Formatter cage

Abstract

A formatter cage is disclosed. The formatter cage includes a three point mounting system for expansion modules.

2 . The formatter cage of claim  1 , further comprising a hole adjacent to the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The formatter cage of claim  1 , further comprising a knockout section in the faceplate, wherein the knockout section is removably disposed in the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The formatter cage of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of holes on opposite sides of the knockout section. 
     
     
         5 . The formatter cage of  claim 3 , further comprising a hole on each of two opposite sides of the slot to receive screws to hold an end of the expansion module. 
     
     
         6 . The formatter of claim  1 , wherein the formatter PCB is to supply a voltage on a power rail of the connector and the voltage varies based on an identification code supplied by the expansion module to the PCB. 
     
     
         7 . The formatter of claim  1 , wherein, based on an identification code supplied by the expansion module, the formatter PCB supplies a first non-zero voltage and a second, different non-zero voltage. 
     
     
         8 . A printer comprising:
 a housing;   a formatting cage mounted inside the housing, the formatter cage comprising a base connected to two side plates, a back plate, and a faceplate, where the two side plates, the back plate, and the faceplate extend from the base to form an enclosed volume and where a top side of the base is in the enclosed volume;   a formatter printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the top side of the base; and   a knockout in the faceplate, the knockout removable to allow mounting of a larger formatter PCB.   
     
     
         9 . The printer of  claim 8 , wherein the knockout comprises a plurality of knockouts including a first knockout to accommodate a first expansion module and a second knockout to accommodate a second expansion module. 
     
     
         10 . The printer of  claim 9 , wherein the second expansion module connects directly to the first expansion module. 
     
     
         11 . The printer of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second expansion modules are independently selected from the following group of expansion module types: a hard disk drive expansion module, as input/output (I/O) port expansion module, an internet card expansion module, a universal serial bus (USB) port expansion module, a USB hub expansion module, and a security expansion module. 
     
     
         12 . The printer of  claim 9 , further comprising an expansion module mounted to the formatter PCB, wherein the expansion module provides an identification code which modifies a first voltage supplied to a power rail by the formatter PCB. 
     
     
         13 . The printer of  claim 12 , wherein the formatter PCB supplies a second, different, non-zero voltage to the expansion module. 
     
     
         14 . A printer comprising:
 a formatter cage having a faceplate;   a knockout in the faceplate of the formatter cage to provide or enlarge a slot in the faceplate and   a module mourned through the slot in the faceplate and connected to a plug connector of the printer, wherein the mounted module has at most three points of physical contact with other components of the printer including at the slot, at the plug connector, and at a third contact that supports the module.   
     
     
         15 . The printer of  claim 14 , wherein the third contact comprises a screw. 
     
     
         16 . The printer of  claim 14 , wherein the mounted module only makes physical contact at the slot and at the plug connector. 
     
     
         17 . The printer of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second knockout in the faceplate to expand the slot in the faceplate; and   a second module mounted in the expanded slot of the faceplate.   
     
     
         18 . The printer of  claim 14 , wherein the printer is part of a multifunctional device. 
     
     
         19 . The printer of  claim 14 , wherein the module comprises a hard drive. 
     
     
         20 . The printer of  claim 14 , wherein the module comprises a USB hub.