Patent US4732501A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4732501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for loading of a web into a printer
Assignee: IBM Information Products Corp
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Filing: 1986-04-15
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Granted: 1988-03-22
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Expires: 2006-04-15
Abstract
Abstract The printer for use with data processing apparatus has a normal mode for moving the web in normal operation and a load assist mode for operating at a slower than normal rate for loading the web. The printer comprises means for recording information on the web including a platen (14) attached to the printer and a print head (13) for generating characters. The print head (13) is disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from the platen (14) to define a print station (15) therebetween. A means (24, 25, 33) for engaging and moving the web (D) through the print station (15) and signal means (60) for generating normal and load assist mode signals are provided. Means for driving the means for engaging and moving the web is responsive to the normal mode signal from the signal means for operating during normal printing operation and responsive to the load assist mode signal from the signal means for operating at a slower than normal rate to facilitate alignment and engagement of the web with the means for engaging and moving the web during web loading operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Tim V. Angst
- 👤 Joel G. Goodwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J15/00; B41J15/04; B41J15/042; B41J11/00; B41J11/36; B41J11/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S400/00; Y10S400/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A printer for use with data processing apparatus comprising: means for recording information on a web, the means for recording information including a platen attached to the printer and a print head for generating characters, the print head being disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from the platen to define a print station therebetween; means for engaging and moving the web through the print station; signal means for generating a normal mode signal and a load assist mode signal; and means for driving the means for engaging and moving the web, the means for driving being responsive to the normal mode signal from said signal means for operating at a normal rate during normal printing operation, and being responsive to the load assist mode signal from said signal means by operating at a slower than normal rate to facilitate alignment and engagement of the web with the means for engaging and moving the web during web loading operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A printer for use with data processing apparatus comprising: means for recording information on a web, the means for recording information including a platen attached to the printer and a print head for generating characters, the print head being disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from the platen to define a print station therebetween; means for engaging and moving the web through the print station; signal means for generating a normal mode signal and a load assist mode signal; and means for driving the means for engaging and moving the web, the means for driving being responsive to the normal mode signal from said signal means for operating at a normal rate during normal printing operation, and being responsive to the load assist mode signal from said signal means by operating at a slower than normal rate to facilitate alignment and engagement of the web with the means for engaging and moving the web during web loading operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the signal means includes a signal station, and the signal means, responding to the presence or absence of a web at the signal station, generates a normal mode signal when a web is present at the signal station and is enabled to generate a load assist mode signal when a web is absent at the signal station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for driving operates at a constant rate in the load assist mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the signal means includes a signal station, and the signal means responds to the presentation of an edge of a web at the signal station by changing from a load assist mode signal to a normal mode signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for driving responds to a transition from a load assist mode signal to a normal mode signal by advancing the means for engaging and moving the web a predetermined distance so that the leading edge of the web is advanced to and then stopped at a predetermined location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the signal means is responsive to a manual input.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein said means for driving includes a stepper motor responsive to electrical pulses from a controller, the controller being responsive to the normal mode signal from the signal means for generating pulses for the stepper motor for normal printing operation and the load assist mode signal from the signal means for generating pulses for the stepper motor for constant speed, slower than normal operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the signal means responds to a manual input by, sequentially, providing a load assist mode signal for slower than normal rate of operation, and by maintaining the load assist mode signal and the slower than normal rate of operation at least until detection of the leading edge of a web at a predetermined location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The printer of claim 8 wherein the signal means responds to a manual input and a signal reflecting the absence of a web in the printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for engaging and moving the web comprises movable means having protruding pins for engaging corresponding perforations in the web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for engaging and moving the web comprises friction roll means having at least one driven roll and at least one opposing pressure roll forming a nip therebetween to frictionally engage and move the web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for engaging and moving the web comprises movable means having protruding pins for engaging corresponding perforations in the web, and friction roll means having at least one driven roll and at least one opposing pressure roll forming a nip therebetween to frictionally engage and move the web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the means for engaging and moving the web is disposed upstream of the print station to advance the leading edge of the web to a first predetermined location in the print station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the printer further includes a plurality of web feeding guide path means to accommodate and feed a plurality of webs through the print station, wherein said signal means further generates a signal responsive to the presence or absence of a web in at least one of the web feeding guide path means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printer as in claim 14 wherein the signal means generates a signal responsive to the presence or absence of a web in each of the web feeding guide path means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The printer of claim 14 wherein the means for driving responds to a transition from a load assist mode signal to a normal mode signal arising from the presentation of a web to any one of the web feeding guide path means by advancing the means for engaging and moving the web a predetermined distance so that the leading edge of the presented web is advanced to and then stopped at a predetermined location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
206 words
A printer for use with data processing apparatus comprising: means for recording information on a web, the means for recording information including a platen attached to the printer and a print head for generating characters, the print head being disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from the platen to define a print station therebetween; means for engaging and moving the web through the print station; signal means for generating a normal mode signal and load assist mode signal, said signal means including a signal station that responds to the presence or absence of a web at the signal station and further including a manual input means, said signal means generating a load assist mode signal in response to the absence of a web and a manual input; and means for driving the means for engaging and moving the web, the means for driving being responsive to the normal mode signal from said signal means for operating at a normal rate during normal printing operation, and being responsive to the load assist mode signal from said signal means by operating at a slower than normal rate to facilitate alignment and engagement of the web with the means for engaging and moving the web during web loading operations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
206 words
A printer for use with data processing apparatus comprising: means for recording information on a web, the means for recording information including a platen attached to the printer and a print head for generating characters, the print head being disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from the platen to define a print station therebetween; means for engaging and moving the web through the print station; signal means for generating a normal mode signal and load assist mode signal, said signal means including a signal station that responds to the presence or absence of a web at the signal station and further including a manual input means, said signal means generating a load assist mode signal in response to the absence of a web and a manual input; and means for driving the means for engaging and moving the web, the means for driving being responsive to the normal mode signal from said signal means for operating at a normal rate during normal printing operation, and being responsive to the load assist mode signal from said signal means by operating at a slower than normal rate to facilitate alignment and engagement of the web with the means for engaging and moving the web during web loading operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A printer as in claim 17 wherein the signal means responds to the presentation of an edge of a web at the signal station by changing from a load assist mode signal to a normal mode signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The printer of claim 17 wherein the means for driving responds to a transition from a load assist mode signal to a normal mode signal by advancing the means for engaging and moving the web a predetermined distance so that the leading edge of the web is advanced to and then stopped at a predetermined location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The printer of claim 17 wherein the means for driving operates at a constant rate in the load assist mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
The printer of claim 17 wherein said means for driving includes a stepper motor responsive to electrical pulses from a controller, the controller being responsive to the normal mode signal from the signal means for generating pulses for the stepper motor for normal printing operation and the load assist mode signal from the signal means for generating pulses for the stepper motor for constant speed, slower than normal operation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for loading a web into a printer for use with data processing apparatus, the printer having a normal mode of operation for moving the web at a normal rate in normal printing and a load assist mode of operation for loading the web into the printer, the method of loading the printer comprising: enabling the load assist mode of operation; initiating a slower than normal rate of operation of the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web through a web guide path means; loading the web onto the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web; sensing, at a sensor station along the web guide path means, a leading edge of the web; generating a signal in response to the sensing of the leading edge of the web at the sensor station; continuing to advance the sensed leading edge of the web for a predetermined distance after generation of the first signal; and enabling the normal mode of operation for succeeding web advance operations.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for loading a web into a printer for use with data processing apparatus, the printer having a normal mode of operation for moving the web at a normal rate in normal printing and a load assist mode of operation for loading the web into the printer, the method of loading the printer comprising: enabling the load assist mode of operation; initiating a slower than normal rate of operation of the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web through a web guide path means; loading the web onto the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web; sensing, at a sensor station along the web guide path means, a leading edge of the web; generating a signal in response to the sensing of the leading edge of the web at the sensor station; continuing to advance the sensed leading edge of the web for a predetermined distance after generation of the first signal; and enabling the normal mode of operation for succeeding web advance operations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of initiating a slower than normal rate of operation comprises manually inputting a signal to the printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of initiating a slower than normal rate of operation comprises detecting the edge of a web at a signal station and generating a second signal for initiating the slower than normal rate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of loading the web comprises driving the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web at a slower than normal rate and manually presenting and loading the web onto the means for engaging and moving the web.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of initiating a slower than normal rate of operation comprises operating the means on the printer for engaging and moving the web at a constant and slower than normal rate of operation.
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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) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-09-21 | 1992-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-22 | 1995-09-21 | 1996-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-22 | 1999-09-21 | 2000-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |