Tray assembly

• US 8,267,258 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Allwright, Julia, Petley, David Neil, Bridges, Richard Thomas Calhoun
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US12/429,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/133.6, 211/184, 211/43, 248/354.7, 248/354.6
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/00 Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated carriers used for associating, collating, or gathering articles B65H39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/04 for distinguishing adjusting from controlling, i.e. manual adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/32 Sliding support means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/51 Joints, e.g. riveted or magnetic joints
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/60 Coupling, adapter or locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/10 Size; Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/20 Location in space
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/06 Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers

Abstract

A tray assembly may include a tray having at least a first track and a second track. The first track and the second track may each include one or more indents and one or more ratchets. Each ratchet may include a plurality of projections, and each projection may be located a distance from each adjacent projection. A tray assembly may include a guide assembly having a first latch coupled to a second latch. The first latch may include a plurality of first teeth configured to engage the first track, and the second latch may include a plurality of second teeth configured to engage the second track. The tray assembly may include a compression element configured to lock and unlock the guide assembly.

Claims

1. A tray assembly for a print device, the tray assembly comprising:

a print device tray having at least a first track and a second track, wherein the first track comprises one or more indents and one or more first ratchets, wherein the second track comprises one or more second ratchets, wherein each of the first ratchets and each of the second ratchets comprise a plurality of projections;

a guide assembly comprising;

a first latch comprising a plurality of first teeth configured to engage the first track and a plurality of notches located on a top portion of the first latch, wherein the plurality of first teeth are located on an outer lower portion of the first latch,

a second latch comprising a plurality of second teeth configured to engage the second track and a plurality of protrusions located on a top portion of an underside of the second latch, wherein the plurality of second teeth are located on an outer lower portion of the second latch,

wherein each notch is configured to interconnect with a respective protrusion of the plurality of protrusions; and

a compression element configured to lock and unlock the guide assembly.

2. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein each projection is located a distance from each adjacent projection.

3. The tray assembly of claim 2, wherein the distance from a projection to each adjacent projection is approximately 1 millimeter.

4. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein an indent comprises a beveled edge.

5. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein an indent is located in accordance with a standard media width.

6. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first latch is coupled to the second latch by a fastening device, wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured to pivot about the fastening device.

7. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein a first end of the compression element is coupled to the first latch, wherein a second end of the compression element is coupled to the second latch.

8. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second latch is configured to engage the second track at one or more intervals, wherein each interval is defined by a distance between adjacent projections of each second ratchet, the first track at one or more intervals, wherein each interval is defined by one or more of the following;

a distance between adjacent projections of each first ratchet, and

a distance between each indent.

9. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the print device tray comprises one or more first connecting elements,

the guide assembly comprises one or more second connecting elements, wherein the second connecting elements are complementary to the first connecting elements, and

the guide assembly is configured to connect to the tray via the one or more first connecting elements and the one or more second connecting elements.

10. The tray assembly of claim 9, wherein one or more of the first connecting elements are integrally formed with the print device tray, wherein one or more of the second connecting elements are integrally formed with the guide assembly.

11. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the first track is offset from the second track by a distance.

12. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of projections comprises a first face and a second face, wherein the second face is offset from horizontal by an angle.