Continuous imaging of a continuous web substrate with a single print

Abstract

A continuous web substrate printing system which can utilize a single otherwise conventional or existing xerographic print engine (normally printing conventional cut sheet print substrates) having an endless photoreceptor belt with a belt seam requiring a section of that belt to be unimaged in each belt rotation, yet provide continuous directly abutting images on the printed web, to avoid paper scrap. A special simplex or duplex continuous web printing substrate supply module may be docked with the cut sheet print engine to form an integral web printing system. It has a web feeding and image transfer system for appropriately feeding the continuous web printing substrate uncut into the print engine for image transfers to one or both sides of the web from the imaging surface of the print engine. For duplex printing a controlled expandable/contractible web loop may be provided in between two alternately engaged transfer stations, for alternately transferring batches of page print images onto opposite sides of the web in the proper sequence and positions, with interruption of the web feeding in the web segments in those areas. This is desirably coordinated with skipping and compensating for the unimaged belt seam areas to avoid creating blank paper areas between any images on the web which would otherwise have to be cut off and wasted.