Aligning device

An aligning device for aligning a single sheet of a recording medium, the single sheet having a leading edge generally perpendicular to a conveying direction and a lateral edge generally parallel to the conveying direction, the aligning device comprising:

• a sensor device for detecting the lateral edge of the sheet and determining a position of the lateral edge relative to a predetermined printing position,
• a transport device comprising a transport roller and a counter-pressure roller disposed opposite one another and contacting one another along a contact line extending transversely relative to the conveying direction, the contact line forming a detent for receiving the leading edge of the sheet and aligning the leading edge of the sheet to a perpendicular position with respect to the conveying direction, the transport roller being driven with a roller driver,
• the transport and counter-pressure rollers being biased in an initial position with a transport tensing device, and the transport and counter-pressure rollers being movable transversely relative to the conveying direction and opposite the bias of the transport tensing device by an actuator driver,
• a delivery device for conveying the sheet to the transport device, the delivery device comprising two conveyor units extending transversely relative to the conveying direction, one of the conveyor units being movable between a transport position and an open position,
• wherein, in the transport position, the two conveyor units engage one another thereby conveying the sheet along the conveying direction until the leading edge engages the detent formed by the transport units of the transport device and the sheet arcs between the delivery device and the transport device,
• wherein, in the open position, the moveable conveyer unit is spaced apart from the other conveyor unit thereby releasing the sheet and allowing the sheet to assume a flat position as the sheet extends between the delivery device and the transport device,
• the delivery device further comprises at least one delivery tensing element that biases the movable conveyor unit into the transport position and at least one actuator unit for moving the movable conveyor unit into the open position thereby overcoming the bias of the delivery tensing element.