Abstract:
A transportable device, such as a cart, for transporting and elevating an imaging media cartridge into a press printer may include a base platform, first and second elevation members disposed thereon, a panel disposed between the first and second elevation members, and first and second elevator platforms. The panel may include a pair of opposite vertical faces along which the elevator platforms slide to mutually exchange elevations by vertically sliding the platforms in opposite directions. The device may be used for a method of transporting and elevating an imaging media cartridge into a press printer at an installation height above a floor. Additionally, the device may be used for a method of removing and storing an imaging media cartridge from a press printer at an installation height above the floor.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to a transportable device for installing, retrieving, moving and storing an imaging media cartridge that is otherwise non-ergonomically mounted. 
   A production-level high-end printer, such as the iGen printing press, may include a customer changeable unit (CCU) to supply and/or develop imaging media corresponding to a customized color. Such imaging media may include dry toner or liquid ink. The CCU may include, for example, an imaging media dispenser as well as a developer, particularly for a toner and integrated together in an imaging media cartridge. 
   The imaging media may correspond to a standard set of colors that include cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) in the four standard imaging media stations may be augmented by a trademarked color heavily used by a printer client for high quality publications. 
   Such trademarked colors may be assigned a corresponding four-digit PANTONE® number and assigned to a fifth imaging media station. Upon completion of a print run for one printer client using a first CCU having imaging media in a first trademarked color, the first CCU may be removed and replaced by a second CCU having imaging media in a second trademarked color for another printer client. Alternatively, the CCU in the fifth imaging media station may be assigned to a heavily used color of the CMYK set. 
   The CCU may be integrally designed and constructed, and can weigh between ˜30 and ˜40 pounds-mass. Due to the limited volume of the press and the constrained floor space of a typical printing shop, the CCU may be installed into a right side Xerographic-tower (or X-tower) of the iGen printing press at a mounting position that can be difficult to reach, such as positions above the level permitted by government regulation or personnel contract. 
   SUMMARY 
   Various exemplary embodiments provide a transportable device, such as a cart, for transporting and elevating an imaging media cartridge into a press printer may include a base platform, first and second elevation members disposed thereon, a panel disposed between the first and second elevation members, and first and second elevator platforms. The panel may include a pair of opposite vertical faces along which the elevator platforms slide to mutually exchange elevations by vertically sliding the platforms in opposite directions. 
   In various exemplary embodiments, the device may include a docking mechanism to connect to the press printer, a pulley that connects to and counterbalances the first and second elevator platforms, a horizontal guide rail on the first and second elevator platforms, caster wheels disposed on the base platform for translating and rotating the device along the floor, and/or a reinforcement frame between the base platform and the first and second elevation members. 
   In various exemplary embodiments, the device may be used for a method of transporting and elevating an imaging media cartridge into a press printer at an installation height above a floor. Additionally, the device may be used for a method of removing and storing an imaging media cartridge from a press printer at an installation height above the floor. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various details are described below with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an exemplary cart for moving and mounting a customer changeable unit; 
       FIG. 2  shows an elevation view of the cart; 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the cart; 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the cart and an X-tower with which the cart interfaces; 
       FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of the cart and the X-tower; 
       FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of docking mechanism for the X-tower; 
       FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of docking mechanism for the cart; 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show plan views of the docking mechanisms for the cart and the X-tower in approach and docking modes, respectively; and 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show views of the cart and the X-tower in the docking mode. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   The following detailed description refers to a transport and installation device for print imaging media cartridges. The device may refer to a cart that interfaces with the iGen printing press, for example. However, it should be appreciated that the principles described herein may be equally applied to any known or later-developed imaging media cartridge carts, beyond the examples specifically discussed herein. 
     FIGS. 1-3  show isometric, elevation and exploded views, respectively, of a cart  100  associated with several CCUs  200 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The cart  100  may be constructed of mild steel in a tubular frame structure, although alternate structural forms can be envisioned by artisans skilled in the art. 
   The cart  100  includes a vertical frame  110  that may be quadrilaterally symmetrical about a vertical axis  105 . The vertical frame  110  is shown to include a fore vertical (or elevation) member  112  and an aft vertical member  114 . Fore and aft docking handle bars  116 ,  118  may be disposed on the respective vertical members  112 ,  114  to interface against the X-tower of the iGen press. 
   A base platform  120  may be disposed on the cart  100  at the bottom of the vertical frame  110 . The base platform  120  may include fore and aft base members  122 ,  124 , connected at perpendicular joints to obverse and reverse crossbar members  126 ,  128 . Casters  132  may be suspended from the crossbar members  126 ,  128  to enable the cart  100  to be rolled along on a floor surface, except when releasably locked into a stationary position. 
   The fore and aft base members  122 ,  124  may connect with their counterpart fore and aft vertical members  112 ,  114  to form respective perpendicular T-joints  134 . The base platform  120  may include docking latches  160  at the fore and aft base members  122 ,  124 . The docking latch  160  enables the cart  100  to be releasably secured to the X-tower of the iGen press. 
   An A-frame  136  may extend upward from the base platform  120  to join with the vertical frame  110  on the fore and aft vertical members  112 ,  114 . The A-frame  136  may include multiple racks to permit storage of one or more CCUs  200 . The racks may include one or more rods from which a CCU  200  may be hung or suspended by hooks, ledges and/or other attachment mechanisms. While hung from the racks of the A-frame  136 , the CCUs  200  may be covered by an environmental enclosure  138  to inhibit contamination or damage during transport or storage. The A-frame  136  may reinforce T-joints  134  between the base platform  120  and the vertical frame  110  against shear stress, but alternatively, the A-frame  136  may be omitted as optional. 
   A vertical panel  140  may be disposed between the fore and aft members  112 ,  114 , extending from near the top of the A-frame  136  to the top of the vertical frame  110 . The panel  140  may provide obverse and reverse faces  142 ,  144 , respectively. A pulley wheel  146  may be disposed between the obverse and reverse faces  142 ,  144  to raise or lower the CCUs  200  along a pair of vertically running parallel slots  148  that may be disposed through the panel  140 . 
   Elevator platforms  150  may be suspended from the panel  140 . The platforms  150  include obverse and reverse platforms  152 ,  154  that may be counterbalanced on the respective obverse and reverse faces  142 ,  144  of the platform  140 . The obverse and reverse platforms  152 ,  154  may be connected to each other by the pulley wheel  146  to translate vertically along the slots  148  for their respective raising and lowering so as to mutually exchange their respective elevations. The obverse and reverse platforms  152 ,  154  may include vertical brackets  156  disposed along the respective obverse and reverse faces  142 ,  144  of the panel  140 . A portion of the obverse and reverse platforms  152 ,  154  may protrude through one of the vertically running parallel slots  148  to facilitate sliding. The obverse and reverse platforms  152 ,  154  may each include a horizontal guide rail  158  along which a CCU  200  can slide. 
   A replacement CCU  202 , to be installed, can be placed on the obverse platform  152 , while a retrieved CCU  204  can be placed on the reverse platform.  154 . The CCUs  200  include front and rear ends, with the front end  206  shown for the replacement CCU  202  on the obverse platform  152  and the rear end  208  shown for the retrieved CCU  204  on the reverse platform  154 .  FIG. 2  shows the reverse platform  154  with the retrieved CCU  204  at a load position that represents a person&#39;s lift height of  30  inches from the floor. The obverse platform  152  with the replacement CCU  202  is shown at the mounting height of  63  inches above the floor. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show plan and isometric views of the cart  100  in cooperation with an iGen X-tower  300  with its front side exhibited as a tower frame  302 . The X-tower  300  has approximate dimensions of ˜8 feet tall, ˜4 feet deep and ˜10 feet long. A tower base  304  at the bottom of the X-tower includes a docking port to receive the docking latch  160  of the cart  100 . The interface of the docking latch  160  and the docking port enables the cart  100  to be securely and detachably locked into position adjacent to the X-tower  300 , with one of the handle bars  116 ,  118  disposed along the front side and the casters  132  locked. 
     FIGS. 6-11  show views of an exemplary embodiment of the docking mechanisms for the cart  100  and the X-tower  300 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these descriptions are provided for illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. 
     FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of a docking port  310  the tower base  304  at the bottom of the X-tower. The docking port  310  includes a mounting plate  312  flanked by a pair of retaining springs  314  to receive the docking latch  160 . 
     FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of the docking latch  160  in detail for the fore side of the cart  100 . The docking latch  160  may include an insert  162  extending beyond the fore base member  122  and connected to a tongue  164  extending from under the base platform  120 . The insert  162  may be flanked by a pair of bumpers  166  and associated cart springs  168 . The insert  162  may engage the mounting plate  312  as the cart springs  168  connect against their corresponding retaining springs  314 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  show plan views, for respective approach and docking configurations, of the tower base  304  and the components of the docking latch  160 . The insert  162  may be aligned with the mounting plate  312  during approach. As the insert  162  slides underneath the mounting plate  312 , the cart springs  168  engage their counterpart retaining springs  314  to secure the cart  100  to the X-tower  300 , while the bumpers  166  attenuate vibrations resulting from component interaction. 
     FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of the base platform  120  and the tower base  304  in the docking mode with the fore side of the cart  100  disposed adjacent the X-tower  300 . A lever assembly  170  may be disposed on the aft side of the cart  100 , as shown. The lever assembly  170  may include a foot pedal  172  connected to the tongue  164  by a hinge (not shown) under the base platform  120 . In response to downward force applied to the foot pedal  172 , the tongue  164  elevates in seesaw fashion to raise the insert  162 . 
     FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the fore side of the base platform  120 . After sliding the insert  162  underneath the mounting plate  312 , the foot pedal  172  may be depressed to raise the tongue  164 , thereby securing the insert  162  to connect with the mounting plate  312 . Release of the docking latch  160  from the docking port  310  may be accomplished by raising the foot pedal  172  and sliding the cart  100  away from the X-tower  300 . 
   Those of ordinary skill will recognize that description of the docking latch  160  and the lever assembly  170  on fore and aft sides of the cart  100 , respectively, represents only a simplified example for descriptive purposes to reduce visual clutter. Various exemplary embodiments include disposing docking latches  160  and lever assemblies  170  on both fore and aft sides of the cart  100  to facilitate retrieval and mounting of a CCU  200  from either side. 
   Exchanging the retrieved CCU  204  with the replacement CCU  202  may be performed by docking the cart  100  against the X-tower  300  aligned to dispose the aft handle bar  118  on the aft vertical member  114  adjacent to the front side tower frame  302 . An operator conducting the transfer raises the reverse platform  154  to align its guide rail  158  with a mounting rail of the X-tower  300  on which the retrieved CCU  204  may have been installed. These mounting rails may optionally be docked or otherwise disconnectably secured in position. 
   The operator may slide the retrieved CCU  204  along the guide rail  158  onto the reverse platform  154 . The docking latch  160  and casters  132  may be released in order to turn the cart  100  about its vertical axis  105  on the floor. The operator may lift the replacement CCU  202  onto the obverse platform  152 . 
   Subsequently, the operator may dock the cart  100  against the X-tower  300  aligned to dispose the fore handle bar  116  on the fore vertical member  112  adjacent to the front side tower frame  302  and thereby align the mounting rail  158  to the mounting rail of the X-tower  300 . The operator may pull the reverse platform  154  downward to lower the retrieved CCU  204 , with the counterweight of the replacement CCU  202  compensating for the required force. 
   The inertial and frictional force required to initiate movement of the platforms  150  may be, for example, greater than ˜8 pounds-force. As the reverse platform  154  is lowered, the obverse platform  152  is raised, elevating the replacement CCU  202 . After being lowered, the retrieved CCU  204  may be removed from the reverse platform  154  for storage. 
   The operator may provide the required translation force manually, with a lockout safety mechanism to avoid uncontrollable acceleration and excess movement speed of the platforms  150  ascending and/or descending. Alternatively, a mechanical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic spring may provide supplemental force, or else, a motor may be used to provide the entire transfer force. When the obverse platform  152  reaches the mounting height of 63 inches and aligns the guide rail  158  with the mounting rail, the operator can then slide the replacement CCU  202  from the cart  100  for installing into the X-tower  300 . 
   The CCU sliding operation to and from the guide rail  158  may be performed manually, or alternatively by a motor that supplies the motive transfer force. After installing the replacement CCU  202 , the cart  100  may be undocked from the X-tower  300  and relocated. Artisans of ordinary skill will recognize that these procedures need not be performed in the precise sequence as presented, and that alternate and supplemental procedures may accompany the described arrangements without departing from the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. 
   It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.