Integrated media input tray with manual feeder

Abstract

An image forming device having a body that receives a removable media input tray. The media input tray comprises a manual feed section and an input tray section each for feeding a media sheet to an aligner nip. The manual feed section includes a channel through which a user slides a media sheet into a main media path. The input tray section includes a space for holding a stack of media sheets that are individually picked and moved into the main media path.

1 . An input device for inputting media sheets into an image forming apparatus, the device comprising: 
 an input section having a holding area sized to accommodate a stack of the media sheets; and    a manual feed section having an elongated channel sized to receive media sheets;    the input section and the manual feed section being in substantially planar alignment and housed in a single unit removably positioned within the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a first media path extends through the input section to an exit port and a second media path extends through the manual feed section to the exit port.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor positioned at the exit port to detect media sheets moving along the first and second media paths.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a first media path extending through the input section has a smaller radius than a second media path extending through the manual feed section.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an edge guide positioned at the entrance to the elongated channel to aligning a side edge of the media sheets, the edge guide having an elongated shape with about one-third of the length extending outward from the entrance, and a remaining two-thirds of the length being positioned within the elongated channel.  
   
   
       6 . An input device for inputting media sheets into an image forming apparatus, the device comprising: 
 an input tray section having a holding area sized to receive media sheets;    a first media path leading from the holding area to an exit port;    a manual feed section having a channel that extends from an inlet to the exit port, and    a second media path leading from the inlet to the exit port;    the input section and the manual feed section being housed in a single unit removably positioned within the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a third media path extending from a top side to a bottom side of the device.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet of the second media path is on a front side of the device.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising an edge guide positioned at the inlet to aligning side edges of the media sheets, the edge guide partially extending outward from the inlet.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein a radius of the second media path is larger than the first media path.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the exit port is positioned vertically above the inlet and the holding area.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the input section and the manual feed section are in a substantially planar alignment.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a media sensor positioned to detect the media sheets moving along each of the first and second media paths.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming device comprising: 
 a body having a front face    an image formation section positioned within the body and having a media path;    an input section removably positioned within the body, the input section having a tray section sized to accommodate a plurality of media sheets in a stacked configuration and a first media path extending between the tray section and an exit port, the input section further having a manual feed section having a channel that extends from an inlet to the exit port;    the input section being movably positioned within the body between a closed orientation with the exit port aligned with the media path, and an open orientation extending outward from the front face with the tray section accessible.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the media path extends substantially vertically through the body, and with the input section in the closed orientation the input section is aligned on a first side of the media path and the manual feed section is aligned on a second side of the media path.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the input section is positioned below the media path.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the tray section and the manual feed section are aligned in a substantially planar arrangement.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising rails positioned along the sides of the input section that mate with corresponding rails in the body to laterally slide the input section into and out of the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising an aligner roll positioned within the body and being aligned with the exit port when the input section is in the closed orientation.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a sensor to detect the media sheet moving along channel and the first media path and causing the aligner roll to rotate in a reverse direction for a predetermined time period.