Abstract:
A printer which includes a printer housing including a top portion and a sheet feeder positioned on the top portion of the printer housing is disclosed. The sheet feeder includes a foreign object deflector. The foreign object deflector includes a foreign object deflector panel. The foreign object deflector panel is positioned between the printer housing and a paper path of the sheet feeder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of printers and more particularly top loading printers.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. One example of an information handing system is a printer.  
         [0005]     Known printers have one of a plurality of types of paper paths. For example, one type of paper path via which printers can feed paper is where the paper is fed from a paper tray at the bottom of the printer. This type of printer is referred to as a bottom loading or C type paper path printer. Another type of paper path via which printers can feed paper is where the paper is fed from a paper tray at the top of the printer. This type of printer is referred to as a top loading or L type paper path printer.  
         [0006]     One issue for L type printer path printers relates to foreign objects can fall into the auto sheet feeder of the printer, potentially causing paper jams. Often the user can not determine what the problem causing the paper jam is, possibly resulting in either the printer being returned to the printer supplier or a service call by the printer supplier.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide top loading printers with a mechanism for deflecting foreign objects before the objects can enter the paper path of the printer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with the present invention, a top loading printer is disclosed that includes a foreign object deflector in the auto sheet feeder.  
         [0009]     More specifically, in one embodiment, the invention relates to a printer which includes a printer housing including a top portion and a sheet feeder positioned on the top portion of the printer housing. The sheet feeder includes a foreign object deflector. The foreign object deflector includes a foreign object deflector panel. The foreign object deflector panel is positioned between the printer housing and a paper path of the sheet feeder.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the invention relates to an information handling system which includes a control system wherein the control system includes a processor, a printer housing with a top portion, and a sheet feeder positioned on the top portion of the printer housing. The sheet feeder includes a foreign object deflector. The foreign object deflector includes a foreign object deflector panel. The foreign object deflector panel is positioned between the printer housing and a paper path of the sheet feeder.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for printing documents which includes a control system wherein the control system includes a processor, a housing, the housing including a top portion, and, a sheet feeder positioned on the top portion of the housing. The sheet feeder includes a foreign object deflector. The foreign object deflector includes a foreign object deflector panel. The foreign object deflector panel is positioned between the printer housing and a paper path of the sheet feeder. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an environment in which a printer with an ink cartridge is shown.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an example top loading printer.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a top loading printer paper tray having a foreign object deflector.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of top loading paper tray having a foreign object deflector 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an environment in which a printer with a foreign object deflector is shown. The environment includes an information handling system  102  (such as a computer system or a camera) and a printer  104 , coupled via a communication link  110 . The communication link  110  might be a printer cable, a telephone cable, a network connection or any other link which information is communicated with the printer  104 . In one embodiment, the printer  104  is included within a multifunction device such as a combination printer fax machine. Other functions may also be included within the multifunction device such as a scan function and a copy function. Also, in one embodiment, the environment does not include a computer system  102 .  
         [0018]     The printer  104  is coupled to a second communication link  120 . Thus, communication may occur between the printer  104  and anything coupled to the second communication link  120  such as a services provider fax machine  109 . Additionally, the computer system  102  is also connected to another computer system (e.g., a services provider computer system)  110  via a second communication link  120 . The second communication link  120  may be a telephone system or some other type of network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, the fax machine  109  and the computer system  110  are owned and operated by a consumable supplier  112 . In this example, the service provider  112  may provide service for the printer  104 .  
         [0019]     The printer  104  includes an input output (I/O) port  130 , a control system  132  and at least two types of consumables  134 . The I/O port  130  facilitates communications between the printer  104  and other devices connected to the communications link  110 . The control system  132  provides the printer  104  with certain control functionality. The control system  132  includes a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The printer  104  may also include one or more media slots  140 .  
         [0020]     The consumables  134  represent any component in the printer  104  that is subject to depletion through use of the printer  104 . For example, the consumable  134  may be a toner cartridge or an inkjet cartridge, etc. The service provider maintains a supply  114  of replacement consumables  134 .  
         [0021]     In operation, the computer system  102  generates a document in an electronic form and transmits the document (in the form of a print job) to the printer  104 . The printer  104  receives the job via the I/O port  130  and prints the document. Additionally, when the printer  104  is part of a multifunction device, the printer  104  may receive and print information from the communication link  120  or from a scanned image when operating as a copier. Additionally, the printer  104  may receive and print information from any of its media slots  140 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of an example top loading printer  200  is shown. Paper is fed to the top loading printer  200  a sheet feeder  210 , which includes a paper support  212  for supporting and guiding the paper (or other material on which information is to be printed) into the printer  200 . After printing, the paper exits via a recess  214  located close to the bottom of the printer  200 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a top view and side view of a top loading printer  200  having a foreign object deflector  300  are shown. More specifically, the foreign object deflector  310  includes a foreign object deflector panel  310  and a spring  410 . The foreign object deflector panel  310  is positioned between the top of the printer  312  and the paper  320  that is fed into the printer. The spring  410  is mechanically coupled between the panel  310  of the foreign object deflector and the top of the printer  312  to apply pressure on the paper when paper  320  is inserted into the sheet feeder  210 . The panel  310  is angled downwardly from the direction in which paper is inserted into the sheet feeder  210  so that the panel automatically deflects when paper is inserted into the sheet feeder  210 .  
         [0024]     When the paper  320  is inserted into the sheet feeder  210  of the printer  320 , the spring  410  of the foreign object deflector  310  is compressed so that the foreign object deflector  310  rests against the paper  320 . The spring  410  is tensioned to provide a light tension against the paper  320 . The light tension is enough so that the panel rests against the paper  320 , while not impacting paper pick when paper is fed via the sheet feeder. In one embodiment, the spring is a butterfly type spring.  
         [0025]     The present invention is well adapted to attain the advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the present invention has been depicted, described, and is defined by reference to particular embodiments of the invention, such references do not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described embodiments are examples only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention.  
         [0026]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0027]     For example, the above-discussed embodiments include software modules that perform certain tasks. The software modules discussed herein may include script, batch, or other executable files. The software modules may be stored on a machine-readable or computer-readable storage medium such as a disk drive. Storage devices used for storing software modules in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may be magnetic floppy disks, hard disks, or optical discs such as CD-ROMs or CD-Rs, for example. A storage device used for storing firmware or hardware modules in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may also include a semiconductor-based memory, which may be permanently, removably or remotely coupled to a microprocessor/memory system. Thus, the modules may be stored within a computer system memory to configure the computer system to perform the functions of the module. Other new and various types of computer-readable storage media may be used to store the modules discussed herein. Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that the separation of functionality into modules is for illustrative purposes. Alternative embodiments may merge the functionality of multiple modules into a single module or may impose an alternate decomposition of functionality of modules. For example, a software module for calling sub-modules may be decomposed so that each sub-module performs its function and passes control directly to another sub-module.  
         [0028]     Also for example, it will be appreciated that other springs or spring type mechanisms can be used to apply the pressure to the panel to cause the panel to lightly rest against the paper.  
         [0029]     Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.