 228 to the media feed path 304. As the platen roller 208 starts to rotate, the sheet deviates from the media feed path 304 and to the modified media feed path 304 '. During such a movement of the sheet, the clearance is included in the sheet and the spool 300 begins to accelerate to an operating speed while the spool outputs additional print media. The movable media guide 228 also moves from the extended position 500 to a compressed position 504 (shown in solid lines). The bias from the movable media guide 228 to the media feed path 304, although insufficient to completely prevent the sheet from moving away from the media feed path 304, slows down that movement. Thus, the transition from the sheet of the media feed path 304 to the modified media feed path 304 ', and the associated acceleration of the spool 300, take place over a longer period of time than they would have occurred in the absence of the movable media guide 228. As such, the rapid increase in tension associated with the play of the play is tempered by the movement of the movable media guide 228. Thus, the movable media guide 228 eliminates or reduces adverse effects (e.g., unwanted dark lines) on the indications that generated on the print media associated with the play of the play.
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Various structural configurations of the movable media guide 228 are contemplated. Referring to FIG. 6, the arm 224 and the movable media guide 228, as they are in the example media processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 prevented, isolated. The direction of displacement of the sheet during use of the media processing apparatus 100 is also shown by arrows 600.
In the example of FIG. 6, the movable media guide 228 includes a surface 604 adapted to extend laterally over the media supply path 304. The surface 604 is convexly bent toward the media supply path 304 (as also seen in FIG. 5) to guide the sheet on a guide surface 608 of the arm 224. The movable media guide 228 is coupled to the arm 224 such that the movable media guide 228 can move relative to the arm 224. In the example of FIG. 6, the movable media guide 228 rotates relative to the arm 224 about an axis 612 between the extended and compressed position. The axis 612 of FIG. 6 is defined by first and second points in which the movable media guide 228 is coupled to the arm 224. The exemplary axis 612 of FIG. 6 extends transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet. In FIG. 6, the movable media guide 228 is shown in the extended position (i.e., extended from the arm 224 relative to the compressed position).
The exemplary arm 224 of FIG. 6 includes a pair of shoulders 616 adapted to extend along both sides of the sheet (when present), to assist in guiding the sheet along the media supply path 304 (as well as the modified media supply path 304 '). The shoulders 616 limit the deflection of the movable media guide 228 to the extended position.
As shown in FIG. 7, which shows the arm 224 with the movable media guide 228 in the compressed position, each shoulder 616 defines a cavity 700 bounded by a wall 704 which extends laterally
BE2017 / 5953 (i.e., transversely of the direction of movement of the media sheet). The movable media guide 228 is adapted to engage the walls 704 in the extended position, thereby preventing further movement from the movable media guide 228 to the media supply path 304. That is, the walls 704 define a maximum distance or space between the arm 224 and the movable media guide 228.
As also shown in FIG. 7, the arm 224 includes a pair of axle pins 708 extending laterally from an upstream (relative to the movable media guide 228) portion of the arm 224, for coupling the arm 224 to the cover 104. The arm also includes a pair laterally extending guide pins 712, for guiding the movement of arm 224 relative to the cover 104.
Referring to FIG. 8, in the example media processing apparatus 100, the movable media guide 228 is adapted to engage the walls 704 via a pair of detents 800 extending laterally from opposite sides of the surface 604. More particularly, the detents 800 extend from the sides of the surface 604 at or near a downstream edge 804 of the movable media guide 228. The term "downstream" as used herein refers to the direction to the media output 112 along the media supply path 304. That is, a first element downstream of a second element is closer to the media output 112 than the second element. Each pawl 800 is adapted to extend into a corresponding cavity 700 of the shoulders 616, and to engage with the corresponding wall 704 when the movable media guide 228 is in the extended position.
As shown in FIG. 8, the movable media guide 228 includes a pair of pins 808 extending laterally from the aforementioned opposite sides of the movable media guide 228. The pins extend from the sides of the movable media guide 228 at or
BE2017 / 5953 near an upstream edge of the movable media guide 228. The term "upstream" as used herein refers to the direction to the cavity 200 (and therefore the coil 300, when the coil 300 is present) along the media feed path 304 That is, a first element upstream of a second element is closer to the cavity 200 than the second element. The pins 808 engage the corresponding recesses 812 of the arm 224 and are adapted to rotate in the recesses 812, thereby enabling the aforementioned movement (e.g., rotation) of the movable media guide 228 about the axis 612.
As previously noted, the movable media guide 228 is biased toward the media feed path 304. The exemplary media processing apparatus 100 includes at least one biasing device to bias the movable media conductor 228. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8, the media processing apparatus 100 includes first and second biasing devices 816, in the form of conical coil springs. In this example, the biasing devices 816 are coupled to the arm 224 via engagement between the tapered end of the springs and projections 820 extending from the arm 224. The biasing devices 816 are also coupled to the movable media guide 228, as shown in FIG . 9, by impressions 900 in a surface 904 opposite to the convex curved surface 604. The impressions 900 are adapted to receive and attach the bases of the coil springs as shown in FIG. 8.
In some examples, the biasing devices 816 are coupled only to the arm 224 or the movable media guide 228, and therefore either the impressions 900 or the protrusions 820 can be omitted. Various other biasing devices are also being considered. For example, in other implementations, the coil springs are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 replaced with springs mounted around the pins 808, with arms extending therefrom about the arm 224 and
BE2017 / 5953 to engage the movable media guide 228. In some implementations, other biasing devices, such as leaf springs, are used to bias the movable media guide 228 to the media supply path 304. In some exemplary implementations, combinations of any of the aforementioned bias devices, or of any other suitable bias devices, are used to bias the movable media guide 228.
As noted earlier, the fixed media guide is referred to as "fixed" because it is immobile relative to the cover 104 at least during use of the media processing apparatus 100. In the example media processing apparatus 100, certain components of the fixed media conductor, such as the arm 224, not to be fixed under all circumstances. Referring to FIG. 10, the cover 104 is viewed in an open position, as opposed to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1-4. The cover 104 is movable about a connecting piece 1000 between the closed and open positions.
The media processing apparatus 100 also includes a base 1004 adapted to support the roller cartridge containing the rollers 216 and 220 as well as the print head 212. The base 1004 is movably coupled to the cover 104 through a pair of opposed couplings 1008 and is also rotatably coupled to the base 108 at a connector 1012. The base 1004 is therefore opened when the cover 104 is opened, but the base 1004 rotates relative to the base 108 about an axis other than the cover 104. As a result, the cover 104 and the chassis 1004 move relative to each other during their transition to the open position shown in FIG. 10. The arm 224, as noted earlier, is coupled to the cover 104 through the axle pins 708. The arm 224 is also coupled to the chassis 1004, however
BE2017 / 5953 by engagement between the guide pins 712 and a track 1016 in the chassis 1004.
The arm 224 is therefore arranged to move from an operating position (shown in FIGS. 1-4) to a maintenance position shown in FIG. 10 when the cover 104 is open. More specifically, the arm 224 rotates relative to the cover 104 about the axis pins 708 and translates relative to the chassis 1004 while the guide pins 712 slide into the corresponding tracks 1016. The arm 224 is nevertheless referred to herein as a component of the fixed media guide, because when the cover 104 is closed, the arm 224 is fixed in the operating position and is substantially immovable with respect to both the cover 104 and the chassis 1004. In the operating position, the arm 224 is arranged around the movable media guide 228 in the position between the cavity 200 and the platen roller 208, as shown in FIGS. 104.
In other implementations, the arm 224 may be fixed relative to the cover 104 and the chassis 1004 under all circumstances. In further examples, the arm 224 is omitted from the media processing apparatus 100, and the movable media guide 228 is directly movably coupled to the cover 104 or to the chassis 1004. For example, the pins 808 may extend into recesses on the inner walls of the chassis 1004.
FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary media processing apparatus 1100 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The media processing apparatus 1100 includes a housing defined by a cover 1104 and a base 1108. As will be described herein, the media processing apparatus 1100 stores a supply of print media and generates indications on the print media before the print media from a media output 1112 into the housing is carried out. In the example shown, the media processing apparatus 1100 uses thermal directly
BE2017 / 5953 printing technology, instead of thermal transfer printing, to adjust the color of the thermal print media.
Referring to FIG. 12, a partial cross-sectional view of the media processing apparatus of FIG. 1, wherein the cover 1104 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 12, the media processing apparatus 1100 includes a cavity 1200 adapted to receive a supply of print media. The supply of print media, in the example media processing device 1100, is a spool (omitted in FIG. 12) arranged to be received in the cavity 1200. The print media is a sheet of paper, labels or the like that is rolled up to the spool in a stored state, and the spool is rotatable in the cavity 1200 to output (ie, unwind) the print media.
The exemplary media processing apparatus 1100 also includes a fixed media guide adapted to guide the output sheet from the spool along a media supply path, described in more detail below, from the cavity 1200 to the media output 1112. The fixed media guide includes a frame 1204 coupled to the base 1108. The frame 1204 is fixed relative to the cover 1104, although the frame 1204 and the cover 1104 are movable together relative to the base 1108, allowing the media processing apparatus 1100 can be opened for maintenance. For example, in the media processing apparatus 1100, the cover 1104 is fixed to the frame 1204, which in turn is movably coupled to the base 1108 at a connector 1208.
The exemplary media processing apparatus 1100 also includes a movable media guide 1212 at a position along the media supply path between the cavity 1200 and the media output 1112. The movable media guide 1212 extends laterally along the media supply path. In other words, as described above in connection with the movable media guide 228, the longest dimension of the movable lies
BE2017 / 5953 media guide 1212 transversely of the direction of movement of the sheet (from the cavity 1200 to the media output 1112). As will be discussed in more detail below, the movable media guide 1212 is biased to the media supply path by a biasing device 1216, and is adapted to exert a dampening force on the sheet as the sheet runs along the media supply path.
In the example shown, the biasing device 1216 is a coil spring that is coupled to the movable media guide 1212 and with a control panel support 1220 adapted to be secured to the cover 1104. In other examples, the biasing device 1216 is directly connected to the cover 1104 in instead of with the control panel support 1220. More generally, the biasing device 1216 is coupled to the movable media guide 1212 at opposite ends and any suitable fixed surface of the media processing device 1100.
Referring to FIG. 13, a side view of the media processing apparatus 1100 is shown, with the cover 1104 and the frame 1204 omitted. FIG. 13 shows a spool 1300 that stores a rolled-up media sheet in the cavity 1200. The spool is rotatable (e.g., about a spindle 1304) in the cavity 1200 to output (ie, unwind) the print media under the influence of a platen roller 1308. the platen roller 1308, in combination with a printhead 1312, forms a nip through which the print media runs to the media output 1112. The platen roller 1308 pulls the sheet from the spool 1300 through the nip and to the media output 1112. In this example, as previously noted, the media processing apparatus 1100 is a direct thermal printer, and therefore, during printing activities, direct thermal media (but not an ink ribbon) is fed past the printhead 1312 and certain elements (e.g., printhead points) of the printhead 1312 are selectively energizing (e.g., heated) according to machine-readable instructions (e.g., print line data or a bitmap).
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In energizing, the elements of the printhead 1312 directly apply energy to the print media, which changes color (e.g., from white to black or a color) in response to the energy.
Also in FIG. 13, a media supply path 1316 is shown. The media supply path 1316 starts at the spool 1300 and runs along the movable media guide 1212 (which is convexly bent to the media supply path 1316) and the fixed media guide before it reaches the above-mentioned nip and finally the media exit 1112. The platen roller 1308 is arranged to move the sheet along the media supply path 1316 from the cavity 1200 to the media output 1112.
The media supply path 1316 shown in FIG. 13 is the path along which the sheet of the spool 1300 lies when the media processing apparatus 1100 is at rest (i.e., when the platen roller 1308 does not pull the sheet toward the nip). ). In particular, the media supply path 1304 as shown in FIG. 3 is a gradation of play adjacent to the movable media guide 1212. As previously discussed in connection with the media processing apparatus 100, the play is caused, for example, by residual movement of the spool 300 when the platen roller 208 stops rotating.
When the movable media guide 1212 is biased toward the media supply path 1316, the movable media guide 1212 in FIG. 13 shown in an extended position, in which the movable media guide 1212 contacts the sheet along the media supply path 1316. In some examples, the movable media guide 1212 exerts a force on the sheet sufficient to straighten the sheet downstream (i.e., the platen roller 1308) of the movable media guide 1212. However, in other examples, the movable media guide 1212 does not exert such a force on the sheet when the sheet is at rest and along the media supply path 1316.
BE2017 / 5953
When the platen roller starts to rotate, the platen roller 1308 is adapted to receive both the above clearance and to accelerate the spool 1300 from rest for outputting additional print media. When incorporating any play in the sheet and when accelerating the coil 1300 to an operating speed, the platen roller 1308 rapidly increases the tension in the sheet. The rapid increase in tension causes the sheet to deviate from the media supply path 1316 to a modified media supply path 1316 ', as shown in FIG. 13 with a dotted line.
The movable media guide 1212 is adapted, as a result of its base to the media supply path 1316 (ie the media supply path at rest), to exert a force on the sheet to dampen the movement of the sheet from the media. feed path 1316 to the modified media feed path 1316 '. Upon slowing the movement away from the media supply path 1316 and to the modified media supply path 1316 ', the movable media guide 1212 is arranged to move from the extended position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 13, to a compressed position shown in dotted lines.
When the platen roller 1308 stops rotating, the sheet also stops running through the nip. The coil 1300 slows down and comes to a stop. However, during the deceleration of the spool, additional print media is outputted from the spool 1300 that is not passed along the media feed path 1316 '(because the platen roller 1308 no longer moves). Therefore, the media sheet incurs some play and returns to lie at rest along the media supply path 1316. Releasing the play in the media sheet, with the bias of the movable media guide 1212, causes the movable media guide 1212 to be in the extended position returns, in preparation for slowing down another movement of the sheet to the modified media path 1316 'when the operation of the media processing apparatus 1100 is resumed.
BE2017 / 5953
Referring now to FIG. 14, an example is shown of a structural arrangement for movably coupling the movable media guide 1212 to the frame 1204. FIG. 14 shows the frame 1204 and the movable media guide 1212 in a disassembled state isolated from the rest of the media processing apparatus 1100. The movable media guide 1212 includes a pair of pins 1400 extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide 1212. The pins 1400 extend from the sides of the movable media guide 1212 at or near an upstream edge of the movable media guide 1212, and are adapted to engage corresponding recesses provided as splints 1404 on the frame 1204 in the example shown. The pins 1400 are arranged to rotate in the splints 1404, allowing movement (i.e. rotation) of the movable media guide 1212 about an axis 1408 defined between two points of contact between the frame 1204 and the movable media guide 1212.
The movable media guide 1212 further comprises a pair of detents 1412 extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide 1212. In the example shown, the detents 1412 extend from the sides of the movable media guide 1212 at or near a downstream edge of the movable media guide 1212. The pawls 1412 are adapted to engage respective contact portions 1416 of the frame 1204 when the movable media guide 1212 is in the extended position (as shown in, for example, FIG. 12). In other words, the pawls 1412 are arranged to limit the extension of the movable media guide 1212 to the media supply path 1316 under the bias action of the bias device 1216.
The movable media guide 1212 also includes a protrusion 1420 extending from a surface thereof (in particular, the
BE2017 / 5953 surface that turns away from the media supply path 1316 in the example shown). The protrusion 1420 is adapted to couple one end of the biasing device 1216 to the movable media guide. In other examples, additional protrusions are provided on the movable media guide 1212 to couple additional bias device thereto. In further examples, the protrusion 1420 is replaced with an indentation, as shown in FIG. 9 and as discussed in connection with the example media processing apparatus 100. In still further examples, the protrusion 1420 is omitted; for example, the biasing device 1216 as shown in FIG. 12 is replaced by a coil spring at one or both pins 1400. Each spring comprises a pair of arms that are in contact with the movable media guide 1212 and the frame 1204, respectively.
In further exemplary media processing devices, combinations of the structural features of the exemplary media processing devices 100 and 1100 are implemented. For example, a further media processing apparatus includes a frame similar to the frame 1204 shown in FIG. 14, with shoulders as shown in FIG. 7. The movable media guide in such an exemplary media processing apparatus includes pawls such as pawls 800 shown in FIG. 8 for engaging the shoulders, instead of the pawls 1412 shown in FIG. 14.
In the preceding specification, specific implementations are described. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the specification set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such changes are intended to be included within the scope of the current teaching.
BE2017 / 5953
In addition, relational terms in this document such as first and second, above and below, and the like may only be used to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual relationship or arrangement between such entities or actions . The terms "include", "include", "have", "have", "contain", "contain" or any other variation thereof are intended to include a non-exclusive recording such that a process, method, article, or device that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements, but may include other elements that are not explicitly stated or inherent in such a process, method, article, or device. An element preceded by "includes ... one", "has ... one", "contains ... one", does not exclude, without limitation, the existence of additional identical elements in the process, process, article, or device that includes the element. The term "one" is defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms "substantially", "necessary", "approximately", "approximately" or any other version thereof are defined as being close to as understood by those skilled in the art, and in one non-limiting implementation the term is defined as being within 10%, in another implementation within 5%, in another implementation within 1% and in yet another implementation within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and also not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "arranged" in a certain way is arranged in at least that way, but can also be arranged in ways that are not mentioned.
It is clear that some implementations may consist of one or more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices") such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field-programmable
BE2017 / 5953 port arrays (FPGAs) and uniquely stored program instructions (including software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to, in combination with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all functions of the method described herein and / or control device. Alternatively, some or all of the functions can be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.
In addition, an implementation as a computer-readable storage medium with computer-readable code stored thereon can be implemented to program a computer (e.g., including a processor) to perform a method as described herein and for which rights are requested. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM ( Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that those skilled in the art, notwithstanding potentially significant efforts and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will be easily able to provide such software instructions. and programs and ICs with minimal experiments.
The summary of the disclosure is provided to help the reader quickly identify the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted on the understanding that it will not be used to the
BE2017 / 5953 to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Further in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that different features have been grouped with different implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure should not be interpreted as an intention that the claimed implementations require more features than are explicitly stated in each conclusion. Instead, as reflected in the following claims, inventive matter lies in less than all the features of a single disclosed implementation. The following conclusions are therefore included in the Detailed description, with each conclusion standing on its own as a separately claimed subject. The mere fact that certain measures are repeated in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used as an advantage. Many variants will be clear to the skilled person. All variants are understood to fall within the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

权利要求:
Claims (17)
[1]
CONCLUSIONS
A media processing device comprising:
a cavity adapted to receive a supply of media;
a media output;
a fixed media guide that is adapted to guide the media along a media supply path from the cavity to the media exit;
a platen roller adapted to move the media along the media feed path from the feed to the media output; and a movable media guide extending laterally across the media feed path at a position between the platen roller and the cavity, the movable media guide being biased toward the media feed path and adapted to exert a force on the media, the movable media guide is convexly bent toward the media supply path, the fixed media guide comprising an arm convexly bent toward the media supply path; and the movable media guide is rotatably coupled to the arm and movable relative to the arm.
[2]
The media processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed comprises a spool, the media being in a storage state on the spool, and wherein the movable media guide is adapted to straighten the media as the media moves from the spool to the media exit moves.
[3]
The media processing apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the movable media guide is adapted to dampen movement of the media from the media supply path as soon as the platen roller starts to move the media.
[4]
The media processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movable media guide comprises:
BE2017 / 5953 a surface that extends laterally over the media supply path; and a biasing device adapted to bias the movable media guide to the media feed path.
[5]
The media processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a print head, wherein the platen roller and the print head form a nip.
[6]
The media processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover that is adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the movable media guide is movably coupled to the cover.
[7]
The media processing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fixed media guide comprises an arm that is coupled to the cover, the movable media guide being movably coupled to the arm.
[8]
The media processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the arm is movably coupled to the cover and is adapted to move between a maintenance position when the cover is in the open position and an operating position when the cover is in the closed position;
wherein the arm is fixed in the operating position when the cover is in the closed position.
[9]
The media processing apparatus according to any of claims 7 or 8, wherein the movable media guide includes a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide and adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the arm about the movable media guide rotatably attachable to the arm.
[10]
The media processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the arm comprises a shoulder extending from one side of the arm near the media supply path;
wherein the shoulder defines a cavity therein;
wherein the movable media guide includes a pawl that extends laterally
BE2017 / 5953 extends from one side of the movable media guide and which is adapted to engage a wall of the cavity when the movable media guide is in an extended position.
[11]
The media processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the biasing device is coupled between the arm and the movable media guide.
[12]
The media processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the biasing device comprises a spring coupled between the arm and the movable media guide.
[13]
A media processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 9-12, wherein the pair of pins extends laterally from the opposite sides near an upstream edge of the movable media guide.
[14]
A media processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 10-13, wherein the pawl extends laterally from the side near a downstream edge of the movable media guide.
[15]
The media processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 6-14, wherein the fixed media guide includes a frame fixed to the cover; wherein the movable media guide is movably coupled to the frame.
[16]
The media processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the movable media guide comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite sides of the movable media guide and adapted to engage corresponding recesses of the frame to rotatably engage the movable media guide on the frame. to link.
[17]
A media processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the movable media guide comprises a pawl extending laterally from a side of the movable media guide and arranged around a wall
BE2017 / 5953 of the frame when the movable media guide is in an extended position.

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同族专利:

公开号 | 公开日

BE1025507A1|2019-03-21|

DE112017006332T5|2019-08-29|

US9919540B1|2018-03-20|

WO2018111495A1|2018-06-21|

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法律状态:
2019-05-08| FG| Patent granted|Effective date: 20190328 |

优先权:

申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

US15379755|2016-12-15|

US15/379,755|US9919540B1|2016-12-15|2016-12-15|Movable media guide for media processing devices|

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