U.S. patent application number 12/557306 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.. Invention is credited to Bin-Tao Lee, Hong-Qiang Liu, Yung-Tai Pan, Jiang-Wei Wu.
Application Number | 20100270729 12/557306 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41203445 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100270729 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Bin-Tao ; et
al. |
October 28, 2010 |
SPACING INTERVAL CONTROL METHOD AND SHEET LAMINATING APPARATUS
USING THE SAME
Abstract
A spacing interval control method is used in a sheet laminating
apparatus for controlling a constant spacing interval between any
two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The sheet laminating
apparatus includes an automatic document feeding mechanism and a
sheet laminating mechanism. By means of multiple sensors within the
automatic document feeding mechanism, multiple documents are
successively transported from the automatic document feeding
mechanism to the sheet laminating mechanism at a constant spacing
interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. As a
consequence, the documents after being heated or pressed by the
sheet laminating mechanism will be cut into multiple separate and
identical-sized laminated documents.
Inventors: |
Lee; Bin-Tao; (Taipei,
TW) ; Pan; Yung-Tai; (Taipei, TW) ; Liu;
Hong-Qiang; (Guangzou, CN) ; Wu; Jiang-Wei;
(Guangzou, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRTON AND MCCONKIE
60 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE,, SUITE 1800
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Assignee: |
PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
41203445 |
Appl. No.: |
12/557306 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/10.02 ;
271/10.11; 271/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2513/512 20130101;
B65H 7/20 20130101; B65H 2511/514 20130101; B65H 2513/514 20130101;
B65H 2513/514 20130101; B65H 7/02 20130101; B32B 37/223 20130101;
B32B 38/185 20130101; B65H 29/20 20130101; B65H 39/14 20130101;
B65H 2511/514 20130101; B65H 2301/541 20130101; B32B 2309/70
20130101; B65H 2513/512 20130101; B32B 41/00 20130101; B65H
2701/1313 20130101; B32B 2429/00 20130101; B65H 2701/1311 20130101;
B65H 2301/44324 20130101; B65H 2301/4452 20130101; B32B 2309/72
20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/11 20130101; B65H
2220/11 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/10.02 ;
271/10.11; 271/111 |
International
Class: |
B65H 7/02 20060101
B65H007/02; B65H 5/06 20060101 B65H005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 24, 2009 |
TW |
098113592 |
Claims
1. A spacing interval control method for controlling a constant
spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple
documents, said documents being successively transported from an
automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating
mechanism, said automatic document feeding mechanism comprising a
sheet entrance, a sheet exit communicating with said sheet
laminating mechanism, a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet
feeding channel, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a
second sensor, said multiple documents being successively
transported from said sheet entrance to said sheet exit by said
sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module,
said spacing interval control method comprising steps of: (A)
successively feeding and transporting said multiple documents into
said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said
sheet pick-up roller module, so that said documents are
successively advanced in said sheet feeding channel by said sheet
pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module; (B) using
said first sensor to detect a specified document that is being
transported in said sheet feeding channel, wherein once a tail edge
of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said
sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module
stops transporting said specified document; and (C) using said
second sensor to detect said specified document that is being
transported in said sheet feeding channel and a next document
following said specified document, wherein once a front edge of
said next document is detected by said second sensor, said sheet
pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module is enabled
again, so that said specified document is continuously transported
and said next document is continuously advanced in said sheet
feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said
transfer roller module, wherein said second sensor is disposed at a
rear end of said first sensor and spaced from said first sensor by
said spacing interval.
2. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein
in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported
in said sheet feeding channel is detected by said second sensor,
wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected
by said second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet
feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up
roller module.
3. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein
in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported
in said sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between
said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor, wherein
once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said
third sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding
channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller
module.
4. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein
said automatic document feeding mechanism further comprises a
fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel
for discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed
into said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of
documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
5. A sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism for controlling a constant spacing interval
between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents, and said
multiple documents being successively transported from said
automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating
mechanism, wherein said automatic document feeding mechanism
comprises: a sheet feeding channel arranged within said automatic
document feeding mechanism and used as a path for transmitting said
multiple documents; a sheet pick-up roller module arranged in a
vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and
transporting said multiple documents into said sheet feeding
channel through said sheet entrance; a transfer roller module for
transporting said multiple documents from said sheet feeding
channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with said sheet
laminating mechanism; and a first sensor and a second sensor for
detecting transporting statuses of said documents in said sheet
feeding channel, said first sensor and said second sensor being
spaced from each other by said spacing interval, wherein once a
tail edge of a specified document is detected by said first sensor
and a front edge of a next document is detected by said second
sensor, said specified document and said next document are
simultaneously transported by said sheet pick-up roller module
and/or said transfer roller module, so that said specified document
and said next document are spaced from each other by said spacing
interval and successively fed into said sheet laminating
mechanism.
6. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein once said tail edge
of said specified document is detected by said second sensor, said
next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said
sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
7. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said automatic
document feeding mechanism further comprises a third sensor between
said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor for
detecting transporting statuses of said multiple documents in said
sheet feeding channel, wherein once said tail edge of said
specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next
document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet
entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
8. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein once said tail edge
of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said
transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting said
specified document, but said sheet pick-up roller module is
continuously enabled to transport and advance said next
document.
9. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said transfer roller
module comprises a first transfer roller assembly and a second
transfer roller assembly, wherein once said tail edge of said
specified document is detected by said first sensor, said second
transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting said
specified document, but said first transfer roller assembly is
continuously enabled to transport and advance said next
document.
10. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said automatic
document feeding mechanism further comprises a fourth sensor
arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for
discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into
said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of
documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
11. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document
feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said sheet pick-up
roller module comprises a sheet pick-up roller for feeding said
multiple documents into said sheet entrance, and a sheet separation
roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force
on said multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to
be fed into said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller
module.
12. A spacing interval control method for controlling a constant
spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple
documents, said multiple documents being successively heated and
pressing by a sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple
separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic
cutting mechanism, said sheet laminating apparatus comprising a
sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel used as a path
for transmitting said multiple documents, a transfer roller module,
a first sensor, a second sensor, a heating and pressing mechanism,
a sheet entrance and a sheet exit communicating with an inlet of
said heating and pressing mechanism, said multiple documents being
successively transported from said sheet entrance to said sheet
exit by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer
roller module, said spacing interval control method comprising
steps of: (A) successively feeding and transporting said multiple
documents into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet
entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module, so that said
documents are successively advanced in said sheet feeding channel
by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller
module; (B) using said first sensor to detect a specified document
that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel by said
first sensor, wherein once a tail edge of said specified document
is detected, said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer
roller module stops transporting said specified document; (C) using
said second sensor said specified document that is being
transported in said sheet feeding channel and a next document
following said specified document, wherein once a front edge of
said next document is detected by said second sensor, said sheet
pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module is enabled
again, so that said specified document is continuously transported
and said next document is continuously advanced in said sheet
feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said
transfer roller module, wherein said second sensor is disposed at a
rear end of said first sensor and spaced from said first sensor by
said spacing interval; and (D) heating and pressing said documents
that are transported to said sheet exit by said heating and
pressing mechanism.
13. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12
wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being
transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by said
second sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified
document is detected by said second sensor, said next document is
fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by
said sheet pick-up roller module.
14. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12
wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being
transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by a third
sensor between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second
sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is
detected by said third sensor, said next document is fed into said
sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet
pick-up roller module.
15. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12
wherein said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a fourth
sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for
discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into
said heating and pressing mechanism and counting the number of
documents fed into said heating and pressing mechanism.
16. A sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a constant spacing
interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents and
heating and pressing said documents, said multiple documents being
successively heated and pressing by said sheet laminating apparatus
and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated
documents by an automatic cutting mechanism, said sheet laminating
apparatus comprising: a heating and pressing mechanism for heating
and pressing said multiple documents; a sheet feeding channel
arranged within said sheet laminating apparatus and used as a path
for transmitting said multiple documents; a sheet pick-up roller
module arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively
feeding and transporting said multiple documents into said sheet
feeding channel through said sheet entrance; a transfer roller
module for transporting said multiple documents from said sheet
feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with said
heating and pressing mechanism; and a first sensor and a second
sensor for detecting transporting statuses of said documents in
said sheet feeding channel, said first sensor and said second
sensor being spaced from each other by said spacing interval,
wherein once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by
said first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected
by said second sensor, said specified document and said next
document are simultaneously transported by said sheet pick-up
roller module and/or said transfer roller module, so that said
specified document and said next document are spaced from each
other by said spacing interval and successively fed into said
heating and pressing mechanism.
17. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said
second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding
channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller
module.
18. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a third sensor
between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor for
detecting transporting statuses of said multiple documents in said
sheet feeding channel, wherein once said tail edge of said
specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next
document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet
entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
19. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said
first sensor, said transfer roller module is disabled and stops
transporting said specified document, but said sheet pick-up roller
module is continuously enabled to transport and advance said next
document.
20. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
said transfer roller module comprises a first transfer roller
assembly and a second transfer roller assembly, wherein once said
tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first
sensor, said second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops
transporting said specified document, but said first transfer
roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance
said next document.
21. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a fourth sensor
arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for
discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into
said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of
documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
22. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein
said sheet pick-up roller module comprises a sheet pick-up roller
for feeding said multiple documents into said sheet entrance, and a
sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a
friction force on said multiple documents, so that one only
document is allowed to be fed into said sheet feeding channel by
said sheet pick-up roller module.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a spacing interval control
method, and more particularly to a spacing interval control method
for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two
adjacent documents. The present invention also relates to a sheet
laminating apparatus using such a spacing interval control
method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the maturity of automatic document technologies,
automatic document feeders are widely used in a diversity of
document processing machines such as printers, copiers and
multifunction peripherals. The automatic document feeders are used
for successively feeding a stack of documents into the inner
portion of the document processing machine so as to implement
associated operations and achieve the labor-saving purpose.
[0003] The conventional automatic document feeders, however, still
have some drawbacks. For example, the conventional automatic
document feeder is only designed to feed the documents into the
inner portion of the document processing machine. In other words,
the manufacturer of the conventional automatic document feeder does
not consider whether the spacing between any two successive
documents in the feeding path is equal. In a case that the
conventional automatic document feeder is applied to a sheet
laminating apparatus, the automatic document feeder becomes
hindrance from operating the sheet laminating apparatus.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a
conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating
apparatus. The conventional automatic document feeder 11 comprises
a sheet pick-up roller 111 and a sheet feeding channel 112. The
sheet feeding channel 112 is arranged between the sheet pick-up
roller 111 and a sheet laminating mechanism 12. A sheet ejecting
path 13 is arranged at the outlet of the sheet laminating mechanism
12. The sheet pick-up roller 111 is used for successively feeding
multiple documents 14 into the sheet feeding channel 112. When the
documents 14 are fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 12 through
the sheet feeding channel 112, the documents 14 are subject to a
heating and pressing operation (also referred as a laminating
operation) by the sheet laminating mechanism 12. After the heating
and pressing operation is performed, the documents 14 are covered
with a protective film 15, thereby ejecting corresponding
film-covering documents 16 to the sheet ejecting path 13. Next, the
film-covering documents 16 are transported across an automatic
cutting mechanism 17. The cutting lines 19 of these film-covering
documents 16 are successively cut by the automatic cutting
mechanism 17, so that the film-covering documents 16 are cut into
multiple separate laminated documents 18. Ideally, the spacing
interval between any two film-covering documents 16 should be
identical. If the spacing intervals between the adjacent
film-covering documents 16 are not identical, the positions of some
cutting lines 19 are improper. Under this circumstance, the sizes
of the laminated documents 18 are different or the laminated
documents 18 are possibly damaged.
[0005] For solving the above drawbacks, the spacing interval
between any two adjacent documents in the sheet feeding channel
should be kept constant.
[0006] In accordance with a conventional method for controlling a
constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents, the
documents are successively fed into the sheet feeding channel by
the sheet pick-up roller at a constant time interval or at a
specified distance between any two documents. Since the documents
are transported by the sheet pick-up roller due to a friction
force, the time periods required for feeding the documents into the
sheet feeding channel are usually different. In other words, the
conventional method fails to achieve the purpose of controlling a
constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
spacing interval control method and a sheet laminating apparatus
using such a spacing interval control method. By an automatic
document feeding mechanism of the sheet laminating apparatus,
multiple documents are successively transported to a sheet
laminating mechanism of the sheet laminating apparatus at a
constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple
documents.
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a spacing interval control method for controlling a
constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple
documents. The documents are successively transported from an
automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating
mechanism. The automatic document feeding mechanism includes a
sheet entrance, a sheet exit communicating with the sheet
laminating mechanism, a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet
feeding channel, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a
second sensor. The multiple documents are successively transported
from the sheet entrance to the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up
roller module and/or the transfer roller module. The spacing
interval control method includes the following steps. In a step
(A), the multiple documents are successively fed and transported
into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the
sheet pick-up roller module, so that the documents are successively
advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller
module and/or the transfer roller module. In a step (B), the first
sensor is used to detect a specified document that is being
transported in the sheet feeding channel. Once a tail edge of the
specified document is detected by the first sensor, the sheet
pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module stops
transporting the specified document. In a step (C), the second
sensor is used to detect the specified document that is being
transported in the sheet feeding channel and a next document
following the specified document. Once a front edge of the next
document is detected by the second sensor, the sheet pick-up roller
module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled again, so that
the specified document is continuously transported and the next
document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel by
the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
The second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the first sensor and
spaced from the first sensor by the spacing interval.
[0009] In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document
that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected
by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document
is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the
sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet
pick-up roller module.
[0010] In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document
that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected
by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the
second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is
detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the
sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet
pick-up roller module.
[0011] In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism
further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the
sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple
documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and
counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating
mechanism.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic
document feeding mechanism for controlling a constant spacing
interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The
multiple documents are successively transported from the automatic
document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism. The
automatic document feeding mechanism includes a sheet feeding
channel, a sheet pick-up roller module, a transfer roller module, a
first sensor and a second sensor. The sheet feeding channel is
arranged within the automatic document feeding mechanism and used
as a path for transmitting the multiple documents. The sheet
pick-up roller module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance
for successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents
into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance. The
transfer roller module is used for transporting the multiple
documents from the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which
communicates with the sheet laminating mechanism. The first sensor
and the second sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses
of the documents in the sheet feeding channel. The first sensor and
the second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing
interval. Once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by
the first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by
the second sensor, the specified document and the next document are
simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module
and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document
and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing
interval and successively fed into the sheet laminating
mechanism.
[0013] In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified
document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed
into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the
sheet pick-up roller module.
[0014] In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism
further includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller
module and the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of
the multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail
edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the
next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the
sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
[0015] In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified
document is detected by the first sensor, the transfer roller
module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document,
but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to
transport and advance the next document.
[0016] In an embodiment, the transfer roller module includes a
first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller
assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected
by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is
disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the
first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport
and advance the next document.
[0017] In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism
further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the
sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple
documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and
counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating
mechanism.
[0018] In an embodiment, the sheet pick-up roller module includes a
sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the
sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet
separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple
documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the
sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
[0019] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a spacing interval control method for
controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent
ones of multiple documents. The multiple documents are successively
heated and pressing by a sheet laminating apparatus and then cut
into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by
an automatic cutting mechanism. The sheet laminating apparatus
includes a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel
used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents, a transfer
roller module, a first sensor, a second sensor, a heating and
pressing mechanism, a sheet entrance and a sheet exit communicating
with an inlet of the heating and pressing mechanism. The multiple
documents are successively transported from the sheet entrance to
the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the
transfer roller module. The spacing interval control method
includes the following steps. In a step (A), the multiple documents
are successively fed and transported into the sheet feeding channel
through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module, so
that the documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding
channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer
roller module. In a step (B), the first sensor is used to detect a
specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding
channel. Once a tail edge of the specified document is detected by
the first sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the
transfer roller module stops transporting the specified document.
In a step (C), the second sensor is used to detect the specified
document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel and
a next document following the specified document. Once a front edge
of the next document is detected by the second sensor, the sheet
pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled
again, so that the specified document is continuously transported
and the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding
channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer
roller module. The second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the
first sensor and spaced from the first sensor by the spacing
interval.
[0020] In a step (D), the documents that are transported to the
sheet exit are heated and pressed by the heating and pressing
mechanism.
[0021] In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document
that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected
by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document
is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the
sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet
pick-up roller module.
[0022] In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document
that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected
by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the
second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is
detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the
sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet
pick-up roller module.
[0023] In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further
includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet
feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents
are indeed fed into the heating and pressing mechanism and counting
the number of documents fed into the heating and pressing
mechanism.
[0024] In accordance with a still aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a
constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple
documents and heating and pressing the documents. The multiple
documents are successively heated and pressing by the sheet
laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and
identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting
mechanism. The sheet laminating apparatus includes a heating and
pressing mechanism, a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up roller
module, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second
sensor. The heating and pressing mechanism is used for heating and
pressing the multiple documents. The sheet feeding channel is
arranged within the sheet laminating apparatus and used as a path
for transmitting the multiple documents. The sheet pick-up roller
module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for
successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents into
the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance. The transfer
roller module is used for transporting the multiple documents from
the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with
the heating and pressing mechanism. The first sensor and a second
sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses of the
documents in the sheet feeding channel. The first sensor and the
second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing interval.
Once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by the first
sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by the
second sensor, the specified document and the next document are
simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module
and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document
and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing
interval and successively fed into the heating and pressing
mechanism.
[0025] In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified
document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed
into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the
sheet pick-up roller module.
[0026] In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further
includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and
the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of the
multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail edge
of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next
document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet
entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
[0027] In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified
document is detected by the first sensor, the transfer roller
module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document,
but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to
transport and advance the next document.
[0028] In an embodiment, the transfer roller module includes a
first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller
assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected
by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is
disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the
first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport
and advance the next document.
[0029] In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further
includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet
feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents
are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the
number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
[0030] In an embodiment, the sheet pick-up roller module includes a
sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the
sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet
separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple
documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the
sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
[0031] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art after reviewing the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a
conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating
apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0035] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for
controlling the spacing interval between any two documents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet laminating apparatus comprises an
automatic document feeding mechanism 2 and a sheet laminating
mechanism 3. The sheet laminating mechanism 3 is connected to the
rear end of a sheet feeding channel of the automatic document
feeding mechanism 2. The automatic document feeding mechanism 2
comprises a sheet entrance 20, a sheet exit 21, a sheet feeding
channel 22, a sheet pick-up roller module 23, a first sensor 24, a
second sensor 25, a fourth sensor 27 and a transfer roller module
28. The sheet pick-up roller module 23 is arranged in the vicinity
of the sheet entrance 20, and comprises a sheet pick-up roller 231,
a sheet separation roller 232 and a sheet separation slice 233. The
sheet feeding channel 22 is used as a path for transmitting
documents. The sheet feeding channel 22 is arranged between the
sheet entrance 20 and the sheet exit 21. The sheet exit 21
communicates with an inlet of the sheet laminating mechanism 3. In
addition, the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer
roller module 28 are used for transporting the document that is in
the sheet feeding channel 22. The first sensor 24, the second
sensor 25 and the fourth sensor 27 are used for detecting the
transporting status of the document. In this embodiment, the first
sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 are spaced from each other by a
spacing interval D.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. In comparison with the first embodiment, the transfer
roller module 28 of the second embodiment comprises a first
transfer roller assembly 281 and a second transfer roller assembly
282. The first transfer roller assembly 281 can replace the sheet
pick-up roller module 23 to transport the document that is in the
sheet feeding channel 22. In addition, the automatic document
feeding mechanism 2 of the second embodiment further comprises a
third sensor 26 to detect the transporting status of the
document.
[0038] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for
controlling the spacing interval between any two adjacent
documents. Hereinafter, a method for controlling the spacing
interval between any two adjacent documents with reference to FIG.
4.
[0039] In the step S1, the documents are successively fed into the
sheet feeding channel 22 through the sheet entrance 20 by the sheet
pick-up roller module 23. In addition, these documents are
successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet
pick-up roller module 23 and/or the transfer roller module 28.
[0040] In the step S2, a specified document that is transported in
the sheet feeding channel 22 is detected by the first sensor 24.
Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the
first sensor 24, the transfer roller module 28 stops transporting
the specified document.
[0041] In the step S3, the specified document that is being
transported in the sheet feeding channel 22 and a next document
following the specified document are detected by the second sensor
25. Once the front edge of the next document is detected by the
second sensor 25, the transfer roller module 28 is enabled again to
transport the specified document. At this moment, the next document
is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the
sheet pick-up roller module 23 and/or the transfer roller module
28.
[0042] In the step S4, the document that is transported to the
sheet exit 21 is heated and pressed by the sheet laminating
mechanism 3.
[0043] The operating principles will be illustrated in more details
with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 again. Before the heating and
pressing operation of the sheet laminating mechanism 3 is
performed, the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 is enabled.
When the document is fed into the sheet entrance 20 by the sheet
pick-up roller 231 and transported to the sheet separation roller
232, the sheet separation roller 232 and the sheet separation slice
233 offers a friction force on the document, so that one only
document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel
22.
[0044] By the way, the frictional forces resulted from the
documents, the sheet separation slice 233 and the sheet separation
roller 232 should be elaborately controlled. It is preferred that
the frictional force U3 between the document and the sheet
separation roller 232 is greater than the frictional force U1
between the document and the sheet separation slice 233, and the
frictional force U1 is greater than the frictional force U2 between
the documents (i.e. U3>U1>U2).
[0045] In the step S1 of FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment
(see FIG. 2), a document (e.g. a first document) is fed into the
sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23.
Since the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller
module 28 are enabled at this moment, the first document is
advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up
roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28. Even if the
tail edge of the first document is detected by the second sensor
25, the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller
module 28 are continuously enabled and thus the first document is
advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22. Meanwhile, the next
document (e.g. a second document) is fed into the sheet feeding
channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23.
[0046] In the step S1 of FIG. 4 according to the second embodiment
(see FIG. 3), a first document is fed into the sheet feeding
channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23. Since the first
transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module
23) and the second transfer roller assembly 282 are enabled at this
moment, the first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel
22 by the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up
roller module 23) and the second transfer roller assembly 282. Even
if the tail edge of the first document is detected by the third
sensor 26 (or the second sensor 25), the first transfer roller
assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23) and the second
transfer roller assembly 282 are continuously enabled and thus the
first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22.
Meanwhile, a second document is fed into the sheet feeding channel
22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23.
[0047] In the steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 4 according to the first
embodiment (see FIG. 2), once the tail edge of the first document
is detected by the first sensor 24, the transfer roller module 28
is disabled and stops transporting the first document. In addition,
the second sensor 25 waits for detecting the second document
following the first document. Once the front edge of the second
document is detected by the second sensor 25, the transfer roller
module 28 will be enabled again. As such, the first document is
continuously transported and the second document is continuously
advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up
roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28.
[0048] In the steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 4 according to the second
embodiment (see FIG. 3), once the tail edge of the first document
is detected by the first sensor 24, the second transfer roller
assembly 282 is disabled and stops transporting the first document.
In addition, the second sensor 25 waits for detecting the second
document following the first document. Once the front edge of the
second document is detected by the second sensor 25, the second
transfer roller assembly 282 will be enabled again. As such, the
first document is continuously transported and the second document
is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the
first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller
module 23) and the second transfer roller assembly 282.
[0049] Since the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 are
spaced from each other by the spacing interval D, the first
document and the second document are simultaneously advanced in the
sheet feeding channel 22 when the front edge of the second document
is detected by the second sensor 25 and the tail edge of said first
document is detected by the first sensor 24. In other words, the
multiple documents could be successively fed into the sheet
laminating mechanism 3 at a constant spacing interval D between any
two adjacent documents.
[0050] Moreover, the documents following the second document are
successively fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet
pick-up roller module 23 according to the above-mentioned control
method. As a consequence, the multiple documents could be
successively fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 at a
constant spacing interval D between any two adjacent documents.
[0051] In some embodiments, the automatic document feeding
mechanism 2 further comprises a fourth sensor 27 at a rear end of
the sheet feeding channel 22. Before the multiple documents are fed
into the sheet laminating mechanism 3, the fourth sensor 27 could
discriminate whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the
sheet laminating mechanism 3. In addition, the fourth sensor 27
could count the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating
mechanism 3. According to the number of documents fed into the
sheet laminating mechanism 3, the user can discriminate whether any
paper jam event or other breakdown event occurs within the
automatic document feeding mechanism 2.
[0052] In the step S4 of FIG. 4, the documents are successively
transported to the sheet exit 21 and heated and pressed by the
sheet laminating mechanism 3. By means of an automatic cutting
mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) that is connected to the
outlet of the sheet laminating mechanism 3, the heated and pressed
documents are then cut into multiple separate laminated documents.
Since there is a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent
ones of the heated and pressed documents, the automatic cutting
mechanism is set to cut the heated and pressed documents at a
constant cutting cycle. In other words, the heated and pressed
documents could be easily cut into identical-sized laminated
documents.
[0053] While the invention has been described in terms of what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be
limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *