U.S. patent application number 09/826653 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for printing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Chapman, Michael J., Kralles, Christopher J., Weigand, John G..
Application Number | 20010010774 09/826653 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23657242 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kralles, Christopher J. ; et
al. |
August 2, 2001 |
Printing apparatus
Abstract
A printing apparatus includes a media supply section and a media
take-up section. Each section is capable of accepting a plurality
of cassettes. On the supply section side, the cassettes can contain
a roll of photosensitive material that is to be processed through a
printing section. The cassettes on the take-up sections are
initially empty and are designed to receive the web of
photosensitive material after the web has been conveyed through the
printing section. The cassettes can be provided at a plurality of
locations and can be angularly positioned with respect to each
other. A single transport assembly can be provided at each of the
supply section and take-up section, and can be rotatable about a
rotatable point so as to accept or discharge media to each of the
appropriate cassettes. A splicer is provided on the transport
assembly in the supply section, for splicing the end of the
material from an empty cassette, and is also rotatable with the
transport assembly. In a feature of the present invention, the
material can undergo a vertical twist, which results from the
pivoting of the paper path by way of the transport assembly.
Inventors: |
Kralles, Christopher J.;
(Rochester, NY) ; Weigand, John G.; (Churchville,
NY) ; Chapman, Michael J.; (Churchville, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Milton S. Sales
Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Family ID: |
23657242 |
Appl. No.: |
09/826653 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09826653 |
Apr 5, 2001 |
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09418230 |
Oct 14, 1999 |
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6227731 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
400/605 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 27/32 20130101;
G03B 27/462 20130101; G03B 27/588 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
400/605 |
International
Class: |
B41J 011/50; B41J
011/52; B41J 013/10; B41J 013/26; B41J 015/04; B41J 015/18; B41J
015/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A printing apparatus comprising: a media supply section having a
transport assembly and a plurality of media entry openings, said
transport assembly being rotatable to each of said media entry
openings so as to accept media from a selected one of said media
entry openings; a printing section adapted to accept media from the
media supply section; and a take-up section which is adapted to
receive media from the printing section, said take-up section
comprising a take-up assembly and a plurality of media exit
openings, said take-up assembly being rotatable to each of said
media exit openings so as to discharge media through a selected one
of said media exit openings.
2. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
transport assembly comprises a splicing assembly and a first roller
which is rotatable, with respect to said transport assembly, about
a longitudinal axis of media approaching said first roller, said
splicing assembly and said roller being further rotatable as a unit
together with said transport assembly.
3. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at
least one media supply cassette having a media supply roll therein
and positioned at one of said media entry openings to supply media
to said supply section.
4. A printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising at
least one media supply cassette having a media supply roll therein
and positioned at one of said media entry points to supply media to
said supply section, such that a first media span for a media path
through said printing apparatus is defined between said media
supply roll and said first roller.
5. A printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing
section comprises a first guide plate which guides media into said
printing section.
6. A printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
rotatable transport assembly is rotatable to least one position
which causes a twisting about a substantially vertical axis of said
media along a second media span between said first roller and said
first guide plate.
7. A printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a lateral
position of said first media span is derived by said media supply
roll and an angular position of said first media span is derived by
said first roller.
8. A printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said printing
section comprises a printing section drive roller downstream of
said first guide plate which drives said media to at least one
slack loop in said printing section.
9. A printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said printing
section comprises a second guide plate which leads media to a
printing section exit roller, said printing section exit roller
being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of media approaching said
printing section exit roller.
10. A printer according to claim 9, wherein said take-up assembly
comprises a castered roller and a castered and gimballed
roller.
11. A printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the takeup
assembly is rotatable to at least one position in which a third
media span between the printing section exit roller and the
castered roller is twisted about a substantially vertical axis.
12. A printing apparatus to claim 1, further comprising at least
one take-out cassette located at one of said media exit
openings.
13. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cutting
assembly is positioned on said take-up assembly.
14. A printing apparatus according to claim 6, where said media is
twisted at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to
said vertical axis.
15. A printing apparatus according to claim 11, where said media is
twisted at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to
said vertical axis.
16. A printing apparatus comprising: a media supply section
comprising a first transport assembly which conveys media along a
first transport assembly longitudinal axis, said first transport
assembly being rotatable between a plurality of supply entry ports
on said media supply section to selectively accept media from each
of said supply entry ports, said first transport assembly further
comprising at least one first roller which is rotatable with
respect to said first transport assembly about said first transport
assembly longitudinal axis; and a printing section which receives
media from said media supply section, said printing section
comprising a first guide plate which guides media from said at
least one first roller into said printing section, said first
transport assembly being rotatable to least one position which
creates a twist in a media span of said media between said at least
one first roller and said first guide plate.
17. A printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said
printing section comprises at least one second roller which is
rotatable about a longitudinal axis of a media span approaching the
at least one second roller.
18. A printing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:
a take-up assembly having a second transport assembly which conveys
media along a second transport assembly longitudinal axis, said
second transport assembly being rotatable between a plurality of
media exit ports on said take-up assembly, said second transport
assembly comprising at least one third roller which receives the
media from said at least one second roller of said printing
section, said at least one third roller being adapted to rotate
about a pivot point which is spaced from a rotational axis of said
at least one third roller, said second transport assembly being
rotatable to at least one position which creates a twist in a media
span of the media between the at least one second roller of the
printing section and the at least one third roller of said second
transport assembly.
19. A printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second
transport assembly comprises at least one fourth roller which is
adapted to rotate about a pivot point spaced from a rotational axis
of said at least one fourth roller and rotate about the second
transport assembly longitudinal axis.
20. A printing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising
at least one media supply cassette positioned at one of said supply
entry ports and at least one media take-up cassette positioned at
one of said media exit ports.
21. A media supply assembly comprising: a plurality of media entry
ports; a transport assembly which is rotatable to each of said
media entry ports to receive and convey media entering through said
media entry ports along a longitudinal axis; and at least one
roller mounted on said transport assembly so as to be rotatable
about said longitudinal axis, said at least one roller conveying
media along said transport assembly toward an exit port of said
media supply assembly.
22. A media supply assembly according to claim 21, further
comprising a splicer provided on said transport assembly so as to
be rotatable as a unit with said transport assembly.
23. A media take-up assembly comprising a media entry port for
receiving media therein; a plurality of media exit ports; a
transport assembly which conveys media from said media entry port
to one of said media exit ports, said transport assembly being
rotatable to each of said media exit ports; and at least one first
roller mounted on said transport assembly so as to rotate about a
pivot point which is spaced from a rotational axis of said at least
one first roller.
24. A media take-up assembly according to claim 23, further
comprising at least one second roller mounted downstream of said at
least one first roller, said at least one second roller being
adapted to rotate about a pivot point spaced from a rotational axis
of said at least one second roller and rotate with respect to said
transport assembly about a longitudinal axis of a media span
between said at least one first roller and said at least one second
roller.
25. A media-take-up assembly according to claim 23, further
comprising a cutter provided on said transport assembly so as to be
rotatable as a unit with said transport assembly.
26. A printing apparatus comprising: a rotatable transport assembly
provided at least at one of an input side or output side of a
printing section, said transport assembly being adapted to twist a
web of photosensitive media about a vertical axis as said
photosensitive media is conveyed through said printing
apparatus.
27. A printing apparatus according to claim 26, where said media is
twisted at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to
said vertical axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which
can feed a long strip of media, such as photographic paper more or
less continuously from a supply cassette, to a supply section, to a
printing section, and thereafter to a takeup section. The printing
apparatus of the present invention is of a modular design and is
configured to provide for vertical twisted web paths while at the
same time minimizing web tracking variation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventionally, when a printing apparatus includes a
plurality of supply cassettes and take-up cassettes, a complex
shuttle mechanism and complex paper handling are required. For
example, in an apparatus which includes a plurality of supply
cassettes and take-up cassettes, it is necessary to divert a web of
photosensitive media, such as photosensitive paper, through a
plurality of loops which requires a complex interface. Furthermore,
for the purpose of splicing the photosensitive media at the supply
side of a multi-cassette arrangement, it is necessary to divert the
paper into a splicer separately for each entry position of the
cassette.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides for a printing apparatus
having multiple supply cassettes and take-up cassettes which is of
a modular design and creates a paper path that follows an exact
constraint design. The paper path of the printing apparatus of the
present invention is configured to accept media from a plurality of
supply cassettes and deliver media to a plurality of take-up
cassettes. The paper path is separated into tensioned web spans
which include, for example, a paper supply span, a paper punching
span, a write engine span and a paper takeup span. The spans can be
isolated from each other by motion control slack loops.
[0004] The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises
three separable sections, which include a supply section, a center
printing section, and a take-up section. The breaks between the
above sections are preferably located within the supply and the
take-up sections, and are the locations in which the web can
undergo a vertical twist. This vertical twist is the result of a
pivoting of the paper path by an angle of between 0-90 degrees, for
example, an angle of .+-.30 degrees between the plurality of supply
cassettes and take-up cassettes. The design of the present
invention provides for exact constraint web handling while at the
same time, minimizing the effect that twisting and frame tolerances
have on web tracking.
[0005] The present invention provides for a printing apparatus
which comprises a media supply section having a transport assembly
and a plurality of media entry openings. The transport assembly is
rotatable to each of the media entry openings so as to accept media
from a selected one of the media entry openings. The printing
apparatus further comprises a printing section which is adapted to
accept the media from the media supply section and a take-up
section which is adapted to receive media from the printing
section. The take-up section includes a take-up assembly and a
plurality of media exit openings. The take-up assembly is rotatable
to each of the media exit openings so as to discharge media through
a selected one of the media exit openings.
[0006] The present invention also provides for a printing apparatus
which includes a media supply section comprising a first transport
assembly that conveys media along a first transport assembly
longitudinal axis. The first transport assembly is rotatable
between a plurality of supply entry ports on the media supply
section to selectively accept media from each of the supply entry
ports. The first transport assembly further comprises at least one
first roller which is rotatable with respect to the first transport
assembly about the first transport assembly longitudinal axis. The
printing apparatus further comprises a printing section that
receives media from the media supply section. The printing section
comprises a first guide plate that guides media from the at least
one first roller into the printing section. The first transport
assembly has at least one rotatable position which creates a twist
in a media span of the media between the at least one first roller
and the first guide plate.
[0007] The present invention further provides for a media supply
assembly which comprises a plurality of media entry ports; a
transport assembly that is rotatable to each of the media entry
ports to receive and convey media entering through the media entry
ports along a longitudinal axis; and at least one roller mounted on
the transport assembly so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal
axis. The at least one roller conveys media along the transport
assembly toward an exit port of the media supply assembly.
[0008] The present invention further provides for a media take-out
assembly that comprises a media entry port; a plurality of media
exit ports; a transport assembly that conveys media from the media
entry port to one of the media exit ports, with the transport
assembly being rotatable to each of the media exit ports; and at
least one first roller mounted on the transport assembly so as to
rotate about a pivot point which is spaced from a rotational axis
of the at least one first roller.
[0009] The present invention further provides for a printing
apparatus that comprises a rotatable transport assembly provided at
least at one of an input side or output side of a printing section.
The transport assembly is adapted to twist a web of photosensitive
media about a vertical axis as the photosensitive media is conveyed
through the printing apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of printing apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a further view of the printing apparatus of the
present invention without certain housing sections to better
illustrate the twisted web spans;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the printing apparatus of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view detailing features of the supply
web section of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of features of the supply web
illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an isolated view of a gimballed roller in
accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the take-up section of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of the take-up section of
FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an isolated view of a castered roller in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 10 is a isolated view of a castered and gimballed
roller in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like references
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several view, FIG. 1 is an overall view of a printing apparatus 15
in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
printing apparatus 15 comprises a media supply section 17 and a
media take-up section 19. Media supply section 17 is adapted to
accommodate a plurality of media supply cassettes 17a-17c, while
media take-up section 19 is adapted to accommodate a plurality of
media take-up cassettes 19a-19c. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,
supply cassettes 17a-17c and take-up cassettes 19a-19c are wheel
cassettes, which facilitate the interaction between the cassettes
and the corresponding supply section and take-out sections (17,
19), however, the invention is not limited thereto, and the
cassettes do not have to be wheeled cassettes.
[0021] On the supply side, supply cassettes 17a-17c can each
contain a roll 23 of, for example, photosensitive media that is to
be processed through a printing section 21. Take-up cassettes
19a-19c on the take-up side are initially empty and each include a
shaft 90 adapted to receive a roll of photosensitive media after
the web has past through printing section 21.
[0022] As illustrated in the view of FIGS. 1 and 2, supply
cassettes 17a-17c and take-up cassettes 19a-19c are provided at
three locations and are angularly positioned with respect to each
other. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the
cassettes can be located at various angles, while the printing
apparatus can include more than three or less than three cassettes
at each of the supply and take-up sides.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 3 which illustrates a side view of
printing apparatus 15, it noted that supply cassette 17a which is
seen in the view of FIG. 3 includes supply roll 23 of media such
as, for example, photosensitive media. Supply section 17 includes a
plurality of entry openings or ports 25 which mate with a
corresponding port or opening in supply cassettes 17a-17c to permit
a web 100 of photosensitive material to enter into supply section
17. Only one entry port 25 is illustrated in FIG. 3. It is
recognized that supply section 17 includes entry ports 25
corresponding in number and location with a respective supply
cassette 17a-17c.
[0024] Provided within supply section 17 is a transport assembly 27
which is rotatable to a plurality of positions to mate with each of
the media entry ports 25 which correspond to each of the supply
cassettes 17a, 17b and 17c. A pair of drive rollers 30 convey the
web of photosensitive material into transport assembly 27, where a
further arrangement of drive rollers 33 transport the web of
photosensitive material through transport assembly 27. As indicated
above, transport assembly 27 is rotatable between each of the entry
ports 25 so as to selectively accept media from each of the supply
cassettes 17a, 17b, 17c. Therefore, during use, after
photosensitive material has been emptied from a particular cassette
(17a, 17b, 17c), transport mechanism 27 is simply pivoted or
rotated about point 29 to the next appropriate position having a
cassette (17a, 17b, 17c) with a supply of photosensitive
material.
[0025] A feature of the present invention with respect to the
rotatable transport assembly 27 is the creation of a vertical twist
at an angle of between 0-90 degrees and preferably approximately
.+-.30 degrees about a vertical axis in the photosensitive web.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, transport assembly
27 includes a roller 35 which is gimballed. Referring to FIG. 6
which illustrates one mounting example for gimballed roller 35, it
is seen that roller 35 can be mounted on a roller support 35a so as
to be rotatable with respect to transport assembly 27 about a
longitudinal axis 35b of a media span approaching roller 35. This
is one example of mounting a roller in a gimballed manner and it is
recognized that other methods of mounting a roller in a gimballed
manner are possible within the context of the present invention.
This arrangement creates a first web span of media which extends
from supply roll 23 to gimballed roller 35. With the arrangement of
the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a lateral position 110
of the span of media from supply roll 23 to gimballed roller 35 is
derived by supply roll 23, while an angular position 115 of the
media from supply roll 23 to the gimballed roller 35 is derived by
gimballed roller 35. As further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,
supply section 17 includes a guiding shoe or plate 37, which helps
guide the photosensitive material toward gimballed roller 35.
[0026] With the arrangement of the present invention, and as
illustrated in, for example, FIG. 2, when the media is being first
supplied from cassette 17a, gimballed roller 35 will pivot to
accommodate the twisting of the web. Gimballed roller 35 guides the
web or material through an approximately 90 degree bend and then in
an upward vertical direction into printing section 21 as
illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. Printing section 21 can include a guiding
plate or shoe 39 (FIG. 4) which changes the conveying direction of
the web, and a drive and pressure roller arrangement 41. Therefore,
the span of the photosensitive material between roller 35 and drive
and pressure roller arrangement 41 defines a second span of the
photosensitive material passing through printing apparatus 15. With
the arrangement of the present invention, gimballed roller 35
essentially acts as a hinge between the span of photosensitive
material between supply roll 23 and gimballed roller 35, and the
span of photosensitive material between gimballed roller 35 and
drive and pressure roller arrangement 41. This is conceptually
illustrated in FIG. 5 of the application. Gimballed roller 35 which
rotates as a unit with transport assembly 27 will pivot with
respect to transport assembly 27 in accordance with the twist of
the web between roller 35 and plate 39 as transport assembly 27 is
rotated between supply cassettes 17a-17c.
[0027] Printing section 21 can be part of a known laser printer.
However, the present invention is not limited thereto and other
types of printing systems are possible within the context of the
present invention. After the photosensitive web enters printing
section 21, as illustrated more particularly in FIG. 3, the
material can sequentially pass through a first slack loop 43,
through a paper punching/marking section 45, through a second slack
loop 47, over a print drum 49 where the material can be laser
scanned in accordance with image information (obtained separately
by scanning a processed film strip), through a third slack loop 51
and into take-up section 19.
[0028] Like supply section 17, take-up section 19 includes a
pivotable or rotatable transport or take-up assembly 53 which is
rotatable about point 55, so as to be in mating engagement with a
corresponding media exit opening or ports 57 provided on the
take-up section 19. As described with reference to supply section
17, take-up section 19 includes the plurality of exit openings 57
which correspond in number and location with take-up cassettes 19a,
19b, 19c. Take-up cassettes 19a, 19b, 19c are provided at openings
57, so that the web of photosensitive material is supplied directly
to the take-up cassettes. When a take-up cassette (19a, 19b, 19c)
is full of exposed material, transport assembly 53 is rotated about
point 55 to the next take-up cassette (19a, 19b, 19c).
[0029] Referring particularly to FIG. 7, at the exit area of
printing section 21, a combination of a shoe or plate 59 and a
lateral guide 61 is provided to guide the web towards the exit of
printing section 21. At the exit of printing section 21, a
gimballed roller 63 is provided. Roller 63 guides the web through
an approximately 90 degree bend and is mounted as previously
described with respect to gimballed roller 35 and illustrated in
FIG. 6. After the media passes over gimballed roller 63, it is
conveyed in a substantially vertical direction within take-out
section 19, and to rotatable transport or take-up assembly 53.
Rotatable transport assembly 53 includes a castered roller 65 and a
castered and gimballed roller 67. The specifics of castered roller
65 are illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, castered roller
65 is pivotally mounted on links 65a which pivot about points 650,
651 and are mounted on support 652. The axes of links 65a intersect
at a point 654 which defines an upstream pivot or caster axis for
roller 65. Thus, roller 65 rotates about rotational axis 653 and
due to the interaction of links 65a rotates about an axis through
point 654 which is spaced from and perpendicular to rotational axis
653. This enables roller 65 to self-align to the web.
[0030] Castered and gimballed roller 67 is illustrated in detail in
FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 10, roller 67 is mounted on a support 672
so as to be rotatable about rotational axis 670. Roller 67 and
support 672 are mounted as a unit on a further support 673 such
that roller 67 and support 672 pivot as a unit about pivot point or
caster axis 674 relative to further support 673. Pivot point 674 is
spaced from and perpendicular to rotational axis 670. Roller 67 is
further rotatable as a unit relative to transport assembly 53 about
pivot point or gimbal axis 675 which extends along a longitudinal
axis of a media span at roller 67. FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively
illustrate examples of mounting rollers in a castered and castered
and gimballed manner. It is recognized that the present invention
is not limited thereto and that other methods of mounting the
rollers in a castered and castered and gimballed manner are
possible within the context of the present invention.
[0031] With the arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 7, as the web is
vertically led in a downward direction from roller 63 to roller 65,
based on the position of transport assembly 53, for example, when
feeding photosensitive material to either cassettes 19c or 19a, the
web is twisted at a specific angle.
[0032] After being conveyed by castered and gimballed roller 67,
which self-align to the web, the web can be upwardly conveyed to a
shoe and lateral guide arrangement 69, and thereafter fed by
feeding roller 71 to an appropriate take-up cassette 19a-19c.
[0033] In a feature of the present invention, a third span of the
photosensitive material is defined between lateral guide 61 and
gimballed roller 63 In this span, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a
lateral position 300 is derived by lateral guide 61, while an
angular position 303 is derived from gimballed roller 63. A further
span is defined between guide arrangement 69 and take-up roll 90.
In this further span, a lateral position 305 is derived from guide
arrangement 69, while an angular position 307 is derived from
take-up roll 90 in take-up cassette (19a-19c). Therefore, as
conceptually illustrated in FIG. 8, the span of the web from roller
63 to guide arrangement 69 essentially acts as a hinge as transport
assembly 53 rotates, which permits the feeding of photosensitive
material without appreciable lateral tracking of the photosensitive
material. Essentially, roller 67 is castered and gimballed so as to
act as a hinge and provide zero constraint, while roller 67 is
castered so as to provide zero constraint.
[0034] Thus, as transport assembly 53 rotates between take-up
cassettes 19a-19c, the web will be twisted about a vertical axis at
an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees, for example, at an angle of
.+-.30 degrees between roller 63 and roller 65, which pivot
relative to transport assembly 53 to accommodate the twisting while
minimizing web tracking variation. In a further feature of the
present invention, and referring specifically to the supply side
and more specifically to transport assembly 27 at supply section
17, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a splicer 75 is provided on
rotatable transport assembly 27. Thus, splicer 75 and gimballed
roller 35 are rotatable as a unit together with transport assembly
27. The arrangement of the present invention permits splicer 75 to
be pivotable from one cassette 17a to another cassette 17b to a
further cassette 17c. This provides for a straight thrust of the
web from each cassette (17a-17c) such that the span from the supply
cassette (17a-17c) is always straight.
[0035] Further, the web can be twisted about vertical axis 500
(FIG. 4) between gimballed roller 35 and plate or shoe 39 without
appreciable tracking error because the web is two dimensionally
stiff at twist angles of less than 90 degrees. Splicer 75 serves to
splice the end of the material from an empty cassette to begin the
paper of a next full cassette. With reference to the diagrams of
FIGS. 5 and 8, reference numeral 83 schematically illustrates the
twisted web span entering the printing section 21, while reference
numeral 85 schematically illustrates the twisted web span exiting
the printing section 21. Each of the web spans are respectively
twisted about vertical axis 500 (FIG. 4) and vertical axis 501
(FIG. 7).
[0036] In a further feature of the present invention, and
specifically relating to take-up section 19 and more specifically
to transport assembly 53, a known cutter 77 is provided on
transport assembly 53. Cutter 77 along with castered roller 65 and
castered and gimballed roller 67 are rotatable as a unit with
transport assembly 53. The cutter is utilized on the take-up side
to cut the paper an appropriate length, at the termination of the
roll. Thereafter, transport assembly 53 can be rotated to the next
empty take-up cassette (19a-19c).
[0037] Control of rotatable transport assemblies 27 and 53 can be
by way of a computer and/or microprocessor provided in printing
apparatus 15, which control a moving mechanism such as a motor and
are responsive to signals with respect to, for example, the amount
of paper in the cassettes, the position of the web, etc. For
example, a supply cassette can include sensors which communicate
with sensors within the printing section, to indicate when a supply
cassette is empty or full, and similarly, a take-up cassette can
include sensors to indicate the amount of paper in the take-up
cassette. As a further feature, a sensor such as a counter can be
provided along the web path, to count the amount of paper, and
utilize this as a reference with respect to the amount of paper
within a specific cassette.
[0038] Accordingly, the present invention provides for a printing
apparatus that permits a connection of a plurality of supply and
take-up cassettes through a controlled path geometry and controlled
constraints. The web path through the printing apparatus undergoes
two approximately 90.degree. bends at each end. At each pair of
bends the web is pivoted and undergoes a twist about a vertical
line or a line which is colinear to the pivot axis. This pivot
motion permits the web to be routed to and from a plurality of
supply and take-up cassettes so as to merge multiple paper paths
into one central path. The pivot motion also creates straight feed
paths to a splicer and from a cutter and eliminates the need for a
complex shuttle mechanism or complicated paper handling.
[0039] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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