Registration gate for multi sheet inserter tray
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRichard Thomas Calhoun Bridges, Roy Norman Gladwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A registration gate is mounted in a sheet feeding mechanism for rotation about an axis at about right angles to the direction of sheet feed into a feeder mechanism. The gate includes a plurality of fingers extending upwardly through slots in the tray. A motorized sequencing cam moves followers to rotate the gate to an open position to retract the fingers below the tray, to raise and lower a nudger in and to move a lever for locking and unlocking the gate into the closed position with the fingers upright for registering the leading edge of the sheets during user loading of the tray. The cam may be detented or locked by a pawl engaging a notch in the cam.
Claims22
apparatus for loading sheets in a sheet feeder comprising:
- (a) a receptacle for stacking loaded sheets to be fed;
- (b) a nudger operable for introducing a sheet from the stacks to the feeder;
- (c) a gate disposed for pivotal movement about an axis orthogonal to the direction of sheet feed;
- (d) a cam disposed for rotation with respect to the feeder;
- (e) a cam follower operably responsive to the cam rotation to effect the pivotal movement of the gate between an open position permitting sheets to be fed from the stack and a closed position blocking movement of the sheets from the stack, wherein the gate in the closed position serves as a leading edge register for loading sheets.
Apparatus for loading sheets in a sheet feeder comprising:
- (a) a receptacle for loaded sheets to be fed;
- (b) a gate disposed for pivotal movement about an axis at about right angles to the direction of sheet feed;
- (c) a sequencer operable to effect the pivotal movement of the gate between closed position blocking sheet feed and serving as a leading edge register for loading sheets in the receptacle and an open position permitting sheet feed.
A method of providing a registration surface for the leading edge of sheet stack in a sheet feeder comprising:
- (a) providing a receptacle for user loading a sheet stack to be fed;
- (b) disposing a gate for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the direction of sheet feed;
- and
- (c) rotating the gate between a closed position blocking sheet feed from the stack and serving as a registration surface for user sheet loading and an open position permitting sheet feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.