US 9,176,469 B2 · Systems and methods for implementing a scheme for cooling, and minimizing curl in, output image receiving media substrates in image forming devices

Abstract

A system and method are provided for cooling and de-curling output image receiving media substrates prior to stacking them in output trays of office-sized image forming devices. Customer requirements are met by providing a cooling capacity with a simple module that is particularly adaptable to a standard office-sized image forming device without increasing a vertical footprint of the device. The substrate de-curling and cooling capacity is able to be retrofit on typical office-sized image forming devices as, for example, an upgraded output catch tray to provide an all stocks at rated speed capacity in the image forming device. A substrate and de-curling unit cools sheets of image receiving media substrate via conduction by pressing the sheets individually and in order to a pair of rotating cooling drums with a pair of cooperating belts supported by appropriate idler rollers in a paper path having a horizontal “S” shape.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A substrate cooling unit for use with an image forming device, comprising:

a first cooling roll;
a first transport belt that is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the first cooling roll to substantially sandwich individual sheets of image receiving media between the first cooling roll and the first transport belt with a first surface of the individual sheets of image receiving media facing the first roll;
a second cooling roll positioned downstream of the first cooling roll in a process direction;
a second transport belt that is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the second cooling roll to substantially sandwich the individual sheets of image receiving media between the second cooling roll and the second transport belt with a second surface of the individual sheets of image receiving media facing the second roll;
and
an air source that introduces a cooling air flow to an inner surface of the first cooling roll and the second cooling roll;
wherein the first cooling roll having a larger diameter than the second cooling roll.

4 more elements

An image forming device, comprising:

a substrate cooling unit, comprising:
a first cooling roll;
a first transport belt that is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the first cooling roll to substantially sandwich individual sheets of image receiving media between the first cooling roll and the first transport belt with a first surface of the individual sheets of image receiving media facing the first roll;
a second cooling roll positioned downstream of the first cooling roll in a process direction and having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the first cooling roll;
a second transport belt that is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the second cooling roll to substantially sandwich the individual sheets of image receiving media between the second cooling roll and the second transport belt with a second surface of the individual sheets of image receiving media facing the second roll;
and
an air source that introduces a cooling air flow to an inner surface of the first cooling roll and the second cooling roll.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for implementing a scheme for cooling, and minimizing curl in, output image receiving media substrates in image forming devices

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for implementing a scheme for cooling, and minimizing curl in, output image receiving media substrates in image forming devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18