Printing system
First Claim
1. A document handling apparatus for feeding sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
- a support structure;
a retainer supported by the support structure, the retainer being configured to retain a stack of sheets having a side edge and a top;
a feed assembly having an output port, the feed assembly being arranged and configured to transport sheets from the retainer to the output port;
an adjustable edge guide pivotally supported by the support structure, the adjustable edge guide being arranged and configured to control the side edge of the stack and including a telescoping member having first and second ends and a flange arrangement, the first end being pivotally connected to the support structure and the flange arrangement being configured to control the side edge of the stack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The document handling apparatus provides support structure and a plurality of retainers supported by the support structure. Each retainer includes a tray that is configured to hold a stack of sheets. A feed assembly is supported by the support structure and is substantially vertical and has a mid-section. The feed assembly defines an output port configured to output the sheets. The output port is approximate the mid-section so that the average distance from the retainers to the output port is substantially minimized. The apparatus further includes a plurality of pick mechanisms. Each pick mechanism is configured and arranged to pick sheets from one of the retainers and feed the pick sheet into the feed assembly. The apparatus can include an adjustable edge guide pivotally supported by the support structure. The adjustable edge guide is arranged and configured to control the side edge of the stack. The apparatus further includes a recirculating mechanism for picking sheets from the retainers and for sensing the level of a top sheet in the stack. An elevator raises or lowers the tray, thereby adjusting the level of the top sheet in the stack.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A document handling apparatus for feeding sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a support structure; a retainer supported by the support structure, the retainer being configured to retain a stack of sheets having a side edge and a top; a feed assembly having an output port, the feed assembly being arranged and configured to transport sheets from the retainer to the output port; an adjustable edge guide pivotally supported by the support structure, the adjustable edge guide being arranged and configured to control the side edge of the stack and including a telescoping member having first and second ends and a flange arrangement, the first end being pivotally connected to the support structure and the flange arrangement being configured to control the side edge of the stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An adjustable edge guide for controlling the side edge of a stack of sheets being retained in a collator, the adjustable edge guide comprising:
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a telescoping member having first and second ends, the first end being configured to be pivotally connected to the collator; and a flange arrangement pivotally connected to the second end of the telescoping member and configured to control the side edge of the stack. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A document handling apparatus for feeding sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a support structure; a retainer supported by the support structure, the retainer being configured to retain a stack of sheets, the stack of sheets having a top sheet; a feed assembly having an output port, the feed assembly being arranged and configured to transport sheets from the retainer to the output port; and a pick mechanism arranged and configured to pick the top sheet from the stack and feed the top sheet into the feed assembly, the pick mechanism including; feed rollers configured to receive the top sheet and feed the top sheet into the feed assembly; a manifold in fluid communication with a vacuum source wherein an attractive vacuum force is created proximate the manifold; and a recirculating mechanism for recirculating the manifold between a first position proximate the top sheet and a second position proximate the feed rollers, wherein the attractive vacuum force holds the top sheet against the manifold and is moved from the stack into the feed rollers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A document handling apparatus for feeding sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a support structure; a tray supported by the support structure, the tray being configured to hold a stack of sheets, the stack of sheets having a top sheet; a feed assembly having an output port, the feed assembly being arranged and configured to transport the top sheet from the stack of sheets to the output port; a sensing assembly supported by the support structure, the sensing assembly being arranged and configured to generate a signal if the top sheet is below a predetermined level; an elevator assembly arranged and configured to raise and lower the tray; and a controller linked to the sensing assembly and the elevator assembly, the controller being configured to respond to the signal by raising the retainer until the top sheet is above the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A document handling arrangement for collating sheets and feeding the sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of retainers supported by the support structure, each retainer being configured to hold a stack of sheets; a feed assembly arranged upwardly-directed and having a mid-section, the feed assembly defines an output port configured to output the sheets, the output port being proximate the mid-section; an intermediate conveyor having first and second ends, the first end configured to receive sheets from an additional document handling arrangement and the second end configured to feed sheets to the output port; a plurality of pick mechanisms, each pick mechanism configured and arranged to pick sheets from one of the retainers and feed the picked sheet into the feed assembly; and a motor connected to the feed assembly, the motor being arranged to move the feed mechanism; an encoder connected to the motor, the encoder being arranged and configured to generate pulses, each pulse representing a predetermined distance that the feed assembly has moved; and a controller configured to receive the pulses from the encoder and determine the location of sheets picked from one of the retainers and fed into the feed assembly. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A document handling arrangement for feeding sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a retainer configured to retain a stack of sheets, the stack having a leading edge and a top sheet; a feed assembly having an output port, the feed assembly being arranged and configured to transport the top sheet from the retainer to the output port; a manifold configured to receive air flow from an air supply and to direct the air flow against the leading edge of the stack thereby levitating a portion of the top sheet; a flange arranged to project over the stack and limit levitation of the top sheet; and the stack having first and second side edges and the manifold having first and second ends, the document handling apparatus further comprising first and second tubular members, the first end of the manifold and defining a first aperture positioned to direct air flow from the manifold against the first side edge of the stack and the second tubular member being in fluid communication with the second end of the manifold and defining a second aperture positioned to direct air flow from the manifold against the second side edge of the stack. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A document handling apparatus for collating sheets and feeding the sheets into a printing system, the document handling apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of retainers, each retainer being configured to hold a supply of sheets; a plurality of pick mechanisms, each pick mechanism configured and arranged to pick sheets from one of the retainers; a conveyor arrangement configured to receive sheets picked by the pick mechanism; a motor arrangement configured to drive the conveyor arrangement, the motor arrangement including an encoder configured to generate pulses, wherein each pulse represents a predetermined rotation of the motor and each predetermined rotation of the motor corresponds to a predetermined movement of the conveyor arrangement; and a controller in electrical communication with the encoder, the controller being configured to determine the position of a sheet by counting the number of encoder pulses that are generated after the sheet is picked and, being arranged for linking to a network.
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26. A document handling arrangement for collating sheets and feeding the sheets into a printing system, the document handling arrangement comprising:
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a feed assembly; and a plurality of retainers, each retainer being configured to hold a supply of sheets, each retainer having a pick mechanism configured and arranged to pick sheets from the supply of sheets and feed the picked sheet to the feed assembly, each retainer further having a controller configured to control the pick mechanism and configured and arranged to connect to a network. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A document handling apparatus for handling a stack of sheets being retained in a collator, comprising:
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an adjustable edge guide for controlling the side edge of the stack of sheets being retained in the collator; a telescoping member having first and second ends, the first end being configured to be movable coupled to the collator; and a flange arrangement movably coupled to the second end of the telescoping member and configured to engage the side edge of the stack.
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Specification