Abstract:
A combination input and output tray assembly for supplying and receiving elongated sheets of media for use with a printing device includes a first tray generally aligned with an input port of the printing device, the first tray receiving and supporting at least one elongated sheet of media to be processed by the printing device. A second tray overlies and is connected to the first tray, the second tray being generally aligned with an output port of the printing device, so that an elongated sheet of media discharged from the output port is received on and supported by the second tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a combination input and output tray assembly for supplying and receiving elongated sheets of media for use with a printing device. 
     Printing devices such as the OKI® Data C9000 printer typically have cassettes which fit within the printing device housing for storing and feeding sheets of printing media to the printing device. Such paper cassettes are generally designed to accommodate standard sizes of printing media, such as 8½″ by 11″, 210 mm by 297 mm (ISO A4 size), 8½″ by 14″ or 11″ by 17″. Printing devices such as the OKI® Data C9000 printer also have a secondary input port into which individual sheets of printing media may be manually fed into the printing device. The input port of the OKI® Data C9000 printer is concealed behind a door disposed in the side of the printing device. When the door is opened, the door pivots outwardly at an angle of approximately 70 degrees, forming a tray from which individual sheets of printing media may be manually fed into the input port. Many printing devices, including the OKI® Data C9000 printer, include an output tray which is typically integral to the top portion of the printing device. Such output trays typically are designed to accommodate standard sizes of printing media sheets. 
     Problems not solved by the prior art include how sheets of printing media which are longer than standard sizes are fed into, received from and stored by the printing device. A device which solves these problems should provide advantages over the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, according to a first aspect of the invention, a combination input and output tray assembly for supplying and receiving elongated sheets of media for use with a printing device is provided. The printing device has an input port for receiving the elongaged sheets of media and also has an output port for discharging the elongated sheets of media. The combined input and output tray assembly comprises a first tray generally aligned with the input port, the first tray receiving and supporting at least one elongated sheet of media to be received into the input port in a first direction. A second tray overlies and connects to the first tray, the second tray being generally aligned with the output port, so that an elongated sheet of media discharged from the output port in a direction generally opposite to the first direction is received on and supported by the second tray. At least one structural member of the tray assembly is attached to the printing device. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, a combination input and output tray for supplying elongated sheets of media to a printing device and receiving the elongated sheets of media from the printing device is provided, the printing device having an input port for receiving sheets of media, an output port for discharging the sheets of media, and an input port access door having extension members pivotally connected to the printing device. The combination input and output tray comprises a first structure forming an input tray, a second structure forming an output tray which is attached to the input tray and a third structure forming an output bridge, the output bridge being pivotally attached to the output tray. When the input port access door is in an open position, and the combined input and output tray is assembled with the printing device, a first end of the input tray is below the input port access door, a central portion of the input tray is on top of the extension members, and a first end of the output tray is attached to the printing device. The elongated sheets of media to be fed into the input port in a first direction rest upon the printing device input door and upon the central portion of the media input tray and, if of sufficient length, upon a second end of the media input tray. The elongated sheets of media being delivered from the output port in a second direction generally opposite the first direction are guided by the output bridge onto a central planar portion of the output tray and, if of sufficient length, onto a second end of the output tray. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of a combination input and output tray assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a printing device, with elongated sheets of printing media disposed on both the input tray and the output tray; 
     FIG. 2 is an upper side perspective view of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG. 1, shown without elongated sheets of printing media disposed on either the input or the output tray; 
     FIG. 3 is a lower side perspective view of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an upper side perspective view of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG. 2, shown detached from the printing device; 
     FIG. 5 is an upper side perspective view of an output tray of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is an upper side perspective view of an input tray of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 7 is an upper side perspective view of a output bridge of the combination input and output tray assembly of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “top”, and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “interior” and “exterior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the combination input and output tray assembly and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     As used herein, the word “elongated” as applied to sheets of printing media means a sheet which is longer than 14 inches for sheet widths equal to or less than 8½ inches and longer than 17 inches for sheets of paper over 8½ inches in width. 
     Also as used herein, the term “printing media” refers to substrates such as paper or transparency film onto which images are deposited by a printing device. 
     Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, a preferred embodiment of a combination input and output tray assembly, generally designated  10 , in accordance with the present invention. 
     As is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the combination input and output tray assembly  10  comprises an input tray  50 , an output tray  80  and an output bridge  140 . The combination input and output tray assembly  10  removably attaches to a printing device  20 . The printing device  20  includes an input port  25  for receiving sheets of media to be printed upon. The printing device  20  further includes an output port  30  from which sheets of media are delivered following the printing operation. Elongated sheets of printing media  170  and  180  are shown disposed on the input tray  50  and on the output tray  80 , respectively, in FIG.  1 . In FIGS. 2 and 3, the media sheets  170  and  180  are removed to improve clarity of FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, the arrangement of a printing device input port access door  35  and printing device access door extension wings  40  in relation to the input tray  50  when the combination input and output tray assembly  10  is attached to a printing device  20  is illustrated. The printing device  20  illustrated includes a door  35  pivotally attached to a side of the printing device  20 . The door  35  provides access to the input port  25 . In a fully open position, the door  35  is pivoted approximately 70 degrees from a vertical closed position. In the fully open position, the door  35  also serves as a tray to hold sheets of printing media in a position whereby the sheets are typically individually and manually fed into the input port  25 . A pair of extension wings  40  are hingeably attached to the door  35  to provide support and alignment for longer sheets of printing media. 
     In the assembled configuration, a first planar portion  65  of the input tray  50  fits beneath the door  35 . A central planar portion  70  of the input tray  50  fits on top of the door extension wings  40 . Thus, an interfit between the input tray  50 , the access door  35  and the extension wings  40  is created, preventing the input tray  50  from either sliding forward toward the printing device  20  or from rotating in a direction wherein the central planar portion  70  would pivot downwardly. Furthermore, the attachment of the output tray  80  to the printing device  20  is also illustrated. Front legs  96  forming a first planar portion  95  of the output tray  80  terminate in a first pair of hooks  130  (see FIG.  6 ). The first pair of hooks  130  fit within slots (not shown) formed in the sidewalls (not shown) of a recess  36  formed within the opening for the access door  35 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, the combination input and output tray assembly  10  is shown detached from the printing device  20 . The input tray  50  is shown to have a first end  55  and a second end  60 . The output tray  80  is similarly shown to have a first end  85  and a second end  90 . The output tray  80  includes a pair of rear legs  101  which terminate in a second pair of hooks  135  (see also FIG.  6 ). As described later herein, the second pair of hooks  135  assemble with the input tray  50  to interconnect the input and output trays  50 ,  80 . 
     The output bridge  140  is shown to be pivotally attached to the output tray  80 . In the embodiment illustrated, the output bridge  140  is a U-shaped structure having two legs  142  (see FIG.  7 ). Each leg  142  terminates in an attachment loop  165  at the second end  90 . The output bridge  140  is pivotally attached to the output tray  80  using the attachment loops  165 . When the combination input and output tray assembly  10  is attached to the printing device  20 , the output bridge  140  may be pivoted toward the printing device  20  to ensure that the output sheet  180  is properly directed onto the output tray  80 . Alternatively, when the combination input and output tray  10  is detached from the printing device  20  in the process of being installed onto or detached from the printing device  20 , the output bridge  140  may be pivoted away from the printing device  20  to overlay the output tray  80  in a more convenient position. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the input tray  50  is shown. In the embodiment shown, the input tray  50  is formed as a frame  51  structure formed from wire elements  52 . A hollow tube element  53  is oriented traverse to opposing side edges  71 ,  72  of the input tray  50 . The input tray  50  has first end  55  and second end  60 . The first planar portion  65  which fits beneath the access door  35  of the printing device  20  is formed by a U-shaped wire loop  66 . The central planar portion  70  connects to the first planar portion  65 , and terminates at the second end  60  in a curved portion  75 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, the output tray  80  is shown. Like the input tray  50 , a preferred embodiment of the output tray  80  is a frame  81  formed by a plurality of wire elements  82 . The two front legs  96  form the first planar portion  95  at the first end  85 . The front legs  96  terminate in the pair of hooks  130  which are preferably used to releasably attach the output tray  50  to the printing device  20 . A U-shaped central portion  105  is formed by a first plurality of legs  110 , a second plurality of legs  115  and a third planar portion  120  connecting the first and second plurality of legs  110 ,  115 . The pair of rear legs  101  form the second planar portion  100 . The rear legs  101  terminate in the second pair of hooks  135 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, the output bridge  140  is illustrated. A preferred embodiment of the output bridge  140  is a wire element  141  bent in a U-shaped configuration. The output bridge  140  has a first end  145  and a second end  150 . The output bridge  140  has a first curved portion  155  and a second planar portion  160  both formed by two legs  142 . The legs  142  each terminate in a loop  165 . The loops  165  allow the output bridge  140  to be pivotally attached to the output tray  80 . 
     In operation, the output tray  80  is assembled to the input tray  50  by deflecting rear legs  101  toward the outer edges of the output tray  80  such that the pair of hooks  135  can be inserted into the ends of the tube  53  of the input tray. The output tray  80  is thus pivotally attached to the input tray  50 . As noted above, the output bridge  140  is pivotally attached to the output tray  80  via wire loops  165 . The combination input and output tray assembly  10  thus formed is attached to the printing device  20  as described above and as illustrated in FIG.  3 . Elongated sheets  170  of printing media are loaded onto the input tray  50 , ready to be fed into the input port  25 . After being fed into the printing device  20  via input port  25 , printed sheets  180  are discharged via the output port  30 , a leading edge  185  first moving across a standard output tray  45  disposed within a top portion of the printing device  20 , then, if the output sheet  180  is of sufficient length, across the output bridge  140 , across the third planar portion  120  of the output tray  80 , and then up and over the curved portion  125  of the output tray  80 . 
     The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 indicates one arrangement by which the present invention may be attached to a printing device  20 . From this disclosure, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that other attachment arrangements exist. For example, the output tray  80  could be provided with at least one protrusion which would fit within a mating receptacle in a snap fit arrangement. The output tray  80  could be fastened to the printing device  20  using mechanical fasteners such as screws. The input tray  50  could be allowed simply to rest against a side of the printing device  20 , as an alternative to the inter-fitting arrangement of the input tray  50 , the input port access door  35  and the access door extensions  40  illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     The wire frames  51 ,  81  and  141  are preferably fabricated from steel wires which are suitably bent and assembled using welding techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. From this disclosure, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that alternatively the input tray  50 , output tray  80  and output bridge  140  could be formed as a solid structure, and formed from a variety of materials including polymeric materials or metal using a variety of conventional fabrication techniques including injection molding, extrusion, stamping, welding and soldering. From this disclosure it would be further obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the relative proportions of the various components of the present invention could be varied without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     A combination input and output tray assembly  10  is thus disclosed which allows elongated input sheets  170  of printing media to be received upon and supported by an input tray  50 , fed into an input port  25  of a printing device  20  and output sheets  180  of the elongated printing media to be received by an output tray  80  from an output port  30  of the printing device  20 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.