PRINTER STAND

Abstract: A stand for a printing machine or the like which comprises a pair of end panels (1A) disposed on each side of one or more horizontal shelves (2, 3), said panels having recesses (4) dimensioned to support the printing machine in a substantially vertical or upright position.

Description: This invention relates to an improved stand for mounting a printing machine or similar apparatus. At present printing machines as used for example with computers or word processors are often simply placed on a standard table or work bench, the continuous supply of paper required for their operation is drawn up from a carton placed under the table and the printed pages after leaving the printer are typically shed back onto the floor. Such arrangements have a number of disadvantages. The incoming paper supply can become entangled with the printed sheets exiting from the machine or the electrical cables extending between the printer and the central processor or power supply. Further the machine when placed horizontally occupies excessive desk space and the accumulation of these printed sheets without the benefit of a controlled stacking arrangement is unsightly and detrimental to the orderly storage and further processing of the printer output. It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned problems and accordingly this invention in one broad aspect provides a stand for a printing machine or the like which is adapted to support the machine in a space saving substantially vertical position and includes means for the orderly stacking of the output paper as it exits from the machine. One preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show perspective views of one form of printer stand according to this invention; and Figs. 3, 3a, 4 and 5 are side, front and rear views respectively of the stand shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view along the line A-A of Fig. 1. Referring first to Fig. 1 the stand comprises a pair of end panels IA disposed on each side of horizontal shelves 2 and 3. Each of the end panels has a recess 4 defined between front and rear flanges 5 and 6. These recesses should be aligned as best shown in Fig. 3 and are dimensioned to support a printing machine 7 in a substantially vertical or upright position as depicted by broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3a. Although the dimensions of these recesses can vary according to the particula_r machine being mounted, with this embodiment they are approximately 100mm in width to support an "Epson MX-80 F/T" printer. The printer is placed in the recesses in a manner such that the upper panel 8 of the machine which normally incorporates both the controls and the entry and exit apertures for the paper supply faces toward the front of the stand. While the recesses should of course be deep enough to properly support the printer the front flanges 5 may as shown be lower in height to allow unobstructed access to the control panel of the printer. As best shown in Fig. 6 the paper supply 9 can thus be neatly stored on the lower shelf 2 and drawn as needed (see arrows 9A) around the rear edge of the upper shelf 3 and thence up into the machine. In order to facilitate the passage of paper around the upper shelf 3 it is preferably inset a distance "B" of about 12mm from the rear of the stand. The printed sheets after issuing from the machine pass downwardly (see arrows 9B) for collection and stacking on the upper shelf 3 well clear of the incoming paper supply. Preferably one or both of the end panels also have additional notches 12 and 13 cut into their rear edges and the bottom of the recesses 4. These have been found advantageous for directing the incoming power and communication cables clear of the paper flow. As best shown in Fig. 3a notch 12, once the printer is located within the recesses, effectively locks the cable in place and prevents and prevents its entangling with the '1 -.'fffe '. ftfily. lnέ_ δCή&T. notch 13 is elongated to receive a communications cable which normally extends between the printer and the word processor or computer. According to a further embodiment of this invention (not shown) the lower shelf 2 may be omitted and the stand mounted against a wall. In this case the paper supply could conveniently be placed immediately below the stand and fed up to the printer by passing it behind the rear edge of the remaining shelf 3. The printed sheets emanating from the machine would still stack on this shelf 3 in a manner described previously. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments described provides a novel and unique improvement for the mounting of printers or similar apparatus. Clearly however the particular examples disclosed are only the presently preferred forms of this invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the shape, configuration and relative size of the end panels and recesses are preferred only and may be varied according to design preference and/or to suit different sizes and types of machines. Also while plastic is preferred for constructing the stand clearly other suitable materials such as metal or even wood may be used.

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A stand for a printing machine or the like which is adapted to support the machine in a space saving substantially vertical position and includes means for the orderly stacking of the output paper as it exits from the machine. 2. The stand as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a pair of end panels disposed on each side of one or more horizontal shelves, said panels having aligned recesses dimensioned to support a printing machine in a substantially vertical or upright position. 3. The stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein the recesses are defined between front and rear flanges and the front flanges are lower in height than the rear flanges to allow unobstructed access to the control panel of the printer. 4. The stand as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the end panels are disposed on each side of upper and lower horizontal shelves so that the paper supply for the printer can be stored on the lower shelf and drawn up as needed around the rear edge of the upper shelf. 5. The stand as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rear edge of the upper shelf is inset from the rear of the stand to facilitate the passage of the paper therearound. 6. The stand as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the upper shelf is adapted to support in a stacked configuration the paper as it exits from the machine. 7. The stand as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein one of the end panels has notches formed in the rear edge and the bottom of the recess so as to direct the incoming power communication cables clear of the paper flow. 8. The stand as claimed in claim 7 wherein the notch which is formed in the rear ed-ge of the said one of the end panels is elongated to receive a ribbon cable extending between the printer and a word processor or computer. 9. A stand for a printing machine substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

Inventors: LEE BRIAN JAMES, LEE, BRIAN, JAMES
Applicants: LEE BRIAN JAMES, LEE, BRIAN, JAMES
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B41J29
IPC codes: B41J11, B41J29