System and method for automated sheet adjustment
A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment includes a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module. A control module computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error. A sheet transport path adjustment mechanism translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment.
1. A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment comprising:
a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module;
a control module which computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error;
a print media supply module which includes a sheet feeder configured to feed sheets to a first portion of a main transport path, the sheet feeder and the first portion of the main transport path being mounted to a first housing, which is supported on rolling members;
an image rendering module which includes a second housing and a second portion of the main transport path; and
a sheet transport path adjustment mechanism which shifts the first housing relative to the second housing to translate the first portion of the main transport path relative to the second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment.
2. The sheet processing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises a first full width array scanner, which is positioned to capture a first image of the sheet on the main transport path upstream of the marking engine.
3. The sheet processing system of claim 1 , wherein the sheet transport path adjustment mechanism includes a third adjustment component which translates a first portion of a duplex transport path relative to a second portion of the duplex transport path, a first end of the duplex transport path being connected to the main transport path downstream of the marking device and a second end of the duplex transport path being connected to the main transport path upstream of the marking device.
4. The sheet processing system of claim 3 , wherein the third adjustment component translates the first portion of the duplex transport path based on the adjustment for the computed drift.
5. The sheet processing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises second and third full width array scanners, which are positioned downstream of marking device, a first of the second and third full width array scanners facing a first side of the sheet and a second of the second and third full width array scanners facing a second side of the sheet.
6. A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment comprising:
a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module;
a control module which computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error; and
a sheet transport path adjustment mechanism which translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment, the sheet transport path adjustment mechanism including a first adjustment component which translates a first housing of the media supply module relative to a second housing of the image rendering module to translate the first portion of the main transport path, which is in the first housing, relative to the second portion of the main transport path, which is in the second housing, the first adjustment component comprising a first bracket which links the first housing to the second housing, the first bracket being movable laterally, relative to one of the first and second housings.
7. The sheet processing system of claim 6 , wherein the first bracket is driven laterally by a lead screw.
8. The sheet processing system of claim 6 , wherein the first bracket includes an attachment portion which is attached to one of the first housing and the second housing, and at least one flange, extending from the attachment portion, which carries a bar therethrough, the bar extending from the other of the first housing and the second housing.
9. A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment comprising:
a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module;
a control module which computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error; and
a sheet transport path adjustment mechanism which includes:
a first adjustment component which translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment; and
a second adjustment component which translates a sheet feeder in the print media supply module relative to one of:
a portion of the main transport path downstream of the feeder; and
a tray in the print media supply module which holds a stack of sheets.
10. A sheet processing system comprising:
a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module, the sensor system comprising:
a first full width array scanner, which is positioned to capture a first image of the sheet on the main transport path upstream of the marking engine, and
a second full width array scanner, which is positioned to capture a second image of the sheet on the main transport path downstream of the marking engine;
a control module which computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error; and
a sheet transport path adjustment mechanism which translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment.
11. The sheet processing system of claim 10 , wherein the control module computes a drift in the lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured first and second images, and computes an adjustment based on the computed drift in the lateral error.
12. A sheet processing method comprising:
receiving a captured first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module, the print media supply module including a first housing, the image rendering module including a second housing;
computing a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured first image;
computing an adjustment based on the computed lateral error when the lateral error exceeds a threshold; and
providing instructions for translating a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, with a first automated adjustment component, based on the computed adjustment, wherein the translating comprises driving a first bracket which links the first housing to the second housing, the first bracket being movable laterally, relative to one of the first and second housings.
13. The sheet processing method of claim 12 , wherein the computing of the lateral error, computing the adjustment, and providing instructions are performed with a processor.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a captured second image of the sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on the main transport path downstream of the marking device;
computing a second lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured second image;
computing a second adjustment based on the computed second lateral error when the second lateral error exceeds a threshold; and
providing instructions for translating a first portion of a duplex transport path relative to a second portion of the duplex transport path with a second automated adjustment component, based on the computed adjustment, the duplex transport path configured for returning sheets to the main transport path.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes, for a second sheet:
repeating the receiving of a captured first image, computing a lateral error for the sheet, computing an adjustment based on the computed lateral error when the lateral error exceeds the threshold; and providing instructions for translating the first portion of the main transport path relative to the second portion of the main transport path, with the first automated adjustment component, based on the computed adjustment.
16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory recording medium storing instructions, which when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of claim 12 .
17. A sheet adjustment system comprising:
memory which stores instructions for:
receiving at least a first image of a sheet of print media captured as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an associated image rendering module, the main transport path receiving print media from a plurality of sheet feeders, each of the sheet feeders configured to feed sheets singly from a respective stack;
computing a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image;
determining whether the lateral error exceeds a threshold;
computing an adjustment based on the computed lateral error when the lateral error exceeds the threshold; and
providing the computed adjustment to an associated sheet transport path adjustment mechanism configured for automatically translating a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment; and
a processor which executes the instructions.