US5015109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet feed construction for compact printers
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1989-11-24
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Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2009-11-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved sheet separator and guide construction for a printer having a supply station and a feeder/platen for feeding a top sheet from a supported sheet stack and transporting it through the printing region. The construction includes a force plate for urging a supported sheet stack so that its top sheet contacts the feeder-platen and is moved toward a supply station egress region. A pair of sheet corner deflectors located respectively at opposite edges of the supply station egress region are constructed to direct sheet corners fed there-against inwardly toward the sheet center, and a central deflector located along a central portion of the egress region in spaced relation between the corner deflectors is constructed to direct the center lead-edge of a sheet fed there-against upwardly toward the printer top.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Brandon
- 👤 Brian D. Bradley
- 👤 Richard J. Ratermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:09
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/02; B41J29/026; B41J13/00; B41J13/10; B41J13/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In a printer having a printing region, a sheet supply station, located below said printing region and constructed to support a sheet, and a rotatable feeder/platen located above said supply station for feeding a top sheet from a supported sheet stack and transporting it through said printing region, an improved sheet separator and guide construction comprising: (a) a supply station egress region extending along across the path of sheet feed from said supply station and perpendicular to the direction for sheet feed; (b) means for urging a supported sheet stack so that the top sheet contacts said feeder-platen and is moved into said egress region; (c) a pair of sheet corner deflectors located respectively at opposite edges of said egress region, said deflectors being constructed to direct sheet corners feed three-against inwardly toward the sheet's center and downwardly; and (d) a central deflector member located along a central portion of said egress region in spaced relation between said corner deflectors, said central deflector member being constructed to direct the center lead-edge of a sheet fed there-against upwardly toward the printer top at the same time said sheet corners are directed downwardly by said corner deflectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a printer having a printing region, a sheet supply station, located below said printing region and constructed to support a sheet, and a rotatable feeder/platen located above said supply station for feeding a top sheet from a supported sheet stack and transporting it through said printing region, an improved sheet separator and guide construction comprising: (a) a supply station egress region extending along across the path of sheet feed from said supply station and perpendicular to the direction for sheet feed; (b) means for urging a supported sheet stack so that the top sheet contacts said feeder-platen and is moved into said egress region; (c) a pair of sheet corner deflectors located respectively at opposite edges of said egress region, said deflectors being constructed to direct sheet corners feed three-against inwardly toward the sheet's center and downwardly; and (d) a central deflector member located along a central portion of said egress region in spaced relation between said corner deflectors, said central deflector member being constructed to direct the center lead-edge of a sheet fed there-against upwardly toward the printer top at the same time said sheet corners are directed downwardly by said corner deflectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising smoothing arm portions extending from the upper edges of sad central deflector member around the path of feeder/platen rotation and outwardly to the edges of the sheet feed path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention defined in claim 2 further comprising a pair of bail rollers mounted to rotatably engage edge zones of said feeder/platen at a location downstream from said supply station egress region and wherein said smoothing arm portions extend to locations proximate said bail rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said central deflector and its smoothing arms extend around said feeder-platen in closely spaced relation and have a line printing opening between said smoothing arms to allow access by the printing means of said printer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4723857A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |