Media feeding management

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for managing media throughput in a printing device that may incorporate a sensing device. The gaps between feeding successive sheets of media may be controlled. The printing device may operate using different feeding modes having different gaps between the sheets of media.

1 . A method to control a gap between feeding of sheets of media in a printing device including a sensor, wherein said printing device is capable of feeding according to either a first mode or a second mode, 
 the first mode comprising selecting a first gap based upon a measured page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media;    the second mode comprising feeding successive sheets of media with a second gap that is different from said first gap.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first mode further comprises: 
 providing said sensor to detect a leading and trailing edge of media passing said sensor;    identifying a page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media based on said leading and trailing edge of media passing said sensor;    measuring a page length time (PL m ) for one or more page lengths to pass said sensor; and    selecting said gap during feeding subsequent sheets of media based upon said measured page length time (PL m ).    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein second mode further comprises: 
 identifying a trailing edge of a sheet of media passing said sensor; and    feeding a subsequent sheet of media when said trailing edge is identified.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said gap comprises a gap time interval which comprises the time between detection of a trailing edge of sheet of media and a leading edge of a subsequent sheet of media.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said device is capable of changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon information received from said sensor.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said device is capable of changing from said first mode to said second mode when said sensor fails to detect a trailing edge of media after a selected period of time.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said selected period of time exceeds the PL m  of a prior sheet of media.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said device is capable of changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon user input.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said printing device includes a processor and said processor is capable of changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said processor initiates said second feeding mode when said user identifies a type of media to said processor.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said processor initiates said second feeding mode when said user identifies a particular feed source.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said sensor fails to detect a gap between successive sheets of media n and n+1 and said device is capable of printing information scheduled for sheet n+1 on sheet n+2.  
   
   
       13 . A media feeding apparatus comprising: 
 a sensor and a processor in communication with said sensor wherein said processor is configured to feed according to either a first mode or a second mode,    wherein said processor is configured in said first mode to select a first gap based upon a measured page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media;    wherein said processor is configured in said second mode to select a second gap that is different than said first gap.    
   
   
       14 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a leading and trailing edge of media passing said sensor; and 
 said processor in said first feeding mode is further configured to identify a measured page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media and select said gap during feeding between subsequent sheets of media based upon said measured page length time (PL m ).    
   
   
       15 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processor in said second mode is further configured to: 
 identify a trailing edge of a sheet of media passing said sensor; and    feed a subsequent sheet of media when said trailing edge is identified.    
   
   
       16 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processor is configured to change from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon information received from said sensor.  
   
   
       17 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processor is configured to change from said first mode to said second mode when said sensor fails to detect a trailing edge of media after a selected period of time.  
   
   
       18 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said selected period of time exceeds the PL m  of a prior sheet of media.  
   
   
       19 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processor is configured to change from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon user input.  
   
   
       20 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said processor is configured to change from feeding in said first mode to said second mode when said user identifies a type of media to said processor.  
   
   
       21 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said processor is configured to change from feeding in said first mode to said second mode when said user identifies a particular feed source.  
   
   
       22 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said sensor fails to detect a gap between successive sheets of media n and n+1 and said device is configured to print information scheduled for sheet n+1 on sheet n+2.  
   
   
       23 . An article comprising: 
 a storage medium having stored thereon instructions when executed by a machine result in the following operations:    feeding according to one of: 
 a first feeding mode comprising selecting a first gap based upon a measured page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media;  
 a second feeding mode comprising feeding successive sheets of media with a second gap that is different from said first gap.  
   
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following additional operations when feeding in said first mode: 
 identifying a page length time (PL m ) for a sheet of media based on said leading and trailing edge of media passing a sensor;    measuring a page length time (PL m ) for one or more page lengths to pass said sensor; and    selecting said gap during feeding subsequent sheets of media based upon said measured page length time (PL m ).    
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations when feeding in said second feeding mode: 
 identifying a trailing edge of a sheet of media passing a sensor; and    feeding a subsequent sheet of media when said trailing edge is identified.    
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon information received from said sensor.    
   
   
       27 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 changing from said first mode to said second mode when said sensor fails to detect a trailing edge of media after a selected period of time.    
   
   
       28 . The article of  claim 27  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following: 
 said selected period of time exceeds the PL m  of a prior sheet of media.    
   
   
       29 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions that when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode based upon user input.    
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode wherein said second feeding mode is initiated by a user identifying a type of media.    
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 changing from feeding in said first mode to said second mode wherein said second mode is initiated by a user identifying a particular feed source.    
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 23  wherein said instructions when executed by said machine result in the following operations: 
 printing information scheduled for sheet n+1 on sheet n+2 when a gap is not detected between successive sheets of media n and n+1 after a selected period of time.    
   
   
       33 . A media feeding apparatus comprising: 
 a sensor and a processor in communication with said sensor wherein said processor is configured to feed according to a first mode or a second mode,    wherein said processor is configured in said first mode to select a first gap based upon a measured feed time (FTm) for a sheet of media;    wherein said processor is configured in said second mode to select a second gap that is different from said first gap.    
   
   
       34 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a leading and trailing edge of media passing said sensor; and 
 said processor in said first feeding mode is further configured to communicate with said sensor and configured to identify a measured feed time (FT m ) for a sheet of media and select said gap for a subsequent sheet of media based upon said measured feed time (FT m ).    
   
   
       35 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said processor in said second mode is further configured to: 
 identify of a trailing edge of a sheet of media passing said sensor; and    feed a subsequent sheet of media when said trailing edge is identified.    
   
   
       36 . The media feeding apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said sensor fails to detect a gap between successive sheets of media n and n+1 and said device is configured to print information scheduled for sheet n+1 on sheet n+2.