Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080217455 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising first and second motors, the first motor being a torque-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective motor, and a controller operable to control the energization of the motors such that tape may be transported in first and second directions between spools mounted on the spool supports. Each spool support is coupled to a respective motor by means of a drive coupling providing at least one fixed transmission ratio. When tape is moved in said first direction, said torque-controlled motor is energised in a first rotational direction, when tape is moved in said second direction, said torque-controlled motor is energised in said first rotational direction for a part of said movement and a second opposite rotational direction for another part of said movement. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219740 | TAPE DRIVE - A thermal transfer printer incorporating a tape drive comprising a first torque-controlled motor and a second position-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is arranged to determine a control signal to be provided to the torque-controlled motor to set the tape tension, and to provide said control signal to the torque-controlled motor, determination of the control signal including determination of a component intended to compensate for the inertia of a spool of tape driven by the torque-controlled motor. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219741 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising first and second motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, a sensor for sensing tape motion between the spools, and a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a first signal indicating demanded tape motion, provide a first control signal to at least one of the motors, the first control signal being based upon said demanded tape motion and being configured to cause tape to be transported between spools mounted on the spool supports, receive a second signal from said sensor indicating actual tape motion in response to said first control signal, and provide a second control signal to at least one of the motors, the second control signal being based upon said first and second signals. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219742 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, at least one spool being drivable by a respective motor, a controller for controlling the energization of said at least one motor such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports, and a sensor configured to obtain signals indicative of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the tape, wherein means are provided to process two signals obtained by said sensor and to generate an output signal indicative of movement of said tape based on said signals. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219743 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising two position-controlled motors, at least one of which is a closed-loop position-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is operative to energise both motors to drive the spools of tape in the direction of tape transport, to monitor tension in a tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports and to control the motors to maintain the monitored tension between predetermined limits. | 09-11-2008 |
20120086763 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors. | 04-12-2012 |
20130106974 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20140063171 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors. | 03-06-2014 |
20140267534 | TAPE DRIVE - A thermal transfer printer incorporating a tape drive comprising a first torque-controlled motor and a second position-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is arranged to determine a control signal to be provided to the torque-controlled motor to set the tape tension, and to provide said control signal to the torque-controlled motor, determination of the control signal including determination of a component intended to compensate for the inertia of a spool of tape driven by the torque-controlled motor. | 09-18-2014 |