Xerox Corporation

Domino UK Limited

Colin Jon Partridge

Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges

Stuart Mark Walkington

Julia Allwright

Ian A Parks

Paul Newland

Justin Chase

Michael George Snelling

John V Korhonen

Richard Bridges

Peter A Mayfield

Nicola M Bianco

Simon Muggleworth

A continuous inkjet printer () having a printhead () that includes first and second ink droplet generators (), each operable to generate a stream () of ink droplets, and a common gutter () arranged to receive unprinted ink droplets from the first and second ink droplet generators (), the printer () further including control means configured to determine receipt into the common gutter () of ink droplets from the first and second ink droplet generators (), wherein the control means are operable to use a single sensor () to determine receipt into the common gutter () of ink droplets from one, both, or neither of the first and second ink droplet generators ().

Common gutter sensing

The invention discloses various methods of controlling or monitoring the performance of a continuous inkjet printer based on monitoring vacuum levels and/or noise in the gutter line.

Continuous inkjet printers

The invention provides a method of adding solvent or make-up fluid into the gutter line of a continuous ink printer. During the addition of solvent, the vacuum level in the gutter line is monitored and maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that vacuum is maintained at the gutter. Vacuum level in the gutter line is preferably controlled by controlling the speed of a variable speed gutter pump. Noise in the gutter line is preferably used as a control over pump speed.

An apparatus for directing media sheets from a media tray to a feed roller may be coupled to a feeder module. The apparatus includes a support member, a coupler, and a media director. The support member extends across a portion of a media tray width. The coupler extends from the support member and is configured to engage a feeder module to install the support member in a printer. The media director extends from the support member, and is configured to direct a leading edge of a media sheet moving from the media tray towards a feeder nip in the feeder module. The media director is vertically displaced from the support member and the coupler.

Media sheet exit baffle

Apparatuses for feeding sheets and printing apparatuses are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses for feeding sheets includes a first guide; a second guide opposite the first guide; a first side wall; a second side wall opposite the first side wall; a support surface configured to support a stack of sheets with a first edge of the sheets facing the first guide, a second edge of the sheets facing the second guide and a center line of the stack extending from the first edge to the second edge; and at least two tampers including: a first tamper secured to the first guide between the center line and the first side wall, the first tamper including a first lower pad and a first upper pad which applies a lower force to the first edge of the sheets than the first lower pad; and a second tamper secured to the first guide between the center line and the second side wall, the second tamper including a second lower pad and a second upper pad which applies a lower force to the first edge of the sheets than the second lower pad.

Apparatuses for feeding sheets and printing apparatuses

A sheet stacking tray assembly may include a tray having a lead edge surface, a tray exit ramp having a first end and a second end, and a feeder having a feeder edge. The first end of the tray exit ramp may be configured to connect to the lead edge surface. The tray exit ramp may be convex relative to the lead edge surface and may extend beyond the lead edge surface. The tray exit ramp may include one or more first anti-stub surfaces, that may be configured to be positioned below a lead edge of a sheet in a sheet stack. The feeder edge of the feeder may include one or more second anti-stub surfaces that are complementary to the first anti-stub surfaces. The feeder edge may be configured to interconnect with the second end of the tray exit ramp to form a transition surface.

Tray exit ramp

A sheet stacking tray assembly may include a tray having a lead surface and an elevate plate. The lead surface may include one or more first geometric protuberances. At least one edge of the elevate plate may include one or more second geometric protuberances that are complimentary to the first geometric protuberances. The lead surface may be configured to interlock with the edge of the elevate plate to form a support area for one or more sheets.

Sheet stacking tray assembly with geometric protuberances

A vacuum transport for a printer or copier guides a sheet through a machine, such as from a photoreceptor toward a fuser. The vacuum transport includes a partially enclosed vacuum chamber having rollers rotatably mounted therein. Portions of the rollers protrude through openings in the top of the chamber. A series of ribs are disposed between the openings. Some of the ribs extend diagonally toward one end of the width of the paper path over the transport.

Growing community of inventors

Baldock, United Kingdom

Colin Jon Partridge