ACTIVE PAPER DROP FOR PRINTERS

摘要

ACTIVE PAPER DROP FOR PRINTERS An active paper drop mechanism for ink-jet printers is provided. The mechanism comprises a pair of opposed, movable rail members associated with opposed walls of a horizontally-disposed output collection tray for receiving sheets of printed media. Each rail member is provided with return spring that act to maintain the rails in a closed position. In that position, the rails support a sheet of the print medium during the printing operation, thus giving the ink on the previously printed-on sheet time to dry. The rails are provided with a wing member and are pivotally secured in the floor of the output tray, with the pivot point spaced inwardly from the wing member. Downward pressure against the wing member thus causes the rail to rotate outward from its closed position, into a recess provided in the side of the output tray. This provides sufficient clearance for the sheet to drop into the output stack. Upon release of the downward pressure, the spring causes the rail member to return to its original closed position.