U.S. patent application number 10/357761 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for frameless media path modules.
This patent application is currently assigned to Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated.. Invention is credited to Biegelsen, David K., Bobrow, Daniel G., Fromherz, Markus P.J., Roufas, Kimon D., Yim, Mark H..
Application Number | 20040150156 10/357761 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32771059 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040150156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fromherz, Markus P.J. ; et
al. |
August 5, 2004 |
Frameless media path modules
Abstract
A frameless media path module is provided for a media processing
system feeding media streams through a media path structured for
serial or parallel flows. The frameless media path module includes
a plurality of media guides and not less than two media transport
nips operated by at least one actuator. Means is included for
attaching the frameless media path module to a supporting
structure. Media state sensing electronics detect media edge or
relative motion and intermodule electrical communication capability
is provided.
Inventors: |
Fromherz, Markus P.J.; (Palo
Alto, CA) ; Biegelsen, David K.; (Portola Valley,
CA) ; Yim, Mark H.; (Palo Alto, CA) ; Roufas,
Kimon D.; (Mountain View, CA) ; Bobrow, Daniel
G.; (Palo Alto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT DOCUMENTATION CENTER
XEROX CORPORATION
100 CLINTON AVENUE SOUTH, XEROX SQ. 20 TH FLOOR
ROCHESTER
NY
14644
US
|
Assignee: |
Palo Alto Research Center,
Incorporated.
|
Family ID: |
32771059 |
Appl. No.: |
10/357761 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 5/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/272 |
International
Class: |
B65H 005/02 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. For a media processing system feeding media streams through a
media path structured for serial or parallel flows, a frameless
media path module comprising: a plurality of media guides; not less
than two media transport nips; module attachment means; actuation
means; intermodule electrical communication means; and media state
sensing electronics.
2. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said media transport nips comprise cylindrical nips.
3. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said media transport nips comprise spherical nips.
4. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said media transport nips comprise piezoelectrically driven
brushes.
5. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, further
comprising computational electronics.
6. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said not less than two media transport nips are spaced a distance
apart, said distance being less than the shortest media length in
the process direction.
7. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said actuation means comprises not less than one motor drive
unit.
8. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, wherein
said actuation means comprises separate motor drive units for each
of said not less than two media transport nips.
9. The frameless media path module according to claim 8, wherein
said motor drive units drive said not less than two media transport
nips independently in the process direction.
10. The frameless media path module according to claim 8, wherein
said motor drive units drive said not less than two media transport
nips independently in the cross-process direction.
11. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, further
comprising media state sensors.
12. The frameless media path module according to claim 11, wherein
said media state sensors comprise media edge sensors.
13. The frameless media path module according to claim 11, wherein
said media state sensors comprise relative motion sensors.
14. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, further
comprising not less than two media inlet guides.
15. The frameless media path module according to claim 1, further
comprising not less than two media outlet guides.
16. For a media processing system feeding media streams through a
media path structured for serial or parallel flows, a
reconfigurable media path assembly comprising: not less than one
frameless media path module including a plurality of media guides,
not less than two media transport nips, module attachment means,
actuation means, intermodule electrical communication means, and
media state sensing electronics; and a support assembly.
17. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein said support assembly comprises: not less than one external
frame; frameless media path module supporting means; and frameless
media path module attachment means.
18. The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein said not
less than one external frame comprises not less than two parallel
panels.
19. The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein said not
less than one external frame comprises an open structure.
20. The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein said not
less than one external frame comprises a solid housing.
21. The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein said
frameless media path module supporting means comprises not less
than two supporting rods.
22. The support assembly according to claim 21, wherein said
supporting rods have a cross-section, said cross-section being
geometric in shape.
23. The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein said
frameless media path module attachment means is secured to not more
than one surface of the frameless media path module.
24. The support assembly according to claim 23, wherein said
unsecured surface of the frameless media path module is configured
to permit access to an interior region of the frameless media path
module.
25. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
further comprising a gate module.
26. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein the reconfigurable media path assembly comprises a
plurality of frameless media path modules.
27. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein not less than two reconfigurable media path assemblies are
configured to form parallel media transport paths in the same
transport plane.
28. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein not less than two reconfigurable media path assemblies are
configured to form parallel media transport paths in different
transport planes.
29. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein not less than three reconfigurable media path assemblies
are configured to form not less than two parallel media transport
paths which are joined to a single media transport path in the
process direction.
30. The reconfigurable media path assembly according to claim 16,
wherein not less than three reconfigurable media path assemblies
are configured to form a single media transport path which is split
into two parallel media transport paths in the process direction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The following copending applications, Attorney Docket Number
D/A3012, U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed Feb. 4, 2003,
titled "Media Path Modules", is assigned to the same assignee of
the present application. The entire disclosure of this copending
application is totally incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The following U.S. patents are fully incorporated herein by
reference: U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,975 to Hadimioglu et al. ("Apparatus
and Method for Moving a Substrate"); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,284 to
Wolf et al. ("Process, Lateral and Skew Sheet Positioning Apparatus
and Method").
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to media transport systems,
and more particularly to modular, reconfigurable media path modules
within such a transport system.
[0004] Paper transport systems within printing systems are
generally constructed from custom designed units, usually
consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers driven by one
or a few motors. One such system is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
6,322,069 to Krucinski et al., which utilizes a plurality of copy
sheet drives, pinch rollers, and belts to transport paper through
the printer system. Another approach is taught by U.S. Pat. No.
5,303,017 to Smith, which is directed to a system for avoiding
inter-set printing delays with on-line job set compiling or
finishing. Smith accomplishes this through the use of sheet feeders
and diverter chutes with reversible sheet feeders, also utilizing
pinch rollers driven by motors. However, because prior art
transport systems are custom designed to meet the differing needs
of specific printing systems, field reconfigurability and
programmable reconfigurability are not possible.
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide frameless
standard modules, consisting of standard subunits, which can be
linked physically, electrically and electronically by attachment to
an external frame, and from which any path for transporting
flexible media could be constructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly stated, and in accordance with one aspect of the
present invention, a frameless media path module is provided for a
media processing system feeding media streams through a media path
structured for serial or parallel flows. The frameless media path
module includes a plurality of media guides and not less than two
media transport nips operated by at least one actuator. Means is
included for attaching the frameless media path module to a
supporting structure. Media state sensing electronics detect media
edge or relative motion and intermodule electrical communication
capability is provided.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
reconfigurable media path assembly is provided for a media
processing system feeding media streams through a media path
structured for serial or parallel flows. The reconfigurable media
path assembly includes not less than one frameless media path
module having a plurality of media guides, not less than two media
transport nips, module attachment means, at least one actuator,
intermodule electrical communication means, and media state sensing
electronics. The frameless media path modules are attached to a
support assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing and other features of the instant invention
will be apparent and easily understood from a further reading of
the specification, claims and by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates transport module configurations formed
from components according to the subject invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
transport module assembled on a support panel according to the
subject invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an configuration of modules to form a
reconfigurable media path;
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a configuration of modules
within a double-wide framework;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the embodiment according to
FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5
showing transport modules assembled on support panels according to
the subject invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an oblique view of the embodiment according to
FIG. 5, in which media is directed into or out of the media
plane.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Paper transport systems, constructed from custom designed
units generally consisting of heavy frames supporting pinch rollers
driven by one or a few motors, are utilized extensively in
industry, but have limitations in regard to part reusability and
reconfigurability. Standard paper path modules from which any paper
path could be constructed would enable shorter time-to-market,
lower cost through economies of scale, high part reusability, field
reconfigurability, and programmable reconfigurability. The media
path modules disclosed herein consist of an integrated, flexible
sheet transport and guide assembly with motor driven drive nip
units, paper convergence guide units, sheet edge and/or relative
motion detection units, and power/computation/communication units.
The modules are fixed in place to an external frame to form a
modular system which is physically strong and electrically
bussed.
[0017] Turning to FIG. 1, there is illustrated exemplary
embodiments 100, 140, and 180 of generic transport modules for
linearly translating or turning media. Such units can be used to
merge paper streams or pass media along forward or backward in the
process directions. Module 100 consists of flexible media guides
120 with integrated media transport nips 110, media inlet guides
125, and drive motors 150 (shown oversized) configured to transport
media in a desired path, in this example generally horizontal in
direction. The modules are essentially uniform along their length
with the motor drives mounted at the two ends of the module.
Various types of sheet guides are contemplated by the disclosure
herein, for example solid, perforated, or others known in the art.
The motors may be much smaller than shown in FIG. 1, and thus
modules can be more closely configured than would appear from the
figure. Additionally, the modules can be driven using separate
motors or, in less general applications, can be chain driven by a
single motor (e.g. for a module in which media only enter from a
fixed side).
[0018] For the purposes of clarity, a cylindrical nip is
illustrated as the transport mechanism for this embodiment.
Cylindrical nips are pinch rollers which contact the media from
both sides along a line. One of the cylinders is driven
rotationally about its axis and the other is an idler which
supports or provides the normal pinching force. It should be noted
that other actuation means to provide tangential media forces can
be used instead. An example of one such alternate means of
actuation is a spherical nip actuator, which contacts the media in
only a small area and is in principle capable of driving the media
tangentially in an arbitrary direction, as is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,059,284 to Wolf et al. ("Process, Lateral and Skew Sheet
Positioning Apparatus and Method") incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety. Another example of an alternate means of actuation
is a piezoelectrically driven brush or brushes to move the media in
a desired direction, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,975 to
Hadimioglu et al. ("Apparatus and Method for Moving a Substrate")
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0019] These basic elements may alternately be configured as shown
in configurations 140 and 180, which also include media inlet
guides 165 and media exit guides 170. In configuration 140 media
inlet guides 165, flexible media guides 160, and transport nip 145
are configured to impart an angular directional change in the media
path. In configuration 180, flexible media guides 185, media inlet
guides 175, media outlet guides 170, and media transport nips 190
and 195 impart dual angular directional changes in the media path.
The modules include media edge sensors and driven transport nips
with media inlet guides. All drive and control electronics as well
as communication bus drivers are mounted onto the guide using any
of many methods known in the art, for example flexible printed
circuit board technology. All intermodule electrical signals for
power and communication are passed to the modules by connectors
which connect either with other modules or with the external
frame.
[0020] The term module here refers to an assembly of guides,
rollers, motors, sensors, and optional computational and
communication components. Different module types with different
properties may be provided for different purposes, e.g., transport
modules, gate modules with additional switch and motor,
registration modules, etc. Turning now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of
a module assembly does not require a rigid frame for the transport
modules themselves, but instead consists of an external frame
providing support for individual transport modules. In this example
embodiment, the frame is formed from two parallel panels 210 having
a predetermined hole pattern. Although in this example embodiment
holes 240 in the hole pattern are shown as being circular, it will
readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any of
numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern could
be utilized. Rods 220 are attached to parallel panels 210 at
desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Although
rods 220 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this
embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for
example they may have square or rectangular cross-sections. The
transport module 230 is then attached at either the module top or
bottom to rods 220. By being attached on only one side to rods 220,
the other side of transport module 230 may be hinged to permit
opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage. Frame
panels 210 and rods 220 may be fabricated from metals and plastics
known in the art.
[0021] Alternative means to assemble a frame to hold the media
modules are possible. For example, instead of parallel panels, an
open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid frame as
in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a solid housing of
fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose. In another
embodiment, the transport modules may be attached directly to a
rigid frame, rather than being supported by rods. This approach,
although it may limit field reconfigurability of the transport
system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a
manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect
modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means
known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as
communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the
frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication)
are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via
the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting
modules to the frame and to other modules.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a reconfigurable media path
300 configured from a plurality of standard modules. In example
embodiment 300 the media paths can be retrograde as well as forward
transporting and parallel flows can be enabled. Here modules 310,
320, 330, and 340 are attached to panel 360 in such a way that
media received by module 310 may be transported by module 320 to
gate module 350, which provides the capability for splitting a
media path and creating parallel media paths. In this example,
media may flow past gate 350 either to module 330 or module 340.
The spacing and size of the modules are determined by several
aspects of the sheets to be transported. For example, the spacing
between nips 360 and 370 must be less than the shortest media
length in the process direction. Similarly, the spacing between
nips 380 and 390 also must be less than the shortest media length
in the process direction. Media stock stiffness provides another
constraint, in that the radius of curvature in turns, such as at
the transition from module 310 to module 320, cannot be too small
to accommodate the stiffest media that may move through the media
path. A typical radius in xerographic printer applications is
approximately five centimeters. For constraints typical of current
xerographic usage, the spacing between nips would be approximately
ten centimeters, with a five centimeter radius of curvature in
turning operations.
[0023] The embodiments described with respect to FIG. 2 hereinabove
enable the ability to construct a double-wide frame supporting both
large and smaller transport path assemblies side by side on the
same rod. This enables provision for two parallel media paths in
the same frame, as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a top view to show the
arrangement of transport path assemblies. Here single frame 400
supports transport path assemblies 410, 420, and 430, with media
moving in process direction 440. In this example embodiment, media
is being transported from separate parallel paths 420 and 430 to a
single output path 410. Using the xerographic process as an
example, paths 420 and 430 may be transporting paper from two
different print engines to a single finisher served by path
410.
[0024] This embodiment is further illustrated in FIG. 5, in an
oblique view. Because paths 520 and 530 are parallel and in the
same plane, module-supporting rods (not shown in this figure, but
as rods 620 in FIG. 6) may extend the entire width of both
transport assemblies 520 and 530 to support transport modules
mounted internally in those transport path assemblies. In this
embodiment media moves along process path direction 540, with
transported media from transport path assemblies 520 and 530 being
received by transport path assembly 510. This embodiment is
illustrated in perspective in FIG. 6, in which module support rods
620 extend the entire width of two transport assemblies 680 and
690. Attachment means 650 secure transport modules 640 to rods 620.
In this example embodiment, the frame is formed from parallel
panels 610 having a predetermined hole pattern. Although in this
example embodiment the hole pattern is shown as being circular, it
will readily be appreciated that the hole pattern could assume any
of numerous geometric shapes or, alternatively, a slot pattern
could be utilized. Rods 620 are attached to parallel panels 610 at
desired opening locations by any methods known in the art. Although
rods 620 are cylindrical in shape as illustrated in this
embodiment, they may be fabricated in various geometric shapes, for
example, they may have square or rectangular cross-sections. The
transport modules 640 are attached at either the module top or
bottom to rods 620. By being attached on only one side to rods 620,
the other side of transport modules 640 may be hinged to permit
opening of the module for clearance of a media blockage. Frame
panels 610 and rods 620 may be fabricated from metals and/or
plastics known in the art.
[0025] Alternative means to assemble a double-wide frame to hold
the media modules are possible. For example, instead of parallel
panels, an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a rigid
frame as in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a solid
housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar purpose. In
another embodiment, the transport modules may be attached directly
to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being supported by rods.
This approach, although it may limit field reconfigurability of the
transport system, would still provide flexibility in assembly in a
manufacturing environment. Interlocking mechanisms to connect
modules to the frame may be selected from many alternative means
known to the art. All drive and control electronics as well as
communication bus drivers are mounted on the modules or within the
frame. All intermodule electrical signals (power and communication)
are passed through by connectors, either with other modules or via
the frame, which mate as part of the operation of connecting
modules to the frame and to other modules.
[0026] Another possible arrangement of transport path assemblies is
illustrated in FIG. 7, in which parallel paths in differing planes
provide for the joining of transport paths from transport path
assemblies 720 and 730 into transport path assembly 710, again
moving in process direction 740. This arrangement provides for a
gate module at point 750 which is capable of moving media in a
lateral direction (left to right or right to left) such that media
can be moved along one of two alternate route in process direction
740. Similarly, by moving in the reverse process direction, two
paths can be merged into a single path. This enables the connection
of not only transport paths that are stacked on top of one another,
but also paths that are laid out side by side in a double-wide
frame.
[0027] Various means may be utilized to assemble a double-wide
frame to hold the media modules in the double-wide embodiments
contemplated in FIG. 7. For example, parallel panels, such as
described with reference to FIG. 6, could shape the double-wide
frame, or an open structure of beams may be assembled to form a
rigid frame as in an open frame bridge. As another alternative, a
solid housing of fixed or variable size could serve a similar
purpose. In another embodiment, the transport modules may be
attached directly to a rigid double-wide frame, rather than being
supported by rods. This approach, although it may limit field
reconfigurability of the transport system, would still provide
flexibility in assembly in a manufacturing environment.
Interlocking mechanisms to connect modules to the frame may be
selected from many alternative means known to the art. All drive
and control electronics as well as communication bus drivers are
mounted on the modules or within the frame. All intermodule
electrical signals (power and communication) are passed through by
connectors, either with other modules or via the frame, which mate
as part of the operation of connecting modules to the frame and to
other modules.
[0028] While the present invention has been illustrated and
described with reference to specific embodiments, further
modification and improvements will occur to those skilled in the
art. For example, the modules may utilize separately driven nips
and the nips can be independent in the cross-process direction as
well, to permit deskewing and other operations requiring more than
one degree of freedom. Additionally, other types of sheet state
sensors, such as relative motion detectors, can be used in place of
or in addition to sheet edge detectors. It is to be understood,
therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular
forms illustrated and that it is intended in the appended claims to
embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations which do
not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *