Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6783026
-
Patent Number
6,783,026
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, January 15, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 31, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walsh; Donald P.
- Bower; Kenneth W.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 271 184
- 271 26501
- 271 902
- 162 263
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An articulated flag body member permitting bi-directional passage of an object. The articulated flag body member has a flag body pivotably connected to a flag foot. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in one direction, the flag body rotates by engagement of a recess of the flag foot with a stop member extending along a projecting leg of the flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at the upper portion of the flag body changes positions such that light, or other signals, may no longer pass through the notch. Thus, positional indication of an object detected by rotation of the flag body. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in an opposite direction, an object may be extricated or removed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods providing bi-directional passage of an object in a processing path by using an articulated member.
2. Description of Related Art
The sensor flags used in conventional sheet media handling devices may degrade system performance in several ways. The system performance may be degraded, for example by tearing the sheet of media, by breaking flags when attempting to remove a sheet of media from a processing path, by impairing image quality by reducing the uniform application of heat and/or pressure to the sheets of media, or by increasing the risk of interfering with other existing components of the sheet media handling device. Further, conventional designs commonly comprise unitary, single piece flags that require an increased slot size in the associated structures of the sheet media handling device, such as the pressure plate and/or heating plates of conventional copying, printing or document scanning devices. In such media handling devices, the increased slot size may either reduce the uniformity of heat and pressure distribution to a sheet of media as it travels in a processing path or provide a catch point for a sheet edge. In either case, image quality is reduced and/or system performance is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an articulated knee joint flag permitting bi-directional travel of media in a processing path.
This invention separately provides systems and methods that allow media jammed in a processing path to be removed with minimal or no damage.
This invention separately provides an articulated knee joint flag having a pivotable flag body component and a pivotable flag foot component fixed to the pivotable flag body.
This invention separately provides a flag body having a u-shaped notch permitting passage of light for detection by an interrupt type sensor.
This invention separately provides an articulated knee joint flag having a pivotable flag body.
This invention separately provides a finger portion along one of the flag body and the flag foot, the finger portion corresponding to a recess in the other of the flag body and the flag foot.
This invention separately provides the finger portion as a spring affixed to one of the flag body and the flag foot.
In various exemplary embodiments, an articulated knee joint flag according to this invention has a flag body pivotably connected to a device and a flag foot pivotably connected to a flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at an upper portion of the flag body changes position such that light, or other signals, no longer passes through the notch. The flag foot engages the flag body due to an object traveling in a processing path in one direction, rotates the flag body and notch accordingly and indicates a position of the object. As the flag foot is also able to readily rotate in the opposite direction, the object is able to be removed from the processing path without damaging the flag and/or the object.
These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various exemplary embodiments of this Invention will be described in detail with reference to the following
FIGS. 1-8
, wherein like numerals represent like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1
shows a conventional single leg flag at rest;
FIG. 2
shows the single leg flag of
FIG. 1
as media proceeds in a direction of the processing path;
FIG. 3
shows the single leg flag of
FIG. 1
as media proceeds in a direction reverse that of the processing path;
FIG. 4
shows a conventional boomerang-shaped two-legged flag in a processing path;
FIG. 5
shows one exemplary embodiment of an articulated knee joint flag according to this invention;
FIG. 6
shows an exploded perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
shows the exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint of
FIG. 5
at rest in a processing path of a copier/printer;
FIG. 8
shows the exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint of
FIG. 5
as media is moved in the intended processing direction; and
FIG. 9
shows the articulated knee joint flag of
FIG. 5
as a sheet of media is being pulled in a direction reverse that of the intended processing direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Conventional copying/scanning and/or printing devices provide a processing path
100
through which media travels to produce a final copied and/or printed product.
FIGS. 1-3
show, for example, a typical copier and/or printer, in which a sheet of media
102
is provided from a paper tray
110
to a processing path
100
having an intended processing path
100
direction A. The sheet of media
102
is urged along the processing path
100
by driving rollers
120
that move the sheet of media
102
to a media heating stage
140
. In the media heating stage
140
, the sheet of media
102
travels through a pair of guiding plates to prepare the sheet of media
102
to evenly accept the image at the following stage. The sheet of media
102
then proceeds to subsequent processing stages or exits the copier and/or printer as a final product.
As the sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
by the urging of the driving rollers
120
, for example, a single leg flag
150
may be used to identify a position or location of the sheet of media
102
as the sheet of media
102
travels from one stage to another in the processing path
100
. The single leg flag
150
is rotatable about a pin
154
formed in an upper portion
152
of the flag
150
. A stop
156
is also provided at an end of the upper portion
152
of the flag
150
. The stop
156
restricts rotation of the flag
150
in a direction B opposite the direction A of the processing path
100
. Thus, when the stop
156
is engaged, the flag
150
is essentially at rest and no sheet of media
102
can be urged in the direction B of the processing path
100
.
The single leg flag
150
also includes a tip
158
at an end of a lower portion
153
of the flag
150
. The tip
158
protrudes into slots
143
and
145
respectively formed in each of the plates
142
and
144
. The slots
143
and
145
in the two plates
142
and
144
must be large enough to accommodate the flag tip
158
as the flag
150
rotates due to travel of the sheet of media
102
along the processing path
100
. However, the slots
143
and
145
should also be small enough that the required heating and pressing of the sheet of media
102
by the two plates
142
and
144
is uniformly achieved to, for example, accurately and consistently solidify an image onto the sheet of media
102
. The pressure plate
142
and heating plate
144
are both relatively small. Each of the pressure plate
142
and the heating plate
144
is, for example, approximately three inches long, and lies in the direction of the processing path
100
. Accordingly, the length of the slots
143
and
145
and the corresponding length of the single leg flag
150
are limited.
As shown more particularly in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the single leg flag
150
operates In conjunction with a sensor
160
that indicates a location or position of the sheet of media
102
along the processing path
100
according to the rotational position of the flag
150
. Such a sensor
160
may be, for example, an optical sensor that has its path of light broken or obstructed when the single leg flag
150
rotates as the sheet of media
102
proceeds in a direction A along the processing path
100
.
Thus, when the flag
150
is at rest, the sensor
160
is fully exposed and light is readily transmitted to the sensor
160
. However, as the sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
and the flag
150
rotates, the path of light to the sensor
160
eventually becomes fully blocked by the rotation of the flag
150
. As a result, the location or position of the sheet of media
102
along the processing path
100
may be determined. Once the sheet of media
102
has moved past the flag
150
, the flag
150
reverts to its at-rest position by gravity, or, for example, in view of some other biasing force. Once the flag
150
has reverted to its at-rest position, the sensor
160
is again fully exposed. By determining the location or position of the sheet of media
102
in this manner, a processing stage may be Indicated as complete, and/or a subsequent processing stage may be authorized to begin.
As the sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
, however, media jams may occur. When a media jam occurs in the processing path
100
, a full rotation of the single-leg flag
150
in the direction A of the processing path
100
may or may not be completely achieved. If the single leg flag
150
has been fully rotated when the jam occurs, then the sensor
160
is triggered and the downstream processing functions may have begun without the sheet of media
102
being available to receive the desired downstream processing. Thus, unnecessary use of the downstream printing and/or copying equipment may occur. If the single leg flag
150
has been only partially rotated and the sensor
150
has not yet been fully triggered, then the processing that was being performed at the time of the jam may continue to repeat itself, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the equipment and increasing the difficulty of clearing the jam. Typically, substantially all processing functions will be terminated until the jammed media is removed. Thus, when a media jam occurs, it becomes imperative that the jammed media be removed from the processing path to permit copying and/or printing to occur and to achieve the desired copied, scanned and/or printed final product.
To remove a media jam in such a conventional copying and/or printer device, an operator may have to pull the sheet of media
102
in the direction B which is opposite that of the Intended processing path
100
direction A.
FIG. 3
shows, however, that removing a jammed sheet of media in this manner often results in tearing the sheet of media
102
, as the tip
158
of the flag
150
forces the sheet of media
102
into the slot
145
of the lower plate
144
. Further, the flag
1
So may also break due to pulling the sheet of media
102
against the flag
150
, which resists rotation in the direction B once the flag
150
has returned to its rest position and engaged the stop
156
. For example, the flags
150
are particularly prone to breakage when the flags
150
are made of plastic, as is common practice.
Tearing the sheet of media
102
results in higher copying and/or printing costs, as the torn sheet of media
102
must be replaced to obtain the final desired copy and/or print product. Such tearing also makes removing the sheet of media
102
more time consuming, as the torn sheet of media
102
must then be removed in a piecemeal fashion. Removing the jammed or torn sheet of media
102
also requires increased operator intervention, which likewise increases costs.
Similarly, breaking the flags
150
increase the operational costs of copying and/or printing, as replacement flags
150
must be used. Further, additional, and even more extensive, operator intervention Is required to replace damaged or broken flags
150
.
Moreover, even if substantially all of the jammed sheet of media
102
is removed, often remnants of the jammed sheet of media
102
remain in the processing path
100
as a result of the sheet of media
102
catching on the flag
150
when the sheet of media
102
is pulled to remove the sheet of media
102
and eliminate the jam. Such media remnants pose problems when copying and/or printing is resumed, as the remnants may eventually displace and cause incomplete, blurred or otherwise defaced and undesirable copying and/or printing images in a subsequent copying and/or printing process.
FIG. 4
shows a conventional copier and/or printing device that has attempted to resolve the problem of removing jammed media by using a longer, boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
. The sheet of media
102
contacts one of two legs
172
and
173
of the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
, according to the direction the sheet of media
102
is traveling in along the processing path
100
. As in the single leg flag
150
discussed above, the sheet of media
102
urges the flag
170
upwards to enable the sheet of media
102
to travel more freely in either the intended processing path direction A or the opposite processing path direction B. For example, the sheet media
102
strikes the leg
172
when proceeding in the direction A of the processing path
100
. In contrast, the sheet of media
102
strikes the leg
173
when the sheet of media
102
is being pulled in the direction B, such as when the sheet of media
102
is being removed due to a media jam. Thus, the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
permits bi-directional travel of the sheet of media
102
by allowing the sheet of media
102
to strike the flag
170
from either direction to lift the flag
170
.
The boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
therefore reduces the likelihood that the sheet of media
102
will tear and minimizes breakage of the flags
170
because the sheet of media
102
is not pulled against the resistance of a flag stop, such as the stop
156
discussed above with respect to the conventional single leg flag
150
. However, the length of this boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
is longer than that of the conventional single leg flag
150
. The longer boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
therefore requires longer slots
143
and
145
in the pressure plate
142
and the heating plate
144
, respectively.
For example, in an Ink-type printing system, as a result of the required longer slots
143
and
145
, uniform heating of the sheet of media
102
by the heating plate
144
is difficult to achieve. As a further result of the required longer slots
143
and/or
145
, the desired pressure on the sheet of media
102
by the pressure plate
142
is also difficult to achieve. Thus, uniformity of temperature is sacrificed with the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag design, resulting in undesirable image artifacts on the final print. Furthermore, the length of the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
risks interfering with other components of the copier and/or printer, particularly when the flag
170
is fully lifted by the sheet of media
102
, as should be appreciated from the situation shown in FIG.
4
. It should be appreciated that other types of image forming systems experience negative effects as a result of the longer slots
143
and
145
.
While the longer boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
reduces the chances of binding when the media is moved in the direction B, the longer boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
doesn't eliminate the chances of binding. The contacting surface of the leg
173
can become rough and/or the coefficient of friction between that surface and the sheet of media
102
can increase. This can occur, for example, because the surface of the leg
173
becomes sticky from contamination. In this situation, the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
can move downwards in a locking manner similar to that shown in
FIG. 3
with respect to the single leg flag
150
. A further consequence of the long, gentle slope of the actuating surfaces
172
and
173
of the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
is that the onset and drop-off points, that is, the points when the sensor
160
is either exposed or blocked, are less precise. This tends to limit the usefulness of this information in timing further print stages.
In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as shown in
FIGS. 5-9
, an articulated knee joint flag
200
generally includes a flag body
210
having a notch
220
permitting passage of light from an LED
290
to a sensor
292
. In various exemplary embodiments, the notch
220
is typically shaped as a āuā, although other shapes may also be used. The notch
220
is formed at an upper portion
211
of the flag body and is bounded on one side by a functional edge
260
and on an opposite side by a projecting stop
250
. The flag body
210
is pivotable about one or more first pins
212
that attach the flag body
210
to a frame or the like of a sheet media-handling device, such as, for example, a copier and/or a printer. The flag body
210
includes at least one projecting leg
230
substantially opposite the notch
220
. Each projecting leg
230
ends in a tip
232
. Each tip
232
is provided with a hole
234
. One or more second pins
242
are inserted into the holes or recesses
234
to connect a flag foot
240
to the flag body
210
. A finger stop
270
is provided along, for example, a surface
236
of the projecting leg
230
.
The flag foot
240
further comprises a recess
280
formed in an upper portion
241
of the flag foot
240
. The flag foot
240
is pivotable about the second pin
242
that attaches the flag foot
240
to the flag body
210
. The pivotable union and interaction of the projecting leg
230
of the flag body
210
with the flag foot
240
as the recess
280
engages and disengages the finger stop
270
represents the knee joint aspect of the articulated knee joint flag
200
. For example, the recess
280
engages the stop
270
when the flag foot
240
rotates in one direction, for example the direction A of the processing path, and disengages the stop
270
when the flag foot
240
rotates in a direction opposite that of the processing path direction A.
The interaction of the stop
270
and the recess
280
between the flag body
210
and flag foot
240
of the articulated knee joint flag
200
effectively lock the knee joint when rotation of the articulated knee joint flag
200
occurs in one direction, for example, an intended processing direction A. In contrast, rotating the knee joint
200
in the opposite direction unlocks the knee joint
200
to permit the free rotation of of the flag foot
240
independently of the flag body
210
.
The locking of the knee joint
200
by the interaction of the stop
270
and the recess
280
causes the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
to rotate together in the same direction, as if the flag body
210
and flag foot
240
were a single unit, when the flag
200
rotates further in the intended processing path direction A. As a result, an upper portion
211
of the flag body
210
blocks the path of light, for example, to the sensor
292
as the functional edge
260
and upper portion
211
are rotated by the sheet of media
102
traveling in the processing path
100
. Blocking the light from being received by the sensor
292
therefore indicates a position of the sheet of media
102
based on the rotational position of the flag body
210
. If the flag
200
rotates in a direction reverse that of the intended processing path direction A, for example, then the knee joint flag
200
does not lock. The flag foot
240
thus pivots freely about the second pins
242
in the direction opposite the intended processing path direction A to allow jammed media, for example, to be removed.
FIG. 6
shows an exploded perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint flag
200
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the sensor
292
is provided in a sensor body
294
that contains the light emitting diode
290
in a first leg
291
and the sensor
292
in a second leg
293
. The flag body
210
passes through a gap between the first and second legs
291
and
293
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, in various exemplary embodiments, the pins
212
and
242
are each provided as a pair of pins integrally formed on, and extending away from, the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
, respectively. In particular, in this exemplary embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 6
, in an operative position, the pins
212
are placed into a pair of flag pivot structures
296
. Likewise,in this exemplary embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 6
, the pins
242
extend from the flag foot
240
into the holes or recesses
234
formed in the projecting leg
230
.
It should be appreciated that any other known or later-developed structure, device or apparatus can be used in place of the pivot structure
296
to hold the pins
212
, such as a pair of recesses or holes formed in the first and second legs
291
and
293
. Similarly, the holes or recesses
234
can be replaced with any appropriate known or later-developed pivot structure. Likewise, in various other exemplary embodiments, the one or more pin
212
can be a separate element that is held by the pivot structures
296
or the like. In this case, such a separate element would also pass through a hole in the flag body
210
provided in place of the pins
212
. Similarly, the pins
242
can also be replaced with at least one separate element that fits into the recesses or holes
234
. In this case, the flag foot
240
would also include a hole in place of the pins
242
.
As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, in various exemplary embodiments, the stop
270
extends between a pair of the projecting legs
230
. In particular, as shown in
FIG. 6
, the stop
270
is not attached except at one end to the flag body
210
or the projecting legs
230
. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 5
, when the flag foot
240
rotates the recess
280
away from the stop
270
, the flag foot
240
biases the stop
270
away from its rest position. As a result, the stop
270
tends to apply a force on the flag foot
240
that tends to force the flag foot
240
in the opposite direction, i.e., to rotate the recess
280
toward the stop
270
.
This force tends to return the flag foot
240
to its rest position after it has been forced from that rest position by the passage of a sheet of paper or the like along the processing path
100
. In various other exemplary embodiments, this return force can be provided solely by gravity, assuming the copying/scanning and/or printing device is placed into the proper orientation. In various other exemplary embodiments, a spring or other force-generating member, device, apparatus or structure can be used to provide a return force to the flag foot
240
.
As a result of the articulation of the flag foot
240
in the direction opposite that of the intended processing path direction A, media jams in the processing path
100
can be easily remedied by completely removing jammed sheets of media
102
from the processing path
100
without tearing the sheet of media
102
. Additionally, flag breakage during removal of jammed media
102
is reduced due to the lower resistance of the lower pivoting component experiences as the sheet of media
102
is pulled in the direction B opposite that of the intended processing path direction A. Further, the knee joint flag
200
requires shorter slots
143
and
145
in the guiding plates
142
and
144
, respectively, than the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
discussed above. Thus, more uniform guiding pressure can be applied to sheets of the media
102
as the sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
. Accordingly, less waste, lower costs and greater image reproducibility can be obtained by using the articulated knee joint flag
200
. Furthermore, the short length of the knee joint flag
200
provides a more abrupt drop-off point than does the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
. This abrupt drop-off allows more precise timing of that event for scheduling later processing steps.
FIG. 5
shows one exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint flag
200
according to the invention. Of course, it should be appreciated that the description of the exemplary embodiments of the articulated knee joint flag
200
set forth herein are directed to a knee joint flag
200
that is positioned after driving rollers
120
in a processing path
100
of a printer/copier. However, additional ones of the knee joint flag
200
may be positioned elsewhere along the processing path
100
.
In the exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint flag
200
shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the articulated knee joint flag
200
comprises at least the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
. The flag body
210
is pivotably connected to a separate element, such as, for example, a frame of a device in which the articulated knee joint flag
200
is being used, or, as shown in
FIG. 6
, the sensor body
294
. The flag foot
240
is pivotably connected to the flag body
210
. In various exemplary embodiments, such as that shown in
FIG. 6
, the flag body
210
is connected via a pivot joint or structure to the separate element. Likewise, in various exemplary embodiments, the flag foot
240
is connected through a pivot joint or structure to the flag body
210
.
The flag body
210
is provided with the notch
220
at the upper portion
211
of the flag body
210
. Light from the light emitting diode
290
, for example, may pass through the notch
220
to the sensor
292
when the flag
200
is at a designated position, for example, at a rest position
202
as shown in FIG.
7
.
One side surface of the notch
220
provides a functional edge
260
that blocks the light from the light emitting diode
290
, for example, as the flag body
210
rotates. A second side surface of the notch
220
, i.e., the side surface of the notch
220
opposite the functional edge
260
, comprises a stop
250
at the uppermost portion of the flag body
210
. The stop
250
prohibits the flag body
210
from rotating beyond a certain point, for example, the rest position
202
of the flag
200
. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the pins
212
are provided on the flag body
210
, approximately below the notch
220
, to secure the flag body
210
to the separate element.
One or more lower portion projecting legs
230
of the flag body
210
extend approximately from the pins
212
of the flag body
210
to a tip
232
at an end of the projecting leg
230
of the flag body
210
. The projecting leg
230
is provided with one or more holes or recesses
234
that receive the one or more pins
242
connecting the flag foot
240
to the flag body
210
. The flag body
210
thus pivots about a first pivot axis C provided by the one or more pins
212
that secure the flag body
210
to the separate element. The flag foot
240
, on the other hand, pivots about a second pivot axis D provided by the one or more pivot pins
242
extending into the second holes or recesses
234
to secure the flag foot
240
to the flag body
210
.
It should be appreciated that, while the flag body
210
is described in this exemplary embodiment as a substantially unitary element, the flag body
210
may also be formed using more than one segment as shown In
FIG. 7
, provided that all of the segments are unified in some manner so that all segments of the flag body
210
are capable of pivoting in unison when the articulated knee joint flag
200
is rotated about the first pivot axis C. For example, the upper portion
211
of the flag body
210
may be a first segment
210
a
, and the projecting leg
230
of the flag body
210
may be a second segment
210
b
. The first and second segments
210
a
and
210
b
may thus be fixed to one another and similarly pivotable about the first pivot axis C using the same one or more pivot pins
212
provided on each of the segments
210
a
and
210
b
to render the entire flag body
210
pivotable, as in the exemplary embodiment described above.
The flag body
210
, when implemented using the segments
210
a
and
210
b
, would still include a finger stop
270
that extends along an upper surface
236
of the projecting leg
230
formed as the segment
210
b
of the flag body
210
. An end
272
of the finger stop
270
is provided a distance from the tip
232
of the projecting leg
230
of the flag body
210
. The end
272
of the finger stop
270
corresponds to a recess
280
provided in the flag foot
240
.
It should be appreciated that, although the finger stop
270
is described as integral with the flag body
210
, the finger stop
270
may also be separately secured to the flag body
210
. For example, the finger stop
270
could instead be a spring finger secured to the flag body
210
and extending along the upper surface
236
of the flag body
210
. An end of the spring finger would thus similarly correspond with the recess
280
in the flag foot
240
. It should be further appreciated that the finger stop
270
on the projecting leg
230
of the flag body
210
may be positioned at different locations on the projecting leg
230
provided the recess
280
of the flag foot is correspondingly located to engage and disengage the finger stop
270
as the knee joint action of the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
occurs.
The flag foot
240
of the articulated knee joint flag
200
extends into the processing path
100
. As a sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
, the sheet of media
102
strikes either a first face
246
or a second face
248
of the flag foot
240
. The first face
246
or the second face
248
of the flag foot
240
that is struck by the sheet of media
102
depends on which direction the sheet of media
102
is traveling.
FIG. 7
shows one exemplary embodiment of the articulated knee joint flag
200
at the rest position
202
. The knee joint flag
200
is located downstream of the drive rollers
120
and similarly situated relative to the pressure plate
142
and the heated plate
144
as the conventional single leg flag
150
or the two-legged flag
170
discussed above. The flag foot
240
protrudes through the slots
143
and
145
as did the single leg flag
150
and the two-legged flag
170
. However, because the flag foot
240
of the articulated knee joint flag
200
is not as long as the two-legged flag
170
, the length of the slots
143
and
145
corresponding to the flag foot
240
of the knee joint flag
200
is much smaller. Accordingly, more uniform pressure and/or heat can be applied to the sheet of media
102
as the sheet of media
102
travels between the pressure plate
142
and the heated plate
144
. As a result, better image reproducibility is possible.
FIG. 8
shows the action of the knee joint flag
200
as a sheet of media
102
travels along the processing path
100
in an intended processing path direction A. The sheet of media
102
is fed from the paper tray
110
, through the drive rollers
120
, for example, and then strikes the first face
246
of the flag foot
240
with a leading edge of the sheet of media
102
. The recess
280
of the flag foot
240
engages the finger stop
270
of the flag body
210
and locks together the flag foot
240
and flag body
210
. As the sheet of media
102
travels further along the intended processing path direction A, the sheet of media
102
urges the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
to operate in tandem and rotate as if the flag body
210
and the flag foot
240
were a single, unitary element. That is, the flag foot
240
and the flag body
210
rotate as one.
As the flag foot
240
and the flag body
210
rotate, the functional edge
260
of the notch
220
in the flag body
210
blocks the path of light from the light emitting diode
290
. Thus, the light from the light emitting diode
290
does not reach the sensor
292
. As the knee joint flag
210
continues to rotate due to the sheet of media
102
continuing to travel in the intended processing path direction A, the upper portion
211
of the flag body
210
eventually entirely blocks the path of light from the light emitting diode
290
. As a result, as illustrated in
FIG. 8
, the sensor
292
indicates that light is no longer being detected. Therefore, the flag body
210
has been rotated, which indicates that the sheet of media
102
is traveling between the upper guiding plate
142
and the lower guiding plate
144
. The path of light to the sensor
292
remains blocked until a trailing edge of the sheet of media
102
has entirely passed the flag foot
240
.
Once the trailing edge of the sheet of media
102
has passed the flag foot
240
, the flag foot
240
and the flag body
210
return to their original rest position
202
as a result of gravity, or in view of some other biasing structure, such as, for example, a spring, or as shown in
FIG. 5
, the finger stop
270
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, once the knee joint flag
200
has returned to its rest position
202
, the notch
220
is again repositioned to permit light to pass through and be detected by the sensor
292
.
The position of the sheet of media
102
is determined according to the ability of the sensor
292
to detect light from the LED
290
passing through the notch
220
of the flag body
210
. Likewise, the timing and sequencing of other processing functions may be determined by detecting the location or position of the sheet of media
102
as determined by the corresponding position of the flag body
210
.
Should a media jam, or other circumstance, occur requiring that the sheet of media
102
travel in the direction B opposite the Intended processing path A, the flag foot
240
is then either struck on the face
248
or at least rotated in the direction B opposite that of the Intended processing path direction A. By rotating the flag foot
240
in the direction B, the recess
280
of the flag foot
240
is rotated away from engagement with the finger stop
270
of the flag body
210
. The flag foot
240
is therefore free to rotate in the direction B such that sheets of media jammed or otherwise trapped under the flag foot
240
may be easily removed, while the flag body
210
of the knee joint flag
200
can remain substantially stationary.
FIG. 9
shows an example of pulling on a sheet of media
102
when a jam has occurred. In this instance, for example, the sheet of media
102
is pulled in the direction B opposite the intended direction A. As a result, the recess
280
of the flag foot
240
disengages from the finger stop
270
of the flag body
210
. The flag body
210
, however, remains substantially stationary, or merely returns to the at-rest position
202
. As a result of the flag foot
240
rotating in direction B, the media is easily removed from the jammed location and the flag body
210
, the flag foot
240
articulated knee joint flag
200
in general remains intact. Accordingly, the frequency of replacing the flag
200
is reduced, as the sheet of media
102
is easily removable. Further, the sheet of media
102
may be removed without tearing because of the flexibility of the flag foot
240
of the articulated knee joint flag
200
. If the surface
248
should become roughened or sticky, as described above in the case of the boomerang-shaped two-legged flag
170
, the flag foot
240
would still be able to be lifted away from the media
102
, allowing the flag foot
240
to be cleared from the paper path.
It should be appreciated that the operation of the flag disclosed above allows the printer to self-test to determine that the LED is functioning when the printer is idle and no paper is present in the media path. It should be appreciated that ir is possible to reverse the flag operation, such that light is normally blocked by the flag when it is at rest, and normally unblocked by the flag when the flag is operated. The invention described herein is exemplary only. It should be appreciated that the various embodiments described herein are not intended to be limiting. Rather, various alternatives are readily within the scope of one reasonably skilled in the art, and all those alternatives embodiments are expressly intended and understood as being within the scope and breadth of the invention otherwise described herein.
Claims
- 1. An articulated flag member, comprising:a flag body having an upper portion and a lower projecting leg, the flag body pivotably connected to a device; a notch at the upper portion of the flag body through which signals may pass; a stop member extending along the projecting leg of the flag body toward a tip end of the projecting leg; a flag foot pivotably connected to the flag body, the flag foot having a first surface and a second surface, each surface facing in an opposite direction of one another, such that an object striking the first surface rotates the flag foot in a first direction, whereas the object striking the second surface rotates the flag foot in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction; and a recess in the flag foot, the recess engaging or disengaging the stop member according to rotation of the flag foot.
- 2. The articulated flag member of claim 1, wherein the notch further comprises:a flag body stop on one side of the notch; and a functional edge on an opposite side of the notch, the notch provided between the flag body stop and the functional edge.
- 3. The articulated flag member of claim 1, wherein the flag body is pivotably connected to the device by a first connection structure.
- 4. The articulated flag member of claim 3, wherein:the first connection structure comprises a pair of pins formed on and extending from the upper portion of the flag body between a lower portion of the notch and the projecting leg; and the pair of pins are engable with a pivot structure formed on the device to pivotably connect the flag body to the device.
- 5. The articulated flag member of claim 1, wherein the stop member is integral with the projecting leg of the flag body.
- 6. The articulated flag member of claim 1, wherein the stop member is separable from the projecting leg of the flag body.
- 7. The articulated flag member of claim 1, wherein the recess formed on an upper surface of the flag foot, the recess corresponding to an end of the stop member of the projecting leg of the flag body.
- 8. A method for allowing bi-directionally passage of an object in a processing path using an articulated flag member, the articulated flag member comprising:a flag body having an upper portion and a lower projecting leg portion, the flag body having a notch at the upper portion, the flag body being pivotably connected to a device, the lower projecting leg having a stop member extending toward a tip end of the projecting leg; and a flag foot pivotably connected to the flag body, the flag foot having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a recess, the recess corresponding to an end of the stop member, the method comprising: passing a signal through the notch, passage of the signal indicating one of an at-rest position of the articulated flag member and an operated position of the articulated flag member; contacting the first surface of the flag foot with an object that is traveling in a processing path in the first direction, causing the flag foot to rotate; engaging the recess with the stop member in response to rotation of the flag foot in the first direction to lock the flag foot and flag body; rotating the locked flag foot and flag body further in the first direction in response to the object continuing to travel in the first direction, causing the functional edge and upper portion of the flag body to one of obstruct passage of signals through the notch and permit passage of signals through the notch; and returning the articulated flag body member to the at-rest position once the object has passed beyond the flag foot in the first direction.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:contacting the second surface of the flag foot with an object that is traveling in the processing path in a second direction, causing the flag foot to rotate in the second direction; disengaging the recess from the stop member in response to rotation of the flag foot in the second direction to unlock the flag foot and flag body; rotating the flag foot further in the second direction in response to the object moving in the second direction; and returning the flag foot to the rest position once the object has traveled in the second direction past the flag foot.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1-203138 |
Aug 1989 |
JP |
7-234604 |
Sep 1995 |
JP |
10-265092 |
Oct 1998 |
JP |
11-334934 |
Dec 1999 |
JP |
2003-312894 |
Nov 2003 |
JP |