Media Output System And Method
A media output system is provided with the capability of sorting and separating different print jobs at the output area in an orderly manner. The media output system includes an ejecting mechanism for ejecting a wet printed medium in an output direction toward a collection tray, and a plurality of spaced-apart output ramps arranged adjacent to the ejecting mechanism and above the output tray so that the medium is held for a predetermined holding distance before the medium falls onto the collection tray. The output ramps are operable to extend to a different position in the output direction for each print job until a predetermined number of print jobs have been performed.
In a typical printing scenario, it is typical for successive print jobs to accumulate in a pile of indistinguishable papers in a common output tray. The task of sorting and separating one print job from another is left to humans. This manner of sorting multiple print jobs is time consuming and error prone. The problem is exacerbated when a printer is connected to a plurality of personal computers and is shared by a plurality of users. There are several conventional sorting techniques for solving this problem. One conventional sorting technique is to provide a plurality of vertically-arranged output trays that are adapted to receive different printed documents. However, such sorting technique increases the size of the printer and this goes against the current efforts to downsize the printer. Another conventional sorting technique is mechanically moving the output mechanism or the output tray from side to side to physically offset one print job from the next. This technique requires additional motors and mechanisms that increase cost and complexity to the printer. Furthermore, this technique also increases the size of the printer because the printer has to be wide enough to enable stacking in offset positions.
Therefore, there remains a need for a media output system with sorting capability that does not increase the size of the printing device and can be implemented at a relatively low cost.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a media output system having the capability of sorting and separating different print jobs at the output area in an orderly manner. The media output system includes an ejecting mechanism for ejecting a wet printed medium in an output direction toward a collection tray, and a plurality of spaced-apart output ramps arranged adjacent to the ejecting mechanism and above the output tray so that the medium is held for a predetermined holding distance before the medium falls onto the collection tray. The output ramps are operable to extend to a different position in the output direction for each print job until a predetermined number of print jobs have been performed.
The present invention provides a media output system that is suitable for printing devices such as inkjet printers. This output system is particularly useful for printers in a multi-user environment, such as those used in a typical office network.
Illustrated in
Referring to
In an effort to sort and separate different print jobs in an orderly manner, the output ramps are instructed by the firmware of the printer to extend to a different position in the output direction D for each print job until a predetermined number of print jobs have been performed. The firmware is programmed to sort and separate a predetermined number of print jobs and the different extended positions of the output ramps correspond to the predetermined number of print jobs. The result is each subsequent print job being stacked at a position spaced from the immediate previous print job. It is well known to those skilled in the art that an inkjet printer typically has a firmware that is implemented as a permanent memory module and the firmware can be programmed to coordinate the operation of the hardware components within the printer.
Referring again to
When different print jobs are stacked and sorted as described above, the print jobs could be easily distinguished and collected by the users. Furthermore, the output system of the present invention provides a sorting function without increasing the width or the height of the printer because extraneous hardware components are not required. Moreover, the sorting operation of the output ramps can be done quietly. This is an advantage over conventional sorting systems that require moving large hardware components to do the sorting.
It is intended that that the embodiments contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings are illustrative and not limiting. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A media output system for a printing apparatus comprising:
- a collection tray
- an ejecting mechanism for ejecting a wet printed medium in an output direction toward the collection tray, and
- a plurality of spaced-apart output ramps, each output ramp having a distal end that projects in the output direction, the output ramps being arranged adjacent to the ejecting mechanism and above the output tray so that the medium is held for a predetermined holding distance before the medium falls onto the collection tray,
- wherein the output ramps are operable to extend to a different position in the output direction for each print job until a predetermined number of print jobs have been performed.
2. The media output system of claim 1, wherein each subsequent extended position of the output ramps incrementally increases the holding distance and the distance between the distal ends of the output ramps and the output tray.
3. The media output system of claim 1, wherein the ejection mechanism comprises:
- a plurality of output rollers; and
- a plurality of starwheels in cooperating relationship with the output rollers to advance the wet printed media in the output direction.
4. The media output system of claim 3, wherein each output ramp is positioned between two adjacent output rollers, and the output ramps are positioned along a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the output direction.
5. The media output system of claim 1, wherein the output ramps are operable to retract to a retracted position after each print job.
6. A printing apparatus comprising:
- a printing mechanism for forming print markings on a medium;
- an ejecting mechanism for ejecting the printed medium in an output direction toward a collection tray, and
- a plurality of spaced-apart output ramps, each output ramp having a distal end that projects in the output direction, the output ramps being arranged adjacent to the ejecting mechanism and above the output tray so that the medium is held for a predetermined holding distance before the medium falls onto the collection tray,
- wherein the output ramps are operable to extend to a different position in the output direction for each print job until a predetermined number of print jobs have been performed.
7. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein each subsequent extended position of the output ramps incrementally increases the holding distance and the distance between the distal ends of the output ramps and the output tray.
8. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ejection mechanism comprises:
- a plurality of output rollers; and
- a plurality of starwheels in cooperating relationship with the output rollers to advance the printed medium in the output direction.
9. The printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the output ramps are operable to retract to a retracted position after each print job.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 29, 2007
Inventors: Ling-Hwee Ong (Singapore), Ah-Chong Tee (Singapore)
Application Number: 11/420,008
International Classification: B65H 31/00 (20060101);