Detailed Duplex Unit Conveyance Process in Mid-to-Low End Machines

One sheet operation (longer length paper):

1. The 1st sheet is fed and the 2nd page (back side of 1st sheet) is printed first so that it will
eventually stack correctly in the exit tray (with this type of Exit/Reverse Unit).
2. Concurrently, the 1st sheet is conveyed to the Exit/Reverse Unit, then to the Duplex Unit and
back to the drum where now the 1st page is printed on the front side of the 1st sheet.
3. With the 1st sheet exiting, the 2nd sheet is now fed and page 4 will be printed first. The 2nd
sheet will repeat the steps of the 1st sheet, and eventually page 3 will be printed and then the 2nd
sheet will be exited.
4. The 3rd sheet is now fed, and so on.
Two sheet operation (medium length paper):
1. The 1st sheet is fed and the 2nd page (back side of 1st sheet) is printed first.
2. The 1st sheet is conveyed to the Exit/Reverse Unit, then toward the Duplex Unit. At this time the
2nd sheet is fed.
3. The image of the 4th page is printed on the back side of the 2nd sheet. At this time the 1st sheet
is conveyed into the Duplex Unit.
4. The 1st sheet is fed to the drum again and the 1st page is printed on the front side of the sheet. At
this time, the 3rd sheet is fed and the 2nd sheet is reversed toward the Duplex Unit.
5. While the 1st sheet is being exited, the 6th page (back side) of the 3rd sheet is being printed. At
this time, the 2nd sheet is waiting just before the last Duplex Unit conveyance roller.
6. The 3rd sheet is conveyed to the Duplex Unit while the 2nd sheet, that had been waiting, is fed
back to the drum.
7. The image of the 3rd page (front side) is printed on the 2nd sheet. At this time, the 3rd sheet is
conveyed into the Duplex Unit while the 4th sheet is being fed.
8. While the 2nd sheet is being exited, the 8th page (back side) of the 4th sheet is being printed. At
this time, the 3rd sheet is waiting just before the last Duplex Unit conveyance roller.
9. The 4th sheet is reversed toward the Duplex Unit while the 3rd sheet, that had been waiting, is
fed back to the drum.
10. Letting the 4th sheet be the last sheet of our example (otherwise this procedure would keep
repeating), the 5th page (front side) of the 3rd sheet is printed and is exited while the 4th sheet is
conveyed through the Duplex Unit and back to the drum where the 7th page (front side) of the
4th sheet is printed, and then exited.

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Three sheet operation (shorter length paper):

1. The 1st sheet is fed and the 2nd page (back side) is printed on the 1st sheet.
2. The 1st sheet is conveyed to the Exit/Reverse Unit, then toward the Duplex Unit. At this time the
2nd sheet is fed and the 4th page is printed on the back side of the 2nd sheet.
3. At this time the 1st sheet is standing by just prior to the last Duplex Unit conveyance roller while
the 2nd sheet is reversed toward the Duplex Unit and the 3rd sheet is feed to the drum where the
6th page (back side) is being printed.
4. The 3rd sheet is conveyed to the Exit/Reverse Unit and the 2nd sheet is conveyed into the
Duplex Unit while the 1st sheet is still standing by just prior to last Duplex Unit conveyance
roller.
5. The 1st sheet that had been waiting, is now fed back to the drum where the 1st page (front side)
is printed. At this time, the 3rd sheet is reversed toward the Duplex Unit and the 2nd sheet is
standing by just prior to the last Duplex Unit conveyance roller while the 4th sheet is being fed.
6. While the 1st sheet is being exited, the 8th page (back side) is being printed on the 4th sheet.
Concurrently, with the 2nd sheet still standing by just prior to the last Duplex Unit conveyance
roller, the 3rd sheet stops at a prescribed distance behind the 2nd sheet.
7. The 4th sheet is conveyed to the Exit/Reverse Unit while the 2nd and 3rd sheets resume being
conveyed in the Duplex Unit.
8. The 2nd sheet is fed back to the drum where the 3rd page (front side) is printed. Concurrently,
the 4th sheet is reversed toward the Duplex Unit while the 3rd sheet is standing by just prior to
the last Duplex Unit conveyance roller, allowing the 5th sheet to be fed.
9. While the 2nd sheet is being exited, the 10th page (back side) is being printed on the 5th sheet.
Concurrently, with the 3rd sheet still standing by just prior to the last Duplex Unit conveyance
roller, the 4th sheet stops at a prescribed distance behind the 3rd sheet.
10. Subsequently, steps (7) to (9) are repeated.

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