Patent Publication Number: US-2021187978-A1

Title: Flap to direct medium

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Sheet outputting devices—including printers, finisher, copiers, scanners, fax machines, multifunction printers, all-in-one devices, or other devices—process and output media such as plain paper, photo paper, transparencies, and other media. In some examples, sheet outputting devices can output media stacks of metals and polymeric media, such as Compact Discs, in addition to or instead of broad and thin media. Sheet outputting devices may output multiple sheets of media into an output tray. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description references the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial schematic view of a device according to an example. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  according to an example. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  according to an example. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  according to an example. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  according to an example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following discussion and in the claims, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to include suitable indirect and/or direct connections. Thus, if a first component is described as being coupled to a second component, that coupling may, for example, be: (1) through a direct electrical or mechanical connection, (2) through an indirect electrical or mechanical connection via other devices and connections, (3) through an optical electrical connection, (4) through a wireless electrical connection, and/or (5) another suitable coupling. The term “connect” or “connected” is intended to include suitable direct connections. 
     A number of devices output media onto an output bin or tray for retrieval. The size of output media may vary. The speed at which devices process media has been increasing. For example, printing speeds and scanning speeds of devices are increasing. As a result, media is being output onto the output tray at increasing rates. However, as the speed of media ejection increases it becomes more difficult to control the tidiness of media on the output tray. Many media ejection systems include star wheels to contact a medium and drive it through the media ejection system. However, some systems may be designed such that a user could contact a star wheel during media retrieval resulting in an injury. 
     To address these issues, in the examples described herein, a device is described which includes a flap to cover a star wheel and direct a medium onto an output tray. The device includes a media path to transport the medium to the output tray. In such an example, a star wheel is disposed to contact a medium being transported through the media path and drive the medium to the output tray. In operation, as the medium exits the media path, the medium may move the flap. The flap may be moved to a position to direct the medium towards the output tray as the medium exits the media path. In examples, the flap may contact a trailing portion of the medium and direct the medium towards a receiving surface of the output tray. In such examples, the flap may be positioned to cover a star wheel to reduce the risk of injury to a user retrieving media from the device. 
     Accordingly, the present specification describes, in one example, a device that includes a star wheel to advance a medium along an output media path; and a flap disposed to cover the star wheel in a first position and to be moved by a force applied by a medium being advanced along the output media path to a second position, the medium to be directed toward an output tray when the flap is in the second position. 
     In another example, the present specification describes an imaging device that includes a star wheel to advance a medium; a pinch roller disposed above the star wheel; an output tray to receive the medium; and a flap disposed to cover the star wheel and to rotate in response to a force applied by the medium to a position in which the flap directs the medium towards the output tray when the medium is unconstrained by the pinch roller and the star wheel. 
     In yet another example, the present specification describes an imaging device that includes an axle coupled to the imaging device; a pinch roller coupled to the axle; a star wheel disposed below the pinch roller to form an end of a media path to advance a medium; an output tray to receive the medium; and a flap coupled to the axle and disposed to cover the star wheel in a first position and to rotate in response to a force applied by the medium to a second position in which a flap directs the medium towards the output tray. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a partial schematic view of a device  10  according to an example.  FIG. 2  is a partial schematic view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  according to an example.  FIG. 3  is a partial schematic view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  according to an example.  FIG. 4  is a partial schematic view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  according to an example.  FIG. 5  is a partial schematic view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  according to an example. The example device  10  includes a star wheel  20  and a flap  30 . In examples, device  10  further includes an axle  40 , a pinch roller  50 , and an output tray  80 . In examples, a medium traveling through device  10  may travel along a media path  15  towards output tray  80 . In examples, star wheel  20 , pinch roller  50 , and flap  30  may be disposed to form an end of media path  15 . 
     In examples, device  10  may be any device to output media which may be stacked on an output tray, such as an imaging device, a finisher, etc. An “imaging device” may be a hardware device, such as a printer, scanner, copier, multifunction printer (MFP), or any other device with functionalities to physically produce graphical representation(s) (e.g., text, images, models etc.) on paper, photopolymers, thermopolymers, plastics, fabric, composite, metal, wood, or the like. In some examples, an MFP may be capable of performing a combination of multiple different functionalities such as, for example, printing, photocopying, scanning, faxing, etc. In examples, media may be any type of paper, photopolymers, thermopolymers, plastics, fabric, composite, metal, wood, etc., which may be stacked on a receiving surface  85  of output tray  80  of device  10 . In examples, device  10  may output media along media path  15 . In examples, media path  15  may be an output media path or a media ejection path for media ejected by device  10 . In examples, more than one star wheel  20 , pinch roller  50 , and flap  30  may be disposed along the end of media path  15 . In such examples, the number and location of star wheel  20 , pinch roller  50  and flap  30  may be selected for the particular use and design of device  10 . For example, the dimensions of various media traveling through device  10  may determine the location of star wheel  20 , pinch roller  50 , and flap  30  at the end of media path  15 . In an example, device  10  may be an inkjet printer to eject paper along media path  15  onto output tray  80 . In other examples, device  10  may be a laser printer to output media onto output tray  80 . 
     In examples, output tray  80  may be any structure to receive media output from device  10 . In some examples, output tray  80  may be integrated into device  10 . In other examples, output tray  80  may be a separate device coupled to device  10 . In examples, output tray  80  may include a surface  85  to receive multiple sheets or a stack of output media from device  10 . Various parameters related to output tray  80  may be selected for the particular use and design of device  10 . For example, the dimensions and orientation of output tray  80  may be determined by the size of the device  10  and the particular use of the system. 
     In examples, star wheel  20  may be disposed at one end of media path  15 . In examples, a star wheel may be used in various mechanical devices to convey components traveling through the device. In such examples, a star wheel may be generally disk shaped with a periphery containing a plurality of recess or pockets thereby forming a star-shape. In other examples, a star wheel may have a generally circular shaped periphery with projecting fingers extending from the circular periphery to form a generally star shape. In examples, star wheels may rotate about a central axis. In the example of  FIGS. 1-5 , star wheel  20  may be disposed to contact a medium  100  traveling along media path  15 . In an example, star wheel  20  may be driven by another component, such as a motor, coupled thereto. In such an example, star wheel  20  may be disposed underneath pinch roller  50  to drive medium  100  through device  10  along with pinch roller  50 . In other examples, star wheel  20  may drive medium  100  along media path  15  without the aid of pinch roller  50 . 
     In examples, axle  40  may be coupled to device  10  above output tray  80 . Axle  40  includes a central axis  45 . Axle  40  may be any type of shaft about which an object may rotate. In some examples, axle  40  may be composed of any material to allow axle  40  to securely couple to and retain flap  30  and pinch roller  50  on device  10  such as metal, plastic, composite, wood, etc. 
     In examples, pinch roller  50  may be coupled to device  10  via axle  40 . In examples, a pinch roller may rotate about a central axis and apply a force normal to a surface of the roller in contact with an object. In such examples, a pinch roller may include a portion composed of a compressible material, such as rubber, urethane, foam, cloth, etc. In examples, pinch roller  50  may be any type of pinch roller to couple to axle  40  and to rotate about central axis  45 . In an example, medium  100  traveling along media path  15  may contact pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20 . In an example, pinch roller  50  may be disposed to apply a force to medium  100  to advance medium  100  through media path  15 . For example, pinch roller  50  may apply a force to medium  100  by compressing the compressible material of pinch roller  50 . In the examples of  FIG. 3 - FIG. 5 , edium  100  is depicted as advancing along media path  15  according to an example. In such an example, the force applied by medium  100  as it is advanced along media path  15  may rotate pinch roller  50  about central axis  45 . In examples, pinch roller  50  may be disposed on top of star wheel  20  to constrain medium  100  as depicted in  FIG. 4 . In such examples, pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20  may constrain medium  100  until a trailing edge of medium  100  no longer contacts pinch roller  50  or star wheel  20  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     In examples, flap  30  may be disposed to cover star wheel  20 . In examples, flap  30  may be coupled to axle  40 . In examples, flap  30  may be disposed to cover star wheel  20  in a first position  5  in which flap  30  may be resting under the force of gravity as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In such an example, flap  30  may be in contact with star wheel  20 . In examples, flap  30  may be disposed to cover star wheel  20  in a second position  7  in which flap  30  is rotate about central axis  45  depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . In examples, flap  30  may be coupled to axle  40  via arm  35   a  and arm  35   b . In such an example, arms  35   a  may be coupled to axle  40  on one side of pinch roller  50  and arm  35   b  may be coupled to axle  40  on an opposite side of pinch roller  50 . In examples, flap  30  may be coupled to axle  40  by snapping arm  35   a  and arm  35   b  on to axle  40 . In examples, flap  30  may rotate freely about central axis  45  in response to a force applied thereon. 
     In examples, flap  30  may rotate about central axis  45  in response to medium  100  traveling along media path  15 . In such an example, the weight of flap  30  may be selected to allow medium  100  traveling along media path  15  to rotate flap  30  about central axis  45 . For example, flap  30  may weigh between 1 grams and 20 grams. In examples, flap  30  may apply a force to medium  100  to direct medium  100  towards output tray  80 . In such examples, flap  30  may be rotated to second position  7  to direct medium  100  towards output tray  80  as depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . In such an example, flap  30  may contact a portion  110  of medium  100  to direct medium  100  towards output tray  80  when pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20  no longer constrain medium  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 - FIG. 5 , in examples, in operation, media  100  traveling along media path  15  may be driven toward pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . In examples, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , media  100  may contact flap  30  and apply a force to rotate flap  30  around central axis  45  from first position  5 , depicted in  FIG. 3 , to an elevated position depicted in  FIG. 4 . In examples, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , medium  100  is directed towards output tray  80  by flap  30  when medium  100  is unconstrained by pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20 . In such an example, flap  30  may be disposed in second position  7  to direct medium  100  towards receiving surface  85  of output tray  80 . It will be understood that second position  7  may be lower than the elevated position of flap  30  depicted in  FIG. 4  because when medium  100  is unconstrained by pinch roller  50  and star wheel  20  flap  30  may rotate downward due to the force of gravity. 
     In examples, flap  30  may be composed of any material with sufficient structural integrity to apply the downward force on medium  100 . For example, flap  30  may be composed of a metal, such as aluminum, a metal composite, such as steel, a plastic, a wood, a composite, such as carbon fiber, carbon reinforced plastics, glass-filled plastic, glass-filled nylon, glass-filled polycarbonate, glass filled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), etc. Various parameters related to flap  30  may be selected for the particular use and design of device  10 . For example, the dimensions and location of flap  30  may be determined by the size of the device  10 , the size and orientation of media to be stacked on output tray  80 , the ejection rate of media onto output tray  80 , and the particular use of the system. In an example, the number and locations of flap  30  in device  10  may be chosen to allow variability in the dimensions of output media. For example, flap  30  may be dimensioned to contact different sized media, such as, A3 media or A4 media. 
     While certain implementations have been shown and described above, various changes in form and details may be made. For example, some features that have been described in relation to one implementation and/or process can be related to other implementations. In other words, processes, features, components, and/or properties described in relation to one implementation can be useful in other implementations. Furthermore, it should be understood that the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein can include various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the components and/or features of the different implementations described. Thus, features described with reference to one or more implementations can be combined with other implementations described herein. 
     The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present disclosure. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.