Media positioning at a picking location

#Computer printers normally operate by drawing single sheets of blank media (such as paper or transparent film) from a horizontal stack of sheets. Each sheet is individually drawn or “picked” from the stack and fed into the media path of the printer. If no sheets are drawn during an attempted pick, a “no pick” failure has occurred; if two (or more) sheets are picked in an overlapping manner, a “two (or multiple) pick” failure has occurred. If the sheets are not properly aligned and properly located at the designated picking location, the aforementioned failures can occur plus the sheets may jam in the media path or the print on the sheets may be skewed. In the event of any of these failures, printing may be suspended, media may be wasted, and a user may be inconvenienced.

#Some printers have attempted to solve the problem of media not being aligned at the proper picking location by using a removable media tray with teeth on an inside wall of the tray, which provide a media stop. But, this technique requires extra parts, which increases the cost of the printer. Also, the user is inconvenienced by having to remove the media tray in order to replenish the media.

#Although the above discussion has described the problems associated with feeding media through a printer, the problems apply equally to other types of devices that feed media, such as copiers, fax machines, scanners, plotters, currency counters, and ATMs (Automated Teller Machines).

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a media feeding mechanism with the housing thereof partially removed, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device incorporating the media feeding mechanism of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a side view of the media feeding mechanism of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrating specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each instance of the word “embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a media feeding mechanism 100 with the housing thereof partially removed, according to an embodiment of the invention. The media feeding mechanism 100 includes a base 105 attached to a wall 110. The base 105 includes a depression 125 or recess that has an edge 126. A rotation plate 115 is attached at an end to the wall 110 at a pivot point or along a pivot axis 135. In an embodiment, the rotation plate 115 may be attached along the pivot axis 135 via a pin or pins, but in other embodiments any mechanism that allows pivoting of the rotation plate 115 with respect to the wall 110 may be used.

#A spring 130 is attached to the wall 110 and the rotation plate 115 at an opposite end from the pivot axis 135. When a stack of media (not shown) pushes the rotation plate 115 toward the wall 110, the spring 130 compresses, and the rotation plate 115 becomes disposed at approximately a vertical position against the wall 110. In an embodiment, a user exerts pressure to push the stack of media (not shown) against the rotation plate 115. But, in other embodiments, any appropriate type of mechanical or electromechanical member may be used to exert pressure to push the stack of media against the rotation plate 115.