Systems and methods for implementing unique stack registration using rotating shelf structures for set compiling in image forming devices

• Main Authors: Stojanovski Billy T, Fess Donald R, Uthman Todd Maurice, Curry Gerald Roy, Hatch Thomas Crofton
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.09.2016
• Subjects: CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS,CABLES; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STORING; TRANSPORTING

A system and method are provided for improving stack integrity for a set of image receiving media substrates at an output of a compiler in an image forming device positioning a plurality of pairs of rotating shelf structures in a vicinity of an exit/ejection port of an image receiving media processing or post-processing unit. The plurality of pairs of rotating shelf structures cycle between a first (support) position and a substantially orthogonal second (drop) position with respect to a rotating axis for the rotating shelf structures. Each of the rotating shelf structures has a uniquely-portioned top surface that includes a substantially-parallel top (supporting) portion and a ramped lead-in portion facing the exit/ejection port from the image receiving media processing or post-processing unit in an effort to reduce any image receiving media substrate "stubbing" against a first of the plurality of pairs of rotating shelf structures in a process direction.