Patent ID: 9327928
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: B65H

Claim Text:
1. A media transition unit for altering orientation and/or direction of travel of media that defines a first edge and a second edge that is shorter than the first edge, the media transition unit comprising: a first module that includes a first sensor, a first conveyor belt driven by a direct current (DC) motor, and a first module control circuit configured to automatically control the DC motor for driving the first conveyor belt based on media-detection signals from the first sensor, the first module being configured to accept the media traveling at a feeder speed onto the first module and along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first edge, the first sensor upon detecting presence of the media at the first module prompting the first module control circuit to drive the first conveyor belt to transport the media at a first transition speed, which is substantially equivalent to the feeder speed, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second edge; and a second module that includes a second sensor, a second conveyor belt driven by a stepper motor having a higher torque at small angular velocities relative to that of the DC motor, and a second module control circuit configured to automatically control the stepper motor for driving the second conveyor belt based on media-detection signals from the second sensor, the second module being configured to accept the media from the first module, the second sensor upon detecting presence of the media adjacent to the second module prompting the second module control circuit to accelerate the media on the second module and to drive the second conveyor belt at a second transition speed along the second direction, the second transition speed exceeding the first transition speed and the substantially equivalent feeder speed, wherein the second module control circuit adjusts the second transition speed based on the first transition speed.