Print media loading mechanism for a printer
View Patent ↗A printer includes a print media loading mechanism that includes a pair of opposed endless belts to pick up print media for printing. The belts ride upon opposed pairs of rollers which are held in slides to limit the rollers' movement to motion towards and away from each other. Worm screws are located parallel to, and on either side of, the belts. Traverser blocks are mounted on the worm screws adjacent each end of the opposed rollers. Scissor members connect the traverser blocks to the ends of adjacent rollers. A motor is arranged to rotate the worm screws thereby causing the traverser blocks to move towards or away from the opposed rollers in order to move the opposed rollers away from each other or towards each other to pick up print media.
1. A printer including a print media loading mechanism comprising:
first and second opposed endless belts located about corresponding first and second opposed pairs of rollers;
an arrangement limiting translational motion of said opposed rollers to motion of the first pair of opposed rollers toward and away from the second pair of opposed rollers;
a pivot point constrained to move towards and away from at least one of the opposed pairs of rollers, the pivot point comprising a traverser block that rides along a worm screw; and
at least one member connected between the pivot point and a corresponding one of said rollers;
wherein movement of the pivot point causes the opposed pairs of rollers, and hence said belts, to move towards and away from each other.
2. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second opposed endless belts are foraminous.
3. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement limiting translational motion of the first and second pairs of rollers comprises a number of slides.
4. A printer according to claim 2 , further including a duct disposed to direct air through the foraminous belts.
5. A printer according to claim 4 , wherein the pivot point further comprises a second traverser block mounted on the worm screw which is located on a first side of the rollers.
6. A printer according to claim 5 , wherein the pivot point further comprises third and fourth traverser blocks mounted on a second worm screw located on a second opposing side of the rollers.
7. A printer according to claim 6 , including first, second, third and fourth members coupled from the first side of rollers to the first and second traverser blocks.
8. A printer according to claim 6 , including fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth members coupled from the second side of the rollers to the third and fourth traverser blocks.