Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6457706
-
Patent Number
6,457,706
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 1, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 1, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walsh; Donald P.
- Bower; Kenneth W
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 271 41
- 271 1619
- 271 34
- 347 216
- 358 498
- 400 578
- 400 625
- 400 629
- 414 7973
- 414 7977
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The present invention includes at least one friction member module frictionally and rotatably mounted on a frame. When the friction member module is rotated, the friction between the frame and the friction member module is converted into a torque which is exerted on the frame, so that the frame can be swayed to a paper taking position, thereby facilitating feeding paper automatically.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder used for a scanning device, a photocopying machine, a printing machine, or a faxing machine etc.
2. Description of the Related Prior Art
An automatic document feeder (ADF) is mounted on an image capturing device or a printing device, so that multiple sheets of papers can be continuously input. The paper tray in the ADF equipment is usually arranged with an inclined angle greater than 15 degrees, whereby when the paper is placed in the paper tray, it can slide into a paper stand-by position by its own weight. This kind of inclined design has the function of feeding paper automatically. However, it occupies a large space.
The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,134, which disclosed an automatic document feeder of a platform type.
In the automatic document feeder of an inclined type or a platform type, the sensor detects the paper when the paper is fed, then, a power device, such as a motor, supplies power to drive a link mechanism or lever member, so that a pick-up roller sways to and contacts with the paper automatically, so as to feed paper automatically. After all of the papers are input, the sensor detects that there is no paper, the motor rotates reversely to drive the link mechanism or lever member, so that the pick-up roller may be lifted to return to the stand-by position, thereby facilitating the user placing the paper again.
In such a manner, the pick-up roller is moved by the motor rotating normally or reversely to drive the link mechanism or lever member. Therefore, the design of the link mechanism or lever member has to be precise, and has to co-operate with other detecting and control members and related circuits, causing the design to be complicated. In addition, after the automatic document feeder accomplishes feeding papers, the motor has to rotate reversely to drive the link mechanism or lever member for lifting the pick-up roller, causing the motor to be frequently used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a design which employs the action of a friction being converted into a torque, so that a frame provided with a friction member module can away in a lever manner, thereby automatically feeding papers.
For achieving the above objective, a friction member module is frictionally and rotatably mounted on a frame, and one face of the friction member module is provided with a friction face rested on the frame. When the friction member module is rotated, the friction between the frame and the friction member module exerts a torque action on the frame, so that the frame can be swayed by pivot shafts.
The friction member module may be a friction block, or any member mounted on the frame, such as an automatic paper feeding roller, a pick-up roller, or a belt for connecting the automatic paper feeding roller and the pick-up roller.
When there is no paper, one end of the frame can be lifted by a lever action, thereby facilitating the user placing the paper again. The frame may be provided with a counterweight which acts so that one end of the frame can be lifted automatically when there is no paper, thereby facilitating the user placing the paper again. The frame can also be lifted automatically by an elastic member.
The counterweight may be provided with a plurality of detachable adjusting counterweight units, thereby facilitating adjusting a counterweight proportion required for adjusting the lever motion of the frame.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is an operational view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 7
is a side plan schematic operational view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
is an operational view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 9
is an operational view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a side plan schematic operational view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder as shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 11
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15
is a top plan view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 16
is a perspective view of the paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder (ADF) in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame
11
, a pick-up roller
21
rotatably mounted on the frame
11
, an automatic paper feeding roller
31
rotatably mounted on the frame
11
relative to the pick-up roller
21
, and a friction member module
41
frictionally mounted on the frame
11
and in contact with the frame
11
. The pick-up roller
21
and the automatic paper feeding roller
31
may be individual or be associated to be called a pick-up member for providing an automatic paper feeding function.
The pick-up roller
21
is axially provided with a shaft
22
which is located adjacent to a first end face
12
of the frame
11
. The shaft
22
has a first end
23
pivoted on a first side
14
of the frame
11
, and a second end
24
pivoted on a second side
15
of the frame
11
.
The automatic paper feeding roller
31
is axially provided with a shaft
32
which is located adjacent to a second end face
13
of the frame
11
. The shaft
32
has a first end
33
extending through the first side
14
of the frame
11
and pivoted to a first side
52
of a platform
51
, and a second end
34
extending through the second side
15
of the frame
11
and pivoted to a second side
53
of the platform
51
. Accordingly, the frame
11
is supported by the shaft
32
to form a hanging shape and can be swayed.
The pick-up roller
21
and the automatic paper feeding roller
31
are oppositely installed in the frame
11
, and the shaft
22
is provided with a gear
61
located adjacent to the second end
24
. The shaft
32
is provided with a gear
62
, and a belt
63
is mounted between the two gears
61
and
62
, so that the pick-up roller
21
and the automatic paper feeding roller
31
may be rotated synchronously at the same speed.
The friction member module
41
may be a friction block
43
made of rubber, which is mounted on the first end
23
of the shaft
22
of the pick-up roller
21
, and has one end provided with a contact face
42
rested on the first side
14
of the frame
11
.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the friction member module
41
may be mounted on the second end
24
of the shaft
22
of the pick-up roller
21
, and has one end provided with a contact face
42
rested on the second side
15
of the frame
11
.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, the friction member module
41
may be mounted on the shaft
32
of the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, and has one end provided with a contact face
42
rested on the first side
14
of the frame
11
. Referring to
FIG. 5
, the friction member module
41
may be mounted on the shaft
32
of the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, and has one end provided with a contact face
42
rested on the second side
15
of the frame
11
.
Again referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the second end face
13
of the frame
11
is provided with a counterweight
71
, while the second end
34
of the shaft
32
is provided with a clutch block
72
which is provided with a flange
73
. The second end
34
of the shaft
32
is fitted with a transmission member
74
which is axially provided with a flange
75
mating with the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
whereby the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
may be rested on or detached from the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
, thereby forming a one-way clutch. In addition, one side of the transmission member
74
is provided with another transmission member
76
which can supply power to the transmission member
74
.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, when the transmission member
76
supplies power to the transmission member
74
, the flange
75
is rotated by the transmission member
74
to abut the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
, thereby driving and rotating the shaft
32
. The shaft
32
during rotation may rotate the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, while the shaft
22
and the pick-up roller
21
can also be rotated by transmission of the belt
63
, and the pick-up roller
21
and the automatic paper feeding roller
31
may be rotated synchronously at the same speed.
When the shaft
22
is rotated, the friction member module
41
mounted on the first end
23
of the shaft
22
may be rotated synchronously. The friction face
42
of the friction member module
41
contacts the first side
14
of the frame
11
, whereby the friction between the friction member module
41
and the frame
11
is converted into a torque which is acted on the frame
11
. In such a manner, the frame
11
co-operates with the shaft
32
of the automatic paper feeding roller
31
to sway in a lever manner, so that the first end face
12
of the frame
11
is swayed downward.
Accordingly, when the sensor (not shown) detects that the paper
77
is placed between the platform
51
and the frame
11
, the frame
11
is swayed downward by the friction being converted into the torque, so that the pick-up roller
21
contacts the paper
77
.
Referring to
FIGS. 7 and 8
, a paper feeding roller
78
is mounted on the rear of the second end face
13
of the frame
11
, and has a rotational speed greater than that of the transmission member
76
. Therefore, during paper feeding process of the paper
77
, the paper
77
is rapidly pulled by the paper feeding roller
78
once the paper
77
contacts the paper feeding roller
78
. Meanwhile, the contact portion of the paper
77
with the automatic paper feeding roller
31
will accelerate the automatic paper feeding roller
31
and the shaft
32
, whereby the rotational angle of the shaft
32
is greater than that of the transmission member
74
, so that the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
exceeds and detach the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
.
The automatic paper feeding roller
31
and the pick-up roller
21
are rotated continuously, whereby the friction member module
41
exerts a torque on the frame
11
continuously, so that the pick-up roller
21
contacts the paper
77
, thereby preventing the frame
11
from being not able to sway downward due to the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
being detached from the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
.
Before the distal end of the paper
77
leaves the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
cannot catch up with the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
due to the differential of the rotational speed. After the distal end of the paper
77
leaves the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, the automatic paper feeding roller
31
is located at a stationary state, so that the next paper
77
cannot be fed. When the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
catches up with the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
, the shaft
32
and the automatic paper feeding roller
31
are rotated, while the pick-up roller
21
is also rotated synchronously at the same speed, to drive the paper
77
to move forward. Accordingly, two sheets of adjacent papers
77
are spaced with a distance, so that the papers
77
can be moved separately.
Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10
, the transmission member
76
will stop operating when the sensor detects that the last paper
77
leaves the automatic paper feeding roller
31
, so that the transmission member
74
stops operating. At this time, the flange
73
of the clutch block
72
is spaced from the flange
75
of the transmission member
74
with a distance. The frame
11
is subjected to the action of the counterweight
71
co-operating with the distance of the flanges
73
and
75
, so that the second end face
13
is swayed downward, thereby lifting the first end face
12
and facilitating the user placing the paper
77
under the frame
11
.
The friction member module
41
used in the present invention is not limited to use the friction block
43
. In the other embodiments of the present invention, the friction member module
41
may be other member mounted in the frame
11
for producing the automatic papers feeding function. Referring to
FIG. 11
, one end of the automatic paper feeding roller
31
is provided with a friction face
81
which is rested on the first side face
14
of the frame
11
. Thus, when the automatic paper feeding roller
31
is rotated, the friction face
81
exerts a torque on the frame
11
, thereby forcing the frame
11
to sway downward in order to feed the paper automatically.
Referring to
FIG. 12
, one side of the belt
63
for connecting the shaft
32
of the automatic paper feeding roller
31
and the shaft
22
of the pick-up roller
21
is provided with a friction face
82
which is rested on the second side face
15
of the frame
11
. Thus, when the belt
63
is rotated, the friction face
82
exerts a torque on the second side
15
of the frame
11
, thereby forcing the frame
11
to sway downward to feed the paper automatically.
Referring to
FIG. 13
, one end of the automatic pick-up roller
21
is provided with a friction face
84
which is rested on the first side face
14
of the frame
11
. Thus, when the automatic pick-up roller
21
is rotated, the friction face
84
exerts a torque on the frame
11
, thereby forcing the first side
14
of the frame
11
to sway downward to feed the paper automatically.
Referring to
FIG. 14
, a tension adjustable spring
85
mounted on the first end
23
of the shaft
22
acts on the friction block
43
to provide an urging force of the contact face
42
of the friction block
43
with the first side
14
of the frame
11
. For example, one end of the spring
85
is provided with an adjusting block
86
which may be displaced with rotation, for adjusting a normal force of the friction block
43
on the first side
14
of the frame
11
at shipping, so that the torque produced by the friction is large enough to force the frame
11
to sway.
Referring to
FIG. 15
, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the second side
15
of the frame
11
is provided with a protrusion
87
, whereby when the belt
63
is rotated, the friction produced by the friction face
82
in contact with the protrusion
87
will force the frame
11
to sway.
According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the gear
61
or the gear
62
remains a frictional relationship with the second side
15
of the frame
11
, thereby also achieving the effect of swaying the frame
11
Referring to
FIG. 16
, the counterweight
71
is further provided with a plurality of detachable adjusting counterweight units
83
, thereby facilitating adjusting a counterweight proportion required for adjusting a lever motion of the frame
11
, so that the frame
11
can be swayed more conveniently and sensibly.
According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, a spring (not shown) may be used to replace the counterweight
71
or the adjusting counterweight units
83
, so that the frame
11
can be automatically swayed to a stand-by position by action of the spring, thereby facilitating the user sending the next batch of papers to be processed. For example, the spring is mounted between the frame
11
and the platform
51
without affecting paper feeding, so that the frame
11
can be automatically swayed to a stand-by position when the torque is removed.
Accordingly, the present invention employs the action of a friction being converted into a torque, so that the frame
11
can away in a lever manner. In addition, the frame
11
co-operates with the friction member module
41
to simplifying the construction. Further, one end of the frame
11
can be lifted automatically without any power by means of the design of the counterweight
71
, thereby reducing use of the motor.
It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder, comprising:a frame; at least one pick-up member, rotatably mounted on the frame; and at least one friction member module, frictionally mounted on the frame and in contact with the frame, wherein, the friction member module exerts a torque action on the frame by friction during rotation, so that the frame sways, and the pick-up member can automatically pick up paper.
- 2. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction member module is a friction block which moves in concert with the pick-up member, and has one end provided with a friction face in contact with a surface of the frame.
- 3. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction member module is integrally formed with the pick-up member, and the pick-up member has one end provided with a friction face rested on the frame.
- 4. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction member module is a belt mounted on the frame for driving the pick-up member, and the belt has one side provided with a friction face rested on the frame.
- 5. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction member module co-operates with a tension adjustable spring for adjusting a normal force on the frame.
- 6. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 4, wherein the frame is provided with a protrusion in contact with the friction face of the belt.
- 7. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the frame has one end provided with a counterweight, so that the frame can be swayed to a stand-by position by action of the counterweight when there is no paper.
- 8. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 7, wherein the counterweight is provided with a plurality of detachable adjusting counterweight units, thereby facilitating adjusting a counterweight proportion required for adjusting a lever motion of the frame.
- 9. The paper pick-up mechanism of an automatic document feeder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a spring, so that the frame can be swayed to a stand-by position by action of the spring when there is no paper.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
89127051 A |
Dec 2000 |
TW |
|
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Number |
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Date |
Kind |
5899450 |
Gettelfinger et al. |
May 1999 |
A |
6352256 |
Hsieh |
Mar 2002 |
B1 |
6382619 |
Gustafson et al. |
May 2002 |
B1 |
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Number |
Date |
Country |
4-55239 |
Feb 1994 |
JP |