US5120045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attaching structure for a removable sheet holding tray
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-03-28
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Granted: 1992-06-09
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Expires: 2011-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A sheet transport device is provided which has a sheet tray removably attachable to the body of an apparatus pivotally movably to an upright position or an unfolded position. The sheet tray has pivots projecting from the respective opposite sides of base end of the tray and each having a first width when the tray is in the upright position and a second width larger than the first width when the tray is in the unfolded position. The apparatus body has cutouts for the respective pivots, each having an inlet portion with a width larger than the first width and smaller than the second width and a support portion with a diameter not smaller than the second width. An elastic member is disposed close to at least one of the cutouts for restraining the pivot as positioned in the support portion from rotating from the unfolded position to the upright position by contacting the pivot.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasushi Kamezaki
- 👤 Katsunori Masai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/60; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00172; G03G2215/00177; G03G2215/00181; G03G2215/00185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
In a sheet transport device having a sheet tray removably attachable to the body of an apparatus pivotally movably to an upright position or an unfolded position, a sheet tray attaching structure characterized in that: the sheet tray has pivots projecting from the respective opposite sides of the base end of the sheet tray and each having a first width when the sheet tray is in the upright position and a second width larger than the first width when the sheet tray is in the unfolded position, the apparatus body having cutouts opened for the respective pivots, each of the cutouts having an inlet portion having a width larger than the first width and smaller than the second width and a support portion having a diameter not smaller than the second width, an elastic member being provided in the vicinity of at least one of the cutouts for restraining the pivot as positioned in the support portion from rotating from the unfolded position to the upright position by contacting the pivot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a sheet transport device having a sheet tray removably attachable to the body of an apparatus pivotally movably to an upright position or an unfolded position, a sheet tray attaching structure characterized in that: the sheet tray has pivots projecting from the respective opposite sides of the base end of the sheet tray and each having a first width when the sheet tray is in the upright position and a second width larger than the first width when the sheet tray is in the unfolded position, the apparatus body having cutouts opened for the respective pivots, each of the cutouts having an inlet portion having a width larger than the first width and smaller than the second width and a support portion having a diameter not smaller than the second width, an elastic member being provided in the vicinity of at least one of the cutouts for restraining the pivot as positioned in the support portion from rotating from the unfolded position to the upright position by contacting the pivot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheet tray is the document feed tray to be attached to the paper feed assembly of an automatic document feeder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheet tray is the document discharge tray to be attached to the document discharge portion of an automatic document feeder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheet tray is the paper feed tray to be attached to the body of a copying machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheet tray is the paper discharge tray to be attached to the body of a copying machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot has a circular, cross section partly cut out.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 6 wherein the elastic member is positioned to contact the cutout face of the pivot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot has an elliptical cross section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot has a rectangular cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet portion of the cutout is open upward.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet portion of the cutout is open in an oblique direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet portion of the cutout is open sideways.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet portion of the cutout is straight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the support portion of the cutout is circular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the elastic member is provided in the vicinity of only one of the cutouts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 15 wherein the elastic member is provided in the vicinity of the cutout at one side of the apparatus body away from the pivot thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sheet transport device as defined in claim 1 wherein the elastic member comprises a plate spring having one end secured to the apparatus body and the other end in the form of a free end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2448580A
Cited
US3352613A
Cited
US3510124A
Cited
US4722157A
Cited
JPS6341348A
Cited
JPH0256354A
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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) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |