Stack accessory for printer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorMatt G. Driggers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stack accessory for a printer attaches as a module to a printer and provides a source of media. Media originates from a stack within the module passing media from the bottom of the stack to the printer. The top of the stack remains open to replenish the media stack without interrupting printing operations. The stack accessory serves particularly well as an envelope feed mechanism supporting a large inventory of envelopes therein. Large scale and continuous envelope printing operations result. Overall, a stack accessory under the present invention converts a generally conventional printer into a high-volume printing device enjoying uninterrupted printing operations associated with replenishing a supply of media fed therethrough.
Claims25
An infeed module for a printer, said printer including a module mounting site, said infeed module comprising:
- a mounting structure attachable at said mounting site of said printer;
- a media stack receptacle, said stack receptacle having a feed side and a replenish side, said stack receptacle being open at said replenish side;
- and
- a stack outlet adjacent said feed side of said stack receptacle, said stack outlet presenting media externally of said module.
A method of printer operation, said printer including a media transport mechanism, said method comprising the steps:
- removing a first portion of said media transport mechanism;
- inserting a stack accessory in place thereof, said stack accessory feeding media from a stack receptacle having a feed side and a replenish side, said stack receptacle being open at its replenish side and feeding media taken from said stack receptacle at its feed side, said stack accessory complementing a second portion of said media transport mechanism of said printer to selectively feed media from said stack accessory and through said printer.
A printing device comprising:
- a printer in combination with a stack accessory attached thereto, said stack accessory passing a sequence of media from a stack receptacle thereof into a feed mechanism of said printer, said stack accessory having an open replenish side and a feed side opposite said replenish side, said stack accessory collecting for print imaging said sequence of media from said feed side of said stack receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.