Fan-Fold Paper Catcher for a Printer

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper catcher for fan-fold paper output from a printer, and is more particularly concerned with the prevention of jamming of the paper as it is guided to a collection station and providing a paper catcher which may be easily folded for storage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As pointed out in the application Ser. No. 813,581, filed Dec. 26, 1985, when a printer outputs printed paper, such as fan-fold paper, a problem arises as to the collection, stacking and the like of the paper. Heretofore, the paper was essentially guided to the rear of the machine and deposited on a table, on the floor or in a bin located at the rear of the machine, and more recently above the machine. These techniques lead to problems in the proper folding and stacking of the printed paper and to problems with respect to jamming of the fan-fold paper in the paper guide mechanism.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a paper catcher for a printer which ends the print-out clutter noted above, eliminates jamming and takes up a small space adjacent the printer.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by providing what is essentially a flexible duct for adapting to a variety of printers with respect to the height of the printer and with respect to the forward/rearward disposition of the location of the paper exit from the platen of the printer.

According to the particular feature of the invention, the paper catcher is provided with a horizontal support for supporting a printer and a vertically adjustable paper guide mechanism for receiving the paper from the platen printer, reversing the direction of paper flow and a paper collection tray for receiving the paper.

The paper collection tray is pivotally connected to the vertical paper guide mechanism so that it may be moved from the vertical storage position to a paper collection position at which it is disposed at an angle above the platen so that information may be viewed as it is printed.

According to another feature of the invention, the paper guide includes a first section for receiving the paper immediately as it leaves the platen of the printer and restricts the natural tendency of the paper to fold by defining a channel from the platen to the exit which is between 1/4" and 1/2" to prevent jamming. At the exit of the guide channel a hinged member is provided above the paper to prevent reverse buckling by riding on the paper as a fold exits the channel and until such time as gravity causes the emerging sheet to bend downwardly. At such time, a pair of limits prevent the hinged member from engaging the paper.

According to another feature of the invention, the first paper guide section which defines the 1/4" to 1/2" restricted channel is formed by adjustable elements which provide minimum friction. The first element is hinged to the vertical paper guide channel and includes a forwardly-extending finger for engaging and writing up and down on the paper as it exits the platen. This adjustability is a part of the forward/rearward adjustment with respect to the location of the platen. The bottom of the restricted channel is formed by a pair of spaced plastic strips which are attached to the vertical paper guide and which extend to a point immediately adjacent the platen. The strips may be trimmed to the required length as another portion of the adjustability feature.

According to another feature of the invention, the hinged member of the first paper guide section and the paper catcher include automatically engageable and disengageable latch elements which engage as the pivotal and hinged elements are rotated into the vertical storage position and disengaged automatically when the paper tray is unlatched from the storage position for movement to the paper catching position.

According to another feature of the invention, the hinged member of the first paper guide section is provided with a spring which is pivotal to engage the vertical paper guide section for use with paper which has a greater tendency to buckle as it leaves the platen printer.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, on which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper catcher constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a printer mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line II--II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VI--VI of FIG. 4 showing the paper collection tray in the collection position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6 but showing the paper collection tray and the upper portion of the first guide section in the storage position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7 showing the automatic latching and unlatching mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper latch mechanism for holding the paper collection tray in the storage position; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view detailing the structure of the hinged portion of the first paper guide section and taken substantially along the line X--X of FIG. 6.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a printer station is generally illustrated at 10 as comprising a support 12 having a printer 14 thereon. As the paper exits the platen, it is guided by a guide 16 so as to be reversed and deposited on a paper collection tray 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support 12 comprises a shelf 20 which is supported on each side by its respective ledge structure, here in the form of a vent wire, which comprises a horizontal section 22 between a pair of feet 24 and 26. The foot 26 is terminated by the end 28 which is received in a hole 30 in the shelf 20. At the rear end, the extension of the foot 24 vertically to an end 34 is received in a slot 32. It is readily apparent that with the printer removed, the shelf may be lifted from the leg structure and the legs pivoted toward one another to minimize space required for storage.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide structure includes a body having a pair of spaced apart channels 36 including a plurality of slots 38 for receiving a height adjustment member 40. The height adjustment member 40 includes at least one cup-shaped member 42 for receiving the upper end of the leg structure. As is evident, as the height adjustment member 40 is moved to a lower position, the entire paper guide structure 16 is moved to a higher position to accommodate different heights of printers.

The major portion of the guide channel is formed by a first plurality of wires 44 and a second plurality of wires 46. The distal ends of the wires 44 and 46 plug into openings molded in the body 48. The upper ends of the wires 46 are formed as open loops which are received through openings 50 of a member 52 and form a hinge for the member 52. As mentioned above, as the paper exits the body 48 and has a tendency to rise, the member 50 will engage and ride thereon until the fold has passed sufficiently for gravity to take over and form the proper fold. At that time, and as the hinge member 52 is moving downwardly, the same is engaged at both ends by a pair of projections 54 which act as downward limits. The member 52 includes a shaped forward edge defining a plurality of fingers 56 which actually engage the paper and reduce friction.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a front view is basically shown of the body 48 which includes a paper input slot 48 having a plurality of projections 60 molded therein for minimizing friction and static. Also shown is an exit slot 62 having projections 64 molded therein, again to minimize friction and static.

The body 48 also includes a pair of slots 66 and 68 for receiving respective members 70 and 72 therethrough as the paper collection tray 18 is pivoted to the vertical storage position. The members 72, and the paper collection position, include respective edges 74 and 76 for engaging the lower edge of the forming stack and prevent the stack from shifting rearwardly into the hinge area of the paper collection tray. On longer runs or with heavier paper, the height of the edge 74 provides clearance over the hinge section and the paper may shift above the edge 74 to be stopped by an edge 78.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the paper collection tray 18 is illustrated in the collecting position and in the storage position, respectively. Of particular interest, and as seen in both FIGS. 6 and 7, a unique hinge structure is provided for the paper collection tray 18. This structure comprises, on each side of the device, a hinge pin 80 mounted on the body 48 and received in an elongate slot 82 formed by an oval projection 84 on the paper collection tray 18. The paper collection tray comprises a foot 86 on each side thereof which, in this position, rests on a surface 88 of the body 48. In the storage position of FIG. 7, the hinge pin is in the upper portion of the slot 82. Also in this position the paper collection tray 18 includes a latch element 90 which engages behind the respective limit projection 54 to hold the tray in the vertical position. This is accomplished by rotating the tray with the pin 80 in the lower portion of the slot 82 until the same is vertical and then moving the tray downwardly so that the pin 80 moves into the upper portion of the slot 82. The latch mechanism is best seen in FIG. 9. Referring to FIGS. 6-8 and 10, the first or input section of the paper guiding channel is illustrated as comprising a generally rectangular member 92 which carries a pair of hinge pins 94 received in recesses 96 molded in the body 48. At the forward or distal end of the member 92 a paper engaging member 98 is provided, herein the form of a bent wire. The distal end 100 of the bent wire 98 acts as a runner to engage the upper surface of the paper as the same attempts to rise and buckle in the upward direction. The wire 98 includes a rear end 102 which is adjustable received in a channel 104. The wire 98 can therefore be moved toward the front or toward the rear to adjust for the location of the platen of the particular printer being employed.

The lower side of the restriction channel is defined by a pair of spaced apart flexible fingers, here in the form of plastic strips 106 and 108 which extend through the entrance slot 58 and are attached to the rear of the body 48, as by screws 110. The distal ends of the strips 106 and 108 may be easily trimmed to adjust for platen location. Referring to FIGS. 6-8 and 10, the paper collection tray 18 is provided, on the bottom side thereof, an elongate projection which has an enlarged outer end 114. The hinged member 92 is provided with projections which define a slot 116 with lateral projections 118 and 120 along a portion thereof to define an opening for receiving and latching with the elements 112, 114. This is accomplished for storage by pivoting the member 52 upwardly to at least a vertical position, and pivoting the member 92 upwardly to engage the bottom of the paper collection tray 18. Further upward rotation of the member 92 causes the member 112 to move into the slot 116 and in the vertical position trap the enlarged edge 114 behind the transverse members 118 and 120. When the paper collection tray, as shown in FIG. 7, is lifted vertically to unlatch the elements 90 and 54, the enlarged edge 114 is moved beyond the transverse projections 118 and 120 and the member 92 automatically pivots downwardly to the operating position. The paper collection tray 18 and the hinged member 92 therefore are provided with an automatic latching and unlatching mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the hinged member 92 is also provided with a spring 122 attached by way of a screw 124. In those instances in which the weight of the member 92 is not sufficient to prevent the paper from buckling, the spring 122 may be pivoted from the position illustrated in phantom to the position shown in solid lines and bear against the surface 88 of the body 48 so that the paper cannot force the restriction channel open to a degree where buckling and jamming occur.

Although we have described our invention by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. We therefore intend to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of our contribution to the art.