Abstract: A safety device with two conveying systems in the sheet feeder of a machine, capable of processing a sheet-shaped material. An objective of the invention is to construct a generic sheet feeder for large-format machines so that only stacks with a specified maximum weight can reach the processing stage. The present invention encompasses a weighing device (22, 28) located in the sheet feeder (1), which determines the weight of the stack (4), is positioned on the stack carrier (3) and is connected with a regulating and controlling device (19) controlling the driving mechanism (8). At least one permissible total weight is stored in the regulating and controlling device (19). The regulating and controlling device (19) compares the weight of the stack with said stored permissible total weight and the driving mechanism (8) is activated only if the weight of the stack does not exceed the permissible total weight.

Abstract: A first engaging member makes a first engagement with a first locking member to lock an edge guiding unit. A second engaging member makes a second engagement with a second locking member to lock the edge guiding unit. The first locking member is movable to a first retract position and a second retract position. When the first locking member moves to the first retract position, the second engagement is released in conjunction with a release of the first engagement, and when the first locking member moves to the second retract position, the first engagement is released while maintaining the second engagement.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for a printing device. The cartridge includes a print media chamber structure that defines a print media chamber in which a stack of respective sheets of print media can be stored. A plurality of ink supply chambers are each configured to store a respective type of ink for printing. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes an outer molding that defines a recess in which the stack can be provided and a substantially planar molding configured to be engaged with the outer molding so as to define the print media chamber.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet placing tray on which a sheet is placed, a feeding member for feeding the sheet placed on the sheet placing tray, a first sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a first detection position, and a second sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a second detection position disposed on an upstream side of the first detection position in a sheet feeding direction. A control unit controls the feeding member so as not to perform the sheet feeding operation when the first detection unit detects the sheet and the second detection unit does not detect the sheet.

Abstract: Printing sheets (4) are placed on a sheet placing plate (103). A pickup roller (6) contacts a surface of the uppermost printing sheet (4) placed on the sheet placing plate (103) and feeds the printing sheet (4) out of the sheet placing plate (103). A spring (109) resiliently urges the sheet placing plate (103) toward the pickup roller (6). A ratchet (108) moves in accordance with the movement of the sheet placing plate (103). The printing sheets (4) on the sheet placing plate (103) urges the pickup roller (6) upward so that a pickup frame (115) moves upward to a position detected by a position detecting sensor (65). In accordance with the detection signal from the position detecting sensor (65), a solenoid (71) moves a lock lever (110) so that the lock lever (110) engages the ratchet (108) to thereby restrict the movement of the sheet placing plate (103).

Abstract: A print medium supplying device, includes a frame, a mounting plate to mount a print medium, an elevating unit to move upward and downward the mounting plate within the frame, and an elastic unit which comprises an installation unit disposed to one of the frame and the mounting plate, a coupling unit coupled to an other of the frame and the mounting plate, and a spring unit provided between the installation unit and the coupling unit to elastically weaken a falling motion of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A recording medium conveying device that conveys a recording medium to a recording area, includes a pair of first conveyor rollers that are provided upstream of the recording area and convey a recording medium by nipping the recording medium therebetween, a detector that detects a position of the recording medium, a nipping force changing unit that changes the nipping force of the pair of first conveyor rollers, and a controller that controls an operation of the nipping force changing unit in accordance with the position of the recording medium detected by the detector.

Abstract: [Object] To discharge printed paper to a different position on a single discharge tray by providing a changing means for changing a discharge direction of paper conveyed and discharged from a paper discharge part. [Solving Means] A page printer 10 including a paper discharge part for conveying and discharging printed paper 1 onto a discharge tray 11 is provided with an auxiliary roller 23b which is positioned near the outlet of the paper discharge part and guides the paper 1 on its bottom side, and a roller driving part 30 which is brought into sliding contact with or separated from the paper 1 by moving the auxiliary roller 23b so as to be advanced or retreated to/from the bottom surface of the paper 1, so that the discharge positions of the paper 1 on the discharge tray 11 are made different from each other alternately for each printed data.

Abstract: The ADF 11 is a device for feeding an original document toward an original document scanning position R, comprising an original document loading unit 31, paper feeding roller 51, pressure sensor 33 and lift plate drive unit 35. The original document loading unit 31 comprises a lift plate 41 allowing an original document to be loaded and vertically movable in an original document loading direction. The paper feeding roller 51 is disposed above the lift plate 41 disposed at the lowermost position with an interval therebetween, and is capable of moving upwardly in coordination with a force received from below from the lift plate 41. The pressure sensor 33 is capable of detecting upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51. The lift plate drive unit 35 causes the lift plate 41 to be lowered upon detection of upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus body, a printing engine installed in the image forming apparatus body and used to print an image on a printing medium supplied to the printing engine, a printing medium supply device having a loading plate to load printing media thereon and a frame to support the loading plate, the printing medium supply device being coupled to the image forming apparatus body to supply the printing media to the printing engine, and a pickup device to pick up the printing media loaded in the printing medium supply device one by one and to convey each picked-up printing medium to the printing engine. The printing medium supply device includes a printing medium aligning unit to push a lateral portion of the printing media when the printing media is loaded on the loading plate, so as to align the loaded printing media. With this configuration, the printing media loaded on the loading plate is automatically aligned by the printing medium aligning unit.

Abstract: A sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit body and a sheet cassette. The sheet feed unit body includes a first frame and a first contact face provided on the first frame. The sheet cassette, which is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, includes a second frame, a second contact face provided on the second frame, and a separator. The second contact face is attached to the first contact face when to set the sheet cassette at a position in the sheet feed unit body. The separator is inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body, and is disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette at the position in the sheet feed unit body.

Abstract: In a sheet package, the degree of stiffness of a side end portion on a side wall portion side making contact with a contact member in a storage portion of a printing unit is greater than the degree of stiffness of a side end portion on the side wall portion side that is pressed by a pressing guide member. Accordingly, when the sheet package is stored in the storage portion, even if the lid body is closed in a condition in which the sheet package is not loaded properly, that is, even if the side end portion of the sheet package is sandwiched between the lid body and the contact member, or a top face on the side on which the contact member is provided, the sheet package is never crushed and the sheet package can be correctly pushed into the storage portion by a pressing force of the lid body.

Abstract: Ultraremovable adhesive is applied to a paper sheet to form therewith a liner sheet, and the liner sheet is laminated to a cardstock sheet to form a laminate cardstock. The cardstock sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the liner sheet, to form cardstock cut lines that define at least in part perimeters of business cards (or other printable media). The outer face of the liner sheet is then die cut therethrough, but not through the cardstock sheet, to form liner sheet strips on a back side of the cardstock sheet. Some of the strips define cover strips covering some of the cardstock cut lines, and others of the strips define waste strips. The waste strips are then matrix removed from the back of the cardstock sheet. According to a preferred (dry laminate) embodiment the only liner sheet die cut is parallel to the leading edge of the sheet and forms a narrow leading edge liner strip which is removed.

Abstract: A conveying roller and a paper expelling roller provided upstream and downstream, respectively, of a recording portion in a conveyance direction are connected via an idler gear so as to be able to perform drive transmission, a rotation drive amount of the idler gear is detected, ends of a recording medium in the conveyance direction are detected, driving of a conveying motor is controlled based on detection signals of the rotation drive amount of the idler gear and the ends of the recording medium, and a control constant is made variable according to a position of the recording medium in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a supply unit to supply recording media, a recording unit to record information to the recording media, and a storage unit to store the recording media. A tray is formed in at least one of the supply unit and the storage unit and detachably connected to the apparatus to store a plurality of recording media in a stacked state. The apparatus includes a support surface for supporting a bottom surface of the tray, and at least one wall surface touching or opposing a side surface of the tray. An opening is defined by the bottom surface and the at least one wall surface to allow the tray to be detached from a direction within a predetermined angle of the side surface of the apparatus. A positioning device is disposed in at least one of the support surface and the wall surface for positioning the tray.

Abstract: A coil spring 103 is wound around a rotational shaft 15 with its one end portion 103a being inserted into an engagement groove 100a formed in a side wall of a direct-coupled gear 100 and with its other end portion 103b being inserted in an engagement groove 93a provided in a front wall 93 of a paper cassette 6. The elastic force generated by the coil spring 103 functions as a pressing force for restraining the torque of the rotational shaft 15 that is generated by the driving force from a DC motor 70. The amount of the elastic force increases as the height of a paper pressing plate 8 increases. Accordingly, a variation in the height of the topmost sheet 3, which will possibly occur due to changes in the amount of recording medium 3 placed on a mounting plate 8, can be restrained.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and method for image transfer onto one of a plurality of a pad medium pages while the pages are aggregated together. A preferred embodiment for a printer includes a housing; a print engine, within the housing, for transferring an image to a transfer medium when the transfer medium is located at a print position; and a transfer medium registration system, coupled to the print engine, for positioning a pad including a plurality of transfer media releasably secured to one another, wherein the print registration system locates one of the transfer media at the print position. The method including positioning a pad at a print position of a print transfer engine, the pad including a plurality of transfer media releasably secured to one another; and transferring an image to one of the transfer media positioned at the print position.

Abstract: A printer includes a chassis. A print media carriage is arranged on the chassis and is displaceable with respect to the chassis. A drive mechanism is mounted on the chassis and is engaged with the print media carriage to displace the print media carriage with respect to the chassis. A controller controls the drive mechanism and includes a user interface to allow a user to actuate the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet cassette (1) according to the present invention has a double structure portion (10) including an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12). The lower plate (12) has a first guide groove (13) elongated widthwise of a sheet to be contained in the cassette and having a plurality of inch-based size engagement recesses (17) and a plurality of centimeter-based size engagement recesses arranged longitudinally thereof. The upper plate (11) is movable along the lower plate (12) widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette. The inch-based size engagement recesses (17) are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a first position, and the centimeter-based size engagement recesses are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a second position. The sheet cassette (1) further has a width limiting plate slidable widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette according to the width of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-profile printer. The printer has a claw installed on a plane which face an exposure surface of an instant film sheet, a single-rotation cam which completes a sequence of operations, and a three-rotation cam which rotates three times while the single-rotation cam makes a single rotation. The claw is equipped with a holding section which extends to the rear end, in the transport direction, of one of instant film sheets and holds the rear end of the instant film sheet. The raking motion of the claw is caused by the three-rotation cam.

Abstract: A print media and ink supply cartridge includes a casing that is divided into a print media storage portion and an ink supply portion and that defines a print media exit opening from which sheets of print media in the print media storage portion can be fed. A print media transport mechanism is mounted in the print media storage portion to feed sheets of print media from the exit opening. The print media transport mechanism is engageable from outside the casing by a printing mechanism for operation. Ink outlet nozzles are arranged on the casing in fluid communication with the ink supply portion.

Abstract: A printer less susceptible to paper jams, allowing reduction in number of components and having superior printing precision is provided. The printer includes a chassis, a printing portion mounted on the chassis for printing on a sheet of recording paper, a press roller rotatably mounted on the chassis, kept at an approximately constant distance from the printing portion for pressing the sheet of recording paper, a feed roller rotatably mounted on chassis, movable in directions toward and away from the press roller and holding the sheet of recording paper in close contact with the press roller, and a spring urging the feed roller to the press roller. The chassis has a guide portion extended to guide a sheet of recording paper between the press roller and the feed roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a sheet recording medium (12) has an entrance drive roller (16) paired with a corresponding entrance pressure roller (18) to form an entrance nip (14) for transporting the sheet recording medium (12) into a scanning section (20) between the entrance nip (14) and an exit nip (24). The exit nip (24) is formed by an exit drive roller (26) with a corresponding exit pressure roller (28) for transporting the recording medium (12) out from the scanning section (20). At each end of the entrance pressure roller (18), an entrance pressure roller actuation arm (120) actuates the entrance pressure roller (18) to exert variable force against the entrance drive roller (16). At each end of the exit pressure roller (28), an exit pressure roller actuation arm (130) actuates the exit pressure roller (28) to exert variable force against the exit drive roller (26).

Abstract: Method of printing individual header cards with a limited amount of information, such as a barcode, employing continuous movement of each of the header cards through a gap defined between a backup roll and a thermal printing head, each header card partially wrapping the backup roll only in the immediate vicinity of the printer head.

Abstract: In order to adjust a position of a cut sheet when the cut sheet begins to be sent to a printing positions a leading edge of the cut sheet is fed towards a pair of sending rollers for sending the cut sheet to a printing position, wherein the sending rollers are held at rest or rotated in reverse. If a predetermined condition is satisfied, a feeding speed of the cut sheet decreases when the leading edge of the cut sheet reaches a position that is a predetermined distance upstream of the sending rollers. If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the feeding speed of the cut sheet does not decrease before the leading edge of the cut sheet contacts the sending roller. A decline in printing quality and an unnecessary delay in printing time can be prevented. With the sending rollers, an effect to prevent the leading edge of the cut sheet from being fed in a slanted position is also maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a paper feeding cassette to stack a print medium, wherein the paper feeding cassette includes a plate to support the print medium and which elevates substantially straight, and a supporting unit to support the elevation of the plate.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when a general user pulls a paper tray out of the image forming apparatus, changes used paper with another paper having different paper quality to insert the paper tray into the image forming apparatus and operates a touch panel to change the paper quality setting, a CPU stores paper quality data before change in a RAM. The CPU returns the paper quality setting to the paper quality setting before change when a printing job is completed on the paper after paper quality change.

Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) 6 functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) 7 functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting hybrid paper supply module 5. Manual-feed mechanism unit(s) 7 is or are arranged below transport paths 36, 37, which extend toward printing unit(s) 3. Furthermore, path(s) along which recording paper P taken up from automatic-feed cassette mechanism unit(s) 6 is transported and path(s) along which recording paper P taken up from manual-feed mechanism unit(s) 7 is transported are made to intersect within the module, decreasing length(s) of respective path(s).

Abstract: A mounting arrangement and/or stand for supporting a print feed mechanism relative to a printer. The mounting arrangement includes first and second support members defining first and second mating surfaces, respectively. The first support member is adapted to support the print feed mechanism and the second support member is adapted to support the first support member. Furthermore, the first and second mating surfaces define a mating interface or plane which is inclined relative to a horizontal plane. The relative position of the first and second support members is maintained by a means for coupling the first and second segments along the inclined mating plane. The coupling means is, furthermore, operative to selectively position the first support member relative to the second support member so as to separate the print feed mechanism segment from the printer by a fixed separation distance.

Abstract: A printing medium and a printing method thereof, for a photo printer using the printing medium, wherein the printing medium includes a printing region, and a first tab region and a second tab region extending from both tabs of the printing region in a lengthwise direction and having different lengths from each other, and having a direction display unit formed in a penetrated manner in any one of the first tab region and the second tab region and displaying an inserting direction. The printing medium can also include an ID display unit including a plurality of slits formed in any one of the first tab region and the second tab region in order to display information regarding the printing medium.

Abstract: A portable media cassette is attached to a printing apparatus. The media cassette includes a loading case for receiving media having an outlet. A pickup device of the printing apparatus can access the media through the outlet. A shutter is installed on the loading case and is movable between a first position for covering the outlet and a second position for opening the outlet.

Abstract: A removable media input tray for holding a stack of media sheets is provided. The input tray is configured so that it can be fitted into a chassis of a printing apparatus. The input tray includes a reference guide wall and at least two datum members movably attached to the reference guide wall. The reference side wall is formed with at least two openings through which portions of the datum members extend. The input tray also includes a width adjuster, which is configured to bias the stack of media sheets against the datum members. The datum members are brought into contact with a side wall of the chassis when the input tray is inserted into the chassis, thereby causing the datum members to be aligned to the same side wall.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus includes a rotatable roller for carrying a paper, provided movably in an axial direction, a roller gear fixedly mounted on the roller, a drive gear meshing with the roller gear and driven by a driving source, and a position adjustment member regulating an axial position of the roller gear so as to hold the roller gear from axial both sides while capable of moving the roller gear to a separate position for separating the roller gear and the drive gear from each other in a state of applying no pressing force to the roller gear and to a mesh position for meshing the roller gear and the drive gear with each other in carrying the paper.

Abstract: A media tray includes a tray body having a first wall. A first media guide is moveably supported along the tray body. A second media guide is moveably supported along the tray body and disposed approximately transverse to the first media guide. First and second brackets are supported along the first wall. The first bracket is operatively connected to said first media guide and the second bracket is operatively connected to the second media guide. A printing system includes a plurality of size-indicating devices, and a media tray is in operative association with the size-indicating devices. A method of operating a printing system includes moving the first or second media guides to reposition the first or second brackets.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image onto a sheet medium (12) has an entrance drive roller (16) paired with a corresponding entrance pressure roller (18) to form an entrance nip (14) for transporting the sheet medium into an image recording section (20). The image recording section has a write head (56) for recording onto a portion of the sheet medium being transported between the entrance nip (14) and exit nip (24). The exit nip is formed by a drive roller (26) paired with a corresponding exit pressure roller (28) for transporting the sheet medium out from the image recording section. A motor (60) provides rotary motion to a pinion roller (40) mechanically coupled to the entrance and exit drive rollers (16, 26). A loading mechanism provides a loading force to nest the pinion roller into rotational contact against a portion of the entrance and exit drive rollers (16, 26).

Abstract: Print sheets 7 stacked up are inserted into a package member 8 so that the sheets 7 in this state can be set in a printer together with the package member 8. The package member 8 is provided with an identification mark 31 while the printer is equipped with a reflective sensor so that the identification mark 31 will be placed in a reading area of the reflective sensor only when the sheet package 9 is loaded in the printer in a correct direction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes a motor that controls a drive system, a motor control unit that activates the motor based on an imaging request signal, a paper feed operations control unit that controls paper feed operations to start after a predetermined time period elapses from the activation of the motor, and a paper feed unit that performs the paper feed operations based on a paper feed operations start command signal from the paper feed operations control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that prints an image on a medium. A transport unit transports the medium in a first direction to supply the medium to the image forming unit, and in a second direction for printing. Media is stacked on a paper cassette. A medium supply and discharge unit picks up the medium from the paper cassette to supply the medium to the transport unit, and discharges the medium being transported in the second direction. The transport unit, the paper cassette, and the medium supply and discharge unit are located at the second direction of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A conveying roller is disposed downstream of a feeding roller in a conveying direction and conveys a sheet of recording medium to a printing position along a conveying path. A medium detecting unit is disposed between the feeding roller and the conveying roller along the conveying path and detects the sheet of the recording medium. A printing unit performs printing at the printing position. A target-rotational-amount setting unit sets a target rotational amount for feeding the sheet of the recording medium to the conveying roller, based on a rotational amount of the feeding roller measured from when the feeding roller begins feeding the sheet of the recording medium accommodated in the feeding cassette until the medium detecting unit detects the sheet of the recording medium. A controller controls the feeding roller to continue rotating, until the rotational amount of the feeding roller reaches the target rotational amount.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.

Abstract: A paper detecting apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same are disclosed. The paper detecting apparatus has a sensor unit installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The location of the paper detecting apparatus is varied according to the size of printing paper so as to be able to detect the presence or absence of printing paper loaded in the feed cassette. The presence or absence of printing paper is detected at the rear end portion of the printing paper. A sensor location varying unit varies the location of the sensor unit for detecting paper according to the size of printing paper such that the sensor unit can detect the printing paper at the rear end portion of the printing paper irrespective of the size of the printing paper loaded in the feed cassette.

Abstract: In a sticky note printer, a sticky note is peeled off and fed one by one from a bundle of notes set in position. In empty-feed motion, the sticky note is fed in a normal direction from a peel-off position through a sticky note ejecting slot to a pull-out position in which the sticky note protrudes outside the sticky note printer. In feed-back motion, the sticky note is fed in a reverse direction from the pull-out position to a retracted position in which printing can be performed. In feed-again motion, the sticky note is fed in the normal direction from the retracted position to the pull-out position. The empty-feed motion is made when the sticky note has been pulled away from the pull-out position. The feed-back motion or the feed-again motion is made, when an instruction for printing is given, in a manner synchronized with the printing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on printing paper by rolling up the printing paper around a cylindrical or column-shaped member without any fixture, that can measure with a high accuracy the length of the printing paper during transport thereof. The image forming apparatus of the present invention forms an image on printing paper in a state in which the printing paper is rolled up around an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical or column-shaped member, and includes a sensor for detecting a front end or a rear end of the printing paper on the outer circumferential surface and a controller for calculating a length of the printing paper. The sensor, after having detected the rear end with the printing paper completely rolled up around the member, detects the front end along with rotation of the member.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image onto a sheet medium (12) has an entrance nip (14) for transporting the sheet medium (12) into an image recording section (20). A write head (56) records onto a portion of the sheet medium (12) between the entrance nip (14) and exit nip (24). The exit nip (24) is formed by a drive roller (26) paired with a corresponding exit pressure roller (28). A motor (60) provides rotary motion to either the entrance drive roller (16) or the exit drive roller (26). A coupling apparatus (54) has a coupling roller (36) and a loading mechanism providing a loading force to nest the coupling roller (36) into continuous rotational contact against the entrance and exit drive rollers (16,26), whereby rotation is transferred between the exit drive roller (26) and the entrance drive roller (16).

Abstract: A paper supply unit including a front cover mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus to occupy and move between open and closed positions, and, when occupying the opened position, defining a paper receiving space in which printing paper is to be stacked, and a tray cover, disposed to cover the printing paper stacked on the front cover to prevent an inflow of dust or foreign substances, to be inserted into and drawn out of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A labeling article including a stack of labels, each label having a front face on which at least one of a size and a type of a printing sheet to be contained in a sheet feeding cassette is written, and a back face provided with an adhesive part on which a pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied, wherein the stack is so formed that the labels are overlaid sequentially such that the adhesive part of one label adheres to another label, and each label is adapted to be separated from the stack and to be attached to the sheet feeding cassette.

Abstract: A print engine for a pagewidth inkjet printer includes a chassis. A pair of opposed printhead assemblies are mounted on the chassis to carry out a double-sided printing operation on a sheet of media interposed between the printhead assemblies. A pair of opposed feed rollers are mounted on the chassis and positioned upstream of the printhead assemblies to feed media between the printhead assemblies. Each printhead assembly includes at least one elongate ink distribution structure. A printhead chip is mounted on a free end of the, or each, ink distribution structure such that printhead chips on opposite ink distribution structures are aligned. The ink distribution structures are shaped so that a distance from at least one pair of aligned printhead chips to a point of contact between the rollers is less than a radius of the rollers.

Abstract: An information handling system dye sublimation printer stores paper in an enclosed tray that couples to the printer housing and transitions between a storage configuration and a print configuration. The storage configuration reduces the footprint of the printer by aligning with the length and width of the printer housing. The print configuration aligns the tray with a print mechanism to feed paper for printing of photographic information as an image transferred by the print mechanism. In one storage configuration embodiment, the tray removeably couples to the top of the printer housing to protect the printer's operating panel. In another embodiment, the printer housing removeably couples to the bottom of the printer housing. In another embodiment, a rotationally hinged mechanism connects the printer housing and the tray to transition between the storage and print configurations with reduced risk of separation of the tray from the printer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a bearing comprises a cylindrical bearing surface supporting a spherical journal surface. In another embodiment, a device comprises a shaft having a spherical journal surface supported inside and rotatable against a cylindrical bearing surface. In another embodiment, a sheet media feed mechanism comprises: a chassis; a motor mounted to the chassis; a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the motor; a roller affixed to the shaft; an idler disposed opposite the roller; the idler and the roller engagable with one another to form a nip therebetween; bearings mounted to the chassis and supporting the shaft, each bearing having a cylindrical inner bearing surface; and the shaft having a spherical journal surface inside and rotatable against each bearing surface.

Abstract: A sheet storage cassette includes: a case provided with a storage portion; a stacking plate on which a sheet is placed; and a lifting unit that lifts the stacking plate. The lifting unit has: a driving gear that communicates with an output gear of the device main body in a state where the sheet storage cassette is received in the device main body, is rotated by driving force transmitted from the output gear, and is provided with an engaged part; a swing portion that has an engaging part engaged with the engaged part, and lifts the stacking plate by a rotation of the driving gear; and a reverse rotation allowing unit that allows the driving gear to rotate in an opposite direction to a direction of lifting the stacking plate when inserting the sheet storage cassette into the device main body.