Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080240835 | Input Tray Cover For An Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to devices and methods of protecting an input tray of an image forming apparatus. One embodiment of a device may include a mounting bracket that is attached to and positioned within an interior of the image forming apparatus. A cover may be movably attached to the mounting bracket. The cover may be positionable between a first retracted orientation positioned within the interior of the image forming apparatus and a second extended orientation positioned over a portion of the input tray that extends outward from the interior of the image forming apparatus. A biasing member may be operatively connected to the cover to bias the cover towards the first retracted orientation. | 10-02-2008 |
20090169244 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONTROL ACCESS TO AN INTERIOR OF AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - The present application is directed to systems and methods to control access to an interior of an image forming device. The image forming device may include a body with a door that is movable between open and closed positions. In the open position, access is gained to an interior of the body. A controller controls a latch through a motor arrangement to lock and unlock the door. A user interface may be positioned on an exterior of the body to allow a user to enter commands to lock and unlock the door. Additional elements may also be included within the interior of the image forming device and operated with the motor arrangement. | 07-02-2009 |
20090190956 | DRIVE SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE MOTOR-AND-GEAR-TRAIN CONFIGURATIONS FOR JITTER AND NOISE REDUCTION AND COLOR DEVELOPER PRESERVATION - A color electrophotographic printing machine has a drive system which includes a frame and first, second and third motor-and-gear-train configurations mounted thereon at a common location and respectively drivingly coupled to first, second and third combinations of multiple color developer drive assemblies, multiple color photoconductive drum drive assemblies, a black developer drive assembly and a black photoconductive drum drive assembly so as to operate the same. The first and second configurations are operable at first and second motor gear mesh frequencies that are different and the third configuration is operable at a motor gear mesh frequency that can be substantially the same as one of the first and second motor gear mesh frequencies. Also, the first combination includes yellow, cyan and magenta color developer drive assemblies, the second combination includes yellow and cyan color photoconductive drum drive assemblies, and the third combination includes a magenta color photoconductive drum drive assembly with the black developer drive assemblies and black photoconductive drum drive assemblies | 07-30-2009 |
20090212489 | Systems And Methods of Aligning A Media Sheet In An Image Forming Apparatus - The present application is directed to systems and methods to align a media sheet in a media path of an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, the system may include an input area with an alignment edge to initially laterally align the media sheet. The media sheet may then move through an alignment nip which is constructed to laterally move the media sheet against a reference edge. The media sheet moves along the reference edge and become aligned prior to moving to a transport belt. The media sheet may then move through one or more transfer nips to receive one or more images. | 08-27-2009 |
20090245839 | Fuser Assembly Fan Control - A printer is provided including a reference edge, a fuser assembly, a cooling apparatus and a controller. The reference edge is adapted to be contacted by a substrate as the substrate moves along a substrate path through the printer. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member including a belt and a backup member. The cooling apparatus is adapted to move cooling air capable of cooling the fuser assembly. The controller is configured to activate the cooling apparatus after determining that a first end portion of the backup member opposite a second end portion of the backup member near the reference edge is at a temperature above a predefined first threshold temperature. | 10-01-2009 |
20090295072 | Media Tray With Media Restraint Assembly Adjustable Between And Lockable At Multiple Closely Spaced Positions - A media tray includes a housing and a media restraint assembly mounted in the housing having a position selection mechanism for placing respective floor portions of the housing in a selected one position of a multiplicity of closely spaced apart positions. The position selection mechanism includes an actuator adapted for undergoing movement relative to the floor portions along a first direction between extended and retracted positions and a position securement arrangement adapted for undergoing conversion along a second direction transverse to the first direction between engaged and disengaged conditions in response to movement of the actuator between the extended and retracted positions to correspondingly select and de-select the selected one position of the floor portions and accordingly set the floor portions at and release the floor portions from the selected one position thereof. The media restraint assembly also includes an actuation lever and a lock mechanism for the lever. | 12-03-2009 |
20100014885 | System for Creating a Condition of Substantial Thermal Consistency Between Multiple Printer Cartridges - A system for creating a condition of substantial thermal consistency between multiple printer cartridges includes a frame defining a cavity for supporting the multiple cartridges spaced apart from one another and a plurality of components mounted to the frame in flow communication with one another and with the cavity via the frame. The plurality of components coact with one another and with the frame to generate, regulate and distribute an intake flow of cooling air from the frame into multiple inflows of cooling air along different spaced apart paths at different velocities through the cavity and between the spaced apart multiple cartridges for causing transformation of the multiple inflows of cooling air into multiple outflows of heated air by contact with the multiple cartridges and to exhaust the multiple outflows of heated air from the cavity and frame. | 01-21-2010 |
20100038845 | Spring-Assisted Print Media Feeder Apparatus - A print media feeder apparatus suitable for use in an image-forming device is provided. The apparatus comprises an elevator tray holding a stack of print media connected to a housing by a transmission system. The housing comprises a hoist drum that is connected to one end of a shaft for connecting the housing to the transmission system. A spring enclosure encasing a spring is fixed on the other end of the shaft. The load of print media is transmitted to the hoist drum, from which it is further transmitted to the spring through the shaft. This results in the displacement of the spring and a corresponding vertical movement of the elevator tray to position the print media at the desired feeding level. | 02-18-2010 |
20100133744 | Media Sheet Guide Device and Method for Maintaining Proper Sheet Alignment in an Image Forming Machine - A media sheet guide device for maintaining proper sheet alignment in an image forming machine includes a body extending between spaced apart reference edges of respective upstream and downstream media alignment mechanisms and a face on the body defining a path along which a sheet moves lengthwise from the upstream reference edge to the downstream reference edge. The face has a section extending widthwise and defining a portion of the path about which the sheet bends widthwise as the sheet moves lengthwise along the path portion. The face section has first and second segments differing in curvature for applying a differential drag widthwise across the sheet causing a rotation of the sheet sufficiently to displace a leading end of the sheet away from the downstream reference edge to thereby ensure that a leading corner of the sheet can enter into the downstream reference edge without jamming against an entry end thereof. | 06-03-2010 |
20110042545 | Anti-Tip Stability System Integral to an Imaging Apparatus - An imaging apparatus having a printer frame, a media tray frame module disposed below the printer frame, and an anti-tip stability system including two alignment posts mounted substantially diagonally on the media tray frame module. The alignment posts have first surfaces and second surfaces where each second surface makes an acute angle ranging from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees with a horizontal plane. The alignment posts provide anti-tip stability to the imaging apparatus by engaging with the printer frame when the printer frame is tilted at a first contact angle with respect to the alignment posts due to the application of an external force. The alignment posts also facilitate relatively easy separation of the printer frame from the media tray frame module. | 02-24-2011 |
20110210499 | Method for Aligning a Media Sheet in an Image Forming Apparatus - A method for aligning a media sheet in a media path of an image forming apparatus includes aligning the media sheet against a first reference edge of an input tray. The media sheet may then move through an alignment nip which is constructed to laterally move the media sheet against a reference edge. The media sheet moves along the reference edge and becomes aligned prior to moving to a transport belt. The media sheet may then move through one or more transfer nips to receive one or more images. | 09-01-2011 |
20120103118 | Detachable Reversible Pick Mechanism for Feeding Media From a Media Tray of an Image Forming Device - A detachable reversible pick mechanism for a media input tray. The pick mechanism comprises a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear slidably engageable onto a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, a pick axle having a pick wheel at each end, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear; and a transmission housing consisting of a top, a bottom, and a side surface defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission, an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion, and a releasable latch mounted on the side surface for rotatably engaging a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the drive shaft, the latch allowing a user to readily dismount the pick mechanism for service or replacement. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104679 | Method for Positioning and Feeding Media Into a Media Feed Path of an Image Forming Device - A method for positioning and feeding media into a media feed path according to one embodiment includes moving a first media sheet from the top of a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path leaving a second media sheet at the top of the stack of media sheets. In the media storage location, the second media sheet is moved opposite the media process direction away from an entrance to the media feed path until a leading edge of the second media sheet reaches a known predetermined position in the media storage location. After the leading edge of the second media sheet reaches the known predetermined position, the second media sheet is moved in the media process direction from the stack of media sheets into the media feed path. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104680 | Method for Feeding Compressible Media in an Image Forming Device - A pick mechanism according to one exemplary embodiment includes transmission housing and a drive transmission engageable with a drive shaft for receiving rotational force from the drive shaft. A pick axle has at least one pick wheel mounted thereon and is operatively connected to the drive transmission for rotating the at least one pick wheel. A first stop extends from the transmission housing for limiting the rotation of the pick mechanism about the drive shaft. A method for feeding compressible media according to one embodiment includes rotating a pick mechanism downward about a drive shaft, limiting the downward rotation of the pick mechanism to convert the pick mechanism from a compliant element to a non-compliant element, and feeding a first compressible media from a top surface of a lift plate in a media process direction with the non-compliant pick mechanism. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104682 | Removable Input Tray Assembly Having an Integrated Roller Nip for an Image Forming Device - A removable input tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a wall extending upward from the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly further includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. An inclined media dam is formed in the wall and has a media contact surface for directing media advanced from the media storage location. A channel is provided in the wall and extends the height of the wall for directing media passing therethrough. A roller nip is formed in the channel within the media tray by a pair of rollers for advancing media through the channel. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104683 | System for Feeding and Separating Media in an Image Forming Device - A system for feeding and separating media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a pick mechanism having at least one rotatable pick roller for feeding a topmost media sheet from a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path. The system further includes at least one rotatable separator roller positioned opposite and spaced away from the at least one pick roller downstream from the initial pick position. The separator roller forms an open nip with the at least one pick roller. The at least one separator roller is rotatable counter to the media process direction for separating the topmost media sheet from an adjacent media sheet and returning the adjacent media sheet to a separation point upstream from the at least one separator roller. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104686 | RAISABLE LIFT PLATE SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING AND FEEDING MEDIA IN AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A system for positioning and feeding media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a raisable lift plate having a top surface for receiving a stack of media sheets and a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets into a media feed path. The system further includes a drive transmission having a single input, a first output connected to the pick mechanism for driving the pick mechanism, a second output connected to the lift plate for raising the lift plate, a first clutched gear connected to the first output of the drive transmission, and a second clutched gear connected to the first clutched gear and the second output of the drive transmission. The second clutched gear has an engagement opposite the first clutched gear. A single motor is connected to the input of the drive transmission for raising the lift plate and driving the pick mechanism. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104688 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF MEDIA SHEETS IN A MEDIA TRAY IN AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A method for determining the amount of media sheets in a media tray in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes raising a lift plate supporting a stack of media sheets toward a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets by rotation of a motor in a first direction. An amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction is determined. An indication of an amount of media sheets remaining in the media tray is provided based on the determined amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction. | 05-03-2012 |
20120139179 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING MEDIA POSITIONING AND INDEXING USING AN ENCODER IN AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height. | 06-07-2012 |
20140103602 | AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE PICK MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF MEDIA OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS - In an imaging apparatus, a removable media tray is operative to hold a plurality of media types of different widths and a pick device includes a pick mechanism and a translation mechanism for moving the pick mechanism to a centerline of a width of one or more media sheets in the media tray. The media tray includes a reference edge surface and a media edge guide moveable to a selected position with respect to the reference edge surface. The one or more media sheets are restrained between the reference edge surface and the media edge guide with the translation mechanism automatically translating the pick mechanism to the centerline of the corresponding media width during insertion of the media tray into the imaging apparatus. | 04-17-2014 |