US3746142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Line printer paper tensioning mechanism
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Paper tension mechanism for a line printer having an output tractor drive wherein the tension mechanism is utilized in lieu of an input tractor drive. A cross shaft has pinwheels secured near each end thereof to engage with perforated paper, and one end of the shaft carries a slip bearing and a torsion collar with a torsion spring therebetween, the spring being in contact with the bearing and the collar, and wherein the slip bearing is pinched between a fixed block and a spring loaded block. Rotation of the cross shaft, in response to driving of the output tractors, winds the torsion spring until the force is sufficient to rotate the slip bearing. The ''''drag'''' provided by the bearing applies tension to the paper in the area between the output tractors and the pinwheels, and when paper movement is stopped, as during the printing operation, the torsion spring tends to unwind and thereby holds the paper in tension. Adjustment means is also provided for the slip bearing by either increasing or decreasing the amount of pinch of the split block on the bearing, which, in turn, affects the tension in the paper.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hepp
- 👤 J White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:14
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J15/00; B41J15/16; B41J11/00; B41J11/26; B41J11/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
Record material tensioning mechanism in combination with rotatable means for driving record material, said tensioning mechanism comprising: shaft means idly supported and spaced from said means for driving, means secured to the shaft means and engageable with the record material to be rotated thereby upon movement Thereof, clutch means on the shaft means including a collar member secured to the shaft means and a bearing member carried thereon, means connected with the collar member for biasing the bearing member in a direction opposite to the rotation of said means for driving, and means for clamping said bearing member to provide tension on the record material during the time of rotation and during the time of stoppage of the means secured to the shaft means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
Record material tensioning mechanism in combination with rotatable means for driving record material, said tensioning mechanism comprising: shaft means idly supported and spaced from said means for driving, means secured to the shaft means and engageable with the record material to be rotated thereby upon movement Thereof, clutch means on the shaft means including a collar member secured to the shaft means and a bearing member carried thereon, means connected with the collar member for biasing the bearing member in a direction opposite to the rotation of said means for driving, and means for clamping said bearing member to provide tension on the record material during the time of rotation and during the time of stoppage of the means secured to the shaft means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tensioning mechanism of claim 1 including means for adjusting the clamping means for increasing or decreasing the force required to rotate said bearing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tensioning mechanism of claim 1 wherein the means secured to the shaft means are pin wheels for engagement with the record material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tensioning mechanism of claim 1 wherein the means for biasing is a torsion spring engageable with the collar member and with the bearing member tending to inhibit rotation of the bearing member until such time as sufficient force is exerted by the spring to rotate said bearing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tensioning mechanism of claim 1 wherein the clamping means includes a fixed block and a spring loaded movable block substantially encircling the bearing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tensioning mechanism of claim 1 wherein the collar member and the bearing member include opposed surfaces for said biasing means to engage thereon for causing said bearing member to rotate in one direction in response to rotation of the means for driving and for biasing said bearing member in the opposite direction upon stoppage of the means for driving.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a line printer having a typedrum and a plurality of print hammers positioned to strike against said typedrum, record material tensioning apparatus for providing proper tension on record material as said record material passes between the typedrum and the print hammers, the combination with output tractor mechanism for driving the record material in one direction, a cross shaft spaced from said tractor mechanism and having pin wheels secured to the cross shaft for carrying said record material in a plane for printing thereon, clutching mechanism on said cross shaft including biasing means for resisting movement of the pin wheels upon initial operation of the tractor mechanism until sufficient force is exerted on said biasing means to rotate said clutching mechanism, said cross shaft and said pin wheels, and means for adjusting the clutching mechanism for increasing or decreasing the tension in the record material during the driving thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a line printer having a typedrum and a plurality of print hammers positioned to strike against said typedrum, record material tensioning apparatus for providing proper tension on record material as said record material passes between the typedrum and the print hammers, the combination with output tractor mechanism for driving the record material in one direction, a cross shaft spaced from said tractor mechanism and having pin wheels secured to the cross shaft for carrying said record material in a plane for printing thereon, clutching mechanism on said cross shaft including biasing means for resisting movement of the pin wheels upon initial operation of the tractor mechanism until sufficient force is exerted on said biasing means to rotate said clutching mechanism, said cross shaft and said pin wheels, and means for adjusting the clutching mechanism for increasing or decreasing the tension in the record material during the driving thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In the printer of claim 7 wherein the clutching mechanism includes a collar secured to the cross shaft, a slip bearing carried on one end of the cross shaft, and a torsion spring engageable with the collar and the slip bearing for resisting initial rotation of the cross shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the printer of claim 7 wherein the means for adjusting the clutching mechanism includes a first member fixed in relation to the cross shaft and a second member movable in relation thereto and biasing means for moving the second member relative to the first member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
In the printer of claim 8 wherein the collar and the slip bearing include opposed surfaces for engagement by the torsion spring for causing said slip bearing to rotate in one direction in response to rotation of the tractor mechanism and for biasing said slip bearing in the other direction upon stoppage of rotation of the tractor mechanism.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |