Xerox Corporation

James G Chase

David Kalman Biegelsen

Warren Bruce Jackson

Eric Peeters

Robert Arthur Sprague

Raj B Apte

Joel A Kubby

Andrew A Berlin

R Enrique Viturro

Fred F Hubble, Iii

Stanley John Wallace

Mark H Yim

Alan J Werner, Jr

Lars-Erik Swartz

Patrick C Cheung

Kenneth N Horne

A valve for redirecting fluid flow has a valve chamber supporting fluid flow, with the valve chamber having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The valve chamber can be closed or partially open. The flap element is movable to alternatively block the first outlet and the second outlet. In or immediately adjacent to the valve chamber are opposing first and a second catch mechanisms for controllably latching the flap element to block respectively the first outlet and the second outlet. The first and second catch mechanisms have a disabled state and an activated state for holding and allowing release of the flap element. Once the first or second catch mechanism is disabled, the flap element is free to move to another position, provided it can overcome the mechanical fluid flow forces that tend to hold it in position. To counter and utilize such forces for moving the flap element, an impulse mechanism kicks the flap element into the valve chamber, away from one of the first and second catch mechanisms, after one of the first and second catch mechanisms is controllably brought into the disabled state. Since the flap element is unstable, oscillations of the flap element in the fluid flow will eventually bring the flap element into catchment range of one of the first and second catch mechanisms in an activated state.

Unstable flap valve for fluid flow control

A valve array for supporting objects such as paper with controlled fluid flow is disclosed. Optional valve arrays can be used to controllably eject marking agents for marking or coating a paper or other suitable substrate. Each valve in the valve array has one or more flap elements positioned in a valve chamber. These flap elements are movable to alternatively block the fluid flow through valve chamber outlets with the aid of various catch mechanisms for controllably latching the flap elements. The catch mechanisms have a disabled state and an activated state for holding and allowing release of the flap elements. Once the catch mechanism are disabled, the flap elements are free to move to another position, provided they can overcome the mechanical fluid flow forces that tend to hold it in position. To counter and utilize such forces for moving the flap elements, an impulse mechanism kicks the flap element into the valve chamber, away from the catch mechanisms. Since the position of the flap elements is unstable, oscillations of the flap elements in the fluid flow will eventually bring the flap element into catchment range of another catch mechanism in an activated state.

Paper handling flap valve array system

A system for transporting a sheet of material including an actuator, a position sensing system, and a tactile sensor system. The actuator imparts a known force to a sheet, moving it through to the position sensing system, which measures the sheet velocity at various points. Afterward, the sheet moves through the tactile sensor system, which determines the coefficient of friction of the sheet. Given these quantities, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet, which can be used alter the performance of the sheet transport system.

Sheet materials transport system

A system for measuring the mass of a sheet of material including an actuator, a position sensing system, and a tactile sensor system. The actuator imparts a known force to a sheet, moving it through to the position sensing system, which measures the sheet velocity at various points. Afterward, the sheet moves through the tactile sensor system, which determines the coefficient of friction of the sheet. Given these quantities, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet, which can be used alter the performance of a reproductive machine. A second embodiment of the mass measuring system includes an actuator, a position sensing system, and a subsystem for eliminating friction. The actuator applies a force to a sheet to move it into and through the subsystem. The position sensing system incorporated in the subsystem senses the acceleration of the sheet. Given this quantity, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet.

Sheet materials mass measuring system

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

James G Chase