Abstract: An expansion base structure is provided with a manual docking system useable to releasably connect a portable computer to desktop computer peripherals such as a keyboard, printer and monitor, via a first electrical connector carried by a rear portion of the base structure. The docking system includes a moveable latch and drive structure that is driveably linked to a manually pivotable control lever. Docking is initiated by placing the computer on a support deck portion of the expansion base and then pushing the computer rearwardly into latched engagement with the latch and drive structure, with latch arm portions thereof received and locked within holes in the rear side wall of the computer. The computer may be operatively docked by then pushing the computer further rearwardly until an electrical connector on its rear side mates with an electrical connector on the expansion base, or by pivoting the lever to cause the latch arms to rearwardly pull the computer to effect this connector mating.

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.