US20060208417A1 - Frameless media path modules - Google Patents
Frameless media path modules Download PDFInfo
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- US20060208417A1 US20060208417A1 US11/081,359 US8135905A US2006208417A1 US 20060208417 A1 US20060208417 A1 US 20060208417A1 US 8135905 A US8135905 A US 8135905A US 2006208417 A1 US2006208417 A1 US 2006208417A1
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- media
- media path
- frameless
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- path module
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/52—Stationary guides or smoothers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2220/00—Function indicators
- B65H2220/09—Function indicators indicating that several of an entity are present
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
- B65H2402/10—Modular constructions, e.g. using preformed elements or profiles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/61—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires
- B65H2404/611—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires arranged to form a channel
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/20—Location in space
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2557/00—Means for control not provided for in groups B65H2551/00 - B65H2555/00
- B65H2557/10—Means for control not provided for in groups B65H2551/00 - B65H2555/00 for signal transmission
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to media transport systems, and more particularly to modular, reconfigurable media path modules within such a transport system.
- Paper transport systems within printing systems are generally constructed from custom designed units, usually consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers driven by one or a few motors.
- One such system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,069 to Krucinski et al., which utilizes a plurality of copy sheet drives, pinch rollers, and belts to transport paper through the printer system.
- Another approach is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,017 to Smith, which is directed to a system for avoiding inter-set printing delays with on-line job set compiling or finishing. Smith accomplishes this through the use of sheet feeders and diverter chutes with reversible sheet feeders, also utilizing pinch rollers driven by motors.
- prior art transport systems are custom designed to meet the differing needs of specific printing systems, field reconfigurability and programmable reconfigurability are not possible.
- a frameless media path module for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows.
- the frameless media path module includes a plurality of media guides and not less than two media transport nips operated by at least one actuator.
- Means is included for attaching the frameless media path module to a supporting structure.
- Media state sensing electronics detect media edge or relative motion and intermodule electrical communication capability is provided.
- a reconfigurable media path assembly for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows.
- the reconfigurable media path assembly includes not less than one frameless media path module having a plurality of media guides, not less than two media transport nips, module attachment means, at least one actuator, intermodule electrical communication means, and media state sensing electronics.
- the frameless media path modules are attached to a support assembly.
- FIG. 1 illustrates transport module configurations formed from components according to the subject invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transport module assembled on a support panel according to the subject invention
- FIG. 3 illustrates an configuration of modules to form a reconfigurable media path
- FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a configuration of modules within a double-wide framework
- FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 showing transport modules assembled on support panels according to the subject invention
- FIG. 7 is an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 , in which media is directed into or out of the media plane.
- Paper transport systems constructed from custom designed units generally consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers driven by one or a few motors, are utilized extensively in industry, but have limitations in regard to part reusability and reconfigurability.
- Standard paper path modules from which any paper path could be constructed would enable shorter time-to-market, lower cost through economies of scale, high part reusability, field reconfigurability, and programmable reconfigurability.
- the media path modules disclosed herein consist of an integrated, flexible sheet transport and guide assembly with motor driven drive nip units, paper convergence guide units, sheet edge and/or relative motion detection units, and power/computation/communication units. The modules are fixed in place to an external frame to form a modular system which is physically strong and electrically bussed.
- Module 100 consists of flexible media guides 120 with integrated media transport nips 110 , media inlet guides 125 , and drive motors 150 (shown oversized) configured to transport media in a desired path, in this example generally horizontal in direction.
- the modules are essentially uniform along their length with the motor drives mounted at the two ends of the module.
- Various types of sheet guides are contemplated by the disclosure herein, for example solid, perforated, or others known in the art.
- the motors may be much smaller than shown in FIG.
- modules can be more closely configured than would appear from the figure. Additionally, the modules can be driven using separate motors or, in less general applications, can be chain driven by a single motor (e.g. for a module in which media only enter from a fixed side).
- Cylindrical nips are pinch rollers which contact the media from both sides along a line.
- One of the cylinders is driven rotationally about its axis and the other is an idler which supports or provides the normal pinching force.
- actuation means to provide tangential media forces can be used instead.
- An example of one such alternate means of actuation is a spherical nip actuator, which contacts the media in only a small area and is in principle capable of driving the media tangentially in an arbitrary direction, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,284 to Wolf et al.
- modules 140 and 180 may alternately be configured as shown in configurations 140 and 180 , which also include media inlet guides 165 and media exit guides 170 .
- media inlet guides 165 flexible media guides 160 , and transport nip 145 are configured to impart an angular directional change in the media path.
- flexible media guides 185 flexible media guides 185 , media inlet guides 175 , media outlet guides 170 , and media transport nips 190 and 195 impart dual angular directional changes in the media path.
- the modules include media edge sensors and driven transport nips with media inlet guides. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted onto the guide using any of many methods known in the art, for example flexible printed circuit board technology. All intermodule electrical signals for power and communication are passed to the modules by connectors which connect either with other modules or with the external frame.
- module here refers to an assembly of guides, rollers, motors, sensors, and optional computational and communication components. Different module types with different properties may be provided for different purposes, e.g., transport modules, gate modules with additional switch and motor, registration modules, etc.
- FIG. 2 one embodiment of a module assembly does not require a rigid frame for the transport modules themselves, but instead consists of an external frame providing support for individual transport modules.
- the frame is formed from two parallel panels 210 having a predetermined hole pattern.
- holes 240 in the hole pattern are shown as being circular, it will readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any of numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern could be utilized.
- Rods 220 are attached to parallel panels 210 at desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Although rods 220 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for example they may have square or rectangular cross-sections.
- the transport module 230 is then attached at either the module top or bottom to rods 220 . By being attached on only one side to rods 220 , the other side of transport module 230 may be hinged to permit opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage.
- Frame panels 210 and rods 220 may be fabricated from metals and plastics known in the art.
- a frame to hold the media modules are possible.
- an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge.
- a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose.
- the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment.
- Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules.
- FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a reconfigurable media path 300 configured from a plurality of standard modules.
- the media paths can be retrograde as well as forward transporting and parallel flows can be enabled.
- modules 310 , 320 , 330 , and 340 are attached to panel 360 in such a way that media received by module 310 may be transported by module 320 to gate module 350 , which provides the capability for splitting a media path and creating parallel media paths.
- media may flow past gate 350 either to module 330 or module 340 .
- the spacing and size of the modules are determined by several aspects of the sheets to be transported. For example, the spacing between nips 360 and 370 must be less than the shortest media length in the process direction.
- the spacing between nips 380 and 390 also must be less than the shortest media length in the process direction.
- Media stock stiffness provides another constraint, in that the radius of curvature in turns, such as at the transition from module 310 to module 320 , cannot be too small to accommodate the stiffest media that may move through the media path.
- a typical radius in xerographic printer applications is approximately five centimeters.
- the spacing between nips would be approximately ten centimeters, with a five centimeter radius of curvature in turning operations.
- FIG. 2 The embodiments described with respect to FIG. 2 hereinabove enable the ability to construct a double-wide frame supporting both large and smaller transport path assemblies side by side on the same rod.
- This enables provision for two parallel media paths in the same frame, as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a top view to show the arrangement of transport path assemblies.
- single frame 400 supports transport path assemblies 410 , 420 , and 430 , with media moving in process direction 440 .
- media is being transported from separate parallel paths 420 and 430 to a single output path 410 .
- paths 420 and 430 may be transporting paper from two different print engines to a single finisher served by path 410 .
- module-supporting rods may extend the entire width of both transport assemblies 520 and 530 to support transport modules mounted internally in those transport path assemblies.
- media moves along process path direction 540 , with transported media from transport path assemblies 520 and 530 being received by transport path assembly 510 .
- Attachment means 650 secure transport modules 640 to rods 620 .
- the frame is formed from parallel panels 610 having a predetermined hole pattern.
- the hole pattern is shown as being circular, it will readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any of numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern could be utilized.
- Rods 620 are attached to parallel panels 610 at desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Although rods 620 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for example, they may have square or rectangular cross-sections.
- the transport modules 640 are attached at either the module top or bottom to rods 620 . By being attached on only one side to rods 620 , the other side of transport modules 640 may be hinged to permit opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage.
- Frame panels 610 and rods 620 may be fabricated from metals and/or plastics known in the art.
- an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge.
- a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose.
- the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment.
- Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules.
- FIG. 7 Another possible arrangement of transport path assemblies is illustrated in FIG. 7 , in which parallel paths in differing planes provide for the joining of transport paths from transport path assemblies 720 and 730 into transport path assembly 710 , again moving in process direction 740 .
- This arrangement provides for a gate module at point 750 which is capable of moving media in a lateral direction (left to right or right to left) such that media can be moved along one of two alternate route in process direction 740 .
- two paths can be merged into a single path. This enables the connection of not only transport paths that are stacked on top of one another, but also paths that are laid out side by side in a double-wide frame.
- Various means may be utilized to assemble a double-wide frame to hold the media modules in the double-wide embodiments contemplated in FIG. 7 .
- parallel panels such as described with reference to FIG. 6
- an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge.
- a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose.
- the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art.
- All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules.
- modules may utilize separately driven nips and the nips can be independent in the cross-process direction as well, to permit deskewing and other operations requiring more than one degree of freedom.
- other types of sheet state sensors such as relative motion detectors, can be used in place of or in addition to sheet edge detectors.
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Abstract
A frameless media path module is provided for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows. The frameless media path module includes a plurality of media guides and not less than two media transport nips operated by at least one actuator. Means is included for attaching the frameless media path module to a supporting structure. Media state sensing electronics detect media edge or relative motion and intermodule electrical communication capability is provided.
Description
- This is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/357,761 filed Feb. 4, 2003 in the name of Markus P. J. Fromherz et al., and claims priority therefrom. This divisional application is being filed in response to a restriction requirement in that prior application and contains re-written and/or additional claims to the restricted subject matter.
- The following U.S. patents are fully incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,975 to Hadimioglu et al. (“Apparatus and Method for Moving a Substrate”); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,284 to Wolf et al. (“Process, Lateral and Skew Sheet Positioning Apparatus and Method”).
- This invention relates generally to media transport systems, and more particularly to modular, reconfigurable media path modules within such a transport system.
- Paper transport systems within printing systems are generally constructed from custom designed units, usually consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers driven by one or a few motors. One such system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,069 to Krucinski et al., which utilizes a plurality of copy sheet drives, pinch rollers, and belts to transport paper through the printer system. Another approach is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,017 to Smith, which is directed to a system for avoiding inter-set printing delays with on-line job set compiling or finishing. Smith accomplishes this through the use of sheet feeders and diverter chutes with reversible sheet feeders, also utilizing pinch rollers driven by motors. However, because prior art transport systems are custom designed to meet the differing needs of specific printing systems, field reconfigurability and programmable reconfigurability are not possible.
- It is an object of this invention to provide frameless standard modules, consisting of standard subunits, which can be linked physically, electrically and electronically by attachment to an external frame, and from which any path for transporting flexible media could be constructed.
- Briefly stated, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a frameless media path module is provided for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows. The frameless media path module includes a plurality of media guides and not less than two media transport nips operated by at least one actuator. Means is included for attaching the frameless media path module to a supporting structure. Media state sensing electronics detect media edge or relative motion and intermodule electrical communication capability is provided.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a reconfigurable media path assembly is provided for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows. The reconfigurable media path assembly includes not less than one frameless media path module having a plurality of media guides, not less than two media transport nips, module attachment means, at least one actuator, intermodule electrical communication means, and media state sensing electronics. The frameless media path modules are attached to a support assembly.
- The foregoing and other features of the instant invention will be apparent and easily understood from a further reading of the specification, claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates transport module configurations formed from components according to the subject invention; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transport module assembled on a support panel according to the subject invention; -
FIG. 3 illustrates an configuration of modules to form a reconfigurable media path; -
FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a configuration of modules within a double-wide framework; -
FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the embodiment according toFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 5 showing transport modules assembled on support panels according to the subject invention; -
FIG. 7 is an oblique view of the embodiment according toFIG. 5 , in which media is directed into or out of the media plane. - Paper transport systems, constructed from custom designed units generally consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers driven by one or a few motors, are utilized extensively in industry, but have limitations in regard to part reusability and reconfigurability. Standard paper path modules from which any paper path could be constructed would enable shorter time-to-market, lower cost through economies of scale, high part reusability, field reconfigurability, and programmable reconfigurability. The media path modules disclosed herein consist of an integrated, flexible sheet transport and guide assembly with motor driven drive nip units, paper convergence guide units, sheet edge and/or relative motion detection units, and power/computation/communication units. The modules are fixed in place to an external frame to form a modular system which is physically strong and electrically bussed.
- Turning to
FIG. 1 , there is illustratedexemplary embodiments Module 100 consists offlexible media guides 120 with integratedmedia transport nips 110,media inlet guides 125, and drive motors 150 (shown oversized) configured to transport media in a desired path, in this example generally horizontal in direction. The modules are essentially uniform along their length with the motor drives mounted at the two ends of the module. Various types of sheet guides are contemplated by the disclosure herein, for example solid, perforated, or others known in the art. The motors may be much smaller than shown inFIG. 1 , and thus modules can be more closely configured than would appear from the figure. Additionally, the modules can be driven using separate motors or, in less general applications, can be chain driven by a single motor (e.g. for a module in which media only enter from a fixed side). - For the purposes of clarity, a cylindrical nip is illustrated as the transport mechanism for this embodiment. Cylindrical nips are pinch rollers which contact the media from both sides along a line. One of the cylinders is driven rotationally about its axis and the other is an idler which supports or provides the normal pinching force. It should be noted that other actuation means to provide tangential media forces can be used instead. An example of one such alternate means of actuation is a spherical nip actuator, which contacts the media in only a small area and is in principle capable of driving the media tangentially in an arbitrary direction, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,284 to Wolf et al. (“Process, Lateral and Skew Sheet Positioning Apparatus and Method”) incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Another example of an alternate means of actuation is a piezoelectrically driven brush or brushes to move the media in a desired direction, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,975 to Hadimioglu et al. (“Apparatus and Method for Moving a Substrate”) incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- These basic elements may alternately be configured as shown in
configurations media inlet guides 165 andmedia exit guides 170. Inconfiguration 140media inlet guides 165,flexible media guides 160, andtransport nip 145 are configured to impart an angular directional change in the media path. Inconfiguration 180,flexible media guides 185,media inlet guides 175,media outlet guides 170, andmedia transport nips - The term module here refers to an assembly of guides, rollers, motors, sensors, and optional computational and communication components. Different module types with different properties may be provided for different purposes, e.g., transport modules, gate modules with additional switch and motor, registration modules, etc. Turning now to
FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a module assembly does not require a rigid frame for the transport modules themselves, but instead consists of an external frame providing support for individual transport modules. In this example embodiment, the frame is formed from twoparallel panels 210 having a predetermined hole pattern. Although in this example embodiment holes 240 in the hole pattern are shown as being circular, it will readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any of numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern could be utilized.Rods 220 are attached toparallel panels 210 at desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Althoughrods 220 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for example they may have square or rectangular cross-sections. Thetransport module 230 is then attached at either the module top or bottom torods 220. By being attached on only one side torods 220, the other side oftransport module 230 may be hinged to permit opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage.Frame panels 210 androds 220 may be fabricated from metals and plastics known in the art. - Alternative means to assemble a frame to hold the media modules are possible. For example, instead of parallel panels, an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose. In another embodiment, the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules.
-
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of areconfigurable media path 300 configured from a plurality of standard modules. Inexample embodiment 300 the media paths can be retrograde as well as forward transporting and parallel flows can be enabled. Heremodules panel 360 in such a way that media received bymodule 310 may be transported bymodule 320 togate module 350, which provides the capability for splitting a media path and creating parallel media paths. In this example, media may flowpast gate 350 either tomodule 330 ormodule 340. The spacing and size of the modules are determined by several aspects of the sheets to be transported. For example, the spacing betweennips nips module 310 tomodule 320, cannot be too small to accommodate the stiffest media that may move through the media path. A typical radius in xerographic printer applications is approximately five centimeters. For constraints typical of current xerographic usage, the spacing between nips would be approximately ten centimeters, with a five centimeter radius of curvature in turning operations. - The embodiments described with respect to
FIG. 2 hereinabove enable the ability to construct a double-wide frame supporting both large and smaller transport path assemblies side by side on the same rod. This enables provision for two parallel media paths in the same frame, as illustrated inFIG. 4 in a top view to show the arrangement of transport path assemblies. Heresingle frame 400 supportstransport path assemblies process direction 440. In this example embodiment, media is being transported from separateparallel paths single output path 410. Using the xerographic process as an example,paths path 410. - This embodiment is further illustrated in
FIG. 5 , in an oblique view. Becausepaths rods 620 inFIG. 6 ) may extend the entire width of bothtransport assemblies process path direction 540, with transported media fromtransport path assemblies transport path assembly 510. This embodiment is illustrated in perspective inFIG. 6 , in whichmodule support rods 620 extend the entire width of twotransport assemblies secure transport modules 640 torods 620. In this example embodiment, the frame is formed fromparallel panels 610 having a predetermined hole pattern. Although in this example embodiment the hole pattern is shown as being circular, it will readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any of numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern could be utilized.Rods 620 are attached toparallel panels 610 at desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Althoughrods 620 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for example, they may have square or rectangular cross-sections. Thetransport modules 640 are attached at either the module top or bottom torods 620. By being attached on only one side torods 620, the other side oftransport modules 640 may be hinged to permit opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage.Frame panels 610 androds 620 may be fabricated from metals and/or plastics known in the art. - Alternative means to assemble a double-wide frame to hold the media modules are possible. For example, instead of parallel panels, an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose. In another embodiment, the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules.
- Another possible arrangement of transport path assemblies is illustrated in
FIG. 7 , in which parallel paths in differing planes provide for the joining of transport paths fromtransport path assemblies transport path assembly 710, again moving inprocess direction 740. This arrangement provides for a gate module at point 750 which is capable of moving media in a lateral direction (left to right or right to left) such that media can be moved along one of two alternate route inprocess direction 740. Similarly, by moving in the reverse process direction, two paths can be merged into a single path. This enables the connection of not only transport paths that are stacked on top of one another, but also paths that are laid out side by side in a double-wide frame. - Various means may be utilized to assemble a double-wide frame to hold the media modules in the double-wide embodiments contemplated in
FIG. 7 . For example, parallel panels, such as described with reference toFIG. 6 , could shape the double-wide frame, or an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose. In another embodiment, the transport modules may be attached directly to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to other modules. - While the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, further modification and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the modules may utilize separately driven nips and the nips can be independent in the cross-process direction as well, to permit deskewing and other operations requiring more than one degree of freedom. Additionally, other types of sheet state sensors, such as relative motion detectors, can be used in place of or in addition to sheet edge detectors. It is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular forms illustrated and that it is intended in the appended claims to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims (22)
1. For a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows, a frameless media path module comprising:
a plurality of media guides;
not less than two media transport nips;
module attachment means;
actuation means;
intermodule electrical communication means; and
media state sensing electronics.
2. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , wherein said media transport nips comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of spherical nips and piezoelectrically driven brushes.
3. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , further comprising computational electronics.
4. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , wherein said not less than two media transport nips are spaced a distance apart, said distance being less than the shortest media length in the process direction.
5. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation means comprises not less than one motor drive unit.
6. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation means comprises separate motor drive units for each of said not less than two media transport nips.
7. The frameless media path module according to claim 6 , wherein said motor drive units drive said not less than two media transport nips independently in either the process or cross-process direction.
8. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , further comprising media state sensors.
9. The frameless media path module according to claim 8 , wherein said media state sensors comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of media edge sensors and relative motion sensors.
10. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , further comprising not less than two media inlet guides.
11. The frameless media path module according to claim 1 , further comprising not less than two media outlet guides.
12. For a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows, a reconfigurable media path assembly comprising:
not less than one frameless media path module including a plurality of media guides, not less than two media transport nips, module attachment means, actuation means, intermodule electrical communication means, and media state sensing electronics; and
a support assembly.
13. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said support assembly comprises:
not less than one external frame;
frameless media path module supporting means; and
frameless media path module attachment means.
14. The support assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said not less than one external frame comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an open structure, at least two parallel panels, or a solid housing.
15. The support assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said frameless media path module supporting means comprises not less than two supporting rods.
16. The support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein said supporting rods have a cross-section, said cross-section being geometric in shape.
17. The support assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said frameless media path module attachment means is secured to not more than one surface of the frameless media path module.
18. The support assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said unsecured surface of the frameless media path module is configured to permit access to an interior region of the frameless media path module.
19. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a gate module.
20. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the reconfigurable media path assembly comprises a plurality of frameless media path modules.
21. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 12 , wherein not less than two reconfigurable media path assemblies are configured to form parallel media transport paths in different transport planes.
22. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 21 , wherein said parallel media transport paths in different transport planes are configured to combine or split in the process direction to form alternative parallel media transport paths.
Priority Applications (1)
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US11/081,359 US20060208417A1 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-03-16 | Frameless media path modules |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/081,359 US20060208417A1 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-03-16 | Frameless media path modules |
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US20060208417A1 true US20060208417A1 (en) | 2006-09-21 |
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US11/081,359 Abandoned US20060208417A1 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-03-16 | Frameless media path modules |
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