Method and apparatus for improved stacking quality in a device that effects one or more of media to an output storage location

Abstract

In a device that ejects one or more sheets of media to a moveable, remote output storage location, a method and apparatus for improving output stack quality is described. An invented stack holder holds previously-ejected sheets in place, so that the ejection of a newly-accumulated job does not cause misalignment of the stack by pushing the paper that it contacts during its movement. The preferred stack holder(s) each have an arm that extends down from a part of an accumulator and have a friction pad or area near its end. The system logic causes the stack tray to move up until the top of the output stack is sensed to be at a location that means it is abutting against the stack holder(s). In this position, the stack holder(s) place enough downward pressure on the top sheets of the output stack to hold the top sheets in place while an accumulated job is rejected onto the output stack. The stack tray logic then moves the tray down away from the stack holder at the appropriate time at the end of the ejection of the accumulated job, so that the stack tray and its stack do not touch the stack holders and, hence, do not interfere with operation of the accumulator. Simultaneously or immediately after the stack tray moves downward, the accumulators off-setters return to their home position to move the stack holders laterally away from the stacked and ejected media and to complete the end of ejection of an accumulated job.