LARGE FORMAT STACKING TRAY FOR AN IMAGE PRODUCTION DEVICE

Abstract

A large format stacking tray in an image production device is disclosed. The large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length that may be attachable to a stacker device in a finishing module of the image production device, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device. The tray top surface has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The tray top surface may be sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

Description

BACKGROUND

Disclosed herein is a large format stacking tray for an image production device.

In conventional image production devices, finishing module designs allows for media sheets of a particular maximum length. For example, some finishing modules only allow media sheets that are 20.5 inch long to be stacked on a removable device. However, if larger format media is desired to be run in the image production device, such as media 22.5 inch media for example, only two destinations are allowed, specifically a top tray and an accessory side tray. Both of these destination trays are of limited capacity of only approximately 3 inches stack height and as such, cannot sustain large quantity print jobs.

SUMMARY

A large format stacking tray for an image production device is disclosed. The a large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length that may be attachable to a stacker device in a finishing module of the image production device, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device. The tray top surface has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The tray top surface may be sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of an image production device in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a large format stacking tray assembly in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of the large format stacking tray located inside the image production device in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is exemplary diagram of the large format stacking tray holding a media stack in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein relate to a large format stacking tray for an image production device.

The disclosed embodiments may include a large format stacking tray for an image production device. The large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length that may be attachable to a stacker device in a finishing module of the image production device, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device. The tray top surface has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The tray top surface may be sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

The disclosed embodiments may further include an image production device that may include a stacker device located in a finishing module of the image production device that receives media sheets that form a media stack, and a large format stacking tray that is attachable to the stacker device. The large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device, the tray top surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the tray top surface is sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

The disclosed embodiments may further include a finishing module of an image production device that may include a stacker device located in the finishing module of the image production device that receives media sheets that form a media stack, and a large format stacking tray. The large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device, the tray top surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the tray top surface is sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

The disclosed embodiments may concern large format stacking tray for an image production device. The large format stacking tray may incorporate a sloped surface to allow media sheets to stack after being output by the image production device. For example, this tray may allow larger media (such as 22.5 inch paper) to fit in a smaller space (such as a space for 20.5 inch paper) for large capacity stacking. Thus, the large format stacking tray may allow a third location for large format output on certain image production devices.

The large format stacking tray may comprise a raised surface to allow for clearance of mechanicals in the image production device finisher while the stacker device is being removed. The sloped top surface of the large format stacking tray may allow the media sheets to conform while being stacked. The purpose of the sloped or undulating surface profile is to essentially shorten the overall lengthwise profile of the media and allow it to fit into a smaller area for stacking.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of an image production device 100 in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure. The image production device 100 may be any device that may be capable of making image production documents (e.g., printed documents, copies, etc.) through a xerographic process, including a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device (MFD), for example.

The image production device 100 may include two media feeder modules 105 arranged in series, an image production module 115 adjacent the media feeding modules 105, an inverter module 145 adjacent the image production module 115, a media transport section, 130, and two finishing modules 155 arranged in series adjacent the inverter module 145. In the image production device 100, the media feeder modules 105 feed media to the image production module 115.

In the image production module 115, toner is transferred from a series of developer stations 125 to a charged photoreceptor belt 120 to form toner images on the photoreceptor belt 120 and produce toner images. The toner images are transferred to respective media 110 fed through the paper path. The media sheets may be advanced through a fuser 135 including a fuser roll 140 and pressure roll 150, which form a nip where heat and pressure are applied to the media to fuse toner images onto the media.

The inverter module 145 may manipulate media exiting the image production module 115 by either passing the media through to the finishing modules 155, or inverting and returning the media to the image production module 115. In the finishing modules 155, the printed media sheets may be loaded onto stacker devices 160, such as stacker trays, carts, etc. to form media stacks 165.

The finishing module 155 may include finishing hardware for stacking, folding, stapling, binding, etc., prints which are output from the image production module 115. The image production device 100 may also include a local user interface (not shown) for controlling its operations, although another source of image data and instructions may include any number of computers to which the printer is connected via a network.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a large format stacking tray assembly 200 in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure. The large format stacking tray assembly 200 may be made of metal (such as aluminum, steel, etc.), plastic, composite material, etc.

The large format stacking tray assembly 200 may include a large format stacking tray 210 that may be attached to a stacker device 160. The large format stacking tray 210 may be attached to the stacker device 160 using any attachment devices known to one of skill in the art, such as a screw, bolt, snap-in tab, snap, rivet, button, etc. The attachment device 250 is shown as an example. The large format stacking tray 210 may be attachably-detachable from the stacker device 160, for example, to provide flexibility for device use. Alternatively, the large format stacking tray 210 may be attached in a manner that would require one or more tools to be used to attach and detach the tray 210 from the stacker device 160.

The large format stacking tray 210 may include a tray body 270, and a tray top surface 260. The tray top surface 260 may include a first end 220, a second end 230, and a valley 240. The tray top surface 260 may be curved or sloped in a manner such that its measured surface length may be the approximate length of the desired media sheet length, while the measured length of the tray body 270 may be such that it is smaller than the desired media sheet length so that it and the stacker device 160 on which it is attached will fit inside the finishing module 155 of the image production device 100. For example, the length of the tray body may be approximately 20.5 inches, but the measured length of the sloped tray top surface 260 may be approximately 22.5 inches.

In this manner, the first end 220 may be a registration end that permits the media sheet to be lined up in a uniform fashion for proper stacking. The first end 220 may be relatively flat or sloped downward slightly toward the edge of the tray body 270. The tray top surface 260 may slope down to a valley 240 and then back up to the second end 230. The first or second ends 220, 230 may be higher, lower, or at the same height, and the valley 240 may be at any depth as long as the tray top surface 260 length is approximately the length of the desired media sheet length and can accommodate the desire media sheets in a manner consistent with the disclosed embodiments. However, while the FIGS. 2-4 show the tray top surface 260 being sloped concave or downward toward a valley 240, the tray top surface 260 may be shaped in a convex or upward manner that would allow longer media sheets to be used and stacked. Thus, the tray top surface may be sloped downward toward the stacker device 160, upward away from the stacker device 160, or may be sloped in a “sine wave” manner such than the tray may sloped downward (or concave) in one portion and upward (or convex) in another portion.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram 300 of the large format stacking tray 210 located inside the image production device 100 in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, a stacker device 160 is positioned to fit inside the finishing module 155 with the large format stacking tray 210 attached thereto. The media stack 165 is stacked upon the large format stacking tray 210 and conforms to the sloped shape of the tray 210 to the tray top surface 260 (shown on FIG. 1). As shown, the length of the media sheets in the media stack 165 as positioned on the tray top surface 260 are longer than length of the body 270 of the large format stacking tray 210. Thus, the sloped configuration of the large format stacking tray 210 allows larger media sheets to be processed by the image production device 100 and received on the stacker device 160 in the finishing module 155.

FIG. 4 is exemplary diagram 400 of the large format stacking tray 210 holding a media stack 165 in accordance with one possible embodiment of the disclosure. The large format stacking tray 210 is shown attached to the stacker device 160 outside of the image production device 100.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. A large format stacking tray for an image production device, comprising:

a tray body of a first length that is attachable to a stacker device in a finishing module of the image production device; and

a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device, the tray top surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

wherein the tray top surface is sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

2. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the tray top surface is sloped one of downward toward the stacker device, upward away from the stacker device, and a combination of downward toward the stacker device and upward away from the stacker device.

3. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the tray body is 20.5 inches long and the media sheet on the media stack are 22.5 inches long.

4. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the tray body is attachable and detachable from the stacker device.

5. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the tray body is attached to the stacker device using at least one of a screw, bolt, snap-in tab, snap, rivet, and button.

6. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the tray is made of one of metal, plastic, and composite material.

7. The large format stacking tray of claim 1, wherein the image production device is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device.

8. An image production device, comprising:

a stacker device located in a finishing module of the image production device that receives media sheets that form a media stack; and

a large format stacking tray that is attachable to the stacker device, comprising: a tray body of a first length; and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device, the tray top surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; wherein the tray top surface is sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

9. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the tray top surface is sloped one of downward toward the stacker device, upward away from the stacker device, and a combination of downward toward the stacker device and upward away from the stacker device.

10. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the tray body is 20.5 inches long and the media sheet on the media stack are 22.5 inches long.

11. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the tray body is attachable and detachable from the stacker device.

12. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the tray body is attached to the stacker device using at least one of a screw, bolt, snap-in tab, snap, rivet, and button.

13. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the tray is made of one of metal, plastic, and composite material.

14. The image production device of claim 8, wherein the image production device is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device.

15. A finishing module in an image production device, comprising:

a stacker device located in the finishing module of the image production device that receives media sheets that form a media stack; and

a large format stacking tray that is attachable to the stacker device, comprising: a tray body of a first length; and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device, the tray top surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; wherein the tray top surface is sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

16. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the tray top surface is sloped one of downward toward the stacker device, upward away from the stacker device, and a combination of downward toward the stacker device and upward away from the stacker device.

17. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the tray body is 20.5 inches long and the media sheet on the media stack are 22.5 inches long.

18. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the tray body is attachable and detachable from the stacker device.

19. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the tray body is attached to the stacker device using at least one of a screw, bolt, snap-in tab, snap, rivet, and button.

20. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the tray is made of one of metal, plastic, and composite material.

21. The finishing module of claim 15, wherein the image production device is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device.