Fan-fold paper catcher for a printer

Claim 2

In a paper catcher for a printer, of the type in which fan-fold paper delivered from the platen of the printer to a paper guide device and is guided by a paper guide to a paper collection tray above the printer, the improvement wherein: the paper guide comprises a paper reversing section and an input section including an upper paper guide pivotally connected to said paper guide device and adapted to extend immediately adjacent the platen to ride on the paper and prevent buckling with respect to the fan-fold structure thereof, and a lower paper guide spaced from said upper paper guide to define a predetermined paper restriction channel to prevent buckling of the paper.

Claim 3

The improved paper catcher of claim 1, wherein: said lower paper guide comprises at least one flexible member.

Claim 4

The improved paper catcher of claim 1, wherein: said lower paper guide comprises at least one flexible member which may be cut to length define a distal end which corresponds to the distance from the platen to the paper reversing section.

Claim 5

The improved paper catcher of claim 1, wherein: said upper paper guide comprises a member for engaging and riding on the paper.

Claim 6

The improved paper catcher of claim 4, wherein: said upper paper guide comprises a channel therein; and said member is adjustably mounted in said channel for forward/rearward adjustment.

Claim 7

The improved paper catcher of claim 1, wherein: said upper paper guide comprises a spring for engaging said paper reversing section to apply additional downward force to the paper.

Claim 8

The improved paper catcher of claim 6, wherein: said spring is pivotally mounted on said upper paper guide for selective use to engage or not engage said paper reversing section of said guide.

Claim 9

In a paper catcher for a printer, of the type in which fan-fold paper delivered from the platen of the printer to a paper guide device and is guided by a paper guide to a paper collection tray above the printer, the improvement wherein: said paper guide device comprises a paper exit, a member extending across and above said exit and pivotally connected to said paper guide and free to ride on the paper as it rises when leaving said exit, and limit means for engaging and holding said member above the paper when the paper begins to lower due to gravity.

Claim 10

In a paper catcher for a printer, of the type in which fan-fold paper delivered from the platen of the printer to a paper guide device and is guided by a paper guide to a paper collection tray above the printer, the improvement wherein: said paper guide device comprises a paper exit, a member extending across and above said exit and pivotally connected to said paper guide and free to ride on the paper as it rises when leaving said exit, and limit means for engaging and holding said member above the paper when the paper begins to lower due to gravity.

Claim 11

The improved paper catcher of claim 8, wherein: said member includes a shaped free distal edge including a plurality of spaced fingers for engaging the paper and decreasing friction and static.

Claim 12

In a paper catcher for a printer, of the type in which fan-fold paper delivered from the platen of the printer to a paper guide device and is guided by a paper guide to a paper collection tray above the printer, the improvement wherein: hinge means pivotally connect the paper collection tray to the paper guide, said hinge means comprising an oval-shaped loop defining first and second positions, and a hinge pin in said loop, the paper collection tray pivotal and longitudinally movable on said hinge pin between a paper collection position and a storage position, the paper collection tray including at least one first latch element and the paper guide including at least one second latch element cooperable with said at least one first latch element to latch the paper collection tray in the storage position by rotating said paper collection tray on said pin in the first loop position so that said at least one first latch element bypasses said at least one second latch element and by releasing said paper collection tray so that said pin enters said second loop position and said at least one first latch element engages behind said at least one second latch element.

Claim 13

In a paper catcher for a printer, of the type in which fan-fold paper delivered from the platen of the printer to a paper guide device and is guided by a paper guide to a paper collection tray above the printer, the improvement wherein: hinge means pivotally connect the paper collection tray to the paper guide, said hinge means comprising an oval-shaped loop defining first and second positions, and a hinge pin in said loop, the paper collection tray pivotal and longitudinally movable on said hinge pin between a paper collection position and a storage position, the paper collection tray including at least one first latch element and the paper guide including at least one second latch element cooperable with said at least one first latch element to latch the paper collection tray in the storage position by rotating said paper collection tray on said pin in the first loop position so that said at least one first latch element bypasses said at least one second latch element and by releasing said paper collection tray so that said pin enters said second loop position and said at least one first latch element engages behind said at least one second latch element.

Claim 14

A paper catcher for guiding, folding and stacking fan-fold paper as such paper emerges from the platen of a printer, comprising: leg means; a body mounted vertically on said leg means and including first slot means defining an entrance slot, second slot means defining an exit slot, and first guide channel means defining a first guide channel extending between said entrance and exit slots; a paper collection tray connected to and supported by said body below said exit slot; and second guide channel means connected to and supported by said body and defining a flexible second guide channel, said second guide channel means including fingers extending from said body to receive the paper thereon as it exits the platen and a pivotally mounted member for receiving the paper therebelow, said pivotally mounted member including a logitudinally-adjustable element for riding on the top surface of the paper, whereby the tendency of the paper to fold up and down is restricted to prevent jamming.

Claim 15

A paper catcher for guiding, folding and stacking fan-fold paper as such paper emerges from the platen of a printer, comprising: leg means; a body mounted vertically on said leg means and including first slot means defining an entrance slot, second slot means defining an exit slot, and first guide channel means defining a first guide channel extending between said entrance and exit slots; a paper collection tray connected to and supported by said body below said exit slot; and second guide channel means connected to and supported by said body and defining a flexible second guide channel, said second guide channel means including fingers extending from said body to receive the paper thereon as it exits the platen and a pivotally mounted member for receiving the paper therebelow, said pivotally mounted member including a logitudinally-adjustable element for riding on the top surface of the paper, whereby the tendency of the paper to fold up and down is restricted to prevent jamming.

Claim 16

The paper catcher of claim 11, wherein: said pivotally mounted member includes a passageway therein extending towards its distal end; and said element is slideably adjustable in said passageway.

Claim 17

The paper catcher of claim 11, wherein: said element comprises a wire including an arcuate distal end.

Claim 18

The paper catcher of claim 11, and further comprising: a spring engaging said body and said pivotally-mounted member to aid said element in holding down the paper.

Claim 19

The paper catcher of claim 14, and further comprising: means pivotally mounting said spring for selective engagement and disengagement.

Claim 20

The paper catcher of claim 11, and further comprising: a shelf mounted on said leg means for supporting a printer below said paper collection tray.

Claim 21

The paper catcher of claim 11, and further comprising: a pair of limit projections mounted adjacent said exit slot; and a member hinged to said body above said exit slot to ride on the paper as it tends to rise and to engage said limit projections and disengage the paper as it folds and falls due to gravity.

Claim 22

The paper catcher of claim 17, wherein: said hinged member comprises fingers at its distal edge to minimize friction against the paper.

Claim 23

The paper catcher of claim 11, and further comprising: pivot means mounting said paper collection tray to said body, said pivot means comprising first and second pivot pins carried by said body, and first and second elongate loops carried by said paper collection tray and each receiving a respective pivot pin therein and each defining a first position for the respective pin when the tray is in a paper collection position and a second position for the respective pivot pin when the tray is rotated to a storage position; and cooperable latch means on said body and on said paper collection tray for releasably latching said paper collection tray in the storage position.

Claim 24

The paper catcher of claim 19, wherein: said cooperable latch means comprises a pair of first latch members on said body adjacent opposite ends of said exit slot, and hook-shaped second latch members on opposite sides of said tray for hooking behind the respective first latch members.

Claim 25

The paper catcher of claim 19, and further comprising: support means for supporting said paper collection tray in the paper collection position including a pair of spaced apart feet on said paper collection tray, and a rest surface on said body for receiving said feet.

Claim 26

The paper catcher of claim 21, wherein: said support means further comprises an edge extending along the width of said tray, and a ridge projecting from said body to be engaged by said edge.

Claim 27

The paper catcher of claim 11, wherein: said paper collection tray comprises a hinge with a rear section hinged to said body, a floor and at least one member extending from said floor a distance above said hinge to prevent collected fan-fold paper from moving into the hinge area.

Claim 28

The paper catcher of claim 11, and further comprising: first hinge means pivotally connecting said pivotally-mounted member to said body; second hinge means pivotally-connecting said paper collection tray to said body above said pivotally mounted member; a projection extending from said paper collection tray, said projection being elongate and including an enlarged edge; and elongate latch slot means projecting from said pivotally-mounted member and defining a slot, said elongate latch slot means including a pair of spaced side walls and a pair of transverse walls extending from respective ones of said side walls over a predetermined extent of said slot, said pivotally-mounted member rotatable to engage said paper collection tray whereupon, in response to further rotation said projection is received in said slot to a location behind said spaced side walls; and said paper collection tray comprises means pivotally and longitudinally mounting the same such that vertical lifting of said paper collection tray releases said projection from said slot.