OUTPUT TRAY HAVING A MOVABLE SECTION

Abstract

According to examples, an apparatus may include an input tray coupled to a media path and an output tray to receive media from the media path. The output tray may be automatically positioned to an open position based on the media being inputted into the input tray. A movable section may be movably coupled to the output tray. In some examples, the movable section may automatically move relative to the output tray based on the output tray being automatically positioned to the open position.

Description

BACKGROUND

An automatic document feeder may include an input tray and an output tray and may automatically transport a sheet of media from the input tray to the output tray. During transport, the sheet of media may be copied or scanned for printing, faxing, displaying on a monitor, or other processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict block diagrams of an example apparatus that may include an output tray coupled to an input tray and a movable section movably coupled to the output tray;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an example multifunction printing device having an automatic document feeder including an output tray with a movable section; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views depicting an example automatic document feeder having an output tray and a breakaway plate rotatably coupled to the output tray, in which the breakaway plate is positioned in a closed position and an open position, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present disclosure are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the examples. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the examples may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In some instances, well known methods and/or structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the examples. Furthermore, the examples may be used together in various combinations.

Throughout the present disclosure, the terms “a” and “an” are intended to denote one of a particular element or multiple ones of a particular element. As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” may mean based in part on.

In some printer designs, output trays may include features for media removal including, for instance, a raised inner platform, shark fins, a scoop, a notch, or the like, to provide a user with sufficient grasp by enabling the user’s fingers to be placed under media in the output trays. However, many of these features may create visual noise and/or surface irregularities.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses that may include an output tray having a movable section (which may also be construed as a breakaway hinge feature) that may automatically move (e.g., rotate or hinge) from the output tray based on a position of the output tray. For instance, when the output tray is in a first position (e.g., a closed position), the movable section may be coplanar with the output tray, which may result in the movable section forming a flat surface with the rest of the output tray. As a result, the movable section may cause minimal visual noise when the output tray is in the first position. Alternatively, when the output tray is in a second position (e.g., an open position, an operational position, or the like), the movable section may move, e.g., become hinged with respect to the rest of the output tray, for instance due to gravity, creating a grasping area in which a user’s finger may be placed to grasp media on the output tray. When the output tray is returned to the first position, the movable section may automatically move to be coplanar with the rest of the output tray.

In some examples, an input tray may be coupled to a media path and the output tray may receive media from the media path. In addition, the output tray may be automatically positioned to an open position responsive to media being inputted to the input tray. The movable section may be movably coupled to the output tray and may automatically move relative to the output tray as the output tray is automatically positioned to the open position.

The breakaway hinge design of the movable section may improve aesthetics of the automatic document feeder by creating a clean, flat top surface when the automatic document feeder is not in use and the output tray is in the closed position. In one regard, by keeping the output tray in the closed position when the automatic document feeder is not in use, a user may quickly identify the input tray during walk-up scan tasks. Furthermore, the breakaway hinge design may provide a large area for grasping media from the output tray when the output tray is in the open position.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which respectively depict block diagrams of an example apparatus 100 that may include an output tray coupled to an input tray and a movable section movably coupled to the output tray. It should be understood that the example apparatus 100 may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the apparatus 100, which may also be referenced herein as an automatic document feeder (ADF), may include a media path 110 to route media 120 through the apparatus 100, as depicted by arrows 112. The apparatus 100 may be used to automatically transport media 120 (e.g., one sheet or multiple sheets sequentially) along the media path 110 from an input tray 114 to a scanning or imaging position 115, and then to an output tray 116. At the scanning or imaging position 115, the media 120 may be scanned or imaged for copying, scanning, faxing, displaying on a monitor, or other processing. In some examples, the apparatus 100 (or ADF) may be part of a printer, a scanner, a photocopier, a fax machine, or a multi-function or all-in-one device providing printing, scanning, copying, and/or faxing capabilities.

The input tray 114 and the output tray 116 may be disposed in the apparatus 100 such that the output tray 116 is positioned above the input tray 114. The output tray 116 may be movable (e.g., rotate or pivot) to automatically open and close, for instance, based on presence of media 120 in the input tray 114. For example, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1A, without input of media 120 to media path 110, the output tray 116 may remain in or be automatically positioned in (e.g., moved to or changed to) the closed positon. Additionally, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1B, when media 120 is placed in the input tray 114 as represented by arrow 122, the output tray 116 may be automatically positioned in (e.g., moved to or changed to), the open positon. As such, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1A, without input of media 120 to media path 110 or the media 120 being placed in the input tray 114, the output tray 116 may not be in communication with the media path 110. However, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1B, with input of media 120 to the media path 110 or the input tray 114, the output tray 116 may automatically be moved to be in communication with the media path 110.

As also shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a movable section 118 may be coupled to the output tray 116 such that the movable section 118 may move (e.g., rotate or pivot) relative to the output tray 116. The movable section 118 may automatically rotate or pivot relative to the output tray 116, for instance, based on the position of the output tray 116. As depicted in FIG. 1A, the movable section 118 may be automatically positioned in a first position in which the movable section 118 is co-planar with the output tray 116 when the output tray 116 is positioned in the first position, e.g., the closed position. By way of particular example and for illustration, the output tray 116 may be disposed on an upper section of the apparatus 100 and, with the movable section 118 in the first position (e.g., raised position), the output tray 116 together with the movable section 118 may form a flat surface that covers the top side of the apparatus 100.

The movable section 118 may be movably coupled to the output tray 116 via a connection such as a hinge, or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, responsive to the output tray 116 being moved to a second position, e.g., an open position, as represented by arrow 124, the movable section 118 may move down relative to the output tray 116, as represented by arrow 126. The movement of the movable section 118 downward may create a negative space between the movable section 118 and outputted media 120 such that a user may grab the media 120 with relatively greater ease from the output tray 116.

The movable section 118 may automatically move relative to the output tray 116 based on the output tray 116 being automatically positioned to the open position. By way of particular example, the movable section 118 may be positioned at a distal end of the output tray 116, and when the output tray 116 is rotated, as represented by arrow 124, the movable section 118 may be raised at an incline. In such an inclined position, the movable section 118 may rotate (e.g., hinge down) automatically, for instance via gravitational forces, to a position in which the movable section 118 may be angled at a predefined angle relative to the output tray 116. In response to the output tray 116 being automatically positioned to the closed position, the movable section 118 may automatically rotate to the first position to be co-planar with the output tray 116. For instance, the apparatus 100 may include a ledge or other feature that the movable section 118 may contact as the output tray 116 is rotated from the open position to the closed position.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which depicts a block diagram of an example multifunction printing device 200 having an automatic document feeder (ADF) including an output tray 212 with a movable section 218. It should be understood that the example multifunction printing device 200 may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the example multifunction printing device 200.

The example multifunction printing device 200 may include a print assembly 202, a controller 204, a storage device 206, an image reader 208, and an ADF 210. The print assembly 202 may include a printhead assembly, a fluid (e.g., ink) supply assembly, a mounting assembly, a media transport assembly, a power supply that provides power to electrical componenents of the multifunction printing device 200, or the like. For instance, the printhead assembly may include a printhead die, as an example of a fluid ejection die or fluid ejection device, that ejects drops of fluid through a plurality of orifices or nozzles toward a print media, such as the media 120 depicted in FIG. 1B, so as to print on media 120.

In some examples, the media 120 may be any type of suitable sheet or roll material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, and the like, and may include rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or other panels. The mounting assembly may position the printhead assembly relative to the media transport assembly, and the media transport assembly may position media 120 relative to printhead assembly. Thus, a print zone may be defined adjacent to nozzles in an area between printhead assembly and media 120.

The controller 204 may include a processor, firmware, software, memory components including volatile and non-volatile memory components, and other printer electronics for communicating with and controlling the printhead assembly, the mounting assembly, and the media transport assembly. The controller 204 may receive data from a host system, such as a computer, and may temporarily store data in the storage device 206. Data may be sent to multifunction printing device 200 along an electronic, infrared, optical, or other information transfer path. Data represents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such, data may form a print job for the multifunction printing device 200 and may include print job commands and/or command parameters.

In some examples, the multifunction printing device 200 may include the ADF 210, as an example of the apparatus 100 as depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and the image reader 208 such that ADF 210 may automatically transport media 120 along the media path 110, to and/or past the image reader 208. As such, the image reader 208 may acquire and/or generate an image of a side or surface of media 120.

The ADF 210 may include an output tray 212, which may also be referred to herein as an automated media tray, as an example of the output tray 116 as depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, to receive media 120 as output from the media path 110. In some examples, the output tray 212 may be automatically positioned (for instance, closed or opened, stowed or deployed, covered or uncovered, concealed or revealed, retracted or extended, non-communicated or communicated, inaccessible or accessible) based on input of media 120 to the ADF 210, including, more specifically, for instance, input of media 120 to the media path 110 of the ADF 210.

In some examples, input of the media 120 to the media path 110 may be provided by a pick mechanism or pick assembly 214. More specifically, in implementations, the ADF 210 may include the pick mechanism or pick assembly 214 to pick media 120 from an input tray 216 of the ADF 210, as an example of the input tray 114, and feed the media 120 to the media path 110. The pick mechanism or the pick assembly 214 may include, for example, a pick roller to contact and pick the media 120 (i.e., a top sheet of media) from the input tray 216, and a drive system (e.g., motor, shaft, gearing) to rotate the pick roller.

In some examples, the output tray 212 may be automatically positioned (for example, opened, deployed, uncovered, revealed, extended, communicated, accessible) with input of media 120 to the media path 110, as provided by the pick assembly 214. More specifically, with operation of the pick assembly 214 to pick media 120 from the input tray 216 and feed media 120 to the media path 110, the output tray 212 may be automatically positioned to receive media 120 from the media path 110. For example, in implementations, the pick assembly 214 may be operatively connected to or coupled with the output tray 212 to control a position of the output tray 212 with operation of the pick assembly 214 to the pick media 120 from the input tray 216 (e.g., during operation of the pick assembly 214 to pick media 120).

In some examples, without input of the media 120 to the media path 110 and without media 120 in the output tray 212 (for example, with media 120 removed from the output tray 212 ), the output tray 212 may automatically be positioned (for example, closed, stowed, covered, concealed, retracted, non-communicated, inaccessible) so as not to receive media 120 from the media path 110.

In some examples, the ADF 210 may include a sensor 222 to sense the presence (or absence) of media 120 in the input tray 216 and the output tray 212, and may provide input to control the position of output tray 212. For example, without media 120 in the output tray 212, as determined by the sensor 222, and without input of media 120 to the input tray 216 and/or the media path 110, the output tray 212 may be controlled to be positioned in (e.g., moved to or changed to) a closed position.

In one implementation, the ADF 210, including the output tray 212, the pick assembly 214, and the sensor 222, may be in electronic communication with the controller 204. As such, the controller 204 may control a position of the output tray 212 based on input of media 120 to the media path 110. In this instance, a separate controller may be implemented in the automatic document feeder 210, separate from the controller 204 to control the print assembly 202, to control operations of the automatic document feeder 210.

In some examples, the output tray 212 may be movably coupled to a movable section 218, as an example of the movable section 118 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which may also be referred to herein as a breakaway plate. In this instance, the ADF 210 may include a body and the input tray 114 may be disposed on the body and coupled to a media path 110. The output tray 212 may be disposed over the input tray to receive media 120 from the media path 110. The movable section 218 may be rotatably coupled to the output tray 212 to rotate relative to the output tray 212 based on a position of the output tray 212.

In this instance, when the output tray 212 is controlled to be in the closed position based on a signal (or a lack of a signal) from the sensor 222 (e.g., media 120 is not detected in the input tray 216 or the output tray 212), the movable section 218 may automatically rotate to be coplanar with the output tray 212. When the output tray 212 is controlled to be in the open positon based on a signal received (or a lack of receipt of a signal) from the sensor 222 (e.g., media 120 is detected in the input tray 216 or the output tray 212), the movable section 218 may be automatically rotated to be angled at a predefined angle relative to the output tray 212. In some examples, the movable section 218 may be coupled to the output tray 212 by a hinge and caused to hinge downward relative to the output tray 212 due to gravitational forces. In some examples, the hinge may include a spring that may further force the movable section 218 to move downward.

In some examples, the ADF 210 may include a movable section movement assembly 220 that may control movement of the movable section 218 based on a position of the output tray 212. In one implementation, the movable section movement assembly 220 may include a hinge to couple the movable section 218 to the output tray 212, and the movable section 218 may rotate downward via the hinge due to gravitational forces when the movable section 218 is raised by rotation of the output tray 212 to be opened. In one implementation, a corner of the movable section 218 adjacent to a body of the ADF 210 may be in sliding contact with a ledge 224 formed on the body of the ADF 210, and when the output tray 212 is rotated to the closed position, the ledge 224 on the body of the ADF 210 may push the corner of the movable section 218 upwards as the output tray 212 is moved from the open position to the closed position to return the movable section 218 to be in a raised position (e.g., co-planar relative to the output tray 212).

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may include a motor assembly that may move the movable section 218. The motor assembly may include a motor, gears, etc., to raise or lower the movable section 218 based on a sensed presence of the media 120 in the input tray 216 and/or the output tray 212.

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may include a spring coupled to the movable section 218 that may force the movable section 218 upwards. In this instance, a latch or tab in contact with the movable section 218 may press against the movable section 218 when the output tray 212 is rotated to the open position to cause the movable section 218 rotate or hinge downward. When the output tray 212 is returned to the closed position, the spring may press against the movable section 218 to move the movable section 218 to the raised position.

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may include a latch or a lock implemented to fix a position of the movable section 218 in the raised position. By way of particular example, in case a size of the media 120 is such that the movable section 218 is not needed to grab the media from the output tray 212 (e.g., when printing on legal size paper that extends beyond an end of the output tray 212), the latch or lock may lock the position of the movable section 218 in the raised position.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which are perspective views depicting an example automatic document feeder 300 (ADF) having an output tray and a breakaway plate rotatably coupled to the output tray and positioned in a closed position and an open position, respectively. It should be understood that the example automatic document feeder 300 may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the example ADF 300.

The ADF 300, as an example of the apparatus 100, may include a body 310 having a media path, as an example of the media path 110, an input tray 312, as an example of the input trays 114 and 216, an output tray 314, as an example of the output trays 116 and 212, and a breakaway plate 316, as an example of the movable sections 118 and 218. The input tray 312 may be disposed on the body 310 and coupled to the media path 110. A sensor, as an example of the sensor 222, may detect a presence of a media, as an example of the media 120, in the input tray 312 and/or the output tray 314. The output tray 314 may be disposed over the input tray 312 to receive the media from the media path and in a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the output tray 314 may form a flat surface together with the breakaway plate 316 and cover the output side of the media path 110. In some examples, the output tray 314 may include a notched section that may correspond to a shape of the breakaway plate 316, and the breakaway plate 316 may be hingedly coupled to the output tray 314 at the notched section of the output tray 314.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, based on the sensor 222 detecting the presence of the media in the input tray, the output tray 314 may be moved (e.g., rotated or hinged) to an open position from a closed position. In some examples, the breakaway plate 316, which may be hingedly coupled to the output tray 314 at the notched section of the breakaway plate 316, may automatically rotate relative to the output tray 314 when the output tray 314 is moved to the open position from the closed position.

In some examples, the breakaway plate 316 may rotate down relative to the output tray 314 due to gravitational forces when the output tray 314 is rotated causing the breakaway plate 316 to be inclined. By way of particular example, a ledge, as an example of the ledge 224, may be formed on the body 310 of the ADF 300 and a portion (e.g., a corner section 318) of the breakaway plate 316 may be in sliding contact with the ledge 224. As such, for instance, the ledge 224 may push the portion of the breakaway plate 316 up as the output tray 314 is moved from the open position to the closed position such that, for instance, the breakaway plate 316 is raised to be parallel to an upper surface of the body 310. In some examples, the ADF 300 may include a motor assembly, a spring assembly, a latch/lock assembly, or the like, to automatically control movement of the breakaway plate 316.

In some examples, the breakaway plate 316 may have a predetermined shape and the output tray 314 may have a notched section having a corresponding shape. By way of particular example, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the breakaway plate 316 may have a triangular shape and the output tray 314 may have a corresponding triangular notched section that may form a rectangular shape when the breakaway plate 316 is positioned coplanar to the output tray 314.

By way of particular example, the output tray 314 may be rotatably coupled to the body 310 of the ADF 300 at a first point (e.g., near the corner section 318) on a lateral side of the output tray 314. In this case, for instance, a first side 322 of the breakaway plate 316 may extend from the first point parallel to the lateral side of the output tray 314, a second side 324 of the breakaway plate 316 may extend from the first side 322 parallel to a distal side of the output tray 314, and a third side 326 of the breakaway plate 316 may extend between the first side 322 and the second side 324 of the breakaway plate 316.

The shape of the breakaway plate 316 may be based on relative positions and features of the output tray 314, such as the location of the pivot point of the output tray 314, a location of an extension arm 328 to catch output media 120, a speed of media 120 that is output and a corresponding amount of friction between the media 120 and the output tray 314, or the like. In some examples, the extension arm 328 may be disposed to extend at a distal end of the output tray 314, and the breakaway plate 316 may be disposed adjacent to the extension arm 328 at the distal end of the output tray 314.

Although described specifically throughout the entirety of the instant disclosure, representative examples of the present disclosure have utility over a wide range of applications, and the above discussion is not intended and should not be construed to be limiting, but is offered as an illustrative discussion of aspects of the disclosure.

What has been described and illustrated herein is an example of the disclosure along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, which is intended to be defined by the following claims -- and their equivalents -- in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: an input tray coupled to a media path;an output tray to receive media from the media path, the output tray to be automatically positioned to an open position based on the media being inputted into the input tray; anda movable section movably coupled to the output tray, wherein the movable section is to automatically move relative to the output tray based on the output tray being automatically positioned to the open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: based on the media being inputted into the input tray, the output tray is to be automatically placed into the open position from a closed position; andbased on a determination that the media has not been inputted in the input tray, the output tray is to remain in the closed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable section is hinged to the output tray, the movable section to automatically rotate from a first position that is coplanar with the output tray to a second position that is angled at a predefined angle relative to the output tray responsive to the output tray being automatically positioned to the open position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the movable section automatically rotates to the first position responsive to the output tray being in a closed position, andthe movable section automatically rotates to the second position responsive to the output tray being in the open position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable section has a triangular shape and wherein the movable section and the output tray form a rectangular shape when the movable section is positioned coplanar to the output tray.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the output tray is rotatably coupled to a body of an automatic document feeder at a first point on a lateral side of the output tray, and wherein a first side of the movable section extends from the first point parallel to the lateral side of the output tray,a second side of the movable section extends from the first side parallel to a distal side of the output tray, anda third side of the movable section extends between the first side and the second side of the movable section.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a portion of the movable section is to contact a ledge on a body of an automatic document feeder with the movable section being hinged relative to the output tray, andresponsive to the output tray moving to a closed position, the movable section is caused to rotate to a coplanar position relative to the output tray based on the contact with the ledge.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable section is coupled to the output tray by a hinge, the movable section being caused to hinge relative to the output tray due to gravitational forces responsive to the output tray being positioned in the open position.

9. An automatic document feeder, comprising: a body;an input tray disposed on the body and coupled to a media path;an output tray disposed over the input tray to receive media from the media path, the output tray to automatically open and close based on input of media to the input tray; anda breakaway plate rotatably coupled to the output tray, the breakaway plate to rotate relative to the output tray based on a position of the output tray.

10. The automatic document feeder of claim 9, wherein the output tray is disposed to be parallel to an upper surface of the body when the output tray is in a closed position and the output tray is disposed to be angled at a first predefined angle relative to the upper surface of the body when the output tray is in an open position.

11. The automatic document feeder of claim 10, wherein: the breakaway plate is to automatically rotate to be coplanar with the output tray when the output tray is in the closed position, andthe breakaway plate is to automatically rotate to be angled at a second predefined angle relative to the output tray when the output tray is in the open position.

12. The automatic document feeder of claim 9, wherein: the breakaway plate is to rotate downward relative to the output tray due to gravitation forces as the output tray is being opened, andthe breakaway plate is caused to automatically rotate upward relative to the output tray as the output tray is being closed.

13. The automatic document feeder of claim 9, wherein the output tray includes an extension arm disposed to extend at a distal end of the output tray, and the breakaway plate is disposed adjacent to the extension arm at the distal end of the output tray.

14. An automatic document feeder, comprising: a body having a media path;an input tray disposed on the body and coupled to the media path;a sensor to detect a presence of a media in the input tray;an output tray disposed over the input tray to receive the media from the media path, the output tray comprising a notched section and to move to an open position from a closed position responsive to the sensor detecting the presence of the media in the input tray; anda breakaway plate hingedly coupled to the output tray at the notched section of the output tray, the breakaway plate to automatically rotate relative to the output tray when the output tray is moved to the open position from the closed position.

15. The automatic document feeder of claim 14, further comprising: a ledge formed on the body, wherein a portion of the breakaway plate is in sliding contact with the ledge, and wherein the ledge is to push the portion of the breakaway plate up as the output tray is moved from the open position to the closed position.