Media stack status indicator
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsTeck Cheng Tan, Cher Lek Toh, Seng San Koh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indicator for continuously indicating the status of a media stack in a media tray is disclosed. This indicator functions independently of a media stack support in a printer. The indicator includes an indicator lever and a probe member. The indicator lever is pivotably mounted and can be tilted between two predetermined extreme positions. The probe member has a shaft which is also pivotably mounted. An engaging arm extends from the shaft. In operation, the shaft is tilted according to the status of the media stack in the media tray. As the shaft is tilted, the engaging arm engages the indicator lever, tilting the indicator lever to a position between the two extreme positions to indicate the status of the media stack.
Claims8
A media stack status indicator mounted in a media container for indicating a status of a media stack in the media container, the media stack status indicator comprising:
- an indicator lever which is pivotably mounted along a first pivoting axis in the media container, the indicator lever being biased to a first predetermined position and tiltable between the first predetermined position and a second predetermined position;
- and
- a probe member including:
- a shaft pivotably mounted along a second pivoting axis in the media container which tilts in response to the status of the media stack;
- and
- an engaging arm extending from the shaft;
- wherein the shaft when tilted allows the engaging arm to engage the indicator lever to tilt the indicator lever between its first and second predetermined positions to indicate the media stack status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.