Patent ID: 6601840
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B42C,B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
A post print finishing device, comprising:a vertically oriented frame; a first output bin mounted to the frame; a sheet flipper mounted to the frame adjacent to the first output bin, the flipper having a receiving port through which a sheet is received into the flipper, a discharge port opposite the receiving port and adjacent to the first output bin through which a sheet is discharged to the first output bin, and a routing port through which a sheet is routed for further processing, the flipper configured to receive a sheet from a printing device and either discharge the sheet leading edge first to the first output bin or route the sheet trailing edge first through the routing port; a second output bin mounted to the frame below the first output bin; a sheet accumulator mounted to the frame below the flipper and adjacent to the second output bin, the accumulator having a receiving port through which sheets routed through the flipper routing port are received into the accumulator, a discharge port through which a stack of sheets is discharged to the second output bin, and a binding port through which a stack of sheets is moved for binding, the accumulator configured to accumulate sheets in a stack, move the stack back and forth through the binding port and discharge the stack to the second output bin through the discharge port; and a binder mounted to the frame, the binder comprising a pair of heated platens disposed opposite one another adjacent to the accumulator binding port, the platens movable between a first open position in which an edge of the stack of sheets in the accumulator may be inserted between the platens or withdrawn from between the platens and a second compressed positioned in which heat and pressure are applied to the edge of the stack; a stationary base comprising a first platen in the pair of heated platens; a movable carriage comprising a second platen in the pair of heated platens; a reversing motor operatively coupled to the carriage through a lead screw disposed at or near the middle of the carriage; and the carriage movable between the first position and the second position at the urging of the motor along posts positioned at outer ends of the carriage.