US2013075968A1PendingUtilityA1

Horizontal straight-line duplex imaging architecture

27
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 26, 2011Filed: Sep 26, 2011Published: Mar 28, 2013
Est. expirySep 26, 2031(~5.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James A. Dunst
B41J 3/60
27
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An imaging architecture and method for duplex printing including a first imaging station operative to mark a first side of a substrate media with a first image, a first media transport module configured and operative to convey the substrate media in proximity with the first imaging station in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, and to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction. A second imaging station is operative to mark the inverted substrate medium on a second side opposing the first side with a second image, and a second media transport module is configured and operative to convey the inverted substrate media in proximity with the second imaging station in the process direction.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An imaging architecture comprising:
 a first imaging station operative to mark a substrate media on a first side with a first image;   a first media transport module configured and operative to convey the substrate media in proximity with the first imaging station in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, and to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction;   a second imaging station operative to mark a second side of the substrate media opposing the first side with a second image;   a second media transport module configured and operative to convey the inverted substrate media in proximity with the second imaging station in the process direction.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to invert the substrate media around an axis transverse to the process direction. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the second media transport module is configured and operative to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 3 , wherein the second media transport module is configured and operative to invert the substrate media around an axis transverse to the process direction. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first imaging station and the second imaging station comprises a direct marking technology to mark the substrate media with a respective first or second image. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first imaging station and the second imaging station comprises a plurality of imaging engines, each of the plurality of imaging engines being configured and operative to mark the substrate media according to a predetermined characteristic. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to apply a hold down force sufficient to hold the substrate media against the first media transport module, and to release the inverted substrate media at a predetermined position of the substrate media. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 7 , wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to effect a localized interruption of the hold down force to release the inverted substrate media. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier near or against the first media transport module, operative to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 9 , wherein the barrier comprises a knife edge positioned to come between the substrate media and the first media transport module. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid nozzle configured and operative to direct a flow of fluid towards the first media transport module that is sufficient to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging architecture according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one image treatment station positioned downstream in the process path from the first or second imaging station, the image treatment station operative to apply a treatment to the substrate media to affix the first or second image thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A method of duplex printing comprising:
 conveying, with a first media transport module, a substrate media through an imaging architecture in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, in proximity with a first imaging station operative to mark a first side of the substrate media with a first image;   inverting the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction; and   conveying the inverted substrate in proximity with a second imaging station operative to mark a second side of the substrate media opposing the first side with a second image.   
     
     
         14 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inverting the orientation of the substrate media around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 holding the substrate media to the first media transport module.   
     
     
         16 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 releasing the inverted substrate media from the first media transport module and conveying the inverted substrate media to a second media transport module for conveyance in proximity with the second imaging station.   
     
     
         17 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 holding the substrate media is held to the first media transport module by one or more or a vacuum force and an electrostatic force, and releasing the inverted substrate media by interrupting a force holding the substrate media to the first media transport module at a predetermined position of the substrate media.   
     
     
         18 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 releasing the substrate media from the first media transport module with a physical barrier imposed between the substrate media and the first media transport.   
     
     
         19 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 18 , wherein the physical barrier has a substantially knife edge presented at the interface of the substrate media and the first media transport module. 
     
     
         20 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 directing a flow of fluid towards the first media transport module that is sufficient to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module.   
     
     
         21 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inverting the inverted substrate media following its transport in proximity with the second imaging station.   
     
     
         22 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 inverting the inverted substrate media around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.   
     
     
         23 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 inverting the inverted substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction.   
     
     
         24 . The method of duplex printing according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 applying an image treatment downstream in the process path from at least the first or second imaging station operative affix the first or second image to the substrate media.

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