Method of and apparatus for ejecting paper in a printing system

A method of ejecting paper comprising the steps of:

• transferring a sheet of paper into contact with a pusher member;
• guiding the pusher member in an ejecting direction;
• moving a flexible rack gear member connected to the pusher member through an arcuate path;
• rotating a pinion engaged with the rack gear member so as to drive the rack gear member together with the pusher member;
• and
• driving the pusher member in the ejecting direction so that the sheet of paper is ejected in the ejecting direction.

A paper ejecting apparatus, which includes upper and lower panels spaced apart from each other and feed rollers for transferring a sheet of paper into the space between said upper and lower panels, for outwardly ejecting the paper transferred between said panels, the apparatus comprising:

• a guide formed in said lower panel, said guide extending in an ejecting direction;
• a pusher slidably engaged with said guide;
• a rack gear member connected to said pusher;
• a guide support member engaged with said rack gear member so as to guide movement of said rack gear member;
• a driving source engaged with said rack gear member so as impart motion to said rack gear member and said pusher so that the sheet of paper is ejected from the apparatus, said driving source comprising a motor, a driving gear mounted on a shaft of said motor, a transmission gear mounted on a transmission shaft and engaged with said driving gear, first and second bevel gears engaged with each other and respectively mounted on said transmission shaft and on a driven shaft, and a rotatable pinion mounted on said driven shaft, said pinion being engaged with said rack gear member.

A material ejecting apparatus comprising:

• a pusher means for pushing a sheet of material in an ejection direction;
• driving means for driving said pusher means so that the sheet of material is pushed in an ejection direction, said driving means comprising a motor operatively coupled to a transmission gear which is mounted on a transmission shaft, a first bevel gear rotatably mounted on said transmission shaft, a friction disc mounted on said transmission shaft at a position between said first bevel gear and said transmission gear, means for pressing said first bevel gear against said friction disc, a second bevel gear mounted on a drive shaft and being operatively engaged with said first bevel gear, a pinion mounted on said drive shaft;
• and
• rack gear means having a front-end portion connected to one side of said pusher means, and being operatively engaged with said pinion so as to cause said pusher means to move in said ejection direction in response to activation of said motor.

A material ejecting apparatus comprising:

• pusher means for pushing a sheet of material in an ejection direction;
• a U-shaped panel having upper and lower portions, said pusher means being supported by said U-shaped panel;
• guide channel means formed in said lower portion and extending in the ejection direction for guiding movement of said pusher means as it pushes the sheet of material in the ejection direction;
• driving means for rotatably driving said pusher means so that the sheet of material is pushed towards the ejection direction, said driving means includes a pinion that rotates around an axis of a drive shaft;
• and
• rack gear means, having a front-end portion connected to one side of said pusher means, said pinion being engaged with said rack gear means to cause the complete ejection of the sheet of material when a back-end portion of said rack gear means is engaged with said pinion, said rack gear means being formed from a flexible material and extending in an arcuate path between said driving means, and said pusher means;
• guide support means for guiding movement of said rack gear means through said arcuate path as said rack gear means is driven by said driving means.