Patent Application
20110123247
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a printer with a bracket for a paper tray.
2. Description of Related Art
Commonly, in office settings, many different documents are printed and output to a single tray before the documents are retrieved, such that location of a specific document can be difficult.
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 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 is capable of printing documents and outputting paper and includes a rear wall 11. An output opening 112 is defined in the rear wall 11, for outputting the paper.
The bracket 30 includes a bottom surface 31, a top surface 35, and two sidewalls 33 connected to the bottom surface 31 and the top surface 35. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface 31 is parallel to the top surface 35 and perpendicular to the sidewalls 33. Four positioning posts 331, each with a fastener hole 3311, are located on the bottom surface 31.
Referring to
The supporting plate 51 defines four through holes 511, for receiving the positioning posts 331. Two first through openings 513 and two second through openings 515 are defined in the supporting plate 51. The two first through openings 513 are adjacent to an edge of the supporting plate 51, and the two second through openings 515 are adjacent to an opposite edge thereof. Four third through openings 517 are defined in the supporting plate 51, and each third through opening 517 is adjacent to one of the first and second through openings 513, 515. Two pivot pieces 5131 are located on the supporting plate 51 adjacent to the two first through openings 513, and two positioning pieces 5151 are located on the supporting plate 51 adjacent to the two the second through openings 515. Each pivot piece 5131 defines a pivot hole 5133, and each positioning piece 5151 defines a sliding slot 5153. In one exemplary embodiment, the pivot pieces 5131 and the positioning pieces 5151 are located on a bottom surface of the supporting plate 51.
Each connecting member 53 includes a first plate portion 531 and a second plate portion 533 connected to the first plate portion 531. In one exemplary embodiment, the second plate portion 533 is set at an angle from the first plate portion 531. Two first pieces 5311 extend from opposite edges of the first plate portion 531, and a pivot pin 5313 is located on each first piece 5311. Two second pieces 5330 extend from opposite edges of the second plate portion 533, and a mounting hole 5331 is defined in each second piece 5330.
The retaining plate 52 includes two pairs of retaining pieces 521, and each pair of retaining pieces 521 extend from opposite edges of the retaining plate 52. Each retaining piece 521 has a pivot post 523 and defines a receiving hole 525.
Referring to
The lifting mechanism 50 is received in the bracket 30. The positioning posts 331 are received in the through holes 511, and four fasteners 100, such as screws or bolts, are received in the fastener holes 3311, to secure the supporting plate 51 to the bottom surface 31 of the bracket 30. As shown in
Referring to
The paper tray 20 is released when positioned on the retaining plate 52. The spring members 90 are biased to move the retaining plate 52 from the second position to the first position and lift up the paper tray 20. The connecting members 53 are rotated away from the bottom surface 31 until the retaining plate 52 is positioned in the first position.
When another paper tray 20 is to be received in the bracket 30, it can be slid along the bottom surface 31 below the originally inserted paper tray 20. The second paper tray 20 moves the retaining plate 52 from the first position to the second position by pressing the one connecting member 53. At the same time, the originally inserted paper tray 20 is located on the second paper tray 20. When the second paper tray 20 is released, the retaining plate 52 is moved from the second position to the first position, to lift up the two paper trays 20.
Repeating, a plurality of paper trays 20 can be received in the bracket 30 if needed.
The paper tray 20 in a top position can receive paper output from the output opening 112 after documents are printed by the main body 10. Before another document is printed, the paper tray 20 with the paper at the top position can be pulled out from the bracket 30. The paper is taken out from the paper tray 20, and then the paper tray 20 can be also received into the bracket 30 along the bottom surface 31.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, 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 disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910310251.9 | Nov 2009 | CN | national |
