Lexmark International, Inc.

Michael Earl Kennedy

Michael Wesley Baskette

Michael Craig Leemhuis

Armando V Flores

Randall Steven Gall

Billy Carl Chappel

A job offset assembly to separate into multiple stacks the output from a copier, printer or the like, includes a platform upon which a plurality of offset assemblies are rotatably mounted, each offset assembly including a skew roller which turns about an axis that, when the offset assemblies are rotated, is not parallel to the axis about which a drive roller associated with the skew roller turns. A gear or rack-and-pinion type offset actuation system enables the offset assemblies to rotate repeatedly back and forth between predetermined positions, so that as media encounters the skew rollers it is directed against a reference edge and into an output stack associated with the offset assembly position.

Job offset assembly

A printer has one or more stacked sheet output units on top of it for increasing the printer's output capacity. Each unit includes a housing having a diverter as does the printer. The position of each diverter is controlled by a diverter/drive mechanism in the unit stacked on top of it. In its first position, the diverter of the printer or the unit diverts a fed sheet from a substantially vertical path therein to a sheet receiving area. In its second position, the diverter allows the fed sheet to be advanced by driven rolls to the unit thereabove. The feed rolls of a unit are driven only when the diverter in each of the printer and in any unit therebeneath are in the second position.

Modular output stackers for printers

A media pass through configuration for printers in which media is fed from superimposed and removable media holders, such as trays, through a media path to a print engine. A rack disposed in either the frame of the printer or other modular and stackable media option, is dimensioned for receiving at least one media carrying, removable tray disposed beneath the print engine. A door, hinge and latch combination, the hinge connected intermediate the door and either the frame of the printer or the frame of the modular option so that the door opens in a plane swingable substantially about one longitudinally extending edge of the media path to the print engine, and outwardly and away from the front of the tray. The latch is positioned remotely from the hinge for moveably attaching the door to the printer in a position confronting the tray when the door is in a closed or first position, and open for facilitating tray removal when the door is in an open or second position. A media guide is mounted on the interior of the door for guiding different media in front of the tray, into the media guide path and to the print engine. In one instance, the media guide includes a chute having converging interior walls therein for urging media therethrough in a predetermined path. In another configuration, the media guide includes a portion of the chute on the door and a second portion of the chute formed on the portion of the tray confronting the interior of the door. In either of the forgoing, the doors may be individually opened to allow entrance to the confronting media tray or ganged to permit simultaneous access to all the trays and media being fed to the print engine.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Michael Earl Kennedy