Claims
- 1. A printer for transferring an image onto a recording sheet that is transported from an input path to an output path comprising:
- an input structure for conveying said recording sheet along an input path;
- a cylindrical platen roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising a circumferential outer surface, said roller being disposed so that said circumferential surface is substantially tangential to said input path;
- a clamping mechanism movably attached to said roller and extendable between at least a first radial position and a second radial position, said mechanism comprising first and second side members each extending substantially radially from said longitudinal axis toward said circumferential surface, a clamper bar disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis and being attached to said first and second side members, and a bias mechanism for biasing said clamping mechanism to said second radial position wherein said clamper bar is pressed against said circumferential surface; and
- a control arm having an engagement end that is moveable between at least a first position, wherein said clamping mechanism is engaged and mechanically moved to said first radial position, and a second position, wherein said clamping mechanism is not engaged and said clamper bar is in said second radial position;
- wherein each of said first and second side members comprises an engagement structure and said control arm comprises at said engagement end at least two mechanically linked engagement surfaces, each engagement surface being directly engageable with a corresponding one of said engagement structures, and
- wherein said control arm comprises at its engagement end, first and second distal ends, each distal end having at least one of said engagement surfaces.
- 2. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engagement structure comprises a pin.
- 3. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second side members and said bar define a substantially U-shape structure and wherein each said first and second side members has an engagement structure comprising a pin.
- 4. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control arm is swingable to said first position and into operative engagement with said engagement structure for release of said clamper bar from the surface of said roller to permit movement of a recording sheet between said surface and said bar.
- 5. The printer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said control arm is swingable out of operative engagement with said engagement structure in said second position.
- 6. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engagement structure comprises a pin and said distal ends comprise two oppositely disposed pin engaging surfaces.
- 7. The printer as set forth in claim 5, further comprising mechanical drive means operatively engaged with a proximal end of said control arm for moving said control arm between said first and second positions.
- 8. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bias mechanism comprises a spring.
- 9. The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism is operative to clamp at least the leading edge of the recording sheet.
- 10. A printer for transferring an image onto a recording sheet that is transported from an input path to an output path comprising:
- an input structure for conveying the recording sheet along an input path;
- an output structure for conveying the recording sheet along an output path;
- a cylindrical platen roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising a circumferential outer surface, said roller being disposed so that said circumferential surface is substantially tangential to each of said input path and said output path;
- a clamping mechanism, moveably attached to said roller and extendable between at least a first radial position and a second radial position, comprising first and second side members each extending substantially radially from said longitudinal axis toward said circumferential surface, a clamper bar disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis and being attached to said first and second side members, and a bias mechanism for biasing said clamping mechanism to said second radial position wherein said clamper bar is sheet-securably pressed against said circumferential surface; and
- a control arm, moveable between at least a first position, wherein said clamping mechanism is engaged and mechanically moved to said first radial position, and a second position, wherein said clamping mechanism is not engaged and said clamper bar is in said second radial position, said control arm being moveable to said first position in at least first and second directions; and
- wherein said clamping mechanism is rotatable with said roller about said axis while in said second radial position to plural rotational positions comprising at least first and second rotational positions at which said mechanism may be engaged by said control arm and mechanically moved to said first radial position.
- 11. The printer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said clamping mechanism is moveable into said first radial position at said first and second rotational positions, said rotational positions being proximate to each of said input structure and said output structure, respectively.
- 12. The printer as set forth in claim 11, wherein said recording sheet passing through said input structure may be clamped between said bar and said circumferential surface by moving said clamping mechanism to said first position, whereby the paper sheet may be passed, and then moving said clamping mechanism to said second position, wherein said recording sheet may be clamped.
- 13. The printer as set forth in claim 12, wherein said recording sheet is clamped between said bar and said circumferential surface and wrapped around said circumferential surface for printing thereon, and proximate to said output structure said clamping mechanism is moved to said recording sheet first position, whereby said may be passed to said output path.
- 14. The printer as set forth in claim 11, wherein at least one of said first and second side members comprises an engagement structure for mechanical engagement by said control arm at said first and second rotational positions.
- 15. The printer as set forth in claim 14, wherein said control arm is swingable to said first position and into operative engagement with said engagement structure for release of said clamper bar from the surface of said roller to permit movement of a recording sheet between said surface and said bar.
- 16. The printer as set forth in claim 15, wherein said control arm is swingable out of operative engagement with said engagement structure in said second position.
- 17. The printer as set forth in claim 16, further comprising mechanical drive means for moving said control arm between said first and second positions.
- 18. The printer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said clamping mechanism is operative to clamp at least the leading edge of said recording sheet.
Priority Claims (10)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-114631 |
May 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-154906 |
Jun 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-97544 U |
Aug 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-215239 |
Aug 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-215240 |
Aug 1989 |
JPX |
|
2-19449 |
Jan 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-52103 |
Mar 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-52111 |
Mar 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-27518 U |
Mar 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-92640 |
Apr 1990 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/520,709 filed May 8, 1990 abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
31270 |
Feb 1986 |
JPX |
39364 |
Feb 1988 |
JPX |
53075 |
Mar 1988 |
JPX |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
520709 |
May 1990 |
|