Abstract: An energy-moving device (EMD) transfers heat between a low-temperature-rated device (LTRD) and a high-temperature-rated device (HTRD), wherein the LTRD is thermally separated from the HTRD such that the LTRD is not stacked above the HTRD. A temperature-controlling device (TCD) actively transfers heat between the LTRD and the EMD. An air-moving device (AMD) generates an air stream for transferring heat from the EMD to ambient air. A controller receives temperature information about the ambient air, the LTRD, and the HTRD; determines when heat should be removed from the LTRD, when heat should be added to the LTRD, and when no heat needs to be transferred to or from the LTRD; and determines a first voltage for the TCD and a second voltage for the AMD based on the received temperature information. And a neural network updates the voltage values based on how effectively the voltage values have performed.

Abstract: An energy-moving device (EMD) transfers heat between a low-temperature-rated device (LTRD) and a high-temperature-rated device (HTRD), wherein the LTRD is thermally separated from the HTRD such that the LTRD is not stacked above the HTRD. A temperature-controlling device (TCD) actively transfers heat between the LTRD and the EMD. An air-moving device (AMD) generates an air stream for transferring heat from the EMD to ambient air. A controller receives temperature information about the ambient air, the LTRD, and the HTRD; determines when heat should be removed from the LTRD, when heat should be added to the LTRD, and when no heat needs to be transferred to or from the LTRD; and determines a first voltage for the TCD and a second voltage for the AMD based on the received temperature information. And a neural network updates the voltage values based on how effectively the voltage values have performed.

Abstract: A pipe cleaning device for preparing a pipe for soldering includes a tube that has a first end, which is open. A polishing means is coupled to an inner face of the tube. The tube is configured to be grasped in a hand of a user, positioning the user to insert a terminus of a pipe into the first end of the tube so that the pipe is brought into contact with the polishing means. The user is positioned to rotate the tube relative to the pipe so that the polishing means removes debris and tarnish from an outer surface of the pipe, thus preparing the pipe to be soldered.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for distributing print media are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus for distributing print media includes an accumulator that is pivotable about an axis. The accumulator has a print media inlet, a print media outlet, and an actuator that pivots the accumulator about the axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a sheet of material comprises: a paper accumulator that receives at least one sheet of paper, and at least one first roller that applies a force against a first edge of the sheet in a first direction parallel to the first edge, so as to move the sheet within the paper accumulator at least until a second edge of the sheet reaches a registration position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for distributing print media are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus for distributing print media includes an accumulator that is pivotable about an axis. The accumulator has a print media inlet, a print media outlet, and an actuator that pivots the accumulator about the axis.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a sheet of material comprises: a paper accumulator that receives at least one sheet of paper, and at least one first roller that applies a force against a first edge of the sheet in a first direction parallel to the first edge, so as to move the sheet within the paper accumulator at least until a second edge of the sheet reaches a registration position.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: A reinforced book assembled from a stack of media sheets and a cover. Each media sheet includes at least one binding region located adjacent to a binding edge of that media sheet. The binding region of each sheet is aligned with and faces a binding region of an adjacent media sheet. The cover extends at least partially over a first face of the stack, wraps around the binding edges of the media sheets, and extends at least partially over a second face of the stack. The book also includes activated imaging material on the binding region of each media sheet binding the media sheets together as well as activated imaging material on the cover binding the cover to the binding regions on the first and second faces of the stack.

Abstract: A media binding device is operable to apply pressure on a plurality of media sheets, while applying heat to melt adhesive provided between the sheets of media. The media binding device may be implemented in conjunction with an image forming device, e.g., printer, facsimile machine, photocopier, etc. More specifically, the media binding device may be implemented in a position generally at an output end of the image forming device, following a collating or stacking of the printed media. The media binding device applies a predetermined amount of pressure on the plurality of media sheets. In this respect, the media binding device operates to apply a gradually increasing amount of pressure onto the media sheets until a predetermined amount of pressure is reached. The predetermined pressure is applied on the media sheets by shutting off the current flowing into a motor operating the media binding device when a predetermined current level is reached.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a roller assembly adapted to guide sheet material in the system into an accumulator and a sheet registration assembly. The registration assembly includes a lateral fence extending along a first edge of the accumulator. The lateral fence is adapted to contact a lateral edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A longitudinal fence extends along a second edge of the accumulator. The longitudinal fence is adapted to contact a longitudinal edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A fixed cam is included in the roller assembly. A rotatable registration finger is mounted in contact with the cam. During rotation of the registration finger, interaction between the registration finger and the cam causes the registration finger to contact each sheet fed into the accumulator by the roller, and to exert force to urge each sheet toward the lateral fence and the longitudinal fence of the accumulator. In an embodiment, the roller assembly includes a selectively rotating shaft.

Abstract: A media binding device is operable to apply pressure on a plurality of media sheets, while applying heat to melt adhesive provided between the sheets of media. The media binding device may be implemented in conjunction with an image forming device, e.g., printer, facsimile machine, photocopier, etc. More specifically, the media binding device may be implemented in a position generally at an output end of the image forming device, following a collating or stacking of the printed media. The media binding device applies a predetermined amount of pressure on the plurality of media sheets. In this respect, the media binding device operates to apply a gradually increasing amount of pressure onto the media sheets until a predetermined amount of pressure is reached. The predetermined pressure is applied on the media sheets by shutting off the current flowing into a motor operating the media binding device when a predetermined current level is reached.

Abstract: A reinforced book assembled from a stack of media sheets and a cover. Each media sheet includes at least one binding region located adjacent to a binding edge of that media sheet. The binding region of each sheet is aligned with and faces a binding region of an adjacent media sheet. The cover extends at least partially over a first face of the stack, wraps around the binding edges of the media sheets, and extends at least partially over a second face of the stack. The book also includes activated imaging material on the binding region of each media sheet binding the media sheets together as well as activated imaging material on the cover binding the cover to the binding regions on the first and second faces of the stack.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a roller assembly adapted to guide sheet material in the system into an accumulator and a sheet registration assembly. The registration assembly includes a lateral fence extending along a first edge of the accumulator. The lateral fence is adapted to contact a lateral edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A longitudinal fence extends along a second edge of the accumulator. The longitudinal fence is adapted to contact a longitudinal edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A fixed cam is included in the roller assembly. A rotatable registration finger is mounted in contact with the cam. During rotation of the registration finger, interaction between the registration finger and the cam causes the registration finger to contact each sheet fed into the accumulator by the roller, and to exert force to urge each sheet toward the lateral fence and the longitudinal fence of the accumulator. In an embodiment, the roller assembly includes a selectively rotating shaft.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a roller assembly adapted to guide sheet material in the system into an accumulator, a sheet registration assembly. The registration assembly includes a lateral fence extending along a first edge of the accumulator. The lateral fence is adapted to contact a lateral edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A longitudinal fence extends along a second edge of the accumulator. The longitudinal fence is adapted to contact a longitudinal edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A helical registration member is mounted in contact with sheet material entering the accumulator and, is adapted for rotation with the roller assembly. Rotation of the helical registration member with the roller assembly causes the helical registration member to exert a force to urge each sheet of material entering the accumulator toward the lateral fence and the longitudinal fence of the accumulator.

Abstract: Folding of stapled documents is accomplished by using magnetic force to manipulate the document. The magnetic force is applied to the staples in the document and results in movement of the document when the magnetic force is applied. Since the magnetic force is applied at the staples, paper handling operations, such as folding are accomplished with the document aligned in accordance with a staple line. Magnetic force can further be used to transport documents to desired locations, such as individual output bins.

Abstract: A post-processing mechanism for a printer or the like includes a curved paper path. Post-processing operations such as stapling or other binding are performed either within the curved paper path or during the withdrawal of a document from the curved paper path. The curved paper path permits such post-processing operations to be performed within a limited space, while reducing the complexity of the post-processing mechanism and reducing the complexity of operations performed by the post-processing mechanism.