Imaging methods and apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSrinivas Guddanti, Chet Butikofer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Imaging apparatus and methods include providing an input support surface to support input imaging media and an output support surface to support output imaging media. The input support surface is configured to move relative to the output support surface, wherein such movement is in response to the drawing, or picking, of input imaging media from the input support surface, and wherein such movement is also proportional to the quantity of input imaging media picked from the input support surface.
Claims24
An imaging apparatus, comprising a bi-functional imaging media input/output tray configured to simultaneously support thereon a stack of input imaging media and a stack of output imaging media.
An imaging apparatus, comprising a bifunctional imaging media input/output tray which comprises:
- an output surface configured to support thereon a stack of output imaging media;
- an input surface configured to support thereon a stack of input imaging media;
- and
- an actuating mechanism configured to move the input surface relative to the input surface.
A media tray for use with an imaging apparatus, the media tray comprising a bifunctional imaging media input/output tray.
A method of feeding imaging media into an imaging apparatus, comprising:
- providing an input support surface configured to support the imaging media in sheet form;
- providing an output support surface which is configured to support the imaging media in sheet form, and which is located below the input surface;
- supporting a stack of imaging media on the input support surface;
- picking the imaging media from the input support surface, one-sheet-at-a-time;
- depositing the imaging media onto the output support surface, one-sheet-at-a-time;
- and,
- moving the input surface away from the output support surface in response to picking the input media from the input support surface.
A method of feeding sheet maid through an imaging apparatus, comprising:
- providing a bi-functional input/output tray having an input support surface and an output support surface below the input support surface;
- supporting a sheet of imaging media on the input support surface;
- picking the sheet of the media from the input support surface;
- generating an image on the sheet;
- and,
- depositing the sheet on the output support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.