Patent Publication Number: US-2022219934-A1

Title: Print media handling

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Many types of printing devices are known, and commonly used, and various printing technologies exist with which various sizes of printing media can be used. 
     Printing apparatuses are widely used in a variety of environments including in offices and industry. Further to this, a wide variety of print media are known, including paper, coated paper, and 3D print media. Various different sizes of print media are also known. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of the disclosure are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of an example of a pusher; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of an example of a pusher; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example of a pusher positioned above a stack of print media; 
         FIG. 4  shows another example of a pusher positioned above a stack of print media forming part of a printer including a print head; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of a pusher pushing incoming print media onto a stack of print media; 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of an example of a holder; 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of an example of a holder; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an example of a holder; 
         FIG. 9  shows an example of a pusher attached to a holder; 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of a pusher attached to a holder positioned above a stack of print media; and 
         FIG. 11  shows an example of a pusher attached to a holder pushing incoming print media onto a stack of print media. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples provide a print media handling apparatus for stacking print media in a media tray of a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus may be used to print multiple print jobs consecutively and may therefore stack multiple print media in a media tray. The printing apparatus may therefore position print media in the media tray to create a stack of print media. The apparatus may be configured such that the incoming print media is positioned in the media tray. 
     Further examples provide an apparatus for stacking multiple sizes of print media in a media tray of a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus may be used to print using multiple different sizes of print media and print jobs may be queued such that consecutive print jobs use different sizes of print media. The printing apparatus may therefore be used to print one print job of one size of print media, followed immediately by a second print job of a second, different, size of print media, or may be used to print a single print job that uses multiple sizes of print media. The printing apparatus may then stack multiple sizes of print media in a single media tray of the printing apparatus. 
     It will be appreciated that a first print media of a print job may be a first size, and a second print media of a print job, or a print media of a consecutive print job, may be a second size that is larger or longer than the size of the first print media. 
     In this scenario, a larger second print media may be stacked on top of a stack of smaller, first print media in a media tray of the printing apparatus. Where larger print media are stacked on top of smaller print media it is possible for the larger print media to be misaligned on the stack. 
     A printing apparatus may include a print media handling apparatus with which to stack incoming print media onto the media tray. The apparatus may be configured such that incoming print media is positioned on the media tray. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an example of a pusher  100  forming part of a print media handling apparatus of a printing apparatus. The pusher  100  is used to push downwards on incoming print media to position the incoming print media on the stack of print media already supported by the media tray. The pusher may push downwards on the incoming print media once the incoming print media has already been decelerated and rendered stationary in the appropriate position in or on a media tray. The pusher  100  is arranged to apply pressure to the incoming print media to compress the incoming print media and the stack of print media supported by the media tray to position the incoming print media on the stack of print media. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of an example pusher  100 . The pusher  100  comprises a foot  101 , that is arranged to apply a pressure transverse to the movement of the incoming print media, proximal to the leading edge of the incoming print media and an upright member  103  which forms an L-shape with the foot  101 . The foot  101  may comprise a flat part of the pusher  100  which is parallel to the plane of print media in the media tray. The upright member  103  may be orthogonal to the plane of print media in the media tray. 
     The foot  101  and upright member  103  are attached to a coupling apparatus  105  provided to attach the pusher  100  to a translation apparatus of the printing apparatus which is arranged to move the pusher  100  such that it is positioned proximal to the leading edge of the incoming print media. 
     The coupling apparatus  105  may be attached to the upright member  103 , for instance via one or more screws. The screws may be passed through openings  115   a ,  115   b ,  115   c  in the coupling apparatus, as illustrated in the front view of the pusher  100  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     The coupling apparatus  105  includes an upper arm  107  and a lower arm  109  which can be used to further support the attachment of the pusher  100  to the translation apparatus of the printing apparatus. The upper arm  107  and the lower arm  109  may be provided with openings through which screws pass, to facilitate further attachment of the coupling apparatus  105  to the translation apparatus of the printing apparatus, although this is not shown. Alternatively, no openings may be provided. 
     The coupling apparatus  105  is attached to the upright member  103  such that the upper arm  107  and the lower arm  109  face in the opposite direction to the foot  101 . 
     Alternatively, the coupling apparatus  105  may be aligned such that the upper arm  107  and the lower arm  109  face in the same direction as the foot  101 . 
     An upper portion  111  of the pusher  100 , as illustrated by  FIG. 2 , provides three openings  115   a ,  115   b ,  115   c , although it will be appreciated that any number of openings could be used. 
     A lower portion  113  of the pusher  100 , positioned below the lower arm  109  of the coupling apparatus  105 , may include an elongated rectangular opening  117 . The elongated rectangular opening  117  is positioned in the centre of the lower portion  113  of the pusher and extends along the length of the lower portion  113  of the pusher. The elongated rectangular opening  117  passes through the upright member  103  of the pusher  100 . The elongated rectangular opening  117  may be used to attach the pusher  100  to a holder, as described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     The elongated rectangular opening  117  is merely an example and it will be appreciated that a different shape, or multiple openings, could be used. Alternatively, no openings may be provided at all if the pusher is not attached to a holder. 
       FIG. 3  shows a further example of the pusher  100  as described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an initial position above a media tray  301 , a stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 , and an incoming print media  305 . 
     The media tray  301  supports the stack of print media  303  that has already been positioned on the media tray  301  by the pusher  100 . 
     The media tray  301  may be provided such that it can accommodate multiple sizes of print media. For instance,  FIG. 3  shows the media tray  301  extending beyond the leading edge  308  of the stack of print media  303 ; the media tray  301  may therefore accommodate print media larger than the print media in the stack of print media  303  shown. 
     An incoming print media  305  is shown moving (along arrow  307 ) above the media tray  301  and the stack of print media  303 . The incoming print media  305  is fed onto the stack of print media  305  supported by the media tray  301  from a different part of the printing apparatus. The incoming print media  305  moves across the stack of print media  303  until the leading edge  308  of the incoming print media  305  is proximal to the leading edge  309  of the stack of print media  303  already supported by the media tray  301 . The pusher  100  is configured to then position the incoming print media  305  onto the stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 , as shown by  FIG. 5 . To achieve this the pusher  100  is configured to move normally to the incoming print media  305  as indicated by arrow  306 . 
     As shown by  FIG. 4 , a printer includes the pusher  100  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and also includes a print head  310  arranged to print onto the incoming print media  305  prior to it passing to the media tray  301 . The pusher serves to position the incoming print media onto the stack of print media in the media tray, as for the previous examples. Prior to the print media reaching the media tray, the print head applies a desired print pattern to the print media. It will be understood that the print head may be arranged at any suitable location relative to the media tray and the relative location of  FIG. 4  is not to be understood as limiting. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further example of the pusher  100 , as described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as it pushes on the incoming print media  305 . The pusher  100 , particularly the foot  101 , pushes on the incoming print media  305 , thereby applying pressure to the incoming print media  305  to position it on the stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 . The applied pressure serves to compress the incoming print media  305  onto the stack of print media  303 . It has been found that this serves to reduce subsequent movement of the incoming print media  305  (now the topmost sheet of stack  303 ) when a subsequent incoming print media passes over the top of the stack  303 . 
     The foot  101  of the pusher  100  is provided such that it applies pressure transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media  305  (along arrow  306 ), pushing downward on the incoming print media  305  to position it on the stack of print media  303  and compressing the stack of print media  303 . 
     The pusher  100  is positioned such that it is aligned proximal to the leading edge  308  of the incoming print media  305  (now the topmost sheet of the stack  303 ). The pusher  100  may initially be positioned in a first position above a first surface of the incoming print media  305  as the incoming print media  305  moves into place over the stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 . The pusher  100  may subsequently travel along an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media  305  (along arrow  306 ) such that the foot  101  of the pusher applies pressure transverse to the movement of the incoming print media  305  to the incoming print media  305 . 
     The pressure applied by the foot  101  of the pusher  100  thereby positions the incoming print media  305  onto the stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 . 
     In further examples, as described below, the incoming print media  305  may be larger than the print media in the stack of print media  303  supported by the media tray  301 . Therefore, a further application of pressure in addition to the pressure applied by the pusher  100  may therefore be needed to prevent the stack of print media  303  from being misaligned by incoming print media  305 . 
     An example of a holder that may be attached to the pusher  100  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 . 
       FIGS. 6, 7, and 8  illustrate the holder  500  which may comprise two parts; an L-shaped bracket  501 , and a resiliently deformable member  503  arranged to be in contact with incoming print media. 
       FIG. 6  shows a front view of a holder  500 . The holder  500  comprises a main body  509  and the sprung member  503  which are attached via an attachment portion  505  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) of the main body  509 . 
     The main body as illustrated by  FIG. 6  is an example implementation of a bar. 
     The attachment portion  505  of the main body  509  may be provided with two openings through which screws or bolts  507  pass. A corresponding portion of the resiliently deformable member  503  may also be provided with corresponding openings through which the screws or bolts  507  may be passed, to couple the main body  501  and the resiliently deformable member  503 . 
     Alternatively, the resiliently deformable member  503  and the main body  501  may be formed of a single piece of material. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of the holder  500  illustrated by  FIG. 6 . The holder  500 , as illustrated by  FIG. 7 , comprises an L-shaped bracket  501  comprising the main body  509  and a portion  511  extending transverse to the main body  509 . The bracket  501  couples to the foot  101  of the pusher  100  as described above. For instance, the bracket  501  may include an opening  513  corresponding to opening  117  in the pusher  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     The resiliently deformable member  503  extends from the main body  509  towards incoming print media such that it may press the incoming print media onto a stack of print media supported by a media tray. The resiliently deformable member  503  may be resiliently biased such that pressure is applied to the incoming print media transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media. The resiliently deformable member  503  may be a leaf spring wherein an end of the leaf spring may be distal from its attachment to the main body  501 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the holder  500  illustrated by  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The holder  500  is arranged to hold the incoming print media in place, aiding in positioning the incoming print media on the stack of print media supported by the media tray. 
       FIG. 9  shows a side view of the pusher  100  illustrated by  FIGS. 1 to 5  attached to the holder  500  illustrated by  FIGS. 6 to 8 . The pusher  100  and the holder  500  are connected such that the foot  101  of the pusher  100  and the bracket  501  of the holder extend in opposite directions along an axis transverse to that of the upright member  103  of the pusher. 
     The holder  500  may extend transverse to the upright member  103  of the pusher  100  over a mid-portion of a stack of print media, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . A portion of the holder  500  that is positioned over the mid-portion of the stack of print media, as shown in  FIG. 10 , may extend towards the stack of print media such that it may press the incoming print media onto the stack of print media. The holder  500  may extend transverse from the pusher  100  such that it slopes away from an end of the pusher  100  that contacts incoming print media, as illustrated by  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     The mid-portion of the stack of print media may be any area of the surface of the stack of print media between the leading edge and the ending edge of the stack of print media. For example, with regard to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the mid-portion is shown as towards a mid-point of a length of the incoming print media when it is in position on the stack of print media. 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of the pusher  100  and holder  500 , as described with reference to  FIG. 9 , in an initial position above the media tray  1001 , the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 , and the incoming print media  1005 . 
     The media tray  1001  is provided such that it supports the stack of print media  1003  which has already been positioned on the media tray  1001  by the pusher  100  and the holder  500 . 
     The media tray  1001  may be provided such that it can accommodate multiple sizes of print media. For instance,  FIG. 10  shows the media tray  1001  extending beyond the leading edge  1009  of the stack of print media  1003 ; the media tray  1001  may therefore accommodate print media larger than the print media in the stack of print media  1003  shown. 
     The incoming print media  1005  is shown moving above the media tray  1001  and the stack of print media  1003  (along arrow  1008 ). The incoming print media  1005  is fed onto the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001  from a different part of the printing apparatus. The incoming print media  1005  moves across the stack of print media  1003  (along arrow  1008 ) until the leading edge  1010  of the incoming print media  1005  is beyond the leading edge  1009  of the stack of print media  1003  already supported by the media tray  1001  and the entire length of the incoming print media  1005  has been fed onto the media tray  1001  (as shown by  FIG. 11 ). The pusher  100  and the holder  500  are configured to position the incoming print media  1005  onto the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 , as shown by  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of the pusher  100  and the holder  500  as described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10  as they position the incoming print media  1005 . The pusher  100  pushes on the incoming print media  1005 , while the holder  500  holds the incoming print media in place. Thereby, both the pusher  100  and the holder  500  apply pressure to the incoming print media  1005  to position it on the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 . 
     The foot  101  of the pusher  100  is provided such that it applies pressure transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media  1005 , pushing downward on the incoming print media  1005  to position it on the stack of print media  1003  and compressing the stack of print media  1003 . 
     The resiliently deformable member  503  of the holder  500  is provided such that it extends onto a mid-portion of the incoming print media  1005 , applying pressure transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media  1005  (along arrow  1006 ). This pressure holds the incoming print media  1005  in place as the pusher  100  pushes the incoming print media  1005  into position on the stack of print media  1003  and compresses the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 . As the pusher and holder move downwards along arrow  1006  the resiliently deformable member  503  is compressed against bracket  501  as it bears against the incoming print media  1005  and the stack of print media  1003 . 
     The pusher  100  is positioned such that it is aligned proximal to the leading edge  1010  of the incoming print media  1005 . The holder  500  is positioned such that it extends onto a mid-portion  1011  of the stack of print media  1003 . The pusher  100  and the holder  500  may initially be positioned in a first position above a first surface of the incoming print media  1005  as the incoming print media  1005  moves into place over the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 . The pusher  100  may subsequently travel along an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the incoming print media  1005  (along arrow  1006 ) such that the foot  101  of the pusher and the resiliently deformable member  503  of the holder  500  apply pressure transverse to the movement of the incoming print media  1005  to the incoming print media  1005 . 
     The pressure applied by the foot  101  of the pusher  100  and the resiliently deformable member  503  of the holder  500  thereby positions the incoming print media  1005  onto the stack of print media  1003  supported by the media tray  1001 . 
     The pusher  100  and the holder  500  may compress the stack of print media  1003  and the positioned incoming print media  1005  such that newly incoming print media does not cause the print media of the stack of print media  1003  to be dragged out of alignment with the rest of the stack. 
     The pusher  100  and the holder  500  are provided such that they move according to the size of the incoming print media  1005 . To achieve this, the pusher  100  and the holder  500  are configured to move parallel to the plane of the stack of print media  1003 , as indicated by arrow  1007 , such that the foot  101  of the pusher  100  is positioned proximal to the leading edge  1010  of the incoming print media  1005  and the resiliently deformable member  503  of the holder  500  extends onto a mid-portion  1011  of the stack of print media  1003 . 
     All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be combined in any combination, except combinations where some of such features are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     The present teachings are not restricted to the details of any foregoing examples. Any novel combination of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be envisaged. The claims should not be construed to cover merely the foregoing examples, but also any variants that fall within the scope of the claims. 
     Example implementations can be realised according to the following clauses: 
     Clause 1: A print apparatus comprising a media tray to support a stack of print media and to receive an incoming print media to be added to the stack of print media and a pusher to position the incoming print media onto the stack of print media by applying pressure transverse to a movement direction of the incoming print media proximal to a leading edge of the incoming print media. 
     Clause 2: The print media handling apparatus of clause 1, wherein the pusher is mounted relative to the media tray to travel along a first axis transverse to a movement direction of the incoming print media and to bear against a portion of the incoming print media proximal to its leading edge once the incoming print media is positioned on the stack of print media. 
     Clause 3: The print media handling apparatus of either of clauses 1 and 2, wherein the pusher is mounted relative the media tray to travel along a second axis parallel to the movement direction of the incoming print media to be positioned such that it is proximal to the leading edge of the incoming print media, according to the size of the incoming print media. 
     Clause 4: The print media handling apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the movement direction of the incoming print media and the second axis is parallel to the movement direction of the incoming print media. 
     Clause 5: The print media handling apparatus of the preceding clauses, further comprising a holder coupled to the pusher; the holder being arranged to apply pressure to a mid-portion of the incoming print media. 
     Clause 6: The print media handling apparatus of clause 5, wherein at least a part of the holder is resiliently biased, and the holder extends from the pusher over the leading edge of the incoming print media to apply pressure transverse to the movement of the incoming print media to the mid-portion of the incoming print media, wherein the pressure applied by the holder is such that the stack of print media is compressed. 
     Clause 7: The print media handling apparatus of either of clauses 5 and 6, wherein the holder comprises a spring member to apply pressure to the mid-portion of the incoming print media. 
     Clause 8: The print media handling apparatus of any of clauses 5 to 7, wherein the holder comprises a bar and the spring member comprises a leaf spring extending from the bar towards the stack of print media. 
     Clause 9: The print media handling apparatus of clause 8, wherein the leaf spring faces the incoming print media and extends from the bar in the direction of motion of the incoming print media and wherein the leaf spring is in contact with the incoming print media. 
     Clause 10: The print media handling apparatus of either clauses 8 and 9, wherein the bar extends from the pusher such that it slopes away from an end of the pusher which contacts the incoming print media. 
     Clause 11: The print media handling apparatus of clauses 8 to 10, wherein an end of the leaf spring distal from its attachment to the bar is arranged to contact the incoming print media. 
     Clause 12: The print media handling apparatus of any of clauses 5 to 11, wherein the holder is detachably coupled to the pusher. 
     Clause 13: The print media handling apparatus of the preceding clauses, comprising two or more pushers. 
     Clause 14: A printer comprising a print media handling apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, and a print head to print onto a print media prior to the print media passing to the media tray. 
     Clause 15: A printer comprising: a print apparatus comprising: a media tray to support a stack of print media and to receive an incoming print media to be stacked upon the stack of print media; and a pusher to compress a leading edge portion of the incoming print media onto the stack of print media by moving in a direction orthogonal to the a movement direction of the incoming print media to contact a portion of the incoming print media proximal to a leading edge of the incoming print media; and a print head to print onto a print media prior to the print media passing to the media tray. 
     Clause 16: A pusher comprising: an elongate member to attach to a translation mechanism of a print apparatus; and a foot at a first end of the elongate member to contact print media in a media tray of a print apparatus to compress an incoming print media onto a stack of print media.