(19)
(11) EP 0 416 305 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
07.08.1991 Bulletin 1991/32

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.03.1991 Bulletin 1991/11

(21) Application number: 90115228.0

(22) Date of filing: 08.08.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B41J 11/30
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 07.09.1989 US 404242

(71) Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
Armonk, N.Y. 10504 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Dessel, Joseph Leo
    N.Y. 13760 (US)
  • Gatto, Jeffrey Vincent
    Wappingers, N.Y. 12590 (US)
  • Howe, David Brian
    Binghamton, N.Y. 13901 (US)
  • Hunt, Daniel Joseph
    Endicott, N.Y. 13760 (US)
  • Schaefer, David Brian
    Apalachin, N.Y. 13732 (US)
  • Wilson III, Joseph Townsend
    Endicott, N.Y. 13760 (US)

(74) Representative: Kirchhof, Norbert, Ing. grad. 
IBM Deutschland Informationssysteme GmbH Patentwesen und Urheberrecht
D-70548 Stuttgart
D-70548 Stuttgart (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Abrasion resistant tractor belt


    (57) A paper feed tractor for a printer uses an endless feed belt (10) comprising a flexible web (11) with projecting drive elements (12) on opposite sides of the web. The drive elements comprise two pieces, a pin (12a) on one side and a gear tooth (12b) on the other side of the web. The pins (12a) engage feed holes in the paper. The gear teeth (12b) are engaged by drive sprockets. In one embodiment of the invention, the web is a thin flexible band of metal, one of the drive element pieces is preformed with wear resistant material such as metal and the other drive element piece is formed by molding which also attaches the preformed piece to the band. In the second embodiment, the pin portion (12a) is preformed and the gear teeth (12b) and web (11) are formed by molding to the pin (12a) portions.






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