Finisher with frictional sheet mover

US6550758B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lexmark International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey Allen Ardery · Richmond, US
• Michael Kurt Gordon · Lexington, US
• David Emerson Greer · Lexington, US
• Stacey Vaughan Mitchell · Lexington, US
• Daniel Joseph Westhoff · Georgetown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 4, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2801/27
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Sheets (57) exit printer (1) into finisher (3) where they are moved against perpendicular reference walls (61, 69) by frictional fingers (21, 23). The fingers are rotated away while a sheet is moved downward. Since the fingers are near their reference surface, buckling of the sheets normally does not occur, so the sheet stays in place. In an embodiment, the fingers move with a resilient force selected to be low enough so that the fingers stop when the sheet contacts the reference wall.