Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090102115 | FINISHER APPARATUS - A flexible strip of low coefficient of friction material is attached to a paddle wheel hub and placed over a predetermined length of the drive side of the paddle wheel blades in order to reduce the drive force of the paddle wheel blades on the top sheet in a stack to thereby allow the accurate compiling of a greater range of curled sheets. | 04-23-2009 |
20110064424 | DYNAMIC MEDIA THICKNESS, CURL SENSING SYSTEM - A method and system move a media sheet in a processing direction of a media path from a first nip to a second nip and move the media sheet in the processing direction of the media path from the second nip to a third nip. The method senses, using a sensor positioned between the second nip and the third nip, the position of the media sheet relative to the sensor. The method automatically calculates the amount of curl the media sheet contains based on the difference between the predetermined position and the position of the leading edge of the media sheet (relative to the sensor) as the leading edge of the media sheet passes between the second nip and the third nip, using the processor. Further, the method automatically calculates the thickness of the media sheet based on the difference between the predetermined position and the position of the media sheet (relative to the sensor) as the media sheet passes between the second nip and the third nip, using the processor. | 03-17-2011 |
20120266725 | Computerized, Segmented Steel Rule Type Die Making System and Method - A steel rule die making system produces a steel rule dies having an operative surface that form creases and cut patterns in a sheet material to form a box blank. The system includes a die manufacturing station having an indexing bench that securely holds a substrate. At least one slug driver device is disposed adjacent the die manufacturing station to drive the penetrating point of a slug into the substrate. The upper surface of the slug head defines a segment of the operative surface of the steel rule die. | 10-25-2012 |
20130247787 | Evaporative Systems and Methods for Dampening Fluid Control in a Digital Lithographic System - A system and corresponding methods are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a layer of dampening fluid applied to a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system. Following deposition of the dampening fluid layer, a gas is passed over a region of the fluid layer prior to pattern forming. The gas causes a controlled amount of the dampening fluid layer to evaporate such that the remaining layer is of a desired and controlled thickness. Among other advantages, improved print quality is obtained. | 09-26-2013 |
20140028750 | Active Biased Electrodes for Reducing Electrostatic Fields Underneath Print Heads in an Electrostatic Media Transport - Embodiments described herein are directed to a system for reducing electrostatic fields underneath print heads in a direct marking printing system. The system includes: one or more print heads for depositing ink onto a media substrate; a media transport for moving the media substrate along a media path past the one or more print heads; a conductive platen contacting the media transport belt; an electrostatic field reducer that includes an alternating current charge device positioned upstream of the one or more print heads; and one or apertures with electrically isolated biased electrodes separated by an opening that is in registration with the ink deposition areas of the one or more print heads. The media transport includes a media transport belt and, when the media is on the transport belt it has an electrostatic field, which can cause printing defects. The electrostatic field reducer and electrodes reduce the electrostatic field on the surface of the media and thereby reduce printing defects. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028769 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING ELECTROSTATIC FIELDS UNDERNEATH PRINT HEADS IN AN ELECTROSTATIC MEDIA TRANSPORT - Embodiments described herein are directed to a system for reducing electrostatic fields underneath print heads in a direct marking printing system. The system includes: one or more print heads for depositing ink onto a media substrate; a media transport for moving the media substrate along a media path past the one or more print heads; a conductive platen contacting the media transport belt; and an electrostatic field reducer that includes an alternating current corona device positioned upstream of the one or more print heads. The media transport includes a media transport belt and, when the media substrate is on the transport belt it has an electrostatic field, which can cause printing defects. The electrostatic field reducer reduces the electrostatic field on the surface of the media substrate and thereby reduces printing defects. | 01-30-2014 |
20140098153 | In-Line Substrate Media Sensor and Protective Guide - A sensing method and system to protect printer print heads from substrate media contact comprising a trip wire sensor to detect and signal a printer control system that substrate media carried by transport media is positioned to strike or contact the print head. The trip wire sensor is located upstream of the print heads, a controlled distance above the transport media in the direction normal to the plane of the media, and comprises a trip wire operatively connected to at least one transducer. Substrate media exceeding the height requirements associated with the print heads contact the trip wire sensor causing the generation of an electrical signal which is received by the printer control system which then takes corrective action to prevent damage to the print heads, for example, by raising the print heads further away from the transport media and allowing the non-conforming substrate media to pass through and be purged. Also disclosed is a protective guide positioned to constrain substrate media from going over the top of the trip wire which can result in the substrate media becoming jammed in the trip wire sensor. | 04-10-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080217844 | Novel finisher compiler tray - This is a compiler tray with a Velcro® surfaced back guide enabled to be used with Birds Beak Edge Curl Suppressors to minimize up curl and down curl of sheets fed into the tray and improve Stapled Set Registration. The Velcro® is either fixed to the back guide or adjustably positioned on the back guide. The Velcro® is placed on the back guide in such a manner that the ribs and grooves of the Velcro® are at an angle significantly not parallel to the plane of the lead edge of paper sheets fed into the compiling tray. | 09-11-2008 |
20100096795 | FRICTION RETARD FEEDER WITH IMPROVED SHEET SEPARATION - A substrate feeding apparatus and a printing machine is provided herein for feeding substrates from a substrate stack having a nudger roll being selectively movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the nudger roll is in contiguous contact with a first substrate of the substrate stack for advancing the first substrate from the substrate stack. The first substrate having a lead edge and a trail edge, with the lead edge leading in a direction of advancement. In the second position, the nudger roll is not in contiguous contact with the substrate stack or the first substrate. A feed roll for further advancing the first substrate in the direction of advancement. A retard member forming a nip with the feed roll. The retard member is used for separating the first substrate from an adjacent second substrate. A guide baffle extending between the substrate stack and the nip, with the guide baffle configured to contact, and to guide, the first substrate as it advances in the direction of advancement from the nudger roll to the nip. The guide baffle provides an angular change in direction to the first substrate as the first substrate advances from the substrate stack to the nip. The guide baffle is configured such that as the lead edge of the first substrate enters the nip, the first substrate has portions thereof spaced from the guide baffle, with the spaced portions sagging towards the guide baffle to provide the first substrate with a concave profile. The nudger roll moves from the first position to the second position after the lead edge of the first substrate enters the nip. | 04-22-2010 |
20100111548 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEDIA THICKNESS MEASUREMENT IN AN IMAGE PRODUCTION DEVICE - A method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving images of a media stack from an imaging device, measuring one or more sheet-to-sheet interfaces in the media stack from the received images, determining the media thickness based on the sheet-to-sheet interface measurements, and adjusting at least one image production device parameter based on the determined media thickness. | 05-06-2010 |
20100142982 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FEEDFORWARD OF SHEET ELECTROSTATIC TACKING PARAMETERS TO IMAGE TRANSFER SUBSYSTEM IN IMAGE TRANSFER APPARATUS - A toner image transfer assembly has a tacking assembly, an image transfer assembly, and a media transport assembly. The tacking assembly senses critical properties of media while electrostatically tacking media to a transport device. The tacking assembly forwards data corresponding to the sensed electrical properties to the image transfer assembly so that the image transfer assembly anticipates the electrical properties of an approaching media type. | 06-10-2010 |
20130156484 | Automatic Media Loading and Unloading System for Producing Dimensional Documents - A media loading and unloading system, for use with a media cutting system having a cutting table and cutting apparatus to cut or score media held on a surface of the cutting table, includes an elevator assembly and a bi-directional transport system. The elevator assembly includes a drive and multiple vertically displaced bins that are vertically movable up and down by the drive. The bi-directional transport system transports media in a lateral feed direction from the elevator assembly to the cutting table surface and removes media from the cutting table surface in a lateral direction opposite to the feed direction to the elevator assembly. | 06-20-2013 |
20130207341 | MEDIA CURLING APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING TRI-ROLL MEDIA CURLER - A tri-roll curler apparatus includes an inlet roll, and exit roll, and a penetrating roll. The three rolls have substantially equal radii. At least one of the penetrating roll, and the inlet and exit rolls may be movable. Distances between the penetrating roll and the inlet roll, and the penetrating roll and the exit roll are substantially equal. | 08-15-2013 |
20130266358 | Media Feeding System for Cutting Dimensional Documents and Methods of Making and Using Same - A media feeding and cutting system is disclosed herein which comprises a media cutter including a cutting surface and a digital cutting device, a first feeder configured to automatically transport individual sheets of media from an in-feed receptacle toward the cutter, a positioner configured to position the medium on the cutting surface, a second feeder disposed adjacent to or connected to the cutting surface which is configured to automatically transport the cut medium from the cutter to an out-feed receptacle, and a processor configured to operate the cutter, first feeder, positioner and second feeder. Additional related systems and methods also are disclosed. | 10-10-2013 |
20130267397 | Personalized Packaging Production System - A personalized packaging production system includes an in-feed tray, an out-feed tray, a cutting table disposed intermediate the in-feed tray and the out-feed tray and an interchangeable cutting/creasing assembly. A sheet feeder is positioned between the in-feed tray and the cutting table to feed media sheets from the in-feed tray to the cutting table, and an exit nip is positioned between the out-feed tray and the cutting table to remove media sheets from the cutting table to the out-feed tray. | 10-10-2013 |
20140049586 | System and Method for Adjusting an Electrostatic Field in an Inkjet Printer - A system and method for adjusting an electrostatic field in a print zone of an inkjet printer. The printer includes an electrostatic tacking device to hold a sheet of recording media to a transport belt moving through the print zone for imaging with one or more inkjet printheads. A sensor determines the electrostatic field before the print zone and adjusts the electrostatic field with a corotron disposed after the tacking device and before the print zone. Reduction of the electrostatic field in the print zone can reduce imaging errors resulting from electrostatic fields. | 02-20-2014 |
20140125748 | MEDIA TACKING TO MEDIA TRANSPORT USING A MEDIA TACKING BELT - When tacking print media to a print media transport belt in a printer, a tack module having a pair of nips is employed to control charge migration in across the print media in order to tolerate lead edge curl while ensuring uniform printing. An upstream nip is formed by a first bias transfer roll and a first backup roll, and a downstream nip is formed by a second bias transfer roll and a second backup roll. The respective backup rolls are offset slightly upstream of the respective bias transfer rolls. Charge of opposite polarities is applied to the first backup roll and the second bias transfer roll to facilitate taking of the print media to the print media transport belt. | 05-08-2014 |
20140174310 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INK-BASED DIGITAL PRINTING USING A VAPOR CONDENSATION DAMPENING FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM - An ink-based digital printing system includes a dampening fluid delivery system that forms a dampening fluid layer on a reimageable surface of an imaging plate using vapor condensation. The system includes a delivery nozzle having a chamber that receives atomized dampening fluid, mixes the fluid with hot air or nitrogen gas for rapid vaporization, and directs the vapor onto an imaging member surface for condensation and dampening fluid layer formation. | 06-26-2014 |
20140184712 | SEMI-CONDUCTIVE MEDIA TRANSPORT FOR ELECTROSTATIC TACKING OF MEDIA - A semi-conductive media transport is used with an ink jet printing system. A belt is held flat and slides across a conductive platen, causing electrostatic charges on the belt. The belt is made semi-conductive to prevent charge buildup. The belt has an effective surface resistivity between a lower limit to preclude a buildup of electrostatic charges, and an upper limit to enable electrostatic tacking of the media to the belt. The resistivity limits vary depending upon belt velocity, thickness, material, belt and media dielectric constant, and slot width. A pair of charged nip rollers tacks the media substrate to the belt. An AC corotron is disposed above the belt to establish a net neutral charge state on the media substrate and the belt. Platen slots directly below the ink jet print heads will maintain the net neutral charge state on the media substrate and the belt. | 07-03-2014 |
20150029292 | SYSTEMS FOR DAMPENING FLUID REMOVAL, VAPOR CONTROL AND RECOVERY FOR INK-BASED DIGITAL PRINTING - A system for dampening fluid recovery in an ink-based digital printing system includes a seal manifold having a front seal portion, the front seal portion having an upper wall facing the imaging surface, the upper wall being configured to define an air flow channel with the imaging surface, the upper wall being contoured to form a distance between the upper wall and the imaging surface at an evaporation location that is less than distance between the upper wall and the imaging surface at locations interposing the evaporation location and a vacuum inlet channel of the seal manifold. | 01-29-2015 |