Fill indicator cams for printer trays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021276817-A1
Application number	US-201817256754-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2018
Priority date	Nov 9, 2018
Publication date	Sep 9, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example feed trays for a printer are disclosed. In one example, the feed tray includes a support surface to support print media, and a guide wall coupled to the support surface. The support surface and the guide wall define a feed path for the print media into the printer. In addition, the feed tray includes a fill indicator comprising a cam rotatably coupled to the guide wall about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed path. The cam includes an extension that extends radially from the axis of rotation, and the cam is rotatable about the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position. The extension is more proximate to the support surface when the cam is in the second position than when the cam is in the first position, and the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A feed tray for a printer, the feed tray comprising:
a support surface to support print media; a guide wall coupled to the support surface, wherein the support surface and the guide wall define a feed path for the print media into the printer; and a fill indicator comprising a cam rotatably coupled to the guide wall about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed path, wherein the cam includes an extension that extends radially from the axis of rotation; wherein the cam is rotatable about the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, wherein the extension is more proximate to the support surface when the cam is in the second position than when the cam is in the first position, and wherein the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position.

2 . The feed tray of claim 1 , wherein the guide wall is movable along the support surface in a direction that is perpendicular to the feed path.

3 . The feed tray of claim 1 , wherein the extension of the cam comprises:
a concave arcuate surface; a distal edge; and a planar surface; wherein the concave arcuate surface and the planar surface each extend away from the axis of rotation to the distal edge.

4 . The feed tray of claim 3 , wherein the planar surface is disposed between the concave arcuate surface and the support surface.

5 . The feed tray of claim 1 , comprising a projection that extends from the guide wall, wherein when the cam is in the second position, the cam is engaged with the projection.

6 . The feed tray of claim 1 , wherein the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position by a torsion spring coupled to the cam and the guide wall.

7 . The feed tray of claim 6 , comprising a shaft extending from the guide wall along the axis of rotation, wherein the cam and the torsion spring are disposed about the shaft.

8 . A feed tray for a printer, the feed tray comprising:
a support surface to support print media; a guide wall coupled to the support surface, wherein the support surface and the guide walls define a feed path for the print media into the printer, wherein the guide wall is to move perpendicularly to the feed path relative to the support surface; and a fill indicator coupled to the guide wall, wherein the fill indicator comprises:
a cam rotatably coupled to the corresponding guide wall about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed path,
wherein the cam comprises an extension that extends outward from the axis of rotation to a distal edge;
wherein the cam is rotatable about the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, wherein the distal edge is more proximate to the support surface when the cam is in the second position than when the cam is in the first position, and wherein the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position.

9 . The feed tray of claim 8 , wherein the extension of the cam comprises a concave arcuate surface and a planar surface, wherein the concave arcuate surface and the planar surface each extend away from the axis of rotation to the distal edge.

10 . The feed tray of claim 9 , wherein the planar surface is disposed between the concave arcuate surface and the support surface.

11 . The feed tray of claim 10 , comprising a projection that extends from the guide wall, wherein when the cam is in the second position, the cam is engaged with the projection.

12 . The feed tray of claim 11 , wherein the cam comprises a rear planar surface that is disposed on a radially opposite side of the axis of rotation from the distal edge, wherein the rear planar surface engages with the projection when the cam is in the second position.

13 . The feed tray of claim 12 , wherein the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position by a torsion spring coupled to the cam and the guide wall.

14 . A feed tray for a printer, the feed tray comprising:
a support surface to support print media; a guide wall coupled to the support surface, wherein the support surface and the guide wall define a feed path for the print media into the printer, wherein the guide wall is to move perpendicularly to the feed path relative to the support surface; and a fill indicator coupled to the guide wall, wherein the fill indicator comprises a cam rotatably disposed about a shaft extending from the corresponding guide wall along an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed path; wherein the cam comprises an extension that extends outward from the axis of rotation to a distal edge and comprises a concave arcuate surface extending from distal edge; wherein the cam is rotatable about the shaft between a first position and a second position; wherein the distal edge is more proximate to the support surface when the cam is in the second position than when the cam is in the first position, and the cam is rotationally biased from the second position toward the first position; and wherein the arcuate concave surface is to engage with print media that is loaded into the feed tray to transition the cam from the first position toward the second position.

15 . The feed tray of claim 14 , comprising a projection that extends from the guide wall;
wherein the cam comprises a rear planar surface that is disposed on a radially opposite side of the axis of rotation from the distal edge; and wherein, when the cam is in the second position, the rear planar surface is engaged with the projection.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Touchstone Hallie
• White Bradley Spencer
• Lopez Robert C

Classifications

• B65H2402/54

  Springs, e.g. helical or leaf springs · CPC title

• B65H2511/22

  Distance · CPC title

• B65H2511/12

  Width · CPC title

• B65H1/04 Primary

  adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile · CPC title

• B65H2405/1142

  Projections or the like in surface contact with handled material · CPC title