EP2206665A1

EP2206665A1 - Cassette for a printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2206665A1
Application number: EP09290021A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert J Lachner
Original assignee: Sagem Communications SAS
Current assignee: Sagemcom Broadband SAS
Priority date: 2009-01-08
Filing date: 2009-01-08
Publication date: 2010-07-14

Abstract

In a printing apparatus comprising a cassette (1) for receiving a stack (2) of sheets (3) of printing material and a sheet conveying arrangement (4), with the sheet conveying arrangement (4) being arranged for removing a respective uppermost sheet (3) of the stack (2) of printing material along a first direction (5), with the cassette (1) being arranged within a housing (6) and being movable out of the housing (6) at least in sections along a first direction (5) for filling with sheets (3) of printing material, it is proposed for increasing functional reliability that the printing apparatus comprises obstruction means (7) for obstructing in a predeterminable way the movement of the cassette (1) in the first direction (5).

Description

The invention relates to a printing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. Printing apparatuses are known in which the sheet-like printing material such as paper is held in the form of a stack in a cassette and is taken from this cassette by means of a sheet conveying arrangement. The cassette can be removed from the housing through a substantially longitudinal movement. Printing apparatuses are known in which the sheet conveying arrangement removes the sheets of printing material in the same direction from the stack in which the cassette can also be removed from the housing. Since a certain pressure on the stack and thus on the cassette is required for removing the sheets of printing material from the stack, the removal of the sheets of printing material can also lead to the consequence that the cassette is pushed out of the housing in sections, so that a further removal of sheets of printing material is no longer possible and there will a malfunction in operational readiness. Especially when using such a printing apparatus in a fax machine, a malfunction of the printing apparatus can lead to a loss of information when incoming messages are neither printed out nor intermediately stored. In addition to the loss of the transmitted information, this can further lead to legal problems because the sender of the message may have a positive transmission protocol and this person can prove the dispatch of the information, which the recipient has not received however.
It is the object of the invention to provide a printing apparatus of the kind mentioned above with which the mentioned disadvantages can be avoided and with which functional reliability can be increased.
This is achieved in accordance with the invention by the features of claim 1.
The functional reliability of a printing apparatus or fax machine can thus be increased in a simple way. It can thus be prevented that during the removal of sheets of printing material by means of the sheet conveying arrangement the cassette is pushed out of the housing of the printing apparatuses and the malfunction of the printing apparatus is thus caused. A loss of information as a result of a malfunction of the printing apparatus can thus be avoided, when using the printing apparatuses in a fax machine.
The sub-claims, which like claim 1 simultaneously form a part of the description, relate to further advantageous embodiments of the invention.
The invention further relates to a fax machine with a printing apparatus in accordance with the invention.
The invention is explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings in which merely preferred embodiments are shown by way of example, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of an arrangement consisting of a cassette and an obstruction means, and
Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of an arrangement consisting of a cassette and an obstructing means.

Figs. 1 and 2 show preferred embodiments of an arrangement consisting of cassette 1 and obstruction means 7 of a printing apparatus with a cassette 1 for receiving a stack 2 of sheets 3 of printing material, and with a sheet conveying arrangement 4, with the sheet conveying arrangement 4 being arranged for removing a respectively uppermost sheet 3 of the stack 2 of printing material along a first direction 5, with the cassette 1 being arranged within a housing 6 and being movable out of the housing 6 at least in sections along the first direction 5 for filling with sheets 3 of printing material, with the printing apparatus comprising obstruction means 7 for predeterminably limiting the movement of cassette 1 in the first direction 5.
The functional reliability of a printing apparatus or fax machine can be increased in a simple way. It can thus be prevented that upon removing sheets 3 of printing material by means of the sheet conveying apparatus 4 the cassette 1 is pushed out of the housing 6 of the printing apparatus and thus a malfunction in the printing apparatus is caused. A loss of information as a result of a malfunction of the printing apparatus can be prevented, when the printing apparatus is used in a fax machine.
Printing apparatuses in accordance with the invention can preferably be implemented in any kind of device comprising a printing apparatus, preferably in printers, fax machines and/or copying machines. The printing apparatus preferably works according to the xerographic printing method, but it can also be provided that the printing apparatus is arranged as an ink-jet or needle printer. The individual parts of the printing apparatus which are provided for the actual printing process are not shown in the two drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 merely show the parts belonging to the printing apparatus which are used for storing and conveying the sheets 3 of printing material. The printing material concerns any kind of sheet-like printing material, preferably paper, cardboard and/or foils, especially plastic and/or metal foils.
The printing apparatus comprises a cassette 1 which is arranged for receiving sheets 3 of printing material in the form of a stack 2 and comprises a respective receiving region for a stack 2 of sheets 3 of printing material. For filling with sheets 3 of printing material, cassette 1 can be moved out of the housing 6 along a first direction 5 at least in sections as a result of a substantially longitudinal movement. Said first direction 5 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the arrow 5. Preferably, cassette 1 can be removed completely from the printing apparatus or the housing 6.
The printing apparatus further comprises a sheet conveying arrangement 4 which is arranged for removing the respectively uppermost sheet 3 of the stack 2 of printing material along the first direction 5. The sheet conveying arrangement 4 is arranged according to the two illustrated preferred embodiments of the respective invention to comprise a withdrawal roller 13 which removes the respectively uppermost sheet 3 of stack 2 of printing material along the first direction 5. Means are preferably provided in order to ensure a predeterminable pressing pressure of the withdrawal roller 13 on the respective uppermost sheet 3 of printing material. Said means preferably comprises spring means which press the stack 2 against the withdrawal roller 13.
It is provided in accordance with the invention that the printing apparatus comprises obstruction means 7 for predeterminably obstructing the movement of cassette 1 in the first direction 5. These obstruction means 7 are arranged for detachably arresting cassette 1 in housing 6 according to preferred embodiments and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As a result, cassette 1 can be removed at least in sections from the housing 6, with furthermore the secure arresting of cassette 1 in housing 6 being ensured. It is provided according to the preferred embodiments that the obstruction means 7 comprise at least one stop element 8 comprising at least one stop 9, through which the mobility of the cassette 1 can be limited in a very precise way. The preferred different arrangements of a stop element 8 will be explained in the description of Figs. 1 and 2.
It is preferably provided that the stop element 8 is pressurized by at least one spring 10, through which the stop element 8 can be held in a defined predeterminable position. It is preferably provided that the at least one spring holds the stop element 8 in an arresting position, thus ensuring that the cassette 1 is arrested or locked as a standard in the housing 6. It is preferably provided that handle 17 is arranged on the stop element 8 or a section is arranged as a handle 17 in order to move the stop element 8 from the arresting position to the release position in which a displacement of the cassette 1 is possible in the first direction 5.
Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of an arrangement of a cassette 1 and an obstruction means 7, with the stop element 8 being arranged in the arresting position. Stop element 8 is articulated on or in the housing 6 and arranged as a lever. Spring 10 presses the stop element upwardly, in the illustrated preferred position of use. Cassette 1 comprises at least a first arresting edge 11 which is arranged for cooperation with the stop 9. Said first arresting edge 11 is arranged on the bottom side of cassette 1, according to the illustrated first preferred embodiment. Stop 9 and the first arresting edge 11 are arranged in such a way that they are self-locking, which is why it is not possible to push cassette 1 beyond stop 9. Furthermore, stop element 8 and the cassette 1 are arranged according to the illustrated first preferred embodiment to simplify the insertion of cassette 1 into the housing 6. It is provided in this respect that an insertion ramp 14 is arranged on the stop element 8 which cooperates with the first ramp 15 on the cassette in such a way that during an insertion of the cassette 1 into the housing the stop element 8 is pressed downwardly against the pressure of spring 10 until the first arresting edge 11 comes into engagement with the stop 9.
Fig. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of an arrangement consisting of cassette 1 and obstruction means 7, with the stop element 8 being arranged in the arresting position. The stop element 8 is held in a longitudinally displaceable manner on or in the cassette 1 and arranged as a slider. Spring 10 presses the stop element 8 downwardly, as shown in the illustrated preferred position of use. Housing 6 comprises at least one second arresting edge 12 which is arranged to cooperate with the stop 9. Said second arresting edge 12 is arranged in a region beneath the cassette 1 according to the illustrated second preferred embodiment. Stop 9 and the second arresting edge 12 are arranged in such a way that they are self-locking, such that it is not possible to lift off or slide cassette 1 over the second stop edge 12. According to the illustrated second preferred embodiment, the stop element 8 and the housing 6 are arranged to simplify the insertion of cassette 1 into the housing 6. It is provided for this purpose that an insertion ramp 14 is arranged on the stop element 8 which cooperates with the second ramp 16 on the housing 6 in such a way that, when the cassette 1 is inserted into the housing 6, the stop element 8 is pressed upwardly against the pressure of spring 10 until the stop 9 comes into engagement with the second arresting edge 12.
In addition to the two arrangements of the stop element 8 as a lever held in a rotatably movable way or as a slider arranged in a longitudinally displaceable way as described above, it can also be provided that the stop element 8 can be arranged as a result of a combination of the two embodiments as described above. Embodiments are provided especially in which the stop element 8 is arranged in a movable way as a result of a combination of a rotational movement and a longitudinal movement. The arrangement of the two different types of motion can be provided to occur successively in time, but also as an actual kinematic superimposing of several such states of motion, such as by guidance of the stop element 8 in a predeterminably arranged link.
Further embodiments in accordance with the invention merely have a part of the described features, with any combination of features being provided, especially also such of different described embodiments.

Claims

A printing apparatus, comprising a cassette (1) for receiving a stack (2) of sheets (3) of printing material, and a sheet conveying arrangement (4), with the sheet conveying arrangement (4) being arranged for removing a respective uppermost sheet (3) of the stack (2) of printing material along a first direction (5), with the cassette (1) being arranged within a housing (6) and being movable out of the housing (6) at least in sections along a first direction for filling with sheets (3) of printing material, characterized in that the printing apparatus comprises obstruction means (7) for obstructing in a predeterminable way the movement of the cassette (1) in the first direction (5).
A printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the obstruction means (7) are arranged for detachably arresting the cassette (1) in the housing (6).
A printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the obstruction means (7) comprise at least one stop element (8) which comprises at least one stop (9).
A printing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop element (8) is held in an articulated manner.
A printing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the stop element (8) is held in a longitudinally displaceable manner.
A printing apparatus according to one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the stop element (8) is pressurized by at least one spring (10).
A printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one spring (10) holds the stop element (8) in an arresting position.
A printing apparatus according to one of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the stop element (8) is arranged on or in the housing (6), and that the cassette (1) comprises at least a first arresting edge (11) which is arranged for cooperation with the stop (9).
A printing apparatus according to one of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the stop element (8) is arranged on or in the cassette (1) and that the housing (6) comprises at least a second arresting edge (12) which is arranged for cooperation with the stop (9).
A fax machine with a printing apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 9.