Abstract:
A method of making and using a multifunction printer comprising forming a vertical hinge mechanism in a first end of a printer&#39;s cleanout member. A second portion of the hinge mechanism is formed as a hole in a housing of the printer for coupling with the first portion. A third portion of the hinge mechanism is formed as a hole in a scanner portion of the printer also for coupling with the first portion. The cleanout member pivots about the vertical rotational axis formed by the hinge mechanism.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent applications: 
         [0000]    Ser. No. ______ by Chuang et al. (Docket K000175) filed of even date herewith entitled “Printing Apparatus With Pivotable Duplexing Unit”;
 
Ser. No. ______ by Murray et al. (Docket K000363) filed of even date herewith entitled “Printing Method with Pivotable Cleanout Member”; and
 
Ser. No. ______ by Murray et al. (Docket K000350) filed of even date herewith entitled “Printing Apparatus With Pivoting Cleanout Member”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a media path for a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a cleanout member for providing access to a portion of the media path between the media input holder and the print region. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A printing apparatus typically includes a media advance system for advancing media from a media input holder to a print region. Because media can occasionally become jammed as it is being advanced through the printing apparatus, a cleanout member is provided in many printers. Typically an inner side of the cleanout member faces a portion of the media path. The cleanout member is conventionally configured to be removably mounted on the printing apparatus. If a media jam occurs, the user can remove the cleanout member to view and gain access to the jammed media. By manually taking hold of the jammed media, the user can remove it. The cleanout member is then reinstalled onto the printing apparatus and the printing job can continue. 
         [0004]    Although a handle on the cleanout member usually makes it straightforward for the user to remove the cleanout member, reinstallation of the cleanout member can be nonintuitive. It can take several tries for the user to install the cleanout member correctly. Since the cleanout member typically forms one of the guide surfaces for a portion of the media path, if the cleanout member is not installed, the media can exit through the gap where the cleanout member should be and not make it to the print region. Thus, a cleanout member that is completely removed in order to clear media jams can be a source of frustration to the user during reinstallation. 
         [0005]    A cleanout member that does not need to be completely removed from the printing apparatus in order to clear media jams can therefore be advantageous. A pivotable cleanout member that is attached to the printer housing by a hinge is advantaged because the user understands that after clearing the media jam he just needs to move the pivotable cleanout member to its closed position. There is no opportunity for the user to try to install such a cleanout member upside down or backwards. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,077 discloses a cleanout member (referred to there as a jam-door) having a hinge (or pivot) that is substantially parallel to the base of the printing apparatus. Since the base of the printing apparatus is horizontal during operation, such a hinge can also be called a horizontal hinge. The hinge in &#39;077 is affixed to the housing of the printing apparatus at a position below the jam-door. Such a jam-door is opened by pivoting it downward. This is viable in the printing apparatus of &#39;077 because the cleanout member is located somewhat above the base. 
         [0007]    In a low-cost desktop printer, such as an inkjet printer, the printer is intended to sit on the user&#39;s desk or other flat surface that extends beyond the base of the printer. In addition, for a compact height printer having a C-shaped paper path (with the media input holder located below the media output holder), the cleanout member is typically located very close to the base of the printer. For a cleanout member located very close to the base of a desktop printer, a horizontal hinge configuration has disadvantages. If the hinge is located at the top of the cleanout member, the cleanout member would pivot upwards. However, since the user is typically taller than the desktop, the upwardly pivoted cleanout member would obscure visibility and interfere with access to the media path inside. Even if the user bent over so that his eyes were at desktop level, it would make it difficult to reach in and clear out paper jams between the upwardly pivoted cleanout member and the desktop. if the hinge is located at the bottom of the cleanout member (as in &#39;077), the cleanout member would pivot downwards. However, if the cleanout member is located very near the base of the printing apparatus, its pivoting motion would typically cause it to hit the desktop before opening all the way, again interfering with visibility and access to the media path for clearing media jams. 
         [0008]    What is needed is a cleanout member that does not require user installation, and that allows good visibility and access to media paths inside the printing apparatus in order to facilitate clearing out media jams. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method of making a multifunction printer comprising forming a first portion of a hinge mechanism as a pin member in a first end of a cleanout member, the hinge mechanism oriented in a vertical direction. A second portion of the hinge mechanism is formed as a hole in a housing of the printer, the second portion of the hinge mechanism for coupling with the first portion. A third portion of the hinge mechanism is formed as a hole in a scanner portion of the printer, the third portion of the hinge mechanism also for coupling with the first portion. The first portion of the hinge mechanism is coupled to the second portion of the hinge mechanism and to the third portion of the hinge mechanism for enabling the cleanout member to pivot about a vertical rotational axis formed by the first portion of the hinge mechanism, the second portion of the hinge mechanism, and the third portion of the hinge mechanism. A bearing surface is formed on the printer that is substantially horizontal and a contact surface is formed on the cleanout member, wherein the bearing surface makes pivotable contact with the contact surface. A projection is formed on a second end of the cleanout member opposite the first end, and a latch hole is formed in the printer for enabling the cleanout member to pivot to a closed position wherein the latch hole catches the projection and maintains the cleanout member in the closed position. 
         [0010]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method of making a multifunction printer comprising forming a first portion of a first hinge mechanism in a first end of a first cleanout member, the first hinge mechanism oriented in a vertical direction. A first portion of a second hinge mechanism is formed in a first end of a second cleanout member, the second hinge mechanism oriented in a vertical direction. A second portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed in a housing of the printer, the second portion of the first hinge mechanism for coupling with the first portion of the first hinge mechanism. A second portion of the second hinge mechanism is formed in a housing of the printer, the second portion of the second hinge mechanism for coupling with the first portion of the second hinge mechanism. A third portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed in a scanner portion of the printer, the third portion of the first hinge mechanism for coupling with the first portion of the first hinge mechanism. A third portion of the second hinge mechanism is formed in the scanner portion of the printer, the third portion of the second hinge mechanism for coupling with the first portion of the second hinge mechanism. The first portion of the first hinge mechanism is coupled to the second portion of the first hinge mechanism and to the third portion of the first hinge mechanism for enabling the first cleanout member to pivot about a vertical rotational axis formed by the first portion of the first hinge mechanism, the second portion of the first hinge mechanism, and the third portion of the first hinge mechanism. The first portion of the second hinge mechanism is coupled to the second portion of the second hinge mechanism and to the third portion of the second hinge mechanism for enabling the second cleanout member to pivot about a vertical rotational axis formed by the first portion of the second hinge mechanism, the second portion of the second hinge mechanism, and the third portion of the second hinge mechanism. A bearing surface is formed on the printer that is substantially horizontal, first contact surface is formed on the first cleanout member, and a second contact surface on the second cleanout member. The bearing surface makes pivotable contact with the first contact surface and with the second contact surface. The first portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed as a pin member and the first portion of the second hinge mechanism is also formed as a pin member. The second portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed as a first hole in the housing portion of the printer, the third portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed as a first hole in the scanner portion of the printer, the second portion of the second hinge mechanism is formed as a second hole in the housing portion of the printer, and the third portion of the first hinge mechanism is formed as a second hole in the scanner portion of the printer. A first projection is formed at a second end of the first cleanout member. The second end of the first cleanout member is opposite the first end of the first cleanout member. A second projection is formed at a second end of the second cleanout member. The second end of the second cleanout member is opposite the first end of the second cleanout member. A pair of latch holes is formed in the printer for enabling the first and second cleanout members to pivot to a closed position wherein the latch holes each catch one of the first projection and the second projection for maintaining the first and second cleanout members in the closed position. 
         [0011]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of accessing a media path of a multifunction printer comprising pivoting a cleanout member of the printer along a horizontal plane for exposing the media path. Pivoting comprises pivoting the cleanout member about a vertical axis produced by a pin member formed on the cleanout member joined to a hole formed in a housing of the printer and to a hole formed in a scanner portion of the multifunction printer. A contact surface of the cleanout member contacts a bearing surface of the printer during the pivoting. When the cleanout member is in a closed position, the step of pivoting requires unlatching a first end of the cleanout member and pivoting the cleanout member about a vertical axis at another end of the cleanout member opposite the first end of the cleanout member. 
         [0012]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of making a multifunction printer comprising joining a cleanout member to a housing of the printer using a vertically oriented hinge wherein the cleanout member includes a first part of the hinge and the printer includes a second part of the hinge to allow the cleanout member to pivot along a horizontal plane between an open position and a closed position. A pin member is formed on a first end of the cleanout member in a vertical direction. A hole is formed in a housing of the printer for being joined to the pin member. A projection is formed on a second end of the cleanout member, the second end of the cleanout member opposite the first end of the cleanout member. A hole in the printer is formed corresponding to the projection for catching the projection until it is manually unlatched. 
         [0013]    These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. For example, the summary descriptions above are not meant to describe individual separate embodiments whose elements are not interchangeable. In fact, many of the elements described as related to a particular embodiment can be used together with, and possibly interchanged with, elements of other described embodiments. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. The figures below are intended to be drawn neither to any precise scale with respect to relative size, angular relationship, or relative position nor to any combinational relationship with respect to interchangeability, substitution, or representation of an actual implementation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings wherein identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical features that are common to the figures, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an inkjet printer system; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a printhead chassis; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of a desktop carriage printer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of an exemplary media path in a carriage printer that includes a cleanout member; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective rear view of a multifunction printer including a scanning apparatus, a printing apparatus and a pivotable cleanout member, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the multifunction printer of  FIG. 5 , but with the scanning apparatus and the pivotable cleanout member hidden; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  schematically shows a portion of the printing apparatus with a pivotable cleanout member in an open position, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  schematically shows a preferred embodiment in which the pivotable cleanout unit includes two half doors 
           [0023]      FIG. 9A  schematically shows the embodiment of  FIG. 8  but with the two half doors positioned in an open position substantially perpendicular to a wall of the printing apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9B  schematically shows the embodiment of  FIG. 9  but with the two half doors showing guide features; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a close-up perspective view of the inner side of the pivotable cleanout member, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a close-up perspective view of the outer side of the pivotable cleanout member; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the underside of the scanning apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic representation of an inkjet printer system  10  is shown, for its usefulness with preferred embodiments of the present invention and is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,902, and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Inkjet printer system  10  includes an image data source  12 , which provides data signals that are interpreted by a controller  14  as being commands to eject drops. Controller  14  includes an image processing unit  15  for rendering images for printing, and outputs signals to an electrical pulse source  16  of electrical energy pulses that are inputted to an inkjet printhead  100 , which includes at least one inkjet printhead die  110 . 
         [0029]    In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , there are two nozzle arrays. Nozzles  121  in the first nozzle array  120  have a larger opening area than nozzles  131  in the second nozzle array  130 . In this example, each of the two nozzle arrays has two staggered rows of nozzles, each row having a nozzle density of 600 per inch. The effective nozzle density then in each array is 1200 per inch (i.e. d= 1/1200 inch in  FIG. 1 ). If pixels on the recording medium  20  were sequentially numbered along the paper advance direction, the nozzles from one row of an array would print the odd numbered pixels, while the nozzles from the other row of the array would print the even numbered pixels. 
         [0030]    In fluid communication with each nozzle array is a corresponding ink delivery pathway. Ink delivery pathway  122  is in fluid communication with the first nozzle array  120 , and ink delivery pathway  132  is in fluid communication with the second nozzle array  130 . Portions of ink delivery pathways  122  and  132  are shown in  FIG. 1  as openings through printhead die substrate  111 . One or more inkjet printhead die  110  will be included in inkjet printhead  100 , but for greater clarity only one inkjet printhead die  110  is shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , first fluid source  18  supplies ink to first nozzle array  120  via ink delivery pathway  122 , and second fluid source  19  supplies ink to second nozzle array  130  via ink delivery pathway  132 . Although distinct fluid sources  18  and  19  are shown, in some applications it may be beneficial to have a single fluid source supplying ink to both the first nozzle array  120  and the second nozzle array  130  via ink delivery pathways  122  and  132  respectively. Also, in some preferred embodiments, fewer than two or more than two nozzle arrays can be included on printhead die  110 . In some embodiments, all nozzles on inkjet printhead die  110  can be the same size, rather than having multiple sized nozzles on inkjet printhead die  110 . 
         [0031]    Not shown in  FIG. 1 , are the drop forming mechanisms associated with the nozzles. Drop forming mechanisms can be of a variety of types, some of which include a heating element to vaporize a portion of ink and thereby cause ejection of a droplet, or a piezoelectric transducer to constrict the volume of a fluid chamber and thereby cause ejection, or an actuator which is made to move (for example, by heating a bi-layer element) and thereby cause ejection. In any case, electrical pulses from electrical pulse source  16  are sent to the various drop ejectors according to the desired deposition pattern. In the example of  FIG. 1 , droplets  181  ejected from the first nozzle array  120  are larger than droplets  182  ejected from the second nozzle array  130 , due to the larger nozzle opening area. Typically other aspects of the drop forming mechanisms (not shown) associated respectively with nozzle arrays  120  and  130  are also sized differently in order to optimize the drop ejection process for the different sized drops. During operation, droplets of ink are deposited on a recording medium  20 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a portion of a printhead chassis  250 , which is an example of an inkjet printhead  100 . Printhead chassis  250  includes three printhead die  251  (similar to printhead die  110  in  FIG. 1 ), each printhead die  251  containing two nozzle arrays  253 , so that printhead chassis  250  contains six nozzle arrays  253  altogether. The six nozzle arrays  253  in this example can each be connected to separate ink sources (not shown in  FIG. 2 ); such as cyan, magenta, yellow, text black, photo black, and a colorless protective printing fluid. Each of the six nozzle arrays  253  is disposed along nozzle array direction  254 , and the length of each nozzle array along the nozzle array direction  254  is typically on the order of 1 inch or less. Typical lengths of recording media are 6 inches for photographic prints (4 inches by 6 inches) or 11 inches for paper (8.5 by 11 inches). Thus, in order to print a full image, a number of swaths are successively printed while moving printhead chassis  250  across the recording medium  20 . Following the printing of a swath, the recording medium  20  is advanced along a media advance direction that is substantially parallel to nozzle array direction  254 . 
         [0033]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a flex circuit  257  to which the printhead die  251  are electrically interconnected, for example, by wire bonding or TAB bonding. The interconnections are covered by an encapsulant  256  to protect them. Flex circuit  257  bends around the side of printhead chassis  250  and connects to connector board  258 . When printhead chassis  250  is mounted into the carriage  200  (see  FIG. 3 ), connector board  258  is electrically connected to a connector (not shown) on the carriage  200 , so that electrical signals can be transmitted to the printhead die  251 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a portion of a desktop carriage printer. Some of the parts of the printer, including the housing, have been hidden in the view shown in  FIG. 3  so that other parts can be more clearly seen. Printing apparatus  300  has a print region  303  across which carriage  200  is moved back and forth in carriage scan direction  305  along the X axis, between the right side  306  and the left side  307  of printing apparatus  300 , while drops are ejected from printhead die  251  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) on printhead chassis  250  that is mounted on carriage  200 . Carriage motor  380  moves belt  384  to move carriage  200  along carriage guide rail  382 . An encoder sensor (not shown) is mounted on carriage  200  and indicates carriage location relative to an encoder fence  383 . 
         [0035]    Printhead chassis  250  is mounted in carriage  200 , and multi-chamber ink tank  262  and single-chamber ink tank  264  are mounted in the printhead chassis  250 . The mounting orientation of printhead chassis  250  is rotated relative to the view in  FIG. 2 , so that the printhead die  251  are located at the bottom side of printhead chassis  250 , the droplets of ink being ejected downward onto the recording medium in print region  303  in the view of  FIG. 3 . Multi-chamber ink tank  262 , in this example, contains five ink sources: cyan, magenta, yellow, photo black, and colorless protective fluid; while single-chamber ink tank  264  contains the ink source for text black. Paper or other recording medium (sometimes generically referred to as paper or media herein) is loaded along paper load entry direction  302  toward the front of printing apparatus  308 . 
         [0036]    The motor that powers the media advance rollers is not shown in  FIG. 3 , but the hole  310  at the right side of the printing apparatus  306  is where the motor gear (not shown) protrudes through in order to engage feed roller gear  311 , as well as the gear for the discharge roller (not shown). A forward direction of rotation  313  is indicated. Toward the rear of the printing apparatus  309  is located the electronics board  390 , which includes cable connectors  392  for communicating via cables (not shown) to the printhead carriage  200  and from there to the printhead chassis  250 . Also on the electronics board are typically mounted motor controllers for the carriage motor  380  and for the paper advance motor, a processor and/or other control electronics (shown schematically as controller  14  and image processing unit  15  in  FIG. 1 ) for controlling the printing process, and an optional connector for a cable to a host computer. 
         [0037]    The media advance system  335  includes a variety of rollers that are used to advance the medium through the printer as shown schematically in the side view of  FIG. 4 . In this example, a media input holder  316 , which is located at a plane near the base  301  and is substantially parallel to base  301 , holds a stack of media  370 . A pick roller  320  is driven to rotate in forward rotation direction  313  to advance the top sheet  371  of the stack of media  370  from media input holder  316  along paper load entry direction  302  and up inclined guide  317 . A turn roller  322  is driven to further advance the sheet of media  371  received from the pick roller around a C-shaped path, in cooperation with a curved inner side  352  of cleanout member  350  and a pinch roller  321 . As a result, the sheet  371  continues to advance along media advance direction  304  from the rear  309  of the printing apparatus (with reference also to  FIG. 3 ) toward the print region  303  that is located at a plane that is farther from base  301  than the media input holder  316  is. The sheet  371  is then advanced by feed roller  312  (driven to rotate in forward rotation direction  313 ) and idler roller(s)  323  to advance the lead edge  375  of sheet  371  to and across print region  303  for printing on first side  372  of sheet  371 , and from there to a discharge roller  324  and star wheel(s)  325 . Discharge roller  324  is driven in forward rotation direction  313  to continue to advance sheet  371  along media advance direction  304  until sheet  371  exits into optional media output holder  318 , a portion of which is shown in  FIG. 4 . Feed roller  312  includes a feed roller shaft along its axis, and feed roller gear  311  is mounted on the feed roller shaft. Feed roller  312  can include a separate roller mounted on the feed roller shaft, or can include a thin high friction coating on the feed roller shaft. A rotary encoder (not shown) can be coaxially mounted on the feed roller shaft in order to monitor the angular rotation of the feed roller. A media end sensor  315  is positioned near feed roller  312  between turn roller  322  and feed roller  312  in order to detect when lead edge  375  is approaching the feed roller  312 . In  FIG. 4 , the sheet  371  has pushed the media end sensor  315  down. 
         [0038]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to configurations where cleanout member  350  is pivotable and attached to a wall  319  ( FIG. 5 ), e.g. a housing, of the printing apparatus  300  using a hinge  340  having a vertical axis  341  that is substantially perpendicular to horizontal base  301 . Thus, rather than pivoting upward or downward relative to the base  301 , pivotable cleanout member  350  swings outward along a horizontal plane, sweeping out a path in the horizontal plane that is parallel to horizontal base  301 . Therefore pivotable cleanout member  350  can be opened fully without interfering with the surface upon which base  301  rests, even though it is located close to the base  301 . Opening the pivotable cleanout member  350  outward also does not result in the cleanout member  350  obscuring visibility of media paths inside printing apparatus  300 . Thus the configuration of vertical hinge  340  with its vertical axis  341  perpendicular to horizontal base  301  is advantageous, especially for desktop printers having the cleanout member located close to the base  301 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows a rear perspective view of a multi-function printer  400  that includes a scanning apparatus  410  for scanning documents, such that scanning apparatus  410  is mounted on top of a printing apparatus  300 . With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, printing apparatus  300  includes a horizontal base  301  to support the printing apparatus  300  (and the multi-function printer  400 ) during operation; a wall or housing  319  that extends at an angle from base  301 ; a print region  303 ; a media input holder  316 ; a media advance system  335  for advancing media along a media path from the media input holder  316  to the print region  303 ; and a pivotable cleanout member  350  for allowing access to the media path between the media input holder  316  and the print region  303 , such that the pivotable cleanout member  350  is attached to the wall  319  using a hinge  340  having an axis  341  that is substantially perpendicular to the base  301 . The rotation directions of the pivotable cleanout member  350  are indicated by the double headed curved arrow around axis  341 . For a compact height printing apparatus  300 , pivotable cleanout member  350  is located close to the base  301 . Because the bottom of cleanout member  350  remains parallel to base  301  as the unit is pivoted open, opening the cleanout member  350  to a full open position (for example, the position shown in  FIG. 7 ) does not interfere with the desktop, as the jam door disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,077 could if it were located very close to the base of the printer.  FIG. 5  also shows a latch  360  for holding the pivotable cleanout member  350  in its closed position relative to wall  319  (the position shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows the printing apparatus  300  of  FIG. 5 , but with both the scanning apparatus  410  and the cleanout member  350  hidden from view. With the scanning apparatus hidden, a number of internal components of the printing apparatus are visible, including the carriage  200 , the multichamber ink tank  262 , the single chamber ink tank  264 , the print region  303 , the turn roller  322  and the discharge roller  324 . With the cleanout member  350  hidden, the portion of the media path in the vicinity of the turn roller  322  is visible. With reference also to  FIG. 4 , turn roller  322  faces the curved surface of inner side  352  of pivotable cleanout member  350  when pivotable cleanout member is in its closed position as in  FIG. 5 . With reference also to  FIGS. 4 and 10 , pivotable cleanout member  350  includes a pinch roller  321  at its inner side  352 , such that the pinch roller  321  is disposed adjacent the turn roller  322  when the pivotable cleanout member  350  is in its closed position. Another portion of housing  319  includes a support surface  342  for the hinge mechanism  340 . An opening  345  is formed within horizontal surface  342  for receiving a bottom first end  347  of pin member  344  ( FIG. 10 ) to form a bottom portion of hinge mechanism  340 . For a hinge mechanism  340  of the type shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10  where a first end  347  of pin member  344  is inserted into opening  345 , the area surrounding opening  345  in support surface  342  provides a bearing surface. Bearing surface  342  is substantially parallel with base  301 . First end  347  of pin member  344  includes a contact surface  346  that makes pivotable contact with bearing surface  342 . Pin member  344  also includes an upper second end  348  opposite first end  347 , as described in further detail below. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  schematically shows portions of a printing apparatus  300  having a pivotable cleanout member  350  that is in an open position in order to allow access to the media path inside the printing apparatus for clearing paper jams. A variety of types of latches and catches can be used to secure the pivotable cleanout member into its closed position. In the example of  FIG. 7 , latch  360  includes a projection formed on or attached to one end of pivotable cleanout unit  350 , and catch  361  includes a hole formed in a portion of wall  319 . 
         [0042]    In the example of  FIG. 7 , the pivotable cleanout member  350  requires significant space behind printing apparatus  300  in order to pivot it into its open position.  FIG. 8  shows a preferred embodiment of the pivotable cleanout member  350  including two half doors  354  and  355 . Half doors  354  and  355  are hinged at opposite ends, so that in this preferred embodiment, the pivotable cleanout member opens in its middle portion. A handle  362  can optionally be provided to assist the opening of the pivotable cleanout member  350 . Half door  354  is shown in its open position, while half door  355  is shown in its closed position. Each of the half doors  354  and  355  includes a hinge mechanism  340 , a curved inner side  352 , and a latch  360 . In this example, latch  360  includes a projection formed on the bottom of each of the half doors  354  and  355  (see also  FIG. 9 ), and catch  361  includes holes in support surface  342  corresponding to the projection from each of the half doors. An advantage of the configuration of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 8  is that each of the half doors  354  and  355  only needs to be about half as long as the entire cleanout member  350  shown in  FIG. 7 . As a result, not as much space is required behind printing apparatus  300  to open half doors  354  and  355  relative to the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0043]    A further advantage that can be provided in preferred embodiments such as the one shown in  FIG. 8  is that the opened half doors  354  and  355  can provide a media guide surface for feeding media directly from the rear of printing apparatus  300 , without the media needing to bend around the C shaped path shown in  FIG. 4 . This can be advantageous for feeding stiff media for printing. For example, the upper surfaces  356  ( FIG. 9A ) of the two half doors  354  and  355  can provide support for feeding media from the rear of printing apparatus  300  above the curved part of the media path corresponding to the curved inner sides  352 . Although the half doors  354  and  355  are shown substantially perpendicular to the wall  319  of printing apparatus  300  in  FIG. 9A , in some instances it can be advantageous to open the half doors  354  and  355  to a lesser extent (for example at an angle of around 45 degrees to the wall  319 ) in order to provide additional support to the middle region of media, rather than just near the edges. The inner edges of upper second ends  348  of pin members  344  can be used to guide the side to side position of media fed from the rear. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 9B , there can be other guide features  357  built into the upper surfaces  356 . Guide features  357  are provided in upper surfaces  356  to guide media into the printer in a manner that does not require the media to bend. This facilitates printing of heavy stock that is not well suited to bending around turn roller  322 . This preferred embodiment provides support and guidance on both edges of the media inserted. In the preferred embodiment shown, guide features  357  are located at the top of the doors  354  and  355 . Other locations for guide feature position (not shown) on other surfaces of doors  354  and  355  are also possible. 
         [0045]    In the implementation of preferred embodiments of the invention shown in  FIG. 7  using a single door  350 , the door can be modified to provide a feature to guide and support the media, but will be limited to a single side and will rely on the user to provide the remainder of the support and guidance. 
         [0046]    Implementations of guide features  357  can also be augmented with position limits for doors  354  and  355 , or door  350 . Position limits can be created with detents or interferences well known in the art that will provide stop positions for the doors that will situate guide features such that media will be fed into the printing path in the proper registration with minimal skew. 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  shows a close-up perspective view of the curved inner side  352  of a preferred embodiment of the pivotable cleanout member  350 . Bottom first end  347  and upper second end  348  of pin member  344  are shown, as is contact surface  346  for making contact with the bearing surface  342  that is shown in  FIG. 6 . Pinch rollers  321  are mounted at mounts  364  on pivotable cleanout member  350  and extend past curved inner side  352  for holding the media against turn rollers  322  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ) as the media is advanced toward feed roller  312 . Ribs  353  also extend from curved inner side  352  in order to provide less frictional drag against the media. A further advantage of ribs  353  in the context of preferred embodiments using half doors (as in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) is that any gap between the half doors when they are closed will not be contacted by the media, but rather, just the spaced apart ribs. Thus there is less chance of media catching on an edge of a half door. 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  shows a close-up perspective view of the outer side of the pivotable cleanout member  350  that is shown in  FIG. 5 . An alternative embodiment of latch  360  is shown to be formed at one end of pivotable cleanout member  350  opposite pin member  344  of hinge mechanism  340 . Pivotable cleanout member  350  and printer housing  319  and their components as described herein are typically formed by injection molding. In the example shown in  FIG. 11  and in  FIG. 5 , latch  360  includes a handle  362  and a living hinge  363  that allows handle  362  to be pulled away from the body of pivotable cleanout member  350  during opening, and pushed in toward the body during closing. 
         [0049]      FIG. 12  shows an underside of the scanning apparatus  410  that is shown in the  FIG. 5  view of multifunction printer  400 . In this preferred embodiment, case or housing  412  of scanning apparatus  410  includes a hole  414  for receiving upper second end  348  of pin member  344  ( FIGS. 7 and 10 ). In addition, hole  415  can be used for receiving upper second end of the pin member of the hinge mechanism of the second half door in the half door implementation. In this way, pin member(s)  344  of cleanout member  350  is pivotally mounted between scanning apparatus  410  and printing apparatus  300 . This general approach is also disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/913,115 (Docket 96642), filed Oct. 27, 2010, entitled “Method of Assembling a Multifunction Printer”. In other preferred embodiments of multifunction printers or standalone printers (not including a scanning apparatus) second end  348  of pin member  344  can be captured by a part of the housing of printing apparatus  300 . 
         [0050]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, although preferred embodiments were described with regard to inkjet printers, the invention is applicable to other types of printing apparatus as well. 
       PARTS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           10  Inkjet printer system 
           12  Image data source 
           14  Controller 
           15  Image processing unit 
           16  Electrical pulse source 
           18  First fluid source 
           19  Second fluid source 
           20  Recording medium 
           100  Inkjet printhead 
           110  Inkjet printhead die 
           111  Substrate 
           120  First nozzle array 
           121  Nozzle(s) 
           122  Ink delivery pathway (for first nozzle array) 
           130  Second nozzle array 
           131  Nozzle(s) 
           132  Ink delivery pathway (for second nozzle array) 
           181  Droplet(s) (ejected from first nozzle array) 
           182  Droplet(s) (ejected from second nozzle array) 
           200  Carriage 
           250  Printhead chassis 
           251  Printhead die 
           253  Nozzle array 
           254  Nozzle array direction 
           256  Encapsulant 
           257  Flex circuit 
           258  Connector board 
           262  Multi-chamber ink tank 
           264  Single-chamber ink tank 
           300  Printing apparatus 
           301  Base 
           302  Paper load entry direction 
           303  Print region 
           304  Media advance direction 
           305  Carriage scan direction 
           306  Right side of printing apparatus 
           307  Left side of printing apparatus 
           308  Front of printing apparatus 
           309  Rear of printing apparatus 
           310  Hole (for paper advance motor drive gear) 
           311  Feed roller gear 
           312  Feed roller 
           313  Forward rotation direction (of feed roller) 
           315  Media end sensor 
           316  Media input holder 
           317  Inclined guide 
           318  Media output holder 
           319  Wall 
           320  Pick roller 
           321  Pinch roller 
           322  Turn roller 
           323  Idler roller 
           324  Discharge roller 
           325  Star wheel(s) 
           330  Maintenance station 
           335  Media advance system 
           340  Hinge 
           341  Axis (of hinge) 
           342  Support member (of hinge) 
           343  Bearing surface 
           344  Pin member (of hinge) 
           345  Opening (to receive pin member) 
           346  Contact surface 
           347  First end (of pin member) 
           348  Second end (of pin member) 
           350  Cleanout member 
           352  Inner side of (cleanout member) 
           353  Rib(s) 
           354  Half door 
           355  Half door 
           356  Upper surface (of half door) 
           357  Guide feature 
           360  Latch 
           361  Catch 
           362  Handle 
           363  Living hinge 
           364  Mount(s) (for pinch rollers) 
           370  Stack of media 
           371  Top sheet of medium 
           372  First side (of sheet) 
           375  Lead edge (of sheet) 
           380  Carriage motor 
           382  Carriage guide rail 
           383  Encoder fence 
           384  Belt 
           390  Printer electronics board 
           392  Cable connectors 
           400  Multi-function printer 
           410  Scanning apparatus 
           412  Case (of scanning apparatus) 
           414  Hole (in case, or housing, to receive pin member) 
           415  Hole (in case, or housing, to receive pin member)