Patent Application
20130128294
The present invention relates to a sheet sensing module, and more particularly to a sheet sensing module for use in an automatic document feeder.
Scanning apparatuses are widely used for scanning images of paper documents. The scanned contents of the paper documents can be converted into electronic files in order to be further stored, processed or spread. With increasing development of scanning technologies, the scanning apparatuses have experienced great growth and are now rapidly gaining in popularity. In the early stage, the scanning apparatus can scan one side of the document. For scanning both sides of the document, the document should be manually turned over after one side of the document has been scanned in order to sequentially scan the other side of the document. However, the process of manually turning over the document is troublesome. Recently, a duplex scanning apparatus has been developed to scan both sides of the document.
The operations of the duplex printing apparatus 1 will be illustrated by referring to the sheet transfer paths S11-S16 of
The first sheet sensing module 17 is used for sensing the transmitting status of the document in the sheet feeding channel 12. When the document is transferred through the first sheet sensing module 17, the first sheet sensing module 17 generates a first sensing signal. The second sheet sensing module 18 is used for sensing the transmitting status of the document in the inverting channel 14. When the document is transferred through the second sheet sensing module 18, the second sheet sensing module 18 generates a second sensing signal.
The first rotating part 1721 has a cylindrical shape. In addition, both ends of the first rotating part 1721 are pivotally coupled with two portions of a supporting member 173, respectively. In a case that the first sensing arm 172 is not triggered, the first contacting part 1722 is partially exposed to the sheet feeding channel 12. Meanwhile, the first sheltering part 1723 is arranged between the first emitting part 1711 and the first receiving part 1712 to shelter the light beam. Consequently, the light beam from the first emitting part 1711 fails to be received by the first receiving part 1712. In a case that any document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel 12 to trigger the first contacting part 1722 of the first sensing arm 172, the first contacting part 1722 is toppled down by the front edge of the advancing document. At the same time, the first sensing arm 172 performs a rotating action with said first rotating part 1721 serving as an axle center, so that the first sheltering part 1723 is moved. Under this circumstance, the light beam from the first emitting part 1711 can be received by the first receiving part 1712, so that a first sensing signal is generated.
The second rotating part 1821 has a cylindrical shape. In addition, both ends of the second rotating part 1821 are pivotally coupled with two portions of a supporting member 183, respectively. In a case that the second sensing arm 182 is not triggered, the second contacting part 1822 is partially exposed to the inverting channel 14. Meanwhile, the second sheltering part 1823 is arranged between the second emitting part 1811 and the second receiving part 1812 to shelter the light beam. Consequently, the light beam from the second emitting part 1811 fails to be received by the second receiving part 1812. In a case that any document is transferred through the inverting channel 14 to trigger the second contacting part 1822 of the second sensing arm 182, the second contacting part 1822 is toppled down by the front edge of the advancing document. At the same time, the second sensing arm 182 performs a rotating action with said second rotating part 1821 serving as an axle center, so that the second sheltering part 1823 is moved. Under this circumstance, the light beam from the second emitting part 1811 can be received by the second receiving part 1812, so that a second sensing signal is generated.
The controlling mechanism of the duplex printing apparatus 1 will be illustrated as follows. In a case that the duplex printing apparatus 1 is operated in a single-side image scanning mode and the first sheet sensing module 17 generates the first sensing signal, a next document P12 will be transmitted into the sheet feeding channel 12 through the sheet entrance 10. In a case that the duplex printing apparatus 1 is operated in a double-side image scanning mode and the second sheet sensing module 18 generates the second sensing signal, the next document P12 will be transmitted into the sheet feeding channel 12 through the sheet entrance 10. In other words, regardless of the operating mode of the duplex printing apparatus 1, a plurality of documents can be sequentially fed into the sheet feeding channel 12. Moreover, any two adjacent ones of these documents are transferred through the sheet feeding channel 12, the sheet transfer channel 13 and the inverting channel 14 at the same spacing interval.
However, since the controlling mechanism of the duplex printing apparatus 1 needs two or more optical sensors 171 and 181, the conventional duplex printing apparatus 1 is not cost-effective. In other words, the conventional duplex printing apparatus should be further improved.
The present invention provides a sheet sensing module for use in an automatic document feeder, especially relates to a cost-effective sheet sensing module.
The present invention also provides a duplex printing apparatus using the above sheet sensing module.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duplex printing apparatus. The duplex printing apparatus includes a sheet entrance, a sheet exit, a sheet feeding channel, a sheet transfer channel, an inverting channel, an image reading module, a transfer roller assembly, and a a sheet sensing module. The sheet feeding channel is connected to the sheet entrance. The sheet transfer channel is arranged between the sheet feeding channel and the sheet exit. A first end of the inverting channel is connected to a junction between the sheet feeding channel and the sheet transfer channel. A second end of the inverting channel is connected to the sheet transfer channel. The image reading module is located in the sheet transfer channel for reading an image of a document. The transfer roller assembly is used for transferring the document when the document is located within the sheet feeding channel, the sheet transfer channel and the inverting channel. The sheet sensing module includes a first sensing arm, a second sensing arm, and an electronic sensor. The first sensing arm is at least partially exposed to the sheet feeding channel. The second sensing arm is at least partially exposed to the inverting channel. When the document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel to trigger the first sensing arm or the document is transferred through the inverting channel to trigger the second sensing arm, the electronic sensor generates a sensing signal.
In an embodiment, the electronic sensor is an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor has an emitting part for emitting a light beam and a receiving part for receiving the light beam.
In an embodiment, the first sensing arm includes a first rotating part and a first contacting part fixed on the first rotating part, and the first contacting part is at least partially exposed to the sheet feeding channel. The second sensing arm includes a second rotating part and a second contacting part fixed on the second rotating part, and the second contacting part is at least partially exposed to the inverting channel. When the first contacting part is pushed by the document, the first sensing arm performs a first rotating action with the first rotating part serving as an axle center. When the second contacting part is pushed by the document, the second sensing arm performs a second rotating action with the second rotating part serving as an axle center.
In an embodiment, the first sensing arm further includes a sheltering part and a first linking part, and the sheltering part and the first linking part are fixed on the first rotating part, so that the sheltering part is synchronously rotated in response to the first rotating action of the first sensing arm. The second sensing arm further includes a second linking part, and the second linking part is fixed on the second rotating part, so that the second linking part is synchronously rotated in response to the second rotating action of the second sensing arm. Moreover, in response to the second rotating action of the second sensing arm, the first linking part is pushed by the second linking part, so that the first sensing arm performs the first rotating action.
In an embodiment, before the first sensing arm performs the first rotating action, the sheltering part is arranged between the emitting part and the receiving part, so that the light beam from the emitting part fails to be received by the receiving part.
In an embodiment, the second sensing arm further includes a sheltering part and a second linking part, and the sheltering part and the second linking part are fixed on the second rotating part, so that the sheltering part is synchronously rotated in response to the second rotating action of the second sensing arm. The first sensing arm further includes a first linking part, and the first linking part is fixed on the first rotating part, so that the first linking part is synchronously rotated in response to the first rotating action of the first sensing arm. Moreover, in response to the first rotating action of the first sensing arm, the second linking part is pushed by the first linking part, so that the second sensing arm performs the second rotating action.
In an embodiment, before the second sensing arm performs the second rotating action, the sheltering part is arranged between the emitting part and the receiving part, so that the light beam from the emitting part fails to be received by the receiving part.
In an embodiment, the first rotating action and the second rotating action have opposite rotating directions.
In an embodiment, the duplex printing apparatus is operated in a single-side image scanning mode or a double-side image scanning mode. If the duplex printing apparatus is operated in the single-side image scanning mode, the document is not allowed to be transferred through the inverting channel.
In an embodiment, if the duplex printing apparatus is operated in the single-side image scanning mode and the document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel to trigger the first sensing arm, a next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance.
In an embodiment, if the duplex printing apparatus is operated in the double-side image scanning mode and the document is transferred through the inverting channel to trigger the second sensing arm, a next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance.
In an embodiment, the duplex printing apparatus further includes a sheet pick-up module, which is located near the sheet entrance for transferring the document into the sheet feeding channel
In an embodiment, the duplex printing apparatus further includes a sheet input tray, which is located near the sheet pick-up module for placing the document thereon.
In an embodiment, the duplex printing apparatus further includes a sheet output tray, which is located near the sheet exit, wherein the document ejected from the sheet exit is supported on the sheet output tray.
In an embodiment, the duplex printing apparatus further includes an enabling sensor, which is arranged between the junction and the image reading module for detecting whether the document is transferred through a location of the enabling sensor. If the enabling sensor detects that the document is transferred through the location of the enabling sensor, the image reading module is enabled.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet sensing module for an automatic document feeder. The automatic document feeder includes a first sheet transfer channel and a second sheet transfer channel. The sheet sensing module includes a first sensing arm, a second sensing arm, a sheltering part, and an electronic sensor. The first sensing arm includes a first rotating part, a first contacting part and a first linking part. The first contacting part and the first linking part are fixed on the first rotating part. The first contacting part is arranged between the first sheet transfer channel and the second sheet transfer channel. The first contacting part is at least partially exposed to the first sheet transfer channel. The second sensing arm includes a second rotating part, a second contacting part and a second linking part. The second contacting part and the second linking part are fixed on the second rotating part. The second contacting part is arranged between the first sheet transfer channel and the second sheet transfer channel. The second contacting part is at least partially exposed to the second sheet transfer channel. The sheltering part is fixed on the first rotating part. When the second contacting part is pushed, the second sensing arm performs a second rotating action with the second rotating part serving as an axle center, so that the second linking part is synchronously rotated. When the first contacting part is pushed or when the second linking part is rotated to push the first linking part, the first sensing arm performs a first rotating action with the first rotating part serving as an axle center, so that the sheltering part is synchronously rotated. When the first contacting part is pushed or when the second contacting part is pushed, the electronic sensor generates a sensing signal.
In an embodiment, the electronic sensor is an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor has an emitting part for emitting a light beam and a receiving part for receiving the light beam.
In an embodiment, before the first sensing arm performs the first rotating action, the sheltering part is arranged between the emitting part and the receiving part, so that the light beam from the emitting part fails to be received by the receiving part.
In an embodiment, the first rotating action and the second rotating action have opposite rotating directions.
In an embodiment, the sheet sensing module is further applied to a duplex scanning apparatus, which is configured for performing a duplex scanning operation on a document.
In an embodiment, the duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet entrance, a sheet exit, a third sheet transfer channel, and an image reading module. The first sheet transfer channel is connected to the sheet entrance. The third sheet transfer channel is arranged between the first sheet transfer channel and the sheet exit. The image reading module is located in the third sheet transfer channel for reading an image of the document. A first end of the second sheet transfer channel is connected to a junction between the first sheet transfer channel and the second sheet transfer channel, and a second end of the second sheet transfer channel is connected to the third sheet transfer channel, so that the second sheet transfer channel is served as an inverting channel for the transferring the document.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The operations of the duplex printing apparatus 3 will be illustrated by referring to the sheet transfer paths S21-S26 of
An exemplary sheet sensing module applied to the duplex printing apparatus 3 is also shown in
The first sensing arm 31 has a first rotating part 311, a first contacting part 312, a first linking part 314, and a sheltering part 313. The first contacting part 312, the first linking part 314 and the sheltering part 313 are fixed on the first rotating part 311. The first rotating part 311 has a cylindrical shape. In addition, both ends of the first rotating part 311 are pivotally coupled with two supporting members, respectively. For clearly illustrating the relation between other components, these two supporting members are not shown. The first contacting part 312 is partially exposed to the sheet feeding channel 22. The sheltering part 313 is arranged between the emitting part 331 and the receiving part 332 to shelter the light beam. Consequently, the light beam from the emitting part 331 fails to be received by the receiving part 332.
The second sensing arm 32 has a second rotating part 321, a second contacting part 322, and a second linking part 32. The second contacting part 322 and the second linking part 323 are fixed on the second rotating part 321. The second rotating part 321 has a cylindrical shape. In addition, both ends of the second rotating part 321 are pivotally coupled with other two supporting members, respectively. For clearly illustrating the relation between other components, these two supporting members are not shown. The second contacting part 322 is partially exposed to the inverting channel 24. The second linking part 323 is in contact with the first linking part 314. The first linking part 314 may be separated from the first linking part 314 by a gap as long as a linkage relationship between the first linking part 314 and the second linking part 323 can be established.
The controlling mechanism of the duplex printing apparatus 2 will be illustrated as follows. In a case that the duplex printing apparatus 1 is operated in a single-side image scanning mode, a next document P22 placed on the sheet input tray 27 will be fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 through the sheet entrance 20 by the sheet pick-up module 29 in response to every sensing signal from the sheet sensing module 3. In a case that the duplex printing apparatus 1 is operated in a double-side image scanning mode, the next document P22 placed on the sheet input tray 27 will be fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 through the sheet entrance 20 by the sheet pick-up module 29 in response to every two sensing signal from the sheet sensing module 3.
In other words, regardless of the operating mode of the duplex printing apparatus 2, a plurality of documents placed on the sheet input tray 27 can be sequentially fed into the sheet feeding channel 22. Moreover, any two adjacent ones of these documents are transferred through the sheet feeding channel 22, the sheet transfer channel 23 and the inverting channel 24 at the same spacing interval.
Moreover, the duplex printing apparatus 2 further comprises an enabling sensor 251. The enabling sensor 251 is arranged between the junction D21 (i.e. the junction between the sheet feeding channel 22 and the sheet transfer channel 23) and the image reading module 25. The enabling sensor 251 is used for detecting whether the document is transferred through the location of the enabling sensor 251, thereby determining whether the image reading module 25 is enabled or not. That is, if the enabling signal is not outputted from the enabling sensor 251, the image reading module 25 is in an idle status to achieve power-saving efficacy. The operating principles of the enabling sensor 251 to detect whether the document is transferred through its location may be identical to the optical sensing mechanism of the sheet sensing module 3, and are not redundantly described herein.
In this embodiment, the rotating direction R1 of the first rotating action is opposite to the rotating direction R2 of the second rotating action. In a case that the document P21 is transferred to the inverting channel 24 to trigger the second sensing arm 322, the next document P22 placed on the sheet input tray 27 will be transferred to the sheet feeding channel 22. At the same time, the first contacting part 312 of the first sensing arm 31 will not be synchronously rotated to hinder or influence the movement of the next document P22.
The above embodiments are illustrated by referring to a duplex printing apparatus. Nevertheless, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, the sheet sensing module may be turned upside down. In a case that the first sensing arm and the second sensing arm are not triggered, the first contacting part is partially exposed to the inverting channel, and the second contacting part is partially exposed to the sheet feeding channel.
In some embodiments, the operating principle of the sheet sensing module may be altered. For example, in a case that the first sensing arm and the second sensing arm are not triggered, the location of the sheltering part is no longer arranged between the emitting part and the receiving part. Normally, the light beam from the emitting part is received by the receiving part. In a case that the first sensing arm or the second sensing arm is triggered, the sheltering part is correspondingly moved to the region between the emitting part and the receiving part to shelter the light beam. Meanwhile, the light beam from the emitting part fails to be received by the receiving part, and thus the electronic sensor generates the sensing signal.
In the above embodiments, the sheet sensing module is applied to the duplex printing apparatus. Moreover, the sheet sensing module may be applied to an automatic document feeder.
From the above description, the sheet sensing module of the present invention is capable of sensing the transmitting status of the document in at least two channels by using a single electronic sensor. Consequently, the automatic document feeder with the sheet sensing module of the present invention is more cost-effective.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100142332 | Nov 2011 | TW | national |
