Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling airflow along sheet edges on a vacuum transport assembly including a platen including one or more holes arranged in rows in a cross process direction, and a belt displaceable with respect to the platen in a process direction, the valve assembly including a flexible plate, including a first end, a second end, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, and a first actuator connected to the second end and operatively arranged to displace the flexible plate.

Abstract: A method of controlling airflow along sheet edges on a vacuum transport assembly including a platen including one or more holes arranged in rows in a cross process direction, and a belt displaceable with respect to the platen in a process direction, the method including enabling airflow through the one or more holes, receiving information related to one or more sheets of a print job, based on the information, disabling airflow through the one or more holes at an inboard edge of the one or more sheets, based on the information, disabling airflow through the one or more holes at a lead edge of the one or more sheets, and based on the information, disabling airflow through the one or more holes at a trail edge of the one or more sheets.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling airflow along sheet edges on a vacuum transport assembly, the valve assembly including a flexible plate, including a first end, a second end, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, and a first actuator connected to the second end and operatively arranged to displace the flexible plate. Added is at least one magnet member designed to assist in controlling the valve assembly.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling airflow along sheet edges on a vacuum transport assembly including a platen including one or more holes arranged in rows in a cross process direction, and a belt displaceable with respect to the platen in a process direction, the valve assembly including a flexible plate, including a first end, a second end, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, and a first actuator connected to the second end and operatively arranged to displace the flexible plate.

Abstract: An implementation of an assembly of the present teachings includes a transport roll having a shaft with a tapered surface and an encoder having a coupler that defines a recess and has a tapered surface. During use of the assembly, the tapered surface of the shaft physically contacts the tapered surface of the coupler, and the encoder can be urged toward the transport roll using a spring such as a leaf spring.

Abstract: An implementation of an assembly of the present teachings includes a transport roll having a shaft with a tapered surface and an encoder having a coupler that defines a recess and has a tapered surface. During use of the assembly, the tapered surface of the shaft physically contacts the tapered surface of the coupler, and the encoder can be urged toward the transport roll using a spring such as a leaf spring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb platen includes a plurality of laminated layers that include features configured to communicate vacuum throughout the entire thickness of the platen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a chambered honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the chambered honeycomb platen includes a plurality of rows of cross-drilled hollow columnar cells configured to independently communicate vacuum through the platen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media transport system utilizing a honeycomb core platen for transporting and maintaining the flatness of a sheet of media in an associated printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the honeycomb platen includes a plurality of laminated layers that include features configured to communicate vacuum throughout the entire thickness of the platen.

Abstract: A sheet registration system is for use in connection with a finisher for a digital printing system. A scuffer carriage has omnidirectional scuffer wheels with a plurality of overlapping rollers to provide uninterrupted traction to move media sheets against a registration wall for process direction registration. A pair of opposed tamper plates will move toward one another pushing the media sheets together in the cross process direction. The freely rotating scuffer rollers will allow free movement of the media sheets in the cross process direction. Thus, cross process registration is achieved simultaneously with process direction registration, and registration time is minimized. Process direction registration is maintained by not lifting the scuffer from the media sheets during cross process registration.

Abstract: A media height detection system is used in connection with an inkjet printer. A filament is disposed above the process path and transverse to the process direction. A displacement sensor mounted adjacent the process path has a connecting member extending outward. The filament is attached to the connecting member and anchored to the printer. A transducer in the displacement sensor generates an electrical signal in response to a force on the filament. The filament contacts the lead edge of the sheet in the event of sheet curl in excess of a predetermined curl range. This will cause the force in the filament, which is conveyed to the displacement sensor to generate the signal. The print head can be elevated in response to the signal, so that the sheet does not impact the print heads, causing damage. Alternately, the sheet can be discarded.

Abstract: A media height detection system is used in connection with an inkjet printer. A filament is disposed above the process path and transverse to the process direction. A displacement sensor mounted adjacent the process path has a connecting member extending outward. The filament is attached to the connecting member and anchored to the printer. A transducer in the displacement sensor generates an electrical signal in response to a force on the filament. The filament contacts the lead edge of the sheet in the event of sheet curl in excess of a predetermined curl range. This will cause the force in the filament, which is conveyed to the displacement sensor to generate the signal. The print head can be elevated in response to the signal, so that the sheet does not impact the print heads, causing damage. Alternately, the sheet can be discarded.

Abstract: An approach is provided to cause an operation comprising one or more of a substrate tamping process, a substrate offset process, and a mechanism actuation process. The approach involves determining an instruction to cause the operation. The approach also involves causing a movement of one or more of a slide element and a shaft based on the instruction. The slide element and the shaft are configured to move in a first direction and a second direction along a length of the shaft. The movement in the first direction and the second direction of one or more of the slide element and the shaft corresponds to the operation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving stack integrity for a set of image receiving media substrates at an output of a compiler in an image forming device by positioning a particularly configured substrate handling device downstream of the output of the compiler in a process direction. The substrate handling device is configured of a plurality of omni-directional wheeled devices that provide drive (traction) normal to a motor axis under control of one of a respective plurality of independent motors while allowing sliding in the motor axis direction. The omni-directional wheeled devices, in one embodiment, are configured with small roller wheels along the periphery of the wheel. When using three or more omni-directional wheeled devices, translational movement can be combined with rotation to deliver sheets of image receiving media exiting the compiler at a correct angle and lateral position for further processing.

Abstract: A sheet registration system is for use in connection with a finisher for a digital printing system. A scuffer carriage has omnidirectional scuffer wheels with a plurality of overlapping rollers to provide uninterrupted traction to move media sheets against a registration wall for process direction registration. A pair of opposed tamper plates will move toward one another pushing the media sheets together in the cross process direction. The freely rotating scuffer rollers will allow free movement of the media sheets in the cross process direction. Thus, cross process registration is achieved simultaneously with process direction registration, and registration time is minimized. Process direction registration is maintained by not lifting the scuffer from the media sheets during cross process registration.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving stack integrity for a set of image receiving media substrates at an output of a compiler in an image forming device by positioning a particularly configured substrate handling device downstream of the output of the compiler in a process direction. The substrate handling device is configured of a plurality of omni-directional wheeled devices that provide drive (traction) normal to a motor axis under control of one of a respective plurality of independent motors while allowing sliding in the motor axis direction. The omni-directional wheeled devices, in one embodiment, are configured with small roller wheels along the periphery of the wheel. When using three or more omni-directional wheeled devices, translational movement can be combined with rotation to deliver sheets of image receiving media exiting the compiler at a correct angle and lateral position for further processing.

Abstract: An approach is provided to cause an operation comprising one or more of a substrate tamping process, a substrate offset process, and a mechanism actuation process. The approach involves determining an instruction to cause the operation. The approach also involves causing a movement of one or more of a slide element and a shaft based on the instruction. The slide element and the shaft are configured to move in a first direction and a second direction along a length of the shaft. The movement in the first direction and the second direction of one or more of the slide element and the shaft corresponds to the operation.

Abstract: During stapling operations: connectors disconnect a compiler platform from an elevator platform; an ejector structure is maintained in a fully retracted position to allow a stack of sheets to be within a stapling area; a stapling device staples the stack of sheets in the stapling area; the ejector structure moves the stapled set of sheets to the elevator platform; and the elevator platform moves in a downward direction after the ejector structure moves the stapled set of sheets to the elevator platform. During non-stapling stacking operations: the connectors connect the compiler platform to the elevator platform; the ejector structure is maintained in a middle position between a fully retracted position and a fully ejected position to prevent the sheets from entering the stapling area; and the elevator platform and the compiler platform move together in the downward direction as additional sheets are added to the stack of sheets.

Abstract: A belt-roll fuser system includes a belt-roll fuser module that is movable to engage and disengage to a main frame of the belt-roll fuser system. The belt-roll fuser has an internal pressure member that defines a fusing nip with an external pressure member of the main frame when the belt-roll fuser module is engaged. The belt-roll fuser module is movable by a latch, and when engaged, a nip load path crosses through a point at which the latch attaches to the belt-roll fuser module.

Abstract: A substrate finishing system includes a sheet input that feeds sheets to a compiler for compiling. The sheets may be stapled at the compiler. A trail edge support of the compiler is movable from a first position to a second position. The compiler is configured to drop a sheet or set of sheets to build compiled set stacks at the first and second positions on a stacking tray positioned beneath the compiler.