Abstract: A device and method for the alignment, in up to six degrees of freedom, of printheads in a printer is disclosed. The device has a support, wherein the printhead is secured to a substantially center location of the support. The device further has a fixed plate biased against the support by plurality of first screws extending substantially in a Z direction, a plurality of a second screws extending substantially in a Y direction, and a third screw extending substantially in an X direction. The fixed plate, and thus the printhead, may be translated in each of the X, Y and Z directions and may be rotated about each of the X, Y, and Z axes by manipulation of the screws to achieve possible alignment in all six degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of making very small curvature modifications of the reflective surface of a mirror in a printer raster scanning system for bow correction of the scanning beam by gripping edges of the mirror to bend it with a gripping system and applying a very small movement thereto by gross rotation of screw shaft of a differential screw system operatively connected to that gripping system. The screw shaft has two separate fine screw thread patterns of slightly different screw pitches causing gross rotation of the screw shaft to only move the mirror gripping system and its engaged portion of the mirror by micro-meter amounts by automatically subtracting the two slightly different screw pitches from one another, thus providing very small, easily controlled, deformation of the mirror plane for bow correction by non-critical gross rotation of the screw shaft.

Abstract: A post-printer open-architecture device includes a document input region for receiving documents from a document printing apparatus and a document output region for outputting post-processed documents. An open-architecture document post-processing region is located intermediate the document input and output regions and includes a transport surface for conveying documents from the document input region to the document output region. A module mounting assembly releasably receives and secures at least one document post-processing module in an operative position to perform one or more post-processing operations on a document conveyed on the transport surface.

Abstract: A disposable wrapper is disclosed which is adapted to hold a supply of copy sheets in the form of a pack equivalent to a plurality of reams for a printing machine. The wrapper is constructed of two main portions which permit the operator to carry the stack to a sheet supply platform for the machine without disrupting the stack. One of the portions of the wrapper stiffens the pack and serves to permit the operator to carry and place the stack upon the platform. The other portion is in the form of a flexible strip wrapped around the pack and which may be slidably removed from under the stack thus effecting the loading of the stack in the printing machine preparatory to the sheet feed operation.

Abstract: A disposable carton is disclosed which is adapted to hold a stack of copy sheets equivalent to a plurality of reams for a printing machine. The carton is constructed of portions which are sequentially removed to expose the stack and permit the operator to carry the stack to a sheet supply platform without disrupting the stack. A remaining portion of the carton which serves to permit the operator to place the stack upon the platform is adapted to be slideably removed from under the stack thus effecting the loading of the stack in the printing machine preparatory to the sheet feed operation.

Abstract: A sheet supply receptacle is disclosed which permits the operator to prepare many reams of sheets of paper for use in a very high speed copier/duplicator. The receptacle, when pre-loaded with reams of paper, is adapted to be applied to the sheet supply apparatus of the copier/duplicator, to deposit the reams on the sheet supply tray or elevator for the copier/duplicator in proper sheet feeding registration and alignment, and be removed from the sheet supply apparatus to be reloaded again for another loading operation.

Abstract: A copying system for copying either duplex or simplex original document sets as pre-collated copy sets, utilizing a document handling system providing selective automatic recirculative pre-collation copying of either duplex or simplex document sheets, with selective automatic sheet inversion. Also described is an integral sheet stack normal force/jogger unit for continuous and simultaneous top loading and bottom feeding from either opposite or common directions from a stack of document or copy sheets.

Abstract: A sheet sorter which has a plurality of sheet receiving bins which comprises an array of movable plates such that adjacent plates define an individual bin, is provided with a quadrant plate for indexing the input ends of the bin plates past a fixed feed throat to align the bin opening in line with the feed throat for sheet insertion. Adjacent bin plates are interconnected to limit their maximum spacing apart, and are movable apart and together for varying the size of the bin openings. The bin plates are spaced apart opposite and at one side of the feed throat and are spaced together when indexed past the feed throat to the other side of the feed throat. Preferably the bin plates are arrayed in a vertically oriented fan-like array and the quadrant plate is rotatable about an axis.

Abstract: A finishing station for a reproducing machine provides for the collecting, sorting, corner registration of collated sets, finishing as by stapling or other means and the collection of collated sets. In particular, the sorter comprises a plurality of copy sheet collating trays arranged in a vertical array, means to transport copy sheets from the reproducing machine to the sorter, corner registration means for the collated sets within the tray, means to maintain the corner registration of the collated copy sheets as they are transported while in the tray to a finishing station, a finishing station and a finished collated set collection station.

Abstract: A set separation arrangement is disclosed wherein sheet registration, compilation, stapling and collection of stapled sets are arranged in a substantially common horizontal plane. A catch tray is supported for bidirectional lateral oscillation relative to the centerline of the sheet paper path. A motor driven eccentric connection to the tray produces the oscillation which occurs after a set has been collected.

Abstract: A copying system for copying either duplex or simplex original document sets as pre-collated copy sets, utilizing a document handling system providing selective automatic recirculative pre-collation copying of either duplex or simplex document sheets, with selective automatic sheet inversion. Also described is an integral sheet stack normal force/jogger unit for continuous and simultaneous top loading and bottom feeding from either opposite or common directions from a stack of document or copy sheets.

Abstract: A sheet stacking and feeding system for a copier with an integral normal force/jogger unit allowing continuous and simultaneous top loading and bottom feeding from opposite or common directions from a stack of documents or copy sheets. Disclosed are continuously rotating foraminous spaced counterbalanced jogging rollers engaging the top of the stack to provide lead edge or trail edge sheet pull-down and stacking registration against the front stack stop, and to provide a controlled uninterrupted normal force to edges of the feed belt of a bottom sheet retard feeder. This system is disclosed in a copying system for copying either duplex or simplex original document sets as pre-collated copy sets. A document handling system provides automatic recirculative pre-collation copying of duplex or simplex document sheets with selective different sheet inversion and different sheet restacking directions.

Abstract: A dual purpose removable cassette for a reproducing apparatus is provided, as well as a reproducing apparatus employing the cassette. The cassette is adapted to support both a supply of copy sheet material in the form of a fan-fold web as well as an extra long document which may be in either a coiled form or a fan-fold form.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus having a main bin and a plurality of sorting bins. Multiple vertical transports advance copy sheets to the main bin or to the sorting bins according to the desired mode of operation. A horizontal transport advances the copy sheets onto one of two oppositely moving vertical transports via a pivotally mounted gate which is moved from a first position when in a sorting mode of operation into a second position when in a stacking mode of operation. At least one of the vertical transports is pivotally mounted to provide access to the sorting bins.

Abstract: A compact sheet sorting apparatus having a first modular assembly which includes a plurality of bins and a second modular assembly which includes a sheet transport for transporting sheets along the inlets of the bins. The second modular assembly is juxtaposed with the first assembly and is pivotally mounted to move from a first position when in a sorting mode of operation to a second position opened away from the first assembly to provide access thereto.

Abstract: A bin indicator device for sheet sorting apparatus which includes a plurality of bins for receiving copy sheets advanced from a processor. Extending along the transport path adjacent to the inlets of the bins are a pair of helical screw members which rotatably support and advance a carriage carrying deflector fingers which deflect the copy sheets into the bins. The drive for rotating the helical screw members includes a motor spring which drives a single revolution latching device to provide intermittent movement of the carriage past the inlets of each of the bins which are numbered. A bin indicator device is secured to the carriage to identify the last bin to receive a copy sheet in the event of a jam or malfunction in the sorter and/or processor. A clutch which is connected to the drive of the transport rewinds the motor spring after untensioning thereof after a sorting run to reset the carriage at the bin starting position.

Abstract: Sheet distributing apparatus for a sorter which includes a plurality of bins for receiving copy sheets advanced from a processor. Extending along the sheet path adjacent to the inlets of the bins are a pair of helical screw members which rotatably support and advance a carriage carrying deflector members which direct the copy sheets into the bins. The drive for rotating the helical screw members include a motor spring which drive a single revolution latching device to provide intermittent movement of the carriage past the inlets of each of the bins. A clutch which is connected to the drive of the sheet transport rewinds the motor spring after untensioning thereof after a sorting run.