U.S. patent application number 10/193152 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-15 for double-side automatic feeding apparatus.
Invention is credited to Wei, Frank.
Application Number | 20040007809 10/193152 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29735325 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040007809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wei, Frank |
January 15, 2004 |
DOUBLE-SIDE AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS
Abstract
A double-side automatic feeding apparatus comprises a paper
feeder, a first paper holder, a second paper holder, a document
traveling path and a paper flipping unit. The paper feeder, the
first paper holder and the second paper holder are arranged apart
in longitudinal direction. The document traveling path is of E
shape and connected to the paper feeder, the first paper holder and
the second paper holder. The document traveling path is provided
with a plurality of rollers to move a document from the paper
feeder to one of the first paper holder and the second paper
holder. The paper flipping unit is arranged in the document
traveling path and can be trigger to flip the document during the
document traveling path. By the double-side automatic feeding
apparatus, a document can be selectively printed or scanned on
single- or double-side thereof at user's disposal.
Inventors: |
Wei, Frank; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
29735325 |
Appl. No.: |
10/193152 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/186 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00591 20130101;
H04N 1/00572 20130101; H04N 2201/0082 20130101; H04N 1/0058
20130101; H04N 1/0062 20130101; H04N 1/00633 20130101; H04N 1/00602
20130101; B41J 3/60 20130101; H04N 1/00588 20130101; B65H 15/004
20200801; B65H 2405/3321 20130101; B65H 2301/33312 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/186 |
International
Class: |
B65H 029/00 |
Claims
I claim
1. A double-side automatic feeding apparatus, comprising a paper
feeder, a first paper holder and a second paper holder, wherein the
paper feeder, the first paper holder and the second paper holder
are arranged apart in longitudinal direction; a document traveling
path connected to the paper feeder, the first paper holder and the
second paper holder, the document traveling path being provided
with a plurality of rollers to move a document from the paper
feeder to one of the first paper holder and the second paper
holder; and a paper flipping unit arranged in the document
traveling path, which can be trigger to flip the document during
the document traveling path.
2. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein the paper feeder has a first space for accommodating the
document and the first space has a first supporting surface on
bottom thereof to support the document.
3. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein the first paper holder has a second space for accommodating
the document and the second space has a second supporting surface
on bottom thereof to support the document.
4. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein the second paper holder has a third space for accommodating
the document and the third space has a third supporting surface on
bottom thereof to support the document.
5. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein the document traveling path is divided into a first
segment, a second segment and a third segment; the paper flipping
unit has a first guiding face provided between the first segment
and the second segment, and a second guiding face provided between
the second segment and the third segment.
6. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
further comprising a printing unit arranged on outer side of the
document traveling path, the printing unit being selectively moved
to one of a first printing position and a second printing
position.
7. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
further comprising a image sensor arranged on outer side of the
document traveling path, the image sensor being selectively moved
to one of a first scanning position and a second scanning
position.
8. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
further comprising at least one idler used with the rollers.
9. The double-side automatic feeding apparatus as in claim 1,
wherein one of the rollers is a paper-picking roller and arranged
at a paper-picking arm, which can move the paper-picking roller
into or out of the paper feeder.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a double-side automatic
feeding apparatus for document, especially to a double-side
automatic feeding apparatus with an E-shaped document traveling
path and movable printing/scanning unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The computer printer is used to print out document such as
text or picture from computer. The computer printer is generally
connected to the parallel printer port of the computer and
commanded by the computer for printing document.
[0003] The printers can be generally classified into
dot-matrix:printer, inkjet printer and laser printer. Among those,
the dot-matrix printer has problem of poor quality and noise and
become eclipsing. The inkjet printer prints document on paper by
spraying ink thereon through a nozzle and is popular for personal
usage. The laser printer has advantages of high quality and high
speed. However, the laser printer has higher price and generally
used by business.
[0004] Moreover, the scanners become popular peripherals for
computer users as multimedia and web page design are gradually
prevailing. The scanner generally senses a reflected light from a
document of interest and converts the sensed light signal to a
digital image signal for representing the document. The digital
image signal can be processed with optical character recognition
software to convert the digital image signal into textual file if
the original document contains textual information.
[0005] However, the existing printer or scanner can only print/scan
one side of a paper at each operation. For double-side printing,
the paper should be taken out and turned over; this is
inconvenient.
[0006] To scan double-sided document, scanner for double-sided
image has been developed. FIG. 1 shows a prior art scanner for
double-sided image, which comprises a paper feeder 10a, a paper
outlet 11a at same side as the paper feeder 10a, a scanning region
12a having a document traveling path 13a bridging the paper feeder
10a and the paper outlet 11a, a transparent window 14a and a
direction-controlling wheel 15a opposite to the transparent window
14a, a rotary means 16a having an entrance path and an exit path
connected to scanning region 12a. The entrance path is used to
guide a document with one scanned side from the scanning region
12a, the exit path flipping the document and sending the flipped
document to the scanning region 12a such that an unscanned side of
the document can be processed in the scanning region 12a. A sensor
17a is placed at the exit of the rotary means 16a and sends a
detection signal to the direction-controlling wheel 15a when
sensing the appearance of the document and the
direction-controlling wheel 15a will be commanded to rotate at
opposite direction. An image sensor 18a is arranged at an outer
side of the transparent window 14a. When the document is fed
through the paper feeder 10a and passes to the transparent window
14a, the image sensor 18a senses an image at a first side of the
document. When the document is flipped by the rotary means 16a and
then again passes to the transparent window 14a, the image sensor
18a senses an image at a second side of the document.
[0007] However, in above-mentioned double-sided image scanner, the
document should be returned to the paper outlet Ha after a long
trip with flip operation. Therefore, the propagation distance of
the document is long and the scanning time is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
double-side automatic feeding apparatus, wherein the document can
be scanned on both sides thereof without cumbersome reverse
movement.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
double-side automatic feeding apparatus with E-shaped document
traveling path and movable printing/scanning unit.
[0010] To achieve above object, the present invention provides a
double-side automatic feeding apparatus comprising a paper feeder,
a first paper holder, a second paper holder, a document traveling
path and a paper flipping unit. The paper feeder, the first paper
holder and the second paper holder are arranged apart in
longitudinal direction. The document traveling path is of E shape
and connected to the paper feeder, the first paper holder and the
second paper holder. The document traveling path is provided with a
plurality of rollers to move a document from the paper feeder to
one of the first paper holder and the second paper holder. The
paper flipping unit is arranged in the document traveling path and
can be trigger to flip the document during the document traveling
path. By the double-side automatic feeding apparatus, a document
can be selectively printed or scanned on single- or double-side
thereof at user's disposal.
[0011] The various objects and advantages of the present invention
will be more readily understood from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of prior art double-side
scanner;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of present invention before use;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the printing unit of the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention for single-side printing;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention for double-side printing;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows another sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention for double-side printing;
and
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention for double-side scanning.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With reference now to FIG. 2, the present invention is
intended to provide a double-side automatic feeding apparatus for
scanner or printer. The automatic feeding apparatus of the first
preferred embodiment comprises a paper feeder 10, a first paper
holder 20, a second paper holder 30, a document traveling path 40,
a paper flipping unit 60 and a printing unit 70.
[0020] The paper feeder 10, the first paper holder 20, and the
second paper holder 30 are placed on a rack 80 of the automatic
feeding apparatus of the present embodiment and stacked in altitude
directions. The paper feeder 10 has a first space 11 for
accommodating a document to be printed and the first space 11 has a
first supporting surface 12 on bottom thereof to support the
document to be printed.
[0021] The first paper holder 20 has a second space 21 for
accommodating a document with single side printed and the second
space 21 has a second supporting surface 22 on bottom thereof to
support the document with single side printed.
[0022] The second paper holder 30 has a third space 31 for
accommodating a document with double sides printed and the second
space 21 has a third supporting surface 32 on bottom thereof to
support the document with double sides printed.
[0023] The document traveling path 40 is of E shape and connected
to the paper feeder 10, the first paper holder 20, and the second
paper holder 30. The document traveling path 40 is divided into a
first segment 41, a second segment 42 and a third segment 43. The
first segment 41 and the third segment 43 are placed atop and below
the second segment 42. The second segment 42 has one end connected
to the first paper holder 20 and another end connected between one
end of the first segment 41 and one end of the third segment 43.
Each of the first segment 41 and the third segment 43 has another
end connected to the paper feeder 10 and the second paper holder
30, respectively.
[0024] The document traveling path 40 has a plurality of rollers
44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 for conveying the document from
the paper feeder 10 to the first paper holder 20 and the second
paper holder 30. In this invention, those rollers are referred as a
paper-picking roller 44, a first roller 45, a second roller 46, a
third roller 47, a fourth roller 48, a fifth roller 49, a sixth
roller 50, and a seventh roller 51. Moreover, idlers 52 and 53 are
provided for the fourth roller 48 and the seventh roller 51,
respectively. The rollers 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 can be
driven by a conventional transmission means (not shown) and the
conventional transmission means will not be described in detail
here.
[0025] The paper-picking roller 44 is arranged at a paper-picking
arm 54, which is driven by a conventional transmission means (not
shown) to swing in clockwise or counterclockwise direction, whereby
the paper-picking arm 54 can drive the paper-picking roller 44 into
the paper feeder 10 or out off the paper feeder 10.
[0026] The paper flipping unit 60 is arranged among the first
segment 41, the second segment 42 and the third segment 43 and has
a first guiding face 61 and a second guiding face 62. The first
guiding face 61 and the second guiding face 62 are bevel faces or
curved faces with guiding function. More particularly, the first
guiding face 61 is provided between the first segment 41 and the
second segment 42, and the second guiding face 62 is provided
between the second segment 42 and the third segment 43. The paper
flipping unit 60 can also be moved horizontally by a conventional
transmission means (not shown) to flip the document along the
document traveling path 40.
[0027] The printing unit 70 can be, for example, an inkjet head and
arranged on outer side of the document traveling path 40. As shown
in FIG. 3, the printing unit 70 is arranged on a base 71 with a
horizontal first guiding rod 72 on which the printing unit 70 can
be laterally slid for printing. The base 71 is slidably arranged on
two second guiding rods 73 of the rack 80 such that the printing
unit 70 can be moved in altitude direction. Therefore, the printing
unit 70 can be moved to an upper first printing position for
printing a first side of the document and a lower second printing
position for printing a second side of the document.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 4, for single-side printing, the
document 100 to be printed is placed into the first space 11. The
paper-picking arm 54 is lowered down by a triggering signal and the
paper-picking roller 44 is in contact with the document 100. The
document 100 is driven by the paper-picking roller 44 and the first
roller 45 for moving into the first segment 41 of the document
traveling path 40. At this time, the printing unit 70 is moved to
the first printing position outside the second roller 46 for
printing the first side of the document 100. Afterward, the
document 100 is guided by the guiding of the first guiding face 61
of the paper flipping unit 60 and the rotation of the third roller
47 and the fourth roller 48, thus moving into the second space 21.
At this time, the single-side printing process is finished and the
document 100 may be removed from the first paper holder 20.
[0029] With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6 for double-side
printing, the paper flipping unit 60 is moved up until the second
guiding face 62 is moved to the second segment 42. The document 100
with single side printed can be guided by the second guiding face
62 and the reverse rotation of the fourth roller. Therefore, the
document 100 is moved to the third segment of the document
traveling path 40. At this time, the document 100 is flipped over
and the printing unit 70 is moved to the second printing position
outside the fifth roller 49 for printing a second side of the
document 100, as shown in FIG. 5. After the printing task is
finished, the document 100 is driven by the fifth roller 49, the
sixth roller 50 and the seven roller 51 for moving into the third
space 31. At this time, the double-side printing process is
finished and the document 100 may be removed from the second paper
holder 30.
[0030] By the double-side automatic feeding apparatus of the
present invention, the document has the feasibility of double-side
printing or scanning. For double-side printing process, the
conveying speed of document is fast because the paper feeder 10,
the first paper holder 20, and the second paper holder 30 are
arranged in altitude direction and no reverse trip is required for
the document.
[0031] Moreover, the double-side automatic feeding apparatus of the
present invention has an E-shaped document traveling path 40
composed of a first segment 41, a second segment 42 and a third
segment 43. Moreover, the double-side automatic feeding apparatus
of the present invention is used with a longitudinally movable
printing unit 70 to enhance its flexibility.
[0032] Moreover, as reference to FIG. 7, the printing unit 70 can
be replaced by an image sensor 90 such as a contact image sensor
(CIS) or a charged coupled device (CCD) when the double-side
automatic feeding apparatus of the present invention is used in
scanner application. The image sensor 90 is arranged on a base 91,
which is slidably arranged on two guiding shafts 73 on the rack 80
on both sides thereof. Therefore, the base 91 and the image sensor
90 can be moved upward and downward and the image sensor 90 can be
selectively moved to an upper first scanning position for scanning
a first side of the document and a lower second scanning position
for scanning a second side of the document.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in
the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of
ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and
modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *