Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6637742
-
Patent Number
6,637,742
-
Date Filed
Monday, February 11, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 28, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walsh; Donald P.
- Joerger; Kaitlin
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A multi-function media eject system and method for operation particularly useful for ink jet printers. At the start of a print job, the media type and print format are determined. If the media is either banner paper or envelope, or if the print format is draft quality printing, wings and kickers of the eject system are disabled, so the media exits the printer without support from the wings or influence from the kickers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to media ejection systems in printing devices, and, more particularly, to ejection systems for ink jet printers including support wings and media kickers, and methods for using such systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink jet printers are used commonly for home and business printing applications. Ink jet printers are popular due to their low initial cost, low cost of operation, low energy use and quiet operating features. Ink jet printing involves ejection of tiny ink droplets through small holes, in a controlled manner, to create the desired image on the media. Ink is supplied from an ink reservoir to a printing head, which includes various passageways from the reservoir to one of a plurality of nozzle orifices. Energy is applied to the ink from an ink droplet generator near each orifice, which may include the application of electrostatic attraction, the application of oscillating forces from piezo elements, the application of heat from heating elements or the like. The printhead traverses back and forth in close proximity to the media being printed, and, as the various droplet generators are activated in the necessary pattern and sequence, the desired image is formed from the tiny ink droplets deposited on the surface of the media.
Laser printers are also used in both home and office applications. Although generally more costly than ink jet printers, laser printers are sometimes preferred for the perceived greater print quality and the faster printing speed available from laser printers.
For ink jet printers to compete more favorably with laser printers, it is necessary to increase the printing speed and the optical density of the printed image obtained from an ink jet printer. These performance increases in an ink jet printer must be achieved without increased occurrence of ink smear. Ink smear can occur when wet ink is contacted by the same piece of media, by another piece of media or by surfaces or devices in the printer.
It is known to support and delay printed media exiting the print area in an ink jet printer, to allow time for the ink to dry. Eject systems in ink jet printers are known to include movable wings along the edge of the media path to support the printed media from beneath, and kickers operated on the trailing edge of the media to assist in ejecting the media. Media supported by the edge wings may bow slightly, giving the media a degree of beam strength, while still remaining flat in the print zone. Supporting and handling media in this manner has been successful in reducing the incidence of smear for many common print job operations.
In some operating conditions, the devices intended to reduce the incidence of smear, namely the wings and kickers, can actually be responsible for increased incidence of smear, potential media jams, and/or slowed printer performance. For example, when printing in a draft mode, in which less ink is applied to the media, ejection systems using wings and kickers can slow overall printer performance, in that each cycle of the wings and kickers can require more time than necessary for the ink to dry. Printing banner paper or envelopes also can be slowed when wings and kickers are used.
Supporting banner paper or envelopes on edge wings can cause smear by urging the length of the media into direct physical contact with the printhead. When banner paper is supported on edge wings, after a considerable length thereof has passed through the exit system, the “beam” collapses. The result can be bunching of the banner paper in the print zone, resulting in physical interference between the banner paper and the printhead. With narrower, more rigid media such as envelopes, support from beneath by an edge wing along one side of the envelope can cause the entire length of the envelope to rise upward along the surface of the wing and rearward thereof into the printing area. Even relatively limited upward movement of the top surface of the media can cause physical interference between the media and the printhead, since the normal spacing therebetween is quite small. When any physical interference occurs between the media and the printhead, smear, lateral displacement of the media, or a media jam can be the result.
What is needed in the art is a multifunction media eject system that provides different edge support and kicker operations, depending on the type of print job performed and the type of media upon which printing is performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a multi-function media eject system particularly useful for ink jet printers, that positions edge support wings and sheet kickers differently for different printing formats and for different media types, thereby reducing potential smear and paper jams, and improving overall printer performance.
The invention provides, in one form thereof, a media eject system for a printer with an edge wing for supporting an edge of media exiting the printer. The edge wing is movable between support and non-support positions. A kicker is provided for engaging a trailing edge of media and moving the media into an output tray. The kicker is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and is operable to move the media into the tray by movement of the kicker from the retracted position to the extended position. A controller determines the media type and print format being used, and adjusts positions of the wing and the kicker at the start of a print job dependent upon the print condition.
In another form thereof, the invention provides a method for operating a media eject system of a printing device. Edge wings have a wings up position for supporting media exiting the printer and a wings down position providing no support to media exiting the printer. A kicker is provided for moving media, the kicker having a retracted position and an extended position and adapted for moving the media as the kicker is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. The method has further steps of determining a print condition for each print job, the print condition including at least one of a media type being printed and a printing format being used; and adjusting positions of the wing and the kicker in response to the print condition. The method selectively provides media support and kicker function for specific print conditions, and no media support and no kicker function for other specific print conditions.
In a further form thereof, the invention provides a method for operating a media ejection system during a print job in a printer, the media ejection system including edge support wings for supporting the media exiting the printer and a kicker for accelerating the media exiting the printer. The method steps include determining a print condition for the print job to be at least one of the media being an envelope, the media being banner paper and the print format being a draft printing mode. The method further includes adjusting the wings and the kicker to non-operating conditions in response thereto; and passing the media out of the printer without support by the wings and without acceleration by the kicker.
In still another form thereof, the invention provides a method of operating a printer having an eject system including wings for supporting sheets of media exiting the printer. The method steps include determining the type of media being printed and the print format being used; and moving the wings to non-supporting positions if the media is banner paper or envelope, or if the if the print format is draft.
In a still further form thereof, the invention provides a method of operating a printer having an eject system including a kicker for accelerating the sheets of media exiting the printer. The method steps include determining the type of media being printed and the print format being used; and moving the kicker to a non-operative position if the media is banner paper or envelope, or if the if the print format is draft.
An advantage of the present invention is providing a multi-function eject system control with common eject system hardware, and reduced potential for media jams in the printer.
Another advantage is improving speed performance for draft mode printing while also reducing potential for smear when printing envelopes or banner paper.
Still another advantage is adjusting acceleration of the media without the use of kickers; and providing certainty that the exit area of the printer is cleared.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a printer in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the wings and kickers in a first position;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged perspective view of the circled portion of the printer shown in
FIG. 1
, but illustrating the wings and kickers in a second position;
FIG. 3
is an elevational view of sheet end edge detection apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4
is an elevational view similar to
FIG. 3
but illustrating a front edge of the sheet having entered the end edge detection system;
FIG. 5
is an elevational view similar to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, but illustrating the sheet having passed through the end edge detection system;
FIG. 6
is an elevational view similar to
FIGS. 3-5
, illustrating a reversal of the sheet in some operating conditions;
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view illustrating paper supported by edge wings of the present invention;
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view similar to
FIG. 7
, but illustrating a condition that can occur in prior art operations of ejection systems on some papers, such as banner paper;
FIG. 9
is a cross-sectional view illustrating the present invention in use on banner paper; and
FIG. 10
is a flow diagram of the control of the eject system of the present invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a printing device of the present invention, in the form of an ink jet printer
10
is illustrated. Ink jet printer
10
includes an ink jet cartridge, a frame, a carriage assembly for carrying the ink jet cartridge and other parts well-known to those skilled in the art, and not shown, illustrated or described herein for simplicity. In known manner, a plurality of rollers, guides and the like define a paper path through printer
10
along which media
12
passes from a supply tray or the like, through a printing zone and ultimately to an eject system
14
operated in accordance with the present invention. Media
12
can be conventional cut-sheet papers, envelopes, a continuous length of paper frequently referred to as banner paper, or the like. Printer
10
can be operated in a variety of printing modes, including higher quality, slower printing modes in which more ink is applied to the media, and a faster printing, lower quality mode referred to herein as a “draft” printing mode, in which less ink is applied. The present invention is useful for operating media ejection system
14
for all types of media printed in printer
10
, and provides advantages particularly with respect to the ejection of heavier, stiff media such as envelopes or long or continuous media such as banner paper. Additionally, advantages are obtained for printing on conventional cut-sheet media when draft mode printing is selected.
Eject system
14
includes one or more edge wings
20
,
22
disposed along the edge of the media path, generally at the outlet of printer
10
, wherein the media is deposited into an output tray
24
. Two such edge wings
20
,
22
are illustrated in the drawings, in opposition to each other, to support media therebetween as the media leaves printer
10
. In a first position of edge wings
20
and
22
support is provided to the side edges of media exiting printer
10
, from the underside thereof, by wings
20
and
22
. Media
12
rests on and slides along wings
20
and
22
as it progresses outwardly of the printer and into output try
24
. In a second position of wings
20
and
22
, each is positioned away from the media path, so as not to contact media
12
as it progresses outwardly from printer
10
. Therefore, edge wings
20
and
22
are movable between a “wings up” position for supporting the media illustrated in
FIG. 1
, and a “wings down” position for non-support of the media, as illustrated in FIG.
2
.
Eject system
14
of printer
10
further includes one or more kickers
30
. Kickers
30
are arranged with respect to the media path, and are operated with respect to movement of media
12
passing along the media path to bump or otherwise urge a trailing end edge
32
of media
12
, to more forcibly eject media
12
from printer
10
.
The structure just described for eject system
14
is operated in known manner during printing such that, as printing on a sheet of media
12
is completed, and media
12
exits from printer
10
, wings
20
and
22
are in the wings up position illustrated in FIG.
1
. Kickers
30
are in the retracted position also illustrated in FIG.
1
. Under normal operating conditions, wings
20
and
22
are in the wings up position and kickers
30
are retracted even before printing commences on media
12
. As media
12
exits printer
10
, edges of the media are supported from beneath by wings
20
and
22
, and kickers
30
are poised for activation on trailing end edge
32
. At an appropriate time, kickers
30
are activated to move from the retracted position illustrated in
FIG. 1
to the extended position illustrated in FIG.
2
. Kickers
30
thus engage end edge
32
of media
12
, urging the media along the media path and into output tray
24
. Substantially concurrently with the activation of kickers
30
from the retracted position to the extended position, wings
20
and
22
are moved from the wings up position illustrated in
FIG. 1
to the wings down position illustrated in FIG.
2
. Thus, side edge support of media
12
is removed, and media
12
drops into output tray
24
. As printing begins on the next sheet of media
12
, wings
20
and
22
are returned to the wings up position, and kickers
30
are retracted, in preparation for operation on the next sheet of media
12
. Picking of a subsequent sheet of media
12
is often delayed until wings
20
and
22
and kickers
30
are reset into the wings up and retracted positions, respectively, to ensure proper timing of the wing and kicker operation as the subsequent sheet of media
12
emerges from printer
10
.
Operating eject system
14
as just described works satisfactorily for most types of printing on conventional cut sheet papers. However, the delay resulting from actuation of edge wings
20
and
22
and kickers
30
can slow printing and output, particularly when printing in draft mode with a lower volume of ink applied to the surface of media
12
. When printing envelopes, an envelope supported by a single edge wing
20
or
22
can ride upwardly and tilt, potentially interfering with the printhead cartridge (not shown).
When printing long or continuous sheets such as banner paper, a further problem can be encountered when operated in the manner described above.
FIG. 7
illustrates a cut media sheet
40
supported by wings
20
and
22
. The center of the sheet, between side edges
42
and
44
thereof, bows downwardly, substantially as illustrated. The curvature of cut sheet
40
provides a degree of “beam” strength to sheet
40
, thus rendering the sheet more rigid, and reducing buckling occurring from the engagement of kickers
30
. However, when a long sheet, or a continuous sheet such as banner paper
50
(
FIG. 8
) is processed in printer
10
, as the extended length of banner paper
50
exits from printer
10
and falls into output tray
24
, the curvature illustrated in
FIG. 7
can collapse. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the center portion of banner paper
50
bulges upwardly, and the upward bulge thereof can extend back into the print zone of printer
10
. Under these conditions, banner paper
50
can interfere with the print cartridge. If interference occurs between banner paper
50
, an envelope, or any other media
12
and the print cartridge or other structures within printer
10
, still wet ink on the surface of media
12
can be smeared or wet ink on the printhead can be rubbed onto media
12
. Movement of the cartridge can cause media
12
to skew out of the proper orientation in the media path. Media jams can be caused when media
12
interferes with the print cartridge.
In accordance with the present invention, the heretofore known operating sequences of edge wings
20
and
22
and kicker
30
are altered for various print conditions. Operation of printer
10
is controlled by a printer controller
60
(FIG.
10
), which ascertains through appropriate sensors, and/or is provided with program data input
62
relative to the media being printed and the print format to be followed. If controller
60
determines that the print condition of printer
10
includes printing in draft mode, printing on media
12
comprising an envelope, and/or printing on media
12
comprising banner paper, controller
60
begins an alternative operating sequence for wings
20
and
22
and kickers
30
. The alternative operating sequence includes adjustment
64
of the position for wings
20
and
22
and kicker
30
at the start of the print job. Wings
20
and
22
are moved to the wings down position, and kickers
30
are moved to the extended position illustrated in FIG.
2
. In such positions, as media
12
exits from printer
10
, edge wings
20
and
22
provide no support of media
12
, and media
12
passes over kickers
30
without being influenced thereby. Media
12
in the form of envelopes will not ride up either of edge wings
20
or
22
, and media
12
in the form of banner paper
50
will exit without curvature, as illustrated in FIG.
9
. Thus, media
12
will not interfere with the print cartridge, or other surfaces in printer
10
, and the potential for smear of printing on media
12
or media jamming is reduced. In draft printing mode of conventional cut sheets
40
, throughput can be increased without the unnecessary operation of wings
20
and
22
and kickers
30
on cut sheet
40
, and the cycling of wings
20
and
22
and kickers
30
between the positions shown in FIG.
1
and FIG.
2
.
If controller
60
ascertains that media
12
is a conventional cut sheet
40
, and that the print format is other than draft printing, wings
20
and
22
are adjusted to the wings up position, and kickers
30
are moved to the retracted position as illustrated in FIG.
1
. Then, as cut sheet
40
exits from printer
10
, kickers
30
are extended to provide impetus to the sheet, and wings
20
and
22
are simultaneously moved to the wings down position, removing bottom support of cut sheet
40
and allowing the sheet to drop into output tray
24
.
Without the additional ejection force supplied by kickers
30
, it is necessary that media
12
in the form of envelopes or banner paper
50
, or cut sheets
40
printed in draft mode is transported along the media path with sufficient velocity to clear all structures and settle uniformly into output tray
24
. In accordance with the present invention, an improved end edge sensor system
70
is provided (FIGS.
3
-
6
). An exit roller
72
is operated with a backing roller
74
to form a nip
76
through which media
12
passes. A first upstream end edge sensor
78
and a second downstream end edge sensor
80
are provided near exit roller
72
and backing roller
74
. Use of two end edge sensors
78
and
80
provides more accurate determination of end edge location. As media
12
passes through nip
76
, trailing end edge
32
first passes and is sensed by first upstream end edge sensor
78
and secondly by second downstream end edge sensor
80
. If printing is completed with a sufficient margin between the last print line and trailing end edge
32
, exit roller
72
is accelerated to thereby accelerate media
12
and adequately expel media
12
into output tray
24
.
However, if printing occurs sufficiently close to trailing end edge
32
that an insufficient length of media
12
remains for proper acceleration thereof, printer controller
60
actuates exit roller
72
to rotate in a reverse direction. Thus, media
12
is moved backward slightly, through nip
76
, after printing has been completed. When a sufficient length of media
12
has been backed through exit nip
76
, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, exit roller
72
is again reversed in direction, moving media
12
forward, and accelerating media
12
sufficiently to expel media
12
adequately into output tray
24
.
The eject function described immediately above is normally adequate for clearing the exit area of printer
10
, particularly when used for printing conventional cut sheet media in a draft mode. However, to ensure that the exit area has been cleared when printing envelopes or banner paper, after the media has exited, eject system
14
can be run through a complete eject cycle to engage and move the media if a portion thereof remains in the exit area. In doing so, wings
20
and
22
are raised to the wings up position, and kickers
30
are retracted. A conventional eject function follows, with kickers
30
extended, and wings
20
and
22
lowered. Cycling eject system
14
in this way will clear away media that may not have completely exited printer
10
. As stated previously, eject system
14
cycling in this manner is not normally required for printing in draft mode format on cut sheet media
12
, so the advantages gained in speed are maintained by not cycling eject system
14
. If system cycling is used for envelope or banner paper print jobs, speed is not normally as important a factor, and surety of media clearance while reducing potential for smear and jams is achieved.
After completion of a draft mode print job, or a print job using envelopes or banner paper, printer
10
remains in the wings down and kickers extended position of
FIG. 2
until such time as a print job is started that requires support by wings
20
and
22
and operation of kickers
30
. Upon the start of such a print job, eject system
14
will return to the wings up and kickers retracted position before a first piece of media
12
exits the printer, and will function as described above as each piece of media
12
in the print job exits the printer. Eject system
14
returns to the wings up kicker retracted position after each piece of media
12
is ejected by ejection system
14
, and will remain so upon completion of the print job. Only upon printer controller
60
identifying that a print job is commencing in draft mode or using envelopes or banner paper as media
12
is eject system
14
again adjusted to the wings down and kicker extended configuration of
FIG. 2
as the print job commences.
The present invention provides improved printer performance through the multi-function operation of a media eject system. In response to known print job print conditions, the eject system is either used to support and eject the media, or is in essence, deactivated, by moving edge wings and kickers into non-operational positions, thus allowing the media to exit the printer without influence by the edge wings and kickers. If necessary, exit speed of the media is adjusted, including the potential repositioning of the media such that adequate ejection speeds are achieved.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A media eject system for a printer having an output tray, said system comprising:an edge wing for supporting an edge of media exiting the printer, said edge wing movable between support and non-support positions; a kicker for engaging a trailing edge of media and moving the media into the tray, said kicker movable between a retracted position and an extended position and operable to move the media into the tray by movement of said kicker from said retracted position to said extended position; and a controller for determining a print condition including at least one of a media type and a print format, and for adjusting positions of said wing and said kicker at the start of a print job dependent upon said print condition.
- 2. The media eject system of claim 1, including a plurality of edge wings in spaced relation for supporting media therebetween when said wings are in said support position.
- 3. The media eject system of claim 2, including a plurality of kickers.
- 4. The media eject system of claim 1, including a plurality of kickers.
- 5. The media eject system of claim 1, said at least one wing being in said nonsupport position at the start of the print job in response to said print condition being at least one of the media type being an envelope, the media type being banner paper and the print format being draft printing.
- 6. The media eject system of claim 5, said kicker being in said extended position at the start of the print job in response to said print condition being at least one of the media type being an envelope, the media type being banner paper and the print format being draft printing.
- 7. The media eject system of claim 1, said kicker being in said extended position at the start of the print job in response to said print condition being at least one of the media type being an envelope, the media type being banner paper and the print format being draft printing.
- 8. The media eject system of claim 1, including a feed roller and a backing roller in nipped engagement, and first and second media end edge sensors disposed upstream of said feed roller.
- 9. A method for operating a media eject system of a printing device, said method comprising steps of:providing edge wings having a wings up position for supporting media exiting the printer and a wings down position providing no support to media exiting the printer, and a kicker for moving media, the kicker having a retracted position and an extended position and adapted for moving the media as the kicker is moved from the retracted position to the extended position; determining a print condition for each print job, the print condition including at least one of a media type being printed and a printing format being used; and adjusting positions of the wing and the kicker in response to said print condition, to selectively provide media support and kicker function for specific print conditions, and to provide no media support and no kicker function for other specific print conditions, as the media exits the printer.
- 10. The method of claim 9, said adjusting step including lowering said wings to provide no media support in response to determining said print condition to be printing on media consisting of one of banner paper and an envelope.
- 11. The method of claim 10, including passing the media through the printer, and moving said wings through a cycle of raising the wings and lowering the wings after the media exits the printer.
- 12. The method of claim 11, said adjusting step including lowering said wings to provide no media support in response to determining said print condition to be a draft printing format.
- 13. The method of claim 9, said adjusting step including lowering said wings to provide no media support in response to determining said print condition to be a draft printing format.
- 14. The method of claim 9, said adjusting step including extending said kicker in response to determining said print condition to be printing on media consisting of one of banner paper and an envelope.
- 15. The method of claim 14, including passing the media through the printer and moving the kicker through a cycle of retracting the kicker and extending the kicker after the media exits the printer.
- 16. The method of claim 14, including lowering said wings in response to determining said print condition to be printing on media consisting of one of banner paper and an envelope.
- 17. The method of claim 16, including passing the media through the printer, moving the wings through a cycle of raising the wings and lowering the wings, and moving the kicker through a cycle of retracting the kicker and extending the kicker, each said cycle performed after the media exits the printer.
- 18. The method of claim 9, said adjusting step including extending said kicker in response to determining said print condition to be a draft printing format.
- 19. The method of claim 18, including lowering said wings in response to determining said print condition to be a draft printing format.
- 20. A method for operating a media ejection system during a print job in a printer, the media ejection system including edge support wings for supporting the media exiting the printer and a kicker for accelerating the media exiting the printer, said method comprising steps of:determining a print condition for the print job to be at least one of the conditions including the media being an envelope, the media being banner paper and the print format being a draft printing mode; and adjusting the wings and the kicker to non-operating conditions in response to determining the print condition for the print job to be at least one of the conditions including the media being an envelope, the media being banner paper and the print format being a draft printing mode; and passing the media out of the printer without support by the wings and without acceleration by the kicker.
- 21. The method of claim 20, said step of adjusting the wings including lowering the wings to a nonsupport position at the start of the print job.
- 22. The method of claim 21, said step of adjusting the kicker including extending the kicker at the start of the print job.
- 23. The method of claim 22, including raising then lowering the wings, and retracting then extending the kicker each time a piece of media in the print job passes out of the printer.
- 24. The method of claim 23, including retaining the wings and the kickers in the non-operating conditions until the start of a next print job.
- 25. The method of claim 24, including determining the next print job to have print conditions other than using banner paper and envelopes and a format other than draft mode, and adjusting the wings and the kicker to operating conditions in response to determining the next print job to have print conditions other than using banner paper and envelopes and a format other than draft mode.
- 26. The method of claim 20, said step of adjusting the kicker including extending the kicker at the start of the print job.
- 27. The method of claim 20, including providing a nipped roll couple for accelerating media in the nip; detecting an end edge position of the media; and an ending print line position on the media relative to the end edge; and determining acceleration from passing the remaining media through the nip.
- 28. The method of claim 27, including reversing a direction of movement of the media through the nip after printing is complete, stopping the media, and accelerating the media through the nip in a forward direction.
- 29. A method of operating a printer having an eject system including wings for supporting sheets of media exiting the printer, the method comprising steps of:determining the type of media being printed; determining the print format being used; moving the wings to non-supporting positions if the media is banner paper, before the media exits the printer; moving the wings to non-supporting positions if the media is envelope, before the media exits the printer; and moving the wings to non-supporting positions if the print format is draft, before the media exits the printer.
- 30. The method of claim 29, including moving the wings to supporting positions, then returning the wings to the non-supporting positions each time a trailing end edge of an envelope passes out of the printer.
- 31. The method of claim 29, including moving the wings to supporting positions, then returning the wings to the non-supporting positions each time a trailing end edge of banner paper passes out of the printer.
- 32. A method of operating a printer having an eject system including a kicker for accelerating the sheets of media exiting the printer, the method comprising steps of:determining the type of media being printed, determining the print format being used; moving the kicker to a non-operative position if the media is banner paper, before the media exits the printer; moving the kicker to a non-operative position if the media is envelope, before the media exits the printer; and moving the kicker to a non-operative position if the print format is draft, before the media exits the printer.
- 33. The method of claim 32, including moving the kicker to an operative position, operating the kicker, then returning the kicker to the non-operative position each time a trailing end edge of an envelope passes out of the printer.
- 34. The method of claim 32, including moving the kicker to an operative position, operating the kicker, then returning the kicker to the non-operative position each time a trailing end edge of banner paper passes out of the printer.
US Referenced Citations (23)