Abstract: A conveying apparatus for feeding sheets into a processing apparatus is discloses which comprises a plurality of nips within which sheets are gripped and driven along a conveying direction towards the processing apparatus, each nip being defined between a respective drive wheel and an opposing reaction surface. The drive wheels are omni-wheels configured to apply a frictional force to advance the sheets in the conveying direction while permitting free movement of the sheets in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, the reaction surfaces permitting free movement of the sheets in the transverse direction, and an elongate guide is arranged on one side of the conveying apparatus, to extend generally parallel to the conveying direction, the conveying apparatus being configured to urge conveyed sheets in the transverse direction into contact with the guide.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for feeding sheets into a processing apparatus is discloses which comprises a plurality of nips within which sheets are gripped and driven along a conveying direction towards the processing apparatus, each nip being defined between a respective drive wheel and an opposing reaction surface. The drive wheels are omni-wheels configured to apply a frictional force to advance the sheets in the conveying direction while permitting free movement of the sheets in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, the reaction surfaces permitting free movement of the sheets in the transverse direction, and an elongate guide is arranged on one side of the conveying apparatus, to extend generally parallel to the conveying direction, the conveying apparatus being configured to urge conveyed sheets in the transverse direction into contact with the guide.

Abstract: A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for rotating a sheet moving in a first direction, the rotator comprising: at least one first roller that rotates against a sheet first side, the at least one first roller having a first drive; at least one second roller that rotates against the sheet first side, the at least one second roller having a second drive that is capable of rotating the second roller independently of the first roller, the second roller being spaced a distance from the at least one first roller in a direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a controller that controls the first and second drives to rotate the sheet around an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a sheet to a surface, comprising a rotating gripper that receives and grips the sheet at or near a leading edge thereof at a first position and delivers the leading edge to a second position, the first and second positions being situated along a circular path along which the rotating gripper travels; a surface having a stop at the second position; and a blower adapted to blow air at the sheet as it is held by the rotating gripper and after it is released by the gripper at the second position, the blowing of the air being in a direction that urges the sheet away from the circular path. The sheet is not positively held on the circular path except by the leading edge grippers.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for assuring media feeding, comprising: an impression drum having a media gripper; an input feed unit located substantially adjacent to the impression drum for feeding a sheet of media; and a servo motor operatively connected to the input feed unit such that a change in operating characteristics of the servo motor is detected if the sheet of media is properly retained by the gripper.

Abstract: A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for rotating a sheet moving in a first direction, the rotator comprising: at least one first roller that rotates against a sheet first side, the at least one first roller having a first drive; at least one second roller that rotates against the sheet first side, the at least one second roller having a second drive that is capable of rotating the second roller independently of the first roller, the second roller being spaced a distance from the at least one first roller in a direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a controller that controls the first and second drives to rotate the sheet around an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a sheet to a surface, comprising a rotating gripper that receives and grips the sheet at or near a leading edge thereof at a first position and delivers the leading edge to a second position, the first and second positions being situated along a circular path along which the rotating gripper travels; a surface having a stop at the second position; and a blower adapted to blow air at the sheet as it is held by the rotating gripper and after it is released by the gripper at the second position, the blowing of the air being in a direction that urges the sheet away from the circular path. The sheet is not positively held on the circular path except by the leading edge grippers.

Abstract: Apparatus for duplex printing comprising: a first impression roller (24) on which a first side of a sheet (22) having a leading edge and a trailing edge is printed referenced to the leading edge; a second impression roller (26) on which a second side of the sheet is printed; and a transport system (20) that removes a printed sheet from the first impression roller (24) and transports it to the second impression roller (26), the transport system comprising a perfector (32) that receives the sheet and grips it along both the leading and trailing edges of the sheet, which perfector turns the sheet over and transfers the sheet trailing edge first towards the second impression roller.

Abstract: A sheet transport system (20) comprising at least one sheet transporter (30,36) that receives and hands off a sheet being transported by the system so as to transport the sheet from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one transporter (30,36) comprises at least one orifice (44) through which air is aspirated to create a vacuum that grips a sheet when it is received by the transporter (30,36); a vacuum system coupled to the at least one orifice (44) controllable to aspirate air through the at least one orifice (44) to grip the sheet; at least one vacuum sensor (60) that generates signals responsive to magnitude of vacuum of the at least one orifice (44); and a controller (49) that receives the signals generated by the at least one vacuum sensor (60) and provides a signal indicative of a location of the sheet in the transport system (20) from the signals.

Abstract: A tandem printer with a mechanism for fine substrate-position correction, comprising: a first printing station; a second printing station; a rotatable element, rotating at a given rotation rate, that receives the substrate after printing thereon by the first printing station and transfer the substrate toward the second printing station; a sensor which measure the position of an edge of the substrate during its transfer from the first printing station to the second printing station; and a controller, which applies a corrective step change in angular position of the rotatable element responsive to the measurements of the sensor, without changing the general rotation rate of the rotatable element.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including an imaging surface having a toner image formed thereon and an intermediate transfer member, which receives the toner image from the imaging surface and from which it is subsequently transferred. The intermediate transfer member includes a drum having mounting recesses formed therein and an intermediate transfer blanket mounted on the drum. The blanket has a layered transfer portion having a transfer surface on one face thereof which receives the toner image and optionally an adhesive layer on the opposite face thereof and a mounting fixture, attached to one edge of the layered transfer portion and adapted to mate with the mounting recesses in the drum, whereby the transfer blanket is fixedly and removably mounted on the drum.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including a flexible substrate, apparatus for tensioning the flexible substrate in at least two directions and apparatus for bringing the tensioned flexible substrate into image transfer engagement with an image bearing surface. A method of imaging using the apparatus is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for repositioning the lens of a variable-magnification electrophotographic copier to change the image-side path length for a different magnification ratio and for concomitantly adjusting the shutter to compensate for the changed image-side path length. Actuation of a stepper motor rotates a pulley to tension a cable coupled to the lens, pulling the lens to the desired position of a linear track. A portion of the cable extends around a pulley having an axially projecting circumferentially extending ramp on one face. A follower engaging the ramp is coupled to slit-forming members adjacent to the photoconductor so that movement of the cable to reposition the lens produces a concomitant adjustment of the width of the slit to equalize exposure of the photoconductor over a substantially continous range of selected magnifications.

Abstract: An optical scanning system for a variable-magnification electrophotographic copier includes a first scanning carriage reciprocated along a path by endless bands attached to the carriage at transversely spaced locations and driven purely by friction. Pulleys mounted on a second scanning carriage at transversely spaced locations roll between the drive bands and stationary guides to move the second carriage at half the speed of the first carriage. The second carriage may be shifted relative to the first carriage by moving it to a location at which arms lift the pulleys from the guides. A flywheel rotating at the desired scanning speed is coupled to the scanner drive train after the drive train has been smoothly accelerated to the desired scanning speed, and is uncoupled from the scanner drive train before the drive train is decelerated at the end of the scanning stroke.