Abstract: This disclosure provides printing methods, systems and apparatus to compensate for distortions by fusing toner applied to a media substrate. According to one exemplary method, image data is processed according to media characterization data for a toner density value associated with the image. The processed image data compensates for media substrate distortions due to fusing of a printed image on the media substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a printing device comprising a sheet buffer including a paper path having a plurality of nip pairs for selectively receiving and releasing a plurality of printer sheets. The plurality of nip pairs include a fixed load nip pair, a fixed unload nip pair, and at least another intermediate fixed nip pair therebetween. In a first operation each subsequent sheet of the plurality of sheets is shingled over a previous sheet wherein the plurality of sheets can be stopped in the intermediate nip pair or pairs. Individual sheets of the plurality of sheets can be advanced to the unload nip pair sequentially in a second operation whereupon the individual sheets are successively unloaded as needed in a first in first out order.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) for media hold down transport air flow in an image production device is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport belt (110) configured to transport media sheets (105) in a process direction (116). The media transport belt can include a plurality of belt apertures (115) arranged along a cross-process direction (118), where the cross-process direction is perpendicular to the process direction. The plurality of belt apertures can be configured to conduct air to secure the media sheets on the media transport belt. The apparatus can include a vacuum plenum assembly (120). The vacuum plenum assembly can include a plurality of plenum apertures (125) arranged along the cross-process direction. The plurality of plenum apertures can be configured to conduct air through at least some of the plurality of belt apertures.

Abstract: A printable media hold-down system including a vacuum transport belt, an air removal device configured to create a vacuum pressure, a plurality of air ducts, wherein each air duct is configured to direct the vacuum pressure to the vacuum transport belt and at least one rotational air valve positioned between the air removal device and the plurality of air ducts, wherein the at least one rotational air valve is configured to selectively direct the vacuum pressure into one or more of the plurality of air ducts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving images of a media stack from an imaging device, measuring one or more sheet-to-sheet interfaces in the media stack from the received images, determining the media thickness based on the sheet-to-sheet interface measurements, and adjusting at least one image production device parameter based on the determined media thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) for media hold down transport air flow in an image production device is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport belt (110) configured to transport media sheets (105) in a process direction (116). The media transport belt can include a plurality of belt apertures (115) arranged along a cross-process direction (118), where the cross-process direction is perpendicular to the process direction. The plurality of belt apertures can be configured to conduct air to secure the media sheets on the media transport belt. The apparatus can include a vacuum plenum assembly (120). The vacuum plenum assembly can include a plurality of plenum apertures (125) arranged along the cross-process direction. The plurality of plenum apertures can be configured to conduct air through at least some of the plurality of belt apertures.

Abstract: Disclosed are printing methods, apparatus and systems to compensate for distortion caused by fusing toner to a media substrate. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method includes processing image data according to media characterization data for a measured fuser temperature. The media characterization data provides a basis to compensate for media substrate shrinkage due to fusing the printed image on the media substrate.

Abstract: A drive roll/idler roll nip release mechanism utilizes the motor used for the drive nip, coupled with one-way clutches, to power the nip release as a sheet is handed off to a downstream nip. A drive shaft is coupled to a first one-way clutch in one direction and an idler cam shaft is coupled to a second one-way clutch in the opposite direction. This allows the idler cam shaft to be driven only when the motor is reversed, and the drive shaft to be driven only when the motor is moving forward. The one-way clutch on the drive shaft allows the drive wheels to freewheel when the motor is reversed in order to engage the nip release. Thus, the nip release is activated while the drive nip continues to rotate in the direction of sheet motion.

Abstract: A toner image transfer assembly has a tacking assembly, an image transfer assembly, and a media transport assembly. The tacking assembly senses critical properties of media while electrostatically tacking media to a transport device. The tacking assembly forwards data corresponding to the sensed electrical properties to the image transfer assembly so that the image transfer assembly anticipates the electrical properties of an approaching media type.

Abstract: A drive roll/idler roll nip release mechanism utilizes the motor used for the drive nip, coupled with one-way clutches, to power the nip release as a sheet is handed off to a downstream nip. A drive shaft is coupled to a first one-way clutch in one direction and an idler cam shaft is coupled to a second one-way clutch in the opposite direction. This allows the idler cam shaft to be driven only when the motor is reversed, and the drive shaft to be driven only when the motor is moving forward. The one-way clutch on the drive shaft allows the drive wheels to freewheel when the motor is reversed in order to engage the nip release. Thus, the nip release is activated while the drive nip continues to rotate in the direction of sheet motion.

Abstract: A printable media hold-down system including a vacuum transport belt, an air removal device configured to create a vacuum pressure, a plurality of air ducts, wherein each air duct is configured to direct the vacuum pressure to the vacuum transport belt and at least one rotational air valve positioned between the air removal device and the plurality of air ducts, wherein the at least one rotational air valve is configured to selectively direct the vacuum pressure into one or more of the plurality of air ducts.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a printing device comprising a sheet buffer including a paper path having a plurality of nip pairs for selectively receiving and releasing a plurality of printer sheets. The plurality of nip pairs include a fixed load nip pair, a fixed unload nip pair, and at least another intermediate fixed nip pair therebetween. In a first operation each subsequent sheet of the plurality of sheets is shingled over a previous sheet wherein the plurality of sheets can be stopped in the intermediate nip pair or pairs. Individual sheets of the plurality of sheets can be advanced to the unload nip pair sequentially in a second operation whereupon the individual sheets are successively unloaded as needed in a first in first out order.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a printing device comprising a sheet buffer including a paper path having a plurality of nip pairs for selectively receiving and releasing a plurality of printer sheets. The plurality of nip pairs include a fixed load nip pair, a fixed unload nip pair, and at least another intermediate fixed nip pair therebetween. In a first operation each subsequent sheet of the plurality of sheets is shingled over a previous sheet wherein the plurality of sheets can be stopped in the intermediate nip pair or pairs. Individual sheets of the plurality of sheets can be advanced to the unload nip pair sequentially in a second operation whereupon the individual sheets are successively unloaded as needed in a first in first out order.

Abstract: A toner image transfer assembly has a tacking assembly, an image transfer assembly, and a media transport assembly. The tacking assembly senses critical properties of media while electrostatically tacking media to a transport device. The tacking assembly forwards data corresponding to the sensed electrical properties to the image transfer assembly so that the image transfer assembly anticipates the electrical properties of an approaching media type.

Abstract: Disclosed are printing methods, apparatus and systems to compensate for distortion caused by fusing toner to a media substrate. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method includes processing image data according to media characterization data for a measured fuser temperature. The media characterization data provides a basis to compensate for media substrate shrinkage due to fusing the printed image on the media substrate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides printing methods, systems and apparatus to compensate for distortions by fusing toner applied to a media substrate. According to one exemplary method, image data is processed according to media characterization data for a toner density value associated with the image. The processed image data compensates for media substrate distortions due to fusing of a printed image on the media substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving images of a media stack from an imaging device, measuring one or more sheet-to-sheet interfaces in the media stack from the received images, determining the media thickness based on the sheet-to-sheet interface measurements, and adjusting at least one image production device parameter based on the determined media thickness.

Abstract: A diverter assembly includes at least one rotary member disposed along a media transport pathway adjacent a diversion point therealong. The diverter assembly also includes a rotational motion source in operative association with the at least one rotary member. A printing system includes a diverter assembly. A method of transporting sheet media includes utilizing a diverter assembly.

Abstract: A high speed sheet stacker includes a plurality of vacuum transport sub-assemblies interdigitated with an adjacent sub-assembly and provided with a spatial pitch that is less than or equal to a predetermined shingle distance. The collective vacuum transport assembly can thus acquire shingled sheets and transport the shingled sheets as a set, with each sheet being offset by at least one shingle distance. As a result, speed and acceleration requirements for the vacuum transport and the sheets being transported are greatly reduced compared to conventional vacuum transports that essentially transport sheets singularly. A shingled transport zone may be provided upstream of the vacuum transport system to accommodate sheets of varying size. In various embodiments, three to five vacuum transport sub-assemblies are provided to transport three to five sheets as a set.

Abstract: A stalled roll registration system and method includes a mechanism that allows for pivoting deskew action in a pre-registration nip in the form of a segmented pre-registration drive roll assembly mounted on a releasable low friction lateral translation carriage. Outer pre-registration idler nips are provided that open to allow a sheet to pivot and close for transport the sheet. The pre-registration idlers are engaged and the drive roll assembly remains locked in the lateral position for initial paper transport up to the stalled registration roll. After the sheet arrives at the stalled registration roll and starts to form a buckle for deskew, the outer pre-registration idlers and carriage are released. The body of the sheet is then free to pivot about the center drive nip and translate in the lateral direction to self align itself with the registration roll.