Method and apparatus for feeding sheets
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsDouglas Anthony Able, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddux, Kevin Dean Schoedinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method and article for adjusting the time interval between feeding of successive sheets of media in a printer or copier. The method comprises initiating a first pick signal for a sheet of the media and identifying a feed time for the sheet of media, and identifying an expected feed time for said media. The system compares feed times to an expected feed time and adjusts according to such comparison to substantially correct for slippage or other problems feeding diverse media.
Claims20
A method for adjusting the time interval between feeding of successive sheets of media in a printer or copier comprising:
- initiating a first pick signal for a sheet of media and identifying a measured feed time for said sheet of media;
- identifying a maximum feed time and a first expected feed time for said sheet of media;
- identifying whether or not said sheet of media is a first sheet of media;
- and
- identifying whether or not said first sheet of media is problem media by identifying if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is greater than said maximum feed time, wherein if said measured feed time is greater than said maximum feed time, set a second expected feed time for a subsequent sheet to said first expected feed time for said first sheet of media and if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is not greater than said maximum feed time, set said second expected feed time for said subsequent sheet to said measured feed time for said first sheet of media.
A system for determining when each sheet in a stack of sheets is fed from the stack comprising:
- a processor capable of initiating a first pick signal for a sheet of media and identifying a measured feed time for said sheet of media;
- wherein
- said processor is capable of identifying a maximum feed time and a first expected feed time for said sheet of media;
- and
- said processor is capable of identifying whether or not said sheet is a first sheet and is capable of identifying whether or not said first sheet is problem media by identifying if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is greater than said maximum feed time, wherein if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is identified as greater than said maximum feed time, said processor is capable of setting a second expected feed time for a subsequent sheet to said first expected feed time for said first sheet of media and if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is not identified as greater than said maximum feed time, said processor is capable of setting said second expected feed time for said subsequent sheet to said measured feed time for said first sheet of media.
An article comprising:
- a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following operations:
- sending a first pick signal for a sheet of said media and identifying a measured feed time for said sheet of media;
- identifying a maximum feed time and a first expected feed time for said sheet of media;
- and
- identifying whether or not said sheet of media is a first sheet of media and identifying whether or not said first sheet is problem media by identifying if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is greater than said maximum feed time, wherein if said measured feed time is greater than said maximum feed time, a second expected feed time for a subsequent sheet is set to said first expected feed time for said first sheet of media and if said measured feed time of said first sheet of media is not greater than said maximum feed time, said second expected feed time for said subsequent sheet is set to said measured feed time for said first sheet of media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.