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 slidable into and removable from the imaging apparatus;
• a lower media guide having a first length extending from the front to 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 immovably mounted in the imaging apparatus having a second length substantially the same as the first length of the lower media guide, the lower and upper media guides forming at least a portion of the duplex media path therebetween with the exit of the duplex media path being directly connected to the entrance of the simplex media path, the duplex media path directing the printed media sheet received from an intersection of the exit of the simplex media path and the entrance of the media exit path back into the simplex media path for printing a second image on the second side of the printed media sheet;
• and
• a manual input feeder having a fold-out tray that is foldable out of the front of the body for holding at least one media sheet, the manual input feeder including a media path branch having an entrance in communication with the fold-out tray and an exit directly connected to the entrance of the simplex media path to allow the at least one media sheet when disposed on the fold-out tray to be fed into the simplex media path when the media handling module is inserted into the imaging apparatus.

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• a removable media input tray integrated into a lower portion of the housing for storing a stack of media sheets;
• a print engine arranged within an upper portion of the housing for printing images onto a media sheet fed from the media input tray;
• a media path assembly including a simplex media path through which a media sheet passes to be directed to the print engine for printing an image on a first side of the media sheet, 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;
• and
• a removable media handling module slidable into and removable from a middle portion of the housing between the media input tray and the print engine through an opening of the housing, the media handling module having a lower media guide with a first length extending from a front to a rear of the removable media handling module in a direction of insertion of the media handling module 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 immovably mounted in the imaging apparatus and having a second length substantially the same as the first length of the lower media guide, the lower and upper media guides forming at least a portion of the duplex media path therebetween with the exit of the duplex media path being directly connected to the entrance of the simplex media path, the duplex media path directing the printed media sheet received from an intersection of the exit of the simplex media path and the entrance of the media exit path back into the simplex media path for printing a second image on the second side of the printed media sheet.