Advanced Color Technology, Inc.

David Allen

Arthur L Cleary

Calvin Winey

An ink jet printer with a roll of paper stored within an imaging drum. The paper through a longitudinal opening in the drum to the outside, passes around the drum, where it is held in place during the imaging process, and then ejected from the drum to the desired length and cut off by a cutter that extends the full width of the paper. While the imaged sheet is being ejected from the drum, the next length of paper is drawn from the interior of the drum and around the outside of the drum in position for the next imaging operation. The length of paper that remains projecting from the drum after the imaged paper has been cut off is then withdrawn into the interior of the drum through the longitudinal opening in the drum surface until only a short stub, which will not interfere with the subsequent imaging operation, remains protruding from the drum. Precise movement of the paper is under the control of a counter that is responsive to the paper movement. This counter movement also provides an indication in the event the paper jams and warns when the supply of paper within the drum is nearing its end. The entire operation is automatic under the control of a central processor unit.

Control system and method for handling sheet materials

An ink jet printer having an imaging drum with a supply of paper within the drum. The paper is transported by rollers mounted on the imaging drum that are controlled by the transverse position of a cutter mechanism that cuts off the imaged paper. The paper passes from the supply spool in the imaging drum through a longitudinal slot in the drum to the outside, around the exterior of the drum, where it is held in place during the imaging process, and then ejected from the drum to the desired length and cut off. While the imaged sheet is being ejected from the drum, the next length of paper is drawn from the drum and around the outside of the drum in position for the next imaging operation. The length of paper that remains projecting from the drum after the imaged paper has been cut off is then withdrawn into the interior of the drum through the longitudinal opening in the drum surface until only a short stub, which will not interfere with the subsequent imaging operation, remains protruding from the drum. After each imaging operation, the cutter mechanism provides mechanical control of the paper handling drive assembly for the ejection, withdrawal and tensioning of the paper.

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

David Allen