Symmetrical parallel duplex paper path device
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPatrick Perdu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parallel duplex paper path device is provided for feeding a recording medium along a feed direction from a first printing device to a second printing device, which are arranged in parallel. The paper path device comprises at least two turning stations that are each assigned to one of the first or second printer. The turning stations are configured symmetrically to allow for reversing the feed direction and to allow for a device which can be assembled using standardized sub-assemblies.
Claims27
A parallel duplex paper path device configured for feeding a recording medium along a feed direction from a first printing device to a second printing device, the second printing device being arranged substantially in parallel to the first printing device such that the first printer and the second printer are adjacent to each other in a horizontal plane and parallel in the horizontal plane, the paper path device, comprising:
- at least two turning stations, each turning station cooperating to turn the recording medium and to change the feed direction, wherein the turning stations are configured symmetrically about a central axis.
A method of transporting a recording medium in simplex mode comprising:
- providing at least two printers joined by a parallel paper path device having at least two turning stations arranged symmetrically about a central axis, each turning station having at least one deflection bar perpendicular to a respective initial feed direction and rotationally supported, each turning station having an angled bar extending obliquely relative to the respective initial feed direction;
- printing a first side of the recording medium in one of the at least two printers;
- feeding the recording medium to each of the at least two turning stations over the at least one deflection bar corresponding to each of the at least two turning stations in the respective initial feed directions;
- and
- feeding the recording medium in the respective initial feed directions to exit each turning station of the parallel paper path device and enter a post processing device.
A method of transporting a recording medium in duplex mode comprising:
- providing at least two printers joined by a parallel paper path device having at least two turning stations arranged in line with the at least two printers and symmetrically about a central axis, each turning station having at least one deflection bar perpendicular to a respective initial feed direction and rotationally supported, each turning station having an angled bar extending obliquely relative to the respective initial feed direction;
- printing a first side of the recording medium in one of the at least two printers;
- feeding the recording medium to one of the at least two turning stations over the at least one deflection bar corresponding to that one of the at least two turning stations in the respective initial feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further into the one of the at least two turning stations and over the corresponding angled bar to change the respective initial feed direction to a second feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further from that one of the at least two turning stations and into the other of the at least two turning stations in a respective initial feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further into the other of the at least two turning stations over the at least one deflection bar corresponding to the other of the at least two turning stations to change the direction of the recording medium from the respective initial feed direction to a respective second feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium in the second respective feed direction to the other of the at least two printers;
- printing on the second side of the recording medium;
- and
- feeding the recording medium in a third feed direction reverse that of the respective second feed direction to exit the printer and the parallel paper path device and enter a post processing device.
A method of transporting a recording medium in simplex mode comprising:
- providing at least two printers joined by a parallel paper path device having at least two turning stations arranged symmetrically about a central axis, each turning station having at least one deflection bar perpendicular to a respective initial feed direction and rotationally supported, each turning station having an angled bar extending obliquely relative to the respective initial feed direction;
- printing a first side of the recording medium in one of the printers;
- feeding the recording medium to one of the at least two turning stations over the at least one deflection bar corresponding to that one of the at least two turning stations in the respective initial feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further into the one of the at least two turning stations and over the corresponding angled bar to change the respective initial feed direction to a second feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further from that one of the at least two turning stations and into the other of the at least two turning stations in a respective initial feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further into the other of the at least two turning stations over the at least one deflection bar corresponding to the other of the at least two turning stations to change the direction of the recording medium from the respective initial feed direction to a respective second feed direction reverse of the respective initial feed direction;
- feeding the recording medium further into the other of the at least two turning stations and over the corresponding angle bar to change direction of the recording medium to a third feed direction;
- and
- feeding the recording medium in the third feed direction to exit the other of the at least two turning stations and the parallel paper path device and enter a post processing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.