Optimized passive gate inverter

An inverting apparatus for inverting a sheet comprising:

• an input feed mechanism for feeding the sheets in a first direction;
• a guide operably associated with said input feed mechanism for guiding the sheets along the first direction;
• a movable gate operably associated with said guide, said moveable gate and said guide defining an open passageway therebetween for passing sheets therethrough, the open passageway;
• adapted to adjust from a first width greater than zero to a second width greater than the first width;
• wherein the width of the open passageway is a function of at least one of weight, thickness, and rigidity of the at least one sheet in operational association with the moveable gate;
• a reversing chute operably associated with said guide for receiving the sheet for reversing thereof;
• and
• a reversing feed mechanism associated with said reversing chute for directing the sheet in a second direction.

A printing machine comprising an inverting apparatus for inverting a sheet comprising:

• an input feed mechanism for feeding the sheets in a first direction;
• a guide operably associated with said input feed mechanism for guiding the sheet along the first direction;
• a movable gate operably associated with said guide, said moveable gate and said guide defining an open passageway therebetween for passing sheets therethrough, the open passageway adapted to adjust from a first width greater than zero to a second width greater than the first width;
• wherein the width of the open passageway is a function of at least one of weight, thickness, and rigidity of the at least one sheet in operational association with the moveable gate;
• a reversing chute operably associated with said guide for receiving the sheet for reversing thereof;
• and
• a reversing feed mechanism associated with said reversing chute for directing the sheet in a second direction.

A method of inverting a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• feeding the sheets in a first direction;
• selective diverting a selected sheet from a stream of sheets into an inverting path;
• guiding a first side of the sheet;
• selectively positioning a gate with respect to the guide for passing sheets therethrough, the gate and the guide forming an open passageway adjustable from a first width greater than zero to a second width greater than the first width;
• wherein the width of the open passageway is a function of at least one of weight, thickness, and rigidity of the sheet in operational association with the gate;
• receiving the sheet in a reversing chute;
• and
• reversing the sheet in a reversing feed mechanism associated with the reversing sheet.

An apparatus for guiding a substrate in an imaging device comprising:

• an input feed mechanism for feeding a substrate in the imaging device;
• a guide operably associated with said input feed mechanism for guiding the substrate through the imaging device;
• a gate operably associated with the guide, the gate having at least one contact surface for directing the substrate, the gate moveable with respect to the guide and defining an open passageway therebetween for passing the substrate therethrough, the open passageway adapted to adjust from a first width greater than zero to a second width greater than the first width;
• wherein the width of the open passageway is a function of at least one of weight, thickness, and rigidity of the substrate in operational association with the gate;
• and
• a reversing feed mechanism for redirecting the substrate.