Patent Publication Number: US-2010123066-A1

Title: Imaging And Recording Device Media Staging Support

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to imaging devices, and, in particular, to sheet folding systems used in imaging devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are numerous different types of office equipment such as, for example, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multi-function devices. Temporarily staging media before, during and/or after using office equipment is a very common activity encountered when using office equipment. Office and home office space, however, is frequently at a premium. Finding nearby stands and designated “flat” areas for convenient, temporary staging of printed media or bundles of media may be difficult, encouraging utilization of poorly suited imaging or recording product surfaces for this purpose. Stationary surfaces of such products are generally not friendly or suitable to the task of holding sheets or bundles of media not directly associated with the input/output of the device. 
     Media stands are known for paper and various types of media. The purpose of these devices has been aimed at supporting a media sheet in a vertical orientation so that it can be referenced while typing or working on a computer. Such devices have historically been of two part curve configurations having a spring load to clamp the curved sections against the bottom portion of media so that a pronounced stiffening buckle, ripple or “soft crease” is created, enabling the media to stand without support over the mid or upper sections. Alternatively, these stands have employed a narrow slot that accomplishes the same stiffening soft crease function. These designs work adequately for the intended function, where a support surface for stand placement is readily available near the area of work activity and both hands are available for the handling and insertion process. Efficient use of these devices require two handed interface. Weakness arise almost immediately when multiple sheets are to be used, particularly if one is hampered by occupying one hand with other materials that cannot readily be released, when there is no space, for ensuring separation or maintaining order, as example. Many situations also arise where placement of these portable devices is not available. A further problem is that the devices are not stable against motion or incidental contact, where such instability would almost certainly cause the supported media to be knocked over. Because the devices are intended for vertically supporting an upright orientation of the long edge of typical printed media, the nature of the created soft crease is fairly pronounced so that the tall aspect ratio and its tendency to fold or fall over can be overcome. 
     SUMMARY 
     A media support stand has been developed that may be incorporated into an imaging device that enables the storage or staging of print media that would otherwise have to be held in hand or set down on an available surface that may not be suitable for the task of holding sheets or bundles of media not directly associated with the input/output of the device. The media support stand includes a top surface. A plurality of media slots are formed in the top surface. Each media slot in the plurality is configured to support at least one print media oriented somewhat vertically. Each media slot in the plurality includes a plurality of arc inducing vector transitions in a plane transverse to the planar extent of the vertically oriented print media. The plurality of arc inducing vector transitions are configured to impart alternating arcs to the print media inserted into the respective media slot. 
     In another embodiment, an imaging device is provided that includes a imaging product configured to apply a marking material to print media, and a housing that at least partially encloses the marking engine. A media support stand is incorporated into the housing. The media support stand includes a plurality of media slots. Each media slot in the plurality is configured to support at least one print media oriented vertically. Each media slot in the plurality includes a plurality of arc inducing vector transitions in a plane transverse to the planar extent of the vertically oriented print media. The plurality of arc inducing vector transitions being configured to impart alternating arcs to the print media inserted into the respective media slot. 
     In yet another embodiment, an imaging device is provided that includes a marking engine configured to apply a marking material to print media, and a housing that at least partially encloses the marking engine. A media support stand is incorporated into the housing. The media support stand includes at least one media slot configured to support at least one print media oriented vertically. The at least one media slot has at least one open end that enables the at least one print media to be horizontally inserted into the media slot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosure are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an imaging device having a media support stand. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of an imaging device and media support stand. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of a media support stand. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the media support stand of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a media support stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For a general understanding of the present embodiments, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate like elements. 
     As used herein, the term “imaging device” generally refers to a device for applying an image to print media. “Print media” can be a physical sheet of paper, plastic, or other suitable physical print media substrate for images, whether precut or web fed. The imaging device may include a variety of other components, such as finishers, paper feeders, and the like, and may be embodied as a copier, printer, or a multifunction machine. A “print job” or “document” is normally a set of related sheets, usually one or more collated copy sets copied from a set of original print job sheets or electronic document page images, from a particular user, or otherwise related. An image generally may include information in electronic form which is to be rendered on the print media by the marking engine and may include text, graphics, pictures, and the like. 
     A simplified block diagram of an embodiment of an imaging device having a media support stand is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The imaging device  10  may be any device or machine that is configured to apply a marking material to print media such as, for example, a copier, facsimile machine, printer, copier, multi-function device, etc. The imaging device  10  includes an outer housing  14  having a top surface  18  and side surfaces  20 . The imaging device may include a user interface/display (not shown) that displays information concerning the status of the imaging device, and user instructions. Buttons or other control elements (not shown) for controlling operation of the imaging device may be adjacent the user interface window, or may be at other locations on the imaging device. The imaging device may include a feeder  24 , marking engine  28 , and a finisher  30 . The imaging device including the marking engine  28 , feeder  24  and finisher  30  may be integrated into a single housing  14 . Alternatively, the marking engine, feeder and finisher can have a modular architecture which allows one or more of the marking engine, feeder and finisher to have separate housings that are appropriately linked to each other as is known in the art. 
     As explained below, the imaging device includes a media support stand  34  that is integrated into the housing  14  at one or more suitable locations such as housing enclosure panels, doors, access covers and the like. The media support stand  34  includes one or more shallow slots  38  that are configured to accept one or more sheets of media such as paper, transparency, book or card stock oriented on edge or upright. As discussed below with regard to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the slots have a wavy or corrugated shape in order to introduce at least one or more advantageously, two or more soft creases, arcs, curves or non sharp bends/buckles into the media such that the media becomes sufficiently stiff to stand upright or at least somewhat vertical in the slot without requiring further support such as a backing member, clip, or similar structure. All references to housing, regardless of any simplified or specific immediate use, are intended to extend to any full or partial enclosure or extension of or through an enclosure on any element of an imaging product. References to printer, marking engine, or imaging product are thus inclusive of any integrated or assembled aspect of the product, the document feeder mounted to a scanner or a control panel, as example. 
     The imaging device includes a marking engine  28  disposed within the housing  14  that is configured to apply a marking material to print media to form images on the print media. Marking material may be any suitable type of marking material such as liquid aqueous-based ink, phase change ink in liquid form, toner, gel-based ink, etc. Suitable marking engines include electrophotographic printers, ink-jet printers, including solid ink printers, thermal head printers that are used in conjunction with heat sensitive paper, and other devices capable of marking an image on a substrate. The imaging device may be a direct marking device or an offset marking device. In a direct marking device, the marking material may be applied directly onto the surface of print media. In offset marking devices, the marking material is applied to an intermediate transfer surface such as a drum or belt for subsequent transfer to print media. 
     The marking engine  28  may be fed with print media from the feeder  24  as is known in the art. The feeder  24  may include a plurality of print media sources such as trays (not shown). Each feeder tray, may include print media having different attributes such as roughness, coats, weights and the like. The print media may be substantially any type of media upon which the printhead modules may print, such as: high quality bond paper, lower quality “copy” paper, overhead transparency sheets, high gloss paper, etc. Once marking material has been deposited on print media by the marking engine  28 , the print media may be transferred, delivered, or otherwise moved to a finishing device, or finisher  30 . A “finisher” can be any post-printing accessory device such as an output tray or trays, sorter, mailbox, inserter, interposer, folder, stapler, stacker, hole puncher, collator, stitcher, binder, envelope stuffer, postage machine, or the like. The finisher  10  may be configured to provide various finishes to the print media sheets of a print job or jobs, or even a portion of a print job. 
     A print media transporting system  40  links the feeder  24 , marking engine  28 , and finisher  10 . The print media transporting system includes a network of media pathways for guiding the movement of the print media through the imaging device  10 . The print media transporting system may include drive members, such as pairs of rollers, spherical nips, airjets, or the like. The transport system may further include associated motors for the drive members, belts, guide rods, frames, etc. (not shown), which, in combination with the drive members, serve to convey the print media along selected pathways at selected speeds. In addition, the media transporting system may include inverters, reverters, interposers, bypass pathways, etc. as known in the art to direct the print media to the appropriate positions for processing. 
     Operation and control of the various subsystems, components, and functions of the imaging device  10  are performed with the aid of a controller  44 . The controller  44 , for example, may be a micro-controller having a central processor unit (CPU), electronic storage, and a display or user interface (UI). The controller reads, captures, prepares and manages the image data flow between image sources, such as a scanner or computer (not shown), and imaging systems, such as the marking engine  28 . The controller  44  is the main multi-tasking processor for operating and controlling many or all of the other machine subsystems and functions, including the machine&#39;s printing operations, and, thus, includes the necessary hardware, software, etc. for controlling these various systems. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an embodiment of a media support stand  34  that may be incorporated into an imaging device housing, such as the imaging device of  FIG. 1 , is illustrated. As explained in more detail below, the media support stand  34  includes a plurality of media slots  38 , each media slot being configured to hold or stage one or more sheets of print media  48  on edge in a substantially upright orientation. The media support stand may be incorporated into the imaging device housing or enclosure at any suitable location and if multiple parts are involved, be attached our coupled in any permanent or removable fashion. When practical, it is preferred to form or mold these features into an enclosure surface. For example, the media support stand may be incorporated into imaging device housing panels, doors, access covers and the like.  FIG. 2  shows a particular embodiment of an imaging device  10 ′ that incorporates a media support stand  34 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the media stand  34  is incorporated into a top surface  18  of the housing at location A. Other suitable locations on the imaging device of  FIG. 2  include location B. As may be ascertained by a person of ordinary skill in the art, media support stands may be incorporated into the imaging device housing at a number of other locations such as by extending media stands horizontally from a side panel of the housing. Media support stands may also be formed into a pivotable door or similar structure on the housing (not shown). 
     The media support stand  34  provides a convenient location to store or stage print media  48  that would otherwise have to be held in hand or set down on an available surface that may not be suitable for the task of holding sheets or bundles of media not directly associated with the input/output of the device. In addition, the upright media storage capability of the media support stand conserves space and lessens slide off and lack of control of media from the typically unsuitable product surfaces used for temporary staging of documents or pages set aside during printing, copying, gathering, sorting, and compiling efforts most associated with imaging and recording product usage. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the media support stand  34  includes a body having a top surface  50  with a plurality of media receiving slots formed therein. In one embodiment, the media support stand  34  comprises a one-piece molded structure that may integrally formed with the corresponding imaging device housing panel or wall at which it is located (such as top surface  18 ). Thus, the media support stand  34  may be formed of the same material utilized for the imaging device housing such as, for example, plastic. Any suitable material, however, may be used to form the media support stand. As an alternative to integrally forming the media support stand with the imaging device housing, the media support stand may be separately manufactured and permanently or removably attached to the imaging device housing utilizing any appropriate attachment device and/or method. 
     The media support stand  34  may include any suitable number of media slots. The media support stand  34  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  includes three media slots  38 . However, more or fewer slots may be utilized. The use of multiple media slots  38  in the media stand  34  facilitates actions such as separation and sorting of media sheets and/or securely accommodating different numbers of grouped media sheets. Each media receiving slot  38  is defined by a substantially horizontal bottom surface  54 , a pair of opposing vertically extending lateral side walls  56 ,  58 , or protruding features and a pair of longitudinal ends  60 ,  62 . The bottom surface  54  of each slot is recessed a predetermined distance from the top surface of the support stand and is configured to support an edge of at least one media sheet oriented at the bottom of an at lease somewhat upright orientation. As used herein, the phrase “oriented on edge,” or “oriented vertically” refers to the orientation of media sheets in which the planar extent of the media sheet is oriented vertically or substantially parallel to the direction of gravitational force with at least one edge corresponding to a bottom or lower edge. The orientation of vertical or vertically encompasses angles that are at least somewhat vertical to the extent that the media does not fall or bend over. The bottom or lower edge of a vertically oriented media sheet supported by the bottom surfaces of the slots may be any edge of the media sheet. For example, rather than intentionally standing the media with long edge upright, as typical with media supports used for reading or viewing, the media slots of the media support stand may receive media sheets with the long edge corresponding to the lower or bottom edge received in the slots of the media stand. For the purposes of this discussion, each slot has a slot width that corresponds to the distance between the first vertical wall  56  and the second vertical wall  58  of the respective slot, a slot depth that corresponds to the distance from the top surface  50  of the media stand to the bottom surface  54  of the respective slot, and a slot length that corresponds to the distance between the first longitudinal end  60  and the second longitudinal end  62  of each respective slot. 
     The pair of opposing side walls  56 ,  58  extends from opposite lateral edges of the bottom surface  54  to the top surface  50  of the support stand. The opposing side walls are oriented substantially vertically. However, one or both the side walls may be angled such that the slots widen from the bottom surface of the slot to the top surface of the media stand for aesthetics, to allow a slight lean or to facilitate molding of the slots. In addition, the side walls may be angled or contoured to make it easier to fully insert unruly media, such as flaccid paper or stacks, that may have bends, non-uniform curvature, tears and/or edge mis-alignment. In one embodiment, the top surface  50  of the media support stand is substantially flat exclusive of the media slots formed therein. Thus, when the media slots are not being used to stage media sheets as described below, the top surface  50  of the media support stand may be utilized as a work surface for staging, for example, office supplies such as paper reams, ink supply containers, media stacks or substantially anything that requires a stationary flat surface upon which to rest. The top surface, however, need not be flat. For example, the vertical side walls of the slots may be offset or truncated relative to each other to further facilitate insertion of media into the slots. 
     In order to support one or more sheets of media in the vertical orientation, each media slot  38  has a wavy or undulating configuration as viewed from above ( FIG. 3 ). In particular, the wavy or undulating configuration of each media slot includes at least one, but advantageously two or more, arc-inducing vector transitions that are in a horizontal plane, i.e., a plane transverse to the generally planar extent of the vertically oriented sheets inserted therein. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the media slots include three arc inducing vector transitions  64 ,  66 ,  68 . In the case of multiple slots, one or more slots may be elevated relative to another. The arc inducing vector transitions of the slots are configured to induce or impart at least one and advantageously multiple vertically extending alternating arcs, curves, ridges, peaks, etc. to the media sheets inserted into the respective slots in order to stiffen the sheets to enable the sheets to stand substantially upright in the slots. Because the wavy configuration of the slots enables media sheets to essentially stand on their own in the slots, the slot depth need not be appreciably deep relative to the height or width of the media stored therein. For example, in one embodiment, slot depth for the slots may be approximately 20 mm, but shallower or deeper slots may be utilized. The Slot configuration may be optimized to support the long edge of media, thereby reducing unsupported height and the extent to which a buckle or soft crease must be imparted in order to support the media. 
     Each slot has a slot width chosen to enable the slot to store or stage a non-absolute predetermined number of vertically oriented media sheets. Media is available in a wide variety of thicknesses and types and additionally may vary in thickness due to printed images, folds, staples, presence of self adhering notes and the like. All references to a predetermined number are therefore only suggestive for visualization. Any suitable slot width may be utilized. In embodiments of media support stands that include multiple media slots, such as the media support stand of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each media slot may the same or different slot widths. For example, slot width may vary from slot to slot to accommodate a different number of media sheets in each slot. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , slot  70  has a greater slot width relative to the other slots which enables slot  70  to store or stage media stacks or bundles having a greater effective width than the other slots. 
     When manually handling media, as example, for sorting printouts or selecting one or more pages from a group to be copied, a person often has different pages in each hand. It can be very difficult to direct one or more pages into a support slot in a predominantly vertical direction with that one hand as most media is not stiff enough to resist bending. The support of the present invention allows for a more angular or horizontal insertion that encourages control over the media during follow through to complete insertion, even when one hand is used. Because this configuration has multiple but more subtle “soft crease” creating features, it facilitates a more horizontal insertion and can be used in those cases where the benefit of a stand would otherwise be overridden by the difficulty or inconvenience of insertion. Descriptions of horizontal insertion are intended to include full or partial pull through and angular set down where one end of the slot is initially engaged and the sheet or multi-sheet bundle is then pivoted down into place such that progressive insertion progresses in a horizontal direction as full slot engagement is attained. 
     To facilitate insertion of a media sheet or stack of media sheets into a media slot, at least one longitudinal end of each slot extends through a side surface  72 ,  74  of the support stand body to enable insertion of at least one media sheet into the respective slot horizontally. In the media stand of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , both ends  60 ,  62  of each media slot extend horizontally through the corresponding side surface  72 ,  74  of the support stand and thus may serve as insertion ends for the slots. For example, to insert a media sheet or stack of media sheets into a media slot, at least a portion of a bottom or lower edge of the media sheet(s) such as a lower corner may be inserted horizontally through an open end of a slot and directed to the opposite longitudinal end of the slot by the confining side walls. As the bottom edge of the sheet(s) is moved horizontally through the slot, the arc inducing vector transitions of the slots introduce multiple vertically extending arcs, buckles, curves, soft creases, etc. into the sheet(s) to stiffen the sheet(s) as described above. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the slot width is substantially constant along the longitudinal dimension of the respective slot. 
     To further facilitate horizontal insertion of media sheets into the slots, the open ends of the slots may have a flaired configuration, i.e., one or both of the opposing side walls  56 ,  58  at the open ends  60 ,  62  of the slots may be rounded, angled, chamfered, truncated, etc. as depicted in  FIG. 3  to facilitate insertion of at least a portion of an edge of a media sheet or bundled media into the slot. As an alternative to initiating insertion of media sheets into the slots at one or both ends of the slots, an intermediate portion of the slot may be, for example, flaired or angled to enable insertion of at least a portion of an edge of a media sheet or media stack into a slot. As described earlier, this allows the media to be pulled into or rotated downwardly into the slot. 
     In alternative embodiments, a slot may be discontinuous and be comprised of multiple protruding features rather than having uninterrupted walls. This may be a preferred media “slot” configuration if molding, forming or otherwise incorporating an otherwise more complicated continuous slot is not practical, such as may be applicable to placement at the side of an enclosure element. For example,  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a media support stand that includes a plurality of projections that extend laterally from a side surface  20  of an imaging device. The projections include projections  80  that have an upward extending portion for holding media sheet(s)  48  and projections  84  that extend outwardly from the side surface. Together, the slot projections  80  and the projections  84  induce a plurality of alternating vector transitions (indicated by arrows) in media sheet(s)  48  to stiffen or rigidify the sheet(s) so that they can stand at least somewhat vertically without requiring additional support at an upper portion of the sheet(s). 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems, applications or methods. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.