Selector for engagement of printer functions
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method of driving multiple printer functions using the same motor is provided. The method includes providing a motor; providing a selector pin; providing a cam member assembly including a cam member including a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a printer function; and relatively moving the cam member and the selector pin through the plurality of paths to selectively permit the motor to drive the corresponding printer function.
1. A printer comprising:
a media feed roller;
a selector pin assembly comprising:
a sleeve that is friction mounted on the feed roller; and
a selector pin extending from the friction mount sleeve so that select rotations of the media feed roller cause the selector pin to rotate;
a cam member including a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a printer function, the cam member and the selector pin being configured to provide relative movement of the selector pin through the plurality of paths, the location of the selector pin in one of the plurality of paths enabling the corresponding printer function.
2. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motor connected to the media feed roller, the media feed roller being driven by the motor, the selector pin and the cam member being positioned about the media feed roller, wherein relative movement of the selector pin through the plurality of paths of the cam member is accomplished when the media feed roller is driven by the motor.
3. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clutch mechanism, wherein the selector pin is associated with the media feed roller through the clutch mechanism.
4. The printer of claim 1 , the media feed roller having an axis of rotation, further comprising:
a printhead carriage moveable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the media feed roller, the cam member being spring loaded along the axis of the media feed roller and engageable with the printhead carriage, wherein engagement of the printhead carriage with the cam member moves the cam member along the axis of rotation of the feed roller to cause the selector pin to move from one of the plurality of paths to an intermediate location of the cam member which permits movement of the selector pin to another of the plurality of paths of the cam member.
5. The printer of claim 4 , wherein the intermediate location of the cam member includes a stop position for the selector pin.
6. The printer of claim 4 , wherein the intermediate location is located at the intersection of the plurality of paths.
7. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a media feed roller including a shaft; and
a printhead carriage moveable in a direction parallel to the shaft of the media feed roller, the cam member being spring loaded along the shaft of the media feed roller and engageable with the printhead carriage, wherein engagement and disengagement of the printhead carriage with the cam member moves the cam member to cause the selector pin to move from one of the plurality of paths to another of the plurality of paths.
8. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the cam member being spring loaded along the shaft of the media feed roller includes one of (a) the cam member being a portion of a leaf spring and (b) the cam member and a compression spring both being mounted along the shaft of the media feed roller.
9. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of paths includes three paths.
10. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:
an arm connected to the selector pin, wherein movement of the selector pin through the plurality of paths changes the position of the arm to enable corresponding printer function.