Patent US4091913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4091913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing apparatus with printing material non-motion detector
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1976-12-06
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Granted: 1978-05-30
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Expires: 1996-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A printing apparatus includes a supply of printing material, a drive assembly coupled to the printing material and capable when enabled of advancing the material along a predetermined path past a printing station, and a detection device for detecting when the printing material fails to be advanced by at least a first predetermined amount when the drive assembly has been enabled to advance the material by at least a second predetermined amount.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P. Ku
- 👤 Fereidoon Matin
- 👤 Richard D. Trezise
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:56
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A printing apparatus comprising: a supply of printing material; a carriage assembly to which said supply of printing material is mounted; a carriage drive assembly coupled to said carriage assembly for reciprocally moving same along a predetermined path past a printing station; drive means mounted to said carriage assembly and operatively coupled to said supply of printing material for advancing said printing material in one direction only in response to and in synchronization with the movement of said carriage assembly in either direction along said predetermined path; and means for detecting when said printing material fails to be advanced by at least a first predetermined amount when said drive means has been enabled to advance said printing material by at least a second predetermined amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A printing apparatus comprising: a supply of printing material; a carriage assembly to which said supply of printing material is mounted; a carriage drive assembly coupled to said carriage assembly for reciprocally moving same along a predetermined path past a printing station; drive means mounted to said carriage assembly and operatively coupled to said supply of printing material for advancing said printing material in one direction only in response to and in synchronization with the movement of said carriage assembly in either direction along said predetermined path; and means for detecting when said printing material fails to be advanced by at least a first predetermined amount when said drive means has been enabled to advance said printing material by at least a second predetermined amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a roller engageable by said printing material and rotatable in response to advancement of said material by said drive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said roller has detectable indicia formed on a surface thereof and said means for detecting includes means for sensing each time one of said indicia passes a predetermined position during rotation of said roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said detectable indicia comprise a plurality of light-reflective strips and said means for sensing includes means for directing light toward said predetermined position and means for accepting light reflected off a reflective strip passing said predetermined position during rotation of said roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The printing apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for detecting further includes means, responsive to the acceptance of reflected light by said means for accepting, for generating a first signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means responsive to said first signal for disabling further advancement of said printing material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising position transducer means coupled to said carriage drive assembly for generating position signal pulses as said carriage assembly is moved in either direction, the number of said position signal pulses generated being proportional to the distance of movement of said carriage assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising counter means for counting said position pulses and for generating a second signal when the count capacity of said counter means has been reached, said second predetermined amount being represented by the count capacity of said counter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The printing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means coupled to said means for generating a first signal for applying each generated first signal to said counter means for resetting same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The printing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the spacing between said reflective strips defines said first predetermined amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The printing apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second predetermined amount is at least about four times as great as said first predetermined amount.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The printing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a print member mounted to said carriage assembly and capable, when enabled, of printing alphanumeric characters, wherein said first predetermined amount is equivalent to a carriage movement of approximately about twelve character spaces, whereas said second predetermined distance is equivalent to a carriage movement of approximately about fifty-one character spaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The printing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said print member is a matrix print head capable, when enabled, of printing alphanumeric characters in a dot matrix, wherein each character space is comprised of five dot columns and the count capacity of said counting means is equal to 256.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The printing apparatus of claim 13, wherein said supply of printing material, at least a portion of said drive means and said roller are included in a cartridge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The printing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said printing material is an endless-loop of ribbon bearing a predetermined marking substance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-29 | 1981-11-28 | 1982-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-29 | 1985-11-28 | 1986-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-28 | 1990-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |