1. Printer assembly configured to be arranged on a support surface, the printer assembly comprising:
a medium delivery station;
a medium input station; and
a printing station comprising a moveably arranged element;
wherein
the printer assembly extends vertically between a first end and a second end, the printer being configured to be supported on the support surface at the first end;
the printing station is arranged closer to the first end than the medium delivery station and closer to the first end than the medium input station,
a direction of movement of the moveably arranged element has at least a substantial horizontal component, and
the medium delivery station, the medium input station and the printing station are arranged along a line vertically extending between the first end and the second end such that a foot-print of the printer assembly is not substantially larger than a largest foot-print of the medium input station, the medium delivery station and the printing station.
2. Printer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the medium delivery station is arranged along the line extending between the first end and the second end at a user interaction position.
3. Printer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printer assembly further comprises a medium transport unit, the medium transport unit being configured to transport the medium from the printing station to the medium delivery station.
4. Printer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the medium transport unit comprises a medium guide means for guiding the medium towards the delivery station.
5. Printer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the medium transport unit comprises a nip for engaging the medium and for transporting the medium towards the medium delivery station.
6. Printer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the nip is moveably arranged for moving from an output terminal of the printing station to an input terminal of the delivery station such that the nip is configured to
engage a portion of the medium at the output terminal of the printing station;
hold the medium while moving to the input terminal of the delivery station; and
disengage said portion of the medium at the input terminal of the delivery station.
7. Printer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the delivery station is configured to receive a number of printed mediums on a stack and to position a leading edge of each respective printed medium in the stack at a predetermined delivery position, wherein the predetermined delivery position is dependent on the respective paper size.
8. Printer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printer assembly further comprises a scanning device for scanning an original image medium, the scanning device being arranged on the line extending between the first end and the second end and the printing station is arranged closer to the first end than the scanning device.
9. Printer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the printer assembly further comprises a scanning device for scanning an original image medium, the scanning device being arranged on the line extending between the first end and the second end and closer to the second end than the printing station and wherein the medium transport unit is further configured to receive an original image medium and to transport the original image medium to the medium delivery station.
10. Printer assembly according to claim 9, wherein the delivery station is configured to receive a number of mediums on a stack and to position a leading edge of each respective medium in the stack at a predetermined delivery position, wherein the predetermined delivery position is dependent on a type of the medium, the type being selected from a group of types comprising a printed medium originating from the print station and an original image medium originating from the scanning device.
11. Printer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the medium input station includes rollers configured to feed a medium into the printing station, the medium delivery station, the medium input station and the printing station are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the printer assembly, said longitudinal axis being orthogonal to the support surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An active monitoring system for use with an automatic garage door opener comprising:
means for sending an alert to a remote control unit that is in communication with the automatic garage door opener when a prescribed event occurs within the garage
2. The active monitoring system of claim 1, further including:
means for opening the garage door upon occurrence of the prescribed event.
3. The active monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the remote control unit that is in communication with a main control unit that is in communication with the automatic garage door opener and is configured to send a control signal to the automatic garage door opener to open and close the garage door and to send or receive the alert.
4. The active monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the remote control includes a display that displays an activity log that is stored in memory of the remote control and journals at least a time and date when the garage door is opened and closed.
5. The active monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the remote control includes:
a user interface that permits a main menu to be accessed for performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of: scrolling the activity log, setting a type of alert, and changing a display format.
6. The active monitoring system of claim 4, further including:
a clock that is displayed on the display to indicate a current time and to display a time entry for each entry in the activity log.
7. The active monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the display displays a graphic icon that indicates whether the garage door is in an open position or a closed position and an icon that represents the occurrence of the predetermined event.
8. The active monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alert is selected from a group consisting of an audio alert, a visual alert, and a combination of audio and visual alerts.
9. The active monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the prescribed event is the detection of a gas within the garage at a concentration greater than a predetermined threshold.
10. The active monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of smoke and carbon monoxide.
11. The active monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the means for sending the alert includes a detector for detecting the presence of gas in concentration greater than a threshold amount.
12. The active monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the detector is a carbon monoxide detector that sends an alert signal to the main control unit when carbon monoxide in the garage exceeds the threshold amount.
13. The active monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the means for opening the garage door is configured such that upon detection of a prescribed gas in a concentration exceeding a threshold concentration, a detector sends an alert signal to the main control unit which in turn sends a control signal to the garage door opener causing the garage door to open.
14. The active monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alert is in the form of a text message that is displayed on a display of a remote control unit that is in communication with a main control unit associated with the automatic garage door opener.
15. The active monitoring system of claim 2, further including:
a network over which the alert is delivered to a handheld device which comprises the remote control unit.
16. The active monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the handheld device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of: a cellular phone, a pager, a personal computer, and a personal digital assistant.
17. The active monitoring system of claim 16, wherein a main control unit of the garage door opener is in wireless communication with a website that includes a user accessible menu that includes a garage door closing feature that permits a command signal to be sent over the network to the main control unit causing the garage door to be closed.
18. The active monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the alert comprises an email that includes a link to the website.
19. The active monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the detector is capable of detecting between two different types of gases and the alert is specific to the detected gas.
20. The active monitoring system of claim 3, further including:
a video surveillance system that is operatively connected to the main control unit such that upon the occurrence of the prescribed event, the video surveillance system can be activated via the remote control unit to view an interior of the garage.
21. An automatic garage door opener comprising:
a mechanical mechanism operatively coupled to the garage door for opening and closing thereof;
a main control unit for processing command signals to open and close the garage door;
a handheld device in operative communication with the main control unit and capable of sending the command signals;
an active monitoring system that is operatively associated and in communication with the main control unit and the handheld device, the active monitoring system being configured to send an alert to the handheld device after the garage door is open and upon the occurrence of a prescribed event; and
a network over which the alert is delivered to the handheld device; and
wherein the prescribed event is the detection of a gas within the garage at a concentration greater than a predetermined threshold, the main control unit being configured to deliver a control signal to open the garage door upon the occurrence of the prescribed event.
22. The active monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the main control unit and the handheld device of the garage door opener are in wireless communication via the network with a website that includes a user accessible menu that includes a garage door closing feature that permits a command signal to be sent over the network to the main control unit causing the garage door to be closed after the alert is sent to the handheld device.
23. The active monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the user accessible menu provides access to a video surveillance system that is operatively connected to the main control unit such that upon the occurrence of the prescribed event, the video surveillance system can be activated via the remote control unit to view an interior of the garage.
24. The active monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the handheld device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of: a cellular phone, a pager, a personal computer, and a personal digital assistant.