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US 6,378,409 B1Granted
Replaceable hole punch for image capturing devices
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJames J. Reid, Lynn S. Gill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three hole punch system is for use in an image capturing device. The three hole punch system uses elastomeric rollers that punch holes in the edge of a sheet as it passes between two rollers. If desired, the rollers can act as a transport for the sheet without punching holes in the sheet. After the holes are punched, the resultant slugs are pushed back into the holes and the sheet is retrieved by the operator.
Claims7
An image forming device comprising:
- an image transferring device including an image forming engine that forms a developed image on a sheet;
- an image fixing device that fixes the developed image on the sheet, the image fixing device operatively associated with the image transferring device;
- a first roller made of a first elastomeric material;
- a second roller made of a second elastomeric material wherein the first elastomeric material forming the first roller is less dense than a second elastomeric material forming the second roller, the first and second rollers placed adjacent to each other, and operatively associated with the image fixing device;
- and
- a hole punch contained within the first roller that punches holes in the sheet,
- wherein the hole punch includes a nip formed on one edge of the hole punch, such that the nip does not cut the sheet and a slug cut from the sheet by the hole punch remains attached to the sheet.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.