System for guiding media in an imaging apparatus

Abstract

A guiding system for diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging system eliminates marking and curling of media. The system employs a drive roll, an idling belt carried on one or more idler rolls, and a release roll. The idling belt presses media onto the drive roll, eliminating the relative motion between media and the drive roll and hence avoiding marking. The penetration of the release roll into the drive roll controls curling of media.

1 . Apparatus for diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging system, comprising:
 a drive roll; and   an idling belt carried on one or more idler rolls and a release roll, such that the idler belt is in contact with the drive roll between:
 an input nip, located for accepting media from the input media path; and 
 an output nip, including the release roll, located for outputting media to the output media path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive roll surface is formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the idling belt is configured to be driven solely by interaction with the drive roll, there being no relative motion between contacting points on the drive roll and the idling belt. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the release roll is formed of a material harder than the material of the drive roll. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the release roll penetrates into the drive roll to a predetermined depth. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the penetration of the release roll into the drive roll is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the penetration of the release roll into the drive roll decurls the media. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the release roll is smaller than the diameter of the drive roll. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the release roll is formed of steel. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging system, comprising:
 a drive roll having a surface formed of a resilient material; and   an idling belt carried on one or more idler rolls and a release roll, the idling belt being configured to be driven solely by interaction with the drive roll, there being no relative motion between contacting points on the drive roll and the idling belt, and the idling belt being in contact with the drive roll between:
 an input nip, located for accepting media from the input media path; and 
 an output nip, including the release roll, located for outputting media to the output media path; 
 wherein the release roll is formed of a material harder than the material of the drive roll, and is adjustably positioned to penetrate into the drive roll to a predetermined depth. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the penetration of the release roll into the drive roll decurls the media. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the release roll is smaller than the diameter of the drive roll. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the release roll is formed of steel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging system, the method comprising:
 receiving media from the input media path;   holding the media against a drive roll employing an idling belt, wherein the idling belt is carried on one or more idler rolls and there being no relative motion between contacting points on the drive roll and the idling belt,   conveying the media a predetermined angular distance around the drive roll to an output nip defined by the drive roll and a release roll, the release roll being positioned to penetrate into the drive roll to a predetermined depth; and   releasing the media to the output media path.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined angular distance depends on the position of the release roll. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting the penetration of the release roll into the drive roll. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the adjusted penetration of the release roll decurls the media.