Typewriting machines – Sheet or web – For feeding sheet from stack or pack holder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2001-09-18
Eickholt, Eugene (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Sheet or web
For feeding sheet from stack or pack holder
C400S605000, C399S110000, C399S393000, C399S401000, C399S402000, C271S003010, C271S186000, C271S258050, C271S225000, C355S024000, C347S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290410
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for printing on two side; of a media sheet, and more particularly, to a media handling system which first feeds a media sheet with a first side exposed to a print source, then feeds the media sheet with a second side exposed to the print source.
Printing to two sides of a media sheet, referred to as duplex printing, is a desirable feature in printing systems. The advantages of duplex printing include reducing the amount of paper required compared to one-sided (simplex) printing, and generating print sets with layouts resembling that of professionally printed books. Conventional duplex printing devices employ complex paper handling mechanisms. Typically, an extra tray is used for temporary storage of pages having printing on a first side. In an alternative approach a second paper path is provided to route a first printed page around the existing paper supply.
Similarly, duplex copying typically is accomplished by either one of two methods. In one method, first side copies are stacked in a duplex tray. When a set of first side copies is complete, the copies are fed out of the duplex tray and returned with an odd number of inversions along a duplex path to receive second side imaging. In an alternative method first side copies are returned directly to receive second side imaging without stacking.
Conventional devices tend to have long paper paths and many parts. A substantial challenge with systems having these complex duplex printing paper paths is handling paper jams. Accordingly, there is a need for a simplified method and apparatus for duplex media handling at a desktop print recording device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a modular duplex media handling system is used in conjunction with a simplex media handling print recording apparatus. The simplex media handling system includes firmware for operating either in a simplex mode or in a duplex mode, (where the modular duplex media handling system is installed to operate in duplex mode).
According to one aspect of the invention, the modular duplex media handling system includes a drive roller having a fixed gear linkage to the host print recording system's drive motor. There is no transmission or changing of gears along the drive path of the drive roller. Further, the drive motor drives both a feed roller of the simplex media handling system and the drive roller of the duplex media handling system. The simple gear linkage of the duplex media handling system provides a fixed rotational relationship between the drive roller and a feed roller of the simplex handling system. When the feed roller rotates in one direction, the drive roller rotates in a first direction. When the feed roller rotates in another direction, the drive roller rotates in a second direction. In one embodiments the fixed relationship ha the drive roller always rotating in the same direction as the feed roller. In an alternative embodiment, the drive roller always rotates in an opposite direction to the feed roller.
According to another aspect of the invention, the modular duplex media handling system includes a media guide which pivots about the drive roller axle. The media guide has a first position into which it is biased, and a second position into which it is deflected by a media sheet. The media sheet deflects the media guide at either of two portions of the media guide. As the media sheet traverses a first media path for first side printing, the media sheet encounters and deflects the media guide at a first portion into the second position. Once the media sheet passes, the media guide is biased back to the first position. As the media sheet follows a exit path from the duplex media handling system, the media sheet deflects the media guide at a second portion into the second position. Again, once the media sheet passes, the media guide is biased back to the first position. While the media guide is in the first position, the media sheet is able to move into an entry of the duplex media handling system as the media sheet moves back from the print zone. While the media guide is in the second position, the media sheet is able to move from the input tray around the feed roller into the print zone to receive print recording, or move out of the duplex media handling system back into the input tray to await refeeding for second side printing.
According to one advantage of the invention, duplex printing is achieved without user intervention. The user need not manually reorient the media sheet or reinsert the media sheet. According to another advantage the duplex module directly engages the host system print recording mechanism and is directly driven without an intervening transmission. Avoiding a transmission and gear changes results in a faster duplex handling process and thus increased throughput. According to still another advantage, the modularity allows the duplex handling module to be decoupled from the host system. This allows late point differentiation of the print recording system into one of multiple models for delivery into the distribution chain or to an end-user. Further, the module can be swapped with a simplex rear paper guide as desired by an end user. These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Beckett Carl D.
Blackman Jeffrey R.
O'Hara Kevin D.
Sunada Craig D.
Eickholt Eugene
Hewlett--Packard Company
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