Media tray

Abstract

Example embodiments of a media tray are illustrated and described.

Description

BACKGROUND

An input tray may be used to supply media to a device that interacts with media such as a printer, scanner or copier. Many such trays cannot accommodate or have difficulty accommodating multiple sizes of media. In other cases, modifying or adapting such trays to accommodate differently sized media may be cumbersome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a host unit receiving one example of a media input tray according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of one example of the host unit and tray of FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of one example of the media input tray of FIG. 2 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the media input tray of FIG. 3 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cluster gear assembly of the media input tray of FIG. 3 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective of the media input tray of FIG. 3 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the media input tray of FIG. 3 with portions broken away and with portions shown in phantom according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the media input tray of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the media input tray of FIG. 7 taken along line 9-9 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the media input tray of FIG. 7 illustrating a first portion of the tray in an extended position with respect to a second portion of the tray according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the media input tray of FIG. 10 taken along line 11-11 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the tray of FIG. 7 illustrating the first portion of the tray in a retracted position with respect to the second portion of the tray according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the media input tray of FIG. 12 taken along line 13-13 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the media input tray of FIG. 13 taken along line 14-14 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the media input tray of FIG. 7 illustrating the media guide in a retracted position with respect to the second portion of the tray according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the media input tray of FIG. 15 taken along line 16-16 according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate media interaction system 10 which is configured to interact with sheets of media 12 such as by printing upon sheets of media 12, scanning sheets of media 12 and the like. In the particular example illustrated, media interaction system 10 generally includes housing 14, imaging component 16, media pick feed 18, actuator 20, controller 22 and media input tray 24. Housing 14 comprises a framework, supporting structure or enclosure configured to support and house the remaining components of system 10. Pursuant to some embodiments, the media interaction system 10 may be referred to as a host unit. In particular embodiment shown, housing 14 includes an input opening 26 and an output opening 28. Input opening 26 comprises an elongate slot, channel or cavity configured to receive media input tray 24, facilitating interaction of media pick/feed 18 with sheets of media 12 supplied by tray 24. Although input opening 26 is illustrated as being generally horizontal, input opening 26 may alternatively be angled or configured at other orientations. Output opening 28 provides an opening through which interacted upon media 12 is discharged from system 10.

Imaging component 16 comprises a device configured to interact with sheets of media 12. In one embodiment, imaging component 16 comprises a fluid dispensing device such as an inkjet print head or such as one or more inkjet print heads configured to dispense fluid, such as ink, upon sheet 12. In another embodiment, imaging component 16 may comprise a drum configured to apply printing materials such as toner or ink to media 12. In still another embodiment, imaging component 16 may comprise a device configured to read or scan images or information from media 12. In one embodiment, imaging component 16 potentially spans a width of media 12. In another embodiment, imaging component 16 is moveable across media 12 so it should cover a width of media 12.

Media pick/feed 18 comprises a device configured to interact with media 12 supplied by tray 24. Media pick/feed 18 is configured to remove individual sheets of media 12 from tray 24 and to transfer or move individual sheets of media 12 relative to imaging component 16 and through output opening 28. In one embodiment, media pick/feed 18 comprises a series of rollers. In other embodiments, media pick/feed 18 may alternatively comprise belts, vacuum cups, shuttle trays or other suitable media handing mechanism.

Actuator 20 comprises the mechanism configured to supply power to media pick/feed 18. In one embodiment, actuator 20 may comprise an electric motor connected to media pick/feed 18 by a series of gears, belts, pulleys, chains, sprockets or other transmission components. In particular embodiment, actuator 20 may further be configured to move imaging component 16 relative to media 12.

Controller 22 comprises a processing unit configured to generate control signals directing the operation of actuator 20 for operating media pick/feed 18. Controller 22 further generates control signals for directing the operation of imaging component 16. For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “processor unit” shall include a conventionally known or future developed processing unit that executes sequences of instructions contained in a memory. Execution of the sequences of instructions causes the processing unit to perform steps such as generating control signals. The instructions may be loaded in a random access memory (RAM) for execution by the processing unit from a read only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or some other persistent storage. In other embodiments, hard wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the functions described. Controller 22 is not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software, nor to any particular source for the instructions executed by the processing unit.

Media input tray 24 comprises a structure configured to store and organize sheets of media 12 and to supply sheets of media 12 to media pick/feed 18. Media input tray 24 generally includes floor 32, end wall 34, end wall 36, handle 38 and media guide 40. Floor 32 comprises one or more structures which form a bottom upon which sheets of media 12 rest while being contained by media input tray 24. End wall 34 and 36 project above floor 32 and cooperate with floor 32 to form a volume 42 in which differently dimension sheets of media 12 may be contained. As it will be described in greater detail hereafter, at least one of end walls 34 and 36 is configured to move in response to movement of media guide 40.

Handle 38 comprises a structure facilitating manual grasping of media input tray 24 for insertion of media input tray 24 into input opening 26 or for withdrawal of medial input tray 24 from input opening 26. Handle 38 is generally located proximate to end wall 34 opposite to end wall 36. Handle 38 may have a variety of different shapes and configurations.

Media guide 40 comprises a structure configured to facilitate the proper positioning and alignment of a stack of sheets of media 12 within volume 42. Media guide 40 is located within volume 42 and projects above floor 32. Media guide 40 is operably coupled to at least one of end walls 34 and 36 such that movement of medial guide 40 along axis 46 relative to floor 32 also causes movement of at least one of end walls 34 and 36 relative to the other of end walls 34 and 36. According to one example embodiment, media guide 40 is operably coupled to end wall 36 such that movement of media guide 40 along axis 46 relative to floor 32 causes movement of end wall 36 along axis 46 relative to end wall 34 to enlarge or decrease a length of volume 42 and spacing between media guide 40 and end wall 34 along axis 46. According to one example embodiment, media guide 40 is operably coupled to end wall 36 such that movement of media guide 40 relative to floor 32 in a first direction along axis 46, such as the direction indicated by arrow 48 also causes end wall 36 to move in the same direction 48 relative to end wall 34. As shown by FIG. 1, movement of media guide 40 from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in phantom lines additionally results in end wall 36 moving from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in phantom lines to extend volume 42 and to extend media receiving portion 44 of media input tray 24.

Overall, media input tray 24 facilitates relatively quick and easy adjustment of a longitudinal dimension of volume 42 and media receiving portion 44, enabling media input tray 24 to accommodate differently sized media. Media input tray 24 is configured to enable a person to change a length setting of media guide 40, causing end wall 36 to automatically telescope in and out to accommodate a desired size of media.

Although media input tray 24 is illustrated as having media guide 40 being operably coupled to end wall 36 such that movement of media guide 40 in a direction along axis 46 also causes end wall 36 to move in the same direction, media guide 40 may alternatively be operably coupled to end wall 36 such that movement of media guide 40 in a first direction causes movement of end wall 36 in a second opposite direction along axis 46. In other embodiments, media guide 40 may alternatively be operably coupled to end wall 34 since that movement of media guide 40 along axis 46 also causes movement along axis 46 relative to floor 32 also causes movement of end wall 34 along axis 46 relative to end wall 36. In one embodiment, movement of media guide 40 in the direction of arrow 48 relative to floor 32 may cause movement of end wall 34 in a direction opposite to that of the direction indicated by arrow 48 relative to end wall 36. In still another embodiment, movement of media guide 40 relative to floor 32 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow 48 may result in end wall 36 also moving in the same direction along axis 46. In such an alternate embodiment, media receiving portion 44 of tray 24 may alternatively be formed above floor 32 between media guide 40 and end wall 46.

FIGS. 3-15 illustrate media input tray 124, one particular embodiment of media input tray 24 shown in FIG. 2. As shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, media input tray 124 generally includes tray portions 126, 128, media guide 130, locking mechanism 132 and transmission 134. Tray portion 126 generally comprises a front portion of tray 124 and includes floor 138, sidewalls 140, end wall 142 and handle 144. Floor 138 provides an upwardly facing surface upon which media rests. In the particular example illustrated, floor 138 is configured to permit tray portion 128 to telescope with respect to tray portion 126. In one embodiment, floor 138 is configured to slide above and within tray portion 128 and includes an opening 148 for receiving and exposing a portion of tray portion 128. In other embodiments, floor 138 may have other configurations to facilitate telescopic adjustment of tray portion 128 relative to tray portion 126.

In the particular example shown, floor 138 additionally includes channel 149 and marks 152. Channel 149 is configured to receive a portion of transmission 134 so as to limit movement of media guide 130 towards end wall 142 as will be described in greater detail hereafter.

Marks 152 comprise printing, scores and the like spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of tray 124 along axis 154. Marks 152 are configured to indicate different relative spacings between end wall 142 and media guide 130 to accommodate differently sized media between end wall 142 and media guide 130. In other embodiments, marks 152 may be located elsewhere or may be omitted.

Sidewalls 140 project from floor 138 and are configured to abut the side edges of media within tray 124. In other embodiments, tray 124 may be provided with other structures between sidewalls 140 for engaging side edges of media. Sidewalls 140 further serve as structures for slidably supporting portion 128 relative to portion 126.

End wall 142 projects above floor 138 between sidewalls 140. End wall 142 provides a surface against which an edge of media may abut for consistent positioning with underlying sheets of media within tray 124. End wall 142 cooperates with media guide 130 to appropriately position and align multiple sheets of media within tray 124. Reliable and consistent positioning of media within tray 124 facilitates reliable and consistent picking of media from tray 124.

Handle 144 generally comprises a structure configured to facilitate manual grasping of tray 124 to allow tray 124 to be removed or inserted into or with respect to an imaging device such as the imaging device shown in FIG. 1. Although handle 144 is illustrated as an overhang configured to allow a person's fingers to be inserted beneath the overhang for grasping tray 124, handle 144 may have various other configurations and other embodiments. In yet other embodiments, handle 144 may be omitted.

Tray portion 128 cooperates with tray portion 126 to form basin 160 into which media may be placed. Tray portion 128 further telescopes or otherwise moves relative to tray portion 126 to accommodate different media dimensions. Tray portion 128 generally includes floor 164, sidewalls 166, end wall 168, and track 170. Floor 164 comprises a structure providing an upwardly facing surface upon which media may rest when contained between media guide 130 and end wall 142. Floor 164 includes two side portions 172 and an intermediate central portion 174. Side portions 172 are configured to slide and telescope beneath floor 138 of tray portion 126. Central portion 174 moves within opening 148 and is generally exposed. Central portion 174 supports tracks 170 which support media guide 130.

In the particular example shown, floor 164 additionally includes marks 175. Marks 175 comprise printing, scores and the like spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of tray 124 along axis 154. Marks 175 are configured to indicate different relative spacings between end wall 142 and media guide 130 to accommodate differently sized media between end wall 142 and media guide 130. In other embodiments, marks 175 may be located elsewhere or may omitted.

Sidewalls 166 comprises structures extending upwardly from floor 164 and are on opposite sides of floor 164. Sidewalls 166 include side channel structures 178 which form channels that slidably receive sidewalls 140 of tray portion 126 to facilitate telescopic movement of tray portion 128 relative to tray portion 126. In other embodiments, side walls 140 may alternatively include channel forming structures 178 which slidably receive side walls 166. In still other embodiments, tray portions 126 and 128 may be telescopically coupled to one another by other structures.

End wall 168 comprises a structure extending from floor 164 generally opposite to end wall 142. End wall 168 limits movement of media guide 130 along axis 154. In other embodiments, end walls 168 may be omitted and other mechanisms may be provided for limiting movement of media guide 130 along axis 154.

Tracks 170 comprise structures generally extending along central portion 174 of floor 164 that are configured to guide movement of media guide 130 along axis 154 within basin 160. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 8, tracks 170 comprise structures forming grooves or channels 182 and rail 184 which secure media guide 130 to tray portion 128 and which further guide movement of media guide 130 relative to tray portion 128 along axis 154. In other embodiments, other structures or mechanisms may be used to secure or retain media guide 130 relative to tray portion 128 while guiding movement of media guide 130.

Media guide 130 comprises a structure movable along tray portion 128 within basin 160 that is configured to abut the edges of one or more sheets of media within basin 160. As shown by FIG. 7, media guide 130 is movable between a fully expanded position (shown in solid) in which media guide 130 abuts end wall 168 and a fully retracted position (shown in phantom) in which media guide 130 is positioned between side walls 140 extending partially above floor 138 of tray portion 126. As shown in FIG. 6, media guide 130 includes edge abutting surface 188, bottom face abutting surface 190, top face abutting surfaces 192, tray interface 194 and position indicator 196 (shown in FIG. 7). Edge abutting surface 188 generally comprises a vertical or substantially vertical surface configured to abut an edge of media positioned between media guide 130 and end wall 142 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Media face abutting surface 190 comprises an upwardly facing surface configured to abut a lower face of media resting within tray 124 between media guide 130 and end wall 142. Media face abutting surfaces 192 comprises surfaces facing in an opposite direction as that of surface 190. Surfaces 192 are configured to abut an upper face of a stack of media within tray 124 between media guide 130 and end wall 142. In the particular example shown, surfaces 192 are transversely spaced from one another and from surface 190 on opposite sides of surface 190 to contact distinct portions of media within tray 124. In other embodiments, surfaces 190 and 192 may be provided at other locations, may include a greater or fewer number of such surfaces or may be omitted.

Tray interface 194 comprises a structure configured to interact or interface with track 170 to facilitate sliding movement of media guide 130 along axis 154. In the particular example shown, interface 194 slides within grooves 182 and is further guided by rail 184. In other embodiments, tray interface 194 may have other configurations.

Position indicator 196 (shown in FIG. 7) comprises a structure coupled to the body of media guide 130 and configured to be selectively aligned with one of marks 152 of tray portion 126 and marks 175 of tray portion 128. When indicator 196 is aligned with one of marks 152, 175, surface 188 is appropriately positioned to abut and align media contained between surface 188 and end wall 142 for a particular size of media. Although position indicator 196 is depicted as a pointer or arrow, position indicator 196 may alternatively comprise a notch, a window, a marking upon the body of media guide 130 or other reference points for being precisely aligned with one of marks 152, 175. In some embodiments, position indicator 196 may be omitted.

Locking mechanism 132 comprises a mechanism configured to releasable secure and retain media guide 130 at one of a plurality of positions along axis 154 relative to tray portion 128 and relative to end wall 142. Locking mechanism 132 is shown in detail in FIG. 9. Locking mechanism 132 generally includes detents 200, catch 202, bias mechanism 204 and lever 206. Detents 200 comprise a series of apertures or recesses to various positions along axis 154 that are configured to be engaged by catch 202. In the particular example shown, detents 200 comprise a series of teeth formed upon central portion 174 of floor 164 of tray portion 128. In other embodiments, detents 200 may comprise spaced dimples, holes, depressions and the like appropriately configured to releasably receive a corresponding catch 202. As shown by FIGS. 4 and 6, detents 200 generally extend along central portion 174 of floor 164 of tray portion 128. In other embodiments, detents 200 may be provided at other locations.

Catch 202 generally comprises one or more protruberances or projections configured to releasably engage detents 200 to secure media guide 130 in a desired position along axis 154 with respect to tray portion 128. Catch 202 is removably coupled to the body of media guide 130 so as to move between a detent-engaging position (shown in FIG. 9), prohibiting movement of media guide 130 along axis 154 and a disengaged position, allowing the sliding of media guide 130 along axis 154. In the particular example shown in FIG. 9, catch 202 comprises a multitude of teeth which project into the teeth of detents 200. In the particular examples shown in FIG. 9, catch 202 is slidably coupled to media guide 130 so as to move along an axis perpendicular to floor 164 between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Bias mechanism 204 comprises a mechanism configured to resiliently bias catch 202 towards the engaged position. In the particular example shown, bias mechanism 204 comprises a compression spring captured between catch 202 and media guide 130. In other embodiments, bias mechanism 204 may comprise other forms of springs or other devices configured to resiliently bias catch 202 towards the engaged position.

Lever 206 comprises a mechanism configured to actuate catch 202 between the engaged and disengaged positions. In the particular embodiment illustrated, lever 206 is pivotally coupled to media guide 130 and is configured to be pivoted about axis 210 to move catch 202 against the bias applied by bias mechanism 204 from the engaged position shown in FIG. 9 to a disengaged position, allowing media guide 130 to be slid along track 170. Once media guide 130 is in the desired position along axis 154 relative to tray portion 128 for a selected media size, as indicated by the alignment of position indicator 196 with one of marks 152, 175, lever 206 may be manually released to allow bias mechanism 204 to move catch 202 into engage with an opposing one of detents 200 to retain media guide 130 in the desired position. In other embodiments, tray 124 may utilize other mechanisms for releasably retaining media guide 130 in the desired location.

Transmission 134 comprises a mechanism for transmitting power or motion resulting from the movement of media guide 130 to one or both of tray portions 126 and 128 to move one or both of tray portions 126 and 128 relative to one another. In the example shown, transmission 134 includes rack gear 220, flat 224, rack gear 226 and cluster gear 228. Rack gear 220 and flat 226 are coupled to media guide 130 so as to move with movement of media guide 130 along axis 154. In the particular example shown, rack gear 220 is further configured to slide within channel 149 (shown in FIG. 3) of tray portion 126 when tray portion 128 is fully retracted with respect to tray portion 126. Abutment of an end of rack gear 220 with an end of channel 149 limits the movement of media guide 130 towards end wall 142. Rack gear 220 also interacts with cluster gear 228 such that movement of media guide 130 along axis 154 rotates cluster gear 228. Flat 224 interacts with cluster gear 228 to prevent rotation of cluster gear 228 while cluster gear 228 is positioned opposite to flat 224. Although rack gear 220 and flat 224 are illustrated as being integrally formed as part of a single unitary body with media guide 130, rack gear 220 and flat 224 may alternatively be adhered, bonded, welded, fastened or otherwise joined to media guide 130 in other fashions.

Rack gear 226 is coupled to tray portion 126 and is configured to interact with cluster gear 228. In the particular example illustrated, rack gear 226 extends along opening 148 and is integrally formed as part of a single unitary body with tray portion 126. In other embodiments, rack gear 226 may be fastened, or may extend along other portions of tray portion 126 and may be coupled to tray portion 126 in other fashions.

Cluster gear 228 comprises a multi-gear member in meshing engagement with rack gears 220 and 226 while being coupled to tray portion 128. Cluster gear 228 is shown in detail in FIG. 5. As shown by FIG. 5, cluster gear 228 includes hub 230, gear 232, gear 234 and stop 236. Hub 230 is coupled to gears 232, 234 and stop 236 is rotatably journeled within an opening 240 formed in center portion 174 of floor 164 of tray portion 128. In the particular example illustrated, hub 230 includes a bore 242 configured to receive a fastener 244 which passes through washer 246 and pivotally couples cluster gear 228 to tray portion 128. In other embodiments, cluster gear 228 may be rotatably coupled to tray portion 128 by other fasteners and other mechanisms.

Gear 232 comprises a pinion gear having teeth configured to engage rack gear 220 such that movement of rack gear 220 and media guide 130 along axis 154 rotates cluster gear 228. Gear 234 comprises a pinion gear having teeth configured to engage rack gear 226 such that rotation of cluster gear 228 results in cluster gear 228 and tray portion 128 linearly moving along rack gear 226 and along axis 154. In the particular example illustrated, gears 232 and 234 have different diameters such that movement of rack gear 220 and media guide 130 along axis 154 through a first distance results in tray portion 128 moving along rack gear 226 and along axis 154 through a second distinct distance. In the particular example shown, gear 232 has a lesser diameter as compared to gear 234. As a result, movement of rack gear 220 and media guide 130 through a first distance along axis 154 results in tray portion 128 moving along rack gear 226 and along axis 154 through a second greater distance. In one embodiment, gears 232 and 234 have a gear ratio of about 1.6. In other embodiments, gears 232 and 234 may have other gear ratios, gear 232 may have a larger diameter as compared to gear 234 or gears 232 and 234 may have a common diameter.

Stop 236 comprises a structure configured to hinder rotation of cluster gear 228 to inhibit or prevent the relative movement of tray portions 126 and 128 upon media guide 130 being positioned at certain locations within basin 160. Stop 236 comprises a D-shaped structure having a flat 250. Flat 250 is configured to interact or abut flat 224 and to allow flat 224 to slide along and relative to flat 250 when media guide 130 is to be moved relative to tray portions 126 and 128 without further movement of tray portion 128 relative to tray portion 126. During such abutting engagement of flat 250 with flat 224, flat 250 further inhibits or prevents tray portions 126 and 128 from being pulled apart.

In other embodiments, transmission 134 may have other gear arrangements or other mechanisms for transmitting power or motion resulting from the movement of media guide 130 to one or both of tray portions 126 and 128 so as to move tray portions 126 and 128 relative to one another. For example, cluster gear 228 may alternatively be rotatably coupled to tray portion 126 and rack gear 226 may alternatively be coupled to tray portion 128. In other embodiments, other mechanisms may be utilized to lock or otherwise retain tray portion 126 relative to tray portion 128 in lieu of stop 236. For example, in other embodiments, flat 224 may alternatively be provided adjacent to rack gear 226 in lieu of adjacent to rack gear 220.

FIGS. 10-15 illustrate the operation of tray 124. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate tray portion 128 and media guide 130 in their most extended position relative to end wall 142 of tray portion 126, allowing tray 124 to receive one or more sheets of media having a long dimension along axis 154. As shown by FIGS. 10 and 11, when tray portion 128 and media guide 130 are in their extended most positions, media guide 130 is in abutment with end wall 168 of tray portion 128. As a result, media guide 130 cannot be moved further to the left as seen in FIG. 10 and clockwise rotation of cluster gear 228 along rack gear 226 is prevented to prevent tray portion 128 from being further extended away from tray portion 126.

FIGS. 12-14 illustrate tray portion 128 in a fully retracted position relative to tray portion 126. In particular, FIGS. 12-14 illustrate tray 124 after media guide 130 has been manually moved to the right as seen in FIG. 12 from adjacent end wall 168 toward end wall 142 (shown in FIG. 3). During such movement of media guide 130, rack gear 220 is moved against gear 232 which results in cluster gear 228 rotating in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 12. The counterclockwise direction of gear 228 against rack gear 226 results in tray portion 128 also moving to the right as seen in FIG. 12 towards end wall 142 (shown in FIG. 3). As noted above, due to the ratio between gears 232 and 234, for every incremental amount of distance that media guide 130 is moved relative to tray portion 128, tray portion 128 moves a corresponding greater incremental distance. Such movement of tray portion 128 in response to movement of media guide 130 continues as media guide 130 is moved to the right as seen in FIG. 12 until gear 232 disengages rack gear 220 and flat 250 abuts flat 224.

As shown by FIGS. 13 and 14, abutment of flat 250 with flat 224 prohibits rotation of cluster gear 228 during further movement of media guide 130 to the right as seen in FIG. 12. At the same time, flat 224 is permitted to slide relative to flat 250, allowing further movement of media guide 130 to the right relative to tray portions 126 and 128 without corresponding relative movement of tray portion 128 relative to tray portion 126. As a result, even when tray portion 126 is in its most retracted position relative to tray portion 126 and end wall 142, media guide 130 may still be moved into close proximity with end wall 142 to accommodate media having even smaller dimensions along axis 154.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate media guide 130 moved to its most retracted position relative to end wall 142 (shown in FIG. 3). In the particular example illustrated, further movement of media guide 130 to the right as seen in FIG. 15 is prevented by abutment of end 254 of rack gear 220 with a structure associated with tray portion 126, such as an end of channel 149. As a result, cluster gear 228 remains in mutual engagement with flat 224 and rack gear 226, inhibiting or preventing tray portion 128 from being moved along rack gear 226 and from being distended relative to tray portion 126 while media guide 130 is stationary or is retained in place by locking mechanism 132.

To accommodate media having a greater dimension along axis 154, locking mechanism 132 is released (catch 202 is moved to the disengaged position) and media guide 130 is moved to the left as seen in FIG. 15 by sliding flat 224 along flat 250 to the position shown in FIG. 12. Should it be desired that tray 124 accommodate media having even a greater dimension along axis 154, media guide 130 may be further moved to the left as seen in FIG. 12 towards the position shown in FIG. 10. During such movement of media guide 130, rack gear 220 rotates cluster gear 228 to cause cluster gear 228 to rotate along rack gear 226 to distend tray portion 128 relative to tray portion 126 to allow media guide 130 to be moved even further to the left as seen in FIG. 10.

Overall, media tray 124 provides a tray capable of accommodating differently sized media. To accommodate shorter media, media guide 130 is unlocked and moved towards end wall 142. To accommodate longer media, media guide 130 is unlocked and moved away from end wall 142. To accommodate media having a dimension greater than the dimension of tray portion 126, media guide 130 is moved away from end wall 142 which results in end wall 168 and tray portion 128 also moving away from end wall 142. As a result, media guide 130 may be distended from end wall 142 by an even larger distance to accommodate even larger media. This enhanced capability of tray 124 to accommodate different media sizes is achieved with relatively few and inexpensive components.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.

Claims

1. A media tray comprising:

a first end wall; and

a media guide configured to be moveable relative to the first end wall, wherein the media guide is configured to be coupled to the first end wall such that movement of the media guide along an axis results in movement of the first end wall along the axis.

2. The media tray of claim 1, wherein the media guide is operably coupled to the end wall such a movement of the media guide in a first direction along the axis results in movement of the end wall in the first direction along the axis.

3. The media tray of claim 1, wherein the tray includes:

a first portion; and

a second portion having the first end wall, wherein the second portion is moveable relative to the first portion.

4. The media tray of claim 3, wherein the first portion includes a second end wall opposite the first end wall.

5. The media tray of claim 4, wherein the first portion includes a handle.

6. The media tray of claim 3, wherein the first and second portions are configured to telescopically slide relative to each other.

7. The media tray of claim 1 further comprising a floor, wherein the media guide is configured to move relative to the floor while the first end wall is stationary relative to the floor.

8. The media tray of claim 7, wherein the media guide is operably coupled to the first end wall such that movement of the media guide by a first distance results in movement of the end wall by a second distance, the second distance being different than the first distance.

9. The media tray of claim 8, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

10. The media tray of claim 1 further comprising:

a first rack gear configured to be moved along the floor during movement of the media guide;

a second rack gear coupled to the first end wall; and

at least one gear engaging the first rack gear and the second rack gear.

11. The media tray of claim 10, wherein the tray further includes:

a first portion; and

a second portion having the first end wall, wherein the at least one gear is coupled to the first portion.

12. The media tray of claim 11, wherein the at least one gear comprises a cluster gear.

13. The media tray of claim 12, wherein the cluster gear comprises the first gear having a first diameter and a second gear having a second diameter.

14. The media tray of claim 10, wherein the media guide is configured to move relative to the first rack gear while the first rack gear is stationary.

15. The media tray of claim 1, further comprising a host unit configured to receive the tray, wherein the tray is configured to move along the axis during insertion of the tray into the host unit.

16. The media tray of claim 15, wherein the host unit includes an imaging component.

17. The media tray of claim 16, wherein the imaging component is configured to interact with media supplied from the tray.

18. The media tray of claim 16, including a media pick device configured to remove media from the tray.

19. A media tray comprising:

a first portion;

a second portion cooperating with the first portion to form a media volume; and

a media guide within the volume, wherein the second portion is configured to move along an axis in response to movement of the guide along the axis.

20. The tray of claim 19, wherein the second portion is configured to move in a first direction along the axis in response to movement of the guide in the first direction along the axis.

21. The tray of claim 19, wherein a second portion is configured to telescopically slide relative to the first portion.

22. The tray of claim 19, wherein the media guide is configured to move relative to the first portion while the second portion is stationary.

23. The tray of claim 19, wherein the second portion is configured to move a first distance along the axis in response to movement of the guide a second distance along the axis.

24. The tray of claim 23, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

25. The tray of claim 19, further comprising:

a first rack gear slideably supported along the axis;

a second rack gear coupled to the second portion; and

at least one gear engaging the first rack gear and the second rack gear.

26. The tray of claim 19, wherein the media guide is configured to move between a first position and a second position while the second portion remains stationary relative to the first portion and between the second position and third position during which the second portion moves relative to the first portion along the axis.

27. A media tray comprising:

an end wall;

a media guide; and

means for moving the end wall along an axis in a direction to adjust an axial length of the tray in response to movement of the guide along the axis in the direction.

28. The tray of claim 27 further comprising means for moving the guide along the axis while the end wall is stationary.

29. A method comprising:

adjusting an axial length of a media tray by axially moving a guide within a volume of the tray; and

positioning media in the volume.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting an axial length of the media input tray includes moving the guide in an axial direction to extend the tray in the axial direction.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising moving the media guide within the basin while the axial length of the media input tray remains constant.

32. A media tray comprising:

a wall; and

a guide, wherein movement of the guide in a direction results in movement of the wall in the same direction.