# US 10,246,277 B1 · System and apparatus for print media manufacturing buffering and sorting, and corresponding method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,277 B1 - Document ID: US10246277B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/701,046 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-11 - Assignees: Lightning Source LLC - Applicants: Lightning Source LLC - Inventors: Peter Kubiak; Josef Martin Strasser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246277B1 ## CPC - B65G 61/00: Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for - B07C 3/00: Sorting according to destination {(collating the pages of a book B42C1/00)} - B07C 3/18: Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks {(applying data to information carriers G06K1/12)} - B41J 11/58: Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders - B42C 19/02: starting with single sheets - B65G 1/0407: {using stacker cranes (constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06)} - B65H 5/006: {Feeding stacks of articles to machines} - B65H 29/003: {by grippers (B65H29/02 takes precedence)} - B65H 29/02: by mechanical grippers engaging the leading edge only of the articles - B65H 31/24: multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling - B65H 31/3045: {on the outermost articles of the pile for clamping the pile} - B65H 39/02: Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources - B65H 2701/182: Piled package - B65H 2801/48: Bookbinding - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B42C: BOOKBINDING (cutting or perforating machines, devices or tools B26; folding sheets or webs B31F; ornamenting books B44) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during a print media assembly or delivery operation, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure; a storage section within the enclosure; an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element; a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure; and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure, wherein the storage section comprises at least one segment having a plurality of ridges and valleys, the segment configured to store thereupon the at least a portion of the printed element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input section comprises a visual indicia processor configured to identify at least one property associated with the at least a portion of the printed element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second gripper, the second gripper associated with at least one of the input section and the output section, the second gripper configured to perform at least one of: (i) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section, (ii) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and (iii) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element to the output section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gripper and the second gripper are configured to cooperatively operate to perform at least one of buffering and sorting the printed element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gripper is configured to perform operations associated with the at least a portion of the printed element relating to the input section, and wherein the second gripper is configured to perform operations associated with the at least a portion of the printed element in relation to the output section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a processor configured to control at least one operation of the apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to selectively transport a media portion received at the input section to the storage section upon receipt of the media portion, and to selectively cause the apparatus to transport the media portion to the output section based at least in part upon a control signal received at the processor. ### Claim 8 A method of performing at least one of buffering and sorting during a print media assembly or delivery operation by an apparatus having an enclosure, an input section, an output section, a storage section, and at least one gripper, the method comprising: receiving at least a portion of a printed element; transporting the at least a portion of the printed element to the storage section using the at least one gripper; storing the at least a portion of the printed element at the storage section; receiving a control signal associated with the at least a portion of the printed element; and outputting the at least a portion of the printed element based at least in part upon the received control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the storing the at least a portion of the printed element comprises storing the at least a portion of the printed element in at least one segment of the storage section having a plurality of ridges and valleys thereupon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: identifying a visual indicia associated with the at least a portion of the printed element; and identifying at least one identifier or parameter associated with the at least a portion of the printed element based on the identified visual indicia. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one gripper comprises a plurality of grippers, at least one of the plurality of grippers associated with each one of the input section and the output section, each of the plurality of grippers enabling at least one of: (i) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section, (ii) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and (iii) selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed element to the output section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of grippers is configured to cooperatively operate with at least one other of the plurality of grippers to perform at least one of buffering and sorting operations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: controlling operations associated with the at least a portion of the printed element relating to the input section by a first of the plurality of grippers, and controlling operations associated with the at least a portion of the printed element in relation to the output section by a second of the plurality of grippers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: selectively transporting a media portion received at the input section to the storage section upon receipt of the media portion; receiving a control signal relating to the media portion; and selectively transporting the media portion to the output section based at least in part upon the received control signal.