Method and apparatus for decurling sheets in a copying device

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flexible means includes: a pair of spaced rollers; and a belt entrained about said pair of rollers, said rod adapted to be interposed between said pair of rollers in contact with and deflecting said belt to define the nip through which the sheet material advances.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said moving means pivots said guiding means to vary the orientation of said guiding means for adjusting the angle of sheet material relative to said belt in unison with translating said rod to adjust deflection of said belt in the nip.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said guiding means includes: a frame; first baffle means, mounted pivotably on said frame and located adjacent one of said pair of rollers, for guiding the sheet material entering the nip; and second baffle means, mounted pivotably on said frame and located adjacent the other one of said pair of rollers, for guiding the sheet material exiting the nip.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said first baffle means includes a first pair of closely spaced parallel plates between which the sheet material advances with one of said first pair of parallel plates being mounted pivotably on said frame and the other of said first pair of parallel plates being mounted stationarily on said frame; and said second baffle means includes a second pair of closely spaced, parallel plates between which the sheet material advances with one of said second pair of parallel plates being mounted pivotably on said frame and the other of said second pair of parallel plates being mounted stationarily on said frame.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said flexible means includes means for rotating one of said pair of rollers to move the belt and thereby advance the sheet material therewith.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said pair of rollers have substantially equal radii of curvature.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rod has a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of each of said pair of rollers.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of moving includes the steps of: translating the rod; and pivoting the guide baffle in unison with said step of translating the rod.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 10, further including the step of rotating one of the pair of rollers to move the belt and advance the sheet therewith.

Claim 14

A printing machine adapted to produce copies on a sheet material advancing through a plurality of processing stations in the machine including a fusing apparatus, the machine having a sheet decurling apparatus for substantially removing curl in the sheet material exiting the fusing apparatus, said sheet decurling apparatus including: flexible means for advancing the sheet material; a rod positioned in contact with said flexible means to define a nip through which the sheet material advances and bends about a portion of said rod; means, positioned adjacent said flexible means, for guiding the sheet material; and means for moving said rod to adjust deflection of said flexible means in the nip to change the bending of the sheet material about said rod, said moving means moving said guiding means and said rod in unison with one another.

Claim 15

A printing machine adapted to produce copies on a sheet material advancing through a plurality of processing stations in the machine including a fusing apparatus, the machine having a sheet decurling apparatus for substantially removing curl in the sheet material exiting the fusing apparatus, said sheet decurling apparatus including: flexible means for advancing the sheet material; a rod positioned in contact with said flexible means to define a nip through which the sheet material advances and bends about a portion of said rod; means, positioned adjacent said flexible means, for guiding the sheet material; and means for moving said rod to adjust deflection of said flexible means in the nip to change the bending of the sheet material about said rod, said moving means moving said guiding means and said rod in unison with one another.

Claim 16

A printing machine according to claim 12, wherein said flexible means includes: a pair of spaced rollers; and a belt entrained about said pair of rollers, said rod adapted to be interposed between said pair of rollers in contact with and deflecting said belt to define the nip through which the sheet material advances.

Claim 17

A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said moving means pivots said guiding means to vary the orientation of said guiding means for adjusting the angle of the sheet material relative to said belt in unison with translating said rod to adjust deflection of said belt in the nip.

Claim 18

A printing machine according to claim 14, wherein said guiding means includes: a frame; first baffle means, mounted pivotably on said frame and located adjacent one of said pair of rollers, for guiding the sheet material entering the nip; and second baffle means, mounted pivotably on said frame and located adjacent the other one of said pair rollers for guiding the sheet material exiting the nip.

Claim 19

A printing machine according to claim 15, wherein: said first baffle means includes a first pair of closely spaced parallel plates between which the sheet material advances with one of said first pair of parallel plates being mounted pivotably on said frame and the other of said first pair of parallel plates being mounted stationarily on said frame; and said second baffle means includes a second pair of closely spaced, parallel plates between which the sheet material advances with one of said second pair of parallel plates being mounted pivotably on said frame and the other of said second pair of parallel plates being mounted stationarily on said frame.

Claim 20

A printing machine according to claim 16, wherein said flexible means includes means for rotating one of said pair of rollers to move the belt and thereby advance the sheet material therewith.

Claim 21

A printing machine according to claim 17, wherein said pair of rollers have substantially equal radii of curvature.

Claim 22

A printing machine according to claim 18, wherein said rod has a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of each of said pair of rollers.