U.S. patent application number 11/381775 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for sheet feeding apparatus and paper separation device thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to BENQ CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hai-Tao Ma, Ming-Jie Zhao.
Application Number | 20070001364 11/381775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37588495 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070001364 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma; Hai-Tao ; et
al. |
January 4, 2007 |
SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND PAPER SEPARATION DEVICE THEREOF
Abstract
A sheet feeding apparatus includes an input tray, a paper
picking device, and a paper separation device. The input tray is
for placing a plurality of papers. The paper picking device is for
performing a paper picking operation on the papers. The paper
separation device, including a paper separation surface contacting
with the papers placed on the paper tray, is for applying a paper
separation force on each of the papers as fed in. When the paper
picking device performs the paper picking operation on each of the
papers, the paper separation forces applied on the papers are
decreased as their paper separation paths are increased.
Inventors: |
Ma; Hai-Tao; (Ningxia
Province, CN) ; Zhao; Ming-Jie; (Shandong Province,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Assignee: |
BENQ CORPORATION
Taoyuan Shien
TW
|
Family ID: |
37588495 |
Appl. No.: |
11/381775 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/8.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 3/56 20130101; B65H
2405/141 20130101; B65H 3/0661 20130101; B65H 2405/1136
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/008.1 |
International
Class: |
B65H 11/00 20060101
B65H011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 1, 2005 |
TW |
94122429 |
Claims
1. A paper separation device, used in a sheet feeding apparatus,
the sheet feeding apparatus comprising an input tray for placing a
plurality of papers, the paper separation device comprising: a
paper separation surface, contacting with the papers placed on the
input tray, for applying a paper separation force on each of the
papers as fed in; wherein the paper separation forces applied on
the fed-in papers are decreased as their paper separation paths are
increased.
2. The paper separation device according to claim 1, wherein the
paper separation surface comprises a plurality of protrusions
arranged along a paper feeding direction for providing the paper
separation force.
3. The paper separation device according to claim 2, wherein the
protrusions of a regular or an irregular shape have the same or
different height.
4. The paper separation device according to claim 2, wherein the
protrusions are a plurality of saw strips.
5. The paper separation device according to claim 4, wherein the
size of saw gaps between the tops of two adjacent saws is decreased
along the paper feeding direction.
6. The paper separation device according to claim 5, wherein each
of the saw strip has a first surface facing to the paper feeding
direction and a second surface facing against the paper feeding
direction, the first surfaces are arranged in parallel, and the
second surfaces have decreased inclined angles against a vertical
line of the paper separation surface along the paper feeding
direction.
7. The paper separation device according to claim 4, wherein the
saw strips have gap depth increased along the paper feeding
direction.
8. The paper separation device according to claim 7, wherein each
of the saw strips has a third surfaces facing to the paper feeding
direction and a forth surface facing against the paper feeding
direction, the third surfaces are arranged in parallel, and the
depth of gaps between the bottoms and the tops of the forth
surfaces is decreased along the paper feeding direction.
9. The paper separation device according to claim 2, wherein the
protrusions are a plurality of circular protrusions.
10. The paper separation device according to claim 9, wherein the
size of gaps between two adjacent circular protrusions is decreased
along the paper feeding direction.
11. The paper separation device according to claim 9, wherein the
depth of gaps between two adjacent circular protrusions are
increased along the paper feeding direction.
12. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: an input tray, for
placing a plurality of papers; a paper picking device, for
performing a paper picking operation on the papers; and a paper
separation device, comprising a paper separation surface contacting
with the papers placed on the paper tray, for applying a paper
separation force on each of the papers as fed in; wherein when the
paper picking device performs the paper picking operation on each
of the papers, the paper separation forces applied on the papers
are decreased as their paper separation paths are increased.
13. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
paper separation surface comprises a plurality of protrusions
arranged along a paper feeding direction for providing the paper
separation force.
14. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
protrusions of a regular or an irregular shape have the same or
different height.
15. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
protrusions are a plurality of saw strips.
16. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the
size of saw gaps between two adjacent saw strips is decreased along
the paper feeding direction.
17. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each
of the saw strips has a first surface facing to the paper feeding
direction and a second surface facing against the paper feeding
direction, the first surfaces are arranged in parallel, and the
second surfaces have decreased inclined angles against a vertical
line of the paper separation surface along the paper feeding
direction.
18. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the
depth of gaps between two adjacent saws is increased along the
paper feeding direction.
19. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each
of the saw strips has a third surface facing to the paper feeding
direction and a forth surface facing against the paper feeding
direction, the third surfaces are arranged in parallel, and the
depth of gaps between the bottoms and the tops of the forth
surfaces is decreased along the paper feeding direction.
20. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
protrusions are a plurality of circular protrusions.
21. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the
size of gaps between two adjacent circular protrusions is decreased
along the paper feeding direction.
22. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the
depth of gaps between two adjacent circular protrusions is
increased along the paper feeding direction.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application
Serial No. 94122429, filed on Jul. 1, 2005, the subject matter of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to a sheet feeding
apparatus and paper separation device thereof, and more
particularly to a sheet feeding apparatus, which can apply suitable
paper separation forces on the fed-in papers according to the
amount of the papers, and paper separation device thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, in a printer, papers are fed in for print via a
sheet feeding mechanism. In order to meet the requirements for
papers having various feeding features, a paper separation device
is usually configured in the sheet feeding mechanism to separate
the papers, and the papers can thus be fed into the printer piece
by piece.
[0006] FIG. 1A is a lateral view of a conventional sheet feeding
mechanism in a printer. Referring to FIG. 1A, the sheet feeding
mechanism 100 includes an input tray 110, a pick roller 120 and a
buckler 130. The input tray 110 is for placing a pile of
to-be-printed papers 111. The buckler 130 has one end connected to
the input tray 110 and supports the pile of to-be-printed papers
111. The pick roller 120 applies a pick force Fc on the papers 111
in a rolling friction way to slide the front edge A of the
uppermost paper 111 along the surface of the buckler 130 and then
feed the papers 111 into a print module 140 of the printer.
[0007] FIG. 1B is a schematic enlarged view of the sheet feeding
mechanism 100 in FIG. 1A. Referring to FIG. 1B, the surface of the
buckler 130 has generally a saw structure 132 for applying a paper
separation force Fr on the papers 111 to be fed in to achieve the
effect of paper separation. The saw structure 132 has several saw
strips 134 having the same shape and size. Through the saw strips
134, the buckler 130 can apply suitable paper separation forces Fr
on the papers 111 to prevent a paper gliding issue as the
above-mentioned pick roller 120 (not shown in the figure) applies a
pick force Fc to slide the papers 111.
[0008] As described above, when the amount of papers 111 decreases,
and the uppermost paper 111 is moved from the point G to the point
H as shown in FIG. 1C, the center of the pick roller 120 is moved
from the point O' to the point O''. Under the situation of equal
driving torque, the driving force F vertical to the central line I
of the roller 120 should be a constant. The normal force Fn'
applied by the roller 120 located at the point O' is equal to
Fcos(a') while the normal force Fn'' applied by the roller 120
located at the point O'' is equal to Fcos(a''). However, since the
angle a'' is larger than the angle a', the normal force Fn'' is
smaller than Fn'. Therefore, the pick force Fc'' (=Fn''.mu.) is
also smaller than Fc'(=Fn'.mu.). When the amount of papers 111
decreases, due to swing angle variation of the roller 120, the pick
force Fc for sliding the papers 111 is reduced and thus a miss-feed
issue that no paper is picked up to slide or a motor miss-step
issue that the papers 111 are fed in by a delay of one or two
seconds is generated. Besides, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the amount
of to-be-printed papers 111 increases, owing that paper separation
path measured from the front edge A of the paper 111 to the end B
of the buckler 130 near the print module 140 is decreased, a paper
gliding issue can be easily generated due to mechanic vibration or
static electricity. Moreover, because the pick force Fc applied on
the papers 111 by the roller 120 is increased, a multi-feed issue
can be easily generated to slide multiple papers at a time.
[0009] In order to provide enough forces for sliding the papers and
prevent the paper gliding issue, a paper separator of a printer is
disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,757 as shown in FIG. 2A. The
paper separator 200 includes a dam 201, and the dam 201 has a
friction bracket 210 and a jack buckler 220. The friction bracket
210, having function like the buckler 130 mentioned above, uses a
saw structure 212 to generate the required paper separation effect.
A guide projection 222, a first saw structure 224, and a second saw
structure 226 is configured in order on the jack buckler 220. The
guide projection 222 is for guiding the to-be-printed papers 211 as
sliding. The to-be-printed papers 211 are connected to both the
surfaces of the saw structure 212 and the jack buckler 220.
[0010] As shown in FIG. 2B, each saw 225 in the first saw
structures 224 has a sliding side 225a and a threshold side 225b
and each threshold side 225b has an inclined angle .alpha. against
the vertical line K of the jack buckler 220. Each saw 227 in the
second saw structure 226 has a sliding side 227a and a threshold
side 227b, and each threshold side 227b has an inclined angle
.beta. against the line K, wherein the angle .alpha. is larger than
the angle .beta.. When the front edge of the paper 211 is fed in
along the paper feeding direction L, the paper gilding is generated
as the paper 211 is being fed in through the guide projection 222
due to mechanic vibration. At the time, no matter the front edge of
the paper 211 glides between the threshold side 225b and the
sliding side 225a of two adjacent saws 225, or between the
threshold side 227b and the sliding side 227a of two adjacent saws
227, the threshold side 225b or 227b applies an extra resisting
force on the paper 211 to prevent the paper 211 from gliding
continuously.
[0011] However, the above-mentioned paper separator 200 has the
following disadvantages:
[0012] 1. Owing that the paper separator 200 uses the saw
structures 212, 224, 226 on the friction projection 210 and the
jack buckler 222 to generate paper separation forces, the resisting
force for the fed-in papers 211 is relatively increased and the
motor miss-step risk is thus enhanced.
[0013] 2. Owing that the papers 211 stay at one side of the guide
projection 222 at the beginning of paper feeding, the path for
paper feeding is increased, thereby enlarging the mechanism size
and mechanical resistance force in feeding papers.
[0014] 3. When the amount of papers decreases or papers of higher
rigidity are used for print, the paper separation forces are not
reduced accordingly. Therefore, the above-mentioned miss-feed and
motor miss-step issues cannot be prevented.
[0015] 4. Except for the friction projection 210 served as a paper
separation device, the paper separator 200 uses an extra jack
buckler 220 to prevent the paper gliding issue, which increases,
however, the mechanism cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
sheet feeding apparatus and paper separation device thereof. By a
suitable design of the surface structure of the paper separation
device, the paper separation forces applied on the fed-in papers by
the surface of the paper separation device are decreased as the
paper separation paths of the papers are increased. Therefore, the
paper gliding and the multi-feed issues easily generated in a large
paper amount and the miss-feed and motor miss-step issues easily
generated in a small paper amount can be prevented.
[0017] The invention achieves the above-identified object by
providing a paper separation device used in a sheet feeding
apparatus. The sheet feeding apparatus includes an input tray for
placing a number of papers The paper separation device includes a
paper separation surface. The paper separation surface, contacting
with the papers placed on the input tray, is for applying a paper
separation force on each of the papers as fed in. The paper
separation forces applied on the fed-in papers are decreased as
their paper separation paths are increased.
[0018] The invention achieves the above-identified object by
providing a sheet feeding apparatus including an input tray, a
paper picking device, and a paper separation device. The input tray
is for placing a plurality of papers. The paper picking device is
for performing a paper picking operation on the papers. The paper
separation device, including a paper separation surface contacting
with the papers placed on the paper tray, is for applying a paper
separation force on each of the papers as fed in. When the paper
picking device performs the paper picking operation on each of the
papers, the paper separation forces applied on the papers are
decreased as their paper separation paths are increased.
[0019] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description
is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1A is a lateral view of a conventional sheet feeding
mechanism in a printer.
[0021] FIG. 1B is a schematic enlarged view of the sheet feeding
mechanism in FIG. 1A.
[0022] FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing that the pick force
applied by the pick roller decreases as the amount of papers is
reduced due to swing angle variation of the roller.
[0023] FIG. 2A is a solid view of a paper separator of a printer
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,757.
[0024] FIG. 2B is a lateral view of the jack buckler in FIG.
2A.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of a sheet feeding apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 4A is a partially lateral view of the paper separation
device in FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the paper separation
device in FIG. 4A provides the paper separation force as the amount
of papers is large.
[0028] FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram showing the paper separation
device in FIG. 4A provides the paper separation force as the amount
of papers is small.
[0029] FIG. 5A, another partially lateral view of the paper
separation device in FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the paper separation
device in FIG. 5A provides the paper separation force as the amount
of papers is large.
[0031] FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram showing the paper separation
device in FIG. 5A provides the paper separation force as the amount
of papers is small.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a partially lateral view of the third structure of
the paper separation device in FIG. 3.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a partially lateral view of the fourth structure
of the paper separation device in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, a lateral view of a sheet feeding
apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is
shown. The sheet feeding apparatus 300, used in an electronic
device, such as a printer, a fax machine, or a multi-function
printer, includes an input tray 310, a pick roller 320, and a paper
separation device 330. The input tray is for placing a pile of
to-be-printed papers 311. The pick roller 320 applies a pick force
Fc on the papers 311 in a rolling friction way to perform a paper
picking operation. The paper separation device includes a paper
separation surface 332, contacting with the papers 311 placed on
the input tray 310, for applying paper separation forces Fr on the
papers 311 as the papers 311 are picked up by the pick roller 320
to slide in. In the following description, two examples are taken
to illustrate how the paper separation device 330 of the sheet
feeding apparatus 300 in the invention prevents the prior art
disadvantages.
EXAMPLE ONE
[0035] Referring to FIG. 4A, a partially lateral view of the paper
separation device 330 in FIG. 3 is shown. The paper separation
surface 332 includes n saw strips 333 arranged in parallel and
adjacent to each other along the paper feeding direction Lp with
all the saw strips 333 having the same height h. Each saw strip 333
has a sliding side 333a facing to the paper feeding direction Lp
and a threshold side 333b facing against the paper feeding
direction Lp. The threshold sides 333b have inclined angles a
(a1.about.an) against the line K vertical to the surface of the
paper separation surface 332, wherein the inclined angles a
(a1.about.an) are decreased along the paper feeding direction Lp,
that is, a1<a2< . . . <an. The sliding sides 333a of the
saw strips 333 are parallel to each other. The number n of the saw
strips 333 is exemplified to be 10 in FIG. 4A.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4B, when the amount of papers 311 is large
and the relative paper separation path for each paper is small,
such as 100 pieces of papers for print at a time, the
above-mentioned pick roller 320 (not shown in the figure) has a
larger pick force Fc1 than that force provided in a normal paper
amount due to swing angle variation of the roller 320. However, the
uppermost paper 311a in the pile of papers 311 is located at one
end M of the paper separation surface 332 having a smaller angle a.
Because the paper separation force Fr1 applied on the paper 311a by
the saw strips 333 of the paper separation surface 332 is larger
than that force provided in a normal paper amount, the
above-mentioned paper gliding and multi-feed issues can be
prevented. Furthermore, when the amount of papers 311 is large, the
papers 311 are usually of lower rigidity, such as A4 plain papers.
Therefore, the issue can be prevented that papers 311 are not fed
in due to resistance of the saw strips 333.
[0037] Besides, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the amount of papers 311
is small and the paper separation path for each paper is large, the
pick force Fc2 applies on the papers 311 by the above-mentioned
pick roller 320 (not shown in the figure) is smaller than that
force provided in a normal paper amount. However, at the time, the
uppermost paper 311a in the pile of the papers 311 is located at
one end N of the paper separation surface 332 having a larger angle
a. Owing that the paper separation force Fr2 applied on the paper
311a by the saw strips 333 of the paper separation surface 332 is
smaller than that paper separation force provided in a normal paper
amount, the papers 311 are more easily separated and fed in piece
by piece. Especially when the papers 311 of higher rigidity, such
as photo papers, are used for print, the miss-feed and motor
miss-step issues mentioned above can be prevented.
[0038] It is noted that although it is exemplified that the sliding
sides 333a of the saw strips 333 are parallel to each other and the
inclined angles a of the threshold sides 333b are decreased along
the paper feeding direction in the first example as shown in FIG.
4A, in the paper separation surface 332 of the invention, the
sliding sides 333a of the saw strips 333 can also be not in
parallel and the height h of the saw strips 333 can also be
different. As long as the angles between two adjacent saw strips
333 (the angles between the adjacent threshold sides 333b and the
sliding sides 333a) are decreased along the paper feeding
direction, all these alternatives can still prevent the paper
gliding and multi-feed issues happened in a large paper amount and
small paper separation path as well as the miss-feed and motor
miss-step issues happened in a small paper amount and large paper
separation path.
EXAMPLE TWO
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5A, another partially lateral view of the
paper separation device 330 in FIG. 3 is shown. The paper
separation surface 332 includes m saw strips 533 arranged in
parallel and adjacent to each other along the paper feeding
direction Lp with the saw strips 533 having the same height h. Each
saw strip has a sliding side 533a facing to the paper feeding
direction Lp and a threshold side 533b facing against the paper
feeding direction Lp. The threshold sides 533b of the saw strips
533 are in parallel. The vertical height H (H1.about.Hm) from the
bottom C to the top D of the threshold side 533b, that is, the
depth of the gaps 535 of the saw strips 533, is increased along the
paper feeding direction, i.e. H1>H2> . . . >Hm. The number
m of the saw strips 533 is exemplified to be 10 in FIG. 5A.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 5B, when the amount of papers 311 is large
and the paper separation path for each paper is small, the pick
force Fc3 is larger than that in a normal paper amount. However,
the uppermost paper 311a in the pile of the papers 311 is located
at one end P of the paper separation surface 532 where the gap
depth H of the saw strips 533 is larger. Therefore, the paper
separation force Fr3 applied on the paper 311a by the saw strips
533 of the paper separation surface 532 is larger than that force
in a normal paper amount, thereby preventing the paper gliding and
multi-feed issues. As shown in FIG. 5C, when the amount of papers
311 is small and the paper separation path for each paper is large,
the pick force Fc4 is smaller than that in a normal paper amount.
However, the uppermost paper 311a in the pile of papers 311 is
located at one end Q of the paper separation surface 532 where the
gap depth H of the saw strips 533 is smaller. Therefore, the paper
separation force Fr4 applied on the paper 311a by the saws 533 of
the paper separation surface 532 is smaller than that force
provided in a normal paper amount, thereby preventing the miss-feed
and motor miss-step issues.
[0041] It is noted that although it is exemplified in the second
example that the threshold sides 533b of the saw strips 533 are in
parallel and the depth H of the gaps between two adjacent saw
strips 533 is increased along the paper feeding direction Lp, in
the paper separation surface 532 of the invention, the threshold
sides 533b of the saw strips 533 can also be not in parallel, and
the height h of the saw strips 333 can also be different. As long
as the angles between two adjacent saw strips 533 (the angles
between the adjacent threshold sides 533b and the sliding sides
533a) are decreased along the paper feeding direction, and the
depth H of the gaps between two adjacent saw strips 533 is
increased along the paper feeding direction Lp, all the
alternatives can still prevent the paper gliding and multi-feed
issues happened in a large paper amount and small paper separation
path as well as the miss-feed and motor miss-step issues happened
in a small paper amount and large paper separation path.
[0042] As described above, although it is exemplified that the
inclined angles a are decreased or the depth of the saw gaps is
increased along the paper feeding direction Lp in the invention,
the invention is not limited thereto. In the paper separation
device, the saw angles of the paper separation surface can also be
increased along the paper feeding direction or the depth of the saw
gaps can also be decreased along the paper feeding direction. As
long as the paper separation forces are decreased as the paper
separation paths of the fed-in papers are enlarged, the multi-feed
and miss-feed issues can be prevented. Therefore, all these are not
apart from the scope of the invention.
[0043] According to the two examples mentioned above, although it
is exemplified that the saw strips (333 or 533) have the same
height h and different saw angles a or gap depth H, the paper
separation surface 332 of the invention can also have saw strips of
different height or have certain saw strips of the same height and
the rest of different height. As long as the saw height and
accordingly the saw gap depth is increased along the paper feeding
direction while the angles between two adjacent saws are the same
or are decreased along the paper feeding direction, the
above-mentioned paper separation issue can be prevented. The saw
height, saw angles, and saw gap depth of the paper separation
surface 332 can be even designed suitably so that the paper
separation force applied on the papers by the paper separation
surface can be decreased as the paper amount is reduced, thereby
achieving the purpose of preventing the above-mentioned paper
separation issues.
[0044] In addition, although the paper separation surface 332
having saw strips 333 or 533 is taken as an example in the
invention, the paper separation surface 332 of the paper separation
device 330 in the invention can also includes a number of circular
protrusions 633 or some saw strips (333 or 533) and some circular
protrusions 633 having the same height h as shown in FIG. 6. The
circular protrusions 633 are arranged regularly along the paper
feeding direction Lp and the size of the gaps between two adjacent
circular protrusions 633 (i.e. the distance dl between two adjacent
circular protrusions 633) is decreased along the paper feeding
direction Lp. Or the paper separation surface 332 of the paper
separation device 330 in the invention can also include a number of
circular protrusions 733 having the same height h and equal
interval d2 as shown in FIG. 7. The circular protrusions 733 are
arranged regularly along the paper feeding direction Lp, and the
depth s of the gaps between two adjacent circular protrusions is
increased along the paper feeding direction Lp.
[0045] Although the paper separation surface 332 having saw strips
333, 533, or circular protrusions 633, 733 is taken as an example
in the invention, the paper separation surface 332 of the paper
separation device 330 in the invention can also include other
protrusions of a regular shape or an irregular shape. The paper
separation surface can also even be surface-processed suitably to
provide the paper separation force required for the papers in a
surface friction way. As long as the paper separation forces
applied on the fed-in papers are decreased as their paper
separation paths are increased, the papers gliding and multi-feed
issues easily happened in a large paper amount or the miss-feed and
motor miss-step issues easily happened in a small paper amount can
be prevented. Therefore, all these will not depart from the scope
of the invention.
[0046] The sheet feeding apparatus and paper separation device
thereof disclosed by the above-mentioned embodiment of the
invention has the following advantages:
[0047] 1. The invention can prevent the paper gliding and motor
miss-step issues by a direct surface structure design of the paper
separation device without using extra auxiliary devices.
[0048] 2. By decreasing the paper separation forces applied on the
papers as their paper separation paths are increased, the invention
can prevent the paper gliding and multi-feed issues easily happened
in a large paper amount and the miss-feed and motor miss-step
issues easily happened in a small paper amount.
[0049] 3. By using the paper separation surface to provide a
smaller paper separation force as the paper has a larger paper
separation path, the invention can prevent the motor miss-step
issue or the miss-feed issue happened as feeding the papers of
higher rigidity.
[0050] While the invention has been described by-way of example and
in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and
procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should
be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
* * * * *