1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices with paper sorting apparatuses.
2. Description of Related Art
Often printers will have many print jobs to process, in a short time, that may come from many different users. Thus it is helpful to have print jobs sorted for easy retrieval by users. However, present paper sorters are complicated and expensive.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Referring to
The main body 10 includes a mounting plate 11. The mounting plate 11 defines a paper outlet 112 for paper output. Two securing plates 13 are located at two sides of the paper outlet 112. Each securing plate 13 defines securing holes 131.
The paper sorting apparatus 20 includes a mounting bracket 30 and a plurality of paper trays 50 mounted to the mounting bracket 30.
The mounting bracket 30 includes two opposite sidewalls 31, that are perpendicular to the mounting plate 11 of the main body 10, and a bottom wall 33 connected between the opposite sidewalls 31. Each sidewall 31 defines a slot 311 along a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 33 of the mounting bracket 30. A control module 35 is disposed on one of the sidewalls 31. The control module 35 includes a screw shaft 351 perpendicular to the bottom wall 33, and a driving motor 353 capable of rotating the screw shaft 351. The screw shaft 351 is aligned with the slot 311. A bent flange 37 extends from one side edge of each sidewall 31. Two securing holes 371 are defined in the bent flange 37.
Each paper tray 50 has two securing posts 51 at each side thereof. In one embodiment, the paper trays 50 are adjustable for fitting different sizes of paper.
The paper sorting apparatus 20 further includes a driving member 60 configured to couple with the screw shaft 351. A blocking member 70 is secured to the sidewall 31, and configured to prevent the driving member 60 disengaging from the screw shaft 351, and a connecting board 80 is secured to the driving member 60.
The driving member 60 includes a base 61 parallel to the sidewall 31 of the mounting bracket 30. The base 61 defines a plurality of base holes 611. Two mounting tabs 63 protrude from two opposite sides of the base 61. A nut 65 is disposed between the two mounting tabs 63. Each mounting tab 63 defines a hole 631 for the screw shaft 351 extending through and engages the nut 65.
The blocking member 70 includes a fixing piece 71, secured to the sidewall 31 of the mounting bracket 30, and a blocking tab 73, extending from the fixing piece 71. A through hole 731 is defined in the blocking tab 73.
In one embodiment, the connecting board 80 is substantially rectangular. A set of first mounting holes 81 and second mounting holes 83 are defined in the connecting board 80. A plurality of third mounting holes 85 is defined between the first mounting holes 81 and the second mounting holes 83. In
Referring to
In use, the main body 10 sends commands to the control module 35 to run the driving motor 353, thereby driving the screw shaft 351 to rotate. Thus, the nut 65 of the driving member 60 moves along the screw shaft 351 in a direction parallel to the securing plate 13 of the main body 10, and perpendicular to the bottom wall 33 of the mounting bracket 30. The driving member 60 moves the connecting board 80 along the sidewall 31 of the mounting bracket 30. The paper trays 50 are moved with the connecting board 80, so that one of the paper trays 50 is capable of coupling with the paper outlet 112 (shown in
In an alternative embodiment, a control module 35, a driving member 60, a blocking member 70, and a connecting board 80, are arranged on each of the two sidewalls 31 of the mounting bracket 30.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009 1 0310783 | Dec 2009 | CN | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110133401 A1 | Jun 2011 | US |