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:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 19, 1996
David A Biedermann, Austin, TX (US);
Dresser Industries, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for preventing paper jams in thermal printers are disclosed. A thermal printer of the present invention includes a motor for advancing the free end of a roll of paper between a thermal print head and a roller in a conventional manner. A controller provides control signals to the motor for controlling the amount and direction of movement of the motor. A sensor is positioned just beyond the thermal print head for detecting the presence of paper thereunder and for providing a paper detect signal indicative of same to the controller via an appropriate interface. Upon the elapse of a predetermined time period, the controller reads the paper detect signal generated by the sensor and, if the signal indicates that paper is detected by the sensor, the controller causes the motor to retract the paper. Conversely, if the paper detect signal indicates that paper is not detected under the sensor, the controller causes the motor to advance the paper so that it is detected by the sensor. If a paper jam occurs, a message is sent to an operating system to notify an attendant to take remedial action.