WO2021040678A1

WO2021040678A1 - Printers with media accumulation appendages

Info

Publication number: WO2021040678A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/047955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathon Charles SPAFFORD; Bobbi Jean BOEN; Elliott DOWNING; Robert Yraceburu; Timothy Jacob LUEDEMAN
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2019-08-23
Filing date: 2019-08-23
Publication date: 2021-03-04

Abstract

Example printers with media accumulation appendages are disclosed herein. An example printer disclosed herein includes a first surface to support a sheet and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface and movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the first surface. The example printer includes an appendage disposed between the first surface and the second surface. At least a portion of the second surface to engage the appendage when the second surface is moved toward the lowered position. At least a portion of the appendage is to engage an edge of the sheet.

Description

PRINTERS WITH MEDIA ACCUMULATION APPENDAGES

BACKGROUND

[0001]After a sheet is printed with content using a printer, the sheet may be added to a stack of media including previously accumulated sheets. The accumulated stack may be transported to, for example, a stapler associated with the printer for finishing operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1A illustrates an example printer finisher.

[0003] FIG. 1 B is a front view of the finisher of FIG. 1A.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an example finisher in accordance with teachings of this disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a partial, side perspective view of a mezzanine of the example finisher of FIG. 2.

[0006] FIG. 4 is a partial, side perspective view of the example finisher of

FIG. 2.

[0007] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example processing system for accumulating media in a finisher that can be used to implement the examples disclosed herein.

[0008] FIG. 6 is a flowchart representative of machine readable instructions that may be executed to implement the example finisher of FIGS. 2-5.

[0009] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example processing platform structured to execute the instructions of FIG. 6 to implement the example processing system of FIG. 5.

[0010] The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. While the drawings illustrate examples of printers, other examples may be employed to implement the examples disclosed herein. [0011] Descriptors “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used herein when identifying multiple elements or components which may be referred to separately. Unless otherwise specified or understood based on their context of use, such descriptors are not intended to impute any meaning of priority, physical order or arrangement in a list, or ordering in time but are merely used as labels for referring to multiple elements or components separately for ease of understanding the disclosed examples. In some examples, the descriptor “first” may be used to refer to an element in the detailed description, while the same element may be referred to in a claim with a different descriptor such as “second” or “third.” In such instances, it should be understood that such descriptors are used merely for ease of referencing multiple elements or components

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012]A finisher of a printer supports media that is delivered to the finisher after being printed with content. In some instances, a stack of media is formed inside the finisher as a result of the accumulation of printed sheets. The stack is supported by the finisher until the accumulation of the sheets is complete and the stack is ready to be transported to, for instance, a stapler, for finishing operations.

[0013] FIG. 1A illustrates an example printer finisher 100 for accumulating media. The finisher 100 includes an example mezzanine 102 including an example floor 104 to support an example stack 106 of printed media. An example first side 107 of the mezzanine 102 of the finisher 100 includes an example first sidewall 108 extending from the floor 104 and an example second sidewall 110 extending from the floor 104. An example second side 111 of the mezzanine 102 may be a mirror image of the first side 107 and include the sidewalls 108, 110. In other examples, the second side 111 of the mezzanine 102 does not include the sidewalls 108, 110.

[0014] The finisher 100 includes an example sheet deliverer 112 that receives the sheet after printing and carries the sheet from the printer to the mezzanine 102. The sheet deliverer 112 of the finisher 100 includes an example first sheet channel 114 and an example second sheet channel 116 opposite the first sheet channel 114. Each of the sheet channels 114, 116 carries a portion (e.g., respective longitudinal edges) of the sheet. The sheet deliverer 112 can move along x, y, and/or z axes to carry the sheet to the mezzanine 102 and release the sheet onto the media stack 106 previously accumulated on the mezzanine 102 (e.g., via movement of the sheet channels 114, 116 away from one another).

[0015] FIG. 1 B is a front view of the finisher 100 and, in particular, shows the first side 107 of the mezzanine 102. When accumulation of the media stack 106 is completed, at least a portion of the floor 104 of the mezzanine 102 moves to cause the sidewalls 108, 110 to move toward an example edge 109 (FIG. 1A) of the media stack 106 to prepare the media stack 106 for transportation to, for example, a stapler. In some such examples, the sheet deliverer 112 (e.g., the first sheet channel 114 of the sheet deliverer 112) remains positioned over the media stack 106 such that the sheet deliverer 112 serves as a ceiling over the media stack 106 during translation of the media stack 106.

[0016]As shown in FIG. 1B, example gaps 118 are formed between an example lower surface 120 of the first sheet channel 114 of the sheet deliverer 112 and the respective sidewalls 108, 110 of the first side 107 of mezzanine 102. The gaps 118 prevent interference between the mezzanine 102 and the sheet deliverer 112 as the sheet deliverer 112 moves between, for instance, raised and lower positions relative to the floor 104 of the mezzanine 102 to deliver a sheet onto the mezzanine 102. Flowever, if sheet(s) of the media stack 106 have sufficient curl, the sheet(s) can curl over the sidewall(s) 108, 110 of the mezzanine 102 and enter the gap(s) 118. In such cases, during translation of the media stack 106 to the stapler, the sidewalls 108, 110 do not properly engage with the edge 109 of the media stack 106. As a result, the media stack 106 is not accurately translated to the stapler, which can affect the quality of the finishing operations.

[0017] Disclosed herein are example printer finishers including moveable appendages (e.g., hooks, mechanical spring members) to prevent or limit curl of media and to maintain control (e.g., alignment) of an edge of the media stack that is pushed by the finisher to other areas of the printer for finishing operations. Examples disclosed herein include appendages disposed between sidewalls of a mezzanine of the finisher (e.g., an area that supports accumulated media) and a sheet deliverer, where the appendages at least partially eliminate gap(s) formed between the sidewalls of the mezzanine and the sheet deliverer when the sheet deliverer is disposed over the mezzanine. As a result, the appendages effectively prevent the sheets from entering the gap and disturbing the quality of the accumulated media stack.

[0018] In some examples disclosed herein, the appendages are spring- loaded. As the sheet deliver moves toward a floor of the mezzanine when delivering the sheet to rest on the floor or on previously accumulated sheets, at least a portion of the sheet deliverer engages with respective portions of the appendages to cause the appendages to depress. The spring-loaded appendages dynamically adapt to fill the tolerance gaps between the mezzanine and the sheet deliverer for different sized media stacks and to control curl of the different sized stacks. In some examples disclosed herein, the appendages couple with a portion of the sheet deliverer to restrain the media stack at multiple sides of the finisher. The increased restraint of the media stack maintains alignment of the media stack during translation of the media stack to other portions of the printer for finishing operations (e.g., stapling, punching). Thus, example finishers disclosed herein control curl of edge(s) of accumulated sheet(s) to maintain quality of the media stack and, thus, quality of the print job.

[0019] FIG. 2 is front perspective view of an example finisher 200 in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. A back of the example finisher 200 opposite the front of the finisher 200 mirrors the front view shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] The example finisher 200 includes an example mezzanine 202 an example floor 204 to receive sheet(s) of media after the sheet(s) are printed with content and before the sheet(s) undergo finishing operation(s) such as, for example, stapling or additional printing. In some examples, the mezzanine 202 is located at a mezzanine or intermediate level of the finisher. [0021] An example first side 206 the mezzanine 202 of FIG. 2 includes an example first sidewall 208 coupled to and extending away from the floor 204 and an example second sidewall 210 coupled to and extending away from the floor 204. The sidewalls 208, 210 can have different shapes and/or sizes than illustrated in the example of FIG. 2. Also, the mezzanine 202 can include fewer or additional sidewalls (e.g., a third sidewall disposed between the first sidewall 208 and the second sidewall 210). An example second side of the mezzanine 202 opposite the first side 206 may mirror or substantially mirror the first side 206 and include, for instance, the sidewalls 208, 210. In other examples the second side of the mezzanine 202 does not include the sidewalls 208, 210.

[0022] The example finisher 200 includes an example sheet deliverer 212 to deliver sheet(s) to the mezzanine 202 after the sheet(s) are printed with content. The example sheet deliverer 212 includes two example sheet channels to carry at least a portion of the sheet to the mezzanine 202. An example first one of the sheet channels 214 of the sheet deliverer 212 is shown in FIG. 2 with the understanding that a second channel mirrors or substantially mirrors the first channel 214. The sheet deliverer 212 can move in the x, y, or z directions to carry the sheet into the finisher 200 and deposit the sheet at the mezzanine floor 204.

[0023] During the printing process, the sheet deliverer 212 (e.g., the first sheet channel 214) moves between a lowered position relative to the mezzanine 202, or toward the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202 to deliver a sheet to the finisher 200, and a raised position relative to the mezzanine 202, or away from the floor 204 to, for instance, retrieve another sheet. In some examples, the sheet deliverer 212 remains in the lowered position when the media stack is translated to, for example, a stapler. In such examples, an example surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 that faces the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202 serves as a ceiling over the media stack to help control curl of the sheet(s).

[0024] The example finisher 200 includes an example first appendage 218 (e.g., a hook, a mechanical spring member) supported by the first sidewall 208 of the mezzanine 202 and an example second appendage 220 supported by the second sidewall 210 of the mezzanine 202. In the example of FIG. 2, the first appendage 218 and the second appendage 220 are substantially identical. However, the first appendage 218 and/or the second appendage 220 can have different geometries than shown in FIG. 2. In some examples, the first appendage 218 has a geometry different that the second appendage 220. Also, the example finisher 200 of FIG. 2 can include additional appendages (e.g., in examples in which the mezzanine 202 includes additional sidewalls). In other examples, the finisher 200 may include one appendage. As shown in FIG. 2, at least a portion of the first appendage 218 and at least a portion of the second appendage 220 are disposed in example gaps 222 defined between the sidewalls 208, 210 and the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 of the sheet deliverer 212. In some examples, a distance between the sidewalls 208, 210 and the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 defining the gap(s) 222 is two millimeters. In other examples, other dimensions may be used. As disclosed herein, the presence of the appendages 218, 220 in the gaps 222 prevent a sheet from entering the gap(s) 222.

[0025] The first and second appendages 218, 220 of the example finisher 200 of FIG. 2 are spring-loaded. In the example of FIG. 2, an example first end 224 of an example body 226 of the first appendage 218 engages with a portion of the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 of the sheet deliverer 212 when the sheet deliverer 212 is in the lowered position. Also, a corresponding example first end 228 of an example body 230 of the second appendage 220 engages with the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 of the sheet deliverer 212 when the sheet deliverer 212 is in the lowered position. In the example of FIG. 2, the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 includes notches, grooves, tracks, and/or supports to facilitate coupling with the respective first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220. In the example of FIG. 2, the surface 216 defines example grooves or tracks 232 to receive the respective first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220. In some examples, the first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220 include protrusions (e.g., tabs) to facilitate coupling with the grooves 232. In other examples, the portions of the first ends 224, 228 that engage with the grooves 232 are substantially smooth surfaces

[0026] In other examples, the surface 216 of the first channel 214 includes ribs coupled to the surface 216 or integrally formed therewith, where the ribs extend from the surface 216 of the first channel 214 toward the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202. In such examples, the appendages 218, 220 can be disposed between two ribs, where the two ribs define an opening to receive a respective appendage 218, 220. In the example of FIG. 2, the spring-loaded appendages 218, 220 may be at least partially depressed when the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 engages the first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220 due to the force exerted when the first channel 214 is in the lowered position.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a partial view of the mezzanine 202 of the example finisher FIG. 2 including the first and second appendages 218, 220. For illustrative purposes, the sheet deliverer 212 is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202 define respective example openings 300 to receive the respective appendage 218, 220. Thus, at least a portion of the respective appendages 218, 220 is surrounded by or housed in the sidewalls 208, 210. In some examples, a cross-section of the sidewalls 208, 210 is substantially C-shaped.

[0029] For illustrative purposes, the first appendage 218 will be discussed in connection with FIG. 3 with the understanding that the second appendage 220 is substantially identical to the first appendage 218. The body 226 of the first appendage 218 can be formed from, for instance, a carbon filled polycarbonate material or a plastic material. The body 226 of the first appendage 218 includes an example second end 304 opposite the first end 224. The second end 304 of the first appendage 218 is coupled to the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202 via at least one fastener (e.g., a mechanical fastener, a chemical fastener).

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the body 226 of the first appendage 218 has a length such that the first appendage 218 extends above the sidewall 208. As a result, the first appendage 218 is allowed to engage with the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 of the sheet deliverer 212 and fill the gap 222 between the sidewall 208 and the sheet deliverer 212 (FIG. 2). As disclosed above, the first appendage 218 is spring-loaded via, for instance, a spring disposed in an interior of the body 226 of the first appendage 218. In FIG. 3, a line 305 represents movement of the spring-loaded appendage 218 relative to the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the first end 224 of the first appendage 218 protrudes from the body 226 of the first appendage 218 such that the first end 224 extends away from the sidewall 208 and forms an overhang relative to the floor 204 of the mezzanine. In use, the overhang provided by the first end 224 extends over at least a portion of the media stack supported by the mezzanine 202 to help secure the top sheet of the media stack and prevent the sheet(s) from moving over the sidewall 208. In the example of FIG. 3, an example edge 306 of the first end 224 of the first appendage 218 that is distal from the body 226 of the first appendage 218 is substantially straight. In some other examples, the first end 224 of the first appendage 218 forming the overhang includes a chamfered or angled edge (e.g., to form a hook) to further capture sheets that may curl toward the first end 224.

[0032] The example first appendage 218 of FIG. 3 includes an example rib 308 formed on an example surface 310 of the body 226 facing away from the first sidewall 208. As shown in FIG. 3, the rib 308 extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the surface 310. When the first sidewall 208 engages with an edge of the media stack during translation of the media stack, edge(s) of sheet(s) of the media stack 106 may engage (e.g., contact) the surface 310 of the first appendage 218. The rib 308 serves as a spacer to prevent the sheet(s) from getting caught between the first end 224 of the appendage 218 and the top of the sidewall 208. Thus, the rib 308 serves as backstop to prevent misalignment of the sheet(s) relative to a remainder of the media stack, creasing of the sheets, jamming of the sheet(s) between the first end 224 of the first appendage 218 and the first sidewall 208, etc. The example rib 308 can have a different geometry and/or size than shown in FIG. 3. For example, the rib 308 can extend along a substantial entirety of the length of the surface 310 of the appendage body 226.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a partial, side perspective view of the example finisher 200 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, an example media stack 400 including a plurality of sheets is supported by the floor 204 of the finisher mezzanine 202. As shown in FIG. 4, the first ends 224, 228 of the first and second appendages 218, 220 extend over an example edge 402 of the media stack 400 to control curl of the sheets of the media stack 400 at the edge 402.

[0034] When accumulation of the sheets in the media stack 400 is complete, the mezzanine 202 translates the media stack 400 to, for instance, a stapler to enable the media stack 400 to undergo finishing operation(s). In preparation for transportation of the media stack 400 to the stapler, at least a portion of the mezzanine floor 202 moves to cause the sidewalls 208, 210 to move toward an edge 402 of the media stack 400 to constrain the media stack and prevent misalignment of the sheets of the media stack. The sidewalls 208, 210 move to toward the edge 402 of the media stack 400 as represented in FIG. 4 by an arrowed line 404. Movement of the mezzanine floor 204 to position the sidewalls 208, 210 proximate to the edge 402 of the media stack 400 can be driven by, for example, a motor in communication with the mezzanine 202 and based on instructions from processor for the controlling the finisher 200.

[0035] In the example of FIG. 4, the sheet deliverer 212 is in a lowered position relative to the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202 such that the first and second appendages 218, 220 are engaged with the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 of the sheet deliverer 212. In particular, the first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220 are disposed in respective grooves 232 defined in the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214. In some examples, the spring-loaded first and second appendages 218, 220 are depressed as a result of the movement of the sheet deliverer 212 toward the mezzanine floor 104. An amount by which the appendages 218, 220 are depressed can be based on, for example, a height the media stack 400 and the distance the sheet deliverer 212 travels toward the mezzanine floor 204 to deliver sheets to the media stack 400.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the appendage(s) 218, 220 remove gaps formed between the sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202 and the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214. As mentioned above, in some examples, a back of the example finisher 200 of FIGS. 2-4 mirrors the front of the finisher 200 shown in FIGS. 2-4 and, thus, can include the appendages 218, 220 supported by sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202 opposite the sidewalls 208, 210 shown in FIGS. 2- 4. Thus, in the example finisher 200, the media stack 400 is secured at least at two sides and, in some examples, at three sides, namely, by the sidewalls 208, 210 and the appendages 218, 220 on the side(s) of the mezzanine 202 and by the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 that acts as a ceiling over the media stack 400 and is coupled with the appendages 218, 220. Therefore, the sheet(s) of the media stack 400 are prevented from creeping into or escaping through tolerance gaps defined between the mezzanine sidewalls and the sheet deliverer 212.

[0037] In some examples, the grooves 232 of the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 define tracks along a width of the first sheet channel 214. In such examples, the first ends 224, 228 of the first appendages 218, 220 slide along the tracks 232 as the sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202 move toward the edge 402 of the media stack 400. Thus, constraint of the media stack 400 is maintained.

[0038] In some examples, the sheet deliverer 212 moves away from the media stack 400 during translation of the media stack (e.g., the sheet deliverer moves from a lowered position to a raised position relative to the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202). In such examples, the appendages 218, 220 are not depressed and do not engage with the surface 216 of the first sheet channel 214 during translation of the media stack 400. Flowever, the overhang portion of the first ends 224, 228 of the appendages 218, 220 continues to serve as means for controlling curl of the edge 402 of the media stack 400. [0039] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example processing system 500 that can be used to operatively control components of a finisher of a printer (e.g., the finisher 200 of FIGS. 2-4) to accumulate media in the finisher. The example processing system 500 includes an example finisher controller 502. The example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 can be implemented by a processor or multiple processors.

[0040] The example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 includes an example sheet deliverer controller 504. The example sheet deliverer controller 504 is communicatively coupled to the sheet deliverer 212 of FIGS. 2 and 4. The example sheet deliverer controller 504 controls operation of example sheet deliverer driver(s) 506 (e.g., motor(s)) that drive movement of the sheet deliverer 212. For example, the sheet deliverer controller 504 controls the position of the first sheet channel 214 and an example second channel 508 of the sheet deliverer 212 opposite the first sheet channel 214 relative to the floor 204 of the mezzanine 202. The second sheet channel 508 can be a mirror image of the first sheet channel 214. The sheet deliverer controller 504 can instruct the sheet channels 214, 508 to move between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the floor 204 to deliver sheet(s) the finisher 200. As discussed above, when the sheet channels 214, 508 move toward the mezzanine floor 204 based on instructions from the sheet deliverer controller 504, the sheet channels 214, 508 engage with (e.g., depress, couple with) the appendages 218, 220 of the sidewalls 208, 210 on the first side 206 of the mezzanine 202 and/or the appendages 218, 220 on the sidewalls 208, 210 of a second side of the mezzanine 202 (e.g., in examples in which the second side of the mezzanine 202 includes the sidewalls 208, 210).

[0041] The sheet deliverer controller 504 can instruct the sheet channels 214, 508 to move toward one another to carry a sheet from the printer to the finisher 200 or away from one another to release the sheet at the mezzanine 202. The sheet deliverer controller 504 controls release of the sheet based on, for example, the position of the sheet channels 214, 508 relative to the mezzanine floor 204. The sheet deliverer controller 504 controls operation of the sheet deliverer 212 based on a sheet deliverer operation protocol. The sheet deliverer operation protocol can be stored in an example database 510. The database 510 may be located at the finisher controller 502 or at a location accessible to the finisher controller 502 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0042] The example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 includes an example mezzanine position controller 512. The mezzanine position controller 512 is communicatively coupled to mezzanine 202 of FIGS. 2-4). The mezzanine position controller 512 controls operation of the mezzanine 202 with respect to transporting a media stack (e.g., the media stack 400 of FIG. 4) to, for instance, a stapler for finishing operation(s). The mezzanine position controller 512 of FIG. 5 controls operation of example mezzanine floor driver(s) 514 (e.g., motor(s)) that drive movement of, for instance, a portion of the floor 204 including the sidewalls 208, 210 as part of translation of the media stack to other areas of the printer. For example, when accumulation of the media stack is complete, the mezzanine position controller 512 controls movement of the portion of the floor 204 including the sidewalls 208, 210 such that the sidewalls 208, 210 move toward an edge of the media stack (e.g., the edge 402 of the media stack 400 of FIG. 4) to help maintain alignment of the media stack during transport. The mezzanine position controller 512 controls the position of the mezzanine floor 204 based on a mezzanine position operation protocol. The mezzanine position operation protocol can be stored in the database 510.

[0043] As disclosed herein, in some examples, the sheet channels 214, 508 remain engaged with the appendages 218, 220 of the sidewalls 208, 210 on the respective sides of the mezzanine 202 when the sidewalls 208, 210 move toward the edge of the media stack in preparation for translation of the stack and based on instructions from the mezzanine position controller 512. In such examples, the sheet deliverer controller 504 instructs the sheet deliverer 212 to remain in the lowered position relative to the mezzanine floor 204 based on the sheet deliverer operation protocol. [0044] While an example manner of implementing the finisher controller 502 is illustrated in FIG. 5, the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in FIG. 4 may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example sheet deliverer controller 504, the example database 510, the example mezzanine position controller 512, and/or, more generally, the example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 may be implemented by hardware, software (e.g., machine readable instructions), firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example sheet deliverer controller 504, the example database 510, the example mezzanine position controller 512, and/or, more generally, the example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 could be implemented by analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuit(s), programmable processor(s), programmable controller(s), graphics processing unit(s) (GPU(s)), digital signal processor(s) (DSP(s)), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely software (e.g., machine readable instructions) and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example sheet deliverer controller 504, the example database 510, and/or the example mezzanine position controller 512 is/are hereby expressly defined to include a non- transitory computer readable storage device or storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. including the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 may include element(s), process(es) and/or device(s) in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 5, and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices. As used herein, the phrase “in communication,” including variations thereof, encompasses direct communication and/or indirect communication through intermediary component(s), and can include direct physical (e.g., wired) communication, wireless communications, constant communication, and/or selective communication at periodic intervals, scheduled intervals, aperiodic intervals, and/or one-time events. [0045] A flowchart representative of example hardware logic, machine readable instructions, hardware implemented state machines, and/or any combination thereof for implementing the finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6. The machine readable instructions may be executable program(s) or portion(s) of an executable program for execution by a computer processor such as the processor 712 shown in the example processor platform 700 discussed below in connection with FIG. 7. The program may be embodied in software (e.g., machine readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor 712, but the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor 712 and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6, many other methods of implementing the example finisher controller 502 may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. Additionally or alternatively, any or all of the blocks may be implemented by hardware circuit(s) (e.g., discrete and/or integrated analog and/or digital circuitry, an FPGA, an ASIC, a comparator, an operational-amplifier (op- amp), a logic circuit, etc.) structured to perform the corresponding operation without executing software or firmware.

[0046] The machine readable instructions described herein may be stored in a compressed format, an encrypted format, a fragmented format, a compiled format, an executable format, and/or a packaged format, etc. Machine readable instructions as described herein may be stored as data (e.g., portions of instructions, code, representations of code, etc.) that may be utilized to create, manufacture, and/or produce machine executable instructions. For example, the machine readable instructions may be fragmented and stored on storage device(s) and/or computing device(s) (e.g., server(s)). The machine readable instructions may include installation, modification, adaptation, updating, combining, supplementing, configuring, decryption, decompression, unpacking, distribution, reassignment, and/or compilation, etc. in order to make the machine readable instructions directly readable, interpretable, and/or executable by a computing device and/or other machine. For example, the machine readable instructions may be stored in multiple parts, which are individually compressed, encrypted, and stored on separate computing devices, wherein the parts when decrypted, decompressed, and combined form a set of executable instructions that implement a program such as that described herein.

[0047] In another example, the machine readable instructions may be stored in a state in which the machine readable instructions may be read by a computer, but with the addition of a library (e.g., a dynamic link library (DLL)), a software development kit (SDK), an application programming interface (API), etc. in order to execute the instructions on a particular computing device or other device. In another example, the machine readable instructions may be configured (e.g., settings stored, data input, network addresses recorded, etc.) before the machine readable instructions and/or the corresponding program(s) can be executed in whole or in part. Thus, the disclosed machine readable instructions and/or corresponding program(s) are intended to encompass such machine readable instructions and/or program(s) regardless of the particular format or state of the machine readable instructions and/or program(s) when stored or otherwise at rest or in transit.

[0048] The machine readable instructions described herein can be represented by any past, present, or future instruction language, scripting language, programming language, etc. For example, the machine readable instructions may be represented using any of the following languages: C, C++, Java, C#, Perl, Python, JavaScript, HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Structured Query Language (SQL), Swift, etc.

[0049]As mentioned above, the example process of FIG. 6 may be implemented using executable instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/or machine readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media.

[0050] “Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation of any kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase "at least" is used as the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term "comprising" and “including” are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1 ) A alone, (2) B alone,

(3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, and (7) A with B and with C.

As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase "at least one of A and B" is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase "at least one of A or B" is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase "at least one of A and B" is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase "at least one of A or B" is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1 ) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0051]As used herein, singular references (e.g., “a”, “an”, “first”, “second”, etc.) do not exclude a plurality. The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, may refer to one of that entity or multiple ones of that entity. The terms “a” (or “an”), and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method actions may be implemented by, e.g., a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different examples or claims, these may possibly be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions that may be executed by the finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 to deliver a sheet to a media stack (e.g., the media stack 400 of FIG. 4) in a finisher (e.g., the finisher 200 of FIGS. 2-5) of a printer. The example instructions of FIG. 6 being when a sheet is received by the sheet deliverer 212 of the finisher 200 for delivery to the finisher 200 (block 600).

[0053] In the example of FIG. 6, the sheet deliverer controller 504 of the example finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5 instructs the sheet deliverer 212 (e.g., including the first and second sheet channels 214, 508) to move to a lowered position relative to the floor 204 of the example mezzanine 202 of the finisher 200 (block 602). The movement of the sheet deliverer 212 toward the mezzanine floor 204 causes the surface 216 of the respective sheet channels 214, 508 to engage the appendages 218, 220 supported by the sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202. In some examples, the sheet channels 214, 508 of the sheet deliverer 212 depress the appendages 218, 220 (e.g., based on a size of the media stack 400).

In some examples, the surface 216 of the respective sheet channels 214, 508 includes notches or grooves to couple with at least a portion of the appendages 218, 220, thereby substantially eliminating gaps 222 between the sheet channels 214, 508 and the mezzanine sidewalls 208, 210. In the example of FIG. 6, the sheet deliverer controller 504 instructs the sheet deliverer 212 to deposit the sheet onto previously accumulated media stack 400 or onto the mezzanine floor 204 (e.g., by instructing the channels 214, 508 to move apart from another to release the sheet) (block 604).

[0054] The example instructions of FIG. 6 disclosed in connection with blocks 600 to 604 continue until accumulation of the media stack 400 is complete (block 606). In the example of FIG. 6, after accumulation of the media stack 400 is complete, the mezzanine position controller 512 of the example finisher controller 502 instructs at least a portion of the mezzanine floor 204 to move such that the sidewalls 208, 210 of the mezzanine 202 move toward the edge 402 of the media stack 400 (block 608). The appendages 218, 220 help control curl of the media stack 400 via, for example, the overhang provided by the first end 224, 228 of the respective appendages 218, 220. In some examples, the sheet deliverer controller 504 instructs the sheet deliverer 212 to remain in the lowered position during movement of the floor 204 such that the appendages 218, 220 move (e.g., slide) relative to the surface 216 of the sheet channels 214, 508. In such examples, the sheet channels 214, 508 form a ceiling over the media stack 400 to constrain the media stack with the appendages 218, 220. In the example of FIG. 6, the media stack 400 is transported to, for instance, a stapler for finishing operation(s) via, for example, movement of the mezzanine floor 204 (block 610).

[0055] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 700 structured to execute the instructions of FIG. 6 to implement the finisher controller 502 of FIG. 5. The processor platform 700 can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, a workstation, a self-learning machine (e.g., a neural network), a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet such as an iPadTM), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internet appliance, or any other type of computing device. [0056] The processor platform 700 of the illustrated example includes a processor 712. The processor 712 of the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the processor 712 can be implemented by integrated circuit(s), logic circuit(s), microprocessor(s), GPU(s), DSP(s), or controller(s) from any desired family or manufacturer. The hardware processor may be a semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) device. In this example, the processor implements the example sheet deliverer controller 504 and the example mezzanine position controller 512.

[0057] The processor 712 of the illustrated example includes a local memory 713 (e.g., a cache). The processor 712 of the illustrated example is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 714 and a non volatile memory 716 via a bus 718. The volatile memory 714 may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM®) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non volatile memory 716 may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 714, 716 is controlled by a memory controller.

[0058] The processor platform 700 of the illustrated example also includes an interface circuit 720. The interface circuit 720 may be implemented by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a Bluetooth® interface, a near field communication (NFC) interface, and/or a PCI express interface.

[0059] In the illustrated example, input device(s) 722 are connected to the interface circuit 720. The input device(s) 722 permit(s) a user to enter data and/or commands into the processor 712. The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system. [0060] Output device(s) 724 are also connected to the interface circuit 720 of the illustrated example. The output devices 724 can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube display (CRT), an in- place switching (IPS) display, a touchscreen, etc.), a tactile output device, a printer and/or speaker. The interface circuit 720 of the illustrated example, thus, typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip and/or a graphics driver processor.

[0061]The interface circuit 720 of the illustrated example also includes a communication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, a modem, a residential gateway, a wireless access point, and/or a network interface to facilitate exchange of data with external machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network 726. The communication can be via, for example, an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, a telephone line connection, a coaxial cable system, a satellite system, a line-of-site wireless system, a cellular telephone system, etc.

[0062] The processor platform 700 of the illustrated example also includes mass storage device(s) 728 for storing software and/or data. Examples of such mass storage devices 728 include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) systems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.

[0063] The machine executable instructions 732 of FIG. 6 may be stored in the mass storage device 728, in the volatile memory 714, in the non-volatile memory 716, and/or on a removable non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

[0064] Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed that control curl of edges of sheets of a media stack and facilitate alignment of the media stack during accumulation of the sheets. Examples disclosed herein include spring-loaded appendages (e.g., hooks) supported by sidewalls of a mezzanine that supports the media stack during accumulation. In examples disclosed herein, the spring-loaded appendages dynamically intercouple with grooves in a sheet deliverer of the finisher when the sheet deliverer moves downward relative to the mezzanine to deliver the sheets. By engaging with the sheet deliverer, example appendages disclosed herein substantially eliminate gaps that exists between the sidewalls and the sheet deliverer. Eliminating the gaps via the example appendages disclosed herein prevents opportunities for the media to curl over the sidewall(s) through the gaps, thereby improving alignment and accuracy with which the media is transported to other portions of the finisher (e.g., for stapling).

[0065] An example printer disclosed herein includes a first surface to support a sheet; a second surface spaced apart from the first surface and movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the first surface; and a media accumulation appendage disposed between the first surface and the second surface. At least a portion of the second surface is to engage the appendage when the second surface is moved toward the lowered position. At least a portion of the media accumulation appendage to is engage an edge of the sheet.

[0066] In some examples, the second surface is to depress the media accumulation appendage when the second surface and the appendage are engaged.

[0067] In some examples, the second surface defines a groove therein. The media accumulation appendage is to engage the groove.

[0068] In some examples, the media accumulation appendage is coupled to the first surface.

[0069] In some such examples, at least a portion of the first surface is to move to cause the at least the portion of the media accumulation appendage to engage the edge of the sheet.

[0070] In some examples, the second surface is defined by a channel. The channel is to deliver the sheet to the first surface.

[0071] In some examples, the printer further includes a sidewall coupled to the first surface. [0072] The media accumulation appendage is at least partially disposed in a gap defined between the sidewall and the second surface.

[0073] An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a mezzanine defining a floor to support a sheet, a sheet deliverer to deliver the sheet to mezzanine, and an appendage disposed between the floor and the sheet deliverer. The sheet deliverer is to couple with the appendage during delivery of the sheet to the mezzanine.

[0074] In some examples, the appendage is spring-loaded.

[0075] In some examples, the apparatus further includes a sidewall coupled to the floor, wherein the appendage is at least partially disposed in the sidewall.

[0076] In some examples, a surface of the sheet deliverer defines a track therein and at least a portion of the floor is movable. The appendage is to slide along the track during movement of the floor.

[0077] In some examples, an end of the appendage defines an overhang relative to the floor.

[0078] An example apparatus for finishing a plurality of sheets in a printer includes a mezzanine including a floor to support a sheet and a sidewall extending from the floor. The example apparatus includes a channel to move relative to the floor of the mezzanine to position the sheet on one of the floor or a media stack supported by the floor and an appendage extending from the floor. The appendage is at least partially disposed in a gap defined between a surface of the channel and the sidewall.

[0079] In some examples, the appendage includes a rib extending longitudinally along a surface of the appendage. The surface is to face the media stack in the mezzanine.

[0080] In some examples, at least one of the sidewall or the appendage is to contact an edge of the media stack.

[0081]Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.

[0082] The following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate example of the present disclosure.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A printer comprising: a first surface to support a sheet; a second surface spaced apart from the first surface and movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the first surface; and a media accumulation appendage disposed between the first surface and the second surface, at least a portion of the second surface to engage the appendage when the second surface is moved toward the lowered position, at least a portion of the media accumulation appendage to engage an edge of the sheet.

2. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is to depress the media accumulation appendage when the second surface and the appendage are engaged.

3. The printer of claim 1 , where the second surface defines a groove therein, the media accumulation appendage to engage the groove.

4. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the media accumulation appendage is coupled to the first surface.

5. The printer of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the first surface is to move to cause the at least the portion of the media accumulation appendage to engage the edge of the sheet.

6. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is defined by a channel, the channel to deliver the sheet to the first surface.

7. The printer of claim 1 , further including a sidewall coupled to the first surface, the media accumulation appendage at least partially disposed in a gap defined between the sidewall and the second surface.

8. An apparatus comprising: a mezzanine defining a floor to support a sheet; a sheet deliverer to deliver the sheet to mezzanine; and an appendage disposed between the floor and the sheet deliverer, the sheet deliverer to couple with the appendage during delivery of the sheet to the mezzanine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the appendage is spring-loaded.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a sidewall coupled to the floor, wherein the appendage is at least partially disposed in the sidewall.

11.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a surface of the sheet deliverer defines a track therein and at least a portion of the floor is movable, the appendage to slide along the track during movement of the floor.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an end of the appendage defines an overhang relative to the floor.

13. An apparatus for finishing a plurality of sheets in a printer, the apparatus comprising: a mezzanine including: a floor to support a sheet; and a sidewall extending from the floor; a channel to move relative to the floor of the mezzanine to position the sheet on one of the floor or a media stack supported by the floor; and an appendage extending from the floor, the appendage at least partially disposed in a gap defined between a surface of the channel and the sidewall.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the appendage includes a rib extending longitudinally along a surface of the appendage, the surface to face the media stack in the mezzanine.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sidewall or the appendage is to contact an edge of the media stack.