U.S. patent application number 11/732643 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for feeding sheets into a photocopier.
This patent application is currently assigned to XEROX CORPORATION.. Invention is credited to Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges, Roy Norman Gladwin.
Application Number | 20080246207 11/732643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39826264 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080246207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bridges; Richard Thomas Calhoun ;
et al. |
October 9, 2008 |
Feeding sheets into a photocopier
Abstract
A simplified sheet sensor and registration gate for feeding
print media sheets from a stack loaded by a user into a receptacle
on a photocopier. The gate is pivoted on the mechanism and has a
flag attached; and, upon user loading of sheets into the
receptacle, the gate is pivoted against a locking arm and the flag
is moved to actuate an optic sensor that sheets have been loaded.
The locking arm is pivoted on the nudger roll arm and unlocks the
gate when the nudger roll is moved down to contact the top sheet in
the stack. When the sheet receptacle is unloaded, the gate is
pivoted by gravity to the downward position and the locking arm
pivots by gravity to reset. If the nudger is raised for sheet jam
clearance, the locking arm is pivoted to clear the gate, allowing
the gate to drop. The locking resets by gravity.
Inventors: |
Bridges; Richard Thomas
Calhoun; (London, GB) ; Gladwin; Roy Norman;
(Aylesbury, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY SHARPE / XEROX - ROCHESTER
1100 SUPERIOR AVE., SUITE 700
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
XEROX CORPORATION.
|
Family ID: |
39826264 |
Appl. No.: |
11/732643 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/3.13 ;
271/265.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2553/61 20130101;
B65H 2511/514 20130101; B65H 3/56 20130101; B65H 2701/1311
20130101; B65H 3/34 20130101; B65H 3/0684 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/3.13 ;
271/265.01 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/00 20060101
B65H005/00 |
Claims
1. A sheet feeding mechanism for a photocopier comprising: (a) a
sheet stack receptacle for user loading a supply of print media
with guides for directing sheet feed; (b) a registration gate
disposed to be contacted by the leading edge of the sheets to be
fed and movable between an open and closed position, the gate
moveably responsive upon the sheets contacting the gate to effect a
sheet position signal; (c) a sensor operable to detect the sheet
position signal and provide an output signal; (d) a releasable stop
operable to maintain the gate in a closed position upon contact
thereby; and, (e) a sheet nudger moveable between a first position
contacting a sheet from a stack to be fed and a second position
away from the stack, wherein movement of the nudger to the first
position effects release of the stop thereby allowing a sheet, upon
urging of the nudger, to effect opening of the gate and upon
energization of the nudger permitting sheet movement for feeding
into the copier.
2. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the gate is mounted on
the mechanism for pivotal movement.
3. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the gate includes a
flag moveable therewith for effecting the signal.
4. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an
electro-optic device;
5. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein upon completion of
sheet feeding from the stack, the gate is moved from the open
position under the force of gravity to the closed position.
6. A method of loading print media sheets from a receptacle into a
feeder mechanism comprising: (a) disposing a moveable gate between
the sheets and the feeder mechanism, and releasably locking the
gate in a closed sheet registering position; (b) sensing movement
of the gate and generating a control signal; (c) moving a nudger
into a sheet contacting position in response to the control signal
and relieving the gate lock; and, (d) energizing the nudger and
moving a sheet for effecting movement of the gate to an open
position.
7. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising, when the
receptacle is unloaded, moving the nudger to an away position and
permitting the gate to close under the force of gravity.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of sensing movement of
the gate includes disposing a flag with the gate and sensing
movement of the flag.
9. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of sensing
movement of the gate includes electro-optically sensing movement of
a flag on the gate.
10. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of locking the
gate includes moving a stop member upon movement of the nudger to a
position away from the sheets.
11. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of releasably
locking the gate in closed position includes moving the gate under
the force of gravity to an initial position upon unloading of the
receptacle and moving a locking member under the force of gravity.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the operation of feeding
print media sheets into a photocopier and particularly to such
copiers employing a tray or receptacle into which the user loads a
stack of sheets to be subsequently automatically fed serially into
the photocopier for completion of a desired number of printed
copies. In effecting such operations, it is necessary to sense the
presence of the print media sheets when loaded in the receptacle by
the user and to register the leading edge of the sheets in a stack
such that the top sheet of the stack can be correctly positioned
for feeding into the copier at a precise location for receiving an
image printed thereon.
[0002] Heretofore, the detection of the presence of the print media
sheets has been accomplished by optical sensors or interrupt
sensors activated by flags or indicators physically moved by the
media sheets when loaded into the receptacle or tray.
[0003] Registration of the leading edge of the media sheet stack
has heretofore been accomplished by a vertical wall and lift gate
provided to guide the sheets over the wall when feeding. One known
technique for enabling feeding of the sheets employs a solenoid for
activating a plurality of fingers that pivot out of the paper path
to permit feeding. In such arrangements, the fingers are pivoted
from above the stack and are prevented from rotation until the
sheet nudger is lowered onto the stack for feeding.
[0004] This arrangement for sensing, registration and initiating of
feeding of sheets from the stack into a photocopier has required
the use of costly sensors and mechanisms for registration and
feeding of the sheets into the copier. Thus, it has been desired to
provide a simplified and less costly construction for a photocopier
sheet stack registration and feeding apparatus which provides
sufficient locational accuracy for the print media sheets to
provide for proper advancement and location of the sheets in the
copier to receive an image printed thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0005] The apparatus and method of the present disclosure address
the above described problem and provide guides on a media sheet
tray which are movable for providing lateral sheet registration in
the stack to thereby centrally position the sheet stack for
subsequent feeding. For feed registration, the user pushes the
stack forward such that the leading edge which contacts a
registration gate which undergoes a limited movement until making
with a stop and subsequently providing a registration surface for
the leading edge of the sheets in the stack. The limited movement
of the gate between first contact by the leading edge of the sheets
in the stack and the gate contacting the stop effects the movement
of a flag or indicator away from an optical interrupt sensor which
provides a signal to the copier controller that the media sheets
are present in the tray or receptacle. Upon receipt of the "sheets
present" signal, the machine controller then effects lowering of
the nudger into contact with the top sheet in the stack. The
lowering of the nudger releases the stop for the registration gate;
and, upon activation of the nudger, the movement of the leading
edge of the top sheet effects pivoting of the gate upwardly and out
of the way to permit feeding of the sheet by the nudger into the
copier feeding mechanism.
[0006] When the last sheet in the stack has been fed into the
copier, the registration gate returns under the force of gravity to
its original position. The nudger is then raised to its upward or
original position which effects locking of the gate stop for
subsequent loading of media sheets for the next job.
[0007] In the event that there is a paper jam, upon raising of the
nudger for clearance, the gate stop is permitted to pivot under the
registration gate permitting the gate to return under gravity to
its original position; and, the pivoting lock is further rotated
under gravitational force to its original position and is, thus,
reset.
[0008] The present disclosure describes apparatus and method for
economically and simply controlling the sensing and registration of
print media sheets in a stack when loaded into the receptacle of a
photocopier for commencing a printing job.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the loading tray or
receptacle and feeder for a photocopier;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeder mechanism for a
photocopier showing the sheet registration gate arm;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 taken from the opposite
side with the cover removed to expose the nudger and registration
gate locking member;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an end view of the gate and nudger mechanism of
FIG. 3 with the nudger raised and the gate in the downward media
sensing position;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the gate in the
registered or locked position having sensed the presence of media
sheets;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the nudger in the
downward sheet engaging position;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the registration
gate released and moved to the upward position during sheet
feeding;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the last sheet
being fed;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with the gate and flag
returned to the downward original position;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing media sheet
jammed in the feeder;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with the nudger in the
raised position for jam clearance;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a view showing the jam cleared and the gate in
the fully downward position with the flag and the sensor ready for
reloading;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the pivoting
lock lowered under the force of gravity to the locking position;
and
[0022] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the
gate and locking mechanism showing that the forces act through the
pivot center of the nudger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a feeder mechanism for a copier
indicated generally at 10 includes a receptacle indicated generally
at 12 having a support platform or tray 14 with a pair of spaced
generally parallel guides 16, 18 provided thereon which are
laterally moveable on the tray. Each of the guides 16, 18 has a
portion thereof (not shown) extending downwardly therefrom into a
pair of laterally extending guide slots 20, 22 formed in the tray
14. The guides may be moved toward the center of the tray for
registering and aligning the lateral edges of the print media
sheets placed in the tray at the time of loading.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a feeder mechanism is
illustrated as having a registration gate or arm 24 pivotally
mounted about a pin 26 providing a nudger arm 28 which is pivoted
about the axis of a feeder roll 30. The gate extends downwardly
through a slot 17 formed in the feeder pan 15.
[0025] The nudger arm 28 has attached thereto an axle about which
is pivoted a nudger roll 32 which is driven by a gear 34 engaged by
idler gear 36 which is driven by gear 38 on the feeder roll 30. The
feeder roll is powered separately by a motor controlled by the
electronic controller (not shown) for the copier. Referring to FIG.
4, the gate 24 has a flag 40 attached thereto for pivotal movement
about stationary pin 26 which is shown in FIG. 4 in the position
interrupting a beam in a photodetector 42 disposed for detecting
the position of flag 40 and, thus, gate 24.
[0026] The gate 24 is shown in FIG. 4 in its fully downward
position with the gate arm in the media detecting position; and,
the nudger arm 28 is shown in its upward position with the nudger
roller 32 away from the tray 14.
[0027] A locking arm 44 is pivotally mounted about pin 46 on the
nudger arm 28; and, the arm 44 has a finger portion 48 disposed on
one side of the pivot for engagement by the gate arm locking
portion 50. The end of the arm 44 opposite the locking portion 48
has a notch 52 provided thereon which contacts a stop pin 54
provided on the nudger arm.
[0028] With the gate 24 in the fully downward position shown in
FIG. 4 and flag 40 engaging the sensor 42, the locking portion or
surface 50 of the gate 24 is spaced from the end of the portion 48
of locking arm 44 by a limited amount. The locking arm 44 is
pivoted under the force of gravity about pin 46 such that notch 52
contacts stop pin 54. The mechanism is shown in FIG. 4 in the
position ready to receive loading of sheets of print media into
tray 14 by the user pushing the sheets into contact with arm 24 as
indicated by the black arrow and the designation "Media".
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the gate 24 is shown as having been
moved by the media sheets indicated by the black arrow and a
designation "Media" to a position where the locking surface 50 has
engaged the end of the locking arm portion 48 of the locking arm 44
such that the gate 24 is locked, in the position shown in FIG. 5,
and thus acts as a registration surface for the leading edge of the
stack of media sheets. The flag 40 has been raised from the sensor
42 which movement sends a signal from sensor 42 to the controller
that the media sheets have been loaded into the tray 14. The nudger
arm 28 remains in the upward position with the nudger roll 32
spaced away from the media sheets in the tray 14.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the nudger arm 28 is shown as having
been lowered to a position such that the nudger roll 32 engages the
top sheet in the stack loaded into the tray 14 as denoted by the
black arrow labeled "Media" in FIG. 6. The gate 24 has been
unlocked by virtue of the end 48 of the locking arm 44 having
pivoted downward with the nudger arm 28 to free the contact surface
50 on the gate arm. Thus, in the position shown in FIG. 6, the
mechanism is ready for sheets to be fed by the nudger roller 32
into the feed rollers 30, 31 along the tray 14.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 7, the nudger roll 32 has been powered as
are the feed rollers 31, 32; and, the top sheet of print media is
being fed from the stack on the guide pan 15 as indicated by the
black arrow and the designation "Media" through the feed rolls 31,
32. The leading edge of the media sheet has caused the gate 24 to
be moved to the upward position as shown in FIG. 7 clearing the
path for the sheets to be fed into the feed rolls 31, 32.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, the last of the media sheets in the
stack loaded into tray 14 is shown as passing through the feeder
rolls 30, 31 by the black arrow labeled "Media"; and, the gate is
shown in its upward position with the nudger roll still in the
lowered or driving position.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 9, upon completion of the print job and
unloading of the tray 14 the nudger arm 28 has been raised; and,
the passage of the last print media sheet has permitted the gate 24
to drop under the force of gravity to its original position with
the flag 40 interrupting the photo beam of sensor 42. The raising
of the nudger arm 28 causes the arm 44 to be raised and the locking
end portion 48 to remain clear of the contact surface 50 on the
gate 24. Thus, the gate 24 is in position to again receive sheets
in the tray 14 with a leading edge contacting gate 24 for limited
movement in response thereto. The entry of flag 40 into sensor 42
thus signals the controller that the mechanism is in a condition to
again receive sheets loaded by the user into tray 14.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 10, the mechanism is shown with the nudger
arm dropped into a position for feeding media sheets to feed
rollers 30, 31 with gate 24 moved to its forward position by a
media sheet feeding through the roller 30, 31; however, the media
sheet is shown as in a "jammed" or misfed condition wherein the
machine has stopped the power to the feed rollers 30, 31 and the
nudger roller 32.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 11, the mechanism is shown in the
condition of FIG. 10 with a print media sheet jammed between
rollers 30, 31; however, in the condition in FIG. 11, the nudger
arm 28 has been raised to move the nudger roller 32 upward and away
from the guide pan 15. The upward movement of the nudger arm 28 has
caused the locking arm 44 to be raised by the movement of the pivot
pin 46 with the nudger arm 28. This movement causes portion 48 of
the locking arm 44 to slide along surface 56 under the locking
surface 50 of the gate 24. Thus, the gate 24 is not locked in the
upward position but is maintained there by the friction of the
media sheet acting on the lower edge of the gate 24.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 12, the situation of a jammed media sheet
shown in FIG. 11 has been relieved by removal of the jammed sheet;
and, the gate 24 is thus allowed to drop under the force of gravity
pivoting about the pivot pin 26 and returns to its downward initial
position shown in FIG. 12 with the flag 40 again interrupting the
beam in the photo optic sensor 42. The nudger arm 28 remains in the
upward position away from the feeder pan 15; and, the mechanism is
ready to be reset for continuing the job.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 13, the state of the mechanism shown in
FIG. 12 is further prepared for continuation of the printing job by
the rotation of the locking arm 44 about the pin 46 under the force
of gravity until the notch 52 in the arm 44 again rests on the
locking arm stop pin 54 as shown in FIG. 13. In the position shown
in FIG. 13, the locking arm 44 has its end portion 48 again
positioned adjacent the gate locking surface 50 and slightly spaced
therefrom to permit registration of the media sheets in the stack
against the gate 24 which will cause the gate to move to the
vertically downward position (see FIG. 5) whereupon surface 50 will
contact the end 48 of the locking arm 44 and secure the gate from
further movement.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 14, the gate 24 is shown in the media
sheet stack registration position with the locking surface 50
contacting end 48 of the gate locking 44. The angle of this locking
surface 50 ensures that the nudger may be dropped completely
un-hindered by the force of gate 24 and `locked out` against
locking arm 44. Feeding of media sheets can then resume. The black
arrows indicate the line of the reaction force from the sheet stack
against the gate, illustrating that the force is biased to the
correct side of pin 46 ensuring that the rotation of the locking
arm 44 is in the correct direction (clockwise as depicted in this
view) to enable the locking arm 44 to be `locked out` shown by the
surface of notch 52 in contact with stop pin 54. The sequence of
events and mechanism state is shown in Table I.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I PIVOTING PAPER NUDGER GATE FLAG LOCK
PRESENTED UP (AWAY) DOWN IN OPEN REGISTERED UP REGISTER OUT ENGAGED
AGAINST POSITION: GATE LOCKED REGISTERED DOWN REGISTER OUT OPEN
POSITION (UN- LOCKED) FED BY DOWN AND UP OUT OPEN NUDGER POWERED
LAST DOWN DOWN IN OPEN SHEET FED JOB UP DOWN IN RESET COMPLETED
OPEN JAMMED DOWN UP OUT OPEN JAM UP FALLS IN OPEN RESET CLEARED
DOWN: RESET REGISTERED UP REGISTER OUT ENGAGED AGAINST POSITION
GATE (LOCKED) REGISTERED DOWN REGISTER OUT OPEN POSITION (UN-
LOCKED)
[0039] The method and apparatus of the present disclosure thus
provides a media sheet stack registration and feeding operation
with a reduced number of parts for the mechanism and combines in
the gate the function of sensing the presence of the print media
sheets in the stack by the leading edge thereof and the
registration of the stack. The gate moves from an initial position
to a locked position; and, upon lowering of the nudger arm for
powering the nudger roll, the gate lock is released and feeding of
the sheets effects movement of the gate to an upward position
permitting advancing of the sheets to the feeder rolls. In the
event of a paper jam, raising of the nudger roll permits the gate
lock to move to a reset position under the force of gravity and the
gate itself returns to a closed position under the force of
gravity. Upon re-lowering of the nudger arm for continuing the
print job, the gate locking mechanism is effective upon the gate
sensing the presence of print media sheets in the stack.
[0040] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
desirably combined into many other different systems or
applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *