Wet-print cut-sheet media handling system
US6042106A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2801/06
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sheet media handling system is provided for use in supporting a sheet ejected from a wet-ink hard copy apparatus output port while ink on a preceding sheet ink an output tray is allowed time to dry before depositing the succeeding on top thereof. The system employs a pair of guides having an elongate channel therebetween which receives a predetermined side edge of an ejected sheet. The channel bends the sheet in order to stiffen the sheet along its longitudinal axis such that only one edge need be supported. Once a trailing edge of an advancing sheet is ejected from the output port, a lower guide is retracted whereby the sheet falls under the force of gravity onto the output media stack in the output tray. Several advantageous lower guide upper surface constructs are disclosed. The advantages of the use of a guide mechanism on each side of the advancing output sheets is discussed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.