Stacker controlling curl

Details Stacker controlling curl Stacker controlling curl

2000-07-06

2001-11-06

Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)

Sheet feeding or delivering

Delivering

To receiver for pack of sheets

C271S207000, C270S058080, C270S058110

Reexamination Certificate

active

06311971

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the stacking of sheets so that they can be stapled or otherwise bound, an operation generally referred to as “finishing.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Paper exiting a printer tends to curl. This is particularly true for paper exiting an electrophotographic printer having a fusing process to fix toner, as is widely practiced. The wetter the paper is before printing, the more curl occurs.
It is desirable to have the capability of the printer exiting the paper into a finisher, which stacks and binds the paper with a staple or other binder technique, such as stitching. In order to staple or bind such a stack of paper, the stack must be loaded into a throat of a stapler or other binding apparatus, which becomes difficult when the paper is curled. This invention flattens the curl in the vicinity of such a throat and presses the paper into a uniform stack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,390 to Guerrero has a stationary member in a stacker to accommodate curl. This invention employs a movable member in association with a guide on a clamp.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention individual sheets exiting a printer or other imaging device are moved toward an eccentric member, which rotates in coordination with the element moving the sheet. The eccentric member has a high surface and a low surface. As the sheet reaches the eccentric member the high surface is located to contact the paper and pushes it downward. The sheet is then moved into a clamp, the facing surface of which is at an acute angle, which guides the paper downward. Preferably the sheet is moved against a first reference surface before it is moved perpendicular to the first reference surface into the clamp to encounter a second reference surface. The clamp is resiliently mounted lightly so as to allow an entering sheet to push the clamp open. Upon entering the clamp, the sheet encounters the second reference surface. Alternatively, the clamped paper may be pushed perpendicular to the clamp surface against a reference surface.
Both alternatives form a uniform stack of previous and subsequent sheets, which are moved in the same manner. After the movement of a sheet to the clamp member, the eccentric member rotates so that its low surface is toward the paper exit. The low surface does not extend to encounter sheets exiting the printer, so the next sheet can fall to be moved against the clamp and the reference surface as described.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3847388 (1974-11-01), Lynch
patent: 4061331 (1977-12-01), Habich
patent: 4625956 (1986-12-01), Marass et al.
patent: 4687193 (1987-08-01), Scarabino et al.
patent: 4898374 (1990-02-01), Vermaat
patent: 5120046 (1992-06-01), Mandel et al.
patent: 5415390 (1995-05-01), Guerrero
patent: 5745141 (1998-04-01), Miyawaki
patent: 5791644 (1998-08-01), Regimbal et al.
patent: 6142466 (2000-11-01), Dickhoff
patent: 6209864 (2001-04-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 408123116A (1996-05-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stacker controlling curl does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stacker controlling curl, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stacker controlling curl will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2616936