Patent Application
20050162709
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a media data recorder, such as printer, fax machine and scanner, and in particular relates to a media data recorder that can prevent from paper jam.
2. Related Art
Media data recoding devices, such as inkjet printers, laser printers, impact printers, plotters, scanners, multi-functional processors and copiers, are now popularly used by individuals and offices for scanning, printing, copying or facsimile. How to improve the printing quality or operational efficiency is the major concern of the manufacturers.
The conventional copy machines usually have roller mechanisms to transferring media during feeding, scanning, printing or ejecting. There are well-known flatbed and automatic document feeder (ADF) mechanisms used. Some related patents are disclosed, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,086,007; 5,010,364 and 6,307,621.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,007 provides two media-feeding mechanisms. One is feeding from a bottom cassette; the other is from an automatic document feeder at the top of the copier. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,010,364 and 6,307,621 also provide improvements of automatic document feeders on top of the machines.
Though the conventional mechanisms can provide multiple feeding functions, there are complicated gears for feeding and ejecting the media through two flat glass plates where flatbed scanning and automatic feeding scanning are made. During the automatic feeding, the media are easy to be jammed because of being bent in the transferring paths. Since the media are different in their characteristics and thickness, they are to be jammed during the scanning process even though there are assistant mechanisms, such as Mylar sheets, used to guide the media bending. The additional mechanisms also increase the manufacturing cost.
The conventional medium feeding mechanisms have the aforesaid drawbacks that are required to be solved.
The object of the invention is to provide a media data recorder, such as a copier, a fax machine or a multi-function processor, which can prevent from media jam during automatic feeding process.
A media data recorder according to the invention includes a case, a media feeder, a data-fetching unit and a flatbed glass. The media feeder includes a plurality of rollers for transferring the media (document). The data-fetching unit is mounted under the media feeder for scanning the content of the media. An opening is formed on top of the case for mounting the flatbed glass therein. In order to prevent paper jam happening as that usually occurs in conventional machines that even use Mylar sheet mechanisms, a side of the opening in the invention correspondent to the media feeder path is lower than the surface of the flatbed glass with a predetermined distance. When the media transferred by the feeder along the media feeder path, the media smoothly moves on the flatbed glass and pass through the side of the opening. It prevents any paper jam problem because the side of the opening correspondent to the media feeder path is lower than the surface of the flatbed glass with a predetermined distance.
The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow. However, this description is for purposes of illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the invention, wherein:
FIGS. 4 to 7 are sequential functional views of a media data recorder of the invention.
A media data recorder according to the invention is applicable to scanning devices of both flatbed scanning and automatic document feeding scanning, and especially can prevent paperjam during the document feeding.
As shown in
Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 7, sectional view and sequential functional views of the invention. The media feeder 10 includes a feeding roller 11 and an ejecting roller 12. A guide 13 is formed near the feeding roller 11. A first auxiliary roller 130 is mounted on the case 50 and corresponding to the feeding roller 11. A second auxiliary roller 52 is mounted on the case 50 and corresponding to the ejecting roller 12. The feeding roller 11, ejecting roller 12 and the first and second auxiliary rollers 130, 52 are all covered with a rubber layer for increasing friction to the media 60. The guide 13 is curvy and correspondent to the feeding roller 11 so as to transfer the media 60 fluently. The document-ejecting path formed on the case 50 is also curvy. The media feeder 10 further includes a motor (not shown in the drawing) for driving the feeding roller 11 and the ejecting roller 12.
As shown in
In conclusion, the media data recorder of the invention at least has the following advantages:
1) Preventing Paper Jam
The guide, the media feed path and the flatbed glass are in suitable relative positions to make the media move smoothly.
2) Lowering the Cost
In comparison with conventional media data recorders that use two glasses and complicated mechanisms, the invention uses only one flatbed glass for both flatbed scanning and automatic document feeding scanning. The construction and assembly process are therefore simple and cost less.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
