Pen wiping method and system that employs a treadmill belt

• Main Authors: SIMMONS LAURA E, ANDREWS JONATHAN N, COOPER STEPHEN V
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.08.2006
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; CALCULATING; CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; COMPUTING; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; LINING MACHINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PRINTING; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; SPORTS; STAMPS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS; VIDEO GAMES

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a service station for maintaining pens is provided. The service station includes a treadmill belt that has an outer surface and an inner surface. At least one wiper is positioned on the outer surface of the treadmill belt. The treadmill belt is mounted on a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller contact the inner surface of the treadmill belt for driving the treadmill belt. Either the first roller or the second roller can be coupled to a drive axle. Preferably, the drive axle is coupled to a paper motor via a paper drive shaft. The wiper can be, for example, a flicker squeegee or a wicking squeegee.