Patent ID: 8792817
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An overlap positioning system for use with a printer that is adapted to move a receiver from a pre-printing path, along a printing path past a print engine, to a post-printing path, the overlap positioning system comprising: a receiver transport system; a diverter positioned proximate the post-printing path and having a diverter actuator that enables the diverter to selectively move to at least a first position where the diverter diverts a first receiver from the post-printing path into a recirculation system having a plurality of surfaces to guide the first receiver from the post-printing path to a reentry point in the pre-printing path; a receiver movement system having at least one actuator cooperating with the recirculation system to move the first receiver through the recirculation system; a position sensing system having a first sensor to sense conditions from which an amount of movement of the first receiver or a second receiver through the reentry point can be determined and a second sensor positioned to detect when one of the first receiver or second receiver can be moved to the reentry point within a predetermined time period; and a controller that cooperates with the receiver transport system, position sensing system and receiver movement system to cause the first receiver or the second receiver to enter the reentry point, to monitor the amount of movement of the first receiver or the second receiver moving through the reentry point and to cause the other of the first and second receiver to move from a staging position toward the reentry point so that the first receiver is overlapped by the second receiver by a predetermined amount when the first receiver reaches the reentry point; wherein the receiver transport system provides a first receiver advancing structure proximate the reentry point that can hold the second receiver stationary while the first receiver is moved from the staging position to the reentry position; wherein the receiver transport system further provides second receiver advancing structures that move a receiver across the print engine at a determined rate of movement; and wherein the controller cooperates with the receiver transport system to cause the first receiver advancing structure to move the second receiver at a rate of movement that is greater than a rate of movement provided by the second receiver advancing structures during positioning of the second receiver for overlapping, such that a buckle in the second receiver is formed between the first receiver advancing structure and the second receiver advancing structures, with the buckle providing a length of material that is longer than a length of the second receiver that will be advanced by the second receiver moving structures during the predetermined time period.