IP Library Granted Patent US 8,591,022
Granted Patent B2
US 8,591,022 · App. 13/118,651 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Printing apparatus with pivotable duplexing unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,591,022
App. No.
13/118,651
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pivotable duplexing unit is attached to the wall of a printer using a hinge having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base. A latch and catch holds the pivotable duplexing unit in a closed position relative to the wall of the printing apparatus. The wall includes a support member for the hinge, and the pivotable duplexing unit further includes a pin for pivoting in a support member of the hinge. The support member includes a bearing surface that is substantially parallel to the base. The pin member includes an end that makes pivotable contact with the bearing surface.

Claims (39)

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a base to support the printing apparatus during operation;

a wall extending at an angle from the base;

a print region;

a media input holder;

a media advance system for advancing media from the media input holder to the print region for printing on a first side of a sheet of media; and

a pivotable duplexing unit comprising a duplexing media path for reversing the sheet of media in order to print on a second side of the sheet opposite the first side, wherein the pivotable duplexing unit is attached to the wall using a hinge having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, and wherein the wall includes a support member of the hinge and the pivotable duplexing unit includes a pin member of the hinge for pivoting relative to the support member of the hinge.

2. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , further including a first latch and catch for holding the pivotable duplexing unit in a closed position relative to the wall of the printing apparatus.

3. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member of the hinge includes a bearing surface that is substantially parallel to the base, and wherein the pin member includes an end that makes pivotable contact with the bearing surface.

4. The printing apparatus of claim 3 , the pivotable duplexing unit further comprising:

a first end including a projection for latching the pivotable duplexing unit in a closed position; and

a second end opposite the first end, the second end including:

the pin member of the hinge; and

a spring member for biasing the projection into a corresponding hole when the pivotable duplexing unit is in the closed position.

5. The printing apparatus of claim 4 , the pin member including a D shape, wherein a round portion of the D shape is in contact with a face of the support member of the hinge when the pivotable duplexing unit is latched in the closed position.

6. The printing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the round portion of the D shape is not in contact with the face of the support member of the hinge when an unlatching force is applied to the first end of the pivotable duplexing unit.

7. The printing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a screw secures the pin member of the hinge into the support member of the hinge.

8. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , the media input holder being substantially parallel to the base and located at a first plane proximate to the base, and the print region being substantially parallel to the base and located at a second plane distal to the base, the media advance system comprising:

a pick roller that is driven to advance a sheet of media from the media input holder;

a turn roller that is driven to further advance the sheet of media received from the pick roller toward the second plane; and

a feed roller that is driven to further advance the sheet of media to the print region for printing on the first side.

9. The printing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a media end sensor disposed between the turn roller and the feed roller.

10. The printing apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a duplexing media path support member, wherein the duplexing media support member faces the pivotable duplexing unit when the pivotable duplexing unit is in a closed position.

11. The printing apparatus of claim 10 , the pivotable duplexing unit further comprising:

an inner guide member that is disposed adjacent the duplexing media support member when the pivotable duplexing unit is in a closed position;

an inner cover member that is disposed adjacent the inner guide member; and

an outer cover member that is disposed adjacent the inner cover member.

12. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the inner guide member includes a surface having a first curvature proximate the base and a second curvature distal to the base, the second curvature having an opposite sense relative to the first curvature.

13. The printing apparatus of claim 12 , the inner guide member further including a pinch roller for holding a sheet of media against the turn roller, the pinch roller being located proximate a portion of the surface having the second curvature.

14. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , the pivotable duplexing unit further comprising a second latch to affix the inner guide member to the inner cover member.

15. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , the pivotable duplexing unit further comprising a third latch to affix the inner cover member to the outer cover member.

16. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , the inner cover member including a curved surface and the outer cover member including a curved surface, wherein the curved surface of the inner cover member faces and is spaced apart from the curved surface of the outer cover member.

17. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , the pivotable duplexing unit not including any rollers that are driven to advance the sheet of media through the duplexing media path.

18. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , the pivotable duplexing unit including a duplexing advance roller that is driven by a friction wheel that contacts a pinch roller and the duplexing advance roller.

19. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the outer cover member comprises the pin member that is part of the hinge.

20. The printing apparatus of claim 11 , the inner guide member comprising:

a first end including a projection for latching the pivotable duplexing unit in a closed position relative to the wall of the printing apparatus; and

a second end opposite the first end, the second end including a spring member for biasing the projection into a corresponding hole when the pivotable duplexing unit is in the closed position.

21. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , the pivotable duplexing unit being located proximate to the base, the printing apparatus further comprising a scanning apparatus that is located distal to the base.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST) INC.; KODAK AMERICAS LTD.; KODAK REALTY INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES LTD.; NPEC INC.
Reel/Frame 052773/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; PFC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 049901/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: QUALEX, INC.; EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 050239/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045095/0299 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045095/0317 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2017
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: MIDWEST ATHLETICS AND SPORTS ALLIANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: MIDWEST ATHLETICS AND SPORTS ALLIANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0502 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS SENIOR DIP AGENT; WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS JUNIOR DIP AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
Reel/Frame 031157/0451 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE
Reel/Frame 031158/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031159/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031162/0117 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 030122/0235 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2012
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 028201/0420 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2011
From: CHUANG, SIEW PERN; MURRAY, RICHARD A.; RAO, VENKATESH MYSORE NAGARAJA; NG, KENG LEONG
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026562/0983 →