The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 29, 1983
Filed:
Apr. 07, 1983
James E Cushman, San Jose, CA (US);
Mario G Plaza, Fremont, CA (US);
Helmut K Waibel, Fremont, CA (US);
Durango Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved print medium driving mechanism for a line or serial printer adapted for advancing either individual cut sheets or a continuous web having regularly spaced perforations preformed along its edges. The driving mechanism operates in either a friction drive mode or a spur drive mode. In friction drive mode, print medium inserted into the mechanism, is guided to a driven friction feed roller. The medium is then clamped between the feed roller and a plurality of pressure rollers. Driven by the feed roller, the medium is advanced and guided around that roller and then between immediately adjacent surfaces of a printhead and a platen. If cut sheets are being driven, they are inserted between lateral guides adjusted to the width of the sheet. Such sheets, after being advanced past the platen, contact a deflector surface of a cover which guides them into a second clamping, driven engagement in a friction feed assembly. Alternatively, perforated, preformed continuous web printing medium may be mated along its edges to spur drive members. Such printing medium engages the spur drive members both upon entering into and departing from its path around the feed roller. With the continuous web medium thus engaged, the driving mechanism is switched to spur drive mode which releases the print medium from frictional engagement at the feed roller. Further, this mode causes the continuous web to be contacted across its width by a tension bar placing it in tension along its path between the spur drive members and around the feed roller.