Computer printer stand with multiple paper web guide slots

• US 4,515,490 A
• Filed: 01/27/1984
• Issued: 05/07/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franklin Marker III
• Original Assignee: Franklin Marker III
• Inventors: Marker, Franklin III
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, E. H.
• Application Number:
  US06/574,414
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 400/605-609, 400/611, 400/613.2, 312/40, 312/211, 312/283, 312/349, 312/350, 226/108-109, 226/196, 270/52
• US Class Current: 400/613.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/58 Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders

Abstract

A stand is provided for supporting a printer for a computer, or word processor, or the like, which provides for feeding sheet or web stock from plurality of separate storage boxes or containers. A printer is supported on the top shelf of the stand. The stand stores boxes or containers of printing sheet or web stock on continuous form on two lower shelves thereof and feeds the continuous strip material alternately from the boxes or containers on the shelves as required by the printer. The top shelf has a plurality of guide slots, one for each of the boxes or containers of printing stock. A plurality of guide plates are provided in association with respective ones of said guide slots and in association with the intermediate shelf to guide printing stock from said boxes or containers to the printer. The upper ends of the printing stock not in use are folded over the ends of the guide plates extending above the top shelf. An angularly oriented storage tray is supported above the rear end of the top shelf to receive printed output from the printer.

Claims

1. A stand for supporting a printer and containers for different sizes and types of continuous printing stock for feeding the printing stock to the printer comprising:

a plurality of vertically extending legs,

a plurality of horizontally positioned shelves supported on said legs in vertically spaced relation,

the top shelf having one end portion for supporting a printer,

a support member supported on and extending upward from the other end of said top shelf,

a tray supported on said support member for receiving and storing printed output from said printer,

a plurality of guide slots in said top shelf between said one end portion and said support member,

a plurality of plate shaped guide members centered one in each of said guide slots,

at least one shelf being positioned below said top shelf to support containers of printing stock in selected positions, and

at least some of said guide members extending downwardly below said guide slots to said selected positions above said containers for guiding printing stock through said slots for selective introduction into the printer.

2. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

said support member comprises a plate member extending upward from said top shelf at said other end, and

said tray is supported on the upper end thereof at an angular orientation aligned with the outlet from the printer to receive and store printed output from the printer.

3. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which:

some of said guide members extend upward from said top shelf between each of said slots and outside the slot nearest the printer in parallel reation to said slots to maintain separation of printing stock passing through the slots and to secure ends of printing stock in place by folding thereover when not in use.

4. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 3 in which

said upwardly extending guide members are graduated in height with the shortest one closest to the printer and successive guide members being progressively longer to provide convenient access to ends of the printing printing stock.

5. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

said downwardly extending guide members are positioned between the slots in the top shelf and outside the outermost slots and are parallel to said slots and extend down from the top shelf to provide a means of separating and guiding printing stock passing through the slots,

said downwardly extending guide members being of varying lengths and being inclined in selected directions for directing printing stock from selected containers on said lower shelf.

6. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

there are two lower shelves spaced vertically at selected distances permitting storage of a plurality of printing stock containers at selected positions on each shelf,

said downwardly extending guide members extending to selected positions over containers stored on the upper one of said two lower shelves, and

a plurality of plate shaped guide members extending from said other end toward said one end above the bottom shelf to a position above containers of printing stock supported thereon to guide printing stock to selected ones on said downwardly extending guide members and the slots associated therewith.

7. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

said support member comprises a plate member extending upward from said top shelf at said other end,

said tray is supported on the upper end thereof at an angular orientation aligned with the outlet from the printer to receive and store printed output from the printer, and

some of said guide members extend upward from said top shelf between each of said slots and outside the slot nearest the printer in parallel relation to said slots to maintain separation of printing stock passing through the slots and to secure ends of printing stock in place by folding thereover when not in use.

8. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

said support member comprises a plate member extending upward from said top shelf at said other end,

said tray is supported on the upper end thereof at an angular orientation aligned with the outlet from the printer to receive the store printed output from the printer,

some of said guide members extend upward from said top shelf between each of said slots and outside the slot nearest the printer in parallel relation to said slots to maintain separation of printing stock passing through the slots and to secure ends of printing stock in place by folding thereover when not in use, and

said upwardly extending guide members being graduated in height with the shortest one closest to the printer and successive guide members being progressively longer to provide convenient access to ends of the printing printing stock.

9. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which:

said support member comprises a plate member extending upward from said top shelf at said other end,

said tray is supported on the upper end thereof at an angular orientation aligned with the outlet from the printer to receive and store printed output from the printer,

some of said guide members extend upward from said top shelf between each of said slots and outside the slot nearest the printer in parallel relation to said slots to maintain separation of printing stock passing through the slots and to secure ends of printing stock in place by folding thereover when not is use,

said upwardly extending guide members being graduated in height with the shortest one closest to the printer and successive guide members being progressively longer to provide convenient access to ends of the printing printing stock,

said downwardly extending guide members are positioned between the slots in the top shelf and outside the outermost slots and are parallel to said slots and extend down from the top shelf to provide a means of separating and guiding printing stock passing through the slots, and

said downwardly extending guide members being of varying lengths and being inclined in selected directions for directing printing stock from selected containers on said lower shelf.

10. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 in which

said support member comprises a plate member extending upward form said top shelf at said other end,

said tray is supported on the upper end thereof at an angular orientation aligned with the outlet from the printer to receive and store printed output from the printer,

some of said guide members extend upward from said top shelf between each of said slots and outside the slot nearest the printer in parallel relation to said slots to maintain separation of printing stock passing through the slots and to secure ends of printing stock in place by folding thereover when not in use,

said upwardly extending guide members being graduated in height with the shortest one closest to the printer and successive guide members being progressively longer to provide convenient access to ends of the printing printing stock,

said downwardly extending guide members are positioned between the slots in the top shelf and outside the outermost slots and are parallel to said slots and extend down from the top shelf to provide a means of separating and guiding printing stock passing through the slots,

said downwardly extending guide members being of varying lengths and being inclined in selected directions for directing printing stock from selected containers on said lower shelf,

said shelves including two lower shelves spaced vertically at selected distances below said top shelf for storage of a plurality of printing stock containers at selected positions on each lower shelf,

said downwardly extending guide members extending to selected positions over containers stored on the upper one of said two lower shelves, and

a plurality of plate shaped guide members extending from said other end toward said one end above the bottom shelf to a position above containers of printing stock supported thereon to guide printing stock to selected ones on said downwardly extending guide members and the slots associated therewith.

11. A printer stand and printing stock feeding and collecting apparatus according to claim 1 further including

casters positioned on the bottom of said legs for ease of movement.