Method for automatically-adjusting web media tension

a technology of web media and tension adjustment, applied in the field of digital printing system, can solve the problems of time-consuming manual adjustment, prone to operator error, and contribute to the overall complexity of print media handling and print media dot registration, and achieve the effect of ensuring the tensioning mechanism, ensuring the tensioning, and adequate pre-tensioning of the web media

US20130284846A1Inactive Publication Date: 2013-10-31EASTMAN KODAK CO
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2013-10-31
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A method for automatically adjusting a level of tension in web media being transported in a roll-fed web media transport system, comprising: receiving web media from a source roller, feeding the web media through an S-shaped media path in an automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism where the web media is wrapped around curved surfaces on first and second tensioning shoes, and pulling the web media through the automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism using a feed mechanism. The tensioning mechanism includes: a bracket assembly mounted to a frame which is adapted to freely pivot around a pivot axis. A pivot angle of the bracket assembly automatically adjusts in response to differences in a coefficient of friction between the web media and the tensioning shoes such that the tension in the web media has a reduced level of variability relative to configurations where the bracket assembly is held in a fixed position.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket K001036), entitled: “Automatically-adjusting web media tensioning mechanism”, by Turner et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to a digital printing system for web media, and more particularly to a method for automatically adjusting a level of tension responsive to changes in characteristics of the web media.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Continuous web printing allows economical, high-speed, high-volume print reproduction. In this type of printing, a continuous web of paper or other print media material is fed past one or more printing subsystems that form images by applying one or more colorants onto the print media surface. With this type of printing system, finely controlled dots of ink are rapidly and accurately propelled from the printhead onto the surface of a m...

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Embodiment Construction

[0034]The present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.

[0035]The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments described herein. References to “a particular embodiment” and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “an embodiment” or “particular embodiments” or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular or plural in referring to the “method” or “methods” and the like is not limiting. It should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly noted or required by context, the word ...