Patent Grant
8233835
This invention relates to electrophotographic marking systems and, more specifically, to paper management, processing and handling used in such systems.
While the present invention can be effectively used in a plurality of non-marking, paper-handling apparatus or marking systems such as ink jet printing, non-xerographic printing, etc., it will be described for clarity as used in paper managing and handling of electrostatic marking systems such as electrophotography. In an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus commonly used today, a photoconductive insulating member may be charged to a negative potential, thereafter exposed to a light image of an original scanned document to be reproduced. The exposure discharges the photoconductive insulating surface in exposed or background areas and creates an electrostatic latent image on the member which corresponds to the image areas contained within the original document. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive insulating surface is made visible by developing the image with a developing powder referred to in the art as toner. During development, the toner particles are attracted from the carrier particles by the charge pattern of the image areas on the photoconductive insulating area to form a powder image on the photoconductive area. This image may be subsequently transferred or marked onto a support surface such as copy paper to which it may be permanently affixed by heating or by the application of pressure. Following transfer of the toner image or marking, the copy paper may be removed from the system by a user or may be automatically forwarded to a finishing station where the copies may be collected, compiled and stapled and formed into books, pamphlets or other sets. This invention will be described throughout in reference to paper management and handling both before and after finishing stations. It should be understood, however, that the present invention can be used in any systems where paper is fed, managed or collected.
As above noted, there are many marking systems that transport paper or other media after the paper is marked in marking step or steps. These marking systems could include ink jet printing, electrostatic marking systems, non-electrostatic marking systems and printers or any other system where paper or other flexible media or receiving sheets are scanned, marked and then are transported internally to an output device such as stacking trays or a finisher and compiler station or stations and the subsequent collecting of paper after the scanner completes its functions and the media is marked ready for collection. As above noted, the management-handling system of this invention can be used both before and after finishing stations.
A typical job for customers using wide format products can involve scanning and printing 36-inch wide documents which can be hundreds of feed long (up to 650 feet long). Generally, the portion of the document exiting the scanner (post scan) is sometimes deposited somewhat haphazardly on the floor, the top of the scanner or on a tray requiring further manual handling. This can be costly in terms of the overhead incurred while managing the exiting document and the potential for damage to the original once it has already exited. In addition, in lengthy documents, curling of the unsupported paper can easily occur which could cause subsequent problems. Paper curl can cause poor registration, sheet damage and jamming or poor image quality both before and during further processing such as in a finishing station. Sheets delivered in a curled condition have a tendency to have their edges out of registration with aligning or scanning mechanisms and other sheet-handling systems employed in marking or printing technology.
Therefore, there is a need for improved paper handling in marking or other systems to reduce potential damage to the original or the copy and to reduce paper impairment due to paper curl. Also, since manual collection of scanned rolls of paper has proven to be cumbersome, an automatic handler would be a significant advance in the art.
This invention provides a mechanism attached to a wide format scanner to which the user can attach the scanned paper as it first exits the scanner (in some applications the scanned paper is hundreds of feet long). This take-up roller would then be lowered into contact with the paper that is entering the scanner, thus producing a friction scanner driven paper take-up mechanism. This would result in rolling the document as it exits the scanner rather than having it fall to the floor or put into a deep collection tray for manual handling. A quick slide-off release mechanism would allow removal of the paper or the take-up roller from the spring-loaded arms upon job completion. A manual approach has been used in the prior art for output lengths as large as 100 feet. The spring load take-up roller described is intended to provide a counterbalance for the loads that would be associated with longer jobs, some as long as 650 feet. The spring force and location(s) at which it is applied would require optimization and potentially adjustment depending on job length.
In
In a prior art handling system, as the paper exited the back of the scanner, the paper was rolled up (clockwise) and simply laid on top of the paper still entering the scanner. At that point the paper simply rolled up on its own as the scanning process continued. The advantages of the formalization are better handling of large quantities of paper and ensuring that there is a minimum of paper curl and that paper is not re-fed into the scanner. Additional advantages include the fact that no additional powered drive mechanism is required and that the user's document is protected from damage and is kept organized.
No additional powered drive is required to roll the paper around take-up roller 2 because the scanner 4 has power that pulls the paper 5 into the scanner 4 as show at arrow 9, is the same power that causes input paper to turn the take-up roller 2 when it is in the engaged position as shown at C. As the scanner 4 pulls the paper 5 as shown at arrow 9, the pulled paper in turn rubs against the paper exiting the scanner 4 and turns the take-up roller 2 in a roll collecting fashion. Since this paper on the take-up roller 2 is tightly wound around the take-up roller 2, the tendency for paper curl is substantially reduced.
Therefore, a friction driven take-up roller 2 is provided assisted by the scanner 4 pulling power with the input paper pulled by the scanner frictionally moving the take-up roller 2. This is a simple, effective, inexpensive way to collect the outputted paper 5 as it exits the scanner by an assembly that can easily be retrofitted in a paper handling machine.
The slot 6 in the take-up roller 2 is preferably not a tight fit, but just a starting point for rolling the document.
Thus, benefits of this novel assembly of a system propelled take-up roller 2 are numerous, including:
In
A prior art paper handling system is shown in
In summary, one embodiment of this invention provides a paper handling system comprising a paper feed input, a paper processing structure having a paper pulling configuration with a paper input and paper exit, a paper output positioned in the system subsequent to the paper processing structure, and a paper take-up roller. This paper take-up roller is configured to be movable in a disengaged position and also in an engaged position. The paper take-up roller is configured to be connected to paper from the paper exit when the take-up roller is in the disengaged position. The paper take-up roller is configured to be moved to the engaged position where it contacts and is rotated or moved by paper being pulled by the paper processing structure. The paper take-up roller is configured thereby to rotatably collect paper exiting the processing structure.
In another embodiment, this paper processing structure is an image scanner, and the image scanner is located in communication with a paper marking apparatus. The paper processing structure in a preferred embodiment is a scanner positioned in communication with an electrophotographic marking apparatus.
Another embodiment which is preferred provides a paper marking system comprising a marking apparatus and marking housing, a scanner positioned on top of the marking housing, and having a paper pulling structure, and a paper collection assembly. The scanner has a paper feed input and a paper exit configured to discharge scanned paper. The paper collection assembly comprises a take-up roller configured to be attached to and collect paper from the paper exit. The take-up roller is configured to be moved into a disengaged position and into an engaged position. The take-up roller when in the engaged position is configured to be moved by paper entering the paper feed input. The paper entering the paper feed input is movable by the paper pulling structure of the scanner. The take-up roller is configured to continuously and rotatably collect paper exiting the scanner. The take-up roller is spring loaded and configured to be moved in the engaged position and set in the disengaged position. The take-up roller when in the disengaged position is located above the scanner, and when in the engaged position, is located in front of and above the paper feed input. The take-up roller is configured to be in rotatable contact with paper entering the paper feed input and is configured to be powered thereby. The take-up roller is rotatably moved by the pulling structure of the scanner together with movement of paper entering the paper feed input of the scanner.
In another preferred embodiment, a wide format electrophotographic marking system is provided comprising a printer having a printer housing, a scanner position on top of the printer housing and a take-up roller assembly movably positioned in cooperation with the scanner. The scanner has a paper feed input and a paper output and a paper pulling structure configured to continuously pull paper into the paper feed input. The scanner is configured to exit paper from the paper output after the scanning step. The take-up roller assembly is configured to be connected to and collect paper after it exits the paper output. The take-up roller assembly is configured to be driven by the movement of paper being input into the scanner, this paper being input into the scanner by the paper pulling structure of the scanner. The take-up roller assembly is spring loaded and configured to be moved in the engaged position and set in the disengaged position.
The paper take-up roller assembly in a preferred embodiment is configured to be connected to the paper only when the assembly is in a disengaged position, and the paper take-up roller assembly is configured to be driven by paper being input into the scanner when the assembly is in an engaged position. As earlier noted, the take-up roller assembly is configured to be driven when it is in contact with moving paper being directed to the paper feed input. The take-up roller assembly is rotatably driven by the paper pulling structure together with movement of paper entering the paper feed input of the scanner.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4185760 | McNew | Jan 1980 | A |
| 4270911 | McNew | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4486093 | McNew | Dec 1984 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 658330 | Oct 1986 | CH |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100308097 A1 | Dec 2010 | US |
