Media-feed assemblies

Abstract

Media-feed mechanisms for business machines are provided. A media-feed mechanism comprises a frame, a stopper, a rotary member, and a swing gear mechanism. The rotary member comprises a cam contacting the stopper and a driven gear fixed to the cam. When the gear mechanism is in a first position, a first gear thereof engages the driven gear and rotates the cam in a first direction, to impel the stopper from a first angle to a second angle. When the swing gear mechanism is in a second position, a second gear thereof engages the driven gear and rotates the cam in the first direction, such that the stopper rotates from the second angle to the first angle.

1 . A media-feed assembly of a business machine, comprising:
 a frame, comprising a tray with at least one media sheet disposed therein;   a stopper, pivotally connected to the frame and rotatable with respect to the media sheet between a first angle and a second angle;   a swing gear mechanism, pivotally connected to the frame, comprising a driving gear, a first gear train, and a second gear train, wherein the first and second gear trains are engaged with the driving gear; and   a rotary member, comprising a cam contacting the stopper and a driven gear fixed to the cam, the driven gear comprising an irregular toothless portion, wherein when the swing gear mechanism is in a first position, the first gear train is engaged with the driven gear, to rotate the cam along a first direction and impel the stopper from the first angle to the second angle, and when the swing gear mechanism is in a second position, the second gear train is engaged with the driven gear, to rotate the cam along the first direction and return the stopper from the second angle to the second angle.   
     
     
         2 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the first gear train meets the toothless portion of the driven gear, the swing gear mechanism is disengaged from the driven gear, and the stopper is held in the second angle. 
     
     
         3 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the second gear train meets the toothless portion of the driven gear, the swing gear mechanism is disengaged from the driven gear, and the stopper is held in the first angle. 
     
     
         4 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises a shaft pivotally connected to the frame and a contact portion in contact with the cam. 
     
     
         5 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the contact portion comprises a nub in contact with the cam. 
     
     
         6 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the nub is an elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a feed roller connected to the frame, wherein the media sheet is fed by the feed roller when the stopper is in the second angle. 
     
     
         8 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the media sheet is blocked from feeding by the stopper when the stopper is in the first angle. 
     
     
         9 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second angle exceeds the first angle. 
     
     
         10 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first gear train comprises an odd number of first gears, and the second gear train comprises an even number of second gears. 
     
     
         11 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the swing gear mechanism further comprises an arm with the first and second gear trains rotatably connected thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the swing gear mechanism is moved between the first and second positions with the driving gear. 
     
     
         13 . The media-feed assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the driven gear and the cam are monolithically formed in one piece.