Feeding apparatus

The disclosure relates to a feeding apparatus capable of feeding media sheet. The feeding apparatus includes first feeding assembly comprising first mount frame, first roller and stopper. The stopper is pivotally connected to the first mount frame and movable with the first roller, the stopper has a covering portion configured to stop the media sheet, the first roller is located in the first mount frame and is movable along a straight path; while the stopper is pressing against the first roller and the first roller is moving along the straight path, the stopper is moved with the first roller so that the covering portion of the stopper is moved close to or away from the straight path.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 107144461 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Dec. 11, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a feeding apparatus, more particularly to a feeding apparatus for sheet feeding.

BACKGROUND

Document processing equipment, such as scanners, printers, facsimile machines, and combination devices, generally have sheet feeders to pick a single media sheet to be processed from a stack of the media sheets.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a feeding apparatus configured to feed at least one media sheet. The feeding apparatus includes a first feeding assembly comprising a first mount frame, a first roller and a stopper. The stopper is pivotally connected to the first mount frame and is movable with the first roller, the stopper has a covering portion configured to stop the at least one media sheet, the first roller is located in the first mount frame and is movable along a straight path; while the stopper is pressing against the first roller and the first roller is moving along the straight path, the stopper is moved with the first roller so that the covering portion of the stopper is moved close to or away from the straight path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure. Furthermore, in order to simplify the drawings, some conventional structures and components are drawn in a simplified manner to keep the drawings clean.

Further, the following embodiments are disclosed by the figures, and some practical details are described in the following paragraphs, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, for the purpose of illustration, some of the structures and components in the figures are simplified, and wires, lines or buses are omitted in some of the figures. And the size, ratio, and angle of the components in the drawings of the present disclosure may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications are allowed and can be made according to the following disclosure as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure. Note that the actual size and designs of the product manufactured based on the present disclosure may also be modified according to any actual requirements.

Further, the terms, such as “end”, “portion”, “part”, “area” and the like may be used in the following to describe specific components and structures or specific features thereon or therebetween, but are not intended to limit these components and structures. In the following, it may use terms, such as “substantially”, “approximately” or “about”; when these terms are used in combination with size, concentration, temperature or other physical or chemical properties or characteristics, they are used to express that, the deviation existing in the upper and/or lower limits of the range of these properties or characteristics or the acceptable tolerances caused by the manufacturing tolerances or analysis process, would still able to achieve the desired effect.

Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all the terms used in the disclosure, including technical and scientific terms, have their ordinary meanings that can be understood by those skilled in the art. Moreover, the definitions of the above terms are to be interpreted as being consistent with the technical fields related to the disclosure. Unless specifically defined, these terms are not to be construed as too idealistic or formal meanings. The terms of the components in the disclosure are sometimes referred to in a more concise manner, depending on the requirements of the description, and should be understood by the reader.

Firstly, please refer toFIGS. 1-2,FIG. 1is a perspective view of a feeding apparatus for a document processing equipment according to one embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG. 2is a perspective view of the feeding apparatus inFIG. 1when an upper outer frame of the document processing equipment is removed. This embodiment provides a feeding apparatus1for a document processing equipment. The feeding apparatus1is adapted to be installed between a casing91and an upper outer frame92of the document processing equipment. There is a tray93on the casing91, and the tray93is configured to load or support one or more media sheets8(as shown inFIG. 12orFIG. 13) and is able to lift the media sheet8toward the feeding apparatus1. In this embodiment, the feeding apparatus1is able to pick up the media sheet8on the tray93and transport it to other areas in the document processing equipment. The said media sheet8is a sheet object that can be transported into the document processing equipment and underwent a series of media processes. For example, the media sheet8may be paper, but the disclosure is not limited by the type, material, thickness or texture of the paper.

Then, please refer toFIGS. 3-5,FIG. 3is a partial enlarged view of the feeding apparatus1inFIG. 2,FIG. 4is a perspective view of the feeding apparatus1inFIG. 3when a third mount frame is removed, andFIG. 5is a partial enlarged side view of the feeding apparatus1inFIG. 1. The overall configuration of feeding apparatus1can be seen in these figures. In this embodiment, the feeding apparatus1includes a first feeding assembly10, a second feeding assembly20, a first transfer roller31and a second transfer roller32.

Regarding the first feeding assembly10, please refer toFIG. 5and further refer toFIGS. 6-9,FIG. 6is a perspective view of the first feeding assembly10inFIG. 3when being removed from the casing91,FIG. 7is another perspective view of the first feeding assembly10inFIG. 6,FIG. 8is an exploded view of the first feeding assembly10inFIG. 7, andFIG. 9is a detail exploded view of the first feeding assembly10inFIG. 7.

The first feeding assembly10includes a first mount frame110, a second mount frame120, a first roller130, a stopper140, a first pressure applying component150, and a second pressure applying component160.

The first mount frame110is detachably disposed on the casing91, and the second mount frame120is slidably disposed on the first mount frame110so as to be slidable along a straight path R (as shown inFIG. 11). Therefore, the second mount frame120is able to be linearly moved with respect to the first mount frame110along the straight path R. The first roller130(also can be called “pressure roller”) is rotatably mounted on the second mount frame120. Therefore, the first roller130is able to be rotated with respect to the second mount frame120. When the first roller130is rotated with respect to the second mount frame120, and the second mount frame120is moved along the straight path R with respect to the first mount frame110, the first roller130is doing a rotation and linear movements along the straight path R at the same time.

Further, in this embodiment, the first roller130includes two roller portions131and a bridge portion132. The roller portions131are connected to each other via the bridge portion132, and the roller portions131and the bridge portion132are coaxial. That is, the two roller portions131and the bridge portion132are able to be rotated with respect to the second mount frame120about the same axis. In more detail, a diameter of the roller portion131is larger than a diameter of the bridge portion132, such that there is an annular groove134formed between the roller portions131and the bridge portion132. In addition, each roller portion131has an outer surface1311configured to be in contact with the second feeding assembly20. In this or other embodiments, the outer surface1311of the roller portion131may be made of a material that is soft and has a high coefficient of friction, such that the friction between the media sheet8and the first roller130is proper to transport the media sheet8, but the disclosure is not limited by the configuration and material of the roller portion131.

The stopper140is pivotally connected to the first mount frame110and is configured to stop or block the media sheet8and to cover part of the first rollers130. In detail, in this embodiment, the stopper140has a pivot portion141, a covering portion142, a pressed portion143, and a pressing portion144. The stopper140is pivotally connected to the first mount frame110via the pivot portion141. The covering portion142extends from a side of the pivot portion141, and the pressed portion143extends from a side of the stopper140in a direction away from the covering portion142. That is, the pressed portion143extends from a side of the pivot portion141away from the covering portion142. Therefore, the covering portion142and the pressed portion143respectively extend from two opposite sides of the pivot portion141. The covering portion142is located at a side of the first roller130and covers part of the first roller130. Therefore, viewing from a specific direction, most portion of the first roller130is covered by the stopper140(i.e., the first roller130is partially exposed). This configuration allows the stopper140to stop or block the media sheet8that is not yet picked up and to prevent the media sheet8from hitting and damaging the first roller130.

The pressing portion144is located at a side of the covering portion142facing the first roller130and protrudes toward and contacts the bridge portion132of the first roller130. In more detail, in this embodiment, the first pressure applying component150is compressed between the pressed portion143of the stopper140and the first mount frame110. The first pressure applying component150is, for example, a compression spring, and is able to press against the pressed portion143so as to force the covering portion142and the pressing portion144to move toward the first roller130and the straight path R, maintaining the pressing portion144to be in the annular groove134formed between the roller portions131and the bridge portion132and to be in contact with the bridge portion132. In addition, a side of the pressing portion144facing the bridge portion132has an inclined contact surface1441configured to be in contact with the bridge portion132. Further, the covering portion142has an inner surface1421facing the outer surfaces1311of the roller portions131of the first roller130. In this embodiment, the inner surface1421of the covering portion142and the outer surfaces1311of the roller portions131of the first roller130are spaced apart by a gap, and the size of the gap is maintained to be a proper value that can prevent the media sheet from entering into the gap.

Furthermore, the second pressure applying component160is compressed between the second mount frame120and the first mount frame110. In this embodiment, the second pressure applying component160is, for example, a compression spring, and is able to force the second mount frame120and the first roller130to move away from the first mount frame110along the straight path R. In other words, the second pressure applying component160is able to force the second mount frame120and the first roller130to move toward the second feeding assembly20. Therefore, the second pressure applying component160increases the normal force between the first roller130of the first feeding assembly10and the second feeding assembly20. Also, when the second mount frame120and the first roller130are moved along the straight path R by external force or the second pressure applying component160, the first pressure applying component150will force the stopper140to move with the first roller130, such that the pressing portion144will be moved close to or away from the straight path R and thus the inclined contact surface1441is kept contacting the bridge portion132. That is, when the first roller130is rotated and/or linearly moved, the stopper140is moved with and always in contact with the first roller130.

Then, regarding the second feeding assembly20, please refer back toFIGS. 3-5and further refer toFIGS. 10-11,FIG. 10is a partial enlarged side view of the second feeding assembly20inFIG. 3when the second feeding assembly20is in a detached position, andFIG. 11is a partial enlarged side view of the second feeding assembly20inFIG. 3when the second feeding assembly is in an installation position. The second feeding assembly20is configured to be mounted on a side of the first feeding assembly10. In detail, in this embodiment, the second feeding assembly20includes a third mount frame210, a second roller220, a third roller230, and a third pressure applying component240.

The third mount frame210may be but not limited to be part of the upper outer frame92; alternatively, the third mount frame210may be a frame that is detachably mounted on the upper outer frame92. The second roller220is rotatably connected to the third mount frame210, and the second roller220and the third mount frame210are coaxial. In detail, the third mount frame210is pivotally disposed on the upper outer frame92so that it may be pivoted with respect to the second roller220by an external force; one end of the second roller220may be rotatably connected to the third mount frame210, and another end of the second roller220may be connected to a drive shaft (not numbered). The drive shaft may be driven by a power source (not shown), such as a motor. Therefore, the second roller220is able to be rotated with respect to the third mount frame210by being driven by the drive shaft. As such, it is understood that the second roller220can be considered as to be a drive roller. In this embodiment, the second roller220presses against the first roller130of the first feeding assembly10so as to increase the normal force between the second roller220and the first roller130, thereby increasing the friction between these rollers and the media sheet8and thus facilitating the feeding of the media sheet8.

In detail, when the second feeding assembly20is installed, the predetermined location of the second roller220overlaps with the area for the first roller130. InFIG. 10, the second feeding assembly20is not yet installed and is in a detached position; at this moment, the second roller220does not touch the first roller130. Then, inFIG. 11, when the second feeding assembly20is installed so as to be in an installation position, the second roller220pushes the first roller130and forces the first roller130and the second mount frame120to move toward the first mount frame110along the straight path R, thereby increasing the normal force between the second roller220and the first roller130.

In addition, during the installation of the second feeding assembly20as the processes shown fromFIG. 10toFIG. 11, the first roller130is moved downward by the second roller220, but the stopper140is moved with the first roller130. Therefore, the covering portion142of the stopper140is moved closer to the straight path R so as to maintain the size of the gap between the stopper140and the first roller130. That is, the gap between the stopper140and the first roller130will not increase during the movement of the first roller130or the installation of the second feeding assembly20. When the second feeding assembly20is in the installation position shown inFIG. 11, the first roller130is still able to be moved further away from the second roller220, but the disclosure is not limited to the amount of distance that the first roller130is allowed to be moved away from the second roller220.

The third roller230(may also be called a pickup roller) is rotatably mounted on the third mount frame210and is able to be rotated by the second roller220. In detail, the third roller230may be connected to the second roller220via a gear set (not numbered) so that the third roller230is able to be rotated with respect to the third mount frame210by being driven by the second roller220.

The third pressure applying component240is compressed between the third mount frame210and the upper outer frame92; that is, the third pressure applying component240presses against a side of the third mount frame210facing away from the third roller230. In this embodiment, the third pressure applying component240is, for example, a torsion spring, one end of the third pressure applying component240presses against the upper outer frame92, another end of the third pressure applying component240presses against the third mount frame210, Therefore, the third pressure applying component240is able to force the third roller230to pivot about the second roller220. As shown in the figures, the third pressure applying component240is able to force the third mount frame210and the third roller230to pivot about the second roller220so as to move the third roller230toward the tray93. When the tray93is loaded with the media sheet8, the third roller230is able to press against and contact the media sheet8by being forced by the third pressure applying component240, and the second roller220is able to drive the third roller230to rotate to pick up and advance the media sheet8to pass through the second roller220and the first roller130.

The first transfer roller31and the second transfer roller32are located adjacent to each other and are respectively rotatably mounted on the upper outer frame92and the casing91. The first transfer roller31and the second transfer roller32are configured to transport the media sheet8passing through the second roller220and the first roller130. In addition, in this embodiment, the first transfer roller31is a drive roller, and the second transfer roller32is an idler roller and is movable close to or away from the first transfer roller31, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Any design that can transport the media sheet8to the predetermined area should belong to the scope of the disclosure. In some other embodiments, the feeding apparatus may not have the first transfer roller31and second transfer roller32.

Then, please refer toFIGS. 12-13,FIGS. 12-13show the feeding of the media sheet8using the feeding apparatus1.

Firstly, before feeding the media sheet8, one end of the tray93will be moved upward so that the media sheet8on the tray93will be moved closer to the third roller230of the second feeding assembly20. And the third roller230will be in contact with the media sheet8. At this moment, the third roller230can be rotated by being driven by the second roller220so as to pick up the media sheet8and send it toward the second roller20and the first roller130of the first feeding assembly10. The stopper140is located between the first roller130and the tray93, such that the stopper140is able to prevent the media sheet8from hitting the outer surfaces1311of the first roller130from undesired directions and to stop or block the other media sheet8that is not yet transported.

While the media sheet8is passing through between the second roller20and the first roller130, the media sheet8causes the first roller130to rotate, and the first roller130may be slightly moved away from the second roller220along the straight path R due to the thickness of the media sheet8, this movement of the first roller130is very small, but the stopper140is still able to be moved with the first roller130because the first pressure applying component150keeps pressing against the pressed portion143of the stopper140to force the covering portion142to move closer to the straight path R. Thus, the inclined contact surface1441of the pressing portion144is kept contacting the bridge portion132of the first roller130while the media sheet8is passing through between the second roller20and the first roller130. That is, the gap between the inner surface1421of the covering portion142and the outer surfaces1311of the roller portions131of the first roller130will not increase during the feeding of the media sheet8.

As such, due to the design that the stopper140can follow the movement of the first roller130, whether while installing the second feeding assembly20or feeding of the media sheet8, it is possible to prevent the second feeding assembly20, the media sheet8, and any external force from increasing the gap between the first roller130and the stopper140, thereby preventing the media sheet8unexpectedly entering the gap between the first roller130and the stopper140. As a result, paper jam is prevented.

Then, the first transfer roller31and the second transfer roller32are able to guide the media sheet8passing through the first roller130and the second roller220and transport it to other predetermined areas. Then, after the media sheet8exits the first roller130, the first roller130is not pressed by the media sheet8, and the second pressure applying component160will timely force the second mount frame120and the first roller130to move toward and contact the second roller220again.

According to the feeding apparatus as discussed above, the stopper is movable with the first roller, and the covering portion of the stopper is able to be moved close to or away from the straight path of the first roller, such that the size of the gap between the covering portion of the stopper and the first roller is always maintained in a proper value and does not increase whether while installing another feeding assembly or experiencing any external force. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the media sheet from directly hitting and damaging the first roller and to avoid the media sheet from unexpectedly entering the gap between the first roller and the stopper to cause paper jam.

In addition, since the size of the gap between the covering portion of the stopper and the first roller is always maintained in a proper value and does not increase, it is possible to have a larger size of the first roller to obtain a longer lifespan of the first roller.