Apparatus and method for distributing print media

An apparatus for distributing print media comprising:

• an accumulator having a print media inlet and a print media outlet, the accumulator pivoting about an axis of rotation;
• the accumulator being configured to accumulate a plurality of sheets of a print media;
• a belt having a protrusion that transports the print media out of accumulator through the print media outlet;
• and
• means for rotating the accumulator about the axis;
• a plurality of output bins, each of the output bins being positioned with an entry point along an arc traced by the print media outlet of the accumulator;
• and
• a media staging area configured to support the accumulation of the sheets of the print media by the accumulator, the staging area comprising a combination of a staging location in the accumulator and a portion of a respective one of the output bins, where the accumulator pivots to align the staging location with one of the output bins.

A method for distributing print media comprising:

• aligning an accumulator with a first location;
• receiving a plurality of sheets of a print media sequentially through an inlet of the accumulator;
• accumulating the plurality of sheets of the print media in the accumulator before dispensing the print media through an outlet of the accumulator;
• positioning the print media received at the inlet such that a portion of the print media is supported by a staging location in the accumulator and a portion of the print media is supported by an output bin;
• dispensing the print media through the outlet of the accumulator at the first location;
• rotating the accumulator about an axis of rotation to align the accumulator with a second location.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• an image-forming device;
• an accumulator pivotable about an axis, and configured to receive print media from the image-forming device;
• the accumulator being configured to accumulate a plurality of sheets of print media;
• a belt having a protrusion that transports the print media out of accumulator through the print media outlet;
• an actuator configured to pivot the accumulator about the axis;
• a plurality of output bins, each of the output bins being positioned with an entry point along an arc traced by a print media outlet of the accumulator;
• and
• a media staging area configured to support the accumulation of the sheets of the print media by the accumulator, the staging area comprising a combination of a staging location in the accumulator and a portion of a respective one of the output bins, where the accumulator pivots to align the staging location with one of the output bins.