Patent ID: 7766327
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A printing device comprising: a sheet buffer including a paper path having a plurality of nip pairs for selectively receiving and releasing a plurality of printer sheets; said plurality of nip pairs including a fixed load nip pair, a fixed unload nip pair, and at least a first translating nip pair and a second translating nip pair therebetween; in a first operation each subsequent sheet of said plurality of sheets is overlapped over a previous sheet wherein said plurality of sheets are stopped in said at least first and second translating nip pairs, wherein a first subset of said sheets are held between said first translating nip pair, a second subset of said sheets are held between said second translating nip pair, and a third subset of said sheets are held between both said first and second translating nip pairs forming a shingled stack therebetween; said first subset and said second subset are mutually exclusive; said stack of shingled sheets are translated simultaneously together by said first and second translating nip pairs moving a distance from a first position to a second position wherein a lead edge of a bottommost printer sheet is positioned ready for engagement with said release nip pair; and, individual sheets of said stack of shingled sheets are advanced to said unload nip pair sequentially and then successively available for unloading as needed.