US 12,330,431 B2
Media processing device drive mechanisms for selectable media types
Richard J. Preliasco, North Kingstown, RI (US); and David F. Beck, Exeter, RI (US)
Assigned to Zebra Technologies Corporation, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed by ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/895,802.
Prior Publication US 2024/0067492 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 11/00 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41J 11/04 (2006.01); B41J 11/14 (2006.01); B41J 11/48 (2006.01); B41J 15/18 (2006.01); B41J 23/02 (2006.01); B41J 29/38 (2006.01); B41J 15/22 (2006.01); B65H 75/30 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 23/02 (2013.01) [B41J 3/4075 (2013.01); B41J 11/003 (2013.01); B41J 11/009 (2013.01); B41J 11/04 (2013.01); B41J 11/14 (2013.01); B41J 11/485 (2013.01); B41J 15/18 (2013.01); B41J 29/38 (2013.01); B41J 15/22 (2013.01); B65H 75/30 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A media processing device, comprising:
a print head extending across a media path, the print head configured to apply indicia to media;
a platen roller assembly adjacent to the print head and configured to draw the media from a media supply along the media path travelling between the print head and the platen roller assembly, the platen roller assembly including:
(i) a first platen roller extending across a first portion of a width of the media path, and
(ii) a second platen roller coaxial with the first platen roller, and extending across a second portion of the width of the media path;
a drive assembly coupled with the first and second platen rollers, the drive assembly configured to selectively drive rotation of one or both of the first and second platen rollers; and
a controller configured to obtain a platen roller assembly configuration, and to control the drive assembly according to the platen roller assembly configuration,
wherein the platen roller assembly configuration is selected from:
(i) isolated rotation of the first platen roller,
(ii) isolated rotation of the second platen roller, and
(iii) synchronized rotation of the first and second platen rollers.
 
7. A media processing device, comprising:
a print head extending across a media path, the print head configured to apply indicia to media;
a platen roller assembly adjacent to the print head and configured to draw the media from a media supply along the media path travelling between the print head and the platen roller assembly, the platen roller assembly including:
(i) a first platen roller extending across a first portion of a width of the media path, and
(ii) a second platen roller coaxial with the first platen roller, and extending across a second portion of the width of the media path; and
a drive assembly coupled with the first and second platen rollers, the drive assembly configured to selectively drive rotation of one or both of the first and second platen rollers,
wherein the drive assembly includes:
a first motor coupled with the first platen roller and decoupled from the second platen roller; and
a second motor coupled with the second platen roller and decoupled from the first platen roller;
wherein the media processing device includes a controller configured to selectively activate either or both of the first and second motors.
 
12. A media processing device, comprising:
a print head extending across a media path, the print head configured to apply indicia to media;
a platen roller assembly adjacent to the print head and configured to draw the media from a media supply along the media path travelling between the print head and the platen roller assembly, the platen roller assembly including:
(i) a first platen roller extending across a first portion of a width of the media path, and
(ii) a second platen roller coaxial with the first platen roller, and extending across a second portion of the width of the media path; and
a drive assembly coupled with the first and second platen rollers, the drive assembly configured to selectively drive rotation of one or both of the first and second platen rollers,
wherein the drive assembly includes:
a motor; and
a clutch mechanism selectively coupling the motor to (i) the first platen roller in isolation, (ii) the second platen roller in isolation, and (iii) the first and second platen rollers.
 
17. A method at a controller of a media processing device, the method comprising:
detecting a media type corresponding to a media supply installed in the media processing device;
receiving a print command including a media type parameter;
selecting, based on the detected media type and the media type parameter, a platen roller assembly configuration for a platen roller assembly configured to draw media from the media supply along a media path, the platen roller assembly including (i) a first platen roller extending across a first portion of a width of the media path, and (ii) a second platen roller coaxial with the first platen roller, and extending across a second portion of the width of the media path; and
activating a drive assembly to selectively drive rotation of one or both of the first and second platen rollers, according to the selected platen roller assembly configuration.