U.S. patent application number 12/860041 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-22 for automatic document feeder.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.. Invention is credited to Wei-Hsun Hsu, Wen-An Huang.
Application Number | 20110309569 12/860041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45327958 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110309569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Wen-An ; et
al. |
December 22, 2011 |
AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER
Abstract
An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, a sheet
separation member and a crank. The sheet separation member includes
a separation roller, a separation pad and a first elastic element.
When the upper cover is opened, the upper cover is separated from
the crank, and a first extension part of the crank is uplifted to
push a second extension part of the separation pad, so that the
separation pad is separated from the separation roller.
Inventors: |
Huang; Wen-An; (Taipei,
TW) ; Hsu; Wei-Hsun; (Taipei, TW) |
Assignee: |
PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
45327958 |
Appl. No.: |
12/860041 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 3/0684 20130101;
B65H 2601/11 20130101; B65H 2801/06 20130101; B65H 3/5223 20130101;
B65H 2402/441 20130101; B65H 2403/53 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/109 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/06 20060101
B65H005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 18, 2010 |
TW |
099119831 |
Claims
1. An automatic document feeder, comprising: a casing; an upper
cover; a sheet separation member comprising a separation roller, a
separation pad and a first elastic element, wherein in response to
an elastic force provided by said first elastic element, said
separation roller and separation pad are pressed by each other; and
a crank disposed under said upper cover, wherein a first end of
said crank is connected to said casing through a second elastic
element, and a first extension part is formed on a second end of
said crank, wherein when said upper cover is pressed down, said
crank is pushed by said upper cover to be rotated in a first
direction, wherein when said upper cover is opened, said upper
cover is separated from said crank, said crank is driven by said
second elastic element to be rotated in a second direction, and
said first extension part of said crank is uplifted to push said
second extension part of said separation pad, so that said
separation pad is permitted to resist said elastic force of said
first elastic element and separated from said separation
roller.
2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 wherein said
crank has a slant surface, and a pressing block is formed on a
lower surface of said upper cover, wherein when said upper cover is
pressed down, said pressing block is contacted with said slant
surface, so that said crank is rotated in said first direction.
3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 wherein a
notch is formed in said first extension part of said crank, and
said second extension part of said separation pad has a tab,
wherein said tab is inserted into said notch.
4. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 wherein said
crank is L-shaped.
5. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 wherein said
first elastic element is a compression spring.
6. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 wherein said
second elastic element is a tension spring.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic document
feeder, and more particularly to an automatic document feeder
having an improved sheet separation structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various machines such as printers, scanners and faxing
machines are common peripheral devices of a computer system. These
machines are usually equipped with automatic document feeders.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a
conventional automatic document feeder. As shown in FIG. 1, the
automatic document feeder 1 comprises a sheet-feeding channel 11
and a sheet separation structure 12. The sheet separation structure
12 comprises a separation roller 121, a separation pad 122, a base
123 and an elastic element 124. The separation pad 122 is attached
on the surface of the base 123. The elastic element 124 is disposed
under the base 123. Due to the elastic force provided by the
elastic element 124, the separation pad 122 is tightly sustained
against the separation roller 121. In this situation, a sheet
separation function is achieved.
[0004] The sheet separation structure 12 of the automatic document
feeder 1, however, still has some drawbacks. For example, in a case
that the automatic document feeder 1 is suffered from a paper jam
problem, the paper sheet in the sheet-feeding channel 11 will be
clamped between the separation pad 122 and the separation roller
121. Meanwhile, the sheet separation function of the sheet
separation structure 12 is lost. Since the separation pad 122 and
the separation roller 121 are pressed by each other, it is
difficult to remove the jammed paper sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an automatic document feeder
for facilitating the user to remove the jammed paper sheet. Due to
the transmission relation between a crank and an upper cover of the
automatic document feeder, the separation roller and the separation
pad are either pressed by each other or separated from each
other.
[0006] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an automatic document feeder. The automatic document
feeder includes a casing, an upper cover, a sheet separation member
and a crank. The sheet separation member includes a separation
roller, a separation pad and a first elastic element. In response
to an elastic force provided by the first elastic element, the
separation roller and separation pad are pressed by each other. The
crank is disposed under the upper cover. A first end of the crank
is connected to the casing through a second elastic element. A
first extension part is formed on a second end of the crank. When
the upper cover is pressed down, the crank is pushed by the upper
cover to be rotated in a first direction. Whereas, when the upper
cover is opened, the upper cover is separated from the crank, the
crank is driven by the second elastic element to be rotated in a
second direction, and the first extension part of the crank is
uplifted to push the second extension part of the separation pad,
so that the separation pad is permitted to resist the elastic force
of the first elastic element and separated from the separation
roller.
[0007] In an embodiment, the crank has a slant surface. A pressing
block is formed on a lower surface of the upper cover. When the
upper cover is pressed down, the pressing block is contacted with
the slant surface, so that the crank is rotated in the first
direction.
[0008] In an embodiment, a notch is formed in the first extension
part of the crank, and the second extension part of the separation
pad has a tab, wherein the tab is inserted into the notch.
[0009] In an embodiment, the crank is L-shaped.
[0010] In an embodiment, the first elastic element is a compression
spring.
[0011] In an embodiment, the second elastic element is a tension
spring.
[0012] 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
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a
conventional automatic document feeder;
[0014] FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an
automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present
invention, in which the upper cover of the automatic document
feeder is in a close status;
[0015] FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the
automatic document feeder of FIG. 2A, in which the upper cover of
the automatic document feeder is in an open status;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a schematic three-dimensional view illustrating
the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2A; and
[0017] FIG. 3B is a schematic three-dimensional view illustrating
the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] The present invention provides an automatic document feeder
having the mechanism for eliminating the paper jam problem. FIG. 2A
is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an automatic
document feeder according to an embodiment of the present
invention, in which the upper cover of the automatic document
feeder is in a close status. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional
view illustrating the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2A, in
which the upper cover of the automatic document feeder is in an
open status. Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The automatic
document feeder 2 comprises a casing 21, an upper cover 22, a sheet
separation member 23, a crank 24 and a second elastic element 25.
The sheet separation member 23 is disposed under the upper cover
22. The sheet separation member 23 further comprises a separation
roller 231, a separation pad 232 and a first elastic element 233.
The separation roller 231 is disposed on a sheet pick-up arm 20.
The separation pad 232 has a second extension part 234. In
addition, the separation pad 232 is arranged between the separation
roller 231 and the first elastic element 233. In this embodiment,
the first elastic element 233 is a compression spring. In response
to the elastic force T provided by the first elastic element 233,
which is arranged under the separation pad 232, the separation
roller 231 and the separation pad 232 are pressed by each other to
avoid the multi feeding problem. As known, once the multi feeding
problem occurs, two or more paper sheets are simultaneously fed
into the sheet-feeding channel. The crank 24 is disposed under the
upper cover 22. A first end of the crank 24 is connected to the
casing 21 through the second elastic element 25. In this
embodiment, the second elastic element 25 is a tension spring.
Corresponding to the second extension part 234 of the separation
pad 232, a first extension part 241 is formed on a second end of
the crank 24.
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 2A, which illustrates the operating
status of the crank 24 when the upper cover 22 is pressed down.
When the upper cover 22 is pressed down, the crank 24 is pushed by
the upper cover 22, so that the crank 24 is rotated in a first
direction A. For allowing the upper cover 22 to smoothly press the
crank 24, the crank 24 has a slant surface 242 at a tip thereof.
Corresponding to the slant surface 242, a pressing block 222 is
formed on a lower surface 221 of the upper cover 22. When the upper
cover 22 is pressed down, the pressing block 222 is contacted with
the slant surface 242, so that the crank 24 is rotated in the first
direction A.
[0020] Please refer to FIG. 2B, which illustrates the operating
status of the crank 24 when the upper cover 22 is opened. When the
upper cover 22 is opened, the upper cover 22 is separated from the
crank 24. In response to the restoring force of the second elastic
element 25, the crank 24 is driven by the second elastic element 25
and thus rotated in a second direction B. Meanwhile, the first
extension part 241 of the crank 24 is uplifted to push the second
extension part 234 of the separation pad 232, so that the
separation pad 232 is able to resist the elastic force T that is
provided by the first elastic element 233. In this situation, the
separation roller 231 and the separation pad 232 are separated from
each other. In other words, if a paper jam problem occurs, the user
may easily remove the jammed paper sheet.
[0021] Hereinafter, the relation between the crank 24 and the
separation pad 232 will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 3A
and 3B. FIG. 3A is a schematic three-dimensional view illustrating
the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3B is a schematic
three-dimensional view illustrating the automatic document feeder
of FIG. 2B. For clearly illustrating the position of the separation
pad 232, the sheet pick-up arm 20 and the separation roller 231 are
not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. As shown in FIG. 3A, the crank 24 is
L-shaped. In addition, a notch 2411 is formed in the first
extension part 241 of the crank 24. The second extension part 234
of the separation pad 232 has a tab 2341. The tab 2341 may be
inserted into the notch 2411, so that the stability of connecting
the first extension part 241 with the second extension part 234
will be enhanced. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the upper cover 22 is
pressed down, the pressing block 222 of the upper cover 22 pushes
the slant surface 242 of the crank 24, so that the crank 24 is
rotated in the first direction A (see also FIG. 2A). In this
situation, the crank 24 is no longer sustained against the
separation pad 232. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the upper cover 22 is
opened, the crank 24 is rotated in the second direction B (see also
FIG. 2B). As such, the first extension part 241 of the crank 24 is
uplifted, and then the tab 2341 is inserted into the notch 2411. In
this situation, the separation pad 232 is pushed upwardly by the
first extension part 241, so that the separation roller 231 and the
separation pad 232 are separated from each other.
[0022] From the above description, the automatic document feeder of
the present invention may facilitate the user to remove the jammed
paper sheet. The purpose of removing the jammed paper sheet is
achieved by installing the crank 24 in the automatic document
feeder. Due to the transmission relation between the crank 24 and
the upper cover 22, when the upper cover 22 is selectively opened
or closed, the separation roller 231 and the separation pad 232 are
either pressed by each other or separated from each other. As such,
the jammed paper sheet may be removed without difficulty.
[0023] 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.
* * * * *