US 2016/0103415 A1 · POWER ASSIST SCISSOR LIFT

Abstract

A scissor lift apparatus includes a sliding carriage member and a pivoting linkage added to a conventional scissor lift in order to lower the force required to lift a tray holding heavy media during the initial portion of the lifting action where the scissor lift is fully compressed.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A xerographic device, comprising:

a marking module for printing images onto media;
a feeder module including a media supply for feeding media from a stack to said marking module;
a finisher module including a bottom support and a movable tray for receiving imaged media from said marking module;
and
a scissor lift apparatus on which said movable tray is mounted for lowering and raising said movable tray as sheets of media are deposited thereon and removed therefrom, said movable tray being supported by a first leg having one end pivotally attached to said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween;
a second leg having one end supporting said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween, and wherein said second leg is transverse to said first leg and the intermediate portions of said first leg and said second leg are pivotally connected about a shaft;
and a pivoting linkage, said pivoting linkage being configured to be pivotally driven in a counter-clockwise direction and contact said movable tray in order to lower the force required to lift said movable tray during an initial portion of the lifting action when said scissor lift is fully compressed, and wherein said pivoting linkage comprises an L-shaped arm and a carriage member adapted to contact said L-shaped arm during said initial portion of the lifting action when said scissor lift is fully compressed to provide a power assist to said L-shaped arm and thereby lower the force required to lift said scissor lift apparatus.

4 more elements

A xerographic device that includes a method for lowering the force required to raise a media tray with a scissor lift mechanism, comprising:

providing a marking module for printing images onto media;
providing a feeder module including a media supply for feeding media from a stack to said marking module;
providing a finisher module including a bottom support and a movable media tray for receiving imaged media from said marking module;
providing a scissor lift apparatus on which said movable tray is mounted for lowering and raising said movable tray as sheets of media are deposited thereon and removed therefrom, said movable tray being supported by a first leg having one end pivotally attached to said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween;
a second leg having one end supporting said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween, and wherein said second leg is transverse to said first leg and the intermediate portions of said first leg and said second leg are pivotally connected about a shaft;
providing a pivoting linkage that includes an L-shaped arm, said pivoting linkage being configured to be pivotally driven in a counter-clockwise direction and contact said movable media tray in order to lower the force required to lift said movable media tray during an initial portion of the lifting action when said scissor lift apparatus is fully compressed;
and
providing a carriage member adapted to be forced into contact with said L-shaped arm during an initial portion of lifting action when said scissor lift apparatus is fully compressed to provide a power assist to said L-shaped arm and thereby lower the force required to lift said scissor lift apparatus.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,810 words

Summary656 words

#This disclosure relates in general to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus employing an improved lift mechanism for a finisher connected to the image forming apparatus.

#It is well known to use scissor lift platforms to facilitate stacking or un-stacking of sheets or booklets of media, for example, those exiting an image forming apparatus. The typical lift table incorporates a support platform and a mechanism for selectively raising or lowering the support platform into a position facilitating its loading or unloading. Vertical movement of the support platform usually is accomplished by use of a scissor arm mechanism that supports the support platform on an underlying base and that is raised and lowered by way of conventional means.

#A scissor lift generally consists of two elongated members connected together, usually at or near their midpoints, forming a pivoting mechanism. The scissor lift works by starting the members in an orientation favored towards the horizontal, rather than vertical. To create a change in vertical height, or lift, the members are counter rotated relative to each other from the starting orientation to a more vertical orientation.

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#Various of the above-mentioned and further features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the specific apparatus and its operation or methods described in the example(s) below, and the claims. Thus, they will be better understood from this description of these specific embodiment(s), including the drawing figures (which are approximately to scale) wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a frontal schematic view of a prior art scissor lift at a low angle;

#FIG. 2 is a frontal schematic view of the prior art scissor lift of FIG. 1 at a high angle;

Detailed description1,813 words

#The disclosure will now be described by reference to preferred embodiment xerographic printing apparatus that includes a finisher with an improved media scissor lift system.

#For a general understanding of the features of the disclosure, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to identify identical elements.

#Referring now to printer 10 in FIG. 4 that, as in other xerographic machines, and as is well known, shows an electrographic printing system including the improved scissor lift method and apparatus of the present disclosure. The term “printing system” as used here encompasses a printer apparatus, including any associated peripheral or modular devices, where the term “printer” as used herein encompasses any apparatus, such as a digital copier, bookmaking machine, multifunction machine, etc., which performs a print outputting function for any purpose. Marking module 12 includes a photoreceptor belt 14 that advances in the direction of arrow 16 through the various processing stations around the path of belt 14. Charger 18 charges an area of belt 14 to a relatively high, substantially uniform potential. Next, the charged area of belt 14 passes laser 20 to expose selected areas of belt 14 to a pattern of light, to discharge selected areas to produce an electrostatic latent image. Next, the illuminated area of the belt passes developer unit M, which deposits magenta toner on charged areas of the belt.

Facts

Application

14/972,236Filed 17 Dec 2015

Priority

22 Apr 2013

Published

14 Apr 2016

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G03G 21/1604
Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements: arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
B65H 31/10
The articles being piled one above another: and applied at the top of the pile
B65H 31/14
Devices relieving the weight of the pile or permitting or effecting movement of the pile end support during piling: springs
B65H 31/18
Devices relieving the weight of the pile or permitting or effecting movement of the pile end support during piling: positively-acting mechanical…

Timeline

22 Apr 2013Priority claimedParent application 13/867,272
17 Dec 2015Application filedUS 14/972,236
14 Apr 2016Published
10 Nov 2022Assigned to Citibank, N.A., AS Agentsecurity interest
18 May 2023Assigned to Xerox Corporationrelease of security interest in patents at r/f 062740/0214
22 Jun 2023Assigned to Citibank, N.A., AS Collateral Agentsecurity interest
20 Nov 2023Assigned to Jefferies Finance LLC, AS Collateral Agentsecurity interest
13 Feb 2024Assigned to Citibank, N.A., AS Collateral Agentsecurity interest
13 Feb 2024Assigned to Xerox Corporationtermination and release of security interest in patents recorded at rf 064760/0389
11 Apr 2025Assigned to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, AS Collateral Agentfirst lien notes patent security agreement
2 Jul 2025Assigned to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, AS Collateral Agentsecond lien notes patent security agreement

Power assist scissor lift

Life of this patent

Power assist scissor lift

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description2,810 words

Drawings

Description2,810 words

Classification13 codes