U.S. patent application number 09/847023 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for feeding mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Acer Communications and Multimedia, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kuo, Ying-Hsien, Lin, Tsung-Te.
Application Number | 20010040338 09/847023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21659583 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010040338 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo, Ying-Hsien ; et
al. |
November 15, 2001 |
Feeding mechanism
Abstract
The feeding mechanism for feeding media from an initial site to
a predetermined site comprises a base, a scrubber, a deskewer, two
feeders, a lifting device having two cam portions, a driving
element and a releasing device. The deskewer is moved between a
first position and a second position and sets the media located at
the initial site. The two feeders are used for transmitting the
media located at the initial site toward the predetermined site.
The cam portions are used as a lifter to move the deskewer from the
first position to the second position. The driving element disposed
between the lifting device and the releasing device generates
forces to actuate the cam portions to move the deskewer. The
releasing device is used as an overload protection clutch connected
between the lifting device and the driving element, having a first
plate separately contacting the driving element. As the driving
element is actuated, the driving force generated from the driving
element can be transmitted to the cam portions via the releasing
device, and the overload from the driving element can be properly
set free by the releasing device.
Inventors: |
Kuo, Ying-Hsien; (Taipei,
TW) ; Lin, Tsung-Te; (Taipei Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard P. Berg, Esq.
c/o LADAS & PARRY
Suite 2100
5670 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90036-5679
US
|
Assignee: |
Acer Communications and Multimedia,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
21659583 |
Appl. No.: |
09/847023 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/245 ;
271/10.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 3/34 20130101; B65H
3/5261 20130101; B65H 2301/4222 20130101; B65H 3/5223 20130101;
B65H 2403/10 20130101; B65H 3/0615 20130101; B65H 3/0684 20130101;
B65H 2403/732 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/245 ;
271/10.12 |
International
Class: |
B65H 009/06; B65H
005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2000 |
TW |
89108360 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for feeding media from an initial site to a
predetermined site, comprising: a deskewer disposed between the
initial site and the predetermined site, moved between a first
position and a second position and contacting the media located at
the initial site; a feeder movably disposed next to the initial
site to transmit the media located at the initial site toward the
predetermined site; a lifting device for moving the deskewer from
the first position to the second position, having a cam contacting
the deskewer; a driving element for actuating the lifting device,
connected to the lifting device; and a releasing device disposed
between the lifting device and the driving element, having a first
plate separately contacting the driving element.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasing
device further comprises a second plate and a spring which is
connected between the first plate and the second plate.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media are
papers.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deskewer is an
L-shaped board in a cross-section view.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deskewer
movably guided along two guiding holes is actuated by the cam, so
as to align the media.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first
gear portion used for actuating the scrubber portion, a second gear
portion used for actuating the feeder, and a third gear portion
connected to the releasing device and engaged between the first
gear portion and the second gear portion.
7. An apparatus for feeding media from an initial site to a
predetermined site, comprising: a deskewer disposed between the
initial site and the predetermined site, moved between a first
position and a second position and contacting the media located at
the initial site; a feeder movably disposed next to the initial
site to transmit the media located at the initial site toward the
predetermined site; a lifting device for moving the deskewer from
the first position to the second position, having a cam contacting
the deskewer; a stopper for limiting the deskewer moved between the
first position and the second position, disposed next to the
deskewer; a driving element for actuating the lifting device,
connected to the lifting device; and a releasing device disposed
between the lifting device and the driving element, having a first
plate separately contacting the driving element.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the releasing
device further comprises a second plate and a spring which is
connected between the first plate and the second plate.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the media are
papers.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the deskewer is an
L-shaped board in a cross-section view.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the deskewer
movably guided along two guiding holes is actuated by the cam, so
as to align the media.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a first
gear portion used for actuating the scrubber portion, a second gear
portion used for actuating the feeder, and a third gear portion
connected to the releasing device and engaged between the first
gear portion and the second gear portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a feeding mechanism. More
particularly, this invention relates to a feeding mechanism
provided with a releasing device to effectively set free the
overload.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Most feeding mechanisms are provided with a deskewer to
deskew the media or papers during the feeding process. The deskewer
is generally a plate which is upwardly moved or pushed up by a
transmission mechanism.
[0005] However, adding the transmission mechanism increases the
complexity of the feeding mechanism and the driving force generated
from the transmission mechanism is not easily controlled. Once the
driving force is too high or the overload cannot be properly
released, the feeding process of the media or papers is abnormally
interrupted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To solve the above problem, the primary object of this
invention is to provide a feeding mechanism to feed media from an
initial site to a predetermined site. The feeding mechanism
comprises a base, a scrubber, a deskewer, two feeders, a lifting
device having two cam portions, a stopper, a driving element and a
releasing device.
[0007] The deskewer is disposed between the initial site and the
predetermined site, and the deskewer is moved between a first
position and a second position and contacts the media located at
the initial site. The feeder is movably disposed next to the
initial site to transmit the media located at the initial site
toward the predetermined site. The cam portions of the lifting
device are used as a lifter to move the deskewer from the first
position to the second position. The stopper is disposed next to
the deskewer to limit the deskewer's motion between first position
and second position. The driving element disposed between the
lifting device and the releasing device generates forces to actuate
the lifting device to move the deskewer to the second position. The
releasing device is used as an overload protection clutch, which is
connected between the lifting device and the driving element and
has a first plate separately contacting the driving element. As the
driving element is actuated, the driving force generated from the
driving element can be transmitted to the cam portions via the
releasing device, and the overload from the driving element can be
properly set free by the releasing device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention can be more fully understood by
reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with
reference made to accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the outer structure of
a feeding mechanism (1) of the present invention, comprising an
outer case (H) which is composed of an upper housing (H-1) and a
lower housing (H-2);
[0010] FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the inner structure of
the feeding mechanism (1) without the upper housing (H-1) according
to FIG. 1A;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1B;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the feeding mechanism (1) according
to a sectional line (A-A) of FIG. 2, wherein the feeding mechanism
(1) is used to transmit the media (P) from an initial site (X1) to
a predetermined site (X2);
[0013] FIGS. 4A to 4D are four figures sequentially depicting the
steps for feeding the media (P) or papers from the initial site
(X1) to the predetermined site (X2) by the feeding mechanism
(1)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing
the outer structure of a feeding mechanism 1 of the present
invention. An upper housing H-1 and a lower housing H-2 are
constructed on the outer structure of the feeding mechanism 1. A
stack of media P, such as papers, can be fed by the feeding
mechanism 1 to a printing device (not shown).
[0015] In FIG. 1B a perspective view shows the inner structure of
the feeding mechanism 1, from which the upper housing H1 is taken
off, and FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1B. The lower housing H-2 is
used as a base so as to support all the elements of the feeding
mechanism 1. Besides the upper housing H-1 and the lower housing
H-2 mentioned, the feeding mechanism 1 further comprises a scrubber
10, two feeders 12 and 13, a first one-way bearing 12B, a second
one-way bearing 13B, a deskewer 14, a lifting device 15-1, a
releasing device 15-2 and a stopper 18.
[0016] The deskewer 14, essentially an L-shaped board in a
cross-section view movably guided along the two holes 108H of the
guiding seats 108, is actuated by the cam 151 between a first
position S01 and a second position S02 (see FIG. 3) so as to align
the media before the feeding procedure. All elements are supported
by the lower housing H-2 and covered by the upper housing H-1.
[0017] The first one-way bearing 12B and the second one-way bearing
13B are disposed on the lower housing H-2, and four supporting
seats W0, W1, W2 and W3 respectively protrude from the inner bottom
surface of the lower housing H-2 and substantially parallel to each
other. Four cylindrical shafts 100, 120, 130 and 150 are mounted on
the bottom of the lower housing H-2 and respectively rotated about
a first axis I-I, a second axis II-II, a third axis III-III and a
fourth axis IV-IV, which are substantially designed parallel to
each other. The supporting seat W1 mainly supports the shaft 100,
and the supporting seat W0 and W1 mainly support the shaft 150, and
the supporting seats W1 and W2 mainly support the shaft 120, and
the supporting seats W1 and W3 mainly support the shaft 130.
[0018] The relationships among the four shafts (100, 120, 130 and
150) and of the elements relative to each of shafts will be
depicted as follows with reference to FIG. 2.
Shaft 100
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1B. A first gear portion G1 and
the scrubber 10 are respectively mounted on two ends of the shaft
100, and the shaft 100 is rotated about the axis I-I by the first
gear portion G1.
[0020] Three pulleys 101, 102, 103 and a feeding roller 101R
comprise the scrubber 10. The pulley 103 is directly connected to
the shaft 100, and the pulley 102 is used as an idler engaged to
the pulleys 101 and 103, and the feeding roller 101R affixed to the
pulley 101 is used as a passive element.
[0021] Once the first gear portion G1 is energized, the driving
shaft 100, therefore, can directly actuate the scrubber 10 rotated
within a predetermined path with respect to the third axis I-I, and
the feeding roller 101R can be controlled and rotated to scrub the
media P.
Shaft 150
[0022] In FIG. 2, a third gear portion G3 is engaged with the first
gear portion G1 and used as a driving element placed on the lower
housing H-2. The lifting device 15-1 comprises two cam portions
151(151) spaced apart and fixedly mounted on one end of the shaft
150. The L-shaped deskewer 14 guided by the holes 108H of the
guiding seats 108 is freely and uniformly disposed on the two cam
portions 151(151).
[0023] The releasing device 15-2 is used as an overload protection
clutch disposed between the lifting device 15-1 and the third gear
portion G3. The releasing device 15-2 is installed on another end
of the shaft 150 and separately presses on the driving element
150G. The releasing device 15-2 has a first plate 152P1, a second
plate 152P2 and a spring 152S, wherein the spring 152S is disposed
between the first plate 152P1 and the second plate 152P2, and the
second plate 152P2 is fixed to the shaft 150. One sidewall of the
third gear portion G3 is separately pushed and pressed by the first
plate 152P1 when the releasing device 15-2 is disposed on the shaft
150.
[0024] As the third gear portion G3 is actuated, the driving force
generated from the third gear portion G3 can be transmitted to the
shaft 150 via the releasing device 15-2.
Shaft 120 and 130
[0025] In FIG. 2, the feeder 12 is integrally built on the shaft
120, and the first one-way bearing 12B as well as the supporting
seats W1 and W2 are used together to support the shaft 120. A
second gear portion G2 is formed on the first one-way bearing 12B
and engaged to the third gear portion G3.
[0026] The feeder 13 larger than the feeder 12 is integrally built
on the shaft 130, and the second one-way bearing 13B as well as the
supporting seats W1 and W3 are used together to support the shaft
130. A third gear portion G4 is formed on the second one-way
bearing 13B and engaged to the second gear portion G2.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a side view of the feeding mechanism 1 according
to a sectional line A-A of FIG. 2.
[0028] The scrubber 10 can be moved within a predetermined path
angled from line S1 to line S2. The lower housing H-2 is provided
with an initial site X1, a predetermined site X2, a first surface
161 and a second surface 171, wherein the first surface 161 and the
second surface 171 are located between the initial site X1 and the
predetermined site X2. The initial site X1 is a place used to
receive the media P before the scrubber 10 takes them, and the
predetermined site X2 is another place used as a destination to
receive the media P.
[0029] A plate 16 which is pivoted on an axis 160 and suspended by
a spring 162 and a roller 17 which is pivoted on another axis 170
are mounted on the lower housing H-2, respectively. The plate 16 is
provided with the first surface 161, which is moveable and
separately contacts the feeder 12 by the spring 162 and moved along
a predetermined path between line S3 and line S4. The roller 17 is
provided with the second surface 171, which contacts the feeder
13.
[0030] FIGS. 4A to 4D shows how the media P is transmitted by the
feeding mechanism 1 from the initial site X1 to the predetermined
site X2.
[0031] In FIG. 4A, the feeding mechanism 1 is covered with the
upper housing H-1 and is ready to use the scrubber 10 to scrub the
media P.
[0032] Before the media P is scrubbed by the feeding roller 101R,
the second gear portion G2 (in FIG. 2) is actuated in a first
direction, such as counterclockwise, by the third gear portion G4
which is connected to a motor (not shown) or the same, and the
third gear portion G3 is rotated a second direction, such as
clockwise, by the second gear portion G2. The third gear portion G3
actuates the shaft 150 rotated in clockwise direction through the
releasing device 15-2. The deskewer 14 is lowered to position S01
by its own weight and the cam portions 151(151) are pushed and
rotated clockwise following the movement of the deskewer 14. The
media P, therefore, can be located and skewed at the initial site
X1 by the deskewer 10.
[0033] When the deskewer 10 properly sets the media P located at
the initial site X1, a motor (not shown) begins to actuate the
third gear portion G4 rotated in the counterclockwise direction.
Then, the third gear portion G3 is rotated counterclockwise through
the second gear portion G2, and then the first gear portion G1 is
rotated clockwise through the third gear portion G3, and then the
scrubber 10 is rotated clockwise from line S1 toward line S2.
[0034] In FIG. 4B, the feeder 13 is rotated in the counterclockwise
direction R2, and the cam portions 151(151) are also rotated
counterclockwise and the deskewer 14 is elevated from the first
position S01 toward the second position S02 by following the
movement of the cam portions 151(151). When the elevating deskewer
14 contacts the stopper 180, and the deskewer 14 is stopped and
limited at position S02, and the third gear portion G3 begins to
slide on the first plate 152P1 (see FIG. 2) of the releasing device
15-2, and there are no further effective frictional forces
generated. Then, the scrubber 10 is rotated from line S1 to line
S2, and the feeding roller 101R starts to scrub the top of the
media P and passes it toward the feeder 12.
[0035] Then, the media P passed from the feeding roller 101R
contacts the feeder 12 and the plate 16, and then the media P is
frictionally clamped therebetween and transmitted toward the feeder
13. Because the frictional force between any two overlapped sheets
is far smaller than the one between the sheet and the feeder 13 or
the one between the sheet and the plate 16, only one sheet is
allowed to pass between. When the media P transmitted by the feeder
12 contacts the feeder 13 and the guiding roller 17, the feeder 13
rotated counterclockwise can be used as a deskewer to correct the
leading edge of the media P parallel to the third axis III-III.
[0036] Then, referring to FIG. 4C, the feeder 13 begins to rotate
clockwise to press the media P on the guiding roller 17 and
frictionally transmit it toward the predetermined site X2 when the
deskewing process is finished. In FIG. 4D, the media P escapes from
the clamp between the feeder 13 and the guiding roller 17 and
finally arrives at the predetermined site X2. The deskewer 14 is
lowered to the first position S01 by its own weight and the cam
portions 151(151) are pushed and rotated clockwise following the
movement of the deskewer 14. Then, the third gear portion G3 begins
to slide on the first plate 152P1 of the releasing device 15-2, and
there are no further effective frictional forces generated between
the third gear portion G3 and the first plate 152P1.
[0037] The deskewer 14, therefore, is properly kept at the first
position S01 and prepares for the next feeding process from the
media P stacked in the initial site X1, and the overload from the
third gear portion G3 (driving element) can be properly set free by
the releasing device 15-2.
[0038] While this invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *