Inkjet printer with retractable cover serving as media guide
View Patent ↗An inkjet printer comprises a body housing a print engine configured to transport and print upon print media; a cover pivotally mounted relative to the body and able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing; a support configured to support the print media guided to the print engine and pivotally mounted relative to the cover so that the support can be retracted between the cover and the body; and a stepper motor for driving a sheet feed roller and a paper transport. The stepper motor drives the paper transport when operated in a forward direction, and drives the sheet feed roller when operated in the reverse direction.
1. An inkjet printer comprising:
a body housing a print engine for transporting print media, and printing upon the print media;
a user interface for facilitating operation of the inkjet printer;
a cover pivotally mounted relative to the body, the cover being pivotal between a first position where the user interface is covered, and a second position where the user interface is revealed, the cover further forming a paper tray in the second position for guiding print media to the print engine;
a support for supporting the print media guided to the print engine, the support having a width substantially equal to that of the cover and being hingedly mounted to the cover and pivotal between an extended and a retracted position; and
a motor for driving a sheet feed roller and a paper transport, wherein
the motor drives the paper transport when operated in a forward direction, and drives the sheet feed roller when operated in the reverse direction.
2. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover defines a print media channel into which the support is retracted.
3. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the cover defines a plurality of parallel support ribs within the channel.
4. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) and at least one operational button configured to control the operation of the print engine.
5. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a paper tray slidably mounted relative to the body, the paper tray being extendable from the body to capture printed print media from the print engine.
6. An inkjet printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support is hingedly mounted to facilitate pivoting of the support against and away from a side of the cover facing the user interface when in the first position.