The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2007
Daniel Guerand, Lexington, KY (US);
Robert Rosacker, Georgetown, KY (US);
Scott S. Williams, Versailles, KY (US);
Daniel Guerand, Lexington, KY (US);
Robert Rosacker, Georgetown, KY (US);
Scott S. Williams, Versailles, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
The present application is directed to devices and methods for directing media sheets moving along a media path within an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, a gate is positioned in proximity to the media path. The gate may include an elongated shape that extends across at least a section of the media path. A fluid damper may be operatively connected to the gate and may include a shaft and a chamber that holds fluid. The shaft is rotationally positioned with a first section within the chamber and a second section extending outward from the chamber. Rotation of the shaft in a first direction may force the fluid within the chamber to move relative to the body and cause the gate to move to a first position in the media path to direct the media sheets towards a first part of the media path. Rotation of the shaft in a second direction may force the fluid within the chamber to move relative to the body and cause the gate to move to a second position to direct the media sheets towards a second part of the media path.