Patent ID: 8534665
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. An input tray capable of aligning sheets, comprising: a support plate for holding the sheets; two latching members slidably connected to the support plate, and each latching member comprising a latching plate and a first rack comprising a set of first teeth; a cover rotatably connected to the support plate, wherein the cover is capable of being rotated to a closed position to cover a portion of the support plate and to an open position to be away from the support plate; and a driving mechanism mounted on the support plate for moving the two latching members, the driving mechanism comprising: a slider slidably connected to the support plate and comprising a first inclined surface; a second rack slidably connected to a bottom surface of the support plate, wherein the second rack comprises a second inclined surface pressed firmly against the first inclined surface and defines a set of second teeth; a resilient member applying a pushing force to the second rack; a first gear rotatably connected to a bottom surface of the support plate and engaging with the second rack and the third rack; a second gear rotatably connected to the bottom surface of the support plate and engaging with the first teeth of the two latching members; and the third rack slidably connected to the bottom surface of the support plate and comprising a third rack respectively engaged with the first gear and the second gear; wherein when the cover is in the closed position, a distance between the two latching plates is slightly less than a width of the sheets; and when the cover is rotated to the open position, the two latching members are moved away from each other as driven by the driving mechanism, and the distance between the two latching plates becomes greater than the width of the sheets.