Document Processing Apparatus Component, Document Processing Apparatus Assembly and Method for Operating the Same

Abstract

A component is disclosed. The component includes a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface and a substantially tubular member attached to and extending away from the upper surface of the base member. The substantially tubular member includes a body formed by an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper lip surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface and a document landing surface. The body includes a thickness (T) extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The document landing surface is connected to the inner surface. The inner surface and the document landing surface define a cavity extending through a portion of a length (L) of the body. An assembly is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component, comprising:
 a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface;   a substantially tubular member attached to and extending away from the upper surface of the base member, wherein the substantially tubular member includes a body formed by an outer surface,
 an inner surface, 
 an upper lip surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein the body includes a thickness (T) extending between the outer surface and the inner surface, and 
 a document landing surface connected to the inner surface, wherein the inner surface and the document landing surface defines a cavity extending through a portion of a length (L) of the body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes at least one passage that provides access to the cavity, wherein the at least one passage includes
 an upper opening formed by the connection of the upper lip surface and the inner surface, and   a side slit extending through the thickness (T) of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The component according to  claim 2 , wherein approximately about ninety-percent of the inner surface of a cross-section of the body forms the cavity to include a circular dimension, wherein approximately about ten-percent of the inner surface of the cross-section of the body arcuately diverges in opposing directions from the circular dimension to form one or more of a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion to form at least a portion of the side slit extending through the thickness (T) of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The component according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a flange connected to the first arcuate portion of the body, wherein the flange includes a curved portion and a substantially linear portion that is connected to the curved portion, wherein the curved portion is connected to and extends away from the first arcuate portion to collectively form a rounded head portion.   
     
     
         5 . The component according to  claim 4 , wherein the flange includes a flange length (L F ) that extends between approximately about the upper lip surface and the document landing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The component according to  claim 3 , wherein the second arcuate portion may flares outwardly to form a curved portion, wherein the second arcuate portion extends along the length (L) of the body between the upper lip surface and the upper surface of the base member to form an elongated stiffening rib connected to the body. 
     
     
         7 . The component according to  claim 6 , wherein the second arcuate portion flares outwardly beyond the curved portion to further include a substantially linear portion having a first end connected to the curved portion and a second end connected to the outer surface of the substantially tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The component according to  claim 2 , wherein the side slit permits direct communication of the document landing surface with the outer surface, wherein the outer surface is in direct communication with the upper surface of the base member. 
     
     
         9 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the document landing surface is elevated away from the upper surface of the base member at a height (H) such that the document landing surface is not co-planar with the upper surface of the base member, wherein the cavity does not extend along the length (L) of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the length (L) of the body extends between approximately about the upper surface of the base member and the upper lip surface. 
     
     
         11 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity defines a cavity length (L C ) extending between approximately about the upper lip surface and terminating at the document landing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the document landing surface includes
 a first document landing surface portion, and   a second document landing surface portion, wherein the first document landing surface portion includes a circular dimension, wherein the second document landing surface portion includes a narrow, elongated dimension.   
     
     
         13 . The component according to  claim 12 , wherein the second document landing surface portion is enclosed by
 a first guide flange, and   a second guide flange, wherein the second document landing surface portion, the first guide flange and the second guide flange collectively form a narrow, elongated document channel having an entrance opening at a first end and an exit opening at a second end.   
     
     
         14 . The component according to  claim 13 , wherein the first guide flange extends substantially perpendicularly from and is connected to the upper surface of the base member, wherein the first guide flange also extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface of the substantially tubular member, wherein the second document landing surface portion extends substantially perpendicularly from a sidewall surface of the first guide flange, wherein the second document landing surface portion is substantially co-planar with the first document landing surface portion, wherein the second guide flange extends substantially perpendicularly from the second document landing surface portion, wherein the second guide flange includes a sidewall surface that is opposingly-arranged with respect to, and, spaced-apart in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the sidewall surface of the first guide flange. 
     
     
         15 . The component according to  claim 13 , wherein the second document landing surface portion is substantially co-planar with and connected directly to and is in direct communication with the first document landing surface portion. 
     
     
         16 . The component according to  claim 13 , wherein the first guide flange extends from a portion of the outer surface and the inner surface of the substantially tubular member, wherein the second guide flange extends substantially perpendicularly from the second document landing surface portion and also extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface and the inner surface of the substantially tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The component according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second guide flanges both originate and extend away from about a rear edge of the base member where the entrance opening is located. 
     
     
         18 . The component according to  claim 17 , wherein the second guide flange includes a tail portion that extends away from the rear edge of the base member. 
     
     
         19 . The component according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide post extending away from the first document landing surface portion.   
     
     
         20 . The component according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an attachment member that extends away from the upper surface of the base member.   
     
     
         21 . The component according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rigidifying member extending away from the lower surface of the base member.   
     
     
         22 . An assembly, comprising:
 a document processor;   the component of  claim 1 ; and   means for attaching the component to the document processor.   
     
     
         23 . The assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the upper surface of the base member is disposed substantially adjacent an underside surface of a base member portion of the document processor, wherein the document landing surface is substantially co-planar with an upper surface of the base member portion of the document processor. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 at least one processed document-receiving bay formed by at least one sidewall of the document processor; and   at least one document catch member that is moveably-disposed relative to the at least one sidewall member of the document processor in at least a rotational relationship with respect to the at least one sidewall member.   
     
     
         25 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein a second leg of the at least one document catch member is shorter than a first leg of the at least one document catch member, wherein the at least one document catch member is movably-disposed in a pulling direction for removing the second leg from a passage formed in a second sidewall member of the at least one sidewall member prior to rotating the first leg that is rotationally-connected to a first sidewall member of the at least one sidewall member such that the at least one document catch member is moveably-disposed relative to the at least one sidewall member of the document processor in a pull relationship in addition to the rotational relationship with respect to the at least one sidewall member. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a ledge extending from the at least one sidewall member of the document processor, wherein a second leg of the at least one document catch member is approximately equal to about, but shorter than a first leg of the at least one document catch member, wherein the second leg is selectively-disposable adjacent the ledge, wherein the first leg is rotationally-connected to a first sidewall member of the at least one sidewall member such that upon rotation of the at least one document catch member the second leg is selectively movable away from the ledge.