Patent · US Expired

Universal interface module interconnecting various copiers and printers with various sheet output processors

US5326093A · kind A · utility

146Cited by
30References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 1993
Grant dateJul 5, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S271/902
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A universal interface for operatively connecting and feeding the sequential copy sheet output of various reproduction machines of widely varying ranges of sheet output level heights to various independent copy sheet processing units having widely varying sheet input level heights with a free-standing movable interface module of a fixed narrow width. A sheet feeding path extends from one side of the module to the other for transporting the copy sheets. This sheet feeding path is preferably bi-directional and reversible for feeding copy sheets therethrough from either side. It is repositionable by vertically repositioning over a large vertical height range integral sheet path ends opening at opposite sides of the interface module, a retention system retains the sheet path ends at a selected height position mating with a selected reproduction apparatus sheet output level and a selected copy sheet processing unit sheet input level. The disclosed sheet feeding path varies in length automatically with this path end repositioning, yet remains substantially linear, and may utilize baffles telescoping automatically.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.