Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – By means to convey sheet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-01-16
Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
By means to convey sheet
C271S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173953
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a printing machine. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for advancing a substrate in a printing machine.
The features of the present invention are useful in the printing industry. One such type of machine is a printing machine, for example, an electrophotographic printing machine.
In the process of electrophotographic printing, a photoconductive surface is charged to a substantially uniform potential. The photoconductive surface is image wise exposed to record an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the informational areas of an original document being reproduced. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. Thereafter, a marking material such as toner particles is transported into contact with the electrostatic latent image in a region known as the development zone. Toner particles are attracted from the magnetic roll to the latent image. The resultant toner powder image is then transferred from the photoconductive surface to a copy sheet and permanently affixed thereto. The foregoing generally describes a typical mono-color single component development electrophotographic copying machine.
Copying and printing machines utilize substrate typically in the form of paper to transfer the image copied or printed. The paper and other substrates are moved through the printing process such as the xerographic process and may be further moved along paper paths in one of several possible post processing devices. For example, the paper may be advanced through sorters, compilers, staplers, and binder.
Printing machines require mechanisms within the machine to advance the substrate or copy sheet through the xerographic process steps in order for the developed image may be transferred onto the copy sheet and fused thereto. Typically, the advancement of the copy sheets through the printing machine is accomplished through the use of a series of drive rolls which are positioned near chutes or parallel guide surfaces between which the copy sheet is advanced. For each drive roll, a support or backup roll is positioned adjacent to a drive roll which forms a nip there between. The paper is positioned in the nip so that it may be thereby advanced along the paper path.
While in many applications papers are advanced along the paper path through the printing and copying machines through the use of feed drive rolls, in certain positions within the machine an indexing mechanism is used. The indexing mechanism may be quite complex and may be in the form of an electromechanical device. Such indexing devices include indexing motors and may include sensors and driver electronics to properly operate. These indexing mechanisms may be expensive and difficult, as well as, expensive to maintain. These indexing mechanisms may be designed to operate only one of two directions and may be difficult to reverse. These large complex expensive indexing mechanisms may be difficult to locate within a printing or copying machine where there are space restrictions. There may simply be no room for the motors and sensors involved. The present invention is directed toward solving at least some of the aforementioned problems.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,736
Patentee: Stemmle
Issue Date: Oct. 6, 1992
U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,474
Patentee: Ernst, et al.
Issue Date: Nov. 10, 1981
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,204
Patentee: VanBuskirk
Issue Date: Nov. 7, 1978
U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,429
Patentee: VanBuskirk
Issue Date: Sep. 26, 1978
U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,410
Patentee: Tates, et al.
Issue Date: Sep. 5, 1978
U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,035
Patentee: Nelson
Issue Date: Mar. 15, 1977
U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,034
Patentee: Nelson
Issue Date: Mar. 15, 1977
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,736 discloses a scanner which has a frame assembly containing a carriage movably mounted in the frame assembly for scanning movement in a scanning path in a first direction along the length of the frame assembly from a home position to an end of scan position, the frame assembly including at least one sheet transport path including at least one index roll on a rotatable shaft to index a sheet through the path, the scanner further including a toggle frame supporting at one end at least one idler roll for forming a sheet transporting nip with at least one index roll and at the opposite end at least one sheet registration gate, the toggle frame being pivotally mounted to alternately provide a copy sheet transporting nip and a sheet registration gate in said sheet transport path, the frame being activated to provide a registration gate in the sheet transport path by the scanning carriage when it is adjacent to or at the home position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,474 discloses electrical components in an elongated array which are suspended within the interior of a sleeve type closed loop member such as a rotatable photoconductor drum or closed loop belt of a compact copier. Preferably some of the components are mounted on a board and held within the sleeve by edge slots or the like in sleeve mounting end caps, attached to the machine frame. A drive motor can be attached as part of the array and further can be arranged to drive a fan blade so that cooling air is forced through the sleeve and over the components so that the sleeve acts as a plenum. Power can be coupled from the drive motor through the end mounts to motivate the sleeve in the direction of its closed loop and/or apply power to other components of the copier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,204 discloses an improved sorting apparatus and reproducing machine are provided with a plurality of sheet receiving bins. A first frame supports the bins. A sheet transport is arranged in a second frame. The frames are supported for relative movement between a first closed position wherein the sheet transport is operatively associated with the bins and a second open position wherein access is provided to the transport and bins for sheet clearance. The sheet transport includes at least one belt which is operatively maintained under a desired tension. A device is provided for reducing the belt tension in response to the relative movement of the frames between their respective closed and open positions. In accordance with another feature a counterbalance is provided for counterbalancing the frame supporting the transport as it moves away from the frame supporting the bins. The counterbalance comprises at least one cantilever spring mounted to the bin frame and a roller type device mounted to the transport frame which engages the cantilever spring.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,429 discloses a sorting apparatus and reproducing machine comprising a plurality of sheet receiving bins supported in a first frame. A sheet transport is supported in a second frame. The frames are arranged for relative movement between a first closed position wherein the transport is operatively associated with the bins and a second open position to provide access to the transport and the bins for sheet clearance. The second frame supports a guide member for guiding a sheet along the transport. The guide member is supported for movement between a first position wherein it is spaced closely adjacent to the transport and a second position wherein it is more widely spaced therefrom. A cam and follower arrangement is utilized to move the guide member between its respective first and second positions in response to the opening and closing of the frames.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,410 discloses a sorting apparatus for collating the output of a reproducing machine comprises a plurality of sheet receiving bins arranged in a row. The bin spacing for the first and last bins is greater than that for intermediate bins. The narrow spaced intermediate bins are articulated to allow their bin entrance openings to be increased as a sheet is fed into them. Individual deflection gates are associated with each of the bins. The deflection gate for the first bin is actuated by means of a solenoid wher
Ryan Andrew D.
Skaggs H. Grant
Xerox Corporation
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