US 2013/0093135 A1 · SLIDING TANDEM MEDIA FEEDER IN A PRINTER

Abstract

In a tandem media supply, two vertical stacks of media sheets are stored. The first stack is positioned on a lift plate that rises as top sheets are removed from the stack of media. When the first stack is exhausted, the second stack is moved by an actuator towards a position where the lift plate was loaded with the first stack of media sheets. Movement of the second stack displaces a biased gate to decouple the lift plate from a drive member that elevated the lift plate. The lift plate drops under the effect of gravity to a position where the second stack of media sheets moves onto the lift plate. Once the second stack is on the lift plate, a biasing force returns the biased gate to a position that enables the drive member to elevate the lift plate.

Claims6

Dependent claims

1-17. (canceled)

A tandem media sheet supply for an imaging device comprising:

a housing having a volume that is configured with a first portion and a second portion, each portion of the volume in the housing being configured to hold a vertical stack of media sheets in the housing;
a gate assembly located between the first portion and the second portion of the volume in the housing and comprising:
a first gate configured to engage a first vertical stack of media sheets in the first portion of the volume;
a second gate mechanically connected to the first gate, the first gate and second gate being configured to move between a first position and a second position;
and
a biasing member configured to bias the first gate and second gate into the first position;
and
an actuator configured to move the first vertical stack of media sheets from the first portion of the volume in the housing to the second portion of the volume in the housing, the movement of the first vertical stack of media sheets displacing the first gate and the second gate from the first position to the second position, the first gate and second gate in the second position enabling the first vertical stack of media sheets to move from the first portion of the volume in the housing to the second portion of the volume in the housing, the biasing member being configured to move the first gate and the second gate to the first position in response to the actuator moving the first vertical stack of media sheets to the second portion of the volume, and the second gate in the first position being configured to hold the first vertical stack of media sheets in the second portion of the volume.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/272,996Filed 13 Oct 2011

Published

18 Apr 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B65H 1/26
Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated: with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
B65H 1/14
With means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device: comprising positively-acting mechanical devices
B65H 1/28
Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated: compartmented to receive piles side-by-side
B65H 2301/42266
Delivering, advancing piles: by acting on edge of the pile for moving it along a surface, e.g. pushing

Sliding tandem media feeder in a printer

Life of this patent

Sliding tandem media feeder in a printer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6