US 5,630,578 AGranted

Low manual effort system for removably mounting paper handling modules to reproduction machines

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsRaymond A. Naramore, Steve S. Counoupas

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Abstract

A system and method for manually removably locking a paper handling module to a reproduction apparatus with greatly reduced manual force, wherein the reproduction apparatus and the paper handling module have respective sheet feed openings which are operatively aligned for sheet feeding therebetween when the module is so locked to the reproduction apparatus in a locking position, and wherein the paper handling module has a weight which is undesirable for manual lifting into the locking position. The module is supported on an integral module transporting system to be freely movable in any horizontal direction into an initial docking position closely adjacent to the reproduction apparatus. Then, slightly vertically lifting at least one side of the module with only a small vertical manual lifting force while most of the weight of the module is lifted with an automatic weight lifting system, moving the module towards the locking position, and then removing the small vertical manual lifting force from the module, to drop and lock the module to the reproduction apparatus. The automatic weight lifting may be provided by vertically movably spring loading at least one side of the module on the module transporting system.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a reproduction system for generating printed sheets with a reproduction apparatus and providing for docking and operatively connecting and disconnecting one or more selected paper handling modules of substantial weight to said reproduction apparatus, wherein said reproduction apparatus and said paper handling module have respective sheet feed openings, which respective sheet feed openings are operatively aligned for sheet feeding therebetween when a said selected paper handling module is operatively connected to said reproduction apparatus;

a system for said docking and removably operatively connecting and disconnecting a selected said paper handling module accessory unit to said reproduction apparatus with greatly reduced manual movement force irrespective of the weight of said module, including a locking system for positively securing said module to said reproduction apparatus in a locking position with said sheet feed opening of said module sufficiently operatively vertically aligned with said sheet feed opening of said reproduction apparatus for sheet feeding opening of said reproduction apparatus for sheet feeding therebetween, wherein
said paper handling module accessory unit has a transporting system allowing said module to be freely manually movable in any horizontal direction for both frontal and lateral horizontal movement relative to said reproduction apparatus into a docking position therewith while supporting the weight of said module,
said paper handling module accessory unit has a low-force vertical docking position adjustment system providing for low force manual vertical movement of said module relative to said reproduction apparatus from said docking position into said locking position, after said module is initially horizontally docked with said reproduction apparatus, and
said vertical docking position adjustment system includes a weight supporting system for automatically supporting a major portion of the weight of said module in said manual vertical movement of said module into said locking position, for said greatly reduced manual movement force.

1 more element

An improved method for manually removably locking a paper handling module to a reproduction apparatus in a locking position, wherein said reproduction apparatus and said paper handling module have respective sheet feed openings, which respective sheet feed openings are operatively aligned for sheet feeding therebetween when said module is so locked to said reproduction apparatus in said locking position, and wherein said paper handling module has a weight which is undesirable for manual lifting into said locking position;

comprising an improved system for said locking of said module to said reproduction apparatus with greatly reduced manual force, by:
suppoding said module on an integral module transporting system on which said module is freely movable in any horizontal direction relative to said reproduction apparatus;
moving said module on said module transporting system into an initial docking position closely adjacent to said reproduction apparatus while supporting the weight of said module on said transporting system,
then slightly vertically lifting at least one side of said module with only a small vertical manual lifting force applied to said module while most of the weight of said module is lifted with an automatic weight lifting system;
moving said module towards said locking position with said reproduction apparatus while so lifting said module;
and then removing said small vertical manual lifting force from said module, to lock said module to said reproduction apparatus with said respective sheet feed openings operatively aligned for sheet feeding therebetween.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.