Imaging media tray loading access

An imaging media tray for use in an imaging system having a housing, the tray comprising the following:

• a generally rectangular tray bottom;
• a pair of tray sidewalls connected to the tray bottom, the sidewalls being disposed parallel to one another and upwardly from the tray bottom on opposite sides of the tray bottom;
• a tray end wall connected to the tray bottom and to the tray sidewalls;
• and
• a tray closure element movably connected directly to the tray bottom and the tray sidewalls at a position opposite and generally parallel to the tray end wall, the tray bottom, tray sidewalls, and tray end wall together defining an enclosure for retaining imaging media in position for processing by the imaging system, and the tray closure member provides access for loading and unloading imaging media to and from the enclosure.

In an imaging system having a housing, a method of loading imaging media into a tray, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing a tray including an imaging media holding portion adapted and constructed to retain imaging media in position for processing by the imaging system, the tray further including at least one tray closure element movably connected directly to the imaging media holding portion;
• moving the tray closure element to a first, open position;
• inserting imaging media into the imaging media holding portion without movement of the imaging media holding portion with respect to the housing of the imaging system;
• and
• moving the tray closure element to a second, closed position in which the imaging media is in position for processing by the imaging system.