Patent Application
20050025545
The present invention relates, in general, to printing devices, and, more particularly, to stapler/stackers in printing devices.
With advancements in printing technology, many features and elements of printing, which formerly were only available on large-scaled, expensive printers, are now available on desktop printing models. Two such features are stapling and offset stacking. Stapling is generally implemented by incorporating a stapler into the printer. Print jobs that are designated for stapling are typically re-routed to a path that feeds a stacker or collection area in proximity to the stapler and, which accumulates the pages and then staples the completed copy.
Offset stacked print jobs are typically used with or without stapling to stack one complete copy or print job on top of another complete copy or print job with a slight offset in the output bin in order to make separating the copies easier for the user. Alternatively, instead of placing a complete copy or print job offset against subsequent copies, all copies of each page may be offset against one another. Again, print jobs designated for offset stacking are typically re-routed to a path that facilitates collecting or accumulating all of the pages of the copy job and then outputting the copy through offset joggers that will systematically allow each separate copy to be placed in the output bin on top of the previous copy with a slight physical offset. Joggers are generally sets of arms in printing systems that typically hold the print media on each edge. The arms can sometimes translate from side-to-side in order to offset the particular print or copy job. Joggers also may typically move closer and further apart to accommodate various media widths. Because both features, stapling and offset stacking, generally use a stacker to collect or accumulate all of the pages of a copy set before either stapling or offsetting, these features have generally been combined into a stapler/stacker in the different printing configurations.
Before examining such example printer configurations, it may be helpful to address one basic operation arrangement of a typical laser printer.
Each line of data is used to modulate the light beam produced by laser 105. The light beam is reflected off a multifaceted spinning mirror 106. As each facet of mirror 106 spins through the light beam, it reflects or “scans” the beam across the side of a photoconductive drum 107. Photoconductive drum 107 rotates just enough that each successive scan of the light beam is recorded on drum 107 immediately after the previous scan. In this manner, each line of data is recorded on photoconductive drum 107. Toner is electrostatically transferred from developing roller 109 onto photoconductive drum 107 according to the data previously recorded on the drum. The toner is thereafter transferred from photoconductive drum 107 onto media 110 (e.g., paper) as media 110 passes between drum 107 and pressure roller 111. Drum 107 is cleaned of excess toner with cleaning blade 113. Drum 107 may be completely discharged by discharge lamps 114 before a uniform charge is restored to drum 107 by charging roller 108 in preparation for the next toner transfer.
Each sheet of media 110 is advanced to the photoconductive drum 107 by a pick/feed mechanism 116. Pick/feed mechanism 116 includes motor driven feed roller 117 and registration rollers 122. A paper stack 118 is positioned in input tray 119 to allow sliding passage of the top sheet of media 110 into pick/feed area 115 at the urging of feed roller 117. In contacts the upper surface of media 110 and pulls it into pick/feed area 115. As the leading edge of media 110 moves through pick/feed area 115, it is engaged between the pair of registration rollers 122. A ramp 123 helps guide media 110 into registration rollers 122. Registration rollers 122 advance media 110 along the media travel path 120 until it is engaged between drum 107 and pressure roller 111 where toner is applied to the paper as described above.
Once the toner is applied to media 110, it is advanced along the paper path to fuser 112. Fuser 112 includes a heated fusing roller 124 and a pressure roller 125. As the paper passes between the rollers, toner is fused to the paper through a process of heat and pressure. Heated fusing roller 124 is heated by heating element 126.
Returning to one particular printer configuration, a front-oriented, front access, face-down media output pathway from the user, and a fusing system with media flipper located in the top-front portion of the printer (FOFAP), several different combined stapler/stacker system implementations have been attempted.
The configuration of the front-mounted flipper and stapler/stacker shown for FOFAP 20 generally requires either that the user access the output from the side of the printer, which causes a usability issue, or that the printer be oriented sideways, which typically costs more and takes up more space on a desktop. Furthermore, stapler/stacker assembly 203 with joggers 204 and stapled/offset output tray 205 generally blocks front and top access to main HiCap output bin 202 and also may block access to any access doors for maintenance. This configuration of stapler/stacker assembly 203 also adds significant height to FOFAP 20.
The configuration of FOFAP 30 generally requires an additional media flipper, flipper 303, to achieve face-down stacking due to the shape of the paper path. Furthermore, rear-mounted stapler/stacker 304 generally adds significant height to FOFAP 30. The depth of FOFAP 30 would also likely require an increase in order to facilitate use of longer sized papers, such as legal, A4, and the like, due to the positioning of rear-mounted stapler/stacker 304. Because stapler/stacker 304 lies at the end of primary output bin 302, the leading edge of output pages may impact stapler/stacker 304 causing buckling or bending of the output media. Moreover, even if primary output bin 302 was long or deep enough, the output to primary output bin 302 and offset output bin 306 would be facing different directions, which may be non-intuitive to a user, thus, causing confusion. Also, because of the placement of flipper 303 and stapler/stacker 304 in relation to fuser 301 is relatively far, there is likely to be reduced performance for first-page-out time in addition to reduced overall performance (speed) for all jobs. Moreover, because each page typically has to wait for each previous page to be completely turned over in flipper 303, performance is further slowed.
Representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a front-oriented, front-access printer (FOFAP), the FOFAP configured with a front-mounted fuser, the FOFAP comprising a print mechanism, a main paper path passing through both the print mechanism and the fuser, a media flipper for directing the paper into a second path, a stapler/stacker mounted in proximity to the front-mounted fuser, and a redirector within the front-mounted fuser for redirecting the paper from the second path to the stapler/stacker in response to selection of a staple/stacking feature.
Further representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for redirecting print media to a front-mounted stapler/stacker assembly in a front-oriented, front-access printer (FOFAP) having a front-mounted fusing apparatus, the method comprising directing the print media through a print system, guiding the print media through a fusing apparatus after the print system, and re-directing the print media from an alternative path to the front-mounted stapler/stacker assembly using an existing media flipper for the alternative path, the re-directing being responsive to receiving a signal to perform a staple/offset function.
Additional representative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a printer having staple/offset stack features, the printer being front-oriented, front-access oriented, the printer comprising printing means, fusing means mounted in a front area of the printer, media flipping means for directing the print media into a second printing path, stacking means mounted in a front side of the printer for accumulating the print media pending execution of a staple/offset function, and redirection means utilizing the media flipping means to deflect the print media into the stacking means in response to selection of the staple/offset stack capability.
The staple/offset path through stapler/stacker device 404 is essentially unaltered from main paper path 400 except for the diversion through existing media flipper 403 of the duplexing system. There is no efficiency penalty for non-offset/stapled jobs because they generally do not deviate form the original paper path. As such, there is little effect on first page out time for stapled/offset print jobs. Additionally, unlike the existing configurations, the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, the user is presented front access to stapled/offset media output without the need to orient FOFAP 40 sideways. Access to primary output bin 402 is also not diminished with the use of folding offset output tray 405. Moreover, because neither folding offset output tray 405 nor primary output bin 402 are bound on the output end by any mechanism, the height or depth of FOFAP 40 does not require significant increase to handle the larger sized paper stock, such as legal, A4, and the like.
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Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
