Copier or printer component position floating magnetic actuator

Abstract

In a copier or printer a magnetic switch system is often used to indicate or signal the separation, mating, alignment or docking of components movable relative to one another, by the actuation or non-actuation of a magnetic switch on a first such component, such as a fixed frame member, by a magnet or a second such component, such as a manually movable tray, which magnet and magnetic switch are positioned such that as the components are moved together and docked the magnet actuates the magnetic switch. Here, the magnet is resiliently cantilever mounted to the second component to extend out towards the first component in the movement direction by a substantial preset distance (when undocked) sufficient to accommodate and compenaste for a substantial variation in the first and second components docking positions by actuation of the magnetic switch by the magnet anywhere within the range of the preset distance by flexing of the spring with further movement of the components towards one another after the magnet initially actuates the magnetic switch. The spring has a sufficiently low resiliency to not interfere with the normal relative movement of the components. The spring is also sufficiently elongated in the direction transverse the movement direction to maintain actuation of the magnetic switch by the magnet within the range of the preset distance irrespective of the flexing of the spring.