A printer may include a media transport assembly to move and/or route print media through the printer, and a print engine to print on the print media. To route the print media through the printer, the media transport assembly may include a variety of guides, rollers, wheels, etc.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in the example of
With a media transport assembly and a media transport method, as disclosed herein, rotation of an input/output roller, such as, for example, input/output roller 160, may be coupled with rotation of a feed roller, such as, for example, feed roller 140, when the feed roller is rotated in one direction, and temporarily decoupled from rotation with the feed roller when the feed roller is rotated in an opposite direction. As such, a common (single) motor may be used for actuation or operation of both the input/output roller and the feed roller. Accordingly, use of a common (single) motor may provide cost savings as compared to other systems which rely on multiple motors.
In addition, coupling rotation of an input/output roller with rotation of a feed roller, such as, for example, coupling rotation of input/output roller 160 with rotation of feed roller 140, as disclosed herein, and temporarily decoupling rotation of the input/output roller from rotation with the feed roller, such as, for example, temporarily decoupling rotation of input/output roller 160 from rotation with feed roller 140, as disclosed herein, enables support of media within a media path by the input/output roller when or as the media is advanced by the feed roller. Thus, the input/output roller may be used to both direct media into the media path and support media within media the path such that the media path may be shorter than the longest length of supported media. Accordingly, temporarily decoupling rotation of the input/output roller from rotation with the feed roller may allow for a shorter media path and, therefore, smaller printer footprint as compared to other systems which rely on a media path longer than the longest length of supported media to avoid media jams between feed and input/output rollers when the media is in contact with both the feed and input/output rollers and the feed and input/output rollers are both rotated in the same direction.
In examples, transmission 230 transmits rotational power of drive motor 204 to feed shaft 220 and input/output shaft 210. In one implementation, transmission 230 includes a drive gear 232 (see, for example,
In examples, delay clutch 240 couples rotation of input/output shaft 210 with rotation of feed shaft 220 (and, therefore, couples rotation of input/output roller 212 with rotation of feed roller 222) and temporarily decouples rotation of input/output shaft 210 from rotation of feed shaft 220 (and, therefore, temporarily decouples rotation of input/output roller 212 from rotation of feed roller 222). In one implementation, delay clutch 240 couples and temporarily decouples rotation of input/output shaft 210 with rotation of feed shaft 220 (and, therefore, rotation of input/output roller 212 with rotation of feed roller 222) based on a direction of rotation, including, more specifically, a direction of rotation of drive gear 232 (as driving feed shaft 220 and feed roller 222). As further described herein,
In one implementation, transmission 230 includes an intermediate gear 236 between drive gear 232 and delay clutch 240 to transfer rotational power from drive gear 232 to delay clutch 240, and an intermediate gear 238 between delay clutch 240 and drive gear 234 to transfer rotational power from delay clutch 240 to drive gear 234. As such, in examples, rotational power of motor 204 is transmitted to feed shaft 220 via drive gear 232, and transmitted to input/output shaft 210 via drive gear 232, intermediate gear 236, delay clutch 240, intermediate gear 238, and drive gear 234. Although intermediate gear 236 and intermediate gear 238 are each illustrated as being a single gear, intermediate gear 236 or intermediate gear 238 may each include more than one gear.
In examples, first delay gear 242, second delay gear 244, and delay disc 246 include respective engagement features to couple or transfer rotation of first delay gear 242 to second delay gear 244 via delay disc 246 and temporarily decouple rotation of second delay gear 244 from rotation of first delay gear 242 based on a direction of rotation of first delay gear 242. In one implementation, first delay gear 242 includes a protrusion or raised portion on a side facing delay disc 246, such as, for example, radial arm or radial rib 243 on side 2421, second delay gear 244 includes a protrusion or raised portion on a side facing delay disc 246, such as, for example, radial arm or radial rib 245 on side 2441, and delay disc 246 includes a protrusion or raised portion on a side facing first delay gear 242, such as, for example, arcuate rib 247 on side 2461 and a protrusion or raised portion on a side facing second delay gear 244, such as, for example, arcuate rib 248 on side 2462. As such, rotation of first delay gear 242 is transferred to second delay gear 244 via delay disc 246 based on interaction or contact between radial rib 243 and arcuate rib 247 and interaction or contact between radial rib 245 and arcuate rib 248.
For example, with rotation of drive gear 232 in a first direction D1 and, therefore, rotation of first delay gear 242 in first direction D1, radial rib 243 of first delay gear 242 engages or contacts arcuate rib 247 of delay disc 246 and arcuate rib 248 of delay disc 246 engages or contacts radial rib 245 of second delay gear 244 such that rotation of first delay gear 242 is transferred to second delay gear 244 via delay disc 246. Thus, delay disc 246 and second delay gear 244 both rotate in first direction D1 with first delay gear 242 such that drive gear 234 rotates in first direction D1 with drive gear 232 (via intermediate gear 236, delay clutch 240, and intermediate gear 238). Accordingly, rotation of input/output shaft 210 and, therefore, rotation of input/output roller 212, is coupled with rotation of feed shaft 220 and, therefore, rotation of feed roller 222.
With rotation of drive gear 232 in a second direction D2, opposite first direction D1, and, therefore, rotation of first delay gear 242 in second direction D2, however, radial rib 243 of first delay gear 242 is disengaged from or out of contact with arcuate rib 247 of delay disc 246 for an amount of rotation of first delay gear 242 (for example, a number of degrees of rotation of first delay gear 242). As such, first delay gear 242 rotates in second direction D2 without corresponding rotation of second delay gear 244. Second delay gear 244, therefore, is disengaged from rotation with first delay gear 242 such that second delay gear 244 may remain stationary as first delay gear 242 rotates for an amount of rotation (for example, a number of degrees of rotation). Thus, delay clutch 240 temporarily decouples rotation of drive gear 234 from rotation of drive gear 232. Accordingly, rotation of input/output shaft 210 and, therefore, rotation of input/output roller 212, is temporarily decoupled from rotation of feed shaft 220 and, therefore, rotation of feed roller 222 based on a direction and amount of rotation.
With further rotation of drive gear 232 in second direction D2 and, therefore, further rotation of first delay gear 242 in second direction D2, radial rib 243 of first delay gear 242 engages or contacts arcuate rib 247 of delay disc 246 and arcuate rib 248 of delay disc 246 engages or contacts radial rib 245 of second delay gear 244 such that rotation of first delay gear 242 is transferred to second delay gear 244 via delay disc 246. Thus, delay disc 246 and second delay gear 244 both rotate in second direction D2 with first delay gear 242 such that drive gear 234 rotates in second direction D2 with drive gear 232. Accordingly, rotation of input/output shaft 210 and, therefore, rotation of input/output roller 212, is coupled (re-coupled) with rotation of feed shaft 220 and, therefore, rotation of feed roller 222.
In one implementation, a position of media 206 within media path 202 (for example, a position of end or leading portion 207 of media 206 within media path 202) is determined or sensed by a sensor 203 such that a change in direction of rotation of drive gear 232 (for example, from direction D1 to direction D2) is triggered or initiated based on end or leading portion 207 of media 206 passing sensor 203 buy a defined amount or distance.
In stage 503, with delay clutch 240 in transmission 230 between drive gear 232 and drive gear 234, rotation of drive gear 234 (and, therefore, rotation of input/output shaft 210 and input/output roller 212) is temporarily decoupled from rotation of drive gear 232, as indicated by power transmission path 252. More specifically, in examples, delay clutch 240 is disengaged such that first delay gear 242 (
With the continued rotation of drive gear 232 in direction D2, the delay (temporary decoupling) of delay clutch 240 is exhausted or used up such that drive gear 234 is re-engaged (via delay clutch 240 and intermediate gear 238) and rotated with drive gear 232 in direction D2. As such, rotation of drive gear 232 (via motor 204,
In examples, with transport of media 206 through media path 202 by feed roller 222, end or leading portion 207 of media 206 and end or trailing portion 208 of media 206 may overlap in media path 202, as illustrated in the example of
At 602, method 600 includes rotating a feed roller in a first direction, such as rotating feed roller 222 in direction D1, as illustrated, for example, in
At 604, method 600 includes coupling rotation of an input/output roller with the rotating the feed roller in the first direction to direct media into a media path, such as coupling rotation of input/output roller 212 with rotating of feed roller 222 in direction D1 to direct media 206 into media path 202, as illustrated, for example, in
At 606, method 600 includes rotating the feed roller in a second direction opposite the first direction to advance the media within the media path, such as rotating feed roller 222 in direction D2 opposite direction D1 to advance media 206 within media path 202, as illustrated, for example, in
With media transport assembly 200 and media transport method 600, as disclosed herein, rotation of input/output roller 212 may be coupled with rotation of feed roller 222 when feed roller 222 is rotated in one direction, and temporarily decoupled from rotation with feed roller 222 when feed roller 222 is rotated in an opposite direction. As such, a common (single) motor (e.g., motor 204,
In examples, media transport assembly 200 may be included in a printing system.
Print media 718 can be any type of suitable sheet or roll material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, and the like, and may include rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or other panels. Nozzles 716 are typically arranged in columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of fluid from nozzles 716 causes characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images to be printed on print media 718 as printhead assembly 702 and print media 718 are moved relative to each other.
Fluid supply assembly 704 supplies fluid (e.g., ink or other liquid) to printhead assembly 702 such that fluid flows from fluid supply assembly 704 to printhead assembly 702. In one example, printhead assembly 702 and fluid supply assembly 704 are housed together in an inkjet cartridge or pen 720, as an example of a fluid ejection assembly. In another example, fluid supply assembly 704 is separate from printhead assembly 702 and supplies fluid to printhead assembly 702 through an interface connection, such as a supply tube.
Mounting assembly 706 positions printhead assembly 702 relative to media transport assembly 708, and media transport assembly 708 positions print media 718 relative to printhead assembly 702. Thus, a print zone 722 is defined adjacent to nozzles 716 in an area between printhead assembly 702 and print media 718. In one example, printhead assembly 702 is a scanning type printhead assembly. As such, mounting assembly 706 includes a carriage for moving printhead assembly 702 relative to media transport assembly 708 to scan print media 718. In another example, printhead assembly 702 is a non-scanning type printhead assembly. As such, mounting assembly 706 fixes printhead assembly 702 at a prescribed position relative to media transport assembly 708. Thus, media transport assembly 708 positions print media 718 relative to printhead assembly 702.
Electronic controller 710 typically includes a processor, firmware, software, memory components including volatile and non-volatile memory components, and other printer electronics for communicating with and controlling printhead assembly 702, mounting assembly 706, and media transport assembly 708. Electronic controller 710 receives data 724 from a host system, such as a computer, and temporarily stores data 724 in a memory. Typically, data 724 is sent to inkjet printing system 700 along an electronic, infrared, optical, or other information transfer path. Data 724 represents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such, data 724 forms a print job for inkjet printing system 700 and includes print job commands and/or command parameters.
In one example, electronic controller 710 controls printhead assembly 702 for ejection of fluid drops from nozzles 716. Thus, electronic controller 710 defines a pattern of ejected fluid drops which form characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images on print media 718. The pattern of ejected fluid drops is determined by the print job commands and/or command parameters.
Printhead assembly 702 includes one (i.e., a single) printhead die 714 or more than one (i.e., multiple) printhead die 714. In one example, printhead assembly 702 is a wide-array or multi-head printhead assembly. In one implementation of a wide-array assembly, printhead assembly 702 includes a carrier that carries a plurality of printhead dies 714, provides electrical communication between printhead dies 714 and electronic controller 710, and provides fluidic communication between printhead dies 714 and fluid supply assembly 704.
In one example, inkjet printing system 700 is a drop-on-demand thermal inkjet printing system wherein printhead assembly 702 includes a thermal inkjet (TIJ) printhead that implements a thermal resistor as a drop ejecting element to vaporize fluid in a fluid chamber and create bubbles that force fluid drops out of nozzles 716. In another example, inkjet printing system 700 is a drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet printing system wherein printhead assembly 702 includes a piezoelectric inkjet (PIJ) printhead that implements a piezoelectric actuator as a drop ejecting element to generate pressure pulses that force fluid drops out of nozzles 716.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein.