Hard copy apparatus with a print media telescoping tray system

A print media input/output tray system for a cut-sheet print media hard copy apparatus, said apparatus having a print media pick and feed mechanism and a housing including a front panel provided with an opening adapted for use with said tray system, said tray system comprising:

• a first tray for receiving output print media from said print media pick and feed mechanism, said first tray being mounted with respect to said front panel to have at least two operational mode positions, a first position wherein said first tray extends horizontally outward from said front panel and a second position wherein said first tray is substantially contained within said opening having a front edge panel substantially flush with said front panel;
• a second tray for holding a stack of cut-sheet print media therein;
• wherein said second tray has shape and dimensions such that in operational modes said second tray is cooperatively nested within said first tray in a sliding relationship thereto and is positioned with respect thereto in a print media feed operational position for delivering sheets of print media to said pick and feed mechanism when said first tray is in either said first position or said second position, and further, said second tray is accessible through said opening when said first tray is in said first position such that said first tray and said second tray form a telescoping tray system adapted for access and use from said front panel.

In a hard copy apparatus having a housing, said housing having a front panel and containing a cut-sheet print media pick and feed mechanism, a printing station mechanism for receiving consecutive sheets of print media, and a mechanism for detecting a plurality of output modes, a print media telescoping tray system comprising:

• a print media tray bay in said housing, having an access via said front panel;
• a print media output tray, said output tray having a substantially linear range of motion into and out of said bay via said access;
• a refillable print media input tray, nested with said output tray such as to have a telescoping line of motion and capability with respect thereto and adapted to hold a replenishable stack of cut-sheet print media positioned to be picked from said stack by said pick and feed mechanism to be transferred in a substantially linear path from said stack into said printing station mechanism wherein said path is generally parallel to said linear range of motion of said output tray;
• said apparatus providing an output tray open mode of operation and an output tray closed mode of operation;
• and
• an indicating mechanism for indicating whether said apparatus is operating in said output tray open mode of operation or said output tray closed mode of operation.