Output bin for printing devices

Details Output bin for printing devices Output bin for printing devices

2001-03-22

2002-10-22

Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3653)

Sheet feeding or delivering

Delivering

To receiver for pack of sheets

C270S058080, C227S039000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06467769

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an output bin for printers, copiers, and other printing devices that output sheet media. More particularly, the invention relates to a bin for capturing and aligning, in a stack, sheet media dispensed from a printing device.
BACKGROUND
In conventional printing devices such as laser and ink printers, copiers, and facsimile machines, sheets are dispensed one after the other forming stacks in one or more bins or trays located within or near the device. In many instances it is desirable to staple, bind, punch, or cut the stack of sheets collected in a bin. Before such finishing operations can be performed, the edges and corners of the sheets in the stack must be aligned. Referring to
FIG. 1
, the support surface
10
of some bins
12
is sloped allowing each sheet
14
to slide into place over the top of a sheet
14
previously dispensed into the bin
12
forming a stack
16
. Such bins
12
include a floor or stop
18
located near the base of the sloped support surface
10
. Gravity, forcing each sheet
14
down the sloped surface
10
, aligns the bottom edge of each sheet
14
in the stack
16
against the stop
18
. As can be seen in
FIG. 2
, however, this scheme often fails to align the side edge
20
of the sheets
14
in the stack
16
, so additional adjustments are needed before a finishing operation can be performed. More sophisticated bins incorporate mechanical devices for fully aligning the sheets in a stack. However, these mechanical solutions can significantly increase the cost of a printing device. What is needed is a relatively inexpensive bin capable of forming a fully aligned stack of sheets without slowing the output speed of the printing device.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an output bin that uses gravity to urge the sheets into alignment along two edges and thereby help form a fully aligned stack. In one embodiment, the bin includes a first panel facing each sheet as the sheet is output from the printing device, the first panel having a top, a bottom and a side; a second panel disposed along the bottom of the first panel, the second panel tipped relative to a leading edge that leads each sheet out of the printing device; and a third panel disposed along the side of the first panel. Each sheet dispensed into the output bin slides over the first panel until a leading edge of the sheet contacts an upper portion of the second tipped panel. The sheet then tips in the direction of the third panel and rests with the leading edge supported by the second panel and a side edge supported by the third panel.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3881605 (1975-05-01), Grossman
patent: 3946879 (1976-03-01), Jensen
patent: 4220323 (1980-09-01), Smith
patent: 4238066 (1980-12-01), Brooke
patent: 4861213 (1989-08-01), Fuchs
patent: 5058878 (1991-10-01), Hochbein et al.
patent: 0019642 (1985-01-01), None
patent: 0215465 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 406263310 (1994-09-01), None
Fernandez, Copy Inverting Tray, Jun.-1979, Xerox Disclosure Journal, vol. 4, No. 3, p. 317.

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