Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF) has a paper path that starts with an input tray, leads to an operational station such as a scanner, and then ends with a substantially vertical output tray. The ADF has a mechanism for picking off an individual media sheet from a stack of sheets in the input tray and propelling the sheet to the operational station where a function is performed on the sheet. Thereafter the ADF propels the sheet partially into the output tray, and momentarily stops or reverses the direction of travel of the media sheet before finally driving the entire sheet into the output tray. This ensures that if the topmost sheet in a stack in the output tray which is being lifted up by the sheet being driven into the output tray, the topmost sheet will be fall back down to a rest position in the output tray and will not spill out of the output tray.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder having a quick release hinge assembly for attachment to a computer input device having a medium receiving surface and an associated aligned flat bed bezel with at least one receiving sleeves includes a plurality of interconnectable modular assemblies where one of the assemblies functions as a hinge mount and includes a set of protrusions complementary in shape to a corresponding set of stops tilts on an attachment hinge secured removably to the hinge mount. The attachment hinge and hinge mount cooperate to permit the automatic document feeder to be swiveling mounted to the computer input device in a precisely aligned manner to facilitate the moving of documents in seriatim from an input tray to an output tray of the automatic document feeder via the medium receiving surface of the computer input device.

Abstract: A blotter for ink absorption in ink-jet printers includes two parts of a cellulose fiber material, one adjacent the other and in physical contact, beneath the service station and on the base of the printer. The blotter parts have the capacity to simultaneously absorb at least the contents of four ink cartridges, and will last the lifetime of the printer. As a consequence of the blotter of the present invention, ink from leaky ink cartridges and ink overflow from ink cartridge maintenance are absorbed and contained. Over time, the water in the inks which has been absorbed by the blotter parts will evaporate and an additional volume of ink can be absorbed.