U.S. patent application number 11/759232 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for object loading apparatus having pressing cam for controlling inclination of object loading plate and image processing apparatus having the object loading apparatus implemented therein.
Invention is credited to Seave Li, Steven Li, Gene Qi, Tiamo Wang.
Application Number | 20080079212 11/759232 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39260365 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080079212 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qi; Gene ; et al. |
April 3, 2008 |
OBJECT LOADING APPARATUS HAVING PRESSING CAM FOR CONTROLLING
INCLINATION OF OBJECT LOADING PLATE AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
HAVING THE OBJECT LOADING APPARATUS IMPLEMENTED THEREIN
Abstract
The present invention provides an object loading apparatus,
including: an elastic component positioned at a bottom plate of an
object feeding device; a first pivot positioned at a side plate of
the object feeding device; an object loading plate rotatably
coupled to the first pivot for loading objects, wherein the elastic
component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to
rotate the object loading plane; a second pivot positioned at a
side plate of the object feeding device; a pressing cam rotatably
coupled to the second pivot; and a guiding module coupled to the
pressing cam for rotating the pressing cam to make an inclination
of the object loading plate of the object feeding device when the
object feeding device is at an object feeding position smaller than
an inclination of the object loading plate when the object feeding
plate is at an object loading position.
Inventors: |
Qi; Gene; (Guangzhou,
CN) ; Wang; Tiamo; (Guangzhou, CN) ; Li;
Seave; (Chengdu, CN) ; Li; Steven; (Guangzhou,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORTH AMERICA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 506
MERRIFIELD
VA
22116
US
|
Family ID: |
39260365 |
Appl. No.: |
11/759232 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/8.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 1/12 20130101; B65H
2403/51 20130101; B65H 2405/1117 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/8.1 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/00 20060101
B65H005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 3, 2006 |
TW |
095136685 |
Claims
1. An object loading apparatus, comprising: an elastic component,
positioned at a bottom plate of an object feeding device; a first
pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; an
object loading plate, rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for
loading objects, the object loading plate further contacting with
the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an
elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object
loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at
a side plate of the object feeding device; a pressing cam,
rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and a guiding module,
coupled to the pressing cam, for rotating the pressing cam to make
an inclination of the object loading plate of the object feeding
device when the object feeding device is at an object feeding
position smaller than an inclination of the object loading plate
when the object feeding device is at an object loading
position.
2. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the object
feeding device is positioned at the object feeding position, the
guiding module guides the pressing cam to rotate to a first
position in order to allow the elastic component to rotate the
object loading plate for making the object loading plate inclined
accordingly; and when the object feeding device is positioned at
the object loading position, the guiding module guides the pressing
cam to rotate to a second position in order to stop the elastic
component from rotating the object loading plate so the object
loading plate is in a horizontal position.
3. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, being applied in an
object processing apparatus, wherein the guiding module is a
guiding fillister positioned on an apparatus side plate of the
object processing apparatus; and a sliding terminal of the pressing
cam is movably coupled to the guiding fillister in order to rotate
the pressing cam around the second pivot when the object feeding
device is moving.
4. The object loading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the object
processing apparatus is a printer, a Photostat, or a multi-function
printer.
5. The object loading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elastic
component is coupled to the bottom plate of the object loading
plate; a first predetermined position of the guiding fillister is
not a same height as a second predetermined position of the guiding
fillister; when the object feeding device is positioned at the
object feeding position, the sliding terminal of the pressing cam
is moved to the first predetermined position; and when the object
feeding device is positioned at the object loading position, the
sliding terminal of the pressing cam is moved to the second
predetermined position.
6. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object
feeding device is a paper feeder.
7. An image processing apparatus comprising: an object feeding
device, comprising: an elastic component, positioned at a bottom
plate of the object feeding device; a first pivot, positioned at a
side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate,
rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for loading at least one
sheet of medium, the object loading plate further contacting with
the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an
elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object
loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at
a side plate of the object feeding device; and a pressing cam,
rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and a housing having a
cavity for accommodating the object feeding device, and a guiding
module, coupled to the pressing cam, for rotating the object
loading plate while the object feeding device is moved between an
object feeding position and an object loading position.
8. The image processing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a
pickup roller disposed above the object loading plate.
9. The image processing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the object
loading plate is rotated toward the pickup roller while the object
feeding device is moved from the object loading position to the
object feeding position.
10. The image processing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the loaded
medium adjoins the pickup roller while the object feeding device is
moved to the object feeding position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an object loading
apparatus, and more particularly to an object loading apparatus
having a pressing cam for controlling the inclination of an object
loading plate in order to automatically recover the object loading
apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Normally, a paper feeder in a printer utilizes a paper
drawing roller for rotating and feeding the paper into the printer.
However, this method requires a force between the paper drawing
roller and the paper in order to generate a frictional force upon
the paper. In the prior art, the object utilized to load the papers
is called a paper lifter, where a spring module is installed below
the paper lifter to provide the frictional force between the paper
drawing roller and the papers. Therefore, in a normal operation,
the paper feeder has to be pulled out from the printer when the
user needs to change or load papers into the printer. However, the
force generated by the spring module upon the paper lifter will
push up the paper lifter, making it inconvenient for the user to
load the papers.
[0005] Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a partial diagram
illustrating a prior art paper feeder 10 of a printer. In FIG. 1,
when the paper feeder 10 is pushed into the printer a grip 11 will
also be pushed by the paper feeder 10. The moving of the grip 11
will drive a spring 12 to pull up a supporting object 13.
Accordingly, the supporting object 13 can push up a paper lifter
(not shown) and provide the required force upon the papers.
However, this prior art printer is expensive and the configuration
is very complicated. Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram
illustrating another prior art paper feeder 20 of a printer,
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,103. According to the
corresponding disclosure, the paper feeder 20 comprises a motorized
media pick mechanism 21, and a media support plate 22 that supports
a media 23 to contact with the motorized media pick mechanism 21.
However, the paper feeder shown in FIG. 2 has the same problem as
that shown in FIG. 1, i.e. high cost and complicated configuration.
Therefore, a simpler and cheaper paper feeder needs to be
developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an embodiment of an object
loading apparatus. The object loading apparatus comprises an
elastic component, a first pivot, an object loading plate, a second
pivot, a pressing cam, and a guiding module. The elastic component
is positioned at a bottom plate of an object feeding device; the
first pivot is positioned at a side plate of the object feeding
device; the object loading plate is rotatably coupled to the first
pivot for loading objects, and further contacts with the elastic
component, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force
to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plate
around the first pivot. The second pivot is positioned at a side
plate of the object feeding device; the pressing cam is rotatably
coupled to the second pivot; and the guiding module is coupled to
the pressing cam for rotating the pressing cam to make the
inclination of the object loading plate of the object feeding
device when the object feeding device is at an object feeding
position smaller than the inclination of the object loading plate
when the object feeding device is at an object loading
position.
[0007] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a partial diagram illustrating a prior art paper
feeder of a printer.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another prior art paper
feeder of a printer.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an object loading apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object
feeding device of FIG. 3 when it moves from an object feeding
position to an object loading position.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pressing cam of Fig.3
when the object feeding device of the object loading apparatus is
located at the object loading position.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object
feeding device of FIG. 3 when it moves from the object loading
position to the object feeding position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an
object loading apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In the embodiment, the object loading apparatus
100 is described as being applied in a printer, however the object
loading apparatus 100 of the present invention is not limited to be
applied in a printer, and can also be applied in a Photostat or a
multi-function printer. The object loading apparatus 100 comprises
an elastic component 101, a first pivot 102, an object loading
plate 103, a second pivot 104, a pressing cam 105, and a guiding
module 106. The elastic component 101 is positioned at a bottom
plate 107a of an object feeding device 107 (i.e. the paper feeder
of the printer) of the printer; the first pivot 102 is positioned
at a side plate 107b of the object feeding device 107; and the
object loading plate 103 is rotatably coupled to the first pivot
102 for loading objects 103a (e.g. papers). Furthermore, the object
loading plate 103 further contacts with the elastic component 101,
wherein the elastic component 101 provides an elastic force F.sub.1
to the object loading plate 103 for rotating the object loading
plate 103 around the first pivot 102. The second pivot 104 is
positioned at a side plate 107c of the object feeding device 107.
Please note that, in this embodiment, the side plate 107b and the
side plate 107c are at the same side of the object feeding device
107. In other words, the first pivot 102 and the second pivot 104
are positioned at the same side of the object feeding device 107,
but this is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention;
for example, in other embodiments of the present invention, the
first pivot 102 and the second pivot 104 being positioned at both
sides of the object feeding device 107 respectively also falls
within the scope of the present invention. The pressing cam 105 is
rotatably coupled to the second pivot 104. The guiding module 106
is coupled to the pressing cam 105 for rotating the pressing cam
105 to make the inclination of the object loading plate 103 of the
object feeding device 107 when the object feeding device 107 is at
an object feeding position X.sub.1 smaller than the inclination of
the object loading plate 103 when the object feeding device 107 is
at an object loading position X.sub.2. When the object feeding
device 107 is positioned at the object feeding position X.sub.1
this means that the user has pushed the object feeding device 107
into a middle position of the printer in order to make the paper
drawer (e.g. paper drawing roller) draw the loading objects 103a
(i.e. papers) of the object feeding device 107; when the object
feeding device 107 is positioned at the object loading position
X.sub.2 this means that the user has pulled the object feeding
device 107 out from the middle position of the printer in order to
allow the user to load the loading objects 103a (i.e. papers) of
the object feeding device 107. In the embodiment, the guiding
module 106 is a guiding fillister, which is positioned on an
apparatus side plate 106c of the object processing apparatus 107
(i.e. paper drawer). A sliding terminal 105a of the pressing cam
105 is movably coupled to the guiding fillister in order to rotate
the pressing cam 105 around the second pivot 104 when the object
feeding device 107 is moving.
[0015] Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram
illustrating the position of the object feeding device 107 of FIG.
3 when it moves from the object feeding position X.sub.1 to the
object loading position X.sub.2. When the object feeding device 107
is moved toward a direction D.sub.1, the sliding terminal 105a of
the pressing cam 105 moves from the first predetermined position
106a to the second predetermined position 106b along the guiding
fillister of the guiding module 106; then the pressing cam 105 is
forced to rotate along a clockwise direction R1 of the second pivot
104. Therefore, the first predetermined position 106a is higher
than the second predetermined 106b as shown in FIG. 4. Please note
that the first predetermined position 106a of the present invention
is not limited to be higher than the second predetermined position
106b, and, after reading the above mentioned disclosure, a person
skilled in the art can readily modify the embodiment so the first
predetermined position 106a is lower than the second position 106b.
Therefore, any situations where the horizontal level of the first
predetermined position 106a and the second predetermined position
106b are different from those mentioned above also lies within the
scope of the present invention. In this embodiment, the press cam
105 appears as an "L" shape, and has another pressing terminal
105b. The pressing terminal 105b adaptively produces a force
F.sub.2 upon the object loading plate 103 when rotating in a
clockwise direction R.sub.1, where the force F.sub.2 is larger than
the force F.sub.1 generated by the elastic component 101.
Accordingly, the object loading plate 103 can be pressed to a lower
position when the first pivot 102 is rotated. Then, when the object
feeding device 107 is moved along the direction D.sub.1 and stops
at the object loading position X.sub.2, the pressing cam 105 of the
embodiment rotates to beyond the symmetrical center of the pressing
cam 105. Meanwhile, the pressing terminal 105b at the left side of
the pressing cam 105 sustains the force F1 generated by the elastic
component 101 to make the pressing cam 105 continue to rotate in
the clockwise direction. Furthermore, the sliding terminal 105a is
fixed at the second predetermined position 106b of the guiding
fillister of the guiding module 106 to fix the pressing cam 105; so
the object loading plate 103 can substantially remain in a
horizontal state and will not be lifted up. Accordingly, the user
can easily load the object 103a on to the object loading plate 103
as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pressing
cam 105 when the object feeding device 107 of the object loading
apparatus 100 is located at the object loading position
X.sub.2.
[0016] Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram
illustrating the position of the object feeding device 107 of FIG.
3 when it moves from the object loading position X.sub.2 to the
object feeding position X.sub.1. As mentioned above, when the
object feeding device 107 is positioned at the object loading
position X.sub.2, the user loads the objects 103a onto the object
loading plate 103; then the object feeding device 107 is moved
toward a direction D.sub.2, which is the opposite direction to the
direction D.sub.1. Because the sliding terminal 105a of the
pressing cam 105 moves from the second predetermined position 106b
to the first predetermined position 106a along the guiding
fillister of the guiding module 106, the pressing cam 105 is forced
to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction R.sub.2 around the second
pivot 104. Furthermore, because the first predetermined position
106a is higher than the second predetermined 106b, the pressing
terminal 105b of the pressing cam 105 is gradually raised by
rotating in an anti-clockwise direction R.sub.2 when moving toward
the direction D.sub.2. Meanwhile, the force F.sub.1 provided by the
elastic component 101 forces the object loading plate 103 to rotate
around the first pivot 102 (i.e. in a clockwise direction). Then,
when the sliding terminal 105a is moved toward the direction
D.sub.2 and stopped at the object feeding position X.sub.1, the
pressing terminal 105b of the pressing cam 105 of this embodiment
is raised to a predetermined location, and the sliding terminal
105a is stopped at the first predetermined position 106a of the
guiding fillister of the guiding module 106. The predetermined
location is designed to make the sliding terminal 105a unable to
contact with the objects 103a in order to enable the pickup roller
108 of the printer work normally, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0017] Please note that the guiding module 106 of the present
invention is not limited to utilizing the guiding fillister to
guide the pressing cam 105, and any other method that can move the
pressing cam 105 also belongs to the scope of the present
invention. For example, in another embodiment of the present
embodiment where the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106 is
not utilized, the embodiment detects the moving position of the
object feeding device 107 and generates a control signal to rotate
a motor for moving the pressing cam 105.
[0018] After reading above disclosure, a person skilled in the art
can readily appreciate that the disclosed object loading apparatus
can be applied to an image processing apparatus. For example, in an
exemplary design, the image processing apparatus has an object
feeding device and a housing. The object feeding device is
configured to include an elastic component, positioned at a bottom
plate of the object feeding device; a first pivot, positioned at a
side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate,
rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for loading at least one
sheet of medium, the object loading plate further contacting with
the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an
elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object
loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at
a side plate of the object feeding device; and a pressing cam,
rotatably coupled to the second pivot. The housing of the exemplary
image processing apparatus is configured to have a cavity for
accommodating the object feeding device, and a guiding module,
coupled to the pressing cam for rotating the object loading plate
while the object feeding device is moved between an object feeding
position and an object loading position. In other words, the object
feeding device can be loaded into or removed from the cavity inside
the housing under the control of users. Additionally, the image
processing apparatus further has a pickup roller disposed above the
object loading plate, and the object loading plate is rotated
toward the pickup roller while the object feeding device is moved
from the object loading position to the object feeding position. In
the end, the loaded medium adjoins the pickup roller when the
object feeding device has moved to the object feeding position.
Please note that above example is for illustrative purposes only
and is not meant to be taken as limitations of the present
invention.
[0019] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *