Patent ID: 7706737
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
1. A printing system comprising: a first print engine that produces output to a print stream, wherein the output comprises at least one sheet of print media; a second print engine that produces output to the print stream, wherein the output comprises at least one sheet of print media; a merging module connected between the first and second print engines to receive the output from each of the print engines, wherein the merging module includes at least two sheet rotators, at least two decision gates and at least three sheet paths, the sheet paths comprising at least an upper bypass path, a lower bypass path, and a merge path; a sheet buffering apparatus coupled to the merging module for buffering the output from each of the print engines, wherein the sheet buffering apparatus includes an upper bypass transport having an upper baffle and a lower baffle that open from the front and are hinged at the rear; a lower bypass transport that includes an upper baffle and a lower baffle that open from the front and are hinged at the rear; and wherein the upper bypass transport baffle rotates upward and the lower bypass transport baffle rotates downward to facilitate jam clearance; and at least one finisher connected to the merging module.