Claims
- 1. A method for transporting media to an imaging region, the method comprising:(a) positioning an input vacuum head onto the media; (b) applying a vacuum to the input vacuum head; (c) conveying the input vacuum head to the imaging region; (d) removing the vacuum from the input vacuum head; (e) positioning an output vacuum head onto the media; (f) applying a vacuum to the output vacuum head; (g) conveying the output vacuum head to an output region; and, (h) removing the vacuum from the output vacuum head.
- 2. A feeder system for transporting media from an input region to an imaging region and then to an output region, the system comprising:(a) a shaft having a longitudinal axis; (b) a beam mounted on the shaft; (c) a vacuum head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; (d) a support arm interconnecting the vacuum head and the beam; (e) a vacuum system in fluid communication with the vacuum head for selectively providing vacuum to the vacuum head; and, (f) at least one driver for rotating the vacuum head about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the vacuum head parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the at least one driver is linked to the support arm.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one driver is selectively linked to the shaft or the beam for rotating the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 4. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one driver is linked to the shaft for moving the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 5. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one driver is linked to the beam for moving the beam parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 6. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one driver is linked to the support arm for moving the support arm parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 7. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one driver is linked to the vacuum head for moving the vacuum head parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 8. The system of claim 2 wherein the vacuum system includes:(a) a bellows positioned between the support arm and the vacuum head and in fluid communication with the vacuum head; and, (b) an exhaust valve having a toggle activator switch, the exhaust valve in fluid communication with the bellows, the toggle activator switch for the exhaust valve positioned to be activated when the vacuum head reaches the input region and the output region, wherein the exhaust valve is closed as the vacuum head arrives in the input region and opened as the vacuum arrives in the output region.
- 9. The system of claim 2 wherein the vacuum system includes:(a) a vacuum motor in fluid communication with the vacuum head; and, (b) a vacuum control system for sensing the location of the vacuum head and controlling the vacuum motor so that the vacuum head is able to carry the media from the input region to the imaging region and the output region.
- 10. A feeder system for transporting media from an input region to an imaging region then to an output region, the system comprising:(a) a beam; (b) input and output vacuum heads; (c) input and output support arms, the input and output support arms interconnecting the input and output vacuum heads, respectively, to the beam; (d) first and second rocker arms, each rocker arm having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of each rocker arm pivotally fixed in location relative to the imaging region, the distal end of each rocker arm pivotally attached to the beam, wherein the beam and the first and second rocker arms are linearly arranged so that the beam is moveable in a two-dimensional arcing motion, pivoting on the first and second rocker arms; and (e) at least one vacuum system for selectively providing vacuum to the input and output vacuum heads.
- 11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:(a) a rotating arm having proximate and distal ends; (b) a roller rotatably affixed to the distal end of the rotating arm; (c) a motor having a rotating shaft affixed to the proximate end of the rotating arm; and, (d) a roller retainer affixed to the beam and having a slot formed therein for capturing the roller.
- 12. The system of claim 10 further comprising:(a) a rotating arm having proximate and distal ends; (b) a coupler affixed to the distal end of the rotating arm and interconnecting the rotating arm and the beam; and, (c) a motor having a rotating shaft affixed to the proximate end of the rotating arm.
- 13. The system of claim 10 wherein the vacuum system includes:(a) an input bellows and an output bellows, the input bellows positioned between the input support arm and the input vacuum head, the input bellows in fluid communication with the input vacuum head, and the output bellows positioned between the output support arm and the output vacuum head, the output bellows in fluid communication with the output vacuum head; and, (b) input and output exhaust valves each having toggle activator switches, the input exhaust valve in fluid communication with the input bellows and the output exhaust valve in fluid communication with the output bellows, the toggle activator switch for the input exhaust valve positioned to be activated when the input vacuum head reaches the input region and the imaging region, wherein the input exhaust valve is closed as the input vacuum head arrives in the input region and opened as the input vacuum arrives in the imaging region, the toggle activator switch for the output exhaust valve positioned to be activated when the output vacuum head reaches the output region and the imaging region, wherein the output exhaust valve is closed as the output vacuum head arrives in the imaging region and opened as the output vacuum arrives in the output region.
- 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the vacuum system includes:(a) a vacuum motor in fluid communication with the input and output vacuum heads; and, (b) a vacuum control system for sensing the location of the input and output vacuum heads and providing vacuum to the input vacuum head so that the input vacuum head is able to carry the media from the input region to the imaging region and providing vacuum to the output vacuum head so that the output vacuum head is able to carry the media from the imaging region to the output region.
- 15. The system of claim 10 further including an obstruction positioned within the input region wherein media removed from the input region contacts the obstruction causing the media to flex.
- 16. The system of claim 10 wherein each support arm includes a spring for pressing the each attached vacuum head away from the beam.
- 17. The system of claim 16 further including a media cover defining a plane, affixed to the input support arm and positioned proximate the input vacuum head and wherein compression of the spring forces the input vacuum head into the plane of the media cover.
- 18. The system of claim 10 further including an aligning trough positioned within the imaging region wherein media entering the imaging region passes through the aligning trough.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/505,079 filed on Feb. 16, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,895, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
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Sep 1988 |
DE |
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Feb 1997 |
EP |
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Aug 1969 |
GB |
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Sep 1986 |
WO |