(19)
(11) EP 1 952 995 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
26.12.2012 Bulletin 2012/52

(43) Date of publication A2:
06.08.2008 Bulletin 2008/32

(21) Application number: 08001904.5

(22) Date of filing: 01.02.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B41J 3/60(2006.01)
B41J 13/00(2006.01)
B65H 85/00(2006.01)
 B41J 11/00(2006.01)
B65H 29/58(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA MK RS

(30) Priority: 05.02.2007 US 899594 P
30.03.2007 US 731373

(71) Applicant: Pitney Bowes, Inc.
Stamford, CT 06926-0700 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Smith, Aaron D.
    Beacon Falls, Connecticut 06403 (US)
  • Allen, Robert J.
    Shelton, Connecticut 06484 (US)
  • Fairweather, James A.
    Milford, Connecticut 06460 (US)
  • Baldino, Neil F.
    Sandy Hook, Connecticut 06482 (US)
  • Lyga, Thomas M.
    Southbury, Connecticut 06488 (US)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Print interface system for a sheet handling device


(57) A print interface system (50) including a printer (52) integrated in combination with a sheet handling system such as a mailpiece inserter (10). The print interface system (50) facilitates the handling of sheet material (12) in various operating modes, including conventional printing, duplex printing, and mailpiece creation modes. The system includes a printer (52) having multiple feed paths (FFP,SFP) for printing on opposing face surfaces of a sheet material (12). One of the feed paths directs sheet material (12) to a staging tray (54) and another feed path directs sheet material (12) to a downstream module of the sheet handling system. The system further includes a positionable diverter for directing sheet material (12) to one of the feed paths and a sheet sensor for determining when a sheet of material (12) has been directed along the feed path leading to the output tray (54). A controller is operative to alternately reposition the diverter from one of two positions. A first position directs sheet material (12) to the staging tray (54) following a first print operation, and a second position directs sheet material (12) to the downstream module of the sheet handling system. The controller, furthermore, repositions the diverter following a threshold period of time from receipt of the staging signal issued by the sheet sensor.







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