Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Patent
1996-04-01
1998-08-04
Grimley, Arthur T.
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
399 38, 399384, 399401, G03G 1500
Patent
active
057909245
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a multi-functional electrophotographic printer device for printing web-shaped recording media differing in web width that has a modular structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high economic benefit to the customer and a broad spectrum of flexibility are expected from modem electrographic printer systems to a greatly increasing extent. Both the effective utilization of printing materials as well as the flexible fashioning of the print information play a large part therein.
Endlessly processing (using fan-fold paper) electrographic printer systems that print a web-shaped recording medium on one side have prevailed everywhere in the marketplace where a high device availability given high printing volume and a broad spectrum of material to be printed are demanded. These printer systems, however, have the disadvantage that it is not possible to change between single-sided and double-sided printing. For the user, this leads both to an economically unfavorable situation as well as being contrary to contemporary demands to maximize raw materials' utilization. Many customized applications that require double-sided printing (brochures, books, etc.) can thus not be satisfied, especially since electrographic high-performance printers are especially efficient when they are operated as free of interruption as possible.
For producing multi-color and two-sided printing with electrographic printer devices processing continuous stock, European Patent Document EP-B1-01 54 695 discloses that two continuous stock printers be operated following one another, whereby the paper printed in the first printer is turned over and is subsequently printed on the second side in the second printer.
The outlay is substantial due to the required, second printer.
The publication reference IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol.22, No.6, November 1979, page 2466, FIG. 2, also discloses an electrophotographic printer device for printing web-shaped recording media with which it is possible to print the recording medium on both sides. To this end, the recording medium is pulled from a supply stack, supplied to a transfer printing station and provided with toner images on one side. After the fixing step, the recording medium is turned over and is resupplied to the transfer printing station. Another fixing step in the fixing station ensues after the back side of the recording medium has been printed with toner images.
This reference fundamentally discloses duplex printing with continuous stock recording media. The proposal, however, never led to a product. Further, the electrographic printer device disclosed therein is only suited for both-sided printing of the recording medium. A change of operating modes is not provided by the proposed device. The turn-over means composed of deflection rods that is employed therein requires manual threading of the recording medium; further, the nature of the arrangement of the deflection rods requires much installation space.
A printer device for front side and back side printing of a web-shaped recording medium has also already been proposed that contains units that generate toner images on appertaining intermediate carriers toner images, a transfer printing station that transfers the toner images onto the recording medium and a fixing station which respectively have a usable width of at least double the web width of the recording medium. After the front side is printed, the recording medium is conducted via a return channel from the fixing station to a turn-over station in which it is turned over and resupplied to the transfer printing station for printing the back side.
The function of such a printer device in pure simplex mode, i.e. given single-sided printing of, for example a wide or a plurality of narrow recording media arranged side-by-side, is limited. Thus, the functional elements such as duplex return in the return channel and the turn-over station required only in duplex mode, i.e. given two-sided printi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4835567 (1989-05-01), Ogata
patent: 4905053 (1990-02-01), Matsuo et al.
patent: 5379101 (1995-01-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5384619 (1995-01-01), Yokomizo et al.
patent: 5467179 (1995-11-01), Boeck et al.
patent: 5546178 (1996-08-01), Manzer et al.
patent: 5568245 (1996-10-01), Ferber et al.
E. C. McIrvine, "Method for Duplex Printing on Continuous Web Paper", Xerox Disclosure Journal, vol. 9, No. 3 May/Jun. 1984, pp. 201-203.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Paper-Reversing Guide for Duplex Printing, vol. 28, No. 7, Dec. 1985, pp. 2835-2836.
Creutzmann Edmund
Kopp Walter
Reichl Helmut
Chen Sophia S.
Grimley Arthur T.
Siemens Nixdorf Informationssystem Aktiengesellschaft
LandOfFree
Multi-functional printer device having modular structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-functional printer device having modular structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-functional printer device having modular structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1190745