Abstract: A computer docking station has a disk drive module incorporated therein which is capable of operatively receiving a disk drive therein. The disk drive module is also capable of being operatively installed within a desktop computer or other enclosure having a half-height bay therein. Security features of the docking station include preventing access by unauthorized persons to the disk drive, and preventing ejection of the disk drive from the disk drive module. Additionally, multiple disk drive modules may be cooperatively linked in the docking station so that the security features relating to each of the disk drive modules may be simultaneously actuated.

Abstract: A computer docking station is provided which, in a disclosed embodiment thereof, includes multiple security features. The security features are operable to prevent access to interior portions of the docking station, prevent access to a card bay of the docking station, prevent ejection of a disk drive from a disk drive module of the docking station, and prevent operation of the disk drive module. Operation of the security features may be simultaneously and conveniently initiated by rotating a keyed lock mechanism to thereby rotate a cam mounted thereto.

Abstract: A portable computer docking station has incorporated therein a motorized docking/undocking module which is releasably latched to a housing wall portion of the docking station. The module includes a housing within which a small electric drive motor is operatively mounted, with wall portions of the module housing translationally and rotationally restraining the motor body without the use of screws or other separate fastening members. A docking control system, upon sensing the manual placement of a portable computer on a receiving area adjacent the module energizes the module motor which rotates a cammed worm gear portion of the module which is drivingly linked to latching and ejection portions of the module. The motor-driven latching portion of the module connects to the computer and docks it by forcibly drawing it toward the module in a manner mating facing connectors on the computer and docking station.

Abstract: A system for aligning and securing a first connector to a second connector includes structure for holding the first connector and structure for receivedly engaging the second connector. The structure for holding the first connector is designed to be linearly moveable and the structure for receivedly engaging the second connector is fixedly positioned relatively to the structure for holding the first connector.

Abstract: A specially designed stand structure is used to vertically support a docking station housing, and an associated portable computer removably coupled thereto, to substantially reduce the vertical footprint of the overall docking station system. The stand structure includes a base portion having a recessed area for receiving and supporting a section of the docking station housing, and a pivotally mounted vertical holding wall structure with a transverse lower receiving platform. The vertical holding wall structure is spaced apart from and faces a vertical guide surface of the docking station housing, with the platform extending toward the guide surface.

Abstract: A computer docking station has a disk drive module incorporated therein which is capable of operatively receiving a disk drive therein. The disk drive module is also capable of being operatively installed within a desktop computer or other enclosure having a half-height bay therein. Security features of the docking station include preventing access by unauthorized persons to the disk drive, and preventing ejection of the disk drive from the disk drive module. Additionally, multiple disk drive modules may be cooperatively linked in the docking station so that the security features relating to each of the disk drive modules may be simultaneously actuated.

Abstract: The housing of a portable computer docking station has an exterior wall with an opening formed therein through which a PC card may be inwardly passed for operative insertion into a PC card ejection mechanism disposed within the housing in a facing, inwardly spaced relationship with the exterior wall opening. A molded plastic access door member has a pair of outwardly projecting pin portions which are releasably snap fitted into socket structures formed on interior housing mounting walls to thereby support the door for pivotal movement between closed and open positions in which the door respectively blocks and unblocks the exterior wall opening. Complementarily sloped surfaces on the pins and the sockets are engageable in a manner resiliently deforming the door as it approaches either of its closed and open positions and then permitting the door to return to its original shape.

Abstract: A docking station has a removable guide and support shelf along which a portable computer may be slid into operatively coupled engagement with the docking station. By using a vertical side portion of the shelf as a horizontal computer guide, and appropriately positioning the computer docking connector relative to the corresponding guided computer surface, the shelf enables the same docking station to be used with portable computers having different geometric configurations. Alternatively, a differently configured portable computer may be operatively coupled to the docking station by replacing the shelf with a differently configured guide and support shelf. The removable shelf is provided with a mounting latch structure for removably retaining it on the docking station, and a security latch structure that automatically engages the computer during its docking movement. When docked, the computer rests atop three mutually spaced vertical projections formed on the top side of the base wall portion of the shelf.

Abstract: A specially designed stand structure is used to vertically support a docking station housing, and an associated portable computer removably coupled thereto, to substantially reduce the vertical footprint of the overall docking station system. The stand structure includes a base portion having a recessed area for receiving and supporting a section of the docking station housing, and a pivotally mounted vertical holding wall structure with a transverse lower receiving platform. The vertical holding wall structure is spaced apart from and faces a vertical guide surface of the docking station housing, with the platform extending toward the guide surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is operative to horizontally discharge successive printed paper sheets printed side up into a specially designed sheet receiving and stacking section of the printer. A spaced plurality of vertically oriented helical drive members disposed in the receiving and stacking section are continuously rotated during the printing operation and are arranged in laterally opposed pairs that receive opposite side edge portions of the discharged printed sheets. Rotation of the helical drive members upwardly moves each successively received sheet, keeping the sheets in a vertically spaced, parallel relationship that permits the ink on each sheet to dry before the sheets upwardly exit and are supported on the top ends of the drive members in a printed sheet stack in which the first printed sheet is on top of the stack and the last printed sheet is on the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: An image reproduction machine has an outlet opening through which successive image-imprinted paper sheets are forwardly discharged by a spaced series of exit roller sets. The discharged sheets are delivered into an open-topped housing well area having a horizontal bottom surface with a back edge forwardly and downwardly offset from the outlet opening, and a ramped surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the horizontal surface back edge. A deflector bar adjacent the outlet opening has first downwardly projecting portions that engage each discharging sheet and temporarily corrugate and stiffen it in a manner assuring that its front end portion will forwardly clear the rear horizontal surface edge before bending down to its level. These downwardly projecting portions are interdigitated with the exit roller sets and positioned to perform their temporary corrugation function without crinkling the discharging sheets.

Abstract: The top sheet is separated and removed from a paper sheet stack by a paper feed mechanism which is selectively movable downwardly toward the stack. As the feed mechanism downwardly approaches the stack, a foot portion of the mechanism frictionally contacts the top sheet and is upwardly pivoted by the stationary paper stack. Upward pivoting of the foot portion causes it to frictionally shift the top sheet in a first horizontal direction relative to the rest of the sheets. A drive wheel portion of the feed mechanism, supported for conjoint pivoting with the foot portion about its pivot axis, then frictionally engages the shifted top sheet in place of the foot portion. In response to the upward pivoting of the foot portion, a driven gear supported for pivotal movement therewith and rotationally locked to the drive wheel portion is caused to mesh with a drive gear operative to rotate the driven gear and thus the drive wheel portion.

Abstract: A dual bin paper feed tray is removably insertable into the standard height tray-receiving housing opening of an image reproduction machine such as a printer or copier. The tray has adjacent front and rear paper holding bin areas each configured to hold a stack of approximately 250 cut paper sheets, the overall tray thus being adapted to hold the entire contents of a standard one ream package of cut paper sheets. In operation, the loaded tray is inserted, front end first, into the housing opening and the machine's paper feed system operates to sequentially feed paper sheets from the front tray bin into the machine. When the machine's paper sensing system detects that the front bin has been emptied, a shift structure incorporating a motor-driven gear train and associated cam/follower apparatus is automatically operated to move the rear paper stack into the front tray bin for infeed to the machine.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus 10 includes a plurality of paper receiving trays 12, 14, 16, 18 arranged vertically in close proximity to one another with a single paper feeding mechanism 20 provided to operate with all of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18. The paper feeding mechanism 20 moves vertically to selectively engage any selected one of the plurality of trays 12, 14, 16, 18. The vertical arrangement of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18 dictates that the trays are horizontally moveable between a first unselected position, where the trays are substantially vertically aligned with the one another, and a second selected position where the tray is horizontally moved to intersect the vertical path of the paper feeding mechanism 20. Horizontal movement of the trays 12, 14 16, 18 is effected by a single electric motor 28 rotatably attached to a shaft 30, which carries a series of gears 32, 34, 36, 38 that interact with a corresponding rack 40, 42, 44, 46 disposed on each of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18, respectively.

Abstract: Paper handling mechanisms for printers, copiers and the like typically have a separate paper feeding mechanism associated with each paper tray. The separate paper feeding mechanisms can only remove paper from the associated tray. Therefore, the paper handling mechanisms are redundant, space consuming, and inefficient to use. Disclosed herein is a paper handling mechanism that uses a single paper-feeding mechanism to remove paper from a plurality of trays. Since a separate paper-feeding mechanism is not required for each tray, more trays may be disposed in the same vertical space of prior printers or copiers. Advantageously, the single paper-feeding mechanism moves generally vertically, and the trays selectively move generally horizontally to intersect the paper-feeding mechanism. Preferably, a plurality of gears are disposed adjacent each horizontally moveable tray. The plurality of gears are adapted to engage a corresponding gear member on each of the respective trays.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus 10 includes a plurality of paper receiving trays 12, 14, 16, 18 arranged vertically in close proximity to one another with a single paper feeding mechanism 20 provided to operate with all of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18. The paper feeding mechanism 20 moves vertically to selectively engage any selected one of the plurality of trays 12, 14, 16, 18. The vertical arrangement of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18 dictates that the trays are horizontally moveable between a first unselected position, where the trays are substantially vertically aligned with the one another, and a second selected position where the tray is horizontally moved to intersect the vertical path of the paper feeding mechanism 20. Horizontal movement of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18 is effected by a single electric motor 28 rotatably attached to a shaft 30, which carries a series of gears 32, 34, 36, 38 that interact with a corresponding rack 40, 42, 44, 46 disposed on each of the trays 12, 14, 16, 18, respectively.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus 10 for an electrophotographic printer and, in particular, a desktop laser printer includes a series of paper containing trays 12, 14, 16, 18, which are configured to receive a variety of different styles and sizes of sheets of paper. The trays 12, 14, 16, 18 are individually horizontally arranged and collectively configured in a vertically stacked arrangement. A single paper feeding mechanism 20 is configured for selective operation with each of the vertically stacked trays 12, 14, 16, 18 by employing a rolamite to provide controlled vertical movement of the paper feeding mechanism 20 adjacent the vertically stacked trays 12, 14, 16, 18. The trays 12, 14, 16, 18 are selectively horizontally moveable so as to intersect the vertical path of the paper feeding mechanism, so as to allow the single paper feeding mechanism 20 to selectively engage one of the plurality of trays 12, 14, 16, 18 and sequentially remove individual sheets of paper from the selected tray 12, 14, 16, 18.

Abstract: A universal acoustic coupler system includes a pair of flexible muffs for acoustically coupling a telephone handset to transducers (speaker/microphone) of an electronic input/output device. The muffs are formed of an external housing inside which an internal housing is positioned, defining a fluid insulator therebetween. The internal housing has a speaker/microphone cavity for receiving the input/output device speaker or microphone which opens into an earpiece/mouthpiece cavity for receiving the earpiece or mouthpiece of a telephone handset. The fluid insulator is formed to completely insulate the speaker or microphone to eliminate all external noise.