Duplex printing of print sheets
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorSteven W. Trovinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for duplex printing of print sheets are described. In one aspect, a duplex module is configured so that print sheets may be controllably and reliably re-introduced into a print module in an orientation that is suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet without requiring a support structure that spans the entire width of the print sheet. In large format printing applications, this feature avoids large and heavy support structures, such as feed rollers, that otherwise would be needed to support the print sheets, as well as their own weight. In this way, a printing apparatus may provide duplex printing functionality with a structure that has a relatively light weight and a relatively small overall footprint.
Claims21
A printing apparatus for marking first and second sides of a print sheet, comprising:
- a print module configured to mark one side of the print sheet at a time;
- a simplex module configured to move the print sheet along a simplex feed path and to introduce the print sheet into the print module in an orientation suitable for marking the first side of the print sheet;
- and
- a duplex module configured to receive the print sheet from the print module, to move the print sheet along a duplex feed path while clamping side edge regions of the print sheet and tensioning unsupported print sheet regions between the clamped side edge regions, and to re-introduce the print sheet into the print module in an orientation suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet.
A printing apparatus for marking first and second sides of a print sheet, comprising:
- a print module configured to mark one side of the print sheet at a time;
- a simplex module configured to move the print sheet along a simplex feed path and to introduce the print sheet into the print module in an orientation suitable for marking the first side of the print sheet;
- and
- a duplex module configured to receive the print sheet from the print module, and to re-introduce the print sheet into the print module trailing edge first in an orientation suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet.
A printing method for marking first and second sides of a print sheet, comprising:
- moving the print sheet along a simplex feed path;
- introducing the print sheet into a print module in an orientation suitable for marking the first side of the print sheet;
- receiving the print sheet from the print module;
- moving the print sheet along a duplex feed path while clamping side edge regions of the print sheet and tensioning unsupported print sheet regions between the clamped side edge regions;
- and
- re-introducing the print sheet into the print module in an orientation suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet.
A printing method for marking first and second sides of a print sheet, comprising:
- moving the print sheet along a simplex feed path;
- introducing the print sheet into a print module in an orientation suitable for marking the first side of the print sheet;
- receiving the print sheet from the print module;
- and
- re-introducing the print sheet into the print module trailing edge first in an orientation suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.