Paper Roll Support And Tension Device

Abstract

A paper roll support and tension device for a printer having resilient support brackets mounted to the printer frame or chassis. Trunnions pivotally attached to the support brackets allowing easy insertion and removal of the paper roll. Discs formed on the pivotally attached trunnions provide uniform tension on the sides of the paper roll, retarding rotation of the paper roll and causing the paper to be uniformly fed to the printing mechanism.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for holding rolls of paper in a printer must provide sufficient tension on the paper roll to cause the paper to be fed through the printing mechanism uniformly, in addition to supporting the paper roll. As a substantial amount of tension must be applied to the paper roll in order to support it and provide a uniform feed, prior devices have included two spring steel support brackets. Trunnions at the end of each spring bracket have hubs inserted into the sleeve of the paper roll to support and provide tension on the sides of the paper roll.

To insert the paper roll into the holder, the support brackets are spread apart, and the paper roll is lowered to a position between the support brackets, with the axis of the trunnion and the center of the paper roll sleeve aligned. As the support brackets are allowed to return to their normal position, the hub of the trunnion will slide into the sleeve of the paper roll. If the paper roll is not correctly aligned between the support brackets, the hub will strike against the paper roll, rather than be inserted into the paper roll sleeve. The support brackets must then be spread apart again, and a second attempt made to properly position the paper roll. The time spent properly aligning the paper roll cannot be afforded while printing is in progress. If the printer is a teleprinter, especially a mobile teleprinter such as used by many Police Departments, the time spent inserting a new paper roll may cause the loss of a portion of a message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved paper roll support and tension device for a printer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved paper roll support and tension device wherein the paper roll is easily attached and detached.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a paper roll support and tension device wherein uniform pressure is applied to the paper roll ends causing the paper to feed evenly into the printer mechanism.

In practicing this invention, a paper roll support and tension device is provided having two spring steel support brackets secured to the chassis or frame of a printer. A trunnion is secured to each support bracket by a pintle such that it pivots in a semicircle about the point of attachment to the support bracket. At one end of the trunnion is a hub which is inserted into the sleeve of the paper roll. Adjacent to the hub on the trunnion is a circular disc.

To insert the paper roll into the paper roll support and tension device, one trunnion is pivoted upwards about its pivot point such that the sleeve of the paper roll can be slid over the hub of the trunnion. With the paper roll positioned on the hub of the trunnion and resting against the circular disc, the paper roll can now be used to spread the support brackets apart. The other end of the paper roll is then lowered until it is aligned with the hub of the trunnion mounted on the second support bracket. The second trunnion can be pivoted around its pivot point until the sleeve of the paper roll and the trunnion are properly aligned. The hub of the second trunnion is then inserted into the sleeve of the paper roll and the paper roll released allowing the support brackets to return to their normal position, and the circular disc on the trunnions to bear against the ends of the paper roll.

The circular discs adjacent the hub on the trunnions are arranged such that they will exert a uniform tension on the ends of the paper roll thus causing the paper to be uniformly fed to the printing mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a plain view of the paper roll (cut away) and the paper roll support and tension device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a support bracket and trunnion of the paper roll support and tension device.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the support bracket and trunnion of the paper roll support and tension device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the support bracket and trunnion of the paper roll support and tension device.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a second embodiment of the support bracket and trunnion of the paper roll support and tension device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a paper roll support and tension device employing the features of this invention. Right angle support brackets 10 and 11, in this embodiment made of spring steel, are secured to a chassis or frame 12. Trunnions 13 and 14, pivotally attached to support brackets 10 and 11 by pintles 15 and 16, have hubs 19 and 26 adapted to be inserted into sleeve 17 of paper roll 18, thereby supporting paper roll 18.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, trunnion 13 has a hub 19 at one end. Adjacent the hub 19 on trunnion 13 is a disc-shaped portion 20. A cylindrical portion 21 of trunnion 13, adjacent the disc-shaped portion 20, is inserted through hole 22 in support bracket 10. Pintle 15 is inserted through hole 23 in cylindrical portion 21 of trunnion 13, securing trunnion 13 to support bracket 10. Pintle 15 mounts on the inner surface of U-shaped depression 24 in support bracket 10. This allows the trunnion to pivot in the directions shown by arrow 25 about the outer surface of U-shaped depression 24 in support bracket 10. Support bracket 11 (FIG. 1) holding the other end of paper roll 18 is assembled in a manner identical to that described above.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a spring clip 30 which may be used in shock and vibrational environments where pintles 15 and 16 would be inadequate. Spring clip 30 has a first portion 31 which is inserted through hole 23 in cylindrical portion 21 of trunnion 13, securing trunnion 13 to support bracket 10. A second portion 32, beginning at one end of first portion 31 has a circular section 33, which seats in notch 34 of cylindrical portion 21 of trunnion 13 securing spring clip 30 to trunnion 13.

To insert paper roll 18 into the paper roll support and tension device, hub 19 of trunnion 13 is pivoted upwards as shown by arrow 25. One end of paper roll 18 is inserted over hub 19 of trunnion 13 until the edge of the paper roll rests against disc 20 on trunnion 13. Paper roll 18 is then used as a lever to spread support brackets 10 and 11 apart. Hub 26 of trunnion 14 is then pivoted upwards as was trunnion 13, and the other end of the paper roll lowered until the center of sleeve 17 on paper roll 18 is aligned with hub 26 of trunnion 14. Trunnion 14 can be rotated in a semicircular direction as shown by arrow 25 (FIG. 2) to obtain correct alignment. The paper roll 18, and trunnions 13 and 14, are then released allowing support brackets 10 and 11 to return to their normal position. With support brackets 10 and 11 returned to their normal position, discs 20 and 27, on trunnions 13 and 14, will bear against the sides of paper roll 18, retarding the rotation of paper roll 18 as it is pulled into the printing mechanism. The equalized distribution of pressure on the sides of paper roll 18 by discs 20 and 27 on trunnions 13 and 14 causes the paper to be fed uniformly into the printing mechanism.

When there is no more paper on paper roll 18, sleeve 17 may be removed by lifting in an upwardly direction. Trunnions 13 and 14 will pivot as shown by arrow 25 allowing sleeve 17 to be removed from the paper roll support and tension device.

It can, therefore, be seen that an improved paper roll support and tension device is provided which allows the paper roll to be easily attached and detached. The paper roll holder and tension device provides a uniform tension on the sides of the paper roll causing the paper to be evenly fed to the printer mechanism. The simplified method of inserting and removing the paper roll reduces time delays thereby preventing the loss of portions of critical messages.

Claims

I claim:

1. A paper roll support and tension device for a roll of paper wound on a hollow sleeve including in combination, first and second support means, a first trunnion pivotally secured to said first support means and having an axis, a second trunnion pivotally secured to said second support means and having an axis aligned with the axis of said first trunnion, said first and second trunnions being spaced apart a distance less than the length of said sleeve and being pivotal only in a single arcuate path, said first and second trunnions each having a first hub portion insertable into the hollow ends of said sleeve thereby supporting said paper roll, said first and second trunnions each having a second disc portion bearing against the ends of said paper roll to distribute a uniform pressure thereon retarding rotation of said paper roll whereby said paper is uniformly fed from said paper roll.

2. The paper roll support and tension device of claim 1 wherein said first and second support means includes a right angle spring support bracket, one arm of said spring support bracket having a hole cut therein, a U-shaped depression formed in said arm on the axis of said hole parallel with a line formed by the right angle bend of said bracket, said trunnion being inserted into said hole, pivot means securing said trunnion to said spring support bracket, said pivot means being positioned in said U-shaped depression, said trunnion pivoting in a semicircular direction about the outer surface of said U-shaped depression in said arm of the support bracket.

3. The paper roll support and tension device of claim 2 wherein said pivot means is a pintle.

4. The paper roll support and tension device of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second trunnions includes a cylindrical portion, a hole cut through said cylindrical portion perpendicular to the axis thereof, said disc portion being adjacent one end of said cylindrical portion, and said hub portion being adjacent said disc portion, said cylindrical portion being pivotally secured to said support means, said hub portion being insertable into one end of said paper roll sleeve for supporting said paper roll, and said disc portion bearing against the edge of said paper roll and distributing uniform pressure thereon to retard rotation of the paper roll whereby said paper is uniformly fed from said paper roll.

5. The paper roll support and tension device of claim 1 wherein said first and second support means includes a right angle spring support bracket, one arm of said spring support bracket having a hole cut therein, a U-shaped depression formed in said arm on the axis of said hole parallel with a line formed by the right angle bend of said bracket, said trunnion being inserted into said hole, pivot means secured to said trunnion and securing said trunnion to said spring support bracket, said pivot means having a first portion positioned in said U-shaped depression, said trunnion pivoting in a semicircular direction about the outer surface of said U-shaped depression in said arm of the support bracket.

6. The paper roll support and tension device of claim 5 wherein said pivot means is a spring clip having said first portion and a second portion, said first portion securing said trunnion to said spring support bracket, said second portion securing said spring clip to said trunnion.