Patent Application
20060214353
Many image forming devices; copiers; multi-function machines, i.e., those that combine two or more functions such as fax, scan, copy, and print; and the like (all of which are encompassed herein by the term “image forming device”), contain a removable primary media tray that an end user removes from the machine to load with a stack of media sheets, such as print paper. Many devices also contain a manual media feed slot for feeding specialty media such as transparencies, card stock, and envelopes. This architecture has caused several issues.
First, the primary media tray and the manual feed slot are two discreet modules. This requires that the device be substantially sized to accommodate both modules. The increased size is a negative for a user who wants to conserve desk space and wants a device having a small size. The larger size also makes it more difficult for moving the device from a first location to another location, such as when the user changes offices at work, moves from a first home to a second home, etc. The increased size also usually increases the cost of the device.
Second, the two discreet modules have higher serviceability costs than a single unit. The two module system has twice the likelihood of a problem that requires service than a single module system.
Third, the discrete modules cause source-to-source variation in media skew and print margin location due to the tolerances involved in locating the modules to the machine frame structure.
The present invention is directed to embodiments of an input device for inputting media sheets into an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, the device includes an input section having a holding area sized to accommodate a stack of media sheets, and a manual feed section having an elongated channel sized to receive media sheets. The input section and the manual feed section may be housed in a single unit removably positioned within the image forming apparatus.
Another embodiment is directed to an image forming device having a body having a front face, and an image formation section positioned within the body and having a media path. An input section may be removably positioned within the body, and have a tray section sized to accommodate a plurality of media sheets in a stacked configuration and a first media path extending between the tray section and an exit port. The input section may also include a manual feed section having a channel that extends from an inlet to the exit port. The input section may be movably positioned within the body between a closed orientation and an open orientation.
Input tray section 20 comprises a holding area 21 sized to receive a stack of media sheets 18. The holding area 21 may be adjustable to accommodate media sheets of differing lengths and widths. A pick mechanism 22 is operative to select the uppermost single media sheet from the stack 18 and transfer it along the first media path A to the exit port 30. The dotted-line depictions of the pick mechanism 22 in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
A third media path C extends from an inlet 36 of the tray 16 to the exit port 30. Media path C extends from additional tray or trays positioned below the input tray 16. Media path C may provide access for the media sheets from one or more media storage locations. In one embodiment as illustrated in
The input tray 16 is removably positioned within the body 12 between a first closed orientation (
Pulling the tray 16 outward from the body 12 moves it to the open position. The tray 16 may be completely separated from the body 12, or may be pulled outward a defined amount to access the input tray section 20. In the open position, additional media sheets may be loaded into the holding area 21. Media sheets that may have become jammed in media paths A, B, or C may be accessed with the tray 16 in the open orientation. Tray 16 may include rails 19 for sliding into and out of the body 12.
The media paths A, B, C terminate at the exit port 30 adjacent to the aligner nip 40. A media sheet sensor 32 is disposed in the exit port 30 and operative to sense the presence of media sheets therein. In one embodiment as illustrated in
Sensor 32 is operative to sense media sheets from a variety of sources. The sensor 32 may thus be advantageously employed to obviate the need for a plurality of media-related sensors common in removable media trays of the prior art. For example, in one embodiment, the sensor 32 is also able to determine the size of media sheets within the input section 20 and trays 38. Upon insertion of the removable media input tray 16 into the image forming device body 12, an initial media sheet may be picked from the stack 18 or from within the tray 38. The presence of the media sheet in the exit port 30 is detected by the sensor 32. By measuring the duration of time that the media sheet is in the exit port 30 and combining this information with the precise speed of the media sheet movement through registration roller 40, the image forming device 10 can calculate the length of the media sheet.
Registration rollers 40 are positioned downstream from the sensor 32. Registration rollers 40 function to laterally align the media sheet prior to it entering the main media path. In one embodiment, the registration rollers 40 initially rotate in a reverse direction. As the media sheet continues to be fed forward in the media path A, B, C, reverse rotation stops the leading edge causing the sheet to obtain a bowed or buckled configuration. This forces the leading edge to seat within the nip and removes and/or reduces lateral skew in the sheet. After a predetermined period, the registration rollers 40 are rotated in a forward direction to move the media sheet into the main media path. In one embodiment, the registration rollers 40 begin rotating in a reverse direction when the leading edge of the media sheet is initially detected by the sensor 32. Other embodiments feature the reverse rotation to start after the leading edge has contacted the registration rollers 40.
The pick arm 22 may be attached to the input tray 16 such that it is removed from the body 12 when the tray 16 is moved to the open orientation. In another embodiment, the pick arm 22 is attached within the body 12 and remains within the body 12 when the tray 16 is moved to the open orientation. Likewise, the sensor 32 may be attached to the input tray 16, or may be attached to the body 12.
Referring to
The operation of image forming device 10 is conventionally known. Upon command from control electronics, a single media sheet is “picked,” or selected, from either the media stack 18, the manual feeder 50, or additional tray 38. The media sheet moves through the corresponding media path A, B, or C, and the presence of the media sheet in the exit port 30 is sensed by a primary sensor 32. A media width sensor 33 (not illustrated), also located in the exit port 30, may optionally additionally determine a width of the media sheets therein.
Upon passing through the exit port 30 of the removable media sheet input tray 16 and into the image forming device body 12, the media sheet is presented at the nip of a registration roller 40, which aligns the sheet and precisely controls its further movement into the print path. The media sheet passes the registration roller 40 and electrostatically adheres to transport belt 42, which carries the media sheet successively past at least one toner cartridge 43 (in the case of color printing, four toner cartridges 43 may each contain different colored toner, such as Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black). At each toner cartridge 43, a latent image is formed by printhead 44 onto the respective photoconductive (PC) drum in each toner cartridge 43. Toner is applied to the PC drum, which is subsequently deposited on the media sheet as it is conveyed past the toner cartridge 43 by the transport belt 42. The toner is thermally fused to the media sheet by the fuser 46, and the sheet then passes through reversible exit rollers 48, to land facedown in the output stack 52 formed on the exterior of the image forming device body 12.
The removable media input tray 16 of the present invention present numerous advantages over removable media trays of the prior art. First, since the input tray section 20 and manual feeder section 50 are largely co-planar (with respect to the paper path through the image forming device 10), the height of the image forming device body 12 may be reduced substantially, as compared to prior art image forming devices where the manual feed section 50 is above the primary media tray. An additional advantage of placing the input tray section 20 and manual feed section 50 in the same part is that the reference features for the media may be precisely aligned. This leads to more accurate alignment of media sheets from each source, relative to the other, and may reduce the left margin variation caused by source-to-source errors, common in image forming devices with separate primary media and manual feed inputs.
Still another advantage of the present invention over the prior art relates to serviceability. The input tray 16 is a Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU). Any failure or anomalous operation of these components may be addressed by simply sending the customer a new tray 16. This eliminates the need for service calls to the customer's location by technicians, and dramatically reduces the down time of the unit, increasing perceived reliability and customer satisfaction.
As used herein, the term “image forming device” includes a device that includes a print mechanism operative to fix text and/or images on media sheets. The term image forming device includes known technologies of computer image forming devices, including electrophotographic, ink jet, dot matrix, thermal, sublimation, and the like, as well as all devices that include a print mechanism, such as traditional stand-alone image forming devices, copiers, multi-function integrating scan, copy, print, fax, and similar operations, or the like. “Image forming device” also applies to secondary transfer machines in which a toner image is formed by toner cartridges onto an intermediate member, which image is subsequently transferred to a media sheet, as well as the direct transfer mechanism depicted in
As used herein, the term “media sheet” refers to any medium on which images are formed by the image forming device, and includes a wide range of sizes and types of paper sheets, as well as transparencies, envelopes, postcards, checks, iron-on transfers, and the like.
A variety of sensors 32 may be used in the present invention. A pivoting arm that extends across the media path is used in one embodiment. Another embodiment may include an optical sensor or sensors that emit and detect an amount of optical energy relative across the media paths A, B, C. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Integrated Media and Media Tray Sensing in an Image Forming Device” filed Feb. 22, 2005, (Attorney Docket No. 4670-352) discloses a sensor for detecting conditions within an image forming apparatus. This co-pending application is also assigned to Lexmark International, Inc. of Lexington, Ky., USA, and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/630,045 entitled “Integrated Media Input Tray Including Electronics” filed Jul. 30, 2003 discloses an image forming apparatus having combined media inputs. This co-pending application is also assigned to Lexmark International, Inc. of Lexington, Ky., USA, and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
As illustrated in
Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to particular features, aspects and embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that numerous variations, modifications, and other embodiments are possible within the broad scope of the present invention, and accordingly, all variations, modifications and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, more than one high capacity tray 38 is positioned below input tray 16. Sensor 76 may be used to determine when the input tray 16 is in the closed orientation. The sensor 76 may be positioned at a variety of positions in the receiving port of the body 12, and is operatively connected to the controller 90. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
