Abstract:
This invention relates to an input tray media de-slouch apparatus, comprising; an input media tray, at least one pivotable media de-slouch arm operatively connected to the tray, and a releasable locking means operatively connected to the arm and the tray to lock the arm prior to media being placed against the arm to substantially keep the media from slouching and to release the arm when the media is being fed from the input tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an input tray media de-slouch apparatus, comprising; an input media tray, at least one pivotable media de-slouch arm operatively connected to the tray, and a releasable locking means operatively connected to the arm and the tray to lock the arm prior to media being placed against the arm to substantially keep the media from slouching and to release the arm prior to the media being fed from the input tray. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Prior to the present invention, as set forth in general terms above and more specifically below, it is known in rear and vertically loaded printer media trays that slouching of stiff media is to be avoided. Slouching is defined as having the media fan out, slip down the tray floor, or worse, sliding into the printer media feed system, thereby causing jams. In prior rear and vertically loaded printer media trays, a stationary friction pad was mounted on the tray floor. The pad was used to achieve the dual purposes of preventing media movement during loading and also providing separation forces for preventing multi-picking of the media during the pick cycle. Multi-picking results when the top sheet the media tends to drag the sheet of media below it into the media handling feed mechanism, due to friction. 
     One major drawback of this design is the limited effectiveness of the friction pad in preventing media movement during the loading process. This is because increasing the frictional forces while achieving limited media movement during the loading process would result in no pick of media and a subsequent increase in system torque requirements. Consequently, a more advantageous system, then, would be provided if media slouching could be eliminated while reducing multi-picking of the media. 
     It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for an input tray media system that is capable of eliminating media slouching while reducing multi-picking of the media. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, an embodiment of this invention fulfills these needs by providing an input tray media de-slouch apparatus, comprising; an input media tray, at least one pivotable media de-slouch arm operatively connected to the tray, and a releasable locking means operatively connected to the arm and the tray to lock the arm prior to media being placed against the arm to substantially keep the media from slouching and to release the arm prior to the media being fed from the input tray. 
     In certain preferred embodiments, the arm further includes a textured surface. Also, the releasable locking means is further comprised of a pick arm, a de-slouch linkage, a de-slouch spring, a de-slouch latch, and drive gears. 
     In another further preferred embodiment, an input tray media system is utilized that is capable of eliminating media slouching while reducing multi-picking of the media through the use of pivotable de-slouch arms and a releasable locking means operatively connected to the arm. 
     The preferred input tray media system, according to various embodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages: ease-of-use; lightness in weight; ease of assembly and repair; excellent de-slouching characteristics; reduced probability of multi-picking when the media is initially installed; good durability; and good economy. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these factors of ease-of-use, excellent de-slouching characteristics, and reduced multi-picking are optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known. 
     The above and other features of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are best understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric, front view of an input tray media de-slouch system, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric, rear view of the input tray media de-slouch system, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a de-slouch assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated one preferred embodiment for use of the concepts of this invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates an input tray media de-slouch system  2 . System  2  includes, in part, input tray  4  having media leading edge abutment side  10 , pick roller cover  6 , pivotable de-slouch arms  8 , slots  9 , and remaining de-slouch assembly  50 . Tray  4 , pick roller cover  6 , arms  8 , and assembly  50 , preferably, are constructed of any suitable, durable material that is capable of handling a variety of media, particularly thick media such as photo media. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , pick roller cover  6  is located substantially above pivotable de-slouch arms  8 . Also, pivotable de-slouch arms  8  are located substantially within slots  9  formed within media leading edge abutment side  10 . 
     With respect to  FIG. 2 , the rearview of input tray media de-slouch system  2  is illustrated. System  2  further includes, in part, de-slouch linkage  12 , pivotable de-slouch arm support  14 , pivotable de-slouch arm support pivot  15 , latch  16 , intermediate drive gear  18 , and cam gear  20 . Linkage  12 , support  14 , pivot  15 , latch  16 , drive gear  18 , and cam gear  20  are, preferably, constructed of any suitable, durable material that is capable of handling a variety of media, particularly thick media such as photo media. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , support  14  is releasably attached to latch  16 . Also, support  14  is pivotally connected to tray  4  at pivots  15 . Also, pick roller cover  6  is pivotally attached to de-slouch linkage  12 . De-slouch linkage  12  is pivotally attached to de-slouch arm support  14 . Finally, latch  16  is operatively connected to cam gear  20 . 
     With respect to  FIG. 3 , assembly  50  is further illustrated. Assembly  50  includes, in part, pick roller cover  6 , pivotable de-slouch arms  8 , de-slouch linkage  12 , pivotable de-slouch support extension  13 , pivotable de-slouch arm support  14 , pivotable de-slouch arm support pivot  15 , latch  16 , latch arm  17 , intermediate drive gear  18 , cam gear  20 , cam gear slot  21 , and pivotable de-slouch arm surface  22 . Preferably, surface  22 , is constructed to create a roughened texture, such as through the use of serrations or other suitable raised textures. Surface  22  is used in conjunction with arms  8  in order to prevent the slouching of the media by providing a roughened surface which contacts the leading edge of the media. It is to be understood that the roughened surface  22  may also be a serrated-surface with rearwards (back of input tray  4 ) facing teeth, to positively lock the media and prevent it from slouching. 
     With respect to  FIGS. 1-3 , during the operation of input tray media de-slouch system  2  and assembly  50 , the user pulls down on pick roller cover  6  (in the direction of arrow W) to create an opening to deposit a stack of media (not shown). This pulling motion actuates linkage  12  (along the direction of arrow Y) which causes support  14  to rotate (along the clockwise direction of arrows X) and raise de-slouch arms  8  (along the upward direction of arrows Z) above side  10 . Once arms  8  are raised, they are locked into position by the interaction between support extension  13  and latch  16 . In this position, any amount of media re-straightening by the user will be encountered by the raised position of the de-slouch arms  8 , as well as surface  22  of arm  8 . Consequently, the user will be satisfied that the media is loaded correctly. Preferably, the arms  8  are locked in a position at angle that is less than 90° with respect to tray  4 . 
     When system  2  is powered up, intermediate drive gear  18  rotates (in the direction of arrow A) with earn gear  20  which in turn interacts (along the direction of arrow B) with latch in  17 . This causes latch  16  to become disengaged from support extension  13 . Once support extension  13  is disengaged from latch  16 , de-slouch arms  8  pivot (along the downward direction of arrows Z) towards side  10 . This rotation of arms K (along the counterclockwise direction of arrows X) causes the media to contact side  10  for subsequent media picking and further media processing. This operation would repeat itself any time media is loaded into system  2 . It is to be understood that if the dc-slouch system  2  is activated with media already present in the input tray  4 , the de-slouch arms  8  will serve to “straighten” the media and reverse any slouching/fanning already present in the media stack. This effect is more pronounced with a large activation angle of the de-slouch arms  8 , and a low pick tire X-position, effectively squeezing the stack hack in place (i.e. activated de-slouch arm-to-input tray rear wall angle of&lt;80 degrees or so). 
     Also, the present invention can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction-execution system, apparatus or device such as a computer/processor based system, processor-containing system or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction-execution system, apparatus or device, and execute the instructions contained therein. In the context of this disclosure, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate or transport a program for use by or in connection with the instruction-execution system, apparatus or device. The computer-readable medium can comprise any one of many physical media such as, for example, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor media. More specific examples of a suitable computer-readable medium would include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette such as floppy diskettes or hard drives, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory, or a portable compact disc. It is to be understood that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a single manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or combinations thereof. Separate embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using a combination of hardware and software or firmware that is stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction-execution system. If implemented solely in hardware, as in an alternative embodiment, the present invention can be separately implemented with any or a combination of technologies which are well known in the art (for example, discrete-logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable-gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or other later developed technologies. In preferred embodiments, the present invention can be implemented in a combination of software and data executed and stored under the control of a computing device. 
     It will be well understood by one having ordinary skill in the art, after having become familiar with the teachings of the present invention, that software applications may be written in a number of programming languages now known or later developed. 
     Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.