Rotating Input Tray for An Automatic Document Feeder Of An Imaging Apparatus

Abstract

A rotating input tray for an automatic document feeder of an imaging apparatus includes a document tray configured to hold the document and to supply the document to the input of the automatic document feeder in a document feed direction, and a pivot device coupling the document tray to the component of the imaging apparatus, the pivot device providing a document tray axis of rotation, wherein the document tray and the pivot device are configured to permit the document tray to rotate about the document tray axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position, the closed position being adjacent to the input for supplying the documents to the automatic document feeder, and the open position being away from and exposing both the input and the exit of the automatic document feeder.

1 . A rotating input tray for an automatic document feeder of an imaging apparatus, said automatic document feeder having an input for receiving a document in a document feed direction and an exit adjacent said input for discharging said document onto a discharge tray, said imaging apparatus having a component mounting said rotating input tray, comprising:
 a document tray configured to hold said document and to supply said document to said input in said document feed direction; and   a pivot device coupling said document tray to said component of said imaging apparatus, said pivot device providing a document tray axis of rotation,   wherein said document tray and said pivot device are configured to permit said document tray to rotate about said document tray axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position, said closed position being adjacent to said input for supplying said documents to said automatic document feeder, and said open position being away from and exposing both said input and said exit.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating input tray of  claim 1 , wherein said document tray axis of rotation is substantially parallel to said document feed direction. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating input tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch configured to secure said document tray in said closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating input tray of  claim 3 , further comprising a latch spring configured to spring load said latch. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating input tray of  claim 3 , further comprising a bias spring configured to bias said document tray to said open position. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating input tray of  claim 1 , said imaging apparatus having a body, wherein said component of said imaging apparatus is a scanner lid pivotably attached to said body about a scanner lid axis of rotation, said scanner lid being configured to rotate about said scanner lid axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating input tray of  claim 1 , said document tray including a document edge guide configured to center said document relative to said automatic document feeder. 
     
     
         8 . The rotating input tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a detent feature configured to retain said document tray in said closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The rotating input tray of  claim 8 , said detent feature being further configured to retain said document tray in said open position. 
     
     
         10 . The rotating input tray of  claim 9 , said detent feature including a spring-loaded cam and follower arrangement having a spring, a cam, and a follower, said spring acting against said cam and said follower to retain said document tray in said open position and in said closed position. 
     
     
         11 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a scanner;   an automatic document feeder having an input for receiving a document in a document feed direction and an exit adjacent said input for discharging said document, said automatic document feeder being configured to provide said document to said scanner and remove said document from said scanner;   a discharge tray configured to receive said document discharged from said exit; and   a rotating input tray, said rotating input tray including:
 a document tray configured to hold said document and to supply said document to said input in said document feed direction; and 
 a pivot device coupling said document tray to a component of said imaging apparatus, said pivot device providing a document tray axis of rotation, 
 wherein said document tray and said pivot device are configured to permit said document tray to rotate about said document tray axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position, said closed position being adjacent to said input for supplying said documents to said automatic document feeder, and said open position being away from and exposing both said input and said exit. 
   
     
     
         12 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said document tray axis of rotation is substantially parallel to said document feed direction. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , said rotating input tray further including a latch configured to secure said document tray in said closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 13 , said rotating input tray further including a latch spring configured to spring load said latch. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 13 , said rotating input tray further including a bias spring configured to bias said document tray to said open position. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a body, wherein said component of said imaging apparatus is a scanner lid pivotably attached to said body about a scanner lid axis of rotation, said scanner lid being configured to rotate about said scanner lid axis of rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , said document tray including a document edge guide configured to center said document relative to said automatic document feeder. 
     
     
         18 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , said rotating input tray further including a detent feature configured to retain said document tray in said closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 18 , said detent feature being further configured to retain said document tray in said open position. 
     
     
         20 . The imaging apparatus of  claim 19 , said detent feature including a spring-loaded cam and follower arrangement having a spring, a cam, and a follower, said spring acting against said cam and said follower to retain said document tray in said open position and in said closed position.