Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to printers, ejection assemblies, and methods of cycling a printer through printing, cutting, and ejecting stages of operation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A variety of applications exist for publicly-used, stand-alone printers, or so-called “kiosk printers.” These include the printing of receipts at gas pumps and automatic teller machines (ATMs), amongst others. Commonly, kiosk printers advance a web of continuous print media through the printer for printing, cut the media in order to separate an individual printed portion of the web, and present the cut web portion for receipt by a user. In order to accomplish all of these operations, kiosk printers will often include multiple motors and a variety of parts associated with each motor. As such, kiosk printers tend to be complicated and expensive. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a printer is provided that includes a print head and a bi-directional motor structured to rotate in opposing first and second directions. A drive roller is coupled to the bi-directional motor for advancing a web toward the print head upon rotation of the bi-directional motor in the first direction. A cutter is coupled to the bi-directional motor for cutting web upon rotation of the bi-directional motor in the second direction. An ejection roller is also coupled to the bi-directional motor, the ejection roller acting to eject the web at least partially from the printer in conjunction with being cut by the cutter. For example, the ejection roller can be configured to eject web at least partially from the printer upon rotation of the bi-directional motor in the second direction and subsequent to being cut by the cutter. The ejection roller can define a rotational axis and a cross sectional shape having a non-uniform radius as measured from the rotational axis. For example, the ejection roller can define a D-shaped cross section. The printer may further include a door having a closed position and an open position. The door can be biased in the closed position and disposed proximate the ejection roller. The non-uniform cross sectional shape of the ejection roller can define a maximum radius as measured from the rotational axis, and the door can be forced into the open position by the ejection roller when the door is contacted by an area of the ejection roller disposed generally proximate the maximum radius of the ejection roller. For example, the ejection roller may be D-shaped and may include a circular web-gripping region that forces the door from the closed configuration to at least a partially opened position. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, rotation of the bi-directional motor in the first direction operates to advance the web toward the print head and collect a portion of the web downstream of the print head. Rotation of the bi-directional motor in the second direction may operate to cut and eject from the printer at least part of the portion of the web collected downstream of the print head. The printer can also include a door that is at least partially opened by the ejection roller as the ejection roller ejects the at least part of the collected web portion. The door may be biased in a closed position and/or may maintain the web against the ejection roller as the ejection roller ejects at least part of the web. In other embodiments, the printer may include a drive shaft coupled to the bi-directional motor. A first one-way clutch can be mounted to the drive shaft and coupled to the drive roller, the first one-way clutch being adapted to rotate the drive roller when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction by the bi-directional motor. A second one-way clutch can be mounted to the drive shaft and coupled to the ejection roller, the second one-way clutch being adapted to rotate the ejection roller when the drive shaft is rotated in the second direction by the bi-directional motor. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, an ejection assembly for a printer is provided, the ejection assembly being disposed downstream of a print head in order to receive web from the print head. The ejection assembly can include an ejection roller and a door having a closed configuration and an open configuration. The door can be biased toward the closed configuration and toward the ejection roller. For example, the door can include a resilient member biased toward the closed configuration. Upon rotation of the ejection roller, the ejection roller can force the door from the closed configuration to the open configuration and can eject web past the door from the printer. For example, the ejection roller can rotate about a rotational axis that is stationary relative to the printer, and the ejection roller may intermittently force the door from the closed configuration as the ejection roller rotates about the stationary rotational axis. In some embodiments, the flexible member may maintain the web against the ejection roller as the ejection roller ejects the web from the printer. In other embodiments, the ejection roller is rotated one full cycle, the ejection roller permits accumulation of web received from the print head and subsequently forces the door from the closed configuration to the open configuration and ejects the accumulated web past the door from the printer. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, a method of cycling a printer through printing, cutting, and ejecting stages of operation is provided. The method includes rotating a bi-directional motor in a rotational first direction, causing a drive roller to rotate proximal a print head. The bi-directional motor can be rotated in a rotational second direction opposite the first direction, causing a web cutter to actuate. The bi-directional motor can be rotated further in the second direction, causing an ejection roller to rotate and open a web ejection door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printer configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, showing the media inlet of the printer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer of  FIG. 1 , showing the media outlet of the printer and the door in the closed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the printer of  FIG. 1  with several sides removed to reveal the components contained therein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the printer of  FIG. 1  with all sides removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional plan view of the internal components of the printer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the printer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the printer of  FIG. 1  with all sides removed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the underside of the printer of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1-8  depict a printer  100  configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The printer  100  has an outer casing that includes various side panels  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  158  that serve to protect internal printer components, which components are described below. The side panels  152 ,  156  also serve to define a printer inlet  148  and a printer outlet  150 , respectively. The functions of the inlet  148  and outlet  150  are discussed later. 
         [0020]    The printer  100  includes a print head  102 , which serves to apply markings to a print medium being processed (i.e., printed on) by the printer. For example, the print head  102  may apply ink to the print media, or may transfer thermal energy to the print media in order to produce the markings. Also included is a bi-directional motor  104  structured to rotate in opposing first and second directions, d 1  and d 2 . An example of a type of motor that might be appropriate for use as the bi-directional motor  104  is a stepper motor. The bi-directional motor  104  can be coupled to a drive shaft  106  via a motor gear wheel  108  that mates with a drive shaft gear wheel  110 . This allows the bi-directional motor  104  to rotate the drive shaft  106  in a first drive shaft direction ds 1  (corresponding to the first direction d 1 ) and a second drive shaft direction ds 2  (corresponding to the second direction d 2 ). A drive roller  112  is coupled to the bi-directional motor  104 , for example, through a drive roller gear wheel  114  that mates with a first intermediate gear wheel  116 . The intermediate gear wheel  116  includes a first clutch  118  that can be disengaged from the drive shaft  106 , thereby allowing the intermediate gear wheel and drive shaft to rotate independently of one another. When the bi-directional motor  104  actuates in a first of the two possible actuation directions and the first clutch  118  is engaged, rotation of the drive shaft  106  causes corresponding rotation of the drive roller  112 , which in turn advances a web w toward the print head  102 . 
         [0021]    Also coupled to the bi-directional motor  104  are a cutter  122  and an ejection assembly  124  including an ejection roller  126 , all of which are configured to operate when the bi-directional motor moves in the second direction d 2 . For example, the cutter  122  and ejection assembly  124  can be coupled to the bi-directional motor  104  through a second clutch  128  (when engaged) and second gear wheel  130 . The second gear wheel  130  can mate with a cutter gear wheel  132 , which then couples to an ejection roller gear wheel  134 . 
         [0022]    The cutter  122  can be coupled to the cutter gear wheel  132  via a cutter drive arm  138  and a cutter drive pin  140 . The cutter drive pin  140  is fixed to the cutter gear wheel  132  and the cutter drive arm  138  is rotationally secured at a point p that is displaced from the cutter drive pin, and as the cutter gear wheel rotates, the cutter drive pin causes the cutter drive arm to rotate about the point p. This motion of the cutter drive arm  138  in turn causes the cutter  122  to undergo oscillatory translations that, in conjunction with a stationary blade  142 , serve to cut the web w. 
         [0023]    The ejection roller  126  is coupled to the ejection roller gear wheel  134 , and as the bi-directional motor operates in the second direction d 2 , the ejection roller rotates with the ejection roller gear wheel. The ejection roller  126  can be configured such that as the ejection roller rotates, it acts to eject web at least partially from the printer  100  in conjunction with being cut by the cutter  122 . The ejection roller  126  may define a rotational axis a and a cross sectional shape having a non-uniform radius as measured from the rotational axis a. For example, the ejection roller  126  can define a D-shaped cross section with a circular web-gripping region  127   a  having a maximum radius r (measured from the axis a) and a flat region  127   b  having a radius that is less than r. In some cases, the D-shaped cross section may facilitate the ejection of web from the printer  100  by the ejection roller  126 , as discussed further below. 
         [0024]    The ejection assembly  124  can also include a door  144  having a closed position and an open position, for example, with respect to a media outlet  150 . The door  144  can be biased in the closed position, such that the media outlet  150  is obstructed by the door and an application of force is necessary to move the door into the open position. For example, the door  144  can include a cantilevered spring plate  146  or other resilient member that is directed in a closed position. Additionally, the door  144  can be disposed proximate the ejection roller  126 , thereby allowing the rotational movement of the ejection roller to provide the opening force for the door. For example, in cases where the ejection roller  126  has a non-uniform cross sectional shape that defines a maximum radius r and the door  144  includes the spring plate  146 , the ejection roller and door can be disposed such that rotation of the ejection roller causes the portion of the ejection roller with the maximum radius r to contact the door near the free end of the spring plate and urge the door into the open position. As the ejection roller  126  continues to rotate, the portion of the ejection roller with the maximum radius r moves past and eventually loses contact with the door  144 , and the door returns to the closed position. 
         [0025]    As mentioned above, when the bi-directional motor  104  is actuating in a first direction and the first clutch  118  is engaged, rotation of the drive shaft  106  causes corresponding rotation of the drive roller  112 , which in turn advances the web w toward the print head  102 . The web w may continue past (i.e., downstream of) the print head  102  and toward the ejection roller  126  and between the ejection roller and the door  144 , where the web can be collected. If the motor  104  is then operated in the second direction, the ejection roller  126  may then act to at least partially eject the web w from the printer  100  as the ejection roller forces open the door  144 . In some embodiments, the door  144  can maintain the web w against the ejection roller  126  as the ejection roller ejects at least part of the web, as in the case where the door includes the spring plate  146  that compresses the web against the ejection roller when the ejection roller contacts the door. 
         [0026]    As mentioned, the drive shaft  106  can be respectively coupled to the drive roller  112  and the ejection roller  126  through the first and second clutches  118 ,  128  that are mounted to the drive shaft. In some embodiments, the first and second clutches  118 ,  128  can be one-way clutches, such that the first clutch  118  can only be engaged when the motor  104  actuates in the first direction d 1  and the second clutch  128  can only be engaged when the motor actuates in the second direction d 2 . When the first and second clutches  118 ,  128  are so configured, rotation of the bi-directional motor  104  in the first direction operates the drive roller  112  while the cutter  122  and ejection assembly  124  are idle, and rotation of the bi-directional motor in the second direction operates the cutter  122  and ejection assembly  124  while the drive roller  112  is idle. Overall, the printer  100  can advance the web w toward the print head  102  and collect a portion of the web downstream of the print head when the motor  104  actuates in the first direction, and can cut and eject the web portion from the printer when the bi-directional motor actuates in the second direction. 
         [0027]    During the operation of embodiments employing one-way first and second clutches  118 ,  128  and a D-shaped ejection roller  126 , web w enters the printer  100  through the media inlet  148 . For example, a web or media supply can be located beyond the media inlet  148  that supplies web to the inlet. The bi-directional motor  104  moves in the first direction d 1  and the drive roller  112  rotates in the direction d-dr, the web w is transported by the drive roller to the print head  102 , for example, in order to be printed on by the print head. At the same time, because the clutches  118 ,  128  are one-way clutches and oriented in opposing directions, the cutter  122  and ejection assembly  124  remain idle. The web w is driven further forward (perhaps for printing on another portion of the web), such that some of the web (e.g., a portion on which printing has already occurred) moves past the print head  102  and into an area downstream of the print head that is between the ejection roller  126  and the door  144 . The web w is collected in this area until the motor  104  discontinues operation in the first direction d 1  (e.g., when a print operation is completed). 
         [0028]    The motor  104  can then be operated in the second direction d 2 , thereby causing the drive shaft  106  to rotate in the second drive shaft direction ds 2  and initiating operation of the cutter  122  and ejection assembly  124  (the drive roller  112  being idle). The cutter gear wheel  132  rotates in the direction d-cgw causing the cutter  122  to cut the web. The rotation of the cutter gear wheel  132  also causes the ejection roller  126  and associated ejection roller gear wheel  134  to rotate in the direction d-er. As the ejection roller  126  rotates, the circular region  127   a  contacts the portion of the web w that was cut by the cutter  122 , and compresses this web portion against the door  144 . Further rotation of the ejection roller  126  moves the web w towards and through the media outlet  150  as the door  144  is simultaneously forced open by the circular region  127   a  of the ejection roller. The ejection roller  126  continues to rotate until the circular region  127   a  of the ejection roller has moved past the orientation at which it is directed toward the door  144 , at which point the door gradually moves toward the closed position. As the door  144  closes, the web w is further ejected from the printer  100 . While the ejection roller  126  in this way acts to at least partially eject the web w from the printer  100 , a portion of the web may be retained by the printer by being compressed between the ejection roller and the door  144 . 
         [0029]    It is noted that the gear ratios between the second gear wheel  130 , the cutter gear wheel  132 , the ejection roller gear wheel  134 , and the transfer gear wheel  136  can be adjusted in order to cause the various gear wheels (and related components) to rotate at different relative angular velocities. As such, the printer  100  can be designed to allow the cutter  122  to cut the web w before the ejection roller  126  acts to eject the web, such that rotation of the bi-directional motor  104  in the second direction causes a web cutter to actuate and cut web and further rotation of the bi-directional motor in the second direction causes an ejection roller to rotate and open the door  144 . Further, the geometry of the ejection roller  126  can be modified to affect the timing of cutting and web ejection operations. 
         [0030]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Technology Category: 7