Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – To receiver for pack of sheets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-08-28
Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
To receiver for pack of sheets
C271S258020, C270S058020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279899
ABSTRACT:
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
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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
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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 compri
Coffey Johnnie A.
Rennick David Erwin
Schoedinger Kevin Dean
Thornhill William Joseph
Brady John A.
Lexmark International Inc.
Skaggs H. Grant
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