Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Pack holders
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-29
2003-09-02
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Pack holders
C271S171000, C271S167000, C271S162000, C206S449000, C206S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06612564
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention claimed and disclosed herein pertains to media trays for imaging apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many imaging apparatus, such as printers, photocopiers, and so-called “all-in-one” apparatus (which typically combine at least the functions of a printer and a photocopier into a single apparatus) are frequently configured to receive an interchangeable imaging media tray to allow a user to use different sizes and types of imaging media in the imaging apparatus. For example, a user can have one tray sized to hold letter-sized (8.5 inches×11 inches) paper, and another tray sized to hold legalsized (8.5 inches by 14 inches) paper. For purposes of convenience, I will use the term “paper tray” to generally refer to an imaging media tray. The term “paper tray” should not be construed to limit the imaging media to only paper, but any type of sheet media typically imaged by an imaging apparatus. Accordingly, in addition to having a tray for letter-sized paper, a user might also have a second letter-sized tray to hold plastic transparencies. A user might also have multiple trays configured to hold the same size of media, but in different weights (e.g., 20 lb paper weight and 24 lb paper weight), as well as different colors (e.g., light green to designate a particular type of document, such as an invoice).
As can be seen, a user can quickly accumulate a large number of paper trays if the user desires to have various imaging media readily available for use in the imaging apparatus. This presents some problems. Firstly, there is the problem of storing all of the different trays. Since the paper trays typically occupy a larger footprint than-the size of the imaging media contained in the tray, space requirements for storing the trays can be significant. This is compounded by the fact that often times the paper trays for a given imaging apparatus are sized to be received within an opening in the imaging apparatus, and the opening is sized (length-wise and width-wise) to receive a tray holding the largest size of imaging media that the trays can accommodate. Accordingly, the trays can have a footprint that is significantly larger than the size of the media in the tray. For example, if an imaging apparatus is configured to receive a papers tray that will hold paper up to legal size, then the paper tray can easily be 10 inches wide, and 15 inches long. However, if the user elects to put No. 10 envelopes (4.125 inches by 9.5 inches) in the tray, then an extra 110 square inches of storage space is required beyond the 39 square inches required to actually store the envelopes.
A second problem is the cost of acquiring a large number of paper trays. Since paper trays are frequently provided with locking devices to secure them within the imaging apparatus, and a paper lift device to present the paper to a feed roller, the cost of a paper tray can be significant. Further, most paper trays are provided with adjustable surfaces to allow them to accommodate a variety of paper sizes. The adjustable surfaces also add cost to the paper tray. One solution to this problem is to have only one or two trays, and then to move imaging media into and out of the tray or trays as the media is needed by the user. This, of course, requires a high degree of activity on the part of the user, which is undesirable and an inefficient use of time for many businesses. Further, a storage space for the imaging media must be provided when the media is out of the tray, and preferably the media storage space is a protected space so that the imaging media does not become damaged, fade or get dusty or dirty while it is being stored.
Turning to
FIG. 1
, a prior art paper tray
10
is depicted in isometric view. This tray is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,952 to Arjang Hourtash (and assigned to Hewlett-Packard Company). The paper tray
10
generally includes a front panel
14
, a rear panel
12
, side panels
16
, a first bottom panel
17
, and a second bottom panel
18
(which is shown in an exploded-view). The paper tray
10
further includes a first adjustable panel
20
which can be moved towards (and away from) the front panel
14
and thereby adjust the length dimension
22
for imaging media contained within the tray
10
. Paper tray
10
further includes a second adjustable panel
24
which can be moved towards (and away from) the side panels
16
and thereby adjust the width dimension
26
for imaging media contained within the tray. As can be seen, the adjustable panels are supported between the bottom panels
17
and
18
to allow the adjustable panels to slide freely, yet be held in place in the paper tray. By selectively adjusting the adjustable panels
20
and
24
, imaging media “M” of length “L” and width “W” can be accommodated within the tray
10
. Accordingly, if a user desired to replace letter-sized paper in the tray
10
with DIN size A4 paper (approximately 8.27 inches by 11.69 inches), then both adjustable surfaces
20
and
24
will need to be adjusted.
Another prior art solution to the problem of having multiple paper trays is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,164 (Watanabe), which shows a paper tray configured to receive two or more different sizes of imaging media. However, without making the tray an excessive height, the tray limits the amount of each size of imaging media that can be contained within the tray. Typically paper trays are sized to accommodate a ream (500 sheets) of paper. A tray configured to accommodate three reams of paper would need to be approximately 6-7 inches high, and, when filled with imaging media, would weigh 15 lb or more. Further, the paper tray described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,164 requires a complex paper feed system in the imaging apparatus to pick sheets of imaging media from the different levels.
What is needed then is a paper tray for an imaging apparatus which achieves the benefits to be derived from similar prior art devices, but which avoids the shortcomings and detriments individually associated therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides for a “paper tray” (imaging media tray), or paper tray assembly, for providing imaging media to an imaging apparatus. The paper tray assembly includes a base cassette and an insert cassette. The base cassette defines a first receptacle to receive at least a portion of the insert cassette, and the insert cassette defines a second receptacle to receive the imaging media. In one example the base cassette includes a first bottom panel, a lift plate, and a biasing member to bias the lift plate away from the first bottom panel. In this example the insert cassette includes a second bottom panel defining an opening therein to allow the lift plate to contact imaging media received within the insert cassette.
Another embodiment provides for a package of imaging media for use in an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus has a base cassette to hold imaging media. The package of imaging media includes a rigid imaging media container sized to be received within the base cassette, and imaging media placed within the imaging media container. In one example the imaging media container further includes a spacer which orients the imaging media container with respect to the base cassette when the imaging media container is received within the base cassette. In this example the spacer can optionally be deployable from a first position wherein the spacer is juxtaposed to the imaging media container, to a second position wherein the spacer orients the imaging media container with respect to the base cassette.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5085421 (1992-02-01), Sellers
patent: 5120040 (1992-06-01), Worley
patent: 5149078 (1992-09-01), Matsuda et al.
patent: 5163670 (1992-11-01), Sellers et al.
patent: 5228678 (1993-07-01), Matsuda et al.
patent: 5287164 (1994-02-01), Watanabe
patent: 5311993 (1994-05-01), Koch
patent: 5314179 (1994-05-01), Oda et al.
patent: 5901952 (1999-05-01), Hourtash
patent: 5911320 (1999-06-01), Forestelle
patent: 6179499 (2001-01-
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
Joerger Kaitlin
Walsh Donald P.
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