Adjustable print media path system and method
AssigneeBrady Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsYaw Horng Yap, Soon Ling Tan, Shao Hwa Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable print media path system and method are disclosed. In one form, the print media path system incorporates a frame and a guide member that is moveably coupled to the frame between a cartridge position and an external media position. Inserting print media into the receptacle moves the guide member between the external media position and the cartridge position, thereby adjusting the print media path.
Claims19
An adjustable print media path system capable of use in a printer, comprising:
- a frame defining a receptacle and an external media input passage into which an external print media may be fed;
- a print media cartridge configured to be insertable into the receptacle;
- a cartridge engagement surface coupled to the print media cartridge;
- a guide member moveably coupled to the frame between a cartridge position when the print media cartridge is inserted into the receptacle to guide cartridge print media and an external media position when the print media cartridge is not inserted into the receptacle at which the guide member is aligned with the external media input passage to guide the external print media that is fed into the external media input passage;
- a guide engagement surface coupled to the guide member;
- and
- a biasing member urging the guide member toward the external media position;
- wherein inserting the print media cartridge into the receptacle engages the cartridge engagement surface and the guide engagement surface, thereby moving the guide member from the external media position toward the cartridge position against the urging of the biasing member.
A method of adjusting a print media path system, comprising:
- providing a print media cartridge including a cartridge engagement surface;
- providing a printer, comprising:
- a frame defining an external media input passage into which an external print media may be fed;
- and
- a guide member moveably coupled to the frame between a cartridge position when the print media cartridge is inserted into the printer to guide cartridge print media and an external media position when the print media cartridge is not inserted into the printer at which the guide member is aligned with the external media input passage to guide the external print media that is fed into the external media input passage, the guide member including a guide engagement surface;
- inserting the print media cartridge into the printer engages the guide engagement surface of the guide member and the cartridge engagement surface of the print media cartridge to move the guide member from the external media position to the cartridge position.
An adjustable print media path system capable of use in a printer having a print head assembly, comprising:
- a frame defining a receptacle for selectively receiving a print media cartridge having cartridge print media;
- an external media input passage into which an external print media may be fed;
- a guide member defining an external print media passage adjacent to the external media input passage, the guide member is moveably coupled to the frame between an external media position and a cartridge position;
- a biasing member urging the guide member toward the external media position;
- wherein when the print media cartridge is not inserted into the receptacle the guide member is biased toward the external media position such that the external print media can be fed into the external media input passage and along the external print media passage of the guide member toward the print head assembly;
- and
- wherein when the print media cartridge is inserted into the receptacle the print media cartridge engages and moves the guide member to the cartridge position such that the cartridge print media can be fed to the print head assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.