Background

Post-print operations, such as stacking and/or stapling of printed media output, may include aligning of the printed media output. As such, a compiling operation may move the printed media output into a reference feature to align sheets of the printed media output to the reference feature and to each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a media compiling paddle.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an inkjet printing system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, illustrating an example of a media compiling paddle.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are front, side, and cross-sectional views, respectively, illustrating an example of the media compiling paddle of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, illustrating an example of a body of the media compiling paddle of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are front, side, and cross-sectional views, respectively, illustrating an example of the body of the media compiling paddle of FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a paddle shaft assembly.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an example of a printing system including an example of the paddle shaft assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method of forming a media compiling paddle.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the

accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 1 , the present disclosure provides a media compiling paddle 10. In one implementation, media compiling paddle 10 includes an elongated body 12 formed of a first material, and a media contact element 14 provided at an end of the elongated body and formed of a second material different than the first material.

As disclosed herein, a media compiling paddle, such as media compiling paddle 10, may move printed media output into a reference feature to align sheets of the printed media output to the reference feature and to each other.

By forming a media contact element and a body of the media compiling paddle, such as media contact element 14 and elongated body 12, of different material, a translation force applied by the media compiling paddle may be optimized, while minimizing a normal force applied by media compiling paddle, thereby reducing friction between sheets and enabling sheets to be moved relative to each other and into a reference feature. As such, buckling or damage of sheets and/or moving sheets below a top sheet of an output stack may be reduced or avoided. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an inkjet printing system including an example of a fluid ejection device, as disclosed herein. Inkjet printing system 100 includes a printhead assembly 102, as an example of a fluid ejection assembly, a fluid (e.g., ink) supply assembly 104, a mounting assembly 106, a media transport assembly 108, an electronic controller 110, and a power supply 1 12 that provides power to electrical components of inkjet printing system 100. Printhead assembly 102 includes a printhead die 1 14, as an example of a fluid ejection die, that ejects drops of fluid through a plurality of orifices or nozzles 1 16 toward a print media 1 18 so as to print on print media 1 18.

Print media 1 18 can be any type of suitable sheet or roll material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, and the like, and may include rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or other panels. Nozzles 1 16 are typically arranged in columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of fluid from nozzles 1 16 causes characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images to be printed on print media 1 18 as printhead assembly 102 and print media 1 18 are moved relative to each other.

Fluid supply assembly 104 supplies fluid to printhead assembly 102 and, in one example, includes a reservoir 120 for storing fluid such that fluid flows from reservoir 120 to printhead assembly 102. In one example, printhead assembly 102 and fluid supply assembly 104 are housed together in an inkjet cartridge or pen. In another example, fluid supply assembly 104 is separate from printhead assembly 102 and supplies fluid to printhead assembly 102 through an interface connection, such as a supply tube.

Mounting assembly 106 positions printhead assembly 102 relative to media transport assembly 108, and media transport assembly 108 positions print media 1 18 relative to printhead assembly 102. Thus, a print zone 122 is defined adjacent to nozzles 1 16 in an area between printhead assembly 102 and print media 118. In one example, printhead assembly 102 is a scanning type printhead assembly. As such, mounting assembly 106 includes a carriage for moving printhead assembly 102 relative to media transport assembly 108 to scan print media 1 18. In another example, printhead assembly 102 is a non scanning type printhead assembly. As such, mounting assembly 106 fixes printhead assembly 102 at a prescribed position relative to media transport assembly 108. Thus, media transport assembly 108 positions print media 1 18 relative to printhead assembly 102.

In one implementation, media transport assembly 108 includes a media compiling paddle 109 to move printed media output, such as print media 1 18, into a reference feature to align sheets of the printed media output to the reference feature and to each other.

Electronic controller 1 10 typically includes a processor, firmware, software, memory components including volatile and non-volatile memory components, and other printer electronics for communicating with and

controlling printhead assembly 102, mounting assembly 106, and media transport assembly 108. Electronic controller 1 10 receives data 124 from a host system, such as a computer, and temporarily stores data 124 in a memory. Typically, data 124 is sent to inkjet printing system 100 along an electronic, infrared, optical, or other information transfer path. Data 124 represents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such, data 124 forms a print job for inkjet printing system 100 and includes print job commands and/or command parameters.

In one example, electronic controller 1 10 controls printhead assembly 102 for ejection of fluid drops from nozzles 1 16. Thus, electronic controller 1 10 defines a pattern of ejected fluid drops which form characters, symbols, and/or other graphics or images on print media 1 18. The pattern of ejected fluid drops is determined by the print job commands and/or command parameters.

Printhead assembly 102 includes one (i.e., a single) printhead die 114 or more than one (i.e., multiple) printhead die 1 14. In one example, printhead assembly 102 is a wide-array or multi-head printhead assembly. In one implementation of a wide-array assembly, printhead assembly 102 includes a carrier that carries a plurality of printhead dies 1 14, provides electrical communication between printhead dies 1 14 and electronic controller 1 10, and provides fluidic communication between printhead dies 1 14 and fluid supply assembly 104. In one example, inkjet printing system 100 is a drop-on-demand thermal inkjet printing system wherein printhead assembly 102 includes a thermal inkjet (TIJ) printhead that implements a thermal resistor as a drop ejecting element to vaporize fluid in a fluid chamber and create bubbles that force fluid drops out of nozzles 1 16. In another example, inkjet printing system 100 is a drop-on- demand piezoelectric inkjet printing system wherein printhead assembly 102 includes a piezoelectric inkjet (PIJ) printhead that implements a piezoelectric actuator as a drop ejecting element to generate pressure pulses that force fluid drops out of nozzles 1 16.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, illustrating an example of a media compiling paddle 200 in accordance with the present disclosure, and FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are front, side, and cross-sectional views, respectively, illustrating an example of media compiling paddle 200.

In one implementation, media compiling paddle 200 has a first end 201 , about which or at which media compiling paddle 200 is mounted or secured for rotation, as disclosed herein, and has a second end 202 opposite first end 201 , with which media compiling paddle 200 contacts media, as disclosed herein. As such, first end 201 represents a proximal or secured end of media compiling paddle 200, and second end 202 represents a distal or free end of media compiling paddle 200. In addition, media compiling paddle 200 has a first side 203, with which media compiling paddle 200 contacts media, as disclosed herein, and has a second side 204 opposite first side 203. As such, first side 203 represents a media contact side of media compiling paddle 200.

In the illustrated example, media compiling paddle 200 includes a body 210 with a media contact portion or element 240 provided at, along, and/or adjacent an end of body 210 such that media contact portion or element 240 is provided at, along, and/or adjacent second end 202 of media compiling paddle 200. In addition, in the illustrated example, media contact portion or element 240 includes and/or provides a media contact surface 242 at or along first side 203 of media compiling paddle 200. In one implementation, body 210 and media contact element 240 are formed of different materials. More specifically, in one example, body 210 is formed of a material providing structural integrity or rigidity to media compiling paddle 200, and media contact element 240 is formed of a material facilitating contact with and/or movement of media with media compiling paddle 200, whereby the material of body 210 comprises a base material and the material of media contact element 240 comprises a media contact material. As such, material properties of body 210 and media contact element 240 are different.

For example, in one implementation, body 210 and media contact element 240 have a different surface roughness such that a surface roughness of media contact element 240 is greater than a surface roughness of body 210. For example, in one implementation, body 210 and media contact element 240 have a different coefficient of friction such that a coefficient of friction of media contact element 240 is greater than a coefficient of friction of body 210. For example, in one implementation, body 210 and media contact element 240 have a different hardness such that a hardness of media contact element 240 is less than a hardness of body 210. For example, in one implementation, body 210 and media contact element 240 have a different stiffness or modulus of elasticity such that a stiffness or modulus of elasticity of media contact element 240 is less than a stiffness or modulus of elasticity of body 210. In one

implementation, body 210 is formed of a metal and/or plastic material, and media contact element 240 is formed of a rubber and/or elastomeric material.

In one implementation, media contact element 240 is co-molded or overmolded on or with body 210, as disclosed herein. In addition, in one implementation, a geometry of media contact element 240, including, more specifically, a geometry of media contact surface 242 of media contact portion or element 240, is designed to optimize contact with print media.

For example, in the illustrated example, media contact element 240 extends along opposite edges of media compiling paddle 200 adjacent end 202 and along an edge of end 202 of media compiling paddle 200 transverse to the opposite edges such that media contact element 240, including, more

specifically, media contact surface 242 of media contact element 240, is of a generally U-shape (inverted in the illustrated orientation). In other examples, media contact element 240, including, more specifically, media contact surface 242 of media contact element 240, may be of other shapes, forms, patterns, and/or arrangements, including other shapes, forms, patterns, and/or

arrangements at, along, and/or adjacent end 202 of media compiling paddle 200, including, for example, bosses, bumps, nodules, or other surface textures or finishes.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, illustrating an example of body 210 of media compiling paddle 200, and FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are front, side, and cross-sectional views,

respectively, illustrating an example of body 210 of media compiling paddle 200.

In the illustrated example, body 210 has opposite ends 21 1 and 212 such that end 21 1 represents first end 201 of media compiling paddle 200 and end 212 represents second end 202 of media compiling paddle 200. In addition, body 210 has opposite sides 213 and 214 such that side 213 represents first side 203 of media compiling paddle 200 and side 214 represents second side 204 of media compiling paddle 200. In the illustrated example, side 213 includes a planar surface 215 and side 214 includes a planar surface 216. In addition, in the illustrated example, body 210 is an elongated body and has a longitudinal axis 217 extending between and through opposite ends 21 1 and 212.

In one implementation, first end 211 of body 210 includes a mounting feature 218 for mounting or securing of media compiling paddle 200, as disclosed herein. In one implementation, mounting feature 218 includes a cylindrical portion having a height oriented transverse to longitudinal axis 217.

In one implementation, body 210 has a recessed region 220 at and/or adjacent second end 212 such that a recessed surface 221 is formed at and/or adjacent second end 212. As such, body 210 of media compiling paddle 200 has a thickness T defined between surface 215 of first side 213 and surface 216 of second side 214, and has a reduced thickness t defined between recessed surface 221 of recessed region 220 at first side 213 and surface 216 of second side 214. In one implementation, recessed region 220 is of a generally U-shape (inverted in the illustrated orientation) and extends along opposite edges of first side 213 adjacent second end 212 and along an edge of second end 212 transverse to the opposite edges. As such, a portion 222 of body 210 having thickness T, around which recessed region 220 is formed, extends toward second end 212. Accordingly, portion 222 comprises a non-recessed portion within or surrounded by recessed region 220.

In one example, body 210 of media compiling paddle 200 includes an interlock feature 230 to couple or secure media contact element 240 to and/or with body 210. More specifically, interlock feature 230 provides a mechanical feature to couple or secure media contact element 240 to and/or with body 210. In the illustrated example, interlock feature 230 is provided in recessed region 220 of body 210 such that interlock feature 230 couples or secures media contact element 240 to and/or with body 210 within recessed region 220 of body 210.

In one implementation, interlock feature 230 includes a plurality of holes 232 formed in and/or extended through body 210. More specifically, holes 232 are formed in and/or extend through recessed region 220 of body 210. In one implementation, holes 232 are formed in recessed surface 221 of recessed region 220 and extend through body 210 to surface 216 at second side 214. In one implementation, at second side 214, channels 234 extend between and communicate with adjacent holes 232. As such, in one example, material of media contact element 240 extends into and/or through holes 232 and/or channels 234 to couple or secure media contact element 240 to and/or with body 210.

In one implementation, media contact element 240 is co-molded or overmolded with body 210. For example, with media contact element 240 formed of a rubber or elastomer material, media contact element 240 is co molded or overmolded with body 210 such that material of media contact element 240 extends into and through holes 232 and into and within channels 234 (as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3B and 4C) to couple or secure media contact element 240 to and/or with body 210. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a paddle shaft assembly 300. In the illustrated example, paddle shaft assembly 300 includes a shaft 302 to be rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof, a hub 304 supported by or mounted on shaft 302, and a paddle 306 (or plurality of paddles 306) supported by and/or mounted on a respective hub 304. In one implementation, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 7, a plurality of hubs 304 (for example, three) are spaced along shaft 302, and multiple (for example, two) paddles 306 are supported by and/or mounted on a respective hub 304. While three hubs 304 each supporting two paddles 306 are illustrated in the example of FIG. 7, a number of hubs 304 and/or paddles 306 supported by a respective hub 304 may vary.

In one example, multiple paddles 306 extend at different angles from a respective hub 304. For example, in one implementation, two paddles 306 are supported by and/or mounted on a respective hub 304, and extend from a respective hub 304 generally orthogonal to each other. In one implementation, one (or more than one) hub 304 is rotated on shaft 302 relative to another hub 304 such that one (or more than one) hub 304 is out of phase with another hub 304 on shaft 302. As such, paddles 306 of the out-of-phase hub 304 are out of phase with paddles 306 of another hub 304.

In one example, paddle 306 comprises a media compiling paddle, such as media compiling paddle 200, as disclosed herein. As such, first end 201 of media compiling paddle 200 is mounted on, secured to, or coupled with hub 304, and hub 304 is supported by or mounted on shaft 302 such that media compiling paddle 200 is rotatable with rotation of shaft 302.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an example of a printing system 400 including an example of a media compiling paddle assembly, such as paddle shaft assembly 300 (FIG. 7). In the illustrated example, printing system 400 includes, in part, a print engine 402, such as printhead assembly 102 (FIG. 2), to print on a print media 404, such as print media 1 18 (FIG. 2), and a media transport assembly 406, such as media transport assembly 108 (FIG. 2), to position and/or transport print media 404 within printing system 400. In one example, media transport assembly 406 includes a media compiling paddle assembly 408, such as paddle shaft assembly 300 (FIG. 7).

As schematically illustrated in the example of FIG. 8, media compiling paddle assembly 408 includes one (or more than one) media compiling paddle 410, such as media compiling paddle 200 (FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C), mounted for rotation with a shaft 412, such as shaft 302 (FIG. 7). In the illustrated example, media compiling paddle assembly 408 is rotated (for example, clockwise in the illustrated orientation) such that media compiling paddle 410 contacts and moves print media 404 to compile print media 404. More specifically, a media contact element 414 of media compiling paddle 410, such as media contact element 240 of media compiling paddle 200, contacts print media 404 to move and register or align print media 404 against or to a registration surface or reference feature 416, as represented by arrow 418.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method 500 of forming a media compiling paddle, such as media compiling paddle 200 as illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C. At 502, method 500 includes forming an elongated body of a first material, such as body 210. And, at 504, method 500 includes forming a media contact element of a second material, different than the first material, at an end of the elongated body, such as media contact element 240 formed at end 212 of body 210.

In one example, forming the elongated body, at 502, includes forming a recessed region at the end of the elongated body, such as recessed region 220 formed at end 212 of body 210, and forming the media contact element, at 504, includes forming the media contact element in the recessed region, such as media contact element 240 formed in recessed region 220. In one

implementation, forming the media contact element, at 504, includes

overmolding the media contact element on the elongated body, such as overmolding media contact element 240 on body 210.

A media compiling paddle as disclosed herein utilizes different materials, including, more specifically, different material properties of a media contact element and a body of the paddle to optimize a translation force applied by the paddle, while minimizing a normal force applied by the paddle. This helps to reduce friction between sheets and enable a single sheet to be moved relative to other sheets and into a reference feature, without buckling or damaging the sheets and/or without moving sheets adjacent and/or below the sheet being moved. Thus, by forming a media contact element and a body of a media compiling paddle of different material, as disclosed herein, material properties of the media compiling paddle, including, more specifically, material properties of the media contact element, can be optimized to maximize force (namely, a translation force) applied to a sheet of print media intended to be moved, while minimizing force (namely, a normal force) transmitted to sheets adjacent and/or below the sheet intended to be moved.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein.