US 12,338,093 B2
Sheet stacker for thin or weak print media
Peter J. W. Van Dongen, Venlo (NL); Hermanus M. Kuypers, Venlo (NL); and Frank J. W. Zeelen, Venlo (NL)
Assigned to CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V., Venlo (NL)
Filed by Canon Production Printing Holding B.V., Venlo (NL)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/097,681.
Claims priority of application No. 22154460 (EP), filed on Feb. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0242366 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 29/40 (2006.01); B65H 29/22 (2006.01); B65H 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 29/247 (2013.01) [B65H 29/22 (2013.01); B65H 29/40 (2013.01); B65H 2301/33224 (2013.01); B65H 2301/4212 (2013.01); B65H 2301/4461 (2013.01); B65H 2404/65 (2013.01); B65H 2801/06 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of stacking sheets, comprising the steps of:
flipping a sheet while holding a leading edge of the sheet and bringing said leading edge down towards a stack support;
bringing a trailing portion of the sheet into contact with a guide member positioned over the stack support;
blowing gas into an inner volume of the sheet to form an overpressure in the inner volume of the sheet during flipping, while the trailing portion is in contact with the guide member, wherein the gas is blown in an inclined direction, aimed upwards and in a direction a trailing edge of the sheet moves along the guide member;
maintaining said overpressure and contact while the trailing edge of the sheet travels along a contact surface of the guide member, wherein the contact surface is stationary while in contact with the trailing edge, and
wherein the trailing portion contacts the guide member, such that gas is prevented from escaping from the inner volume along the trailing edge, at least until the trailing edge passes a release point on the guide member, the release point being determined by a length of sheet.