Lift mechanisms

In an example, a lift mechanism may include a linkage to engage with a pick arm, a crank switchably disposed in a first position and a second position, and a swingarm to move the crank from the first position to the second position. The linkage may move the pick arm from a raised position to a lowered position when the crank moves from the first position to the second position.

BACKGROUND

Imaging systems may print, scan, copy, or perform other actions with media. Further, imaging systems may include feeding or picking systems to load the media and deliver or drive the media through the imaging system for performing operations on or with the media. The imaging systems may scan the media for markings or patterns, deposit printing fluid, such as ink, or another printing substance, such as three-dimensional printing powder, on the media, and/or may produce duplicates of the media, including markings or patterns thereon, in addition to other functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Imaging systems may include scanning systems, copying systems, printing systems, or other systems that perform actions on or with media, sometimes referred to as print media. Scanning systems may optically or electrically scan print media. Scanning systems may also be used in conjunction with printing systems. Printing systems may deposit printing fluid, such as ink, or another printing substance, such as three-dimensional printing powder, on media. The scanning system may be integrated with the printing system, or disposed separately from the printing system. Additionally, in some situations, the scanning system and/or printing system may be part of, engaged with, or used in conjunction with a copying system. In such a system, the scanning system may scan media, followed by the copying system producing a duplicate of the media based on the scan conducted by the scanning system. The copying system may produce the duplicate by utilizing the printing system to deposit print substance on media in the same manner or patterns as on the scanned media.

The scanning system, copying system, printing system, or other imaging system may include a pick system, which, in some situations, may also or alternatively be referred to as a feed system or a load system. The pick system may pick up and load media, or, in other words, pick up and deliver or drive the media through a media path of the corresponding imaging system. In some situations, the pick system may include pick rollers to pick the media in the imaging system. The pick rollers may exert a normal force on the media in order to create friction in between the pick rollers and the media, such that the rollers may pick the media. Such a normal force exerted by the pick rollers may make loading or refilling media into the imaging system difficult, due to the friction in between the media and the pick rollers. Thus, it may be desirable in some situations to separate the pick system from the media loading area during loading or refilling operations. Separating the pick system from the loading area, or moving the pick system away, or otherwise increasing the distance between the pick system and the loading area may make loading media into the imaging system easier by reducing or eliminating the friction or normal force between the pick system, or rollers therein, and the media being loaded into the imaging system.

In some situations, imaging devices may increase the distance between the pick system and the media loading area, thereby enabling the friction-free insertion or loading of media into the imaging system, by moving or lowering the media loading area or a media tray away from the pick system. Moving the entire media loading area away from the pick system may use a relatively high amount of power from the imaging device. Further, such a system may use a relatively complex mechanical mechanism having many parts and, therefore, may be relatively expensive and complicated to implement into an imaging device.

Implementations of the present disclosure provide a lift mechanism for a feed system of an imaging device that utilizes a relatively small amount of parts, and may be implemented in such a way as to use a relatively low amount of power from the imaging device. In some implementations, the lift mechanism may be referred to as a lift or lifting device. Examples of the lift mechanism disclosed herein may increase the distance between a pick system of an imaging device and a media loading area of such an imaging device. Increasing the distance between such components may decrease or remove friction exerted by the pick system upon the media being inserted into the loading area.

Referring now toFIG. 1A, a side view of an example lift mechanism100is illustrated. The example lift mechanism100may include a linkage102, a crank104, and a swingarm106. Referring additionally toFIG. 1B, a perspective view of an example imaging device101having an example lift mechanism100therein is illustrated. In some implementations, the example imaging device101may include any of or any combination of a printer, a scanner, and/or a copier, or any other imaging device. In some implementations, the imaging device101may receive media or print media112within a media loading slot or area103. Note, in the illustrated example, the imaging device101features a top-in, front-out media insertion orientation, wherein media112is inserted or loaded into the imaging device101in a vertical or semi-vertical orientation. It should be noted, however, that other insertion orientations for the media112are possible with implementations of the present disclosure, such as horizontal insertion orientations, or loading the media112into the imaging device using a media tray or other method, for example. Further, any imaging device including an example lift mechanism100as described herein may have a structure, orientation, or appearance that may be similar to or differ from the imaging device101illustrated inFIG. 1B.

In some implementations, the example lift mechanism100may include a pick arm108. The pick arm108may be used to pick media112and deliver the media112through a media path of the imaging device101. As used herein, pick or picking media may refer to the pick system of the imaging device101, or a pick arm108thereof, taking media from a loading area103of the imaging device101and delivering the media through the imaging device101. In some implementations, the media112may be picked from a stack of media112that has been loaded into the imaging device101. The media112may be paper, cardboard, card stock, photo paper, or another suitable media for use in the imaging device. In some implementations, the pick arm108may include a pick roller110, or multiple pick rollers110to pick the media112or a piece of the media112for delivery through the imaging device101.

Referring now toFIG. 2A, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated. Example lift mechanism200may be similar to example lift mechanism100. Further, the similarly named elements of example lift mechanism200may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of example lift mechanism100, as they are described above. In some implementations, lift mechanism200may include a linkage202, a crank204, and a swingarm206. The lift mechanism200may include, or may engage with a pick arm208of an imaging device. The pick arm208, in some implementations, may pick media212and deliver the media212through a media path of the imaging device. The pick arm208, in some implementations, may include components to pick and deliver the media212, such as a pick roller210, or multiple pick rollers210, for example. Pick roller210is illustrated in phantom lines because the pick roller or pick rollers210, in this example, may be disposed on the other side of the pick arm208, or behind other components. The media212may be loaded into the imaging device along example direction203, in some implementations. In other implementations, the media212may be inserted or loaded into the imaging device along another direction. Additionally, the media212may be loaded into the imaging device in a stacked orientation, or as part of a ream of media212. In other implementations, the media212may be loaded in a rolled fashion, or as part of a roll of media212.

The pick arm208may be a movable or pivotable component wholly or partially disposed within the imaging device. Further, the pick arm208may be movable or pivotable between a first or raised position, and a second, or lowered position.FIG. 2Aillustrates the pick arm208in the raised position. When disposed in the raised position, the pick arm208, or pick rollers210, or other picking components thereof, may be separated from the media212loaded within the imaging device, such that the pick arm208, or picking components therein, do not exert a normal force on the media212, and thereby do not create friction between the pick arm208and the media212. If the imaging device is empty of media212, the pick arm208may be separated from the loading area or a media tray when disposed in the raised position, such that a user or another component of the imaging device may load media212into the media loading area, for example, along direction203.

The lift mechanism200may also include a linkage202. The linkage202may be a rigid or semi-rigid component mechanically linking the pick arm208with a crank204of the lift mechanism200. In some implementations, the linkage202may include a single arm or link, whereas, in other implementations, the linkage202may include more than a single link or arm. In other words, in some implementations, the linkage202may act as a single link in a 4-bar linkage, and in other implementations, the linkage202may act as two links in a 5-bar linkage. In other implementations, the linkage202may include a different number of bars, or a different structure. In the example implementation illustrated inFIG. 2A, the linkage202may include a lower or first portion or arm202aand an upper or second portion or arm202b. The lower and upper portions202aand202bmay be rigidly connected or engaged with each other such that the portions cannot move relative to one another. In other implementations, the lower and upper portions202aand202bmay be movable relative to one another in only one direction, or in multiple directions.

The lift mechanism200may also include a crank204. The crank204may be a movable or rotatable component relative to the lift mechanism200and/or the pick arm208. Further, the crank204may be switchably disposed in, or movable from a first position to a second position, and vice versa. The crank204is illustrated as being disposed in the first position inFIG. 2A. The crank204may be engaged with the linkage202either directly, or through other intermediary components. In some implementations, the linkage202may provide a direct mechanical link between the crank204and the pick arm208such that, when the crank204is disposed in the first position, the linkage202moves or disposes the pick arm208in the raised position, as illustrated inFIG. 2A. In other implementations, the linkage202may mechanically link the crank204and the pick arm208using additional or intermediary components, arms, linkages, or other mechanical elements.

The lift mechanism200may also include a swingarm206. The swingarm206may be a movable or rotatable component, relative to the other components of the lift mechanism200, the pick arm208, or the imaging device. In some implementations, the swingarm206may be engaged with a feed shaft, drive shaft or other drive element of a feed system of the imaging device, or another drive element of the imaging device, such that the drive element may rotate the swingarm206. In other implementations, the swingarm206may be engaged with a standalone drive element not engaged with other components of the imaging device. The drive element may be rigidly connected to the swingarm206, or connected through friction alone, such as in a press-fit engagement. In some implementations, the swingarm206may be engaged with the drive element through additional or intermediary components, such as a gear or transmission, for example. The drive element may use a motor or other motive device to drive or rotate the swingarm206in a first direction and in a second direction. The drive element may drive the swingarm206in order for the swingarm206to engage with the crank204. In some implementations, the swingarm206may be driven in the first direction such that the swingarm206engages with the crank204and moves, rotates, or transitions the crank204from the first position to the second position. In further implementations, the swingarm206may be driven in the second direction such that the swingarm206engages with the crank204and moves the crank204from the second position to the first position.

Referring now toFIG. 2B, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated wherein the crank204is in the first position, and, thus, the pick arm208is in the raised position, similar toFIG. 2A.FIG. 2Billustrates the swingarm206as having been moved in the first direction to the point where the swingarm206engages with the crank204. InFIG. 2B, the first direction is illustrated by directional arrow205. The swingarm206, in some implementations, may include a post214to engage with the crank204and rotate the crank204. Further, the crank204may include a complementary slot to receive and engage with the post214such that the crank204moves from the first position to the second position, and vice versa. In some implementations, the post214and the slot of the crank204may engage with each other in a similar fashion to a Geneva Drive. The drive element may have rotated the swingarm206, and thus the post214, in the first direction205, about an axis or point of rotation207, to the point where the post214comes into contact with the slot of the crank204, but before the crank204has started to move. Therefore, the crank204is disposed in the first position, thereby disposing the pick arm208, via the linkage202, in the raised position. In some implementations, the pick arm208may be locked in the raised position when the crank204is in the first position. The pick arm208may be locked in the raised position such that an outside force may not be able to manually push or otherwise move the pick arm to the lowered position, and the pick arm208may not accidentally fall or move to the lowered position, when the crank204is in the first position. The crank204may lock the pick arm208in the raised position, as illustrated inFIG. 2B, when an axis209, defined by a first point of rotation213and a second point of rotation215of the linkage202, is disposed past a point of rotation211of the crank204. The first point of rotation213may be the point of engagement between the linkage202and the crank204, while the second point of rotation215may be the point of engagement between the linkage202and the pick arm208, in some implementations. The pick arm208may be mechanically prevented from moving to the lowered position until such an axis209crosses over the point of rotation211of the crank204, as illustrated inFIGS. 2C-D.

Referring now toFIG. 2C, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated, wherein the crank204has begun to move, rotate, or transition from the first position to the second position. The drive element has continued to move the swingarm206along first direction205so that the post214of the swingarm206continues to engage with the slot of the crank204, thereby rotating the crank204about its point of rotation211along direction217. The crank204has not moved along direction217to such a degree so as to move the axis209across the point of rotation211, so the pick arm208may still be locked in the raised position, as described above.

Referring now toFIG. 2D, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated, wherein the pick arm208has started to move or transition from the raised position to the lowered position. The drive element has continued to move the swingarm206along first direction205so that the post214of the swingarm206continues to engage with the slot of the crank204, thereby rotating the crank204about its point of rotation211along direction217. In this Figure, the post214and the slot are both hidden behind the linkage202, and are not visible. Further, the crank204has moved along direction217to such a degree so as to move the axis209beyond the point of rotation211of the crank204. Therefore, the pick arm208is no longer locked in the raised position, and the linkage may move the pick arm208, by the connection between the crank204and the linkage202, from the raised position towards the lowered position, along direction219, about a point of rotation221. The pick arm208may move along direction219towards media212.

Referring now toFIG. 2E, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated, wherein the pick arm208has continued to move towards the lowered position, and, thus, towards media212. The drive element has continued to move the swingarm206along first direction205so that the post214of the swingarm206continues to engage with the slot of the crank204, thereby rotating the crank204about its point of rotation211along direction217. Such a movement of the crank204may move the linkage202such that the linkage202, accordingly, moves the pick arm208along direction219towards the lowered position, and, thus, the media212.

Referring now toFIG. 2F, a side view of an example lift mechanism200is illustrated, wherein the pick arm208has fully transitioned from the raised position to the lowered position. The drive element has continued to move the swingarm206along first direction205so that the post214of the swingarm206continues to engage with the slot of the crank204, thereby rotating the crank204about its point of rotation211along direction217. The crank204has fully moved from the first position to the second position. As such, the linkage202has fully moved the pick arm208along direction219to the lowered position. The pick arm208may now be engaged with the media212. The pick arm208, pick rollers210, or other picking components of the pick arm208may now be exerting a normal force upon the media, such that the pick arm208may pick the media, or a single piece of media from a stack, for example, and drive or deliver the media through a media path of the imaging device. In this example, a portion of the media path may be represented by an example directional arrow223. In order to pick the media212, once the pick arm208is disposed in the lowered position, the imaging system may rotate a pick roller210or other component of the pick arm208along a direction227in order to drive media212through the media path.

After an amount of media212has been picked and delivered through the media path by the lift mechanism200and the feed system of the imaging device, the imaging device may move or transition the pick arm208from the lowered position to the raised position, and may lock the pick arm208therein. In order to move the pick arm208to the raised position, the above-described actions may be substantially reversed. In other words, the drive element may move the swingarm206along a second direction, opposite that of the first direction205, so that the post214of the swingarm206engages with the slot of the crank204, thereby rotating the crank204about its point of rotation211along a direction opposite to that of direction217. The post214may engage with the crank204until the crank204fully moves from the second position (illustrated inFIG. 2F) to the first position (illustrated inFIGS. 2A-B). Throughout the transition of the crank204from the second position to the first position, the engagement of the crank204with the linkage202may cause the linkage202to pull on or move the pick arm208from the lowered position (engaged with the media212) to the raised position (separated or apart from the media212). Further, the swingarm206may continue to engage with and move the crank204until the axis209crosses over the point of rotation211of the crank204, thereby mechanically locking the pick arm208in the raised position. Although a mechanical locking system is described herein, it should be noted that the imaging device may include another separate device, alone or in conjunction with the mechanical locking system, to lock the pick arm208in the raised position.

In some implementations, the default state of the lift mechanism200may be to dispose the pick arm208in the raised position. In other words, the pick arm208may always be in the raised position, until the imaging device receives instruction or input to perform a process on media212. The imaging device may then perform the above functions in order to lower the pick arm208to the lowered position to pick media212. Once the desired operations or processes have been performed on the media212, or the desired quantity of media212has been delivered through the media path, the imaging device may raise the pick arm208back up to the raised position. In other implementations, the default state of the lift mechanism200may be to dispose the pick arm208in the lowered position, always engaged with media212and ready to pick media212. The pick arm208may not be moved to the raised position until a specific instruction to do so is received by the imaging device. Such a specific instruction may be from a sensor detecting depletion of the media212, for example, and the pick arm208may then be raised to the raised position so that media212may be loaded into loading area of the imaging device.

Referring now toFIG. 3A, a side view of an example lift mechanism300is illustrated. Example lift mechanism300may be similar to example lift mechanism100or200. Further, the similarly named elements of example lift mechanism300may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of example lift mechanism100or200, as they are described above. In some implementations, the example lift mechanism300may include a linkage302, a crank304, and a swingarm306, and the lift mechanism300may move a pick arm308along a direction319from a raised position to a lowered position, and vice versa. The lift mechanism300may also include a planetary gear316and a ring gear318, in some implementations. The planetary gear316may be engaged with or rotatably connected to the swingarm306such that the planetary gear316is capable of rotating relative to the swingarm306. The planetary gear316may be disposed on the swingarm306radially outwards from a point of rotation307of the swingarm306such that, as the swingarm306rotates about the point of rotation307, the planetary gear316may travel with the swingarm306about the point of rotation307, for example, along a first direction305.

The lift mechanism300may also include a ring gear318, in some implementations. The ring gear318may be a stationary set or array of gear or cog teeth, having a complementary teeth pitch to that of the planetary gear316. Further, the ring gear318and the swingarm306may be concentric to one another, or in other words, the ring gear318may have a center point of curvature that coincides with the point of rotation307of the swingarm306. Additionally, the planetary gear316may be radially disposed from the point of rotation307an appropriate distance such that the planetary gear316may operably engage with the ring gear318. Therefore, the planetary gear316and the ring gear318may be able to mesh together such that the planetary gear316may travel along the ring gear318. In some implementations, the planetary gear316may engage with the ring gear318in a manner other than meshing teeth. For example, the planetary gear316and the ring gear318may each engage each other with a friction surface, such as a surface with a rough, rubberized, or other appropriate surface having a high coefficient of friction, such that the planetary gear316may travel along the ring gear318. In further implementations, the ring gear318may be stationary and disposed on or part of a housing or other non-moving structural component320of the imaging device.

In some implementations, a drive element may drive or move the swingarm306in the first direction305such that the swingarm306engages with the crank304. The swingarm306may have a post314to engage with the crank304such that the crank304rotates in a direction317from a first position to a second position. In some implementations, the drive element may also operably engage with the planetary gear316so that, as the drive element rotates the swingarm along first direction305, the drive element also drives the planetary gear316in a direction325. In further implementations, another component or a separate drive element may drive the planetary gear316. Further, the planetary gear316may be indirectly driven by a drive element, such as through intermediary gears, transmissions, or other components, in some implementations. The planetary gear316may be rotated in direction325such that the teeth of the planetary gear316engage or mesh with the teeth of the ring gear318, and the planetary gear316moves along first direction305. The planetary gear316, through its connection with the swingarm306, may move the swingarm306in the first direction305as the planetary gear316moves along first direction305. Therefore, in an example where the swingarm306is not rigidly connected to the drive element, but only connected through friction, the planetary gear316may assist in rotating the swingarm306in the first direction305with enough torque such that the swingarm306is able to engage with and rotate the crank304from the first position to the second position. Referring additionally toFIG. 3B, a side view of example lift mechanism300is illustrated, wherein the planetary gear316and the swingarm306have partially moved along the first direction305, thereby partially moving the crank304along direction317from the first position to the second position. The crank304, by way of the linkage302, has, therefore, partially moved the pick arm308along direction319towards the lowered position.

Referring now toFIG. 3C, a side view of example lift mechanism300is illustrated wherein the pick arm308is disposed in the lowered position. The planetary gear316and the swingarm306have moved in the first direction305to a degree sufficient to fully transition the crank304from the first position to the second position. The crank304, therefore, has fully transitioned, through the linkage302, the pick arm308from the raised position to the lowered position. Additionally, in some implementations, after moving along first direction305to fully transition the pick arm308from the raised position to the lowered position, the planetary gear316and the swingarm306may continue to travel along first direction305in order to engage the planetary gear316with a gear train322of the imaging device. The gear train322may be a transmission having a single gear or cog, or include multiple gears or cogs, in some implementations. The gear train322, in some implementations, may include components that engage each other through friction, instead of through meshing teeth. In further implementations, the gear train may be disposed on or within, or otherwise be connected to the pick arm308. The gear train322may be operably engaged with a pick roller or multiple pick rollers, or other picking components of the pick arm308, such that the gear train drives the pick components in order to pick media312. In further implementations, once engaged with the gear train, the drive element may continue to rotate the planetary gear in direction325in order to operably drive the gear train so that a pick tire or pick component of the pick arm308may rotate in a picking direction327to pick media312and deliver the media312through a media path323of the imaging device.

In addition to rotating the swingarm306along first direction305, the planetary gear316may also rotate the swingarm306in a second direction, opposite to direction305, in order to move the crank304from the second position to the first position. The drive element may rotate the planetary gear316in a direction opposite to direction325such that the planetary gear316moves along the ring gear318in the second direction, and therefore moves the swingarm306in the second direction.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a side view of an example lift mechanism400of an imaging device is illustrated. Example lift mechanism400may be similar to example lift mechanism described above. Further, the similarly named elements of example lift mechanism400may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of other example lift mechanisms, as they are described above. Lift mechanism400may engage with a pick arm408to transition the pick arm408from a raised position to a lowered position along a direction419, and vice versa.FIG. 4illustrates the lift mechanism400, wherein the pick arm408is disposed in the lowered position. In some implementations, the lift mechanism400may include a linkage402connected to the pick arm408. The linkage402may include a first arm402a, and a second arm402b. In some implementations, the first and second anus402aand402bmay be movable relative to one another. In further implementations, the second arm402bmay be movable relative to the first arm402aalong a direction opposite to that of direction419, and in yet further implementations, the second arm402bmay be pivotable about a pivot429relative to the first arm402a.

In some implementations, the lift mechanism400may further include a bias member428. The bias member428may be a resilient member capable of elastic deformation. In other words, the bias member428may be capable of returning to its original structure or shape after being deformed. In some implementations, the bias member428may be a spring, and in further implementations, the bias member428may be a tension coil spring. In other implementations, the bias member428may be another type of spring. The bias member428may be engaged with the pick arm408and the lift mechanism400, or another component thereof. The bias member428may exert a normal force in response to a deformation that is both oriented opposite to and proportional to the degree of deformation. In further implementations, the bias member428may bias, pull, or push the pick arm408in a direction431towards the lowered position. In some implementations, when the pick arm408is disposed in the lowered position, the pick arm408may be movable against the exerted force of the bias member428towards the raised position, through the movability of the second arm402brelative to the first arm402a. Thus, when in the lowered position, the pick arm408may be able to engage with media of differing thickness, or stacks of media with different thicknesses.

In some implementations, the lift mechanism400may further include a blocker430. The blocker430, in some implementations, may be a rib, wall, shield, or other protrusion, or another feature capable of blocking a crank404from movement. In some implementations, the blocker430may be disposed on a swingarm406, and, further, may be a unitary component with the swingarm406, or may be a separate component attached to the swingarm406. As such, the blocker430may move with the swingarm406in a first direction405and a second direction. When the crank404is in a first position, the swingarm406, and the blocker430thereon, may be disposed relative to the crank404such that the crank404cannot move to a second position, or, further, may not move out of the first position at all, in some implementations. If an attempt were made to move the crank404out of the first position by an outside force, such as an impact, for example, the crank404may contact the blocker430and be prevented from moving out of the first position, or into the second position. Further, the swingarm406may move in the first direction and engage with the crank404to move the crank404from the first position to the second position. As the swingarm406moves along the first direction405, the blocker430may be moved or rotated out of the way such that, as soon as the swingarm406starts to move the crank404from the first position to the second position, the blocker430may no longer prevent the crank404from such a transition. It should be noted thatFIG. 4illustrates the crank404in the second position, after the swingarm406and the blocker430have moved along first direction405, thus moving the blocker430out of the way of the crank404. In some implementations, the blocker430may be disposed on another component other than the swingarm406, and may be moved out of the way of the crank404in another way.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a method for picking media is illustrated. Block501rotates a swingarm to engage with a crank. Block502transitions the crank from a first position to a second position. Block503engages the crank with a linkage to lower a pick arm throughout the transition of the crank from the first position to the second position. Block504rotates the swingarm to engage a feed shaft with a pick roller. In some implementations, the feed shaft may be engaged with a gear train to drive the pick roller. Block505picks the media with the pick roller.