Patent ID: 6827116
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: B41J,B42C,B42P,B65H,G06F,G06K,H04N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A binding assembly for a printer, the binding assembly comprising:a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer, the support chassis defining a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction; an elongate glue applicator mounted on the chassis and positioned substantially at right angles to said feed direction, the applicator being displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media; a collection tray having a back side; an exit hatch positioned below the elongate glue applicator and above the collection tray, the exit hatch movable between a closed position at substantially a right angle to the feed direction, and an open position angled away from the elongate glue applicator, whereby the printed sheets of media are first supported by the exit hatch in the glue application and binding zone and then released downwardly from the glue application and binding zone, moving solely by the force of gravity, by downward movement of the exit hatch; and a flexible foil positioned adjacent the exit hatch and angled away from the elongate glue applicator and toward the exit hatch, whereby the printed sheets of media that are released from the glue application and binding zone by downward movement of the exit hatch are directed to the back side of the collection tray and substantially parallel to the feed direction.