Paper cassettes to adjust between different positions

Abstract

An example paper cassette includes a cassette portion; a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the paper cassette, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; and a length selection mechanism to: mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions, while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position.

1 . A paper cassette comprising:
 a cassette portion;   a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the paper cassette, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; and   a length selection mechanism to:
 mechanically select one deployment position of the different deployment positions, while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and 
 lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein the length selection mechanism comprises:
 slots respectively associated with the different deployment positions;   a biased portion to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position; and   an adjustable blocking mechanism to adjustably block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the one deployment position.   
     
     
         3 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein the length selection mechanism comprises:
 slots, at the sliding portion, respectively associated with the different deployment positions;   a biased portion, at the cassette portion, to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position; and   an adjustable blocking mechanism to block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the deployment position.   
     
     
         4 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein the length selection mechanism comprises:
 slots in a sidewall of the sliding portion, the slots respectively associated with the different deployment positions, the slots positioned perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sliding portion such that respective openings of respective slots at the sidewall are parallel to the direction of movement;   a biased portion to mate with the slots as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, the biased portion biased to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sliding portion and into the respective openings of the slots; and   an adjustable blocking mechanism to block, or unblock, the slots such that a first slot with which the biased portion mates, as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, is a respective slot associated with the deployment position.   
     
     
         5 . The paper cassette of  claim 1 , wherein the length selection mechanism includes an adjustable mechanism that is manually adjustable while the sliding portion is in the shipping position to select the one deployment position. 
     
     
         6 . A paper cassette comprising:
 a cassette portion;   a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the cassette portion, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to a first position and a second position at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length;   a first slot and a second slot at the sliding portion respectively associated with the first position and the second position;   a biased portion at the cassette portion to mate with the first slot or the second slot as the sliding portion slides relative to the cassette portion from the shipping position, the first slot being closer to the biased portion than the second slot when the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and   an adjustable blocking mechanism to adjustably block, or unblock, at least the first slot such that when the first slot is unblocked, the biased portion mates with the first slot, placing the sliding portion into the first position, and when the first slot is blocked, the biased portion mates with the second slot, placing the sliding portion into the second position.   
     
     
         7 . The paper cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises:
 a flexible arm biased into a blocking position in the first slot to block the first slot; and   a locking mechanism to reversibly lock the flexible arm into an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.   
     
     
         8 . The paper cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises:
 a flexible arm biased into a blocking position in the first slot to block the first slot; and   a locking mechanism to reversibly lock the flexible arm into an unblocking position to unblock the first slot, the locking mechanism comprising a combination of a protrusion from the flexible arm and an aperture in the sliding portion, the protrusion to mate with the aperture to reversibly lock the flexible arm into the unblocking position.   
     
     
         9 . The paper cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises:
 a rotatable arm to rotate between; a blocking position, to block the first slot; and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.   
     
     
         10 . The paper cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable blocking mechanism comprises:
 a slidable arm to move between: a blocking position, to block the first slot; and an unblocking position to unblock the first slot.   
     
     
         11 . A printer comprising:
 a chassis;   a paper cassette comprising:
 a cassette portion to slide out of, and into, the chassis; 
 a sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to adjust a length of the cassette portion, the sliding portion initially being in a shipping position defining a shipping length of the paper cassette and deployable to different deployment positions at which the paper cassette is longer than the shipping length; 
 a length selection mechanism to:
 lock the sliding portion at one deployment position, of the different deployment positions, relative to the cassette portion when the sliding portion first slides from the shipping position; and 
 mechanically select the one deployment position while the sliding portion is in the shipping position; and 
 
   a catch mechanism to catch the sliding portion relative to the chassis as the cassette portion first slides out of the chassis, to cause the sliding portion to slide relative to the cassette portion to cause the length selection mechanism to lock the sliding portion at the one deployment position.   
     
     
         12 . The printer of  claim 11 , wherein the catch mechanism comprises a protrusion from the sliding portion or the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The printer of  claim 11 , wherein the chassis comprises an opening at a side adjacent the sliding portion,
 wherein, in the shipping position, the sliding portion is within the chassis, or flush with the chassis, and   wherein, in the one deployment position, the sliding portion extends from the chassis through the opening.   
     
     
         14 . The printer of  claim 11 , wherein the length selection mechanism includes a biased portion to mate with slots at the cassette portion to lock the sliding portion at one deployment position, the biased portion being manually accessible while the cassette portion extends out the chassis to move the biased portion out of a slot. 
     
     
         15 . The printer of  claim 11 , wherein the length selection mechanism includes an adjustable mechanism that is manually accessible while the sliding portion is in the shipping position, to select the one deployment position, and further manually accessible while the cassette portion extends out the chassis.