Single-pass color plotter

Claim 2

Transport apparatus for a printer/plotter having plural print heads arranged successively along a transport path for single-pass printing of an image on a print media, said transport apparatus comprising: a plurality of separately controllable drive means for moving the print media along the transport path while maintaining media tension, a first one of said drive means being positioned at an input location of a first one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means being positioned at an output location of each print head, said first drive means being operable as an entry drive for the first print head, a last one of said drive means being operable as an exit drive for a last one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means simultaneously being operable as an exit drive of an immediately preceding print head and as an entry drive of an immediately succeeding print head; a plurality of tension monitoring means, each engageable with the print media, for providing a tension signal indicative of the print media tension as the print media moves between said drive means; and control means, coupled to each said drive means, for providing drive signals in response to receipt of the tension signals to maintain print media tension within a predetermined range between each said drive means.

Claim 3

The transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive means include an elongate drive roller and an elongate pinch roller positioned in parallel relation to one another with the print media therebetween in gripping relation.

Claim 4

The transport apparatus of claim 2, and wherein the drive means each includes a microstepper motor operable in response to the control means to drive the drive roller.

Claim 5

The transport apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the drive means each includes a microstepper motor operable in response to the control means.

Claim 6

The transport apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the tension monitor means includes an element and means for movably biasing the element in engagement with the print media as the print media moves through the print station, and means coupled to the element to provide said signal as a function of positional movement of the element.

Claim 7

Transport apparatus for a single-pass printer/plotter for printing of an image on a print media, the transport apparatus comprising: means for defining a transport path along which the print media travels; means, mounted to the transport path, for constraining one periphery of the print media along a predetermined line of travel of the transport path; and drive means for moving the media along the transport path by imparting a first force to the print media in the direction of media travel while imparting a second force in a direction generally transverse the direction of media travel, parallel the media surface, and away from the constrained periphery.

Claim 8

Transport apparatus for a single-pass printer/plotter for printing of an image on a print media, the transport apparatus comprising: means for defining a transport path along which the print media travels; means, mounted to the transport path, for constraining one periphery of the print media along a predetermined line of travel of the transport path; and drive means for moving the media along the transport path by imparting a first force to the print media in the direction of media travel while imparting a second force in a direction generally transverse the direction of media travel, parallel the media surface, and away from the constrained periphery.

Claim 9

A single-pass color printer for imprinting color images on a media by superimposing a plurality of individual images one upon the other, comprising: support means defining a transport path for movement of the media therealong; a plurality of print stations mounted in sequential order along the transport path, each print station being operable to print a corresponding one of the individual images; and transport means for moving the media from an entry to the transport path to an exit of the transport path through each of the print stations, the transport means including a first drive means mounted to the transport path upstream of the print stations and, for each print station, a second drive means mounted to pull the media through the corresponding print station, means for sensing a media path length within each print station, the media path length being variable within a predetermined range, and control means for each print station for controlling the velocity with which the immediately preceding first or second drive means provides the media to the print station relative to the second drive means of the print station.

Claim 10

A single-pass color printer for imprinting color images on a media by superimposing a plurality of individual images one upon the other, comprising: support means defining a transport path for movement of the media therealong; a plurality of print stations mounted in sequential order along the transport path, each print station being operable to print a corresponding one of the individual images; and transport means for moving the media from an entry to the transport path to an exit of the transport path through each of the print stations, the transport means including a first drive means mounted to the transport path upstream of the print stations and, for each print station, a second drive means mounted to pull the media through the corresponding print station, means for sensing a media path length within each print station, the media path length being variable within a predetermined range, and control means for each print station for controlling the velocity with which the immediately preceding first or second drive means provides the media to the print station relative to the second drive means of the print station.

Claim 11

The single-pass color printer of claim 7, and including a marker station for imprinting sequential registration marks on the media for establishing predetermined positional relation between the registration marks and the media; and wherein each of the print station includes sensing means for detecting said registration marks and means for registering the image printed by the print station to the registration marks.

Claim 12

The single-pass color printer of claim 7, wherein the transport means includes means for sensing variations of the media path length within each print station.

Claim 13

The single-pass color printer of claim 9, wherein the transport means includes means for sensing the variations of the media path length and for adjusting the media path length to a predetermined nominal length.

Claim 14

The single-pass color printer of claim 7, wherein the media includes a substantially linear edge the transport means including means for constraining the media edge to a predetermined line of travel along the transport path.

Claim 15

The single-pass color printer of claim 11, the media having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures proximate the media edge and wherein the constraining means includes a plurality of sprocketed means mounted to the support means at spaced locations along the line of travel, the sprockets being operable to engage the apertures to constrain said apertures to said line of travel.

Claim 16

The single-pass color printer of claim 12, wherein the first and second drive means each impart a force to the media having a first component oriented generally in a direction of media travel along the transport path and a second component in a direction away from the media edge.

Claim 17

The single-pass color printer of claim 12, the maintaining means includes means for biasing the media into engagement with the sprocket means.

Claim 18

The transport apparatus of claim 6, the drive means including a pair of elongate drive rollers extending across and forming an angle less than 90 degrees with the transport path, the drive rollers being mounted substantially parallel to one another and spaced for receiving the media therebetween.

Claim 19

The transport apparatus of claim 6, the media being of the type having spaced apertures formed adjacent the constrained periphery, the constraining means including a sprocketed roller for engaging the spaced apertures.

Claim 20

The transport apparatus of claim 6, including means for monitoring the opposing periphery to detect transverse media variations along the transport path.

Claim 21

The transport apparatus of claim 17, the monitoring means including optical sensing means mounted to be located proximate the opposing periphery as the media travels the transport path.

Claim 22

Transport apparatus for a printer-plotter having plural print heads arranged successively along a transport path for a single-pass printing of an image on a print media, the transport apparatus comprising: means, mounted to the transport path, for constraining one periphery of the print media along a predetermined line of travel of the transport path; a plurality of separately controllable drive means for moving the print media along the transport path by imparting a first force to the print media in the direction of media travel while imparting a second force in a direction generally transverse the direction of media travel, parallel the media surface, and away from the constrained periphery, a first one of said drive means being positioned at an input location of a first one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means being positioned at an output location of each print head, said first one of said drive means being operable as an entry drive for the first print head, a last one of said drive means being operable as an exit drive for a last one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means simultaneously being operable as an exit drive of an immediately preceding print head and as an entry drive of an immediately succeeding print head; a plurality of tension monitoring means, engageable with said print media, for providing a tension signal indicative of a print media tension as the print media moves between said drive means; and control means, coupled to each said drive means, for providing drive signals in response to receipt of said tension signals to maintain said print media tension within a predetermined range between each said drive means.

Claim 23

Transport apparatus for a printer-plotter having plural print heads arranged successively along a transport path for a single-pass printing of an image on a print media, the transport apparatus comprising: means, mounted to the transport path, for constraining one periphery of the print media along a predetermined line of travel of the transport path; a plurality of separately controllable drive means for moving the print media along the transport path by imparting a first force to the print media in the direction of media travel while imparting a second force in a direction generally transverse the direction of media travel, parallel the media surface, and away from the constrained periphery, a first one of said drive means being positioned at an input location of a first one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means being positioned at an output location of each print head, said first one of said drive means being operable as an entry drive for the first print head, a last one of said drive means being operable as an exit drive for a last one of said print heads, the remaining ones of said drive means simultaneously being operable as an exit drive of an immediately preceding print head and as an entry drive of an immediately succeeding print head; a plurality of tension monitoring means, engageable with said print media, for providing a tension signal indicative of a print media tension as the print media moves between said drive means; and control means, coupled to each said drive means, for providing drive signals in response to receipt of said tension signals to maintain said print media tension within a predetermined range between each said drive means.