U.S. patent application number 12/646951 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-23 for system for guiding media in an imaging apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to XEROX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to RON EDWARD DUFORT.
Application Number | 20110148026 12/646951 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44149949 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110148026 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DUFORT; RON EDWARD |
June 23, 2011 |
SYSTEM FOR GUIDING MEDIA IN AN IMAGING APPARATUS
Abstract
A guiding system for diverting media from an input media path to
an output media path in an imaging system eliminates marking and
curling of media. The system employs a drive roll, an idling belt
carried on one or more idler rolls, and a release roll. The idling
belt presses media onto the drive roll, eliminating the relative
motion between media and the drive roll and hence avoiding marking.
The penetration of the release roll into the drive roll controls
curling of media.
Inventors: |
DUFORT; RON EDWARD;
(ROCHESTER, NY) |
Assignee: |
XEROX CORPORATION
NORWALK
CT
|
Family ID: |
44149949 |
Appl. No.: |
12/646951 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/10.06 ;
271/225; 271/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 29/12 20130101;
B65H 2404/2611 20130101; B65H 2301/44314 20130101; B65H 2801/06
20130101; B65H 2404/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/10.06 ;
271/225; 271/229 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/36 20060101
B65H005/36; B65H 5/02 20060101 B65H005/02; B65H 9/14 20060101
B65H009/14 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for diverting media from an input media path to an
output media path in an imaging system, comprising: a drive roll;
and an idling belt carried on one or more idler rolls and a release
roll, such that the idler belt is in contact with the drive roll
between: an input nip, located for accepting media from the input
media path; and an output nip, including the release roll, located
for outputting media to the output media path.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive roll surface is formed
of a resilient material.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the idling belt is configured to
be driven solely by interaction with the drive roll, there being no
relative motion between contacting points on the drive roll and the
idling belt.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the release roll is formed of a
material harder than the material of the drive roll.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the release roll penetrates into
the drive roll to a predetermined depth.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the penetration of the release
roll into the drive roll is adjustable.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the penetration of the release
roll into the drive roll decurls the media.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the release roll
is smaller than the diameter of the drive roll.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the release roll is formed of
steel.
10. Apparatus for diverting media from an input media path to an
output media path in an imaging system, comprising: a drive roll
having a surface formed of a resilient material; and an idling belt
carried on one or more idler rolls and a release roll, the idling
belt being configured to be driven solely by interaction with the
drive roll, there being no relative motion between contacting
points on the drive roll and the idling belt, and the idling belt
being in contact with the drive roll between: an input nip, located
for accepting media from the input media path; and an output nip,
including the release roll, located for outputting media to the
output media path; wherein the release roll is formed of a material
harder than the material of the drive roll, and is adjustably
positioned to penetrate into the drive roll to a predetermined
depth.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the penetration of the release
roll into the drive roll decurls the media.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the release
roll is smaller than the diameter of the drive roll.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the release roll is formed of
steel.
14. A method for diverting media from an input media path to an
output media path in an imaging system, the method comprising:
receiving media from the input media path; holding the media
against a drive roll employing an idling belt, wherein the idling
belt is carried on one or more idler rolls and there being no
relative motion between contacting points on the drive roll and the
idling belt, conveying the media a predetermined angular distance
around the drive roll to an output nip defined by the drive roll
and a release roll, the release roll being positioned to penetrate
into the drive roll to a predetermined depth; and releasing the
media to the output media path.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined angular
distance depends on the position of the release roll.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the
penetration of the release roll into the drive roll.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the adjusted penetration of the
release roll decurls the media.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The presently disclosed embodiments relate to image-forming
devices, such as printers, copiers, and similar imaging apparatus,
and more particularly, to devices that guide media within an
imaging system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An image-forming apparatus, such as a printer, a fax
machine, or a photocopier, includes devices for directing sheet
media along a media path. Conventionally, imaging devices employ
baffles, diverters, rollers, or similar devices to perform that
task. A media path generally begins with an input section for
introducing media and includes a transfer area where media receives
an image, and it may further include an output section where sheets
exit from the image-forming apparatus.
[0003] Media rounding a bend in a media path are typically
subjected to two types of damage--marking and curl. Marking refers
to undesired spots or lines on media surface caused by the relative
motion of media against a guiding device and the contact pressure
between them. Curl, as the name suggests, is a deformation
resulting in a loss of flatness of a media sheet.
[0004] Known sources of curl, for example, are devices employed to
fix toner images formed on sheets in the image-forming apparatus.
Most imaging devices, such as copiers and printers, employ a pair
of rollers to perform the fixing operation employing pressure and
heat. To supply sufficient heat to the toner image, a prescribed
nip is formed between the rollers and satisfactory fixing proceeds
by passing the sheet through this nip. After that operation,
however, the sheet may exhibit curl imparted by the rolls. Another
known source of curl is a change in humidity. Whatever the cause,
curl renders media susceptible to deformation and causes jamming
during sheet transfer.
[0005] One approach to avoiding marking and curl aims to ensure
that all changes of direction in the media path occur over
relatively large diameters. One example, in equipment processing a
variety of different media, specifies that all changes of media
path direction occur on turning radii of at least 150 mm. While
measures in that direction can help control marking and curl, those
solutions increase machine size and cost, detracting from these
solutions' attractiveness.
[0006] Direct measures aimed at reducing marking and curl have also
been attempted. One approach subjects sheets to "reverse curl," in
an operation that seeks to deliberately impart curl, but in an
opposite direction to the prevailing direction of curl damage. For
example, sheets curling toward the printed side can be straightened
by imparting a curl in the opposite direction, toward the blank
side.
[0007] Present damage control techniques have been effective for
only a narrow range of media weights, however. Specific
implementations of reverse curl techniques, for example, are not
reliable across a spectrum of media weights. Typically, these
techniques are effective for only a small range of media weights,
and any curling of media outside this small range is not uniformly
effective. Heavyweight, stiff, and coated media are especially
sensitive to both types of damage. Existing adjustable devices may
impart curl on a large range of media weights, though they are
typically quite expensive. For example, the IGEN4 imaging system,
commercially offered by Xerox Corporation, employs an adjustable
decurler that varies the nip pressure to impart curl on media with
densities ranging from 60 gsm to 350 gsm.
[0008] Improved image quality and increased speed of image-forming
devices has increased the variety of media run on them. Thus, there
remains a need to provide compact and inexpensive image-forming
devices for sensitive types of media. Further, the image-forming
devices require a media diverting system, preventing marking and
curl.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure describes an apparatus for diverting
media from an input media path to an output media path in an
imaging system. The apparatus employs a drive roll, an idling belt
carried on one or more idler rolls, and a release roll. The idler
belt is in contact with the drive roll between an input nip, which
accepts media from the input media path, and the output nip, where
media is output to the output media path. A release roll, also an
element of the diverter belt assembly, penetrates into the drive
roll. As a result of the cooperative action between the drive roll
and the idling belt, the media and the surface of the drive roll
have identical velocities.
[0010] Certain embodiments include apparatus for diverting media
from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging
system. The apparatus employs a drive roll, the surface of which is
formed of a resilient material. Further, the apparatus includes an
idling belt, carried on one or more idler rolls and a release roll,
in contact with the drive roll. The idling belt is configured to be
driven solely by interaction with the drive roll, so that no
relative motion exists between contacting points on the drive roll
and the idling belt. The release roll, formed of a material harder
than the material of the drive roll, is adjustably positioned to
penetrate into the drive roll to a predetermined depth. The idling
belt makes contact with the drive roll between an input nip,
located for accepting media from the input media path, and an
output nip.
[0011] Another embodiment includes a method for diverting a media
path from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging
system. The method involves receiving media from the input media
path. A drive roll holds media by employing an idling belt carried
on one or more idler rolls and eliminates relative motion between
media and media path surfaces formed by the contact of the idling
belt and the drive roll. The method further involves conveying
media a predetermined angular distance around the drive roll to an
output nip point defined by the drive roll and a release roll. The
release roll is configured to penetrate the drive roll by an
adjustable amount, imparting a reverse curl to the media, which is
then released.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The figures described below set out and illustrate a number
of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Throughout the
drawings, like reference numerals refer to identical or
functionally similar elements. The drawings are illustrative in
nature and not drawn to scale.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a media
guiding system for diverting media.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for
diverting media in a media guiding system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following detailed description is made with reference to
the figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the
subject matter of the disclosure, not to limit its scope, which is
defined by the appended claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize a number of equivalent variations in the description
that follows.
Overview
[0016] The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for
diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in
an imaging system. Arrangement of the apparatus eliminates marking
and curl in media rounding a bend in media path. The apparatus
employs a diverter mechanism, including a soft drive roll and a
diverter belt assembly. The diverter belt assembly operates in
coordination with the drive roll and a release roll to redirect
media without subjecting it to marking and curl.
[0017] This apparatus provides a low cost compact media path design
with small media path radius, eliminating issues such as marking
and curl of media, where these issues are a major concern for
heavy, stiff, or coated media.
[0018] It should be noted that the description below does not set
out specific details of manufacture or design of the various
components. Those skilled in the art are familiar with such
details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out,
techniques, designs, and materials known in the art should be
employed, and those in the art are capable of choosing suitable
manufacturing and design details.
[0019] In the following description the terms "sheet" or "media"
refer to sheets of paper, plastic, cardboard, or other suitable
physical substrate for printing images, whether precut or initially
web fed and then cut. The terms "media" and "sheet" are
interchangeable and used throughout the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a media
guiding system 100 for diverting media. The exemplary embodiment of
the media guiding system 100 may be employed within a device such
as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a finisher that
requires media diversion without any media damages. Various other
embodiments can be anticipated to address many different systems or
applications in which media needs diversion.
[0021] The media guiding system 100 includes an input media path
102, a drive roll 104, a diverter idling belt 106 wrapped around
multiple idler rolls, such as idler rolls 110 and 112, and a
release roll 114. The drive roll 104 presses against the diverter
idling belt 106, forming a guiding surface for media. Further, the
media guiding system 100 includes an output media path 116.
[0022] The combination of the drive roll 104 and the diverter
idling belt 106 receives media from the input media path 102
through an input nip 108. The input nip 108 is the point at which
the diverter idling belt 106 makes contact with the drive roll 104.
The output nip 118 is the point at which the drive roll 104 makes
contact with the release roll 114. The relative position of the
idler rolls 110 and 112 is arranged to facilitate contact between
the diverter idling belt 106 and the drive roll 104. Thus, the
diverter idling belt 106 makes contact with the drive roll 104 for
an angular distance around the drive roll 104, governed by the
positions of the input nip 108 and the output nip 118. From the
output nip 118, sheets of media exits to the output media path
116.
[0023] The drive roll 104 has generally an elastomeric surface,
with an aluminum core. Those skilled in the art will understand
that a variety of materials can be used to manufacture the core of
the drive roll 104, such as stainless steel, iron, or lead. In
general, the surface material of the drive roll 104 is soft and
spongy, such as, for example, urethane or rubber. In any event, the
surface material is chosen for its characteristics, preventing
marking and curl. The hardness of the surface of the drive roll 104
typically is selected to meet a number of target properties for the
drive roll 104, such as the coefficient of friction, conductivity,
compression set, abrasion resistance, elasticity, and cost,
consistent with the type of media being conveyed. For example, the
surface of the drive roll 104 may be chosen in a hardness range
from 5 Shore A to 80 Shore D. Further, the drive roll 104 radius is
relatively small, of about 15 mm, creating a compact arrangement.
In one embodiment of the present system, the drive roll 104 is
manufactured using a steel cylindrical core with a 10 mm radius,
coated in an even 5 mm elastomeric layer or `skin,` yielding the
drive roll 104 with an outer-radius of 15 mm and having a skin
formed of a material such as rubber, resin, urethane, EPDM, or
other polymers. The specific material chosen for the skin exhibits
properties consistent with the media types envisioned for the
particular apparatus. For a general-use imaging device, an
appropriate material would be a urethane polymer such as Rogers
Corporation's ENDUR.RTM.-C.
[0024] The diverter idling belt 106 is a lightly tensioned belt
rotating around the idler rolls 110 and 112 and the release roll
114. The diverter idling belt 106 is generally made of rubber,
having sufficient coefficient of friction to carry media. The
diverter idling belt 106 may have a suitable scale of durometer The
media guiding system 100, as depicted includes only two idler rolls
110 and 112; those skilled in the art, however will understand that
the number of rolls within the diverter belt assembly may vary
based on the arrangement of the media guiding system 100 and the
position of the release roll 114. The idler rolls 110 and 112
impart smooth and stable functioning of the diverter idling belt
106. The number of rolls depends on the length of the diverter
idling belt 106 and the position of the release roll 114, as
discussed, where the diverter idling belt 106 is dependent on the
arrangement of the media guiding system 100. The diverter idling
belt 106 presses incoming media onto the drive roll 104, from the
input nip 108 to the output nip 118, so that the media sheet lies
in contact with the drive roll for the angular distance between the
input nip 108 and the output nip 118.
[0025] The release roll 114, also referred to as penetration roll,
penetrates into the drive roll 104, imparting a reverse curl in
media. The radius of the release roll 114 is relatively smaller
than the drive roll 104, and this roll is formed from harder
material than that of the drive roll 104, such as steel or
hard-plastic-coated steel. For example, the IGEN4 system, noted
above, uses a steel penetration roll in its decurling device. The
indentation of the release roll 114 in the drive roll 104 helps
control media curl, and this indentation may be set manually or
automatically at different levels.
[0026] Additionally, the point on the drive roll 104 where the
release roll 114 makes contact can be varied as desired, allowing
the media to be held in contact with the drive roll 104 for exactly
the angular distance specified by the designer. Because media exits
the output nip 118 on the mutual tangent of the drive roll 104 and
release roll 114, adjusting the position of the release roll 114
also has the effect of varying the output media path 116. Where
desired, that feature could be used in various embodiments to allow
for variable output media path 116.
[0027] Drive roll 104 is driven by conventional power means,
typically an electric motor, transmitting rotational force through
direct gearing or a belt drive. The diverter idling belt 106 is not
driven directly, however, but rather it is powered by the drive
roll 104. Interaction between the drive roll 104 and the diverter
idling belt 106, in the form of friction between these components'
respective surfaces, serves to drive the diverter idling belt 106.
As is known in the art, the friction force present in this system
depends on the respective materials, the force imparted by the
diverter idling belt 106 to the drive roll 104 resulting from the
layout of the idler rolls 110, 112, and the total area of contact
between the components. Here, a design criterion calls for zero
relative movement (that is, no slippage) between contacting points
on the drive roll 104 and diverter idling roll 106, in the
situation where media is interposed between those elements. That
lack of relative movement ensures that the media will not be
subjected to marking during the transport process. With those
design requirements, those of skill in the art will be able to
design specific embodiments to meet particular functional
requirements.
[0028] The media guiding system 100 may include a control
mechanism, not shown in FIG. 1, to set the indentation level of the
release roll 114 into the drive roll 104. The control mechanism can
employ any of the conventional means to those in the art to set the
release roll 114 indentation level. In one embodiment, the control
mechanism includes sliding bearings along slots or guides to
support the release roll 114, controlling distance between the
release roll 114 and the drive roll 104. Alternatively, a stepper
motor may rotate a shaft with cams, engaging support bearings. The
stepper motor may rotate such that the cams engage the support
bearings more, pressing the release roll 114 into the drive roll
104 depending on the desired indentation level. Another embodiment
provides a non-dynamic arrangement that sets the indentation level
manually, employing support bearings located with setscrews.
[0029] Those skilled in the art will be able to select a
conventional control mechanism, such as a computer-controlled
mechanism, an electromechanical mechanism, or any other suitable
mechanism known in the art, for the media guiding system 100.
[0030] The indentation level of the release roll 114 depends on the
degree of curl required in media exiting the media guiding system
100. For example, if the release roll 114 does not penetrate into
the drive roll 104, the media exhibits an up-curl upon leaving the
device. Increasing the amount of penetration reduces the amount of
up-curl, until the point is reached where media emerges with a
completely compensated, flat profile. Further penetration produces
a down-curl.
[0031] Thus, a particular imaging device that typically handles the
same sort of media may be set to a single indentation configuration
(no indentation, deep indentation, or medium indentation), designed
to counteract problems on that media only. Imaging devices that
encounter frequent media type changes can be provided with means
for effecting configuration changes either manually or based on
preset conditions. Those of skill in the art will be capable of
implementing such adjustment devices as required.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart describing an exemplary
method 200 for diverting media from an input media path to an
output media path in a media guiding system. FIG. 2 describes the
method 200 implemented by the media guiding system 100.
[0033] At step 202, the input nip 108 receives media from the input
media path 102. Media enters the media guiding system 100 from the
input media path 102 to the input nip 108, at 4 point where the
diverter idling belt 106 makes contact with the drive roll 104.
Media received at the step 202 is clamped to the drive roll 104 by
the diverter idling belt 106 at step 204. The adjustable idler
rolls 110 and 112 facilitate this clamping operation.
[0034] Then, at step 206, the media is released after travelling
the desired angular distance around the drive roll 104. As noted
above, alternative embodiments allow the output nip 118 to be
adjusted among various points on the surface of drive roll 104. Any
such adjustment should be completed before commencing a given
operation of the imaging device, of course. As media travels around
the drive roll 104, the fact that the media is being wrapped around
the drive roll 104 in inherently tends to induce curl, but the
relatively large diameter of the turning radius minimizes that
tendency. Additionally, curl tendency will vary considerably with
the media being processed. As noted in the art, a turning radius
that will definitely impart curl to heavyweight media may not
affect lightweight media at all. Marking is also minimized because
the design of the drive roll 104 and the diverter idling belt 106
eliminates relative motion between media and media path surfaces.
Further, the diverter idling belt 106, distributes pressure over
the entire contact surface, reducing pressure at any given point,
which tends to minimize marking.
[0035] Step 208 ejects the released media to the output media path
116. The media travels around the periphery of drive roll 104 to
the output nip 118, at which point it exits to the output media
path 116.
[0036] As noted above, the amount of reverse curl imparted in the
media depends on the indentation level of the release roll 114. For
example, zero indentation of the release roll 114 into the drive
roll 104 may result in a up-curled media, While increased
indentation induces increased back curl, until that point is
reached at which media exits the drive roll 104 with no curl
whatsoever.
[0037] As can be appreciated, the disclosed method 200 does not
require any particular sort of image forming apparatus. Both the
system and the method of this disclosure can be implemented in a
wide range of image-forming apparatus.
[0038] It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
desirably combined into many other different systems or
applications. Those skilled in the art may subsequently make
various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,
modifications, variations, or improvements without departing from
the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *