Xerox Corporation

David C Van Wyngaarden

Raymond Ruthenberg

William E Kramer

Joseph Michael McNamara

Michel Loiselle

Mark Muzzin

Mark Sparano

Steven K Siu

John Wojtkowicz

Karen Lee

An apparatus monitors the motion of sheet, such as in a digital printer. An optical sensor is capable of recording an image in a two-dimensional array of pixels, and has acuity to recognize a terrain of a small area on a sheet that is substantially blank to a human eye. The optical sensor views a portion of a sheet moving in a process direction through a path. A detection system compares at least two recorded terrain images from the sheet, thereby directly measuring velocity and direction of the sheet.

Optical sensor for monitoring motion of a blank sheet

An improved booklet maker incorporates a movable backstop for compiling incoming sheets and a stapler and creasing module, which is moved to various positions during the booklet making sequence. The moving stapler and creasing function enables the compiling function to occur simultaneously with the stapling and creasing functions. This results in a productivity gain without a footprint increase.

Compact booklet maker

In a finishing apparatus, such as would be used with a copier or high-speed printer, an applicator places stickers on a folded sheet or booklet, to prevent the sheet or booklet from unfolding or opening. At one point in the operation, the folded sheet or booklet is 'backed up' in its basic process direction to receive a sticker on its trailing edge, and backed up further so that the sticker is folded over the trailing edge by a pair of crease rolls.

Automated sheet folder or booklet maker which applies sticker closures

In a booklet maker or sheet folder wherein one or more sheets are pushed through a nip formed by a pair of crease rolls, and wherein the crease rolls are driven by gears, a slip clutch is operatively disposed between one of the crease rolls and the gear driving the crease roll. The slip clutch compensates for the abrupt change in frictional coefficient experienced by the crease rolls when one or more sheets enter the nip.

Booklet maker with crease rolls having a slip clutch

In a booklet maker or sheet folder wherein one or more sheets are pushed through a nip formed by a pair of crease rolls, a pair of flexible gate members cover the nip while sheets to be folded are being loaded. When the sheets are pushed through the nip, the flexible gate members are displaced, allowing the nip to receive the sheets. Following feeding of the sheets, the flexible gate members spring back to a closed position.

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Toronto, Canada

David C Van Wyngaarden