Xerox Corporation

William D Milillo

Eugene F Miller

Joseph Marasco

Charles Donahue Rizzolo

John R Falvo

Richard J Milillo

Dean Thomas

James F Smoak

Michele D Taber

Kendolph A Thomas

Paula E Reid

Deborah M Kretschmann

Joseph Salvatore Vetromile

Arthur Harold Kahn

Nicholas M Lamendola

Gregory P Miller

Douglas F Sundquist

Gordon Byron Reid

Steven D Olson

John A Shannon

Thomas Crofton Hatch

Glenn M Herbert

Robert Brutovski

Theodore J Kellogg

A method and apparatus for high capacity stacking and stitching in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if an image production document is to be stitched, wherein if it is determined that the image production document is to be stitched, sending the image production document along a first paper path to a first stacking tray to be stitched and stacked, and if it is determined that the image production document is not to be stitched, determining if the image production document requires a higher quality registration stacking than the stacking provided at the first stacking tray, wherein if it is determined that the image production document requires a higher quality registration stacking than the stacking provided at the first stacking tray, sending the image production document along a second paper path to a second stacking tray to be stacked in a high quality registration manner, and if the image production document is determined not to require a higher quality registration stacking than the stacking provided at the first stacking tray, sending the image production document along one of the first paper path to the first stacking tray to be stacked and the second paper path to the second stacking tray to be stacked.

Method and apparatus for high capacity stacking and stitching in an image production device

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a stack of sheets in a direction of movement to a process station, including: an elevator tray for holding stacks of sheets; a feed head for picking up a sheet from the stack of sheets when a vacuum force; air knife for blowing air between individual sheets in the stack of sheets, the sheet feeding apparatus having a first mode of operation for feeding a single stack of sheets from the sheet tray and a second mode of operation for feeding first stack of sheets and a second stack of sheets from the elevator tray.

High capacity tandem stack shuttle feeder module

This is a stacker/stitcher assembly having two disc stackers facing each other. In between the stackers is a common collection tray for receiving the stacked substrates. The assembly can handle printed output of up to 360 ppm. A bypass is provided to divert printed substrates to an exit tray or another finishing station including disc stackers.

Dual disc stacker/stitcher high speed finisher

Substrates are received by a compiling mechanism and compiled into sets. Incoming sheets are tamped by a tamping system into position on the compiling platform to register the sheets. The compiler platform mechanism includes two narrow, low-friction panels that are driven in opposite directions. The compiled and registered sheets sets can be manipulated by a manipulation device, to be stapled, punched, stitched, etc. The compiled, manipulated and registered sheet sets can be dropped onto an output catch platform located below the compilation platform. The compiling platform includes two retractable panels that slide open to allow the compiled set to drop to the output catch platform below. Once the set is dropped, the compiling platform panels are driven back to their original position in order to receive another set. Alternatively, the compiled and registered sets can be ejected from the compiling platform to a subsequent, downstream device.

Compiling platform to enable sheet and set compiling and method of use

A printing apparatus places multiple images on a sheet at least once on one side, and at least once on an opposite side. After the first printing, the sheet is inverted by an inverter and sent to a duplex path Sensors both in a feed path and the duplex path detect the side edge of the sheet to register the position of the sheet to an image rendering device A user has the option to input preferences at a user interface the preferences including running average and registration options. More specifically, the user has the option to choose a number of sheets used to calculate a running average for registration of both the simplexed and duplexed sheets The user also has the option to select between image to image registration, and image to page registration for duplex printing.

Mode switch and adjustable averaging scheme for tandem top edge electronic registration

For printer sheet separating and feeding with stack side edge air fluffing assistance from variable size sheet stacks in a sheet feeding tray with at least one repositionable stack side edge guide in an openable machine drawer, the stack edge fluffer system automatically operatively engages the edge guide to provide a preset spacing from the variable side edge positions of various size stacks when said machine drawer is closed, plus an air baffle extension out over the stack, but automatically disengages to provides unobstructed loading when the drawer is opened. It may include an automatically variable length manifold.

Sheet separating and feeding with variable position stack edge fluffing

A substrate tray includes a tall backstop guide that is attached to the bottom of the feed tray and which rotates about a vertical axis into three positions 45&deg; apart, presenting four different surfaces to a stack of substrates in the tray. Each surface accommodates a different substrate size and thereby accommodates four different widths of substrates. The backstop guide includes a cam member that is flexed against a back wall of the tray when a load is applied to the backstop guide by the stack of substrates shifting inboard if the tray is pushed to forcefully into a machine after loading, in order to prevent skewing of the substrates.

Multi-positional, rotatable/large substrate backstop guide

An image transfer apparatus shuttle feeder module comprising a module frame, an air fluffer assembly, a vacuum shuttle box assembly, and an air knife assembly. The air fluffer assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is supported from the module frame. The air knife assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is movably mounted to the module frame to shuttle relative to the frame between first and second positions. The module frame has attachment members adapted for removably mounting the module frame with the air fluffer assembly, vacuum shuttle box assembly, and air knife assembly thereon to an image transfer apparatus. The image transfer apparatus has a sheet media supply section. The module frame is mounted in a predetermined location on the image transfer apparatus. In the predetermined location the module frame is disposed relative to the sheet media supply section such that the air fluffer assembly, the vacuum shuttle box assembly and air knife assembly are operable for moving sheet media from the supply section to a different location on the image transfer apparatus.

Image transfer apparatus shuttle feeder module

A printing apparatus places multiple images on a sheet, either by re-feeding the sheet through a duplex path back to a marking device, or by feeding the sheet to successive marking devices. An edge position detector upstream of the marking device determines the location of the sheet so that an image may be precisely placed on the sheet. The system ensures that images on both sides of a sheet are in registration with each other.

Registration system for a digital printer which prints multiple images on a sheet

A copy media registration module for positioning paper in a feed path is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a module for registering copy media on an imaging member that lies at the end of a paper path, where the registration module can be removed from and replaced into a machine as a single unit. In addition, enhancements can be added to the module to provide for even more accurate copy media registration and greater media substrate latitude as desired. The modular nature of the registration module allows diagnostic testing as well as repairs and/or periodic maintenance to be easily conducted on the unit outside of the machine in which it is typically used. It also provides easy replacement of the unit if it is no longer functional, or for a temporary unit to be used while the permanent unit is being repaired.

Copy media registration module

A copy media registration module for positioning paper in a feed path is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for detecting pre-drilled holes in copy media. A sensor detects the presence and absence of copy media in the feed path. Once a transition from paper to no-paper, or from no-paper to paper occurs, subsequent signals from the sensor are ignored for a designated period of time. At the leading edge of the sheet, this designated time period is chosen such that any possible holes will have moved past the sensor. At the trailing edge of the sheet, the designated time period is chosen based upon the maximum size of any holes that may be present.

Method and apparatus for detecting holes in copy media

A method and apparatus for positioning paper in a feed path by providing continuous feedback of copy sheet registration parameters is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system which compares measured sheet registration information with an ideal value stored in a microprocessor. These measured registration parameters are averaged and pertinent information is fed back to the control system of the copy sheet registration device. The information that has been fed back is then used to adjust the orientation of subsequent copy sheets, thereby allowing for ideal placement of the copy sheet onto the photoreceptor for successful transfer of a developed image.

Adaptive electronic registration system

Automatic printing apparatus for printing an image on a sheet including sheet handling apparatus including plural sheet supply means each including a sheet stack support platform, a sheet feeder to feed a sheet from a stack, a sheet transport to transport a sheet from a stack to a first common sheet transport path; a controller to control the operation of the apparatus; at least one sensor to sense the passage of the lead edge of a sheet and to send a signal to the controller when that occurs, at least two of the plural sheet supplies being capable of supplying sheets of the same size, the controller being able to determine the size of the sheet in each sheet supply, the controller responding to the lack of a signal from the at least one sensor within a predetermined time by actuating another sheet supply that has the same size sheet as in the sheet supply from which a sheet was fed but did not reach the sensor within the predetermined time.

Printing apparatus with deferred jam clearance

An adjustable sheet cassette for use in apparatus feeding sheets and being movable in the apparatus from a sheet feeding position to a nonsheet feeding position, the adjustable cassette having a sheet stack support platform capable of supporting stacks of sheets of a plurality of length and width dimensions, at least one sheet edge guide movable in a path in the cassette to accommodate stacks of sheets of different length or width dimensions, the sheet edge guide having attached thereto an actuator arm having a plurality of switch actuators for selectively actuating a plurality of switches on a circuit board on the main body of the apparatus when the cassette is in sheet feeding position in the apparatus, the actuators being located to selectively actuate the switches on the main body of the apparatus which represent one of a plurality of sheet sizes, whereby when each of the switches is actuated it generates a unique resistance in the circuit on the circuit board, the resultant of these unique resistances determining a resultant voltage signal to the main controller on the main body of the apparatus which allows the controller to interpret the length or width dimension of the sheets in the sheet cassette.

Auto paper size sensing mechanism for an adjustable cassette

A reciprocating document handler for transporting documents comprising a belt transport supported for transporting sheets in a first and a second, opposite direction. The device further includes apparatus for allowing documents moving in the first and second directions, respectively, at an exchange area on the belt to slide over one another substantially freely. The device includes a pressure member to urge the belt into engaging with transported documents and a mechanism for reducing the bearing of a pressure member proximate the exchange area to promote the substantially free sliding engagement of the documents transported in opposite directions.

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Ontario, NY, United States of America

William D Milillo