Background

A printer may include a print media transport to move and/or route print media through the printer. The print media transport may include a roller to move and/or route the print media through the printer. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an inkjet printing system.

Figure 2 illustrates one example of a roller for a printer.

Figure 3 illustrates one example of friction material of the roller of Figure

2.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate other examples of friction material for a roller for a printer.

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate portions of example rollers for a printer including the friction material of Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, respectively.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are flow diagrams illustrating one example of a method of forming a roller for a printer.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the

accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figure 1 illustrates one example of an inkjet printing system 10. Inkjet printing system 10 includes a fluid ejection assembly, such as printhead assembly 12, and a fluid supply assembly, such as printing fluid supply 14. In the illustrated example, inkjet printing system 10 also includes a carriage assembly 16, a print media transport assembly 18, a service station assembly 20, and an electronic controller 22.

Printhead assembly 12 includes at least one printhead or fluid ejection device which ejects drops of printing fluid or other fluid through a plurality of orifices or nozzles 13. In one example, the drops are directed toward a medium, such as print media 19, so as to print onto print media 19. Print media 19 includes, for example, any type of suitable sheet material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, fabric, and the like, packaging material, or other printable material. In one example, nozzles 13 are arranged in one or more columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of printing fluid from nozzles 13 causes characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images to be printed upon print media 19 as printhead assembly 12 and print media 19 are moved relative to each other.

Printing fluid supply 14 supplies printing fluid to printhead assembly 12 and includes a reservoir 15 for storing printing fluid. As such, in one example, printing fluid flows from reservoir 15 to printhead assembly 12. In one example, printhead assembly 12 and printing fluid supply 14 are housed together in an inkjet or fluid-jet print cartridge or pen. In another example, printing fluid supply 14 is separate from printhead assembly 12 and supplies printing fluid to printhead assembly 12 through an interface connection, such as a supply tube.

Carriage assembly 16 positions printhead assembly 1 2 relative to print media transport assembly 18 and print media transport assembly 18 positions print media 19 relative to printhead assembly 12. Thus, a print zone 17 is defined adjacent to nozzles 13 in an area between printhead assembly 12 and print media 19. In one example, printhead assembly 12 is a scanning type printhead assembly such that carriage assembly 16 moves printhead assembly

12 relative to print media transport assembly 18. In another example, printhead assembly 12 is a non-scanning type printhead assembly such that carriage assembly 16 fixes printhead assembly 12 at a prescribed position relative to print media transport assembly 18. Print media transport assembly 18 may include, for example, a variety of guides, rollers, wheels, etc. for the handling and/or routing of print media 19 through inkjet printing system 10, including transporting, guiding, and/or directing print media 19 to print zone 17, and/or transporting, guiding, and/or directing print media 19 away from print zone 17.

Service station assembly 20 provides for spitting, wiping, capping, and/or priming of printhead assembly 12 in order to maintain a functionality of printhead assembly 12 and, more specifically, nozzles 13. For example, service station assembly 20 may include a rubber blade or wiper which is periodically passed over printhead assembly 12 to wipe and clean nozzles 13 of excess printing fluid. In addition, service station assembly 20 may include a cap which covers printhead assembly 12 to protect nozzles 13 from drying out during periods of non-use. In addition, service station assembly 20 may include a spittoon into which printhead assembly 12 ejects printing fluid to insure that reservoir 15 maintains an appropriate level of pressure and fluidity, and insure that nozzles

13 do not clog or weep. Functions of service station assembly 20 may include relative motion between service station assembly 20 and printhead assembly 12.

Electronic controller 22 communicates with printhead assembly 12, carriage assembly 16, print media transport assembly 18, and service station assembly 20. Thus, in one example, when printhead assembly 12 is mounted in carriage assembly 16, electronic controller 22 and printhead assembly 12 communicate via carriage assembly 16. Electronic controller 22 also

communicates with printing fluid supply 14 such that, in one implementation, a new (or used) printing fluid supply may be detected, and a level of printing fluid in the printing fluid supply may be detected. Electronic controller 22 receives data 23 from a host system, such as a computer, and may include memory for temporarily storing data 23. Data 23 may be sent to inkjet printing system 10 along an electronic, infrared, optical or other information transfer path. Data 23 represents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such, data 23 forms a print job for inkjet printing system 10 and includes one or more print job commands and/or command parameters.

In one example, electronic controller 22 provides control of printhead assembly 12 including timing control for ejection of printing fluid drops from nozzles 13. As such, electronic controller 22 defines a pattern of ejected printing fluid drops which form characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images on print media 19. Timing control and, therefore, the pattern of ejected printing fluid drops, is determined by the print job commands and/or command parameters. In one example, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller 22 is located on printhead assembly 12. In another example, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller 22 is located off printhead assembly 12.

In one example, as schematically illustrated in Figure 1 , print media transport assembly 18 includes a roller with friction material, as identified at 24, for handling and/or routing of print media 19 through and/or within inkjet printing system 10.

Figure 2 illustrates one example of a roller 100 for a printer, including an inkjet printer, such as inkjet printing system 10, a laser printer, or other type of printer. Roller 100 may be used, for example, as a drive roller or a feed roller for print media, such as print media 19, or a drive roller for cleaning material of a service station, such as service station assembly 20.

In one example, roller 100 includes a shaft 120 and a friction material 150 on shaft 120. Friction material 150 may be formed, for example, of a substrate- backed abrasive material, such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide on a paper, cloth, fiber or film substrate, an abrasive foam rubber, including an open cell or closed cell foam rubber, or other grit or grip material. As such, in one

implementation, roller 100 represents an example of roller 24. In one example, shaft 120 has ends 121 and 122, and includes a cylindrical portion 124 between ends 121 and 122. In some examples, shaft 120 may have a gear or gears at one or both of ends 121 and 122 to rotate or drive shaft 120. In some examples, shaft 120 may have a reduced diameter or spline portion at one or both of ends 121 and 122 to support shaft 120 for rotation.

In one example, friction material 150 has ends 151 and 152, and edges

153 and 154. In examples, as further described below, edges 153 and 154 of friction material 150 include spaced projections or protrusions 160 that form alternating spaced indentations or recesses 162. In one example, protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at one edge 153 are complementary to and staggered or offset from protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at opposite edge 154 such that protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at edge 153 correspondingly or cooperatively coordinate or mesh with recesses 162 and protrusions 160 at edge 154. As such, protrusions 160 and recesses 162 form interleaved portions of friction material 150. For example, a protrusion 160 at edge 153 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 162 at edge 154, and an adjacent protrusion 160 at edge 154 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 162 at edge 153. Thus, protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at edges 153 and 154 are alternately arranged and fit together at spaced intervals along shaft 120.

As illustrated in the example of Figure 2, friction material 150 is secured to shaft 120 along a length of shaft 120 including, more specifically, a length of cylindrical portion 124 of shaft 120. In one example, friction material 150 is secured around shaft 120 so as to cover or surround less than a full

circumference of shaft 120 including, more specifically, less than a full circumference of cylindrical portion 124 of shaft 120. As such, edges 153 and

154 of friction material 150 are spaced from and opposed to each other such that a gap 164 is formed between edges 153 and 154 of friction material 150. More specifically, edges 153 and 154 are spaced from each other such that a non-overlapping or non-butting seam is formed between edges 153 and 154. In one example, as protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at one edge 153 are staggered or offset from and correspondingly or cooperatively coordinated or meshed with recesses 162 and protrusions 160 at opposite edge 154, edges 153 and 154 form a non-linear interleaved seam of friction material 150 along shaft 120.

Figure 3 illustrates an example of friction material 150 separate from shaft 120. In one example, friction material 150 includes a piece or strip 156 of material and has a first side or surface 157 and a second side or surface 158 opposite surface 157 such that surface 157 contacts shaft 120 when strip 156 is secured to shaft 120, and surface 158 is exposed when strip 156 is secured to shaft 120. In one example, surface 157 includes an adhesive material 170 for securing strip 156 to shaft 120. As such, in examples, friction material 150 includes an adhesive-backed friction material.

As described above, edges 153 and 154 of friction material 150 include spaced projections or protrusions 160 which form alternating spaced

indentations or recesses 162. In one example, strip 156 has a longitudinal axis 159 extending a length of strip 156, and protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at edge 153 are staggered or offset from protrusions 160 and recesses 162 at edge 154 along axis 159, as indicated by offset 166. In one example, strip 156 includes one or more than one alignment hole 168 which may be used to align strip 156 when securing strip 156 on shaft 120. In one example, an alignment hole 168 is provided adjacent or near each of ends 151 and 152.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 3, projections or protrusions 160 of friction material 150 may have a generally squaretooth profile, including a generally squaretooth shape, along edges 153 and 154 of friction material 150, with sides 1601 of protrusions 160 being oriented substantially parallel with each other and ends 1602 of protrusions 160 being oriented substantially parallel with axis 159. Further to that illustrated in the example of Figure 3, the number or size of protrusions 160, and corresponding recesses 162, may vary.

Figure 4A illustrates another example of a friction material 250 separate from shaft 120. In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 250 has ends 251 and 252, and edges 253 and 254. In addition, edges 253 and 254 of friction material 250 include spaced projections or protrusions 260 that form alternating spaced indentations or recesses 262. In one example, protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at one edge 253 are complementary to and staggered or offset from protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at opposite edge 254 such that protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at edge 253 correspondingly or cooperatively coordinate or mesh with recesses 262 and protrusions 260 at edge 254. As such, protrusions 260 and recesses 262 form interleaved portions of friction material 250 when friction material 250 is secured to shaft 120, as described below. For example, a protrusion 260 at edge 253 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 262 at edge 254, and an adjacent protrusion 260 at edge 254 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 262 at edge 253. Thus, protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at edges 253 and 254 are alternately arranged and fit together at spaced intervals along shaft 120 when friction material 250 is secured to shaft 120.

In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 250 includes a piece or strip 256 of material and has a first side or surface 257 and a second side or surface 258 opposite surface 257 such that surface 257 contacts shaft 120 when strip 256 is secured to shaft 120, and surface 258 is exposed when strip 256 is secured to shaft 120. In one example, similar to surface 157 of friction material 150, surface 257 of friction material 250 includes an adhesive material 270 for securing strip 256 to shaft 120. As such, in examples, friction material 250 includes an adhesive-backed friction material.

As described above, edges 253 and 254 of friction material 250 include spaced projections or protrusions 260 which form alternating spaced

indentations or recesses 262. In one example, strip 256 has a longitudinal axis 259 extending a length of strip 256, and protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at edge 253 are staggered or offset from protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at edge 254 along axis 259, as indicated by offset 266. In one example, strip 256 includes one or more than one alignment hole 268 which may be used to align strip 256 when securing strip 256 on shaft 120. In one example, an alignment hole 268 is provided adjacent or near each of ends 251 and 252.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 4A, projections or protrusions 260 may have a sawtooth profile, including a sawtooth shape, along edges 253 and 254 of friction material 250, with sides 2601 of protrusions 260 oriented at opposite angles to axis 259. Further to that illustrated in the example of Figure 4A, the number or size of protrusions 260, and corresponding recesses 262, may vary.

Figure 5A illustrates another example of a portion of a roller 200, including shaft 120 and friction material 250 on shaft 120. In one example, similar to roller 100 and friction material 150, friction material 250 is secured around shaft 120 so as to cover or surround less than a full circumference of shaft 120 including, more specifically, less than a full circumference of cylindrical portion 124 of shaft 120. As such, edges 253 and 254 are spaced from and opposed to each other such that a gap 264 is formed between edges 253 and 254 of friction material 250. More specifically, similar to edges 153 and 154, edges 253 and 254 are spaced from each other such that a non- overlapping or non-butting seam is formed between edges 253 and 254. In one example, as protrusions 260 and recesses 262 at one edge 253 are staggered or offset from and correspondingly or cooperatively coordinated or meshed with recesses 262 and protrusions 260 at opposite edge 254, edges 253 and 254 form a non-linear interleaved seam of friction material 250 along shaft 120.

Figure 4B illustrates another example of a friction material 350 separate from shaft 120. In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 350 has ends 351 and 352, and edges 353 and 354. In addition, edges 353 and 354 of friction material 350 include spaced projections or protrusions 360 that form alternating spaced indentations or recesses 362. In one example, protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at one edge 353 are complementary to and staggered or offset from protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at opposite edge 354 such that protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at edge 353 correspondingly or cooperatively coordinate or mesh with recesses 362 and protrusions 360 at edge 354. As such, protrusions 360 and recesses 362 form interleaved portions of friction material 350 when friction material 350 is secured to shaft 120, as described below. For example, a protrusion 360 at edge 353 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 362 at edge 354, and an adjacent protrusion 360 at edge 354 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 362 at edge 353. Thus, protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at edges 353 and 354 are alternately arranged and fit together at spaced intervals along shaft 120 when friction material 350 is secured to shaft 120.

In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 350 includes a piece or strip 356 of material and has a first side or surface 357 and a second side or surface 358 opposite surface 357 such that surface 357 contacts shaft 120 when strip 356 is secured to shaft 120, and surface 358 is exposed when strip 356 is secured to shaft 120. In one example, similar to surface 157 of friction material 150, surface 357 of friction material 350 includes an adhesive material 370 for securing strip 356 to shaft 120. As such, in examples, friction material 350 includes an adhesive-backed friction material.

As described above, edges 353 and 354 of friction material 350 include spaced projections or protrusions 360 which form alternating spaced

indentations or recesses 362. In one example, strip 356 has a longitudinal axis 359 extending a length of strip 356, and protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at edge 353 are staggered or offset from protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at edge 354 along axis 359, as indicated by offset 366. In one example, strip 356 includes one or more than one alignment hole 368 which may be used to align strip 356 when securing strip 356 on shaft 120. In one example, an alignment hole 368 is provided adjacent or near each of ends 351 and 352.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 4B, projections or protrusions 360 may have a tabbed profile, including a tabbed shape, along edges 353 and 354 of friction material 350, with sides 3601 of protrusions 360 being angled and/or arched or curved, and ends 3602 of protrusions 360 being oriented substantially parallel with axis 359. Further to that illustrated in the example of Figure 4B, the number or size of protrusions 360, and corresponding recesses 362, may vary.

Figure 5B illustrates another example of a portion of a roller 300, including shaft 120 and friction material 350 on shaft 120. In one example, similar to roller 100 and friction material 150, friction material 350 is secured around shaft 120 so as to cover or surround less than a full circumference of shaft 120 including, more specifically, less than a full circumference of cylindrical portion 124 of shaft 120. As such, edges 353 and 354 are spaced from and opposed to each other such that a gap 364 is formed between edges 353 and 354 of friction material 350. More specifically, similar to edges 153 and 154, edges 353 and 354 are spaced from each other such that a non- overlapping or non-butting seam is formed between edges 353 and 354. In one example, as protrusions 360 and recesses 362 at one edge 353 are staggered or offset from and correspondingly or cooperatively coordinated or meshed with recesses 362 and protrusions 360 at opposite edge 354, edges 353 and 354 form a non-linear interleaved seam of friction material 350 along shaft 120.

Figure 4C illustrates another example of a friction material 450 separate from shaft 120. In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 450 has ends 451 and 452, and edges 453 and 454. In addition, edges 453 and 454 of friction material 450 include spaced projections or protrusions 460 that form alternating spaced indentations or recesses 462. In one example, protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at one edge 453 are complementary to and staggered or offset from protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at opposite edge 454 such that protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at edge 453 correspondingly or cooperatively coordinate or mesh with recesses 462 and protrusions 460 at edge 454. As such, protrusions 460 and recesses 462 form interleaved portions of friction material 450 when friction material 450 is secured to shaft 120, as described below. For example, a protrusion 460 at edge 453 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 462 at edge 454, and an adjacent protrusion 460 at edge 454 extends or protrudes into a corresponding recess 462 at edge 453. Thus, protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at edges 453 and 454 are alternately arranged and fit together at spaced intervals along shaft 120 when friction material 450 is secured to shaft 120.

In one example, similar to friction material 150, friction material 450 includes a piece or strip 456 of material and has a first side or surface 457 and a second side or surface 458 opposite surface 457 such that surface 457 contacts shaft 120 when strip 456 is secured to shaft 120, and surface 458 is exposed when strip 456 is secured to shaft 120. In one example, similar to surface 157 of friction material 150, surface 457 of friction material 450 includes an adhesive material 470 for securing strip 456 to shaft 120. As such, in examples, friction material 450 includes an adhesive-backed friction material. As described above, edges 453 and 454 of friction material 450 include spaced projections or protrusions 460 which form alternating spaced

indentations or recesses 462. In one example, strip 456 has a longitudinal axis 459 extending a length of strip 456, and protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at edge 453 are staggered or offset from protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at edge 454 along axis 459, as indicated by offset 466. In one example, strip 456 includes one or more than one alignment hole 468 which may be used to align strip 456 when securing strip 456 on shaft 120. In one example, an alignment hole 468 is provided adjacent or near each of ends 451 and 452.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 4C, projections or protrusions 460 may have a rounded tab profile, including a rounded tab shape, along edges 453 and 454 of friction material 450, with sides 4601 of protrusions 460 being angled and/or arched or curved, and ends 4602 of protrusions 460 being straight or curved. Further to that illustrated in the example of Figure 4C, the number or size of protrusions 460, and corresponding recesses 462, may vary.

Figure 5C illustrates another example of a portion of a roller 400, including shaft 120 and friction material 450 on shaft 120. In one example, similar to roller 100 and friction material 150, friction material 450 is secured around shaft 120 so as to cover or surround less than a full circumference of shaft 120 including, more specifically, less than a full circumference of cylindrical portion 124 of shaft 120. As such, edges 453 and 454 are spaced from and opposed to each other such that a gap 464 is formed between edges 453 and 454 of friction material 450. More specifically, similar to edges 153 and 154, edges 453 and 454 are spaced from each other such that a non- overlapping or non-butting seam is formed between edges 453 and 454. In one example, as protrusions 460 and recesses 462 at one edge 453 are staggered or offset from and correspondingly or cooperatively coordinated or meshed with recesses 462 and protrusions 460 at opposite edge 454, edges 453 and 454 form a non-linear interleaved seam of friction material 450 along shaft 120.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are flow diagrams illustrating one example of a method 500 of forming a roller for a printer, such as rollers 100, 200, 300, and 400, as illustrated in the examples of Figures 2, 5A, 5B, and 5C, respectively. In one example, as illustrated in Figure 6A, at 502, a strip of friction material, such as friction material 150, 250, 350, and 450, as illustrated in the examples of Figures 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C, respectively, is secured around a shaft, such as shaft 120, as schematically illustrated in the examples of Figures 2, 5A, 5B, and 5C.

As such, at 504, a non-linear gap, such as gap 164, 264, 364, and 464, as illustrated in the examples of Figures 2, 5A, 5B, and 5C, respectively, is formed between opposed edges of the friction material along a length of the shaft.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 6B, at 506, in securing the strip of friction material around the shaft, the strip of friction material is adhered around the shaft. For example, the friction material is adhered around the shaft with adhesive material 170, 270, 370, and 470, as illustrated in the examples of Figures 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C, respectively.

In one example, as illustrated in Figure 6C, at 508, in forming the nonlinear gap between opposed edges of the friction material along the length of the shaft, complementary staggered portions of the friction material are interleaved. For example, protrusions 160, 260, 360, and 460 at respective edges 153, 253, 353, and 453 extend or protrude into corresponding recesses 162, 262, 362, and 462 at respective edges 154, 254, 354, and 454, and adjacent protrusions 160, 260, 360, and 460 at respective edges 154, 254, 354, and 454 extend or protrude into corresponding recesses 162, 262, 362, and 462 at respective edges 153, 253, 353, and 453 such that protrusions 160, 260, 360, and 460 and recesses 162, 262, 362, and 462 at respective edges 153, 253, 353, and 453 and respective edges 154, 254, 354, and 454 are alternately arranged and fit together at spaced intervals along the shaft when the friction material is secured to the shaft, as illustrated in the examples of Figures 2, 5A, 5B, and 5C, respectively.

With a roller as disclosed herein, opposing edges of the friction material are spaced from each other and do not overlap in a circumferential direction such that a non-overlapping or non-butting seam is formed between the edges. In addition, with the protrusions and the recesses at the opposing edges being staggered or offset from and correspondingly or cooperatively coordinated or meshed with each other, a non-linear interleaved seam of the friction material is formed along a length of the shaft of the roller. Thus, contact by at least some portion of the friction material, between the ends of the shaft, is maintained for each rotational position of the roller.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein.