Mixed output print control method and system

• US 20060291018A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sosinski, Gregory, Fancher, William K., Williams, Geoffrey C., Lang, Joseph H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/540
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/52 in which one paper or set is moved transversely relative to another
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/42 Two or more complete typewriters coupled for simultaneous operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/3411 Right angle arrangement, i.e. 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/60 diverting the stream into alternative paths B65H29/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0057 Conveying sheets before or after scanning arrangements for conveying sheets as part of the scanning operation H04N1/04 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00588 to the scanning position H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00591 from the scanning position H04N1/00572 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00631 Ejecting or stacking H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00657 Compensating for different handling speeds of different apparatus or arrangements for handling a plurality of sheets simultaneously, e.g. mechanical buffering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices

Abstract

A merging module connects two printing systems at approximately 90 degrees to one another. The merging module includes a sheet rotator in a plane that is common to the paper paths of both print engines and a buffer. It also includes two bypass paths (one above and one below the rotator) to route the two paper paths around the rotator and enable both print engines to deliver their output to the appropriate finishing device as well as to the buffer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

starting a mixed output print job including a predetermined number of document sets to be printed;

determining whether the output from a first print engine will be merged with the output of a second print engine to form a combined output;

where the outputs of the print engines are to be merged, determining whether the combined output will be delivered to a first finisher or to a second finisher;

where the output is to be delivered to the first finisher;

sending the output from the first print engine to a first bypass transport;

processing the output from the second print engine;

merging the output from each of the first and second print engines to form the combined output; and

delivering the combined output to the first finisher; and

where the output is to be delivered to the second finisher;

processing the output from the first print engine;

transporting the buffered output to a second bypass transport;

merging the outputs from the first and second print engines to form the combined output; and

delivering the combined output to the second finisher.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the print engines comprises a monochrome print engine.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the print engines comprises a MICR print engine.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the print engines comprises a color print engine.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the output from the first print engine enters the merging module at approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to the output from the second print engine.

6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

when the outputs are to remain independent;

relinquishing control to the local controls of the first and second print engines; and

running the jobs separately.

7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

when the outputs are to remain independent;

transporting the output from the first print engine to the first bypass transport and then to the output of the first finisher; and

transporting the output from the second print engine to the second bypass transport and then to the second finisher.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein processing the output from the second print engine comprises:

buffering the output from the second print engine via a multi-sheet buffer having a plurality of buffer bins;

rotating the output from the second print engine;

registering the output from the second print engine; and

accelerating the output from the second print engine.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein processing the output from the first print engine comprises:

buffering the output from the first print engine via a multi-sheet buffer having a plurality of buffer bins;

rotating the output from the first print engine;

registering the output from the first print engine; and

accelerating the output from the first print engine.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

keeping track of each sheet in each buffer bin in the multi-sheet buffer; and

each time a sheet is fed from a buffer bin, scheduling the next sheet to be printed and delivered to the empty buffer bin until the predetermined number of sets have been printed.

11. A system comprising:

a first marking engine producing an output to a print stream;

a second marking engine having an output to the print stream;

at least one finisher;

a merging module including at least one rotate and redirect path, a first bypass path, and a second bypass path; and

a multi-sheet buffer.

12. The system defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the marking engines comprises a monochrome marking engine.

13. The system defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the marking engines comprises a MICR marking engine.

14. The system defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the marking engines comprises a color marking engine.

15. The system defined in claim 11 wherein the output from the first marking engine enters the merging module at approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to the output from the second marking engine.

16. The system defined in claim 11 wherein:

the output from each of the marking engines comprises sheets of print media; and

the multi-sheet buffer comprises a plurality of sheet buffers, each sheet buffer being long enough to contain the largest sheet length entirely and a plurality of buffer paths, wherein each buffer path has a controllable decision gate to direct the sheets and each sheet buffer has separate drive control of a plurality of nip rollers for each buffer path to control each sheet.

17. The system defined in claim 16 further comprising a paper sensor to sense where the sheet lead or trail edge is in the print stream.

18. An apparatus for an image rendering system having at least two marking engines and at least one finisher, the apparatus comprising:

a merging module for receiving sheets from the marking engines, wherein the merging module includes at least one rotate and redirect paper path, a first bypass path and a second bypass path; and

a multi-sheet buffer.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein output from the first marking engine enters the merging module at approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to output from the second marking engine.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the image rendering system comprises a xerographic system.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the multi-sheet buffer comprises:

a plurality of sheet buffers, each sheet buffer being long enough to contain the largest sheet length entirely; and

a plurality of buffer paths, wherein each buffer path has a controllable decision gate to direct the sheets and each sheet buffer has separate drive control of a plurality of nip rollers for each buffer path to control the sheet.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 21 wherein the multi-sheet buffer further comprises a sheet sensor for sensing where the sheet lead or trail edge is in the image rendering system.