Xerox Corporation

Eastman-kodak Company

Binns C Handy

Murray O Meetze, Jr

Ronald J Perry

James W Sekol

Computed radiography reader

In a hard copy document production machine using a plurality of different type cartridges containing different document production consumable materials, an orientation-independent cartridge type discriminating system assembly suitable for enabling non-burdensome orientation-independent loading of a correct cartridge into a cartridge opening in the machine, and for resiliently intercepting and preventing loading of an incorrect cartridge into the cartridge opening. The discriminating system assembly includes a resilient assembly mounted to a portion of the frame of the machine defining the cartridge opening, a first spring member, and a pivotable elongate member connected to the spring member for providing resilient cartridge contact with a cartridge being inserted. The elongate member has a displaceable portion, and a cartridge blocking portion spaced from the displaceable portion in a direction of cartridge insertion. The displaceable portion has a cartridge-type first specific distance measured from the cartridge blocking portion, and the cartridge blocking portion has a first position within the cartridge opening, and a second position adjacent the cartridge opening. The discriminating system assembly also includes a displacer device formed on a surface of a cartridge being inserted into the cartridge opening, and has a cartridge-type specific second distance measured from a lead edge of a cartridge of the type of cartridge being inserted. The cartridge-type specific second distance determines a correct cartridge when it is equal to the cartridge-type specific first distance, and the displacer device extends continuously and uniformly in a direction transverse to the direction of cartridge insertion, so as to enable non-burdensome, orientation-independent loading of a cartridge into the cartridge opening.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Binns C Handy