Output tray systems and methods

• US 20070077110A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bartman, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/646
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/16 of discharge in bins, stacking, collating or gathering
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/1124 pivotable, details therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/00 Pile receivers carriers used for associating, collating or gathering articles B65H39/00

Abstract

Embodiments herein comprise a printing/copying media output device or terminal that includes a single media output tray that can be used as a flat tray or a basket tray. The media output tray has a first portion that connects to a media output device, a second portion at the opposite (distal) end of the first portion from the media output device, and a hinge between the first portion and the second portion connecting the first portion to the second portion. In some embodiments herein, the hinge is positioned at an approximate midpoint of the output tray and the first portion is approximately the same size as the second portion. By folding the tray at the hinge, the tray can be converted from a flat tray to a basket tray.

Claims

1. A media output tray comprising:

a first portion adapted to connect to a media output device;

a second portion connected to said first portion; and

a hinge between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said hinge maintains a relative position between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said relative position comprises;

a first tray position, wherein in said first tray position said first portion and said second portion form a flat output tray; and

a second tray position, wherein in said second tray position said first portion and said second portion form a basket tray.

2. The media output tray according to claim 1, further comprising a support connected to said media output tray and to said media output device.

3. The media output tray according to claim 2, wherein said support is connected to said first portion in said first tray position, and said support is connected to said second portion in said second tray position.

4. The media output tray according to claim 1, further comprising a second hinge connecting said first portion to said media output device.

5. The media output tray according to claim 1, wherein media lies flat on said media output tray in said first tray position, and said media sits between said first portion and said second portion, resting on said hinge in said second tray position.

6. A media output tray comprising:

a first portion adapted to connect to a media output device;

a second portion connected to said first portion; and

a hinge between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said hinge maintains a relative position between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said relative position comprises;

a first tray position, wherein in said first tray position said first portion lies in the same approximate plane as said second portion and an angle between said first portion and said second portion is approximately 180 degrees; and

a second tray position, wherein in said second tray position said first portion does not lie in the same approximate plane as said second portion and an angle between said first portion and said second portion is less than approximately 90 degrees.

7. The media output tray according to claim 6, further comprising a support connected to said media output tray and to said media output device.

8. The media output tray according to claim 7, wherein said support is connected to said first portion in said first tray position, and said support is connected to said second portion in said second tray position.

9. The media output tray according to claim 6, further comprising a second hinge connecting said first portion to said media output device.

10. The media output tray according to claim 6, wherein media lies flat on said media output tray in said first tray position, and said media sits between said first portion and said second portion, resting on said hinge in said second tray position.

11. A media output tray comprising:

a first portion adapted to connect to a media output device;

a second portion connected to said first portion; and

a hinge between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said hinge is positioned at an approximate midpoint of said output tray and said first portion is approximately the same size as said second portion,

wherein said hinge maintains a relative position between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said relative position comprises;

a first tray position, wherein said first portion lies in the same approximate plane as said second portion and an angle between said first portion and said second portion is approximately 180 degrees; and

a second tray position, wherein said first portion does not lie in the same approximate plane as said second portion and an angle between said first portion and said second portion is less than approximately 90 degrees.

12. The media output tray according to claim 11, further comprising a support connected to said media output tray and to said media output device.

13. The media output tray according to claim 12, wherein said support is connected to said first portion in said first tray position, and said support is connected to said second portion in said second tray position.

14. The media output tray according to claim 11, further comprising a second hinge connecting said first portion to said media output device.

15. The media output tray according to claim 11, wherein media lies flat on said media output tray in said first tray position, and said media sits between said first portion and said second portion, resting on said hinge in said second tray position.

16. A printing apparatus comprising:

a printer;

a media output tray connected to said printer,

wherein said media output tray comprises;

a first portion connected to said printer;

a second portion connected to said first portion; and

a hinge between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said hinge maintains a relative position between said first portion and said second portion,

wherein said relative position comprises;

a first tray position, wherein in said first tray position said first portion and said second portion form a flat output tray; and

a second tray position, wherein in said second tray position said first portion and said second portion form a basket tray.

17. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a support connected to said media output tray and to said printer.

18. The printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said support is connected to said first portion in said first tray position, and said support is connected to said second portion in said second tray position.

19. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a second hinge connecting said first portion to said printer.

20. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said printer comprises at least one of an electrostatographic and a xerographic printer.