Granted Patent B2

US 8,297,865 · App. 12/491,853 · Granted Oct 30, 2012

Abstract

Claims (16)

1. A media transport comprising:

a first sidewall member including an inner arcuate surface;

a second sidewall member including (i) an outer arcuate surface, and (ii) an inner arcuate surface which together with the inner arcuate surface of the first sidewall member defines a substantially drum-shaped storage chamber into which a length of media can be stored in a coiled configuration;

a third sidewall member including an inner arcuate surface which faces the outer arcuate surface of the second sidewall member to form an arcuate guide channel therebetween;

a media storage entrance/exit for receiving a length of media into and out of the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber;

a media channel entrance located at one end of the arcuate guide channel and in the vicinity of the media storage entrance/exit and for receiving a length of media which is exiting the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber;

a media channel exit located at an opposite end of the arcuate guide channel and through which a length of media can be presented to a user when the length of media is guided from the media channel entrance through the arcuate guide channel to the media channel exit; and

a drive mechanism operable in a first direction to drive a length of media from the media storage entrance/exit into the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber, and in a second direction which is opposite the first direction to drive the length of media from the media storage entrance/exit out of the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber to the media channel entrance through the arcuate guide channel to the media channel exit and thereby to present the length of media through the media channel exit to a user.

2. A media transport according to claim 1 , wherein the third sidewall member is separate and spaced apart from each of the first and second sidewall members.

3. A media transport according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second sidewall members are separate and spaced apart from each other.

4. A media transport according to claim 1 , wherein the media storage entrance/exit and the media channel entrance are located on one side of a center axis of the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber, and the media channel exit is located on an opposite side of the center axis of the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber.

5. A media transport according to claim 4 , wherein the arcuate guide channel is substantially C-shaped such that (i) the media channel entrance is located at one end of the C-shape, (ii) the media channel exit is located at the other end of the C-shape, and (iii) the center axis is disposed between the media channel entrance and the media channel exit.

6. A media transport according to claim 1 , wherein the media transport conveys paper.

7. A media transport according to claim 1 , further comprising a diverter for (i) directing a length of media to the media storage entrance/exit into the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber, and (ii) directing a length of media from the media storage entrance/exit out of the substantially drum-shaped storage chamber to the media channel entrance into the arcuate guide channel.

8. A media transport according to claim 1 , wherein the arcuate guide channel is tapered for guiding a length of media from the media channel entrance to the media channel exit.

9. A media transport according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a pair of rollers.

Assignments (10)