Abstract:
This invention discloses a method and apparatus for properly placing copy sheets from a high speed copy machine into an exit tray. The invention utilizes a variable speed motor to control the rollers which reside at the end of the paper path. One or more paper guides mounted to the drive rollers, enable the motor to operate over a wide range of speeds, yet still work efficiently. The motor accelerates to its highest speed as the copy sheet enters the nip between the drive and idler rollers, and is decelerated to its slowest speed as the trailing edge of the copy sheet exits the nip. The trailing edge of the copy sheet then moves off of the roller and onto the paper guide. The speed of the motor can then be increased without having to wait for the copy sheet to move into the output area. This substantially reduces the period of time required to reproduce copies.
Abstract:
This invention discloses a method and apparatus for properly placing copy sheets from a high speed copy machine into an exit tray. The invention utilizes a variable speed motor to control the rollers which reside at the end of the paper path. One or more paper guides mounted to the drive rollers, enable the motor to operate over a wide range of speeds, yet still work efficiently. The motor accelerates to its highest speed as the copy sheet enters the nip between the drive and idler rollers, and is decelerated to its slowest speed as the trailing edge of the copy sheet exits the nip. The trailing edge of the copy sheet then moves off of the roller and onto the paper guide. The speed of the motor can then be increased without having to wait for the copy sheet to move into the output area. This substantially reduces the period of time required to reproduce copies.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method that describes utilizing a corrugation slip nip system, including a variable force idler (10,12,50) that encompasses three stages, to prevent buckling of copy sheets traveling at a high rate of speed upon exiting from a high speed printing machine to the exit tray (118) for stacking. Buckling concerns are eliminated by allowing the sheet, driven by a high speed positive drive nip (22,40), to slip through the slower speed corrugation nip (10,12,50), yet still having enough drive force in the slip nip to drive the sheet into the exit tray (118). In order to vary the normal force on the sheet, a three stage variable force idler is used. The first stage oversizes the inner diameter of the idler rollers (10,30) on the idler shaft (12). The second stage uses a slot (51) in the spring (50) which allows the idler shaft to move upward without deflecting the spring. These first two stages are particularly adapted for light weight paper. The third stage occurs when the idler shaft (12) is topped out in the shaft slot (51) such that the paper deflects the spring causing additional force to be applied to the paper to drive the paper out of the system and into the exit tray. The third stage is reached only where heavy weight paper is used because heavy weight paper has sufficient beam strength to deflect the spring (50).
Abstract:
This invention discloses a method and apparatus for properly placing copy sheets from a high speed copy machine into an exit tray. The invention utilizes a variable speed motor to control the rollers which reside at the end of the paper path. One or more paper guides mounted to the drive rollers, enable the motor to operate over a wide range of speeds, yet still work efficiently. The motor accelerates to its highest speed as the copy sheet enters the nip between the drive and idler rollers, and is decelerated to its slowest speed as the trailing edge of the copy sheet exits the nip. The trailing edge of the copy sheet then moves off of the roller and onto the paper guide. The speed of the motor can then be increased without having to wait for the copy sheet to move into the output area. This substantially reduces the period of time required to reproduce copies.
Abstract:
This invention discloses a method and apparatus for properly placing copy sheets from a high speed copy machine into an exit tray. The invention utilizes a variable speed motor to control the rollers which reside at the end of the paper path. One or more paper guides mounted to the drive rollers, enable the motor to operate over a wide range of speeds, yet still work efficiently. The motor accelerates to its highest speed as the copy sheet enters the nip between the drive and idler rollers, and is decelerated to its slowest speed as the trailing edge of the copy sheet exits the nip. The trailing edge of the copy sheet then moves off of the roller and onto the paper guide. The speed of the motor can then be increased without having to wait for the copy sheet to move into the output area. This substantially reduces the period of time required to reproduce copies.
Abstract:
A sheet-stacking apparatus capable of receiving two sheets (120,122) at substantially the same time, which includes a disk unit including four substantially identical rotatable disks (100,102,104,106), each disk including a receiving slot for receiving a portion of a sheet therein. The disk unit is arranged so that two of the four disks receive portions of a first sheet (120) and the remaining two disks receive portions of a second sheet (122). Embodiments also include a bin into which the first sheet and the second sheet are deposited and a selectively extendable separator (110) that separates the first sheet and the second sheet into two separate stacks. The apparatus can also include a tamping mechanism.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cooling copy sheets in a high speed copy machine while en route to an output tray. The invention utilizes a blower connected to manifolds positioned on opposite sides of copy sheets transported in a paper path en route to the output tray. Airflow is supplied to both sides of copy sheets as they are conveyed throughout the paper path in order to cool the copy sheets before they enter the output tray and thereby prevent fusing of the copy sheets together.
Abstract:
A sheet-stacking apparatus capable of receiving two sheets (120,122) at substantially the same time, which includes a disk unit including four substantially identical rotatable disks (100,102,104,106), each disk including a receiving slot for receiving a portion of a sheet therein. The disk unit is arranged so that two of the four disks receive portions of a first sheet (120) and the remaining two disks receive portions of a second sheet (122). Embodiments also include a bin into which the first sheet and the second sheet are deposited and a selectively extendable separator (110) that separates the first sheet and the second sheet into two separate stacks. The apparatus can also include a tamping mechanism.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method that describes utilizing a corrugation slip nip system, including a variable force idler that encompasses three stages, to prevent buckling of copy sheets traveling at a high rate of speed upon exiting from a high speed printing machine to the exit tray for stacking. Buckling concerns are eliminated by allowing the sheet, driven by a high speed positive drive nip, to slip through the slower speed corrugation nip, yet still having enough drive force in the slip nip to drive the sheet into the exit tray. In order to vary the normal force on the sheet, a three stage variable force idler is used. The first stage oversizes the inner diameter of the idler rollers on the idler shaft. The second stage uses a slot in the spring which allows the idler shaft to move upward without deflecting the spring. These first two stages are particularly adapted for light weight paper. The third stage occurs when the idler shaft is topped out in the shaft slot such that the paper deflects the spring causing additional force to be applied to the paper to drive the paper out of the system and into the exit tray. The third stage is reached only where heavy weight paper is used because heavy weight paper has sufficient beam strength to deflect the spring.
Abstract:
A sheet conveying device having multiple directional outputs with multiple registration options having no fixed registration wall for sequencing single sheets or two approximately identical sheets arriving in a two-up configuration, includes a first, second, third, and fourth pairs of rolls (202,204,206,208). The first pair of rolls (202) and the second pair of rolls (204) rotate about a first shaft (222), which is rotated by a first servomotor (232). The third pair of rolls (206) rotate about a second shaft (224), which is rotated by a second servomotor (234), wherein the shaft is oriented at an angle approximately 90 DEG relative to the first shaft (222). The fourth pair of rolls (208) rotate about a third shaft (226) oriented at an angle approximately 90 DEG relative to the first shaft (222) and approximately parallel to the second shaft (224), and a third servomotor (236) operably connected to the third shaft (226) rotates the third shaft.