Abstract: A cooling device suited to cooling sheets includes at least one drum which is mounted for rotation about a central axis. The drum includes a cylindrical wall which defines an outer surface and an inner surface. A plurality of heat pipes extend into an interior of the drum from the inner surface of the cylinder wall. The cooling device may be incorporated into a printing device and configured for cooling printed sheets prior to the sheets entering an inkjet marking device.

Abstract: A personalized package creation system uses an imaging device to capture an image of a barcode. An image capture module decodes the barcode to retrieve data, such as package dimension data and one or more package structural parameters. Based on the package dimensions and the structural parameter, a processing device defines a set of cutting instructions. An automated package generation device applies the cutting instructions and uses a cutting device to creating a package.

Abstract: A personalized package creation system uses an imaging device to capture an image of a barcode. An image capture module decodes the barcode to retrieve data, such as package dimension data and one or more package structural parameters. Based on the package dimensions and the structural parameter, a processing device defines a set of cutting instructions. An automated package generation device applies the cutting instructions and uses a cutting device to creating a package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets of media from a media stack in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing a number of fluffed media sheets in the media stack, determining if the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein if it is determined that the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds the predetermined value, feeding the fluffed media sheets to an image production section of the image production device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the tr

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets of media from a media stack in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing a number of fluffed media sheets in the media stack, determining if the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein if it is determined that the number of fluffed media sheets equals or exceeds the predetermined value, feeding the fluffed media sheets to an image production section of the image production device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the tr

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluff management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing sheet separation in the media stack, determining if the sheet separation meets predetermined criteria, wherein if the sheet separation does not meet the predetermined criteria, adjusting the air flow used for fluffing the media stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluffer environmental control in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining a media type to be used for processing a print job, determining a target relative humidity for the determined media type, measuring an ambient temperature and relative humidity, determining whether air blown from a media stack fluffer needs to be heated based on the determined target relative humidity and the measured ambient temperature and relative humidity, wherein if it is determined that the fluffer air needs to be heated, heating the fluffer air to reach target relative humidity, and processing the print job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluff management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing sheet separation in the media stack, determining if the sheet separation meets predetermined criteria, wherein if the sheet separation does not meet the predetermined criteria, adjusting the air flow used for fluffing the media stack.

Abstract: A retard feeder adapted to separate and advance media sheets comprising a media sheet advancing device including a drive roll and a retard roll. The drive roll and the retard roll include a feed nip therebetween for driving the media sheets at a velocity. A first drive system is provided to selectively drive the drive roll and the at least one nudger roll in a forward direction. A second drive system drives the retard roll through a slip clutch having a torque wherein the slip clutch torque allows the retard roll to rotate at substantially the same velocity as the drive roll when only one sheet is in the feed nip. The retard feeder further includes a motion sensor for detecting a signal when the retard roll stops rotating at the velocity of the drive roll corresponding to when more than one sheet is in the feed nip. The second drive system can selectively vary the velocity of the retard roll in response to the signal from the retard roll motion sensor.