Oce-Technologies B.v.

Canon Production Printing Holding B.v.

Oce Holding B.v.

Kevin H J R Prinsen

Peter George La Vos

Aart Nijkamp

Henricus J A Van De Sande

Jacobus M G Eijssen

The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

Paper path structure, stacker, printer and method for operating a paper path structure

A sheet flipping device includes a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume being the volume which in operation is defined by the flipping movement of the sheet, and a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member. The sheet flipping device further includes an air vortex ring generator having an air vortex ring exit nozzle defining a translational direction of a generated air vortex ring when the generated vortex ring is in operation generated from the air vortex ring exit nozzle. The air vortex ring generator is mounted such that in operation the sheet is urged onto the receiving member by the air vortex ring during the flipping motion of the sheet through the flipping volume. A sheet stacking device and a printing apparatus include the sheet flipping device.

Air vortex assisted sheet flipping device

A method for heat treatment of mixed media sheets in an image reproduction apparatus having an image forming station, a heat treatment station, a conveying path for conveying the sheets one by one through the image forming station and the heat treatment station, and a duplex loop for looping sheets back from the heat treatment station to the image forming station includes pre-heating a sheet before an image is formed thereon in the image forming station. The pre-heating includes the sub-steps of passing the sheet through the image forming station while the image forming station is idle, passing the sheet through the heat treatment station for pre-heating, and looping the sheet back to the image forming station.

Method for heat treatment of mixed media sheets

A print media discharge unit includes a print media transport path along which in operation a sheet of print media is transported in a transport direction. The print media transport path is defined by a first electrically isolating print media guide and a second electrically isolating print media guide. The print media discharge unit further includes an electrically grounded electrically conductive discharge element extending through an opening in at least one of the first and second electrically isolating print media guides into the print media transport path. At least one of the first and second electrically isolating print media guide includes a plurality of guidance ribs aligned substantially in the transport direction at an angle with respect to the transport direction.

Growing community of inventors

Venlo, Netherlands

Kevin H J R Prinsen