Patent Publication Number: US-8109505-B2

Title: Printer with paper holding device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a printer with a paper holding device for receiving outputted paper. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many printers include a paper tray. However, when the printed sheet is deposited into the paper tray after printing, the sheets of paper may not be neatly stacked on top of each other because the sides of the sheets are misaligned. The stack of sheets must be taken out of the paper tray and aligned manually by a user. This is an inconvenience. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded view of a printer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of a paper holding device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a connecting mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the paper holding device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the printer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing sliding members in a different location. 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 9 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a printer in accordance with an embodiment includes a main body  80  and a paper holding device  10 . 
     The main body  80  is capable of printing documents on paper and outputting the paper through an opening  811  defined in a rear wall  81  thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the paper holding device  10  includes a securing member  11 , a paper tray  13 , a connecting mechanism  30 , and a cover  50 . 
     The securing member  11  is capable of being secured to the main body  80 . The paper tray  13  is pivotably secured to a bottom portion of the securing member  11 . A gap  110  is defined between the securing member  11  and the paper tray  13 , for the outputted paper to pass therethrough. A sensor  15  is disposed on the paper tray  13  adjacent to the gap  110  for detecting the outputted paper as it passes through the gap  110 . Two first slots  131  and four second slots  133  are defined in the paper tray  13 . In an embodiment, the first slots  131  are substantially perpendicular to the second slots  133 . A plurality of sliding members  60  is slidably attached to a top surface of the paper tray  13 . Each sliding member  60  includes a sliding portion  61  and a pushing portion  63  located on the sliding portion  61 . In an embodiment, the pushing portion  63  is substantially perpendicular to the sliding portion  61 . Two fastener holes  611  are defined in the sliding portion  61 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , three positioning posts  70  are located on the paper tray  13 . A driving mechanism  20  is secured to the paper tray  13  adjacent one positioning post  70 . 
     The driving mechanism  20  is secured to a bottom surface of the paper tray  13  and includes a motor  21  and a driving gear  23 . The motor  21  is capable of being controlled by the sensor  15  ( FIG. 1 ) to rotate the driving gear  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the connecting mechanism  30  is attachable to the bottom surface of the paper tray  13  and includes two first gear members  31 , a third gear member  33 , and two second gear members  35 . In an embodiment, the first gear members  31  are substantially perpendicular to the third gear member  33  and parallel to the second gear members  35 . Each of the first gear members  31  includes a first limiting block  311  and a first sliding block  313  both capable of sliding in two second slots  133 . Two first mounting holes  3131  are defined in each first sliding block  313 , corresponding to the fastener holes  611  of the corresponding sliding member  60 . Each second gear member  35  includes a second limiting block  351  and a second sliding block  353  both capable of sliding in two second slots  133 . Two second mounting holes  3531  are defined in each second sliding block  353 , corresponding to the fastener holes  611  of the corresponding sliding member  60 . The third gear member  33  includes two third sliding blocks  331  capable of sliding in the first slots  131 . Each third sliding block  331  defines two third mounting holes  3313 , corresponding to the fastener holes  611  of the corresponding sliding member  60 . A first connecting gear  41 , a second connecting gear  43 , and a third connecting gear  45  are respectively secured to the positioning posts  70 . The first connecting gear  41  is capable of meshing with the driving gear  23  and one first gear member  35 . The second connecting gear  43  is capable of meshing with one of the two first gear members  31 , one of the two second gear members  35 , and the third gear member  33 . The third gear  43  is capable of meshing with the other gear member  31 , the other second gear member  35 , and the third gear member  33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cover  50  is securable to the bottom surface of the paper tray  13  to cover the connecting mechanism  30  and the driving mechanism  20 . A recess  51  is defined in the cover  50  for receiving the driving mechanism  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in assembly, the sliding members  60  are placed on the top surface of the paper tray  13 . The first and second sliding blocks  313 ,  353  and the first and second limiting blocks  311 ,  351  are slidably engaged in the first slots  133 . The third sliding blocks  331  are slidably engaged in the second slots  131 . Fasteners, such as screws are extended through the first, second and third mounting holes  3131 ,  3151 ,  3313  into the corresponding fastener holes  611  of the sliding members  60  to correspondingly secure the sliding members  60  on the first, second and third sliding blocks  313 ,  353 ,  331 . The first connecting gear  41 , the second connecting gear  43 , and the third connecting gear  45  are secured to the positioning posts  70  and mesh with the driving gear  23 , and the first, second, and third gear members  31 ,  35 ,  33  as detailed above. The cover  50  is secured to the bottom surface of the paper tray  13  to cover the connecting mechanism  30  and the driving mechanism  20 , and the driving mechanism  20  is received in the recess  51 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , the paper holding device  10  is secured to the rear wall  811  of the main body  80 , and the output opening  811  corresponding to the gap  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when documents are printed by the main body  80  and outputted paper is output from the output opening  811 , the sensor  15  detects the size of the outputted paper and controls the motor  21  of the driving mechanism  20  to rotate the driving gear  23 . Rotation of the driving gear  23  can slide the first gear member  31 , which meshes with the driving gear  23 . Connections of the first to third gear members  31 ,  35 ,  33  and the first to third gears  41 ,  43 ,  45 , cause the first gear members  31  to slide in a first direction, the second gear members  35  to slide in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the third gear member  33  to slide in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Three sliding members  60 , adjacent to the main body  80 , reshape a first space for receiving the outputted paper and causing the paper to precisely stack in a neat orderly stack. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , if another larger size paper is printed, one sliding member  60 , which is normally positioned in a center of the paper tray  13 , is removed from the paper tray  13 . When the larger size outputted paper output from the output opening  811 , the sensor  15  detects the size of the outputted paper and controls the motor  21  of the driving mechanism  20  to rotate the driving gear  23 . The sliding members  60  are adjusted by the connecting mechanism  30  and the driving mechanism  20  to reshape to a second space for receiving the larger size outputted paper. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.