Power assist scissor lift

摘要

A scissor lift apparatus includes a sliding carriage member and a pivoting linkage added to a conventional scissor lift in order to lower the force required to lift a tray holding heavy media during the initial portion of the lifting action where the scissor lift is fully compressed.

主权项

1. A xerographic device, comprising:
a marking module for printing images onto media; a feeder module including a media supply for feeding media from a stack to said marking module; a finisher module including a bottom support and a movable tray for receiving imaged media from said marking module; and a scissor lift apparatus on which said movable tray is mounted for lowering and raising said movable tray as sheets of media are deposited thereon and removed therefrom, said movable tray being supported by a first leg having one end pivotally attached to said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second leg having one end supporting said movable tray and an opposite end pivotally attached to said bottom support and an intermediate portion therebetween, and wherein said second leg is transverse to said first leg and the intermediate portions of said first leg and said second leg are pivotally connected about a shaft; and a pivoting linkage, said pivoting linkage being configured to be pivotally driven in a counter-clockwise direction and contact said movable tray in order to lower the force required to lift said movable tray during an initial portion of the lifting action when said scissor lift is fully compressed, and wherein said pivoting linkage comprises an L-shaped arm and a carriage member adapted to contact said L-shaped arm during said initial portion of the lifting action when said scissor lift is fully compressed to provide a power assist to said L-shaped arm and thereby lower the force required to lift said scissor lift apparatus.