Media pulse-pick method

Abstract

A media pick method includes receiving an initiation signal, causing a media pick system to complete a series of wait, forward move and reverse move pick actions, and causing the media pick system to complete the last of the series of forward move pick actions in conjunction with a feed roll motor's de-skew move. Reversing a direction of a pick motor enables a gear train to reset and allow momentum to build before engaging the paper on a second forward pick try. Repeats of pick pulses applies a proper balance of shear and normal forces on media.

1 . A media pick method, comprising: 
 receiving an initiation signal;    causing, in response to the initiation signal, a media pick system to complete a series of wait, and at least one of a group of pick actions consisting of a forward move and a reverse move; and,    causing the media pick system to complete the last forward move pick action in the series in conjunction with a feed roll motor's de-skew move.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the initiation signal is one of a group consisting of a print signal, a tripped End of Form (EOF) sensor signal, a stalled pick system signal, the combination of a tripped End of Form (EOF) sensor signal and a stalled pick system signal and a signal indicating a distance traveled by a pick motor after an EOF sensor is tripped is not sufficient to reach a feed roll.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 determining the type of media being picked; and,    varying, based on the type of media determined, at least one of an amplitude and a duration of at least one of the forward move pick action and reverse move pick action.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the amplitude of the forward pick move action is greater than the amplitude of the reverse pick move action.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 5  wherein amplitude of the forward pick move action is at least twice the amplitude of the reverse pick move action.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the series of wait, forward move and backward move pick actions comprises at least ten cycles of backward move, wait, forward move, and wait.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a frequency of wait, forward move forward and backward move pick actions is tuned for specific types of printers and media type.  
   
   
       8 . A printer pulse-pick method, comprising: 
 receiving an initiation signal;    causing a printer pick system to complete a series of wait and move forward pick actions; and,    causing the printer pick system to complete a move forward pick action, the move forward pick action executed in conjunction with a feed roll motor's de-skew and top-of-form move.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the initiation signal is selected from a group consisting of a print signal, a tripped End-of-Form (EOF) sensor signal, stalled pick system signal and a media type signal, and the combination of a tripped EOF sensor signal, a stalled pick system signal and a media type.  
   
   
       10 . A printer pulse-pick method, comprising: 
 receiving an initiation signal;    causing a printer pick system to complete a series of wait, forward move and reverse move pick actions until receipt of a termination signal; and,    causing the printer pick system to complete a forward move pick action, the forward move pick action executed in conjunction with a feed roll motor's de-skew and top-of-form move.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the initiation signal is one of a group consisting of a print signal, a tripped End of Form (EOF) sensor signal, a stalled pick system signal, the combination of a tripped End of Form (EOF) sensor signal and a stalled pick system signal and a signal indicating a distance traveled by a pick motor after an EOF sensor is tripped is not sufficient to reach a feed roll.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 determining the type of media being picked; and,    varying, based on the type of media determined, at least one of an amplitude and a duration of at least one of the forward move pick action and reverse move pick action.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the amplitude of the forward pick move action is greater than the amplitude of the reverse pick move action.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein amplitude of the forward pick move action is at least twice the amplitude of the reverse pick move action.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the series of wait, forward move and reverse move pick actions comprises ten cycles of reverse moves, wait, forward moves, and wait.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a frequency of wait, forward move and reverse move pick actions is tuned for specific types of printers or media type.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the termination signal is a successful pick signal.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the termination signal is a signal detecting a change in pick motor voltage.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the termination signal is a signal indicating a change at an index encoder.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 determining the type of media being picked; and    varying, based on the type of media determined, at least one of an amplitude and a duration of at least one of the forward move pick action and reverse move pick action.