The present invention relates to an image forming device and a medium detecting mechanism thereof, and more specifically, to an image forming device capable of detecting a large amount of media and a medium detecting mechanism.
Image forming devices, such as scanners or printers, are widely used in families or offices for bringing convenience in people's lives. The image forming device includes a detecting mechanism at a medium entrance for detecting at least one medium, such as paper, to provide a notification to remind a user of replenishment of at least one printing medium when the at least one printing medium runs out or to inform the user of scanning completion when finishing delivery of at least one scanning medium. The conventional detecting mechanism usually includes a detector and a moving component. The moving component can be driven by the at least one medium to actuate the detector for allowing the detector to generate a corresponding signal. However, a moving range of the moving component is restricted by an internal mechanical space of the image forming device, which only allows a user to place a small amount of media at the medium entrance. When the user places an excessively large amount of media at the medium entrance, the moving component may interfere with another structure, so that the moving component cannot work normally. If a printing operation or a scanning operation requires a large amount of media, the operation needs to be divided into multiple stages, which is not convenient in use.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an image forming device capable of detecting a large amount of media and a medium detecting mechanism for solving the aforementioned problem.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention discloses an image forming device capable of detecting at least one medium. The image forming device includes a casing and a medium detecting mechanism. A medium entrance is formed on the casing. The medium detecting mechanism is disposed adjacent to the medium entrance. The medium detecting mechanism includes a detector, a first pivoting component, a second pivoting component and a resilient component. The detector is disposed inside the casing. The first pivoting component is pivotally disposed on the casing. The first pivoting component includes an abutting end for abutting against the at least one medium entering into the medium entrance. The second pivoting component is movably sleeved on the first pivoting component. The second pivoting component includes a detecting end fixedly connected to a body of the second pivoting component and for actuating the detector to generate a signal. The resilient component is connected to the first pivoting component and the second pivoting component. When the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance and abuts against the abutting end, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component to pivot in a first pivoting direction. When the first pivoting component pivots in the first pivoting direction, the first pivoting component drives the second pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting direction by the resilient component to drive the detecting end of the second pivoting component to move in the first pivoting direction, so that the detecting end of the second pivoting component moving in the first pivoting direction actuates the detector for generating the signal, and when the detecting end of the second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first connecting lug is formed on the first pivoting component. A second connecting lug is formed on the second pivoting component, and the resilient component is connected to the first connecting lug and the second connecting lug.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a restraining protrusion is formed on the first pivoting component. A restraining slot is formed on the second pivoting component, and the restraining protrusion is movably located in the restraining slot for restraining a pivoting angle of the first pivoting component relative to the second pivoting component.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the restraining slot includes a first restraining wall and a second restraining wall, and when the first pivoting component pivots in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component by the resilient deformation of the resilient component, the restraining protrusion leaves from the first restraining wall and moves toward the second restraining wall.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stopping structure protrudes from the detecting end. The second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction by abutment of the stopping structure and the detector, and when the stopping structure abuts against detector to stop the second pivoting component from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, the resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting component relative to the second pivoting component.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention further discloses a medium detecting mechanism disposed adjacent to a medium entrance formed on a casing of an image forming device. The medium detecting mechanism includes a detector, a first pivoting component, a second pivoting component and a resilient component. The detector is disposed inside the casing. The first pivoting component is pivotally disposed on the casing. The first pivoting component includes an abutting end for abutting against the at least one medium entering into the medium entrance. The second pivoting component is movably sleeved on the first pivoting component. The second pivoting component includes a detecting end fixedly connected to a body of the second pivoting component and for actuating the detector to generate a signal. The resilient component is connected to the first pivoting component and the second pivoting component. When the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance and abuts against the abutting end, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component to pivot in a first pivoting direction. When the first pivoting component pivots in the first pivoting direction, the first pivoting component drives the second pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting direction by the resilient component to drive the detecting end of the second pivoting component to move in the first pivoting direction, so that the detecting end of the second pivoting component moving in the first pivoting direction actuates the detector for generating the signal, and when the detecting end of the second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first connecting lug is formed on the first pivoting component. A second connecting lug is formed on the second pivoting component, and the resilient component is connected to the first connecting lug and the second connecting lug.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a restraining protrusion is formed on the first pivoting component. A restraining slot is formed on the second pivoting component, and the restraining protrusion is movably located in the restraining slot for restraining a pivoting angle of the first pivoting component relative to the second pivoting component.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the restraining slot includes a first restraining wall and a second restraining wall, and when the first pivoting component pivots in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component by the resilient deformation of the resilient component, the restraining protrusion leaves from the first restraining wall and moves toward the second restraining wall.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stopping structure protrudes from the detecting end. The second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction by abutment of the stopping structure and the detector, and when the stopping structure abuts against detector to stop the second pivoting component from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, the resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting component relative to the second pivoting component.
In summary, in the present invention, when the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance and abuts against the abutting end of the first pivoting component, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting direction to drive the second pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting component by the resilient component for allowing the detecting end of the second pivoting component to actuate the detector to generate the signal. When the detecting end of the second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, the resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component. Therefore, the present invention can solve a problem of structural interference in the prior art and allow a user to place a large amount of the media at the medium entrance for preventing a multi-stage scanning operation or a multi-stage printing operation.
These and other objectives of the present disclosure will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure (s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, the term “connect” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical/mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical/mechanical connection, or through an indirect electrical/mechanical connection via other devices and connections.
Please refer to
The medium detecting mechanism 12 includes a detector 121, a first pivoting component 122, a second pivoting component 123 and a resilient component 124. The detector 121 is disposed on the casing 11. The first pivoting component 122 is pivotally disposed on the casing 11. The first pivoting component 122 includes an abutting end 1221 for abutting against the at least one medium entering into the medium entrance 111. The second pivoting component 123 is movably sleeved on the first pivoting component 122. The second pivoting component 123 includes a detecting end 1231 for actuating the detector 121 to generate a signal. The signal can be a signal which indicates that the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance 111. For example, in an embodiment, the detector can be a light interruption detector, and the detecting end can interrupt light emitted from the light interruption detector to allow the light interruption detector to generate a corresponding signal. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the detector also can be a light reflection detector, and the detecting end can reflect light emitted from the light reflection detector back to the light reflection detector, so as to allow the light reflection detector to generate a corresponding signal. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the abutting end 1221 can preferably be formed in a Y-shaped structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It depends on practical demands.
The resilient component 124 can be a spring and connected to the first pivoting component 122 and the second pivoting component 123. When the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance 111 and abuts against the abutting end 1221, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component 122 to pivot in a first pivoting direction P1 for driving the second pivoting component 123 by the resilient component 124 to pivot in the first pivoting direction R1, so that the detecting end 1231 of the second pivoting component 123 can actuate the detector 121 to generate the signal. When the detecting end 1231 of the second pivoting component 123 is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction P1, resilient deformation of the resilient component 124 allows the first pivoting component 122 to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting direction P1 relative to the second pivoting component 123. When there is no medium entering into the medium entrance 111, the first pivoting component 122 and the second pivoting component 123 can be located at positions as shown in
Preferably, in this embodiment, the detector 121 can be a light interruption detector and includes an emitting portion and a receiving portion which are opposite to each other. When the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance 111 and abuts against the abutting end 1221, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component 122 to pivot in the first pivoting direction P1 for driving the second pivoting component 123 by the resilient component 124 to pivot in the first pivoting direction P1 to move the detecting end 1231 of the second pivoting component 123 to be located between the emitting portion and the receiving portion of the light interruption detector, so that the detecting end 1231 of the second pivoting component 123 can interrupt the light emitted from the emitting portion to prevent the receiving portion from receiving the light emitted from the emitting portion. At this moment, the light interruption detector can generate a light interruption signal which indicates that the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance 111. When there is no medium entering into the medium entrance 111, the first pivoting component 122 and the second pivoting component 123 can be located at positions as shown in
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However, the structures of the first pivoting component and the second pivoting component are not limited to this embodiment. It depends on practical demands. In other words, any mechanism which allows the first pivoting component to drive the second pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting direction together with the first pivoting component when the first pivoting component pivots in the first pivoting component and the second pivoting component is not stopped, is included within the scope of the present invention. For example, in another embodiment, the first connecting lug, the second connecting lug, the restraining protrusion, the restraining slot or the stopping structure can be selectively omitted.
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Besides, when all of the media M leave away from the medium entrance 111, the first pivoting component 122 and the second pivoting component 123 can respectively pivot to the first initial position and the second initial position in a second pivoting direction P2 opposite to the first pivoting direction P1 by the resilient component 124 and gravity for a next scanning operation or a next printing operation.
In contrast to the prior art, in the present invention, when the at least one medium enters into the medium entrance and abuts against the abutting end of the first pivoting component, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting direction to drive the second pivoting component to pivot in the first pivoting component by the resilient component for allowing the detecting end of the second pivoting component to actuate the detector to generate the signal. When the detecting end of the second pivoting component is stopped from continuously pivoting in the first pivoting direction, the resilient deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to continuously pivot in the first pivoting direction relative to the second pivoting component. Therefore, the present invention can solve a problem of structural interference in the prior art and allow a user to place a large amount of the media at the medium entrance for preventing a multi-stage scanning or a multi-stage printing operation.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
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