Systems and methods for dispensing a printed document from a printer machine using a dispensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208986-B2
Application number	US-202218057250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2022
Priority date	Apr 6, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems for dispensing a printed document from a printer machine with a dispensing device. For instance, a document being printed out from the printer machine may be monitored for, and a determination that a document is being printed out from the printer machine may be made based on the monitoring. The printed document may be engaged with an arm mechanism of the dispensing device, the printed document may be urged towards a slot of the dispensing device with the arm mechanism, and the printed document may be dispensed out of the slot with the arm mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dispensing a printed document from a printer machine with a dispensing device mountable to the printer machine and having a body extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the method comprising:
engaging the printed document printed out from the printer machine with an arm mechanism of the dispensing device, wherein the arm mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion, and wherein the second portion contacts a surface of the printed document to engage the printed document;
urging the printed document towards an opening at the second end of the body of the dispensing device with the arm mechanism as the first portion of the arm mechanism is moved along a longitudinal axis of the dispensing device towards the opening to move the second portion of the arm mechanism towards the opening while the printed document is engaged via the second portion, wherein the opening at the second end of the body is defined between the body and the printer machine when the dispensing device is mounted to the printer machine; and
dispensing the printed document out of the opening with the arm mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes one or more engagement devices, and engaging the printed document with the arm mechanism comprises:
contacting the surface of the printed document with the one or more engagement devices of the second portion of the arm mechanism to engage the printed document via a friction grip.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the arm mechanism is movably coupled to the body of the dispensing device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the body includes an aperture defining a guide, and urging the printed document towards the opening at the second end of the body comprises:
moving the first portion of the arm mechanism towards the opening at the second end of the body along the guide.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein urging the printed document towards the opening at the second end of the body of the dispensing device comprises:
moving the second portion of the arm mechanism along one or more tracks of the dispensing device as the arm mechanism is moved towards the opening via the first portion.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the arm mechanism is attached to a belt of the dispensing device, and the method further comprises:
rotating the belt to move the arm mechanism towards the opening via the first portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the belt is arranged around one or more pulleys of the dispensing device, and rotating the belt comprises:
causing one or more motors of the dispensing device that are coupled to at least one of the one or more pulleys to rotate the at least one of the one or more pulleys to correspondingly rotate the belt.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a location of the printed document using one or more sensors as the printed document is engaged, urged towards the opening, and dispensed.

9. A dispensing device mountable to a printer device, the dispensing device comprising:
a body extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and including an opening at the second end, wherein the opening at the second end of the body is defined between the body and the printer device when the dispensing device is mounted to the printer device; and
an arm mechanism having a first portion moveably coupled to the body and a second portion including one or more engagement devices and one or more arms attaching the one or more engagement devices to the first portion,
wherein, when the dispensing device is mounted to the printer device, the one or more engagement devices are configured to contact a surface of a document printed out from the printer device to engage the document, and the arm mechanism is moved toward the second end of the body via movement of the first portion along the body to urge the document towards the opening while the document is engaged via the second portion.

10. The dispensing device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a component removably attached to the second end of the body that includes a slot, wherein the document is further urged towards the slot to dispense the document from the slot.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10 , wherein the component further includes a bump for guiding the document into and through the slot.

12. The dispensing device of claim 9 , wherein the body further includes an aperture defining a guide, and the first portion of the arm mechanism is moved toward the second end of the body along the guide.

13. The dispensing device of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first portion of the arm mechanism extends through the guide such that the first portion of the arm mechanism extends from a top side of the body to a bottom side of the body.

14. The dispensing device of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more tracks attached to the body, wherein the one or more engagement devices of the second portion are attached to and guided along the one or more tracks as the arm mechanism is moved toward the second end of the body via the first portion.

15. The dispensing device of claim 9 , further comprising a pulley system attached to the body, the pulley system including:
one or more pulleys;
one or more motors coupled to at least one of the one or more pulleys, and configured to rotate the one or more pulleys; and
a belt arranged relative to the one or more pulleys to cause rotation of the belt when the one or more pulleys are rotated, wherein the first portion of the arm mechanism is attached to the belt such that rotation of the belt moves the arm mechanism towards the opening.

16. The dispensing device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a plurality of sensors attached to the body, and positioned at a plurality of locations along the body to detect the document as it is engaged and urged toward the opening.

17. The dispensing device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a base for mounting the dispensing device to the printer device, wherein the body is connected to the base via a mechanism that enables the body to be transitioned between an open position and a closed position.

18. A dispensing device mountable to a printer device, the dispensing device comprising:
a body extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and including an opening at the second end, wherein the opening is defined between the body and the printer device when the dispensing device is mounted to the printer device; and
an arm mechanism including:
a base moveably coupled to the body;
an arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the base; and
one or more engagement devices attached to the second end of the arm,

wherein, when the dispensing device is mounted to the printer device, the one or more engagement devices are configured to contact a surface of a document printed out from the printer device, and the base is configured to move along the body toward the opening at the second end of the body such that the arm mechanism is moved relative to the body, by the base, to urge the document towards the opening while the document is engaged by the one or more engagement devices.

19. The dispensing device of claim 18 , wherein the body further includes an aperture defining a guide, and the dispensing device further comprises:
one or more tracks attached to the body, wherein the one or more engagement devic

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc

Inventors

• Wurmfeld David Kelly

Classifications

• B65H2513/52

  Age; Duration; Life time or chronology of event · CPC title

• B65H2801/03

  Image reproduction devices · CPC title

• B65H2601/10

  Ensuring correct operation · CPC title

• B65H2511/51

  Presence · CPC title

• B65H5/068

  between one or more rollers or balls and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements · CPC title