Abstract:
A printing system for printing images onto copy sheets and tab stock includes a media registration transport for transporting a media sheet along a path. The printing system further includes a sensing system having a plurality of sensors positioned in line and orthogonal to the feed direction of the sheet path for detecting a leading edge of the media sheet. A control system provides for detecting signals at the times when each of the plurality of sensors are occluded and a control algorithm compares every one of the sensor signals with each other of the sensor signals. The system then identifies at least one pair of sensor signals having inconsistent readings with the other of sensor signals and, determines the presence of a tab on the leading edge based on the inconsistent sensor signal readings and calculates sheet skew based on the other sensor signals.
Abstract:
A retard feeder adapted to separate and advance media sheets comprising a media sheet advancing device including a drive roll and a retard roll. The drive roll and the retard roll include a feed nip therebetween for driving the media sheets at a velocity. A first drive system is provided to selectively drive the drive roll and the at least one nudger roll in a forward direction. A second drive system drives the retard roll through a slip clutch having a torque wherein the slip clutch torque allows the retard roll to rotate at substantially the same velocity as the drive roll when only one sheet is in the feed nip. The retard feeder further includes a motion sensor for detecting a signal when the retard roll stops rotating at the velocity of the drive roll corresponding to when more than one sheet is in the feed nip. The second drive system can selectively vary the velocity of the retard roll in response to the signal from the retard roll motion sensor.
Abstract:
A critical parameter/requirements management process model for managing a development program for a product and an associated product structure-driven critical parameter/requirements management tool and environment is provided. In one embodiment, the process includes a product structure classification scheme, a parameter/requirements classification scheme, a parameter/requirements process and maturity model, and in-process and requirements conformance views. In one embodiment, the tool includes a user interface layer, a business layer, a data layer, and a database. The user interface layer may include a product structure feature group, an add/edit/link feature group, a manage maturity feature group, and a manage conformance feature group. The tool may be implemented as a web server accessible to user workstations operating as thin clients. The tool may be integrated with one or more other product development tools, such as a document-driven requirements management, configuration management, manufacturing/production control system, problem management, and phased product delivery process tools.
Abstract:
A system for printing media includes a plurality of marking engines for outputting printed media in a stream, a media path system operable to transport the printed media from the marking engines to one or more finishing stations such that the streams are merged and transported one on top of the other and one or more finishing stations capable of compiling media in groups of 2 or more sheets for post-processing the printed media into one or more completed jobs.
Abstract:
An ink image producing machine has (a) imaging devices, including at least one ink jet print head and an image receiving station for producing an ink image on a heated substrate; (b) a substrate handling assembly including holding devices for holding supplies of substrates, and transport feeding devices for transporting and feeding substrates in a substrate direction towards the image receiving station; (c) a first substrate heating assembly located upstream of the image receiving station for initially heating each substrate being fed and transported from the holding devices; and (d) a second substrate heating assembly located downstream of the first substrate heating assembly and upstream of said image receiving station, relative to the substrate feeding direction, for controllably re-heating each substrate, initially heated by the first substrate heating assembly, to a desired ink image receiving temperature.
Abstract:
Convenient placement of media supply trays in a printing apparatus is provided by placing the media supply trays in the printer enclosure at an elevation above the elevation of the print engine. In particular, the imaging station of the print engine is placed at a lower elevation within the printer enclosure than are the media feed heads for each media supply tray. In addition, a substrate heater is positioned along the media path between the media feed heads and the imaging station when the print engine is a phase change ink jet printhead.
Abstract:
A sheet handling transport apparatus. The apparatus comprises a sheet transport mechanism adapted to move a sheet in a first direction along a path in the apparatus, and a plurality of sheet receiving stations in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a gate associated with each station. The transport mechanism is adapted to deliver the sheet into a selected station by reversing the direction of the sheet in the path when the sheet is at a point adjacent the gate corresponding to the selected station.
Abstract:
An integrated printing system is provided comprising a first image marking engine and a second image marking engine. The first and second image marking engines can be serially arranged with one another in a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes marking and passing of media to and from the first and second marking engines. A control system is provided for detecting a failure within one of the first and second image marking engines. A second operating mode is provided wherein the control system detects the failure and enables passing of the media through one of the first and second marking engines and marking of the media in another of the first and second marking engines when the failure is of a specified type.
Abstract:
Embodiments herein measure current/voltage levels of a drive motor when media is in contact with a drive roller so as to determine the drive force imparted by the drive rollers on the media. Then, embodiments herein can reference the predetermined relationship between roller drive force and media/drive roller velocity ratios to determine a difference between the velocity of the drive roller and the velocity the media based on the drive force. Once this velocity difference is determined, embodiments herein can change the current/voltage levels being applied to the drive motor if the actual velocity of the media is different than the intended velocity of the media so as to correct the velocity of the media. Thus, when referencing the predetermined relationship, embodiments herein produce a velocity ratio correction factor. This velocity ratio correction factor can be applied continuously during any velocity profile of the drive motor, or it can be used to calculate the accumulated error in sheet position and then to apply a correction near the end of the velocity profile.
Abstract:
A system and method for registering a sheet includes a lateral motion motor coupled to a nip and idler roller assembly that provides lateral alignment of the sheet. A de-skew assembly pivots the lateral motion motor and the nip and idler roller assembly about a pivot axis that is proximate to the lateral motion motor to de-skew the sheet.