Removable duplexer tray module for an imaging apparatus

A removable media handling module for an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus having a simplex media path through which a media sheet passes for printing an image on a first side thereof, a media exit path for receiving a printed media sheet from the simplex media path, the media exit path having an entrance downstream of and in communication with an exit of the simplex media path and an exit in communication with a media output area for receiving the printed media sheet, and a duplex media path having an entrance in communication with the entrance of the media exit path and an exit in communication with an entrance of the simplex media path, the duplex media path providing a media path for returning the printed media sheet for printing on a second side thereof, the removable media handling module comprising:

• a body having a front and a rear, the body horizontally slidable into and removable from the imaging apparatus through an opening thereof;
• a first media guide extending between the front and the rear in a direction of insertion of the body into the imaging apparatus, and with the media handling module inserted into the imaging apparatus, the first media guide is positioned parallel to and spaced from a corresponding second media guide mounted in the imaging apparatus, the first and second media guides forming at least a portion of the duplex media path therebetween which directs the printed media sheet received from the media exit path back into the simplex media path for printing a second image on the second side of the printed media sheet;
• a plurality of feed roll pairs positioned along the duplex media path, each feed roll pair including a driven roll and an idler roll forming a nip therebetween;
• and
• a drive mechanism including a clutched gear operably connected to each driven roll, the clutched gear positioned to receive rotational force from the imaging apparatus for driving each feed roll pair, via the driven roll, to rotate in order to feed the printed media sheet in the duplex media path into the simplex media path, the clutched gear being freely rotatable in a first direction corresponding to a direction that causes each feed roll pair to rotate in a media process direction and feed the printed media sheet into the simplex media path and is restrained from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A removable media handling module for an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus having a simplex media path through which a media sheet passes for printing an image on a first side thereof, a media exit path for receiving a printed media sheet from the simplex media path, the media exit path having an entrance downstream of and in communication with an exit of the simplex media path and an exit in communication with a media output area for receiving the printed media sheet, and a duplex media path having an entrance in communication with the entrance of the media exit path and an exit in communication with an entrance of the simplex media path, the duplex media path providing a media path for returning the printed media sheet for printing on a second side thereof, the removable media handling module comprising:

• a body having a front and a rear, the body horizontally slidable into and removable from the imaging apparatus;
• a lower media guide extending between the front and the rear in a direction of insertion of the body into the imaging apparatus, and with the media handling module inserted into the imaging apparatus, the lower media guide is positioned parallel to and spaced from a corresponding upper media guide mounted in the imaging apparatus, the lower and upper media guides forming at least a portion of the duplex media path therebetween which directs the printed media sheet received from the media exit path back into the simplex media path for printing a second image on the second side of the printed media sheet;
• a plurality of feed roll pairs positioned along the duplex media path, each feed roll pair including a driven roll and an idler roll forming a nip therebetween;
• and
• a drive mechanism including a clutched gear operably connected to each driven roll, the clutched gear being freely rotatable in a first direction that causes each feed roll pair to rotate in a forward rotation that feeds the printed media sheet into the simplex media path and being restrained from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction to prevent each feed roll pair from rotating in a reversed rotation opposite the forward rotation such that when the printed media sheet is present in the duplex media path at at least one nip of the plurality of feed roll pairs and the media handling module is slidably removed from the imaging apparatus, each feed roll pair is prevented from rotating in the reversed direction allowing the at least one nip to hold the printed media sheet in the lower media guide as the media handling module is slidably removed from the imaging apparatus.