Adjustable aligner mechanism

Abstract

An assembly is provided for adjustably aligning sheets of material, particularly sheets of print material fed into a printing apparatus. The assembly includes an alignment section adapted to convey the print material in a direction toward the printing apparatus. The alignment section includes first and second guide members for controlling the position of print material passing through the assembly. Each guide member extends generally parallel to the direction toward the printing apparatus. The assembly also includes a control mechanism for adjustably securing the position of the guide members. The control mechanism includes a first and second shaft extending laterally to the first direction. The first guide member is supported by the first shaft and the second guide member is supported by the second shaft. In this way, rotation of the first shaft selectively translates the first guide member longitudinally along the first shaft without translating the second guide member.

1 . An assembly for adjustably aligning print material fed into a printing apparatus, said assembly comprising: 
 an alignment section adapted to convey said print material in a first direction toward the printing apparatus, said alignment section including a first guide member and a second guide member for controlling the position of print material passing through said assembly, said first and second guide members extending generally parallel to said first direction; and    a control mechanism for adjusting the position of said guide members, said control mechanism including a first and second shaft extending laterally to said first direction, said first guide member supported by said first shaft, said second guide member supported by said second shaft, whereby rotation of said first shaft selectively translates said first guide member longitudinally along said first shaft without translating said second guide member.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , wherein rotation of said second shaft selectively translates said second guide member longitudinally along said second shaft without translating said first guide member.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism further includes a third and forth shaft extending laterally to said first direction, said first guide member further supported by said third shaft and said second guide member further supported by said forth shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly as defined by  claim 3 , wherein said control mechanism further includes a first linkage for rotating said first and third shafts in unison.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , wherein said first and second guide members each include a print material support surface and a containment wall for limiting lateral movement of said print material, said containment wall extending vertically from said support surface.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly as defined by  claim 5 , wherein said containment wall is removeably attached to said support surface and said support surface includes more than one attachment location for said containment wall.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one pusher mechanism for moving said print material, said pusher mechanism is linked to said first guide member and adapted to translate generally laterally to said first direction in unison with said first guide member.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism includes a first and second adjustment handle, said first adjustment handle linked to said first guide member and said second adjustment handle linked to said second guide member.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly as defined by  claim 8 , wherein said first and second adjustment handles are both disposed on the same side of the assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly as defined by  claim 1 , wherein said first and second shafts are adapted to rotate on a common axis.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly for adjustably aligning a sheet of material comprising: 
 a frame including a first side member, a second side member opposed to said first side member, and a central member disposed between said first and second side members; and    a first alignment mechanism for controlling the position of the sheet including,    i) a first guide member supported on a first shaft, whereby rotation of said first shaft causes said first guide member to translate, said first shaft extending between said first side member and said central member,    ii) a second guide member supported on a second shaft, whereby rotation of said second shaft causes said second guide member to translate, said second shaft extending between said second side member and said central member, and    iii) a control mechanism linked to at least one of said first and second shafts, said control mechanism including a first actuator whereby activation of said first actuator causes said first shaft to rotate independent of said second shaft.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , wherein said control mechanism includes a second actuator whereby activation of said second actuator causes said second shaft to rotate independent of said first shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , wherein said first guide member is further supported by a third shaft and said second guide member is further supported by a forth shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly as defined by  claim 13 , wherein said control mechanism further includes a first linkage for rotating said first and third shafts in unison.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , wherein said first and second guide members each include a print material support surface and a containment wall for limiting lateral movement of said print material, said containment wall extending vertically from said support surface.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly as defined by  claim 15 , wherein said containment wall is removeably attached to said support surface and said support surface includes more than one attachment location for said containment wall.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one pusher mechanism for moving said print material, said pusher mechanism linked to said first guide member and adapted to translate generally in unison with said first guide member.    
   
   
       18 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , wherein said control mechanism includes a first and second adjustment handle, said first adjustment handle linked to said first guide member and said second adjustment handle linked to said second guide member.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly as defined by  claim 18 , wherein said first and second adjustment handles are both disposed on the same side of the assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly as defined by  claim 11 , wherein said first and second shafts rotate about a common axis.  
   
   
       21 . An assembly for adjustably aligning a sheet of material comprising: 
 a first and second guide for controlling the position of said sheet, said first and second guides laterally movable independent of each other, said first guide including a first carriage operatively connected to a first drive and a second carriage operatively connected to a second drive, the first and second drives being operatively linked together such that operation of one of said first and second drives causes operation of the other of said first and second drives, thereby causing lateral translation of the first and second carriages and the first guide.    
   
   
       22 . The assembly as defined by  claim 21 , wherein said second guide includes a third carriage operatively connected to a third drive and a forth carriage connected to forth drive, the third and forth drives being operatively linked together such that operation of one of said third and forth drives causes operation of the other of said third and forth drives, thereby causing lateral translation of the third and forth carriages and the second guide.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly as defined by  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said first and second drives includes a threaded shaft whereby rotation of said shaft causes said lateral translation of said first guide.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly as defined by  claim 21 , wherein a mechanical linkage operatively links said first and second drives.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly as defined by  claim 24 , wherein said mechanical linkage includes a chain cooperating with at least one sprocket member.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly as defined by  claim 24 , wherein said mechanical linkage is driven by an actuator for controlling the lateral position of said first guide.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly as defined by  claim 26 , wherein said actuator includes at least one manually operable device.