Abstract: A multi-position letterbox media diverter that maximizes productivity includes a gate configured like a tomahawk to allow sufficient space for the diverter to operate immediately after the trail edge of a sheet passes the front edge of the gate and thereby increase gate actuation time. Reversible drives of an inverter are used to direct the sheet to a duplex path while another sheet is simultaneously directed by a lower integrated baffle portion of the gate to an output tray as needed. Thus, reducing the time required for the sheet to be in the inverter path before reversing sheet direction, thereby facilitating a reduction in required transport speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lifting an elevator plate of a media tray in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to print a print job using stacked media from one of one or more media trays, initiating lifting of the leading edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers, initiating printing of the requested print job from the one of one or more media trays, determining if the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than a predetermined amount, wherein if it is determined that the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than the predetermined amount, initiating lifting of both of the leading and trailing edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for a feeding a sheet in a document reproduction machine. A feedbox is contained within a document reproduction machine. Within the feedbox, an elevator moves at least one sheet to the upper portion of the feedbox, to a stack height finger, for feeding the sheet into a feed device. At least one sensor, located at the upper portion of the feedbox, detects the location of the sheet. The location information is sent from the sensor to a data processing device. The data processing device sends information to an actuating device. The actuating device may cause one or more plungers to move through apertures in the elevator. The plungers will result in a substantially flat sheet. The sheet is then fed into the feed device.

Abstract: A multi-position letterbox media diverter that maximizes productivity includes a gate configured like a tomahawk to allow sufficient space for the diverter to operate immediately after the trail edge of a sheet passes the front edge of the gate and thereby increase gate actuation time. Reversible drives of an inverter are used to direct the sheet to a duplex path while another sheet is simultaneously directed by a lower integrated baffle portion of the gate to an output tray as needed. Thus, reducing the time required for the sheet to be in the inverter path before reversing sheet direction, thereby facilitating a reduction in required transport speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lifting an elevator plate of a media tray in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to print a print job using stacked media from one of one or more media trays, initiating lifting of the leading edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers, initiating printing of the requested print job from the one of one or more media trays, determining if the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than a predetermined amount, wherein if it is determined that the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than the predetermined amount, initiating lifting of both of the leading and trailing edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes an array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes having porous metallic exterior surfaces, interior fuel cell layers, and interior surfaces, each of the tubes having at least one open end; and, at least one header in operable communication with the array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes for directing a first reactive gas into contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and for directing a second reactive gas into contact with the interior surfaces, the header further including at least one busbar disposed in electrical contact with at least one surface selected from the group consisting of the porous metallic exterior surfaces and the interior surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for a feeding a sheet in a document reproduction machine. A feedbox is contained within a document reproduction machine. Within the feedbox, an elevator moves at least one sheet to the upper portion of the feedbox, to a stack height finger, for feeding the sheet into a feed device. At least one sensor, located at the upper portion of the feedbox, detects the location of the sheet. The location information is sent from the sensor to a data processing device. The data processing device sends information to an actuating device. The actuating device may cause one or more plungers to move through apertures in the elevator. The plungers will result in a substantially flat sheet. The sheet is then fed into the feed device.

Abstract: A media tray has at least a bottom and two sides positioned along edges of the bottom. The media tray is adapted to hold sheets of media. The bottom comprises openings, and projections extend through the openings in the bottom of the media tray. The projections comprise elongated structures having rounded or flattened ends. The projections extend through the openings enough to touch the bottom sheet of the sheets of media. At least one vibrating support structure is positioned on an opposite side of the bottom from the sheets of media (e.g., below the media tray). The support structure is connected to the projections in such a manner so as to vibrate the projections.

Abstract: A media tray has at least a bottom and two sides positioned along edges of the bottom. The media tray is adapted to hold sheets of media. The bottom comprises openings, and projections extend through the openings in the bottom of the media tray. The projections comprise elongated structures having rounded or flattened ends. The projections extend through the openings enough to touch the bottom sheet of the sheets of media. At least one vibrating support structure is positioned on an opposite side of the bottom from the sheets of media (e.g., below the media tray). The support structure is connected to the projections in such a manner so as to vibrate the projections.

Abstract: A tab guide is provided for aligning tab stock in a paper tray of a printer having a trail edge guide including a substantially planar sheet-engaging face and a stack height finger extending from the sheet engaging face in a process direction for engaging a top surface of a top sheet on a stack adjacent the trailing edge of the sheet. The tab guide comprises a top flange, a trailing edge flange and a mount. The top flange has a top surface and a sheet-engaging surface. The trailing edge flange has a substantially planar trailing edge-engaging surface. The mount couples the top flange and the trailing edge flange.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes an array of solid oxide fuel cell tube sheets having porous metallic exterior surfaces, interior fuel cell layers, and interior surfaces, and at least one header in operable communication with the array of solid oxide fuel cell tube sheets for directing a first reactive gas into contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and for directing a second reactive gas into contact with the interior surfaces, the header further comprising at least one busbar selected from the group consisting of an exterior busbar disposed in electrical contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and an interior busbar disposed in electrical contact with the interior surfaces.

Abstract: A tab guide is provided for aligning tab stock in a paper tray of a printer having a trail edge guide including a substantially planar sheet-engaging face and a stack height finger extending from the sheet engaging face in a process direction for engaging a top surface of a top sheet on a stack adjacent the trailing edge of the sheet. The tab guide comprises a top flange, a trailing edge flange and a mount. The top flange has a top surface and a sheet-engaging surface. The trailing edge flange has a substantially planar trailing edge-engaging surface. The mount couples the top flange and the trailing edge flange.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes an array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes having porous metallic exterior surfaces, interior fuel cell layers, and interior surfaces, each of the tubes having at least one open end; and, at least one header in operable communication with the array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes for directing a first reactive gas into contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and for directing a second reactive gas into contact with the interior surfaces, the header further including at least one busbar disposed in electrical contact with at least one surface selected from the group consisting of the porous metallic exterior surfaces and the interior surfaces.

Abstract: For printer sheet separating and feeding with stack side edge air fluffing assistance from variable size sheet stacks in a sheet feeding tray with at least one repositionable stack side edge guide in an openable machine drawer, the stack edge fluffer system automatically operatively engages the edge guide to provide a preset spacing from the variable side edge positions of various size stacks when said machine drawer is closed, plus an air baffle extension out over the stack, but automatically disengages to provides unobstructed loading when the drawer is opened. It may include an automatically variable length manifold.

Abstract: A substrate tray includes a tall backstop guide that is attached to the bottom of the feed tray and which rotates about a vertical axis into three positions 45° apart, presenting four different surfaces to a stack of substrates in the tray. Each surface accommodates a different substrate size and thereby accommodates four different widths of substrates. The backstop guide includes a cam member that is flexed against a back wall of the tray when a load is applied to the backstop guide by the stack of substrates shifting inboard if the tray is pushed to forcefully into a machine after loading, in order to prevent skewing of the substrates.

Abstract: For printer sheet separating and feeding with stack side edge air fluffing assistance from variable size sheet stacks in a sheet feeding tray with at least one repositionable stack side edge guide in an openable machine drawer, the stack edge fluffer system automatically operatively engages the edge guide to provide a preset spacing from the variable side edge positions of various size stacks when said machine drawer is closed, plus an air baffle extension out over the stack, but automatically disengages to provides unobstructed loading when the drawer is opened. It may include an automatically variable length manifold.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus shuttle feeder module comprising a module frame, an air fluffer assembly, a vacuum shuttle box assembly, and an air knife assembly. The air fluffer assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is supported from the module frame. The air knife assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is movably mounted to the module frame to shuttle relative to the frame between first and second positions. The module frame has attachment members adapted for removably mounting the module frame with the air fluffer assembly, vacuum shuttle box assembly, and air knife assembly thereon to an image transfer apparatus. The image transfer apparatus has a sheet media supply section. The module frame is mounted in a predetermined location on the image transfer apparatus.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus shuttle feeder module comprising a module frame, an air fluffer assembly, a vacuum shuttle box assembly, and an air knife assembly. The air fluffer assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is supported from the module frame. The air knife assembly is supported from the module frame. The vacuum shuttle box assembly is movably mounted to the module frame to shuttle relative to the frame between first and second positions. The module frame has attachment members adapted for removably mounting the module frame with the air fluffer assembly, vacuum shuttle box assembly, and air knife assembly thereon to an image transfer apparatus. The image transfer apparatus has a sheet media supply section. The module frame is mounted in a predetermined location on the image transfer apparatus.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for guiding a sheet in a stream of sheet progressing through a paper path of a printing machine. The apparatus includes an input feed mechanism for feeding the sheets in a first direction. The apparatus also includes a guide which is operably associated with the input feed mechanism for guiding the sheets along the first direction. The apparatus further includes a movable gate operably associated with the guide. The gate and the guide define a passageway therebetween for passing sheets therethrough. The passageway has a first width at a first position of the gate selected for passing sheets therethrough having a thickness less than a first thickness. The first width of the passageway is selected for inhibiting sheets therethrough having a thickness greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for guiding a sheet in a stream of sheet progressing through a paper path of a printing machine. The apparatus includes an input feed mechanism for feeding the sheets in a first direction. The apparatus also includes a guide which is operably associated with the input feed mechanism for guiding the sheets along the first direction. The apparatus further includes a movable gate operably associated with the guide. The gate and the guide define a passageway therebetween for passing sheets therethrough. The passageway has a first width at a first position of the gate selected for passing sheets therethrough having a thickness less than a first thickness. The first width of the passageway is selected for inhibiting sheets therethrough having a thickness greater than the first thickness.