5/2011
8-4
Phaser 4600/4620 Printer Service Manual
Media Handling
Revision - Xerox Internal Use Only
Principles of Operation
Media Handling
Media is driven along the media path by various drive motors, belts, gear assemblies and roll-
ers. Synchronization of these components is managed by the MCU Board. The operating sys-
tem monitors sensors located along the media path throughout the print engine and attached
options. As a sheet travels along the media path, sensors change state temporarily to indicate
the sheet’s presence. If the pattern of sensor state changes differs from the expected timing for
a particular paper size and path, an error is reported.
Input Media Path
Media supplied from each tray is transported through the printer along the path shown in the
flow chart in
Figure 1
.
Tray 1
When feeding media from Tray 1, the control logic instructs the mechanical drive to activate the
Feed Roller. When the control logic calls for media feed, it sends a feed signal to momentarily
energize the Tray 1 Pick Clutch causing the Feed Roller to rotate. When the Feed Roller con-
tacts the paper, a sheet is fed into the gap between the Feed Roller and the Pinch Rollers.
Tray 2
When the control logic calls for media feed, the Nudger Roller moves the sheet to the Feed
Roller. The Feed Roller moves a single sheet out of the tray and toward the tray’s Take Away
Roller. The Separator Roller ensures only one sheet is fed. The media then moves past the
Pick Sensor and up the vertical path driven by the Take Away Roller. The media continues
along the path until the sheet reaches the Registration Roller.
Trays 3 through 6
Feeder operation of the 520-sheet feeders (SCF) and 2000-sheet feeder (HCF) is much the
same as Tray 2. Optional feeders employ similar feeder components.
Output Media Path
The path for media exiting the Fuser are:
•
Through the Exit Assembly to the Output Tray on the Top Cover (facedown).
•
Through Exit Assembly to the Mailbox or Finisher.
Output Tray
The Output Tray is a face-down, 500-sheet tray located on the printer’s Top Cover. The tray
receives media from the Exit Assembly.
Mailbox
The mailbox sorts prints into 4 separate 100 sheet output trays.
Finisher
Media fed from the Exit Assembly is redirected upwards by the exit gate. Media is drawn into
the Finisher by an entrance roller driven by the Finisher Transport Motor. The exit gate is
switched by the exit gate solenoid controlled by signals received from the MCU Board.
Figure 1 Media Transport Path