Roller element for hardcopy apparatus

摘要

A printer or other hardcopy apparatus comprises a pinch system ( 20 ) comprising a pinch wheel ( 21 ) and a drive roller ( 23 ) in which the pinch wheel is arranged to contact a print media at locations which move continuously transversely of the direction of media advance. The surface of the pinch wheel may have raised portions ( 25, 26 ) extending around the circumference of the roller element and forming continuous bands inclined to the direction of media advance. In a modification, the bands form a helix ( 45, 46 ) at each end of the pinch wheel. In a further modification a pinch member ( 51 ) comprises two parallel rows of freely-rotatable ball bearings ( 52 ) in a holder ( 53 ), in which they may be capable of a certain amount of lateral movement.