Method and apparatus for securing a printing device

• US 7,424,242 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Syring, Harold J., Gleason, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villaluna, Erika J.
• Application Number:
  US11/288,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070122184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 399/107, 399/393, 101/494
• US Class Current: 399/107
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/00 Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00383 Cassette
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1651 for connecting the different parts

Abstract

A printing device securing apparatus includes a printing device having a first securing member operable to couple to an external locking device. An input tray includes a second securing member operable to couple to an external locking device, wherein the input tray is operable to couple to the printing device such that the first securing member is adjacent the second securing member. With the input tray coupled to the printing device, an external locking device may be coupled to the first securing member and the second securing member in order to secure the printing device and the input tray if security is an issue.

Claims

1. A printing device securing apparatus, comprising:

a printing device defining a printing medium input tray passageway and a securing member opening located adjacent the printing medium input tray passageway, comprising a first reinforced member that defines a first securing member slot and that is located between the securing member opening and the printing medium input tray passageway such that the first reinforced member is operable to couple to an external locking device through the securing member opening, and comprising a drive mechanism;

a printing medium input tray comprising a feed mechanism and a second reinforced member that defines a second securing member slot and that is operable to couple to an external locking device, wherein with the printing medium input tray located in the input tray passageway and coupled to the printing device, the drive mechanism engages the feed mechanism and the first securing member slot is aligned with the second securing member slot such that the external locking device may extend through the securing member opening, the first securing member slot, and the second securing member slot; and

a printing mechanism located on the printing device and operable to print to a printing medium supplied by the printing medium input tray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printing mechanism is operable to print to photo paper that is located in the printing medium input tray and that is fed to the printing mechanism in part by the operation of the drive mechanism and the feed mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external locking device that is operable to couple to the first reinforced member and the second reinforced member comprises a base that is separate from the printing device and the printing medium input tray, a cord that is operable to couple to a securing entity, and a locking member that is operable to extend through the securing member opening, the first securing member slot, and the second securing member slot, and wherein with the external locking device coupled to the first reinforced member and the second reinforced member, the base of the external locking device does not engage the printing device or the printing medium input tray.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot comprise the same dimensions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printing device comprises a base extension that defines the securing member opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base extension defines a portion of the printing medium input tray passageway.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second reinforced member defines a securing channel, and wherein the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot comprise dimensions such that an external lock may extend through the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot and into the securing channel, and wherein the external lock may be locked such that the external lock engages the second reinforced member and cannot be removed through the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot without being unlocked.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a printing medium positioned in the printing medium input tray, whereby the printing medium input tray is coupled to the printing device and the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot are aligned.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an external locking device extending through the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot while being coupled to a securing entity, whereby the external locking device prevents the printing medium input tray from being decoupled from the printing device.

10. An information handling system, comprising:

a microprocessor,

a storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a printing device coupled to the microprocessor, whereby the printing device defines a printing medium input tray passageway and a securing member opening located adjacent the printing medium input tray passageway, comprises a first reinforced member that defines a first slot that is located between the securing member opening and the printing medium input tray passageway such that the first reinforced member is operable to accept an external locking device through the securing member opening, and comprises a drive mechanism;

a printing medium input tray comprising a feed mechanism and a second reinforced member that defines a second slot and that is operable to accept an external locking device, wherein the printing medium input tray is operable to be positioned in the input tray passageway and coupled to the printing device such that the drive mechanism engages the feed mechanism and the first slot and the second slot are aligned such that the external locking device may extend through the securing member opening, the first slot, and the second slot; and

a printing mechanism located on the printing device and operable to print to a printing medium supplied by the printing medium input tray.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the printing device comprises a base extension that defines the securing member opening and a portion of the printing medium input tray passageway.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the printing mechanism is operable to print to photo paper that is located in the printing medium input tray and that is fed to the printing mechanism in part by the operation of the drive mechanism and the feed mechanism.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the external locking device that is operable to couple to the first reinforced member and the second reinforced member comprises a base that is operable to couple to a securing entity, and a locking member that is operable to extend through the securing member opening, the first slot, and the second slot, and wherein with the external locking device coupled to the first reinforced member and the second reinforced member, the base of the external locking device does not engage the printing device or the printing medium input tray.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first slot and the second slot comprise the same dimensions.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first slot and the second slot comprise dimensions such that an external locking device may extend through the first slot and the second slot and into a securing channel defined by the second securing member, and the external locking device may be locked such that the external locking device engages the second securing member and cannot be removed through the first slot and the second slot without being unlocked.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a printing medium positioned in the printing medium input tray, whereby the printing medium input tray is positioned in the printing medium input tray passageway and the first slot and the second slot are aligned.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an external locking device extending through the first slot and the second slot while being coupled to a securing entity, whereby the external locking device prevents the printing medium input tray from being decoupled from the printing device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a securing entity, whereby the printing device is positioned adjacent the securing entity and the external locking device is coupled to the securing entity such that the external locking device secures the printing device to the securing entity.

19. A method for securing a printing device, comprising:

providing a printing device defining a printing medium input tray passageway and a securing member opening located adjacent the printing medium input tray passageway, and comprising a drive mechanism, a printing mechanism, and a first reinforced member that defines a first securing member slot that is located between the securing member opening and the printing medium input tray passageway such that the first reinforced member is operable to couple to an external locking device through the securing member opening;

providing a printing medium input tray comprising a feed mechanism and a second reinforced member that defines a second securing member slot that is operable to couple to an external locking device; and

positioning the printing medium input tray in the printing medium input tray passageway and coupling the printing medium input tray to the printing device such that the first securing member slot is located adjacent the second securing member slot such that an external locking device may extend through the securing member opening, the first securing member slot and the second securing member slot, and the drive mechanism engages the feed mechanism to allow a printing medium to be supplied to the printing mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

positioning a printing medium in the printing medium input tray.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

coupling an external locking device to the printing device and the printing medium input tray by extending a locking member on the external locking device through the securing member opening, the first securing member slot, and the second securing member slot, wherein the locking member extends from a base on the external locking device that does not engage the printing device and the printing medium input tray.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

coupling a cord that extends from the base on the external locking device to a securing entity.

23. A printing device securing apparatus comprising:

a printing device defining a printing medium input tray passageway and a securing member opening located adjacent the printing medium input tray passageway, and including a drive mechanism, a printing mechanism, and a first reinforced member defining a first securing member slot that is located between the securing member opening and the printing medium input tray passageway such that the first reinforced member is operable to couple to an external locking device through the securing member opening; and

a printing medium input tray insertable into the input tray passageway to couple with the feed mechanism, the printing medium input tray including a second reinforced member defining a second securing member slot that is operable to couple to the external locking device, wherein the drive mechanism is engagable with the feed mechanism in order to allow a printing medium to be supplied to the printing mechanism and the first securing member slot is alignable with the second securing member slot when the printing medium input tray is inserted in the input tray passageway, whereby, an external locking device is simultaneously insertable through the securing member opening and the aligned first and second securing members slots and securable to an external securing entity.