U.S. patent application number 12/149029 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for skew rectification mechanism for fed paper.
This patent application is currently assigned to KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Tuo-Jen Chen, Yi-Lin Lai, Tien-Yu Pan.
Application Number | 20090243200 12/149029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41115922 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090243200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Tuo-Jen ; et
al. |
October 1, 2009 |
Skew rectification mechanism for fed paper
Abstract
Skew rectification mechanism for fed paper. The skew
rectification mechanism includes a first rotational shaft and a
second rotational shaft arranged in parallel to a transverse
reference axis of the paper. The rotational shafts are rotationally
drivable by motors. A roller is coaxially fitted around each
rotational shaft for guiding the paper to advance. In case of skew
taking place in delivery of the paper, the first and second
rotational shafts are rotated at different rotational speed to
smoothly micro-rectify the skew of the paper.
Inventors: |
Chen; Tuo-Jen; (Taipei,
TW) ; Pan; Tien-Yu; (Taipei, TW) ; Lai;
Yi-Lin; (Taipei, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
41115922 |
Appl. No.: |
12/149029 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/1315 20130101;
B65H 23/0326 20130101; B65H 2801/12 20130101; B65H 2511/514
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/227 |
International
Class: |
B65H 7/02 20060101
B65H007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2008 |
TW |
097110642 |
Claims
1. A skew rectification mechanism for fed paper, comprising at
least one detector, a control section and a first and a second
rotational shafts, the detector being arranged in a position
adjacent to a paper-feeding path for detecting delivery condition
of the paper and transmitting detection signals to the control
section, the control section serving to controllably actuate motors
to drive the first and second rotational shafts to rotate, the
first and second rotational shafts being positioned in parallel to
a transverse reference axis of the paper, two rollers being
respectively coaxially mounted on the first and second rotational
shafts.
2. The skew rectification mechanism for fed paper as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational shafts are
rotatable in different rotational speeds.
3. The skew rectification mechanism for fed paper as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational shafts are
rotatable in different directions.
4. A method for rectifying skew of fed paper, comprising steps of:
(a) arranging a detector in a position adjacent to a paper-feeding
path for detecting delivery condition of a paper and transmitting
detection signals to a control section; and (b) using the control
section to controllably actuate motors to drive a first rotational
shaft and a second rotational shaft to rotate at different
rotational speeds for rectifying skew of the paper.
5. The method for rectifying skew of fed paper as claimed in claim
4, wherein two rollers are respectively coaxially mounted on the
first and second rotational shafts.
6. The method for rectifying skew of fed paper as claimed in claim
4, wherein the first and second rotational shafts are rotatable in
different directions.
7. The method for rectifying skew of fed paper as claimed in claim
4, wherein in step (b), the first rotational shaft is not rotated,
while the second rotational shaft is rotated.
8. The method for rectifying skew of fed paper as claimed in claim
4, after step (b), further comprising a step (c) of making the
first and second rotational shafts rotate at equal rotational
speed.
9. The method for rectifying skew of fed paper as claimed in claim
6, wherein after the first and second rotational shafts are rotated
in different directions, further comprising a step (d) of making
the first and second rotational shafts are rotated in the same
direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a skew rectification
mechanism for fed paper, and more particularly to a skew
rectification mechanism in which the rotational shafts for feeding
the paper can be rotated at different rotational speeds to
micro-rectify the skew of the paper.
[0002] A conventional paper-feeding mechanism is applied to a
printing machine or an office machine for faxing, printing or
scanning papers. The conventional paper-feeding mechanism is
generally equipped with rollers for picking, feeding and delivering
the paper through the machine. In some cases, the paper is fed in a
skewed state. In order to correct the skew of the paper, some
measures have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,617
discloses a skew correction mechanism for a roll paper. The skew
correction mechanism includes rotational shafts and rollers
eccentrically mounted on the rotational shafts for pulling the
paper back to its true position.
[0003] To speak in more detail, in the above patent, two rotational
shafts are arranged in a paper-guiding section and interconnected
by a coupling shaft. A first roller and a second roller are
respectively eccentrically mounted on the rotational shafts. In the
case that a skew sensor detects skew of a delivered paper, the
control section actuates motors to drive gears, whereby one
rotational shaft and the first roller is clockwise 180.degree.
rotated (defined as a correction period), while the other
rotational shaft and the second roller are counterclockwise
180.degree. rotated. Accordingly, the skewed paper is forcedly
pulled back to its true position.
[0004] However, some problems exist in the above patent. For
example, in the case that the sensor detects that the skew of the
paper is over-corrected in the correction period, the control
section will actuate the motors to make the first roller rotate in
reverse direction, that is, counterclockwise rotate and make the
second roller clockwise rotate in a next correction period. This
can correct the overrun of the paper in the previous correction
period. Alternatively, only one roller is rotated to correct the
skew of the paper. In order to pull back the paper to its true
position, two or even three correction periods are needed. This is
because the rollers are eccentrically mounted on the rotational
shafts. Each time the rollers rotate, the paper is driven and
rectified by a relatively large angle. Therefore, such measure
fails to achieve a micro-correction effect.
[0005] Furthermore, the eccentric roller has a form of a cam so
that when the first and second rollers rotate to drive the paper,
the paper will be waved. This makes it difficult to smoothly
deliver the paper.
[0006] It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide an
improved skew rectification mechanism for fed paper, which is able
to micro-rectify the skew of the paper and deliver the paper more
smoothly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved skew rectification mechanism for fed paper and
a method for rectifying skew of fed paper. The skew rectification
mechanism is able to micro-rectify skew of the paper in a more
smooth state.
[0008] According to the above object, the skew rectification
mechanism for fed paper of the present invention includes a first
rotational shaft and a second rotational shaft positioned in
parallel to a transverse reference axis of the paper. The first and
second rotational shafts are rotationally drivable by motors. Two
rollers are respectively coaxially mounted on the first and second
rotational shafts. Each roller has a guiding surface for guiding
and delivering the paper. In case of skew of the paper, the first
and the second rotational shafts are rotated at different
rotational speeds to rectify the skew and pull back the paper to
its true position.
[0009] In the skew rectification mechanism for fed paper of the
present invention, in case of skew of the paper, the first and the
second rotational shafts are rotated in different rotational
directions to rectify the skew and pull back the paper to its true
position.
[0010] The method for rectifying skew of fed paper of the present
invention includes steps of: [0011] (a) arranging a detector in a
position adjacent to a paper-feeding path for detecting delivery
condition of a paper and transmitting detection signals to a
control section; and [0012] (b) using the control section to
controllably actuate motors to drive a first rotational shaft and a
second rotational shaft to rotate at different rotational speeds
for rectifying skew of the paper.
[0013] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of the skew rectification mechanism
for fed paper of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the skew rectification mechanism for
fed paper of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top view of the skew rectification mechanism for
fed paper of the present invention according to FIG. 2, showing
that the skewed paper is rectified and pulled back to its true
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The skew rectification
mechanism for fed paper of the present invention includes a paper
receptacle 20 in which a roll of paper 21 is contained, a recording
section 30 for recording data or information on the paper 21 fed
from the paper receptacle 20, and at least one detector 40 arranged
in a position adjacent to a paper-feeding path for detecting the
delivery condition of the paper 21 and transmitting detection
signals to a control section 50. The control section 50 serves to
controllably actuate motors 61, 62 to drive gears 71, 72. A guide
section 10 is arranged between the paper receptacle 20 and the
recording section 30 for guiding and delivering the paper 21.
[0018] The guide section 10 includes a first rotational shaft 11
and a second rotational shaft 12 coaxially interconnected with each
other by a coupling shaft 13. The first and second rotational
shafts 11, 12 are parallel to a transverse reference axis .chi. of
the paper 21. The first and second rotational shafts 11, 12 are
respectively equipped with gears 14, 15 engaged with the gears 71,
72. Accordingly, the motors 61, 62 can controllably drive the first
and second rotational shafts 11, 12 to rotate. Two rollers 16, 17
are respectively mounted on the first and second rotational shafts
11, 12. The rollers 16, 17 respectively have guiding surfaces 16',
17'. In a preferred embodiment, the rollers 16, 17 are coaxially
fitted around the first and second rotational shafts 11, 12.
Accordingly, when the rollers 16, 17 are rotated along with the
first and second rotational shafts 11, 12 to feed and rectify the
paper 21, the waving condition of the paper 21 is minimized.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, when the detector 40 detects that the
paper 21 is skewed rightward (as shown by solid lines of FIG. 3),
the detector 40 will transmit a signal to the control section 50.
In this case, the control section 50 will make the motor 62 and the
gear 72 rotate at a rotational speed faster than that of the motor
61 and the gear 71. Under such circumstance, the rotational speed
of the gear 15, the second rotational shaft 12 and the roller 17 is
faster than the rotational speed of the gear 14, the first
rotational shaft 11 and the roller 16. Accordingly, the paper 21 is
rectified to move leftward back to its true position as shown by
phantom lines of FIG. 3.
[0020] Alternatively, the control section 50 actuates the motor 62
to drive the second rotational shaft 12 and the second roller 17 to
clockwise rotate, while actuating the motor 61 to drive the first
rotational shaft 11 and the first roller 16 to counterclockwise
rotate. Under such circumstance, the two rotational shafts 12, 11
are respectively forward and backward rotated to rectify the paper
21. Alternatively, only one of the rotational shafts 12, 11 is
rotated, while the other of the rotational shafts 12, 11 is held
still.
[0021] The present invention also provides a method for rectifying
skew of fed paper. The method includes steps of: [0022] (a)
arranging a detector 40 in a position adjacent to a paper-feeding
path for detecting delivery condition of a paper 21 and
transmitting detection signals to a control section 50; and [0023]
(b) using the control section 50 to controllably actuate motors 61,
62 to drive a first rotational shaft 11 and a second rotational
shaft 12 to rotate at different rotational speeds for rectifying
skew of the paper 21.
[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, after step (b), the
method further includes step (c) of making the first and second
rotational shafts 11, 12 rotate at equal rotational speed to help
in delivering the paper 21 to a recording section 30 after the skew
of the paper 21 is rectified.
[0025] As mentioned above, the first and second rotational shafts
11, 12 can be rotated in reverse directions to rectify skew of the
paper 21. It should be noted that after rectified, the control
section 50 serves to controllably actuate the motors 61, 62 to
drive the first and second rotational shafts 11, 12 to rotate in
the same direction.
[0026] According to the above arrangement, the present invention
has the following advantages over the conventional skew correction
mechanism: [0027] 1. In contrast to the eccentrically arranged
rollers of the conventional skew correction mechanism, the rollers
16, 17 of the present invention are coaxially mounted on the first
and second rotational shafts 11, 12. Therefore, when the rollers
16, 17 are rotated along with the first and second rotational
shafts 11, 12 to feed and rectify the paper 21, the waving
condition of the paper 21 is minimized. [0028] 2. In contrast to
the eccentrically arranged rollers of the conventional skew
correction mechanism for forcedly pulling back the paper to its
true position by a relatively large angle in each correction
period, the first rotational shaft 11 with the first roller 16 and
the second rotational shaft 12 with the second roller 17 of the
present invention are rotated at different rotational speeds to
micro-rectify the skew of the paper.
[0029] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the
present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many
modifications of the above embodiments can be made without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *