Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6279899
-
Patent Number
6,279,899
-
Date Filed
Friday, September 3, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 28, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 271 220
- 271 304
- 271 176
- 271 288
- 271 298
- 271 25801
- 271 25802
- 271 256
- 221 6
- 221 17
- 414 7909
- 270 5818
- 270 5802
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A substrate sensing mechanism is provided for use in a printer output bin. The sensing mechanism includes a flag having a shape such that when one or more substrates, which have been removed from the bin, are manually reinserted into the bin, the one or more substrates are directed beneath the flag without causing a substrate feed failure. The flag is also positioned and shaped so as to move to a full bin position when a portion of one or more curled substrates extends to or above a level of the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a substrate sensing mechanism for use in a printer output bin wherein the sensing mechanism is capable of detecting when a portion of one or more edge curled or bent sheets extends to or above a level of a substrate output path immediately adjacent an entrance into the bin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,686 to Sanchez et al. discloses a mailbox unit comprising a plurality of bins adapted to received printed substrates from a printer. The '686 patent further describes a sensor for detecting an almost-full bin condition and a bin-full condition in a bin. The sensor comprises two integral switches and an actuating arm. The end of the arm opposite the switches is provided with a rotatable ball for engaging substrates. The switch and the arm may be mounted to or under the bottom of an overlying tray. The '686 patent teaches in column 10, lines 40-46, “[t]he switch arm
12
c
end location * * * should preferably not be located near the sheet stack edge, i.e., be more centrally located in the bin, so as to avoid stack height sensing errors from edge curled or bent paper in the bins changing the true stack height * * * .” The apparatus disclosed in the '686 patent further includes an optical bin-empty sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,731 to Looney discloses a stack height and sheet delivery detector system for use in a printer output bin. The detector system comprises an elongated actuating arm
22
pivotally connected to a frame about an axis which extends generally transverse to a printed sheet output path. The arm normally rests by gravitational force on the top sheet of a stack of printed sheets in the printer output bin. Printed sheets are sequentially fed into the bin for stacking by exit feed rollers along the printed sheet output path. As each sheet passes through the feed rollers, its leading edge pushes forward and lifts the pivotal arm upward to a sheet delivery detection position. In this position, an extension of the arm functions to actuate an optical sensor providing an output signal indicative of an incoming sheet. The arm then drops down to its normal position where it rests on top of the upper-most sheet. Once the arm “rest” position on the top of the sheet stack rises above a preset level, the same or another sensor is actuated by the extension on the arm indicating that a desired stacking level has been attained.
Another known sensor for detecting at least one printed substrate fill condition in an output bin comprises a main body pivotably mounted under the bottom of an overlying tray about an axis which is generally parallel to a path that printed substrates follow as they move into the bin. The main body is spaced from an edge of its corresponding bin. It is shaped like an isosceles triangle and is mounted such that its two side edges of equal length are positioned toward the entrance into the bin and toward the end of the bin opposite the bin entrance. When in its home position, the main body is positioned at an angle of about 45 degrees to vertical. As substrates are fed into the bin, they engage the first side edge of the main body causing it to pivot upward. It is believed that the main body, when moved a sufficient distance upward, actuates a corresponding sensor such that the sensor indicates a “full bin” condition.
None of the sensors described above are capable of detecting when a portion of an edge curled or bent sheet extends to or above a level of a substrate output path immediately adjacent a bin entrance. If a portion of a curled or bent sheet extends to or above a level of the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance, it may cause a substrate feed failure, e.g., a paper jam, as an incoming substrate may engage the curled or bent substrate. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved sheet sensing mechanism for use in a printer output bin wherein the sensing mechanism is capable of detecting when a portion of an edge curled or bent sheet extends to or above a level of a substrate output path immediately adjacent a bin entrance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need is met by the present invention wherein an improved substrate sensing mechanism for use in a printer output bin is provided. The sensing mechanism includes a flag having a shape such that when one or more substrates, which have been removed from the bin, are manually reinserted into the bin, the one or more substrates are directed beneath the flag without causing a substrate feed failure. The flag is also positioned and shaped such that it is capable of detecting when a portion of an edge curled or bent substrate extends to or above a level of a substrate output path immediately adjacent a bin entrance. The edge curled substrate may be curled along the length axis of the substrate which axis is parallel to the printed substrate output path. The flag is light weight, comprises only a single element in the preferred embodiment, is mounted in an out-of-the-way location to the side of the bin about an axis generally parallel to the printed substrate output path, and is configured such that it is operable within a small vertical space between two adjacent bins in a multi-bin structure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a flag is provided which is adapted for use in a substrate sensing mechanism. The sensing mechanism is coupled to a printer output bin having an entrance through which printed substrates pass as they move along a printed substrate output path for stacking within the bin. The flag comprises a main body portion adapted to be movably coupled to the printer output bin and to extend across the printed substrate output path. The main body portion has first and second arcuate side portions. The first arcuate side portion faces the bin entrance and the second arcuate side portion faces an end of the bin opposite the entrance. The first arcuate side portion is shaped such that a substrate entering the bin is directed beneath the main body portion and the second arcuate side portion is shaped such that when one or more substrates are manually inserted through an end of the bin opposite the bin entrance the one or more substrates are directed beneath the main body portion.
The flag preferably further includes an encoded portion coupled to the main body portion. The encoded portion moves with the main body portion so as to activate sensor apparatus to indicate one of a plurality of printed substrate fill conditions in the bin. More specifically, the encoded portion is configured such that it allows a first of two optical sensor beams to activate a sensor when one or more printed substrates are in the bin and the bin is not full or in its near full condition, allows neither of the two optical sensor beams to activate a sensor when a near bin full condition exists, allows a second of the two optical sensor beams to activate a sensor when a bin full condition exists or a portion of a curled substrate extends to or above a level of the bin entrance, and allows both beams to actuate a sensor when no printed substrates are in the bin.
The flag may further include an attachment portion coupled to the main body and encoded portions. The attachment portion is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the bin such that the main body and encoded portions pivot relative to the bin.
Preferably, the main body, encoded and attachment portions are integrally formed as a single element. It is also preferred that they be formed from a polymeric material such as a polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blend. A polycarbonate/ABS blend which may be employed is one which is commercially available from the General Electric Company under the trademark CYCOLOY 6200.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a substrate sensing mechanism is provided which is adapted to be coupled to a printer output bin having an entrance through which printed substrates pass as they move along a printed substrate output path for stacking within the bin. The sensing mechanism comprises a flag pivotably mounted to a side portion of the bin and sensor apparatus coupled to the bin. The flag extends across the printed substrate output path and is shaped so as to move to a full bin position when a portion of one or more curled substrates extends to or above a level of the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance. The sensor apparatus is coupled to the bin and responds to movement of the flag so as to generate output signals indicative of one of a plurality of printed substrate fill conditions in the bin.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved flag for use in a substrate sensing mechanism.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved substrate sensing mechanism for use in a printer output bin.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a substrate sensing mechanism which includes a flag having a shape such that when one or more substrates, which have been removed from the bin, are manually reinserted into the bin, the one or more substrates are directed beneath the flag without causing a substrate feed failure.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a substrate sensing mechanism which includes a flag positioned and shaped such that it is capable of sensing when a portion of one or more curled substrates extends into or above the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance.
Other objects will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a portion of a printer output bin to which a substrate sensing mechanism of the present invention is coupled;
FIG. 2
is perspective view, from a different angle than shown in
FIG. 1
, of a portion of the printer output bin and the substrate sensing mechanism and with the sensor apparatus removed;
FIG. 2A
is a perspective view of a flag mounting portion;
FIG. 3
is a side view, partially in cross section, of the printer output bin and the substrate sensing mechanism and illustrating the first fill condition of the bin;
FIG. 4
is a side view, partially in cross section, of the printer output bin and the substrate sensing mechanism and illustrating the second fill condition of the bin;
FIG. 5
is a side view, partially in cross section, of the printer output bin and the substrate sensing mechanism and illustrating the third fill condition of the bin;
FIG. 6
is a side view, partially in cross section, of the printer output bin and the substrate sensing mechanism and illustrating the fourth fill condition of the bin;
FIG. 7
is a side view of a multi-bin output expander provided on a printer with each bin of the expander provided with a substrate sensing mechanism;
FIG. 8
is a perspective view illustrating a pair of multi-bin output expanders provided on a printer;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view of a portion of a printer output bin to which a substrate sensing mechanism of the present invention is coupled; and
FIG. 10
is a side view showing a curled edge substrate in the bin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In
FIG. 1
, a substrate sensing mechanism
100
constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown coupled to a printer output bin
10
. The bin
10
has an entrance
12
through which printed substrates (not shown in
FIG. 1
) pass as they move along a printed substrate output path
30
, represented by an arrow in
FIG. 1
, for stacking within the bin
10
. The sensing mechanism
100
comprises a flag
200
and sensor apparatus
300
. The flag
200
includes a main body portion
210
extending across the printed substrate output path
30
. As will be discussed below, the flag
200
moves in response to substrates being fed into the bin
10
. As will also be discussed below, the sensor apparatus
300
is coupled to the bin
10
and responds to movement of the flag
200
so as to generate output signals indicative of one of a plurality of printed substrate fill conditions in the bin
10
.
The flag
200
further includes an attachment portion
212
coupled to the main body portion
210
, see FIG.
2
. It extends generally transversely to the main body portion
210
and includes first and second side sections
214
and
216
and an intermediate section
217
extending between the side sections
214
and
216
, see FIG.
2
. The first side section
214
is provided with a first outwardly extending pin
214
a
, see FIG.
9
. The second side section
216
is provided with a second outwardly extending pin
216
a
, see FIG.
3
. The bin
10
includes flag mounting portions
10
a
which, preferably, are integrally formed with a tray
10
d
comprising part of the bin
10
, see
FIGS. 2 and 2A
. A recess
10
b
is provided in each mounting portion
10
a
for receiving one of the first and second pins
214
a
and
216
a
. The flag
200
is pivotally coupled to the bin
10
by inserting the pins
214
a
and
216
a
into the mounting portion recesses. When coupled to the bin
10
, the flag
200
is pivotable about an axis A
1
which extends generally parallel to the printed substrate path
30
, see FIG.
3
.
The main body portion
210
, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed having first and second arcuate side portions
220
and
222
converging downwardly toward a base portion
224
to form a hollow interior, see
FIGS. 1 and 2
. It further includes a rib
221
integrally formed on a back side
210
a
of the main body portion
210
. The first side portion
220
faces the bin entrance
12
while the second side portion
222
faces an end
10
c
of the bin
10
opposite the bin entrance
12
, see FIG.
9
. The first side portion
220
has a first length L
1
and the second side portion
222
has a second length L
2
which is less than the first length L
1
.
Preferably, the edge
220
a
of the first side portion
220
is spaced from the output bin entrance
12
a distance sufficient to allow printed substrates being fed into the bin
10
to contact the tray
10
d
or other substrates previously stacked in the tray
10
d
prior to contacting any portion of the first side portion
220
. It is further preferred that the distance between the bin entrance
12
and the outermost portion of the edge
222
a
of the second side portion
222
be substantially equal to or less than the length of the shortest substrate to be received in the bin
10
so as to minimize interference by the flag
200
with a user's hand when the user removes substrates from the tray
10
d
. For example, in
FIG. 9
, the outermost portion of the edge
222
a
of the second side portion
222
is shown spaced inwardly from the outermost edge of substrate C, e.g., a 3″×5″ card.
After a substrate passes through the bin entrance
12
, it continues its movement along the printed substrate output path
30
and eventually contacts the edge
220
a
of the first arcuate side portion
220
. The edge
220
a
is rounded, see
FIG. 1
, and the remaining portion of the main body portion
210
is configured such that a substrate initially makes a substantially single point or limited contact with the edge
220
a
and continues to make a substantially single point or limited contact with the main body portion
210
as it moves into the tray
10
d
, i.e., the limited contact point between the substrate and the main body portion
210
moves along the main body portion
210
as the substrate moves into the tray
10
d
. Single point contact between the main body portion
210
and a substrate is advantageous as it minimizes drag on the substrate, i.e., it minimizes influences on the incoming substrate by the flag
200
.
If no substrates are in the tray
10
d
of the bin
10
, the substrate moves between the main body portion
210
and the tray
10
d
causing the flag
200
to pivot upwardly about axis A
1
against the force of gravity. Hence, the flag
200
is moved from a first fill position, shown in
FIG. 3
, where its main body portion
210
extends part-way through an opening
10
f
in the tray
10
d
, to a second fill position, shown in FIG.
4
. In
FIG. 4
, a substrate
20
is shown positioned between the tray
10
d
and the main body portion
210
. If one or more substrates
20
are located in the tray
10
d
before an incoming substrate moves into the tray
10
d
, the incoming substrate moves between the main body portion
210
and the upper-most substrate
20
a
located in the tray
10
d
. The flag
200
moves upwardly against the force of gravity as substrates are delivered into the tray
10
d
, see
FIGS. 5 and 6
. In
FIG. 5
, the flag
200
is shown in a third fill position and in
FIG. 6
is shown in a fourth fill or full bin position.
Periodically, a user, after removing a stack
20
b
of one or more substrates from a tray
10
d
, may desire to return the removed stack
20
b
to the tray
10
d
. For example, when a multi-bin structure, such as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, is provided, and each tray is assigned to a different user, a user, after mistakenly pulling substrates from a tray assigned to another user, may attempt to reinsert those documents back into the tray. Due to the contour of the second arcuate side portion
222
, when one or more substrates
20
are manually inserted into the tray
10
d
through the end
10
c
of the tray
10
d
opposite the entrance
12
, in the direction of arrow
32
illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the one or more substrates are directed beneath the main body portion
210
. If no substrates are in the tray
10
d
, the one or more substrates move between the main body portion
210
and the tray
10
d
causing the flag to pivot upwardly about axis A
1
against the force of gravity. If one or more substrates
20
are located in the tray
10
d
, the one or more inserted substrates move between the main body portion
210
and the upper-most substrate
20
a
in the stack
20
b
of substrates
20
located in the tray
10
d
. The insertion of one or more substrates in the direction of arrow
32
will typically not prevent the feeding of a substrate into the tray
10
d
in the direction of arrow
30
. This is because the one or more substrates moving in the direction of arrow
32
do not force the flag
200
downwardly toward the substrate stack
20
b
so as to prevent a substrate moving in the direction of arrow
30
from passing beneath the main body portion
210
.
The flag
200
further includes an encoded portion
230
coupled to the main body and attachment portions
210
and
212
, see
FIGS. 1-6
. Preferably, the main body, attachment and encoded portions
210
,
212
and
230
comprise a single integral element formed from a polymeric material. The encoded portion
230
moves with the main body portion
210
and functions to effect a change in state of the sensor apparatus
300
in response to a substrate fill condition change in the tray
10
d.
The sensor apparatus
300
comprises a housing
310
, see
FIG. 1
, having four flex arms (not shown) which are adapted to be received in bin recesses
10
g
, see
FIG. 2
, found in a bin extension
10
h
. The four flex arms releasably couple the housing
310
to the bin
10
. The housing
310
further includes first and second legs
312
and
314
which define a slot
316
between them, see FIG.
1
. The slot
316
is adapted to receive the encoded portion
230
of the flag
200
.
The sensor apparatus
300
further comprises a first optical sensor
320
having a first beam emitter
320
a
, see
FIG. 3
, and a first beam detector (not shown) and a second optical sensor
330
having a second beam emitter
330
a
and a second beam detector (not shown). The first and second beam emitters
320
a
and
330
a
are positioned in the housing first leg
312
and generate respectively first and second beams
320
b
and
330
b
, see
FIGS. 3-6
. The first and second beam detectors are positioned in the second leg
314
of the housing
310
. The first and second beams
320
b
and
330
b
extend across the slot
316
and are detected by the first and second detectors unless blocked by the encoded portion
230
.
The encoded portion
230
is configured such that it allows the first and second beams
320
b
and
330
b
to pass when the tray
10
d
is completely empty, i.e., when the tray
10
d
is in a first fill condition, see FIG.
3
. When one or more substrates are in the tray
10
d
and the tray
10
d
is not full or in its near full condition, i.e., when the tray
10
d
is in a second fill condition, a first extension
232
of the encoded portion
230
blocks the second beam
330
b
, see FIG.
4
. However, the first beam
320
b
is allowed to travel across the slot
316
so as to be detected by the first beam detector. When a near bin full condition exists, i.e., when the tray
10
d
is in a third fill condition, see
FIG. 5
, a second extension
234
and a middle section
236
of the encoded portion
230
block both beams
320
b
and
330
b
. When the tray
10
d
is full with substrates
20
, i.e., when the tray
10
d
is in a fourth fill condition, the second extension
234
blocks the passage of the first beam
320
b
while an opening
238
formed in the encoded portion
230
allows the second beam
330
b
to pass through the encoded portion
230
such that it is detected by the second beam detector.
The first and second optical sensors
320
and
330
are coupled to a printer processor (not shown) and provide the processor with signals indicative of the current fill condition of the tray
10
. For example, when a first fill condition exists, the first and second detectors sense the two beams
320
b
and
330
b
and generate corresponding signals to the processor indicative of this condition.
As noted above, the main body portion
210
includes a rib
221
integrally formed on a backside
210
a
of the main body portion
210
. As is apparent from
FIGS. 1 and 9
, the rib
221
extends at an angle across the printed substrate output path
30
. The rib
221
is shaped such that the main body portion
210
is moved to a full bin position when a portion of one or more curled substrates
20
c
contacts the rib
221
and extends to or above a level L
e
of the substrate output path
30
immediately adjacent the bin entrance
12
, see FIG.
10
. The level L
e
or height of the substrate output path
30
immediately adjacent the bin entrance
12
and the level or height of the bin entrance
12
may be slightly different from one another depending upon the angle at which substrates are fed into the bin
10
through the entrance
12
. When the flag
200
is moved to its full bin position, the first and second sensors
320
and
330
generate appropriate signals to the processor indicative of a fourth fill or full bin condition. Hence, the processor will respond as if the bin
10
were filled with substrates, i.e., it will prevent further substrates from being fed into the bin
10
.
The shape of the rib
221
may be changed from that of the illustrated embodiment so long as the flag
200
is moved to its full bin position when a portion of one or more curled substrates
20
c
extends to or above a level of the substrate output path
30
immediately adjacent the bin entrance
12
. It is also contemplated that the flag
200
may be formed without a rib so long as the shape of the flag
200
is such that the flag
200
moves to its fall bin position when a portion of one or more curled substrates
20
c
extends to or above a level of the substrate output path
30
immediately adjacent the bin entrance
12
.
The shape of the encoded portion
230
may be changed from that illustrated in
FIGS. 3-6
so as to indicate to sensor apparatus one of two, three or more tray fill conditions. The shape may also be changed for other reasons so long as the flag is capable of indicating to sensor apparatus a change in two or more fill conditions.
Other sensor apparatus may be substituted for the illustrated sensor apparatus. For example, the first and second optical sensors may comprise first and second beam emitters and first and second beam detectors, all of which are located in the same leg of the housing
310
. In this embodiment, the encoded portion
230
would act to reflect the beams back toward the detectors.
It is also noted that the tray
10
d
has a curved upper surface
110
. The tray
10
d
is lowest at the end immediately adjacent the bin entrance
12
and also at the end which defines the bin end
10
c
. The tray's highest point is located between the edge
222
a
of the second side portion
222
and the tray end which defines the bin end
10
c
. The tray
10
d
is also provided with two side recesses
10
e
(only one of which is shown in
FIG. 9
) to allow for easy access to a stack
20
b
of substrates in the tray
10
d
.
In
FIG. 7
, a single multi-bin output expander
400
is shown located on a conventional printer
500
. The expander
400
comprises five output bins
400
a
-
400
e
positioned in a stacked relationship. Each bin includes a substrate-receiving tray
410
. A substrate sensing mechanism
100
, as described above, is coupled to each tray
410
. The expander
400
further includes five sets of cooperating feed rollers
420
a
-
420
e
, five substrate diverters
430
a
-
430
e
, and five substrate flaps
440
a
-
440
e
. The printer
500
includes a pivotally mounted substrate diverter
510
movable between a position shown in
FIG. 7
in which it allows a substrate to be fed by a pair of cooperating feed rollers
512
a
and
512
b
into the expander
400
and a position (not shown) in which it diverts a substrate along a path
514
between two cooperating feed rollers
516
a
and
516
b
which, in turn, feed the substrate into a printer bin
518
. Conventional drive means (not shown) are provided to effect rotation of the feed rollers
420
a
-
420
e
and conventional displacement mechanisms (not shown) are provided to effect movement of the five substrate diverters
430
a
-
430
e
and the five substrate flaps
440
a
-
440
e
. In
FIG. 7
, the diverter
430
b
and the substrate flap
440
b
are shown positioned to divert a substrate into the bin
400
b
. The diverter
430
a
is positioned so as to allow a substrate to bypass the bin
400
a
. As is apparent from
FIG. 7
, the flags
200
are configured so that they are operable within a vertical space between any two adjacent bins
400
a
-
400
e
in the expander
400
.
In
FIG. 8
, two expanders
400
a
and
400
b
are shown located on a printer
500
. Each bin
400
a
-
400
e
in the two expanders
400
a
and
400
b
is provided with a substrate sensing mechanism
100
.
It is further contemplated that the shape of the main body portion
210
may be varied. For example, the first and second side portions may be substantially planar and converge downwardly toward a base portion. Other configurations not explicitly set out herein may also be used so long as the main body portion is capable of allowing the reinsertion of one or more removed substrates into the tray
10
d.
It is also contemplated that an element comprising at least a main body portion and an attachment portion coupled to the main body portion may be pivotably coupled to a side or edge portion of a printer output bin and function as a hold-down weight, i.e., apply a downward force onto one or more substrates located in the bin
10
so as to maintain those substrates in the bin
10
until removed by a user. The main body and attachment portions preferably are shaped in substantially the same manner as the main body and attachment portions
210
and
212
illustrated in
FIGS. 1-3
. The element may further include a counterweight portion positioned and coupled to the attachment portion in the same manner as the encoder portion
230
. It could also be shaped in substantially the same manner as the encoder portion
230
. Substrates passing into the bin
10
pass under the main body portion
210
of the element, which rests on the upper-most substrate in the bin
10
and functions as a hold-down weight.
For purposes of exemplification, particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A media contact member coupled to a printer output bin having an entrance through which printed substrates pass as they move along a printed substrate output path for stacking within the bin, said media contact member comprising a main body portion adapted to be movably coupled to the printer output bin and to extend to the printed substrate output path, said main body portion having first and second side portions, said first side portion facing the bin entrance and said second side portion facing an end of the bin opposite the entrance, said first side portion being shaped such that a substrate entering the bin is directed beneath said main body portion and said second side portion being shaped such that when one or more substrates are manually inserted through an end of the bin opposite the bin entrance, the one or more substrates are directed beneath said main body portion, said first side portion extending to a first level above media contacted by said main body portion and said second side portion extending to a second level above media contacted by said main body portion, said second level being less than said first level, wherein said first side portion and said second side portion converge downwardly to form a hollow interior and wherein said main body portion further includes a section extending across said output path shaped such that a portion of one or more curled substrates moves said main body portion to a full bin position when said portion of one or more curled substrates extends to or above a level of the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance.
- 2. A media contact as set forth in claim 1, wherein said section comprises a rib.
- 3. A flag coupled to a printer output bin having an entrance through which printed substrates pass as they move along a printed substrate output path for stacking within the bin, said flag comprising a main body portion adapted to be movably coupled to the printer output bin and to extend to the printed substrate output path, said main body portion having first and second side portions, said first side portion facing the bin entrance and said second side portion facing an end of the bin opposite the entrance, said first side portion being shaped such that a substrate entering the bin is directed beneath said main body portion and said second side portion being shaped such that when one or more substrates are manually inserted through an end of the bin opposite the bin entrance the one or more substrates are directed beneath said main body portion, said main body portion further including a section extending across said output path shaped such that a portion of one or more curled substrates moves said main body portion to a full bin position when said portion of one or more curled substrates extends to or above a level of the substrate output path immediately adjacent the bin entrance.
- 4. A flag as set forth in claim 3, further comprising an attachment portion coupled to the main body portion and adapted to be pivotably coupled to the bin such that said main body portion pivots relative to the bin.
- 5. A flag as set forth in claim 4, wherein said section comprises a rib.
- 6. A flag as set forth in claim 3, wherein said section comprises a rib.
US Referenced Citations (29)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
63-101266A |
May 1988 |
JP |