(19)
(11) EP 0 476 939 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.10.1992 Bulletin 1992/44

(43) Date of publication A2:
25.03.1992 Bulletin 1992/13

(21) Application number: 91308383.8

(22) Date of filing: 13.09.1991
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B41J 11/42, H02P 8/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 17.09.1990 US 583242

(71) Applicant: Genicom Corporation
Waynesboro, VA 22980 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Crapser, Theodore L.
    Waynesboro, Virginia 22980 (US)
  • Hanger, William A.
    Churchville, Virginia 24421 (US)

(74) Representative: Raynor, John et al
W.H. Beck, Greener & Co 7 Stone Buildings Lincoln's Inn
London WC2A 3SZ
London WC2A 3SZ (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Apparatus and methods for incrementally stepping a printer drive shaft


    (57) A paper feed drive shaft in a printer is directly coupled at each of its opposite ends to stepper motors. The stepper motors directly drive the paper feed shaft and are actuated either synchronously or asynchronously. By directly coupling the motors and shaft, torsional vibration in the shaft and consequent high acoustical noise levels as well as paper settling times may be minimized by the phasing of the applied step timing signals to the motors.






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