Continuous paper and cut-sheet printing

Abstract

An example includes a device comprising a media path assembly for a printer. The assembly includes a transmission module configured to connect to a first motor of the printer and a first roller connected to the transmission module. The first roller is driven by the first motor through the transmission module when pulling continuous paper from a roll around a main shaft of the printer in a forward direction toward a print zone of the printer. The transmission module is configured to connect to a second roller of the printer, and the second roller is driven by the first motor through the transmission module when pulling cut paper from a cut-sheet tray of the printer in a forward direction toward the print zone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to continuous sheet and cut sheet printing. Background Art

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to printers that allow printing on substrates in the form of continuous paper or on substrates in the form of cut sheets.Printing on such different substrates provides flexibility in the type of substrates that can be printed on. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device comprising a media path assembly for a printer, the assembly comprising: a transmission module configured to be connected to a first motor of the printer; and a first roller connected to the transmission module, the first roller being driven by the first motor through the transmission module when continuous paper is pulled from a roll surrounding a main shaft of the printer in a forward direction toward a print zone of the printer; wherein the transmission module is configured to be connected to a second roller of the printer, the second roller being driven by the first motor through the transmission module when cut paper is pulled from a cut paper tray of the printer in a forward direction toward the print zone.

[0004] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a printing method is provided, the method comprising: receiving a first print job for printing on continuous paper from a roll surrounding a main shaft of the printer at a printer controller; printing the first print job at a print area of ​​the printer, pulling the continuous paper toward the print area by a first roller connected to a transmission module, the transmission module being connected to a first motor, the first roller being in a first roller engagement position while pulling the continuous paper toward the print area; receiving a second print job for printing on cut paper from a cut paper tray of the printer at the printer controller; pulling the continuous paper in a rearward direction away from the print area using a second motor, the main shaft being driven by the second motor in the rearward direction; pulling the cut paper from the cut paper tray in a forward direction toward the print area by a second roller, the second roller being connected to the transmission module, the second roller being in a second roller engagement position while pulling the cut paper toward the print area; and printing the second print job at the print area.

[0005] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for upgrading a printer is provided for operating with a media path assembly, the printer comprising a first motor for pulling a cut sheet from a cut sheet tray of the printer toward a print area of ​​the printer and a second motor for driving a main shaft of the printer, the method comprising: inserting a first roller and a transmission module into the printer, the first roller being in a housing for enclosing the first roller; and connecting the transmission module to the first motor of the printer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 An example device is illustrated.

[0007] Figures 2A-2D Another example device is illustrated.

[0008] Figure 3 Yet another example apparatus is illustrated.

[0009] Figure 4 A first exemplary printing method is illustrated.

[0010] Figure 5 A second example printing method is illustrated.

[0011] Figure 6 A third example printing method is illustrated.

[0012] Figure 7 A fourth example printing method is illustrated.

[0013] Figure 8 A fifth example printing method is illustrated.

[0014] Figure 9 A sixth example printing method is illustrated.

[0015] Figure 10 An example method of upgrading a printer is illustrated.

[0016] Figure 11 Another example method of upgrading a printer is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Printing on a substrate in the form of continuous paper or on a substrate in the form of cut paper can be achieved in a number of different ways, such as by manually inserting the continuous paper or the cut paper along the same media path. However, manual manipulation of the print substrate can be awkward or result in damage to the substrate, particularly in the case of large format printers using large format print substrates or print media, such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) A (229mm x 305mm), B (305mm x 457mm), C (457mm x 610mm), D (610mm x 914mm), or E (914mm x 1219mm) cut paper formats, or continuous paper rolls, such as 90 meters of E size paper that can weigh up to 8kg. The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to providing such printing capability in an automated manner, reducing or inhibiting manual intervention, and in doing so while limiting or reducing the number and cost of mechanical components that provide such automated capability. The subject matter of the present disclosure also allows for the reuse of existing mechanical components while gaining capability. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides the possibility of upgrading printers that lack this capability to gain the ability to switch from printing on continuous sheet form substrates or on cut sheet form substrates and back in an automated manner.

[0018] In the present disclosure, continuous paper should be understood as a flexible and planar print medium that is arranged to be wound into a roll so as to be placed on the printer spindle. The continuous paper can have a width along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll, and a length along a direction perpendicular to the width. In some examples, when a roll of continuous paper is provided, the length of the continuous paper is at least 20 times longer than the width of the continuous paper. In some examples, when a roll of continuous paper is provided, the length is at least 40 times longer than the width. In some examples, when a roll of continuous paper is provided, the length is at least 60 times longer than the width. When the corresponding print job has been completed, the continuous paper can be cut by a printer cutter downstream of the print zone.

[0019] In the present disclosure, cut sheets should be understood as flexible and planar printing media provided in the form of sheets, in some examples in the form of a stack of cut sheets, so as to be placed on a printer cut sheet tray for picking up such cut sheets individually for printing. The cut sheets can have a width along a direction perpendicular to the media path direction and a length along a direction perpendicular to the width. In some examples, the length of each cut sheet is less than three times the width of the cut sheet. In some examples, the length is less than twice the width.

[0020] Figure 1An example device is illustrated that includes a media path assembly for a printer, the assembly including a drive module 100 and a first roller 110. The assembly including the drive module 100 and the first roller 110 can be provided separately from an existing printer as a component that can be integrated into such an existing printer. In some examples, the printer is one of a thermal inkjet printer or a piezoelectric inkjet printer. In some examples, the printer is a large format printer. In some examples, the large format printer includes a print zone that spans at least 290 mm. In some examples, the large format printer includes a print zone that spans at least 450 mm. In some examples, the large format printer includes a print zone that spans at least 900 mm. In some examples, the printer includes a print head carriage that reciprocates along the span of the printer's print zone to print.

[0021] An assembly including a transmission module 100 and a first roller 110 is included in a media path assembly for a printer. A media path should be understood as the trajectory or path followed by a print medium or print substrate (such as continuous or cut paper) as it is displaced from a storage location (such as, for example, a media roller or media tray) toward a print area of ​​the printer. The media path can be defined by a plurality of media handling elements, such as a tray, a spindle, a guide structure or platen, a vacuum pump or vacuum platen, or rollers including, for example, pinch rollers, tire rollers, or idler rollers. In some examples, the first roller or the second roller according to the present disclosure includes a pick-up tire set. In some examples, the first roller or the second roller according to the present disclosure is supported or pressed against the corresponding paper by one or more springs.

[0022] In the present disclosure, a transmission module such as transmission module 100 should be understood as a mechanical transmission module that transmits mechanical force from a motor to a roller such as the first roller. The transmission module may include a clutch that allows switching from a mechanical configuration to another mechanical configuration. A transmission module such as transmission module 100 is configured to be connected to the first motor of the printer. Figure 2A and Figure 2B , the transmission module 100 and the first roller 110 are illustrated as being integrated in an example printer 200 including a first motor M1 of the printer 200 , and the transmission module 100 is configured to be connected to the first motor M1 of the printer.

[0023] When identical or similar elements appear in several figures, the same reference numerals may be used for these identical or similar elements. In some figures, not all elements are numbered in order to maintain the readability of the figures.

[0024] In the present disclosure, the mechanical connection between mechanical elements (such as a transmission module, a motor or a roller) or the transmission of mechanical force within a transmission module can be carried out, for example, using one or more gears, one or more belts, one or more pulleys, one or more chains, one or more cables, one or more cams, one or more cranks, one or more shafts, one or more clutches, one or more rods, one or more swing arms, one or more mechanical switches or a combination of these.

[0025] like Figure 1 As illustrated, the first roller 110 is connected to the transmission module 100, for example, via a first mechanical connector 111 of the transmission module 100. As illustrated in FIG2 , when integrated into a printer, such as printer 200, the first roller 110 is driven by a first motor M1 through the transmission module 100 when pulling the continuous paper 210 from a roll 220 surrounding a main shaft 230 of the printer 200 in a forward direction, such as a direction 241 toward a print zone 240 of the printer 200. The first motor can be an electric motor. In some examples, the first motor is a servo-controlled DC (direct current) motor. When pulling the continuous paper 210 from the roll 220, the first roller 110 exerts a friction force on the continuous paper, causing it to shift toward the print zone 240. The friction force is mechanically transmitted to the first roller by the first motor M1 through the transmission module 100. In some examples, the displacement speed of the continuous paper ranges from 2.5 cm / s to 50 cm / s.

[0026] For example, Figure 2B For example, a transmission module, such as the example transmission module 100, is configured to be connected to a second roller 120 of a printer, such as the example printer 200, and the second roller 120 is driven by a first motor, such as the example motor M1, through the transmission module 100 when a cut sheet, such as the example cut sheet 250, is pulled from a cut sheet tray, such as the cut sheet tray 260, of the printer 200 in a forward direction, such as the direction 241 toward the print zone 240. The connection between the transmission module and the second roller can be made using a second mechanical connector 112 of the transmission module 100.

[0027] In some examples, the first connector and the second connector include gears and belts.

[0028] A transmission module, such as example transmission module 100, is configured to connect to a first motor, a first roller, and a second roller, both of which are driven by the first motor through the transmission module to pull the cut sheet using the second roller or to pull the continuous sheet using the first roller. This configuration allows the same single first motor to be used to drive both the first and second rollers, and the transmission module allows the force generated by the first motor to be transferred to either the first roller or the second roller, thereby avoiding the use of two motors instead of one. In some examples, the first motor operates in a single direction corresponding to a forward direction toward a print zone. In some examples, the first motor relates to an existing printer that is upgraded with the transmission module and the first roller, where the first motor of the existing printer is used in the existing printer to drive the second roller to feed the cut sheet toward the print zone, thereby utilizing an existing motor, such as the first motor, to drive the first roller to guide the continuous sheet toward the print zone.

[0029] In some examples, a transmission module, such as transmission module 100, is configured to position the first roller, e.g. Figure 2A The exemplary first roller engagement position, or positioned e.g. Figure 2B The first roller release position is shown, wherein the first roller 110 is in Figure 2B In some examples, a transmission module such as transmission module 100 is configured to position the second roller at, for example, Figure 2B An exemplary second roller engagement position or second roller release position wherein the second roller is in e.g. Figure 2A The illustrated release position is separated from the cut sheet. The roller's engaged position should be understood as a position in which the roller is in contact with the sheet. The roller's released position should be understood as a position in which the roller is away from the sheet. The released position may correspond to a so-called parked position. Maintaining the roller in the released position prevents pressure from being applied to the sheet when it is not being driven, thereby preventing the introduction of tension in the media path or contamination of the sheet at the contact point between the sheet and the roller.

[0030] In some examples, when the second roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the second roller is separated from the surface of the cut-sheet tray on which the cut sheets are stacked by a distance of up to 3 mm. In some examples, when the second roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the second roller is separated from the surface of the cut-sheet tray on which the cut sheets are stacked by a distance of up to 2.5 mm. In some examples, when the second roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the second roller is separated from the surface of the cut-sheet tray on which the cut sheets are stacked by a distance greater than 2 mm.

[0031] In some examples, the transmission module includes a mechanical configuration such that both the first roller and the second roller are engaged simultaneously, e.g., Figure 2CSuch a configuration may, for example, allow both cut sheet and continuous sheet to be advanced toward the print zone simultaneously, for example to allow preparation for printing on the cut sheet while a print job on the continuous sheet is being completed, such a configuration may be used, for example, Figure 2B Before the configuration shown.

[0032] In some examples, the transmission module includes a mechanical configuration such that the first roller and the second roller are simultaneously in the release position, e.g. Figure 2D Such a configuration may, for example, allow the printer to be loaded with both cut paper and rolls of continuous paper.

[0033] In some examples, the transmission module is configured to selectively, for example, Figure 2A The exemplary first roller drive configuration or the like Figure 2B The second roller drive configuration illustrated in FIG. In some examples, the transmission module is in a first position in the first roller drive configuration and in a second position in the second roller drive configuration, the first position being different from the second position. In some examples, the transmission module includes an actuator, such as a lever, whereby the actuator is in a first state in the first roller drive configuration and in a second state in the second roller drive configuration. In such examples, the transmission module prevents both cut paper and continuous paper from being driven simultaneously. In some examples, the actuator of the transmission module can be mechanically connected to a clutch of the transmission module. In some examples, the transmission module can change position by translation, rotation, or a combination of translation and rotation.

[0034] In, for example, Figure 3 In some examples illustrated by the printer 300, the transmission module 100 according to the present disclosure is configured to interact with the reciprocating element 310 of the printer 300 so that the transmission module is placed in a first roller drive configuration or a second roller drive configuration. In some examples, the reciprocating element interacts with an actuator or rod 311 of the transmission module 100. In some examples, the reciprocating element reciprocates in a direction parallel to the forward direction. In some examples, the reciprocating element reciprocates in a direction parallel to the axis of the main shaft 230. In some examples, the reciprocating element is a print head carriage. In some examples, the reciprocating element is a service station shuttle that allows cleaning and maintenance of one or more print heads. In such examples, the appropriate placement of the transmission module is achieved by utilizing elements already used for different purposes in the printer (such as transporting the print head, or maintaining the print head), thereby further reducing the number of elements that allow automated printing from cut paper or from continuous paper. The reciprocating element can interact with the transmission module, for example, in the function of reaching a corresponding end position during the reciprocating movement, while maintaining the other functions of the reciprocating element.

[0035] In, for example, Figure 3 Printer 300 or Figure 4 In some examples illustrated in the corresponding media path assembly 400, the media path assembly further includes a housing 320 for enclosing the first roller. This protects the first roller from damage and may be particularly suitable when the first roller and the transmission module are provided separately from the printer for integration into an existing printer, such as to upgrade such an existing printer. In some examples, the housing may partially cover the first roller, whereby components such as the pinch roller or wheel housing of the first roller extend outside of the housing.

[0036] In, for example, Figure 3 In some examples, an apparatus according to the present disclosure, such as a printer 300, includes a transmission module 100, a first roller 110, a first motor M1, a spindle 230, a cut sheet tray 260, a reciprocating element 310, a platen 240 forming a print zone, and a second motor M2 for driving the spindle 230 in a rearward direction 301 that pulls continuous paper from a roll 220 around the spindle 230 in a direction away from the print zone 240. In some examples, the second motor is a servo-controlled DC (direct current) motor.

[0037] The second motor according to the present disclosure allows the continuous paper to be rewound onto the roll, thereby allowing the cut paper to pass toward the printing area. The continuous paper can be partially rewound, for example Figure 2B As illustrated, in order to clear the path of the cut paper toward the printing area.

[0038] In, for example, Figure 3In some illustrated examples, a device according to the present disclosure (such as a printer 300) includes a first media path 330 and a second media path 340. The first media path 330 corresponds to the path followed by the continuous paper 210. The first media path 330 guides the continuous paper from the roll 220 to the print zone 240 via the first roller 110. The first roller 110 is positioned along the first media path between the roll 220 and the print zone 240 at a point where the continuous paper 210 is unwound from the roll 220. The second media path 340 corresponds to the path followed by the cut paper 250. The second media path 340 guides the cut paper 250 from the cut paper tray 260 to the print zone 240 via the second roller 120. The first and second media paths 330 and 340 share a common media path 350 downstream of both the first and second rollers 110 and 120. Sharing the common media path allows the same print zone to be shared, thereby avoiding the need to use different print zones in the same printer. Positioning the first roller 110 along the first media path between the roll 220 and the print zone 240 at a point where the continuous paper 210 is unwound from the roll 220 allows for increased control over the drive of the paper, particularly compared to alternative first roller positions at a point where it would contact the roll itself. Figure 3 As illustrated, a device such as the example printer 300 further includes an idler roller 360 facing the first roller 110, with the cut sheet tray 260 facing the second roller 120. This configuration allows the continuous paper to be directly sandwiched between the first roller and the idler roller 360, with both the first roller and the idler roller being positioned, for example, along the first media path between the roll 220 and the print zone 240 at a point where the continuous paper 210 is unwound from the roll, thereby allowing for direct control of the drive of the continuous paper. In some examples, when the first roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the first roller is separated from the peripheral contact surface of the idler roller by a distance of up to 10 mm. In some examples, when the first roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the first roller is separated from the peripheral contact surface of the idler roller by a distance of up to 8 mm. In some examples, when the first roller is in the released position, the peripheral contact surface of the first roller is separated from the peripheral contact surface of the idler roller by a distance of at least 5 mm.

[0039] Figure 5An example printing method 500 that can be used with components according to the present disclosure in some examples is illustrated. The method includes, in block 501, receiving a first print job at a printer controller for printing on continuous paper from a roll around a spindle of the printer. A print job should be understood to include data related to an image to be printed, as well as data related to the type of paper to be used to print the image. This data related to the type of paper to be used to print the image allows the printer controller to identify whether the image should be printed on cut sheet paper or on continuous paper. In block 501, the first print job is identified as a print job that specifies printing on continuous paper.

[0040] An example printer controller includes a processor, a memory, and a network module, the processor being configured to operate according to any of the methods described herein. The processor may include electronic circuitry for computing that is managed by an operating system. The processor may perform according to any of the methods described herein based on a non-transitory machine-readable or computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a storage or memory unit of a printer), whereby the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is encoded with instructions that can be executed by a processor (such as a processor of a printer controller), and the machine-readable storage medium includes instructions for operating the processor to perform according to any of the example methods described herein. The computer-readable storage can be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. The computer-readable storage can be, for example, a random access memory (RAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, and an optical disk. As described herein, the computer-readable storage can be encoded with executable instructions according to the methods described herein. The storage or memory can include any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions as described herein.

[0041] In block 502, the printing method 500 further includes printing a first print job at a print zone of the printer, with a continuous paper being pulled toward the print zone by a first roller connected to a transmission module, the transmission module being connected to a first motor (e.g., motor M1), the first roller being in a first roller engagement position while pulling the continuous paper toward the print zone. This allows the first print job to be obtained on the continuous paper, the continuous paper being subjected to friction applied by the first roller, a traction force applied to the continuous paper by the first roller, the traction force being generated by the first motor and transmitted to the first roller by the transmission module. During block 502, the printer may be in, for example, Figure 2A The configuration illustrated in .

[0042] Printing method 500 further includes receiving, at a printer controller, a second print job for printing on cut paper from a cut paper tray of the printer, at block 503. In some examples, the second print job directly follows the first print job. In this case, the printer should switch from printing on continuous paper to printing on cut paper.

[0043] The printing method 500 further includes, at block 504, using a second motor (e.g., motor M2) to move the motor in a rearward direction away from the print zone (e.g., Figure 3 The main shaft is driven in the backward direction by the second motor 301) to pull the continuous paper. This allows the printing area to be vacated from the continuous paper and prepare for cutting the paper.

[0044] Printing method 500 further includes, at block 505, pulling the cut sheet from the cut sheet tray in a forward direction toward the print zone via a second roller (e.g., second roller 120), the second roller being connected to the transmission module, the second roller being in a second roller engagement position while pulling the cut sheet toward the print zone. This allows the cut sheet to be displaced from the cut sheet tray to the print zone by friction applied to the cut sheet by the second roller, the second roller applying a traction force generated by the first motor and transmitted from the first motor to the second roller via the transmission module.

[0045] The printing method 500 further includes, in block 506 , printing the second print job at the print zone, allowing for a printout of the second print job onto the cut sheet.

[0046] As described in method 500 , the transmission module according to the present disclosure allows the force generated by the first motor to be transmitted to the first roller or the second roller using the same first motor, and the arrangement of the transmission module and the first roller may be pre-existing.

[0047] Figure 6 An example printing method 600 is illustrated. The method 600 includes blocks 501-506 corresponding to blocks 501-506 described as example method 500. The method 600 further includes block 607: when the continuous paper is away from the printing zone, using the transmission module to place the first roller in the first roller release position, such as Figure 2B This release position of the first roller allows the continuous paper to be disengaged from the first roller, which is then parked while the printer continues to print on the cut paper. This placement of the first roller in the first roller release position according to block 607 can occur before proceeding to block 504 to pull the continuous paper in the rearward direction.

[0048] Figure 7An example printing method 700 is illustrated. Method 700 includes blocks 501-506 corresponding to blocks 501-506 described as in example method 500. Method 700 further includes block 607 as described as in example method 600. Method 700 further includes block 708: receiving a third print job for printing on continuous paper at a printer controller, with the first roller in a first roller release position. Thus, method 700 illustrates switching from printing the first print job on continuous paper to printing the second print job on cut paper, and then returning to printing the third print job on continuous paper. In some examples, other print jobs may be printed between the first and second print jobs or between the second and third print jobs. In some examples, the third print job directly follows the second print job. According to block 708, the first roller is in the first roller release position, which means that the printer is not configured to print on continuous paper and may be configured to print on cut paper.

[0049] Method 700 further includes, at block 709, positioning the first roller in a first roller engagement position using the transmission module. This positioning using the transmission module according to the present disclosure enables printing a third print job on a continuous sheet of paper. In practice, method 700 further includes, at block 710, printing the third print job at the print zone, with the continuous sheet of paper being pulled toward the print zone by the first roller in the first roller engagement position, the first roller pulling the continuous sheet of paper through friction generated by a traction force from the first motor and transmitted to the first roller by the transmission module.

[0050] Figure 8 An example printing method 800 is illustrated. Method 800 includes blocks 501-506 corresponding to blocks 501-506 as described for example method 500. Method 800 further includes block 607 as described for example method 600. Method 800 further includes blocks 708-710 as described for example method 700. Method 800 further includes block 811 of placing a second roller in a second roller-release position when the first roller is in the first roller-engaged position. This placement of the second roller in the second roller-release position can occur at different times, such as during printing of a first print job and during printing of a third print job. Placing the second roller in the second roller-release position when printing the second print job can be avoided or prevented so as to maintain friction between the second roller and the cut paper when printing occurs on the cut paper.

[0051] Figure 9An example printing method 900 is illustrated. Method 900 includes blocks 501-506 corresponding to blocks 501-506 as described in example method 500. Method 900 further includes block 607 as described in example method 600. Method 900 further includes blocks 708-710 as described in example method 700. Method 900 further includes block 811 as described in example method 800. Method 900 further includes, in block 912, a transmission module interacting with a reciprocating element (e.g., the reciprocating element 310 of the printer) to position the first roller or the second roller. This interaction can occur at different times, such as when the transmission module switches from an engaged position of the roller to a released position of the same roller, or when the transmission module switches from driving the first roller to driving the second roller, or when the transmission module switches from driving the second roller to driving the first roller.

[0052] Figure 10 An example method 1000 is illustrated for upgrading a printer to operate with a media path assembly according to the present disclosure. The printer includes a first motor for pulling cut paper from a cut paper tray of the printer toward the printer's print zone, and a second motor for driving the printer's main shaft. An upgrade should be understood as a modification to an existing printer, thereby enabling such an existing printer to automatically switch from roll to cut paper and back again, while limiting or reducing the number of components required to add such capability to the existing printer. Method 1000 includes block 1001: inserting a first roller and a transmission module into the printer, the first roller being enclosed in a housing for enclosing the first roller. The first roller is disposed in the housing to protect the first roller, which is provided as a separate upgrade component in this case. In some examples, the first roller is inserted into a guide element on the printer. Method 1000 further includes block 1002: connecting the transmission module to the first motor of the printer. In this manner, the first motor driving the cut paper in the existing printer can gain the additional functionality of driving the first roller, thereby allowing the existing first motor to be reused while gaining additional capability. In some examples, the transmission module is further connected to a second roller, such as is present in existing printers. According to the present disclosure, the second roller is driven by the first motor and is used to pull the cut sheet from the cut sheet tray. In some examples, the transmission module is fixed to the wall of the printer. Method 1000 can, for example, precede any of the printing methods described herein.

[0053] Figure 11Another example method 1100 for upgrading a printer is illustrated. The method 1100 includes blocks 1002 and 1003 as described for method 1000. When the method 1100 is applied to a printer including a graphical display, the method 1100 further includes block 1103 of displaying instructions for inserting the first roller and connecting the transmission capacity on the display, thereby facilitating the task of upgrading the printer while utilizing the presence of such a graphical display.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a media path assembly for a printer, the assembly comprising: a transmission module configured to be connected to a first motor of the printer; as well as a first roller connected to the transmission module, the first roller being driven by the first motor through the transmission module when pulling continuous paper from a roll around a main shaft of the printer in a forward direction toward a print zone of the printer; The transmission module is configured to connect to a second roller of the printer, the second roller being driven by the first motor through the transmission module when the cut sheet is pulled from a cut sheet tray of the printer in a forward direction toward the print zone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission module is configured to: positioning the first roller in a first roller engaging position or a first roller releasing position, wherein the first roller is separated from the continuous paper in the releasing position; and The second roller is positioned in a second roller engaging position or a second roller releasing position, wherein the second roller is disengaged from the cut paper in the releasing position. 3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission module is configured to selectively operate in a first roller drive configuration or in a second roller drive configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the drive module being configured to interact with a reciprocating element of the printer to place the drive module in the first roller drive configuration or in the second roller drive configuration. 5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media path assembly further comprises a housing for enclosing the first roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the first motor, the spindle, the cut sheet tray, a reciprocating element, a platen forming the print zone, and a second motor for driving the spindle in a rearward direction that pulls the continuous paper from the roll around the spindle in a direction away from the print zone.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus includes a first media path and a second media path, the first media path corresponding to a path followed by the continuous paper, the first media path guiding the continuous paper from the roll to the print zone via the first roller, the first roller being positioned along the first media path between the roll and the print zone at a point where the continuous paper is unwound from the roll, the second media path corresponding to a path followed by the cut paper, the second media path guiding the cut paper from the cut paper tray to the print zone via the second roller, the first media path and the second media path sharing a common media path downstream of both the first roller and the second roller.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises an idle roller facing the first roller, and wherein the cut sheet tray faces the second roller.

9. A printing method, comprising: receiving, at a printer controller, a first print job for printing on continuous paper from a roll around a spindle of the printer; printing the first print job at a print zone of the printer, pulling the continuous paper toward the print zone via a first roller coupled to a transmission module, the transmission module coupled to a first motor, the first roller being in a first roller engagement position while pulling the continuous paper toward the print zone; receiving, at the printer controller, a second print job for printing on cut paper from a cut-sheet tray of the printer; pulling the continuous paper in a rearward direction away from the printing zone using a second motor, the spindle being driven in the rearward direction by the second motor; pulling the cut sheet from the cut sheet tray in a forward direction toward the print zone by a second roller connected to the drive module, the second roller being in a second roller engagement position while pulling the cut sheet toward the print zone; and The second print job is printed at the print zone.

10. The printing method according to claim 9, further comprising: When the continuous paper is away from the printing zone, the transmission module is used to place the first roller in a first roller releasing position.

11. The printing method according to claim 10, further comprising: receiving, at the printer controller, a third print job for printing on the continuous paper, the first roller being in the first roller release position; placing the first roller in the first roller engagement position using the transmission module; as well as The third print job is printed at the print zone, with the continuous paper being pulled toward the print zone by the first roller in the first roller engaged position.

12. The printing method according to claim 9, further comprising: The second roller is placed in a second roller release position when the first roller is in the first roller engagement position.

13. The printing method according to claim 9, further comprising: The transmission module interacts with a reciprocating element of the printer to position the first roller or the second roller.

14. A method of upgrading a printer for operation utilizing the media path assembly of claim 5, the printer comprising a first motor for pulling a cut sheet from a cut sheet tray of the printer toward a print zone of the printer and a second motor for driving a spindle of the printer, the method comprising: inserting a first roller and a transmission module into the printer, the first roller being in a housing for enclosing the first roller; as well as The transmission module is connected to the first motor of the printer.

15. The method of upgrading a printer according to claim 14, wherein the printer includes a graphic display, the method further comprising: Instructions for inserting the first roller and connecting the transmission capacity are displayed on the display.

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