Patent ID: 8366099
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. In an imaging device for a plurality of media sheets including a first media sheet and a second media sheet, the imaging device having a first media path and a second media path, the first media path having an entrance and an exit, the entrance of the first media path adjacent media input area having a pick assembly, the media input area having a length configurable between a predetermined minimum length Lmin and a predetermined maximum length Lmax, the exit of the first media path adjacent a media output area, the second media path intersecting the first media path at a first Y-shaped intersection adjacent the exit end of the first media path and intersecting the first media path at a second intersection adjacent the entrance of the first media path, the first and second media paths forming a recycle loop, the pick assembly operable to feed at least the first media sheet and the second media sheet into the first media path at a predetermined inter-page gap G for image processing, a media retractor and recycler system comprising: a first drive mechanism; a recycler roll assembly positioned adjacent the Y-shaped first intersection on a portion of the second media path that forms one arm of the Y-shaped first intersection and operatively connected with the first drive mechanism, the recycler roll assembly having a pair of opposed rolls forming a nip therebetween for receiving one of the first media sheet and then the second media sheets, the recycler roll assembly operable by the first drive mechanism to drive each of the first and then second media sheets along the second media path portion of the recycle loop toward the first media path portion of the recycle loop; a reversible drive mechanism; an exit roll assembly for concurrently supporting the first and second media sheets and positioned at the base of the Y-shaped first intersection, comprising: a nip positioner for adjusting a height of the nip of the exit roll assembly within a range between a closed position and an open position to allow for the first media sheet and the second media sheet to be simultaneously received in and movable through the exit roll assembly nip in opposite directions; a diverter structure located immediately adjacent the first intersection, the diverter structure diverting one of the first media sheet and second media sheet into the second media path when one of the first and second media sheets are fed from the exit roll assembly in a retraction direction; when the first and second media sheets are in an overlapping arrangement within the exit roll assembly, the recycler roll assembly nip applying when one of the first and second media sheets are in the recycler roll assembly nip a retraction force that is equal or greater than 1.5 times the sheet to sheet frictional force between the first and second media sheets and the first drive mechanism drives the recycler roll assembly feeding the one of the first and second media sheets in the recycler roll assembly nip in the retraction direction R into the second media path portion of the recycle loop while concurrently therewith the reversible drive mechanism drives the drive roll of the exit roll assembly feeding the other of the first and second media sheets into the media output area; and the idler roll of the exit roll assembly contacts the one of the first and second media sheet that is being retracted by recycler roll mechanism in the retraction direction R while drive roll of the exit roll assembly contacts and feeds the other of the first and second media sheets into the media output area.