Patent Application
20190127170
The present invention relates to the field of printers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a two-part spindle mechanism for a paper bucket of a printer that uses rolls of paper.
Printers that print from paper rolls are widely used in various locations, including at the point of sale in retail establishments, in kiosks such as ATM and ticket machines, in lottery machines, and anywhere the printing of labels is required, such as in the food preparation area of fast food restaurants or the like. Such printers include label printers, ticket printers, receipt printers, and the like (collectively referred to herein as “label and receipt printers”).
Prior art roll printers typically employ either a paper bucket without any spindle support for the paper roll, where the paper roll rides on the bottom of the paper bucket, or a removable spindle that spans across the paper bucket. If no spindle support is provided, unnecessary drag on the paper roll is created, resulting in increased potential for paper jams or rips, and requiring a more robust paper drive mechanism. Paper buckets utilizing a spindle that spans the paper bucket are difficult to use as the spindle must be at least partially removed for paper loading, and are not easily adjustable to different paper widths.
It would be advantageous to provide a paper bucket that enables easy paper roll loading and removal, including drop-in or push-in paper loading. It would also be advantageous to provide a paper bucket that can accommodate large paper rolls without excess drag. It would be further advantageous to provide a paper bucket that is easily adjustable to accommodate paper rolls of varying widths.
The apparatus and methods of the present invention provide the foregoing and other advantages.
The present invention relates a two-part spindle mechanism for a paper bucket of a printer that uses rolls of paper, as well as a paper bucket having such a spindle mechanism, a printer having a paper bucket with such a spindle mechanism, and corresponding methods.
In an example embodiment of a paper bucket for a printer in accordance with the present invention, the paper bucket may comprise a curved base portion for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, two oppositely disposed side walls movably mounted to the curved base portion, and a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly extending through each of the side walls and adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part and a second spring loaded spindle part movably connected to one another.
The first and second spindle parts of each of the spindle assemblies may be movably connected to one another via a pin and hole arrangement. In one example embodiment, the first spindle part may be arranged below the second spindle part. Each of the spindle parts may be pivotally connected to an outer side of the corresponding side wall.
The first spindle part may have chamfered bottom and side surfaces, and a flat upper surface. The second spindle part may have chamfered side surfaces, a flat bottom surface, and a flat upper surface.
The pin may extend from one of the upper surface of the first spindle part or the bottom surface of the second spindle part. The hole may be arranged in the other of the upper surface of the first spindle part or the bottom surface of the second spindle part.
The first spindle part and the second spindle part of each of the spindle assemblies may be biased by a biasing force into a position extending into the paper bucket. In such an embodiment, asserting a force against the biasing force on one of the first spindle part or the second spindle part results in movement of both the first spindle part and the second spindle part in a direction away from an interior of the paper bucket. The biasing force for each of the spindle parts may be provided by a corresponding spring mechanism. The spring mechanism may comprise an arrangement of one or more springs, a resilient member, or the like.
The paper bucket may further comprise a drive mechanism for moving the side walls. The drive mechanism may comprise a worm gear with opposing externally threaded sections. Each of the side walls may be mounted on a corresponding one of the threaded sections via one of corresponding internally threaded sections of the side walls or corresponding internally threaded mounting blocks connected to the side walls. The worm gear may be mounted to side supports of the paper bucket.
The drive mechanism may also comprise a thumb wheel and gear mechanism connected to the worm gear for adjusting positioning of the side walls to accommodate varying paper widths.
Each of the side walls may be guided for mutual displacement along the base portion by inter-engaging sections of the side walls and sections of the curved base portion.
The paper bucket may be mounted in a printer housing of a printer. The printer housing may be pivotally mounted on a base to provide at least one of a vertical or horizontal mounting arrangement. Such an arrangement enables either wall mounting or table mounting of the printer, or mounting on an inclined surface.
The present invention also encompasses a support for supporting a paper roll in a paper bucket of a printer. In one example embodiment, a support for supporting a paper roll may comprise a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly extending through each of two oppositely disposed side walls of a paper bucket and adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part and a second spring loaded spindle part movably connected to one another.
The first and second spindle parts of each of the spindle assemblies may be movably connected to one another via a pin and hole arrangement. The first spindle part may have chamfered bottom and side surfaces, and a flat upper surface. The second spindle part may have chamfered side surfaces, a flat bottom surface, and a flat upper surface. The pin may extend from one of the upper surface of the first spindle part or the bottom surface of the second spindle part. The hole may be arranged in the other of the upper surface of the first spindle part or the bottom surface of the second spindle part.
The support may also comprise additional features described herein in connection with the paper bucket or printer having such a paper bucket.
The present invention also encompasses a printer with a paper bucket as set forth above. An example embodiment of such a printer may comprise a printer housing, and at least one paper bucket mounted in the printer housing. Each of the at least one paper buckets may comprise a curved base portion for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, and two oppositely disposed side walls movably mounted to the curved base portion. A two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly may be provided which extends through each of the side walls and is adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part and a second spring loaded spindle part movably connected to one another.
The at least one paper bucket may comprise two paper buckets.
The printer may further comprise a base. The printer housing may be pivotally mounted on the base to provide at least one of a vertical or horizontal mounting arrangement.
The printer may also include additional features discussed above in connection with the various embodiments of the paper bucket and support.
A method for providing a paper bucket for a printer may also be provided. An example embodiment of such a method may comprise providing a curved base portion for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, movably mounting two oppositely disposed side walls to the curved base portion, and providing a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly which extends through each of the side walls and is adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part and a second spring loaded spindle part movably connected to one another.
Corresponding methods for providing a support for a paper roll and a printer are also encompassed by the present invention.
The methods may also include additional features discussed above in connection with the various embodiments of the paper bucket, support, and printer.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
An example embodiment of a paper bucket 10 for a printer in accordance with the present invention is shown in
As shown in
The first and second spindle parts 18 and 20 of each of the spindle assemblies may be movably connected to one another via a pin and hole arrangement. For example, the first spindle part 18 may be provided with a pin 22 that extends into a hole 24 in the second spindle part 20. In one example embodiment, the first spindle part 18 may be arranged below the second spindle part 20.
As shown in
As shown in
The pin 22 may extend from one of the upper surface 32 of the first spindle part 18 or the bottom surface 38 of the second spindle part 20. The hole 24 may be arranged in the other of the upper surface 32 of the first spindle part 18 or the bottom surface 38 of the second spindle part 20.
The first spindle part 18 and the second spindle part 20 of each of the spindle assemblies 16 may be biased by a biasing force into a position extending through the opening 13 and into an interior 44 of the paper bucket 10. In such an embodiment, asserting a force against the biasing force on either one of the first spindle part 18 or the second spindle part 20 results in movement of both the first spindle part 18 and the second spindle part 20 in a direction away from an interior 44 of the paper bucket (as described in detail in connection with
Due to the shape of each of the spindle parts 18 and 20 as shown in
In particular, forces exerted by the outside of the paper roll (on insertion) or by the inside of the paper roll (on removal) against any of the chamfered surfaces 26, 28, 30, 34, or 36 of either of the spindle parts 18 or 20 results in movement of the both of the spindle parts 18 and 20 in a direction out of the opening 13, as a result of the connection between the spindle parts 18 and 20 provided by the pin 22 and hole 24.
The shape of the spindle assemblies 16 allows for the loading of the paper roll without the need to adjust the side walls 14 in or out when replacing a paper roll of equal widths. In addition, such a configuration can accommodate large paper rolls without excess drag. For example, the spindle assemblies 16 of the present invention enable a print mechanism to work with larger paper rolls. For example, with the present invention, a print mechanism that was able to advance at the most a 2.2 inch wide paper roll with a 4 inch diameter is now capable of advancing a three inch wide paper roll with a five inch diameter without any increase in drag.
As shown in
The drive mechanism 46 may also comprise a thumb wheel 60 (
One of the threaded sections 50, 52 of the worm gear 48 may comprise left-handed threads while the other of the threaded sections may comprise right-handed threads. Thus, moving the thumb wheel 60 in one direction simultaneously moves both side walls 14 towards one another, and moving the thumb wheel 60 in the opposite direction simultaneously moves both side walls 14 away from one another. In this manner, the width of the paper bucket can be easily adjusted to accommodate paper rolls of varying widths. For example, paper rolls of any increment in size between approximately one to three inches wide (or more) can be accommodated easily in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different ranges in paper roll size may be easily accommodated by providing differently sized paper buckets and/or a longer or shorter worm gear.
Each of the side walls 14 may be guided for mutual displacement along the base portion 12 by inter-engaging sections 62 of the side walls 14 and sections 64 of the curved base portion 12. For example, the sections 62 of the side walls may be in the form of slots and the sections 64 of the curved base portion may be in the form of edge sections that engage in the slots.
As shown in
The printer housing 68 may be pivotally mounted on a base 73 to provide at least one of a vertical or horizontal mounting arrangement.
In the example embodiment shown in
In operation, to adjust an angle of the printer housing 68, the pull handle 92 is pulled, engaging the lever mechanisms 90, which results in removal of the locking pins 80 from their positions in one of the notches 82, 84, 86, or 88. The slots 98 permit the lever mechanisms 90 freedom of movement to disengage and reengage the locking pins 80 from the notches 82, 84, 86, or 88, while at the same time guiding the pivoting motion about the pivot rod 96. Once the locking pins 80 are disengaged from the corresponding notch (82, 84, 86 or 88), the printer housing 68 can be pivoted about the pivot rod 96 into a desired position, at which time the pull handle 92 can be released. Upon release of the pull handle 92, the biasing force of the biasing spring(s) 93 urges the locking pins 80 into a notch corresponding to the desired position, upon alignment of the locking pins 80 and the corresponding notches.
The present invention also encompasses a support for supporting a paper roll in a paper bucket of a printer. The support for supporting a paper roll may comprise a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly 16 extending through each of two oppositely disposed side walls 14 of a paper bucket 10 and adapted to support a paper roll therebetween, as discussed above.
The present invention also encompasses a printer 70 with a paper bucket 10 as discussed above.
In addition, the present invention also encompasses a method for providing a paper bucket 10 for a printer 70. An example embodiment of such a method may comprise providing a curved base portion 12 for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, movably mounting two oppositely disposed side walls 14 to the curved base portion 12, and providing a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly 16 which extends through each of the side walls and which is adapted to support a paper roll therebetween, as discussed above.
Corresponding methods for providing a support for a paper roll and a printer are also encompassed by the present invention.
The support, the printer, and the methods may also include additional features of the various embodiments of the paper bucket discussed above and set forth in the Figures.
It should now be appreciated that the present invention provides advantageous methods and apparatus for supporting a paper roll in a paper bucket of a printer.
Although the invention has been described in connection with various illustrated embodiments, numerous modifications and adaptations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
