Controlled velocity decoupling device for improved media registration at transfer

A method for decoupling sheets from a registration drive system that enhances and improves transfer while maintaining control of a sheet right up to transfer in a printer, comprising:

• providing a controller that receives an image signal representing an image to be printed;
• providing a single charge retentive surface;
• providing a charging station that charges the charge retentive surface to a relatively high potential;
• providing an exposure station that receives images signals from the controller and records an electrostatic latent image on said charge retentive surface;
• providing a development station that deposits toner over the electrostatic latent image on the charge retentive surface to form a toner image;
• providing a single transfer station including a single transfer member that transfers the toner image directly from said charge retentive surface to said sheets;
• and
• providing a registration system for registering sheets with said charge retentive surface before reaching said transfer station, said registration system including a driver roll and an idler roll forming a nip for driving sheets therethrough and a decoupling device that provides controlled velocity decoupling for hand-off of said sheets between said nip and said charge retentive surface for direct hand-off of said sheets to said charge retentive surface without forming an artifact inducing buckle in said sheets prior to and after said driver roll and idler roll nip and without using a buckle sensor in close proximity to said decoupling device, said decoupling device including a one-way clutch mounted with respect to said driver roll such that it allows said driver roll to rotate freely at an increased speed while the sheets are being pulled by said charge retentive surface once they are tacked directly to said charge retentive surface prior to reaching said transfer station to thereby increase control of a lead edge of each sheet being tacked to said charge retentive surface with said driver roll and said idler roll continuing to roll while each sheet is tacked to said charge retentive surface.

A printer that provides controlled velocity decoupling for copy sheet hand-off between a registration drive nip and a photoreceptor, comprising:

• a controller that receives an image signal representing an image to be printed;
• a single charge retentive surface;
• a charging station that charges the charge retentive surface to a relatively high potential;
• an exposure station that receives images signals from the controller and records an electrostatic latent image on said charge retentive surface;
• a development station that deposits toner over the electrostatic latent image on said charge retentive surface to form a toner image;
• a single transfer station including a single transfer member that transfers the toner image directly from said charge retentive surface to a copy sheet;
• and
• a registration system for registering copy sheets with said charge retentive surface, said registration system including a driver roll and an idler roll forming a nip for driving sheets therethrough without buckling said copy sheets at said nip and a decoupling device configured to eliminate artifacts associated with any velocity mismatch while simultaneously allowing control to be maintained over said copy sheets during the hand-off from said registration system to said charge retentive surface, said decoupling device including a one-way clutch mounted with respect to said driver roll such that it allows said driver roll to rotate freely at an increased speed while said copy sheets are being pulled solely by said charge retentive surface once they are tacked to said charge retentive surface.