Systems and methods for implementing an auger-based transport mechanism for vertical transport of image receiving media in image forming systems

摘要

A system and method are provided for implementing an auger-based transport device as a vertical compiler in an image forming system. The auger-based transport device includes a plurality of mechanical augers for vertical transport of image receiving media substrates, or sets of substrates in a controlled manner. The disclosed auger-type drive systems leverage comparatively simpler mechanical operations to provide a plurality of auger devices that simplify the motions and mechanisms of the component elements in a vertical transport path in a manner that maintains positive control of each set of image receiving media substrates in a manner that does not disturb the sets as they are lowered vertically, eliminating errors introduced by random dropping of substrates in conventional vertical image receiving media substrate handling mechanisms. The auger components are not particularly limited in number, in pitch (constant or variable), in diameter and/or in use/function.