Web outfeed processing system for high performance printer

Abstract

A cabinet is provided downstream of a high speed laser printer, and provides an environmentally controllable environment for a web that must be “moisturized” before being fed to a downstream device for further processing. A single web loop is gravity biased as well as acted on by a constant force spring to accommodate abrupt speed changes in the web. The depth of the web loop is of sufficient height to accommodate reversals in web direction necessitated by the laser printer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A web processing system for use with a high performance printer of the type adapted to output a printed web at a speed which varies widely, and which pulls the web back into the printer periodically for purposes peculiar to the printer, said system comprising: 
 a vertically elongated cabinet defining an internal enclosure, and having on one lateral side thereof a slot for receiving the web from a laser printer, and on an opposite side a slot through which the web pass to a downstream device,    at least one elongated web loop within said cabinet defined by a drive roller on one side of the cabinet, and an idler roller generally opposite the drive roller, the web loop being further defined by a downwardly biased weighted bar engaging the lower portion of the loop, and at least one ultrasonic sensing device for sensing the depth of the loop.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including a control circuit for keeping the height of the downwardly biased bar within predetermined limits as a result of changing the speed of the drive roller, and means for controlling the atmospheric conditions within the cabinet so as to maintain a predetermined relative humidity for the paper web inside the cabinet, and for maintaining the temperature of the web within the cabinet within predetermined ranges.  
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1  further including at least one video camera in the cabinet to at least one side of the paper web through said cabinet.  
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein a control panel is provided on a front face the cabinet between the input and output sides thereof, said control panel including status lites as well as a touch pad LED control panel so that the operator can observe by warning lites indicative of the humidity and temperature of the paper web moving through said cabinet.  
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 1  further characterized by edge sensor means within the cabinet to detect movement of the paper web laterally of the above-mentioned drive roller and means for tilting the drive roller relation the direction of web travel so as to steer the web into a position most efficient for the paper web as it travels around a circumferential portion of the drive roller.  
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said status lites indicate predetermined conditions of the laser printer upstream of the cabinet, and indicate conditions of downstream devices for further processing the paper web emanating from the cabinet.  
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said cabinet includes a computer processing unit for operating a control panel, and an interface plug for allowing a personal computer to be linked to the processing unit within the cabinet.  
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said biased bar defining the lower end of said web loop is biased by gravity.  
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said biasing force acting on said web loop bar is supplemented by a constant force spring means acting on the weighted bar.