U.S. patent number 3,924,848 [Application Number 05/437,186] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-09 for paper feed apparatus for gripper-type paper transport device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shin-Ichi Murakami.
United States Patent |
3,924,848 |
Murakami |
December 9, 1975 |
Paper feed apparatus for gripper-type paper transport device
Abstract
A paper feed device for a gripper-type paper transport device
where sheets of paper are individually fed from a stack. Each sheet
is detected by a first detector to stop the sheet in an unbuckled
condition at a standby position. When the gripper of the transport
device reaches the standby position it is opened and in response to
its opened condition, a second detector is actuated to restart the
feeding of the paper sheet into the open gripper where the paper is
fed at a speed faster than that of the gripper. After the paper is
fed into the gripper, means are provided for closing the gripper so
that the paper can be transported thereby.
Inventors: |
Murakami; Shin-Ichi (Atsugi,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JA)
|
Family
ID: |
13455346 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/437,186 |
Filed: |
January 28, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
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Jun 26, 1973 [JA] |
|
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48-71253 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
271/10.1;
271/258.01; 271/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/6558 (20130101); B65H 5/085 (20130101); G03G
2215/00405 (20130101); G03G 2215/00409 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65H
5/08 (20060101); G03G 15/00 (20060101); B65H
005/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;271/10,12,13,6,7,4,16,17,204,206,277,275,265,266,270,202,242,243,258,259,229 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blunk; Evon C.
Assistant Examiner: Stoner, Jr.; Bruce H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ferguson, Jr.; Gerald J. Baker;
Joseph J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A paper feed device for feeding sheets of paper from at least
one receptacle therefor, said device comprising:
paper feeding means for feeding sheets of paper from said
receptacle at a first rate of speed;
first detecting means responsive to the presence of each of said
sheets of paper for rendering said paper feeding means inoperative
and stopping each said sheet of paper in a substantially flat
condition at a predetermined paper standby position;
chain delivery means having a gripper for clamping each sheet of
paper, the locus of said chain delivery means being adjacent to
said paper standby position, and the linear speed of said gripper
being less than that speed at which said paper sheets are fed;
means for opening said gripper when it is adjacent said paper
standby position;
second detecting means for restarting said paper feed means in
response to an opened condition of the gripper when the gripper is
adjacent the paper standby position to feed each paper sheet from
its standby position into the open gripper; and
means for closing said gripper after each paper sheet has been fed
into the open gripper so that the paper sheets may be removed from
said standby position and transferred by said chain delivery
means.
2. A paper feed device as in claim 1 where said first detecting
means includes first switching means having a contact disposed in
the travel path of said paper sheets, said paper sheets depressing
said contact to operate said first switching means, said paper
feeding means being responsive to the operation of said first
switching means for stopping said paper sheet at said paper standby
position.
3. A paper feed device as in claim 2 including means for
maintaining said sheets of paper along their path of travel as they
depress the contact of said first switching means.
4. A paper feed device as in claim 2 including a drive means for
said paper feed means, said first switching means disconnecting
said drive means from said paper feed means when said first
switching means is operated.
5. A paper feed device as in claim 2 where said second detecting
means includes second switching means having a contact disposed in
the travel path of said gripper, said gripper, upon being opened,
pushing said last-mentioned contact to operate said second
switching means, said paper feeding means being responsive to the
operation of said second switching means to feed each paper sheet
into said open gripper.
6. A paper feed device comprising:
at least one paper tray for receiving therein sheets of paper;
paper feed means including feed rollers for supplying sheets of
paper one by one from said one tray;
means for detecting the arrival of a leading edge of said sheets of
paper and for stopping each said sheet of paper in a substantially
flat condition when the leading end of each said sheet of paper
reaches a predetermined paper standby position;
chain delivery means having a gripper for clamping each sheet of
paper, the locus of said chain delivery means being adjacent to the
travel path of the sheet of paper at a predetermined distance from
said paper standby position;
means for opening the gripper when it assumes a position on the
said locus adjacent the travel path of the paper;
means for restarting said paper feed means in response to the
opened condition of said gripper when said gripper assumes said
position on the said locus adjacent the travel path of the paper to
feed each sheet of paper from its standby position into the open
gripper;
the paper feeding spped of said paper feed means being higher than
the travel speed of said chain delivery means; and
means for closing said gripper after each paper sheet has been fed
into the open gripper so that the paper sheets may be removed from
said standby position and transferred by said chain delivery means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper feed device for use with a
printing machine or a copying machine, and more particularly, to a
paper feed device in which a chain gripper is used for transferring
a sheet of paper.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
upon reading the appended claims in conjunction with the following
detailed description and the attached drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a paper feed device according to the
present invention, in which the paper feed device is used in an
electrophotographic copying machine.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a paper feed device
according to a preferred illustrative embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative circuitry
associated with the paper feed device of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1 where a paper feed
device of the present invention is used in an electrophotographic
copying machine. Sheets of paper are fed one by one from a pair of
paper feed trays 1a and 1b by means of feed rollers 2 and
transferred leftwardly in FIG. 2 by a pair of feed rollers 3a and
3b as shown in FIG. 2. The leading edge of each sheet of paper
depresses a contact 4a of a micro-switch 4 attached at a
predetermined position to a baffle 10, the contact 4a extending
through an opening in baffle 10. When the leading edge reaches a
point B, the micro-switch is turned on and an electromagnetic
clutch 12 (see FIG. 3), which operatively connects feed rollers 3a
and 3b with a driving source 13, is rendered inoperative thereby
stopping the rotation of the pair of feed rollers 3a and 3b. Hence,
the transfer of the sheet of paper is stopped at a paper standby
position.
Subsequently, a normal rotating chain gripper 6 mounted on a paper
transfer chain 5 comes to assume a position above the sheet of
paper, the chain gripper 6 having a pawl 6b rotatably attached on a
pivot shaft 6a journaled in the gripper and adapted to be opened.
Levers 6c are also provided at both ends of shaft 6a. The levers 6c
are urged downwardly by a cam 7 to open pawl 6b. When the apex of
the opened pawl 6b comes across the leading edge of the sheet of
paper, the chain gripper 6 pushes a contact 8a of a micro-switch 8
disposed adjacent to the end of baffle 10, the contact 8a extending
through an opening in baffle 10. The aforementioned electromagnetic
clutch again becomes operative to connect the feed rollers 3a and
3b with the aforementioned driving source thereby rotating the pair
of feed rollers 3a and 3b and thus the sheet of paper is again
transferred leftwardly in FIG. 2.
The circumferential speed of feed rollers 3a and 3b is 20 percent
greater than the linear velocity of the chain gripper 6, such that
the leading edge of the sheet of paper catches up with the pawl 6b
and eventually is inserted into the clamp portion thereof. The
sheet of paper, while in the clamp portion, is further advanced
until the leading edge thereof contacts a wall provided in the
chain gripper 6 so that registration of the sheet of paper is
effected.
As chain gripper 6 continues to be moved by chain 5, the lever 6c
becomes disengaged from cam 7 at portion 7a and the pawl of chain
gripper 6 is closed. Thus, the chain gripper 6 continues to travel
with its pawl clamping the sheet of paper.
In the embodiment described, micro-switch 8 is operated by chain
gripper 6, and a cycle-switch may be separately provided for
serving as a timer in like manner with the above embodiment.
In order to further ensure the positioning of the sheet of paper at
the paper standby position B, an electromagnetic brake may be
attached to feed rollers 3a and 3b as to act in a reverse manner to
the ON-OFF operation of the driving electromagnetic clutch.
Further, to prevent floating of the sheet of paper when it contacts
contact 4a of micro-switch 4, a keep plate 11 may be provided.
Thus, probability of retention of paper sheets at baffle 10 is
lessened.
The paper feed device according to the present invention, although
the paper feeding mechanism is simple, can positively feed a sheet
of paper to a paper standby position where it awaits to be gripped
by a travelling gripper means. It is further positively fed from
the standby position to the gripper means so that it can be firmly
held thereby.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown illustrative circuitry for use
with the paper feeding device of this invention. With switches 4
and 8 set as shown in FIG. 3, a sheet of paper is fed from one of
the trays 1a or 1b and when the paper standby position is reached,
switch 4 is opened to de-energize clutch 12 and stop rollers 3a and
3b. The paper sheet waits until the gripper 6 opens, which causes
switch 8 to close and thus re-energize clutch 12 which feeds the
paper sheet into the open gripper. After the gripper closes, the
switch 8 opens and the gripper removes the paper sheet from the
standby position, the gripper being connected to the paper transfer
chain 5, which is driven by a separate power source not shown.
After the paper sheet is removed from its standby position, switch
4 returns to the closed position to complete the feeding of the
standby position. Thus, the above-described cycle is ready to be
repeated.
Numerous modifications of the invention will become apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing disclosure.
During such a reading, it will be evident that this invention
provides a unique paper feed device for accomplishing the objects
and advantages hereinstated.
* * * * *