Abstract: A document printer/copier comprises a pair of drum-support members for rotatably supporting an image-recording drum and, optionally, an intermediate image-transfer drum. At least one of such drum-support members is adapted to be decoupled from the drum(s) it supports and be moved to a position within the machine frame in which it does interfere with the replacement of the drum(s)'s outer layer. Preferably, such member comprises a selectively energizable clamp which, when energized, clamps onto an axle bearing of a drum and thereby supports the drum for rotation. When de-energized, the clamp releases the drum bearing, enabling the drum-support member to be slid axially along the drum axis to a position spaced from the drum axle, and thereafter pivoted to a position spaced from the drum axis where it does not interfere with drum servicing and/or replacement.

Abstract: A drum assembly comprises a replaceable sleeve of resilient material supported by a rigid cylindrical mandrel having an air bearing at one end to facilitate loading and removal of the resilient sleeve. The air bearing is provided by a pair of cooperating plates one of which is scored with equally spaced and radially extending slots. When urged together, the plates define a central air chamber and a plurality of radially-extending passages serving to direct pressurized air radially from one end of the mandrel.

Abstract: A cantilever drum-mounting apparatus adapted for use in a document printer/copier having a housing having: an opening therein; a carriage movably mounted within the opening and adapted to receive, retain and rotatably support an axle of a drum; and a plurality of guide mechanisms, rotatably mounted on the carriage and engageable with opposing outer surface of the housing, for limiting movement of the carriage to a direction substantially normal to the axis for drum rotation. Preferably, movement of the carriage is controlled by the actuator of an air cylinder that cooperates with one or more reference surfaces within the housing opening to locate the drum axle at a desired position.

Abstract: A document printer/copier comprises a pair of drum-support members for rotatably supporting an image-recording drum and, optionally, an intermediate image-transfer drum. At least one of such drum-support members is adapted to be decoupled from the drum(s) it supports and be moved to a position within the machine frame in which it does interfere with the replacement of the drum(s)'s outer layer. Preferably, such member comprises a selectively energizable clamp which, when energized, clamps onto an axle bearing of a drum and thereby supports the drum for rotation. When de-energized, the clamp releases the drum bearing, enabling the drum-support member to be slid axially along the drum axis to a position spaced from the drum axle, and thereafter pivoted to a position spaced from the drum axis where it does not interfere with drum servicing and/or replacement.

Abstract: A document printer/copier comprises a pair of drum-support members for rotatably supporting an image-recording drum and, optionally, an intermediate image-transfer drum. At least one of such drum-support members is adapted to be decoupled from the drum(s) it supports and be moved to a position within the machine frame in which it does interfere with the replacement of the drum(s)'s outer layer. Preferably, such member comprises a selectively energizeable clamp which, when energized, clamps onto an axle bearing of a drum and thereby supports the drum for rotation. When de-energized, the clamp releases the drum bearing, enabling the drum-support member to be slid axially along the drum axis to a position spaced from the drum axle, and thereafter pivoted to a position spaced from the drum axis where it does not interfere with drum servicing and/or replacement.

Abstract: A cantilever drum-mounting apparatus adapted for use in a document printer/copier comprises: (i) a housing having an opening therein; (ii) a carriage movably mounted within the opening and adapted to receive, retain and rotatably support an axle of a drum; and (iii) a plurality of guide rollers, rotatably mounted on the carriage and engageable with opposing outer surface of the housing, for limiting movement of the carriage to a direction substantially normal to the axis for drum rotation. Preferably, movement of the carriage is controlled by the actuator of an air cylinder that cooperates with one or more reference surfaces within the housing opening to locate the drum axle at a desired position.

Abstract: A fuser assembly including a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member along a travel path therebetween and permanently fix a marking particle image to a such a transported receiver member, a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller from such roller, and a mounting for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism mounting includes a support for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism is selectively moved about the support mechanism into operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly adjacent to the travel path. The skive mechanism is urged in a direction, in opposition to the selective movement of the skive mechanism, from operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly toward a location remote from the travel path, whereby clearance of a receiver member jam in the fuser assembly is facilitated.

Abstract: A device for transporting material, in the form of discrete sheets, seriatim to a stack of discrete sheets, and subsequently seriatim away from such stack. The discrete sheet material transport device comprises a support for a stack of discrete sheets. The stack support includes a first stop for a first marginal edge of a discrete sheet, and opposed second and third stops for opposed marginal edges of a discrete sheet perpendicular to the first marginal edge of such discrete sheet. Discrete sheets are delivered seriatim to the vicinity of the stack support and are urged in a first direction into engagement with the first stop to form a stack of discrete sheets on the stack support. The discrete sheets are subsequently urged seriatim in a direction opposite the first direction to remove discrete sheets seriatim from the stack on the stack support. The second and third stops are located to accurately position the stack of discrete sheets on the stack support.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets seriatim from a sheet supply stack. The apparatus comprises a sheet feed head assembly including a plenum, a vacuum source in flow communication with the plenum, and a mechanism, such as a feed belt, for example, associated with the plenum for urging a sheet acquired by vacuum in a sheet feeding direction away from the sheet supply stack. The sheet supply stack is supported, for example in a hopper on a support platform, so as to maintain the topmost sheet in such stack at a predetermined level in spaced relation with respect to the urging mechanism of the sheet feed head assembly. A first positive air supply directs a flow of air at the sheet supply stack to levitate the top several sheets in the supply stack to an elevation enabling the topmost sheet to be acquired by vacuum from the sheet feed head assembly plenum; and a second positive air supply directs a flow of air at an acquired sheet to assure separation of any additional sheets adhering to such topmost sheet.

Abstract: In a sheet feeder device of the vacuum belt type, the vacuum belt moves in a pivotal manner between a generally horizontal sheet acquiring position, in which the lower face of the belt confronts the top surface of the top sheet, lying generally flat atop the underlying stack sheet; and a tilted position, in which the belt lifts the leading end of the acquired top sheet away from the underlying sheet, flexes it to insure its separation from the underlying sheet and delivers it endwise to a sheet receiving unit.

Abstract: Two stacks of sheets are supported by a tray, one stack resting directly on the tray and the other stack being on top of the first stack. The two stacks of sheets are separated by a stack separation roller that rests on the top of the first stack of sheets and is engageable by an edge of the second stack of sheets to thereby offset the stacks of sheets. Sheets are fed seriatim from the bottom of the first stack until all sheets of the first stack are removed. When the first stack of sheets has been fed from the tray, the separation roller is raised and the second stack of sheets is moved to the position previously occupied by the first stack. Then the second stack of sheets is fed seriatim from the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping and sealing stacks of paper sheets from the output of high speed copiers and printers. The apparatus includes a paper handling assembly, a sealing assembly, rolls of a plastic film material, and a tote or hopper system. The paper handler permits single sheet feeding and inverting of sheets when desired. The sealing assembly wraps the stack of sheets with the plastic film and lowers a U-shaped sealing bar assembly around the wrapped package to seal simultaneously three sides thereof. Two of the three sides are parallel and near the edge of the plastic film, and are sealed with non-severing type seams. The third side is perpendicular to the other two sides and is sealed with a severing type seam. The severing type seam is made with a heating element on one side of the sealed plastic layers, and a non-heated cut-off wire located on the other side. The cut-off wire is also used to control the temperature in the seal area.