Patent Application
20210269274
This application relates generally to printing of books or booklets by use of a saddle finisher. The application relates more particularly to improving folding by applying heat to the folding mechanism during a folding operation.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
MFPs may be fitted with document finishers which provide functions such as collating, hole punching or stapling. A finisher may be integrated into an MFP, or may be offered as an accessory to be fitted onto an MFP. Finishers may include automated formation of booklets. This can be accomplished by specialized N-up printing referred to as saddle stitching, so named because collated sheets were draped over a saddle-like apparatus during the stapling/stitching process. In saddle stitching, folded sheets are gathered together, one inside the other, and then stapled through the fold line with wire staples. The staples pass through the folded crease from the outside and are clinched between the centermost pages. Two staples are commonly used but larger books may require more staples along the spine. Saddle stitches are formed with groups of four images oriented on each printed sheet, two images on a frontside and two images on a backside. The print images are sequenced such that pages appear in a desired order when a booklet has been formed by stapling and folding. With this process, booklet pages are one half the size of paper stock used. In the United States, use of 8½″×17″ sheets results in a 8½″×11″ booklet. With sizing done in ISO 216, an A3 sized paper (420 mm×297 mm) results in an A4 (210 mm×297 mm) booklet.
The saddle stitch method is most effective for binding booklets and publications with around 64 pages or less. Books with more pages may become bulky when folded and may not lie as flat as desired when saddle stitched.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
With saddle staplers, a fold crease can be too rounded, particularly with larger numbers of pages or thicker paper stock. A sharper crease is desirable because it creates a more aesthetic and functional booklet that can be stacked with less accumulated volume. Saddle staple finishers staple sheets, typically twice, in line with a direction in which paper will be folded in half to create a booklet. The stack of paper is then folded and ejected into an accumulation tray. Example embodiments herein add heat to fold rollers to “set” the fold into the paper, potentially eliminating a need for secondary or enhancement rollers. For embodiments that retain enhancement rollers, enhancement rollers can also be heated to make them more effective and to allow more pages to be folded. Application of heat may be selectively made to the primary and if necessary, secondary or enhancement fold rollers.
In accordance with the subject application,
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing data with storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via a wireless network interface, such as WiFi 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Processor 202 is also in data communication with a hardware monitor 221, suitably amassing state data from subassemblies, sensors, digital thermometers, or the like, and suitably including digital state date including device codes, such as device error codes. Processor 202 can also be in data communication a document processor interface 222, with Bluetooth interface 226 and NFC interface 228 via data path 212.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface (not shown) which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like.
Document processor interface 222 is suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrate example, these units include a copy engine, suitably comprised of copy hardware 240, a scan engine, suitably comprised of scan hardware 242, a print engine, suitably comprised of print hardware 244 and a fax engine, suitably comprised of fax hardware 246. These subsystems together comprise MFP functional hardware 250. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
In the example embodiment of
A position of paper 304′ is suitably controlled and determined by use of stepper motors that are positioned by microcontroller 336. Alternatively, paper position may be accomplished by any suitable sensor, such as via sensor 346. Fold edge 308′ is moved toward another pair of rollers 348 and 352, which rollers are oriented so as to roll at a 90 degree angle relative to rollers 312 and 316. Rollers 348 and 352 are suitably separated from one another or contacting one another with a relatively low pressure, such as by control of piston or solenoid, illustrated as piston 356, until such point as fold edge 308′ is disposed between them. Pressure is suitably controlled by microcontroller 336, with an eccentric bearing or cam as will be detailed further below. At that point, pressure is applied by piston 356, and the roller pair 348, 352 runs along fold edge 308′ for further, enhanced fold compression. Rollers 348 and 352 are also suitably provided with heaters to further increase effectiveness of the secondary fold. With such secondary folding, paper fibers with diffing alignment within paper are subject to heat and pressure in multiple orientations for a more effective fold. In a particular example embodiment, initial loading pressure between the secondary rollers is suitably equivalent to the weight of 1,362 grams (approximately 3 lbs. or 13.3 Newtons). Enhanced pressure during a fold is suitably equivalent to an added force of the equivalent weight of an added 536 grams (approximately 1.2 lbs. or 5.2 Newtons), for a total force of approximately 4.2 lbs. or 18.6 Newtons. Rollers 348 and 352 are suitably driven by one or more motors, such as motors 360 and 364, suitably stepper motors under control of microcontroller 336. Once a booklet has been fully folded, it is suitably ejected.
Next a determination is made at block 440 as to whether enhanced folding with secondary rollers is desired. If so, the primary, feed rollers are rotated to advance the paper such that the fold is between secondary rollers for enhanced folding at block 444. The paper feed is paused at block 448 and a force is applied against the fold between the secondary rollers at block 452. This is suitably done by a piston, cam or solenoid as noted above. A secondary fold operation is completed at block 456 and heat, if engaged, is disengaged at block 460. The completed booklet is ejected at block 464. If no enhanced folding is selected at block 440, the process proceeds directly to block 464. If it is determined at block 468 that another booklet is be formed, the process returns to block 404. If not, the process ends at block 472. It is to be appreciated that the example embodiment of
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
