BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional image transfer devices, such as printers, a platen is often provided to support print media, such as paper, during printing. The platen provides a support surface for the media in the region of the printer in which printing occurs. Desirably, the platen maintains the media in a substantially flat profile during printing. This helps alleviate print defects such as paper jams and protect against potential damage to the printer. In some situations, the platen can be warped due to moments exerted by the mounting features of the platen and by associated fasteners. This problem can be aggravated if the platen is formed of lightweight, thin, stamped material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a printer comprising a platen, a chassis sidewall, and an attachment portion connecting the platen to the chassis sidewall. The attachment portion biases the platen toward the chassis sidewall.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration of a platen attached to chassis sidewalls according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustration of a platen attached to a chassis sidewall according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
a is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall before assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
b is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall after assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view illustration of a platen attached to a chassis sidewall according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustration of a platen attached to a chassis sidewall according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustration of a platen attached to a chassis sidewall according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
a is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall before assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
b is a perspective view illustration of a chassis sidewall before assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a an exploded perspective view illustration of a platen attached to a chassis sidewall according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustration of an assembly method of a platen to chassis sidewalls according to the embodiments of the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a front view illustration of a platen and chassis sidewall according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a chassis platen assembly 14 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown and described. By way of the non limiting example depicted in FIG. 1, the chassis platen assembly 14 includes a pair of opposed chassis sidewalls 16 with platen 12 connected thereto. Recesses 35 are formed in an upper portion of each of the chassis sidewalls 16, in which platen 12 is positioned. Platen 12 is connected to the chassis sidewalls 16 at respective attachment portions 36, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
The illustrations depicted in FIGS. 2-8 illustrate constructions of one of the chassis sidewalls 16. It is understood that both chassis sidewalls 16 contain features similar to those illustrated in each of the figures. However, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that modifications and variations between each of the sidewalls and combinations of any of the illustrated preferred embodiments may be incorporated into chassis platen assembly 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which a locking datum tab 18 is integrally formed with the sidewall 16. The locking datum tab 18 generally extends from chassis sidewall 16 and projects toward the platen 12 (in the assembly orientation of platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16). In one embodiment, locking datum tab 18 is received in receiving formation 18a in platen 12 to prevent movement of platen 12 along the Y-axis direction relative to the chassis sidewalls 16. It is understood, however, that other means and methods for restraining movement of platen 12 along the Y-axis direction may be effectuated, and the present invention is not limited to that disclosed herein. By way of example of one such variation, platen 12 can include locking datum tab 18 formed integrally therein while chassis sidewall 16 contains receiving formation 18a. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other modifications and variations are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention.
One or more support datum tabs are integrally formed in each chassis sidewall 16. In a preferred embodiment, support datum tabs 19 and 21 extend from chassis sidewall 16 in a direction toward platen 12 (in the assembly orientation of platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16). Datum tabs 19 and 21 provide locating surfaces on which to position and locate platen 12 along the Z-axis for proper assembly to chassis sidewalls 16. Support datum tabs 19 and 21 position the platen with respect to the chassis sidewalls 16 and other components generally included with the image transfer device for which the present invention is applied.
In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2-3, attachment portion 36 is integrally formed with chassis sidewall 16. Attachment portion 36 extends from chassis sidewall 16, through leg 33, terminating at mounting tab 28. Chassis sidewall 16 preferably includes one or more flex portions 27a and 27b. Leg 33 preferably integrally connects to mounting tab 28 and chassis sidewall 16 via flex portions 27a and 27b. Although the resulting shape depicted is a Z shape, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that other modifications and configurations are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention. Leg 33 is separated from chassis sidewall 16 by voids 23 and 25 to allow movement of leg 33 when chassis sidewall 16 is attached to platen 12 as will be described in greater detail.
A fastening member 31, such as a screw, bolt or other threaded means, has a shank 32 that extends through an opening in platen 12 and engages an aperture 34 in mounting tab 28. Fastening member 31 affixes platen 12 to the chassis sidewall 16. It should be noted, however, that fastening member 31 is one representative example of a fastening means used in conjunction with the present invention, and that modifications and variations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art. By way of a non-limiting example, the fastening member 31 could also be a pop rivet, adhesive, welding or other similar or known fastening means.
As best understood with respect to the non-limiting example of FIG. 5, the centerline of aperture 34 is aligned with tabs 18, 19, 21 and chassis sidewall 16 with respect to the X-axis. As a result, no moment is created about the Y-axis when fastening member 31 is connected to mounting tab 28. When platen 12 is connected to the mounting tab 28, platen 12 rests on the datum tabs 19 and 21.
To minimize the moment about the X-axis, datum tabs 19 and 21, each located on an opposite side of the fastening member 31 along the Y-axis, provide support and resistance to rotation of platen 12 about the X-axis. As such, when the fastening member 31 is tightened during attachment of platen 12 to mounting tab 28, mounting tab 28 is pulled toward contact with the platen undersurface 13. In this manner, the Z-axis location is not lost because mounting tab 28 acts as a biasing spring/feature, not a mounting feature, as will be described in greater detail.
With reference to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown having a modified attachment portion 36a. Attachment portion 36a is similar in function to that shown and described with reference to FIG. 2. However, attachment portion 36a includes a shoulder 37 integrally connected to the sidewall 16. Leg 33 is interposed between and integrally connected to shoulder 37 and a mounting tab 28a. Shoulder 37 is typically wider than leg 33 to provide additional support for attachment portion 36a. The thicker shoulder 37 provides increased support to resist plastic deformation or shearing from torque generated from the rotation of fastening member 31.
As shown in FIG. 4, additional support of platen 12 can be provided by a transverse support 56 that is disposed between chassis sidewall 16. The support as illustrated includes a pair of laterally projecting ears 33a that help define a receiving formation 33b. The shank 32 of the fastening member 31 passes through the receiving formation 33b to engage an extruded hole 32a, located at the underside of the mounting tab 28a. It will be evident that there are additional embodiments and applications that are not disclosed in the detailed description but which clearly fall within the scope of the present invention.
With reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 9, a preferred embodiment of the assembly and operation of the above described embodiments of the present invention is shown and described by way of a non-limiting example. In step 64 of FIG. 9, fastening members 31 such as screws are passed through apertures in platen 12 and threaded to apertures 34 in mounting tabs 28. In step 66, fastening members 31 are then secured to mounting tabs 28 until flex portions of the attachment portions 36a are flexed and tabs 19 and 21 are compressed against platen 12 for positioning of platen 12. Attachment portion 36a is connected to platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16 at distances to create a mechanical bias in the attachment portion 36 and draw platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16 toward each other along the Z axis. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, “before” and “after” assembly configurations of attachment portion 36 are shown. In FIG. 2a, attachment portion 36 is shown in its “un-sprung and un-flexed” initial state. When attachment portion 36 is attached to platen 12 as shown in FIG. 2b, attachment portion 36 is stretched to its “sprung” position, causing platen 12 to be drawn toward chassis sidewall 16. The spacing of locations where attachment portion 36 connects to platen 12 and chassis sidewalls 16 stretch attachment portion 36 to establish a “sprung” state or condition.
Flex portions 27a and 27b, as well as the remainder of attachment portion 36, preferably allow mounting tabs 28 to move at least in the Z and X directions. Accordingly, due to the flexibility of attachment portion 36, torsional stresses induced by fastening member 31, which are at least partially due to movement of the mounting tabs 28a toward platen 12, are generally absorbed by attachment portion 36 and not by platen 12. As such, as the stress in platen 12 is lessened, stresses caused variations in platen 12 are reduced, and platen 12 is better maintained in its preferred substantially flat configuration. Flexing of mounting tabs 28 also provides additional reduction of the bending load on platen 12 when assembled to chassis sidewalls 16. To further reduce movement in the X-direction, the attachment portion 36 can commonly be made more flexible by utilizing a thinner leg 33. Making the attachment portion 36 more flexible allows the attachment portion 36 to have controllable Z-axis hold-down forces. By way of a non-limiting example, if one desires to increase the amount of force exerted between platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16, the flexibility of attachment portion 36 can be reduced, thereby creating increased Z-axis hold-down forces when the platen is attached to the attachment portion 36a.
Referring now to FIG. 6, an attachment portion 36b of another embodiment is shown and described. By way of example, without limitation, FIG. 6 illustrates attachment portion 36b as including base portion 44, flex portion 46, and mounting tab 28b. Preferably, base portion 44 is integrally formed with an edge of aperture 50. However, it is understood that other alternate means may be employed for attaching base portion 44 to chassis sidewall 16 such as by fastening means, adhesion, welding or other suitable means.
By way of the example illustrated in FIG. 6, base portion 44 typically extends toward an interior area between opposing chassis sidewall 16 (with reference to FIG. 1). However, base portion 44 and the remainder of the attachment portion can alternatively extend outside the chassis sidewalls. Flex portion 46 integrally extends from the upper portion (in the Z direction) of base portion 44 and traverses substantially parallel to a mating face of platen 12 (in an assembly configuration of platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16). A thickness in the X-axis direction of flex portion 46 is reduced with respect to that of base portion 44 to provide increased flexibility with respect to base portion 44 for reasons which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. It should be noted, however, that alternate modifications may be made to attachment portion 36b to provide flexibility qualities beyond that described herein. For instance, flex portion 46 may be constructed of a different material from that of base portion 44, which exhibits greater elastic deformation properties. Likewise, other modifications to the dimensional characteristics of flex portion 46 may be made in conjunction to base portion 44 to provide elastic deformation characteristics. Additionally, base portion 44 can be modified to exhibit flexibility characteristics, thereby eliminating flex portion 46 altogether. Moreover, it should be noted that the flexibility characteristics exhibited by this preferred embodiment may be elastic or plastic deformation.
With reference to FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of mounting tab 28b is described in greater detail. Mounting tab 28b has an aperture 34 (e.g., see FIG. 8) passing therethrough along the Z-direction. Preferably, mounting tab 28b is positioned substantially parallel to platen 12 (in the assembly orientation of platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16). In one embodiment, mounting tab 28b includes stop tab 54 that extends from mounting tab 28b. Stop tab 54 is proximate inner side of chassis sidewall 16 to prevent over-torqueing movement of mounting tab 28b with respect to chassis sidewall 16. Of course, depending on the orientation of the remainder of the attachment portion, stop tab 54 can also be proximate the outer side of chassis sidewall 16. Stop tab 54 is positioned on a counter clockwise position with respect to chassis sidewall 16 and looking downward with respect to the figure, such that rotation of fastening member 31 causes abutment of stop tab 54 with chassis sidewall 16 in the event of excessive torque, during threading, of fastening member 31 as will be described in greater detail.
Referring now to FIG. 8, one attachment of mounting tab 28b to platen 12 is shown and described. A fastening member, such as a fastening member 31 having a shank 32 extends through an opening 80 in the platen 12. As in the previous embodiments, other fastening members beyond those described in the present figure may be used as a fastening means for securing platen 12 to mounting tab 28b. Preferably, the fastening member 31 is threaded to aperture 34 in mounting tab 28b. In one embodiment, the diameter of threads on shank 32 are sized slightly larger than the diameter of aperture 34. Accordingly, the threads of shank 32 machine corresponding threads in the inner diameter of aperture 34 of mounting tab 28b to create an inner locking engagement between shank 32 and mounting tab 28b. As described with reference to FIG. 7, the extruded hole 32a secures to threads of shank 32 for providing additional securing of mounting tab 28b to platen 12.
Mounting plate 56 is typically interposed between platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16. Mounting plate 56 includes locating tabs 58 and attachment tab 60. Each locating tab 58 has a bottom portion 82 that abuts locating surface 62 and a top portion 84 that abuts platen 12. The machining of locating surfaces 62 and locating tabs 58 in conjunction with the thickness of locating tabs 58 positions platen 12 at a desired level and orientation when platen 12 is secured to mounting tab 28b (see FIG. 8). Accordingly, in a similar manner as tabs 19 and 21 act to locate platen 12 in previously-described embodiments, locating tabs 58 work in conjunction with locating surfaces 62 of chassis sidewalls 16 to position platen 12 in a proper configuration with respect to components of the image transfer device for which the present invention is applied.
With reference to FIGS. 6-9, an embodiment of the assembly and operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention is shown and described by way of a non-limiting example. In step 64 of FIG. 9, fastening members such as fastening members 31 are passed through apertures in platen 12, mounting plate 56 and threaded to apertures 34 in mounting tabs 28b. In step 66, fastening members 31 are then secured to mounting tabs 28 until flex portions of attachment portions 36b are flexed and locating tabs 58 are compressed between locating surfaces 62 and platen 12 for positioning of platen 12. As can be seen from the figure, attachment portion 36b is connected to platen 12 and chassis sidewall 16 at distances to create a bias in the attachment portion and draw platen 12 toward chassis sidewall 16 toward each other. Flex portion 46 of each attachment portion 36b as well as the remainder of attachment portion 36b allows mounting tab 28b to move in the X, Y and Z directions. Additionally, attachment portion 36 allows mounting tab 28b to rotate at least about the Z axis. Accordingly, due to the flexibility of attachment portion 36, torsional stresses induced by fastening member 31 due to turning and fastening are generally absorbed by attachment portion 36 and not by the platen 12. As such, the reduced stresses in platen 12 act to reduce variations therein and to maintain platen 12 in its preferred flat configuration. In some embodiments, to prevent over-flexing or over-rotation of mounting tab 28b about the Z axis, stop tab 54 (see FIG. 6) abuts chassis sidewall 16 at a predetermined torque of mounting tab 28b about the Z axis. However, stop tab 54 is not necessary for the operation of the present invention and may be omitted. One skilled in the art will also recognize that other types of stop features may be employed in the present invention, or that no stop features at all may be employed, and that the present invention is not limited to that disclosed in the figures or discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 10, the generally rectangular configuration of the present embodiment allows clearing for the assembly of platen 12 to be positioned adjacent to attachment portion 36b.
Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the present invention is shown and described. Here, mounting plate 56 is replaced by tabs 70. Tabs 70 act as the locating surface for which to position platen 12 with respect to chassis sidewalls 16. Accordingly, with respect to the example assembly of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, in step 64 of FIG. 9, fastening members such as fastening members 31 are passed through apertures in platen 12 and threaded to apertures 34 in mounting tabs 28b. In step 66, fastening members 31 are then secured to mounting tabs 28 until flex portions of the attachment portions 36b are flexed, tabs 70 are compressed against platen 12 for positioning of platen 12, and a predetermined amount of torque has been applied to the fastening member 31.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred and alternative embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. The foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. Where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Patent Grant
6893173
