Media holding apparatus, media size detector and method for detecting size of media for a document-generating device

A media holding apparatus, comprising:

• a tray having a support surface configured to receive media;
• a frictionable surface provided on the tray;
• a media stop having a retractable locking shoe, the media stop carried by the tray and movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray when retracting the locking shoe from the frictionable surface;
• and
• a position-detecting sensor including a voltage divider circuit comprising an adjustable resistance component associated with the tray and the media stop and operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding to a detected position of the media stop relative to the tray, the unique electrical pattern indicative of the size of the media detected in the tray;
• wherein the position-detecting sensor comprises a potentiometer and a conductive strip, and wherein the potentiometer and the conductive strip are carried by the tray and communicate electrically via the adjustably positioned media stop.

A media holding apparatus, comprising:

• a tray having a support surface configured to receive media;
• a media stop having a retractable shoe, the media stop carried by the tray and movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray when retracting the shoe from the frictionable surface;
• and
• a frictionable adhesive strip adhered to one of the tray and the shoe;
• a position-detecting sensor including a voltage divider circuit comprising an adjustable resistance component associated with the tray and the media stop and operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding to a detected position of the media stop relative to the tray, the unique electrical pattern indicative of the size of the media detected in the tray;
• wherein the voltage divider comprises a linear potentiometer, a conductive strip and a conductive bridge strip, wherein the conductive strip and the linear potentiometer are carried by the support member, and wherein the conductive bridge strip is carried by the media stop in movable contact with both the conductive strip and the linear potentiometer.

A method for detecting the size of media placed within a tray of a document-generating device, comprising the steps of:

• providing an infinitely adjustable movable media stop on a support surface;
• providing a voltage divider having a bridge connection carried by the movable media stop;
• loading media onto the support surface;
• moving the media stop to contain the media and to conform with a dimension of the media;
• and
• detecting the size of the contained media by monitoring the voltage drop across the voltage divider to determine the position of the media stop on the support surface.