Sheet feed device capable of facilitating sheet removal from sheet feed path

Abstract: A sheet feed arrangement having an upstream first (6) and downstream second (11a) rollers for defining a part of a sheet feed path therebetween. A first sheet detector (27) is disposed upstream of the first roller (6) and a second sheet detector is disposed downstream of the second roller. These detectors transmit sheet detection signals when the sheet (8) passes therealong. The detection signals are transmittable to a control unit. The control unit is connected to a first roller drive motor and stops rotation thereof if the sheet detection by the first detector (27) is finished whereas a leading end of the sheet has not yet been detected by the second detector (29). If desired, the first roller (6) is reversely rotated to discharge the sheet (13) toward the upstream or sheet inlet side.

Description: The present invention relates to a sheet feed device for use in an image recording apparatus, and more particularly, to such a device for feeding each one of the cut sheets through a manual sheet feed operation. In a conventional image recording apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, sheet members such as image transfer sheets and image recording sheets can be supplied to an image forming section through a sheet feed path by an automatic sheet feed means, if large numbers of the sheets of a standard size are used. On the other hand, sheets of a size which is not frequently used for image recording may be supplied manually by an operator one by one through a manual sheet feed means. In the image recording apparatus, in order to detect a sheet jamming, where the sheet is not properly transferred during feeding due to clogging, a sheet detector is disposed on the sheet feed path. With this system, judgment of sheet jamming is made if the sheet is not detected by the sheet detector after an elapse of a predetermined period counting from a start of the sheet feed operation, and such jamming is externally displayed, Such a system is described in document EP-A-0,303,267 upon which the prior art portion of the independent claims is based. In such conventional image recording apparatus, if sheet jamming occurs, the jamming sheet must be removed. However, if a sheet whose length is insufficient for sheet feeding is fed through the manual sheet feed means, sheet jamming is only detected after the sheet is completely supplied into the sheet feed path. Therefore, it would be impossible to remove the sheet via the manual sheet feed means. To avoid this, the image recording apparatus must have a structure capable of temporarily providing an open state for the sheet feed path so as to allow removal of the jamming sheet at the sheet feed path. Therefore, resultant apparatus has a complex construction, and the operator is obliged to carry out such troublesome sheet removing work, which thus lowers operability. Further, even if a sheet has a sufficient length for sheet feeding, such sheet removing work may be required if clogging occurs due to other reasons. The present invention aims to provide a sheet feed device capable of facilitating the sheet removing work and providing a simple construction at low cost by detecting sheet jamming at a time prior to complete feeding of the sheet into the sheet feed path. According to the present invention there is provided a sheet feed device for feeding a sheet along a sheet feed path, the sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the sheet feed device comprising: a first roller disposed in the sheet feed path for feeding a sheet, the first roller being rotatable for feeding the sheet in a sheet feed direction; a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller for feeding the sheet fed by the first roller toward an intended section; a first detector disposed upstream of the first roller for detecting the presence of the sheet, the first detector generating a first detection signal when the sheet is present thereat; a second detector disposed downstream of the second roller for detecting the presence of the sheet, the second detector generating a second detection signal when the sheet is present thereat; and a drive control means comprising means for stopping rotation of the first roller; characterised in that said drive control means further comprises means for determining if the second detector has not detected the sheet at the time when detection of the sheet by the first detector finishes; and in that said drive control means is adapted to stop rotation of the first roller if said determining means so determines. The invention also provides a method of feeding a sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge along a sheet feed path, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the sheet in a sheet feed direction using a first rotatable roller disposed in the sheet feed path; feeding the sheet fed by the first roller toward an intended section using a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller; detecting the presence of the sheet using a first detector disposed upstream of the first roller; generating a first detection signal when the sheet is present at the first detector; detecting the presence of the sheet using a second detector disposed downstream of the second roller; and generating a second detection signal when the sheet is present at the second detector; characterised by comprising the further step of using drive control means to stop rotation of the first roller if the second detector does not detect the sheet at the time when detection of the sheet by the first detector finishes. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing control means which control sheet feeding operations according to the embodiment of this invention in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a flow chart showing a sheet feed operation routine in a manual sheet supply according to the embodiment in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 (a) is a schematic side view showing a sheet feed mode in a manual sheet supply; Fig. 4(b) is a schematic side view showing another sheet feed mode in the manual sheet supply; Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing a sheet feed operation routine in a manual sheet supply according to one modification of the present invention. A sheet feed device according to one embodiment of the present invention will next be described with reference to drawings. Fig. 1 shows a printer 1 in which the present invention is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, at a lower portion of a printer 1, a sheet cassette 3 is detachably provided for storing therein a sheet stack of a plurality of ordinarily used standard A4 size sheets. An automatic sheet feed roller 5 is disposed at a position above an assembling position of the sheet cassette 3. The automatic sheet feed roller 5 is adapted to contact an uppermost sheet A in the sheet cassette 3 assembled in the printer 1, and is driven by an automatic sheet feed motor 43 (described later in connection with Fig. 2) in order to separate each one of the sheets A from the sheet stack and to supply them into a printing section 15 disposed at a centre portion of the printer 1. To this effect, a guide plate 9a is disposed immediately downstream of the sheet cassette 3 with respect to a sheet feed direction for guiding travel of the sheets A toward the printing section 15. On the other hand, a manual sheet insertion slot 4 is formed at a position immediately above the sheet cassette 3. Sheets B whose size is different from that of the sheets A can be manually inserted one by one into the printer 1 through the insertion slot 4 by an operator. At a position above the sheet cassette 3, a manual feed roller 6 is disposed which is connected to a manual sheet feed motor 45 (see Fig. 2, and described later). Further, a rotatable pinch roller 7 is in rolling contact with the manual feed roller 6 at a predetermined pressure. Thus, the sheet B is nipped between the manual feed roller 6 and the pinch roller 7, and is fed by the rotation of these rollers by virtue of the manual sheet feed motor 45 toward the printing section 15. The manual sheet insertion slot 4 is defined by a lower edge of a printer frame and an upper surface of the sheet cassette 3. If the sheet cassette 3 is detached from the printer frame, a large open space can be provided for facilitating access to the manual feed roller 6 and the pinch roller 7. Upstream of the manual feed roller 6, a first sheet detector 27 is provided for detecting a sheet B manually inserted through the insertion slot 4. The first detector 27 is constituted by a conventional photosensor. Further, a guide plate 9b is disposed downstream of the manual feed roller 6 for feeding a sheet B fed into the printer 1 toward the printing section 15. In this connection, the guide plates 9a and 9b are joined together upstream of the printing section 15. The guide plate 9b serves as a claimed sheet feed path. Immediately upstream of the printing section 15, an upstream feed roller 11a is provided, and immediately downstream of the printing section 15, a downstream feed roller 11b is provided. The pair of upstream and downstream feed rollers 11a and 11b are drivingly rotatable by a sheet feed motor 47 (see Fig. 2, described later). Further, an upstream pinch roller 13a and a downstream pinch roller 13b are in rotatable contact, at a predetermined pressure,with the respective upstream and downstream feed rollers 11a and 11b. Thus, the sheet A or B is nipped between the upstream pinch roller 13a and the upstream feed roller lla and between the downstream pinch roller 13b and the downstream feed roller 11b, and is fed by rotation of these rollers. In the printing section 15, a print head 17 is provided for printing images such as characters and marks on the sheet, and a platen 19 is provided in confronting relation to the print head 17 for supporting the sheet. Further, a head drive means (not shown) is provided for driving the print head 17 so as to print the images in accordance with print data inputted through an external device such as a personal computer. Incidentally, the structure of the head drive means at the printing section 15 and the control routine thereof are conventional, and therefore, further description is unnecessary. At a position between the upstream feed roller 11a and the printing section 15, a second sheet detector 29 is provided. The second detector 29 is constituted by a conventional photosensor similar to the first detector 27 so as to.detect the sheet fed by the upstream feed roller 11a. A sheet discharge roller 23 is provided downstream of the downstream feed roller 11b, and a pair of guide plate 21 are disposed between the downstream feed roller 11b and the discharge roller 23. Further, a discharge tray 24 is provided immediately downstream of the discharge roller 23. The sheet on which the image is printed is directed toward the discharge roller 23 through the guide plates 21. By rotation of the discharge roller 23, the sheet is discharged in a predetermined direction as indicated by an arrow C in Fig. 1 and is discharged onto the discharge tray 24. Incidentally, the manual feed roller 6 constitutes a first roller, and the upstream feed roller 11a constitutes a second roller in accordance with the present invention. Next, arrangement of a control means for executing sheet feed control will be described with reference to Fig. 2. A ROM 33 and a RAM 35 are connected to a CPU 31. Further, to the CPU 31 are connected the automatic sheet feed motor 43, the manual sheet feed motor 45 and the sheet feed motor 47, through an automatic sheet feed control circuit 37, a manual feed control circuit 39 and a sheet feed control circuit 41. Moreover, the above described first and second sheet detectors 27 and 29 are also connected to the CPU 31. The automatic sheet feed motor 43 is adapted for drivingly rotating the automatic sheet feed roller 5, and the manual sheet feed motor 45 is adapted for drivingly rotating the manual sheet feed roller 6 by way of respective gear trains (not shown). The sheet feed motor 47 is adapted for rotating the upstream and downstream feed rollers 11a and 11b by way of a timing pulley and a timing belt (not shown). In the ROM 33, a control program represented by a flowchart shown in Fig. 3 is stored. The ROM 33 has a program memory portion 51 in which is stored a control pro gram for controlling overall operation of the printer 1. Incidentally, a combination of the CPU 31, the ROM 33 the manual sheet feed control circuit 39 and the manual sheet feed motor 45 constitutes a drive control means in accordance with the present invention. A sheet feed operation in the manual sheet supply will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in Fig. 3. First, in Step S1, if a leading end of the sheet B manually inserted through the manual insertion slot 4 by the operator is detected by the first sheet detector 27, that is, if the sheet non-detection state is changed to sheet detection state in the first sheet detector 27 (S1:Yes), the routine proceeds to Step S2. Therefore, the manual sheet feed roller 6, and the upstream and the downstream feed rollers 11a and 11b are rotated in the sheet feed direction (clockwise direction in Fig. 1). By the rotation of these rollers, the sheet B manually inserted through the manual insertion slot 4 is fed toward the printing section 15. Next, the routine goes to Step S3, where judgment is made as to whether or not the second sheet detector 29 detects a leading end of the sheet B. If the leading edge of the sheet B is detected by the second sheet detector 29, that is, if the non detection state is changed to the detection state in the second sheet detector 29 (S3:Yes), the routine proceeds to Step S4. In Step S4, judgment is made as to whether or not the first sheet detector 27 still detects the sheet B. Step S4 is repeatedly carried out until the first detector 27 no longer detects the sheet B. If the first sheet detector 27 does not detect the sheet B, (S4: NO), the routine goes to Step S5 where the manual feed roller 6 is rotated by a predetermined angular amount and is then stopped. Meanwhile, the sheet B is fed by the upstream feed roller 11a, upstream pinch roller 13a, downstream feed roller 11b and downstream pinch roller 13b to undergo printing by the print head 17. Then, the routine goes into Step S6 where judgment is made as to whether or not the second sheet detector 29 detects the sheet B. If the second detector 29 does not detect the sheet B (S6:NO), the routine runs into Step S7 so that the upstream and downstream feed rollers lla and llb are rotated by predetermined angular amount, and are then stopped for terminating the sheet feeding operation. In this case, the sheet B is discharged onto the discharge tray 24 by the rotation of the discharge roller 23. On the other hand, in the Step S3, if the leading end of the sheet B is not detected by the second sheet detector 29 (S3: NO), the routine proceeds to Step S9 where judgment is made as to whether or not the first detector 27 detects the sheet B. If the first detector 27 detects the sheet B (S9:YES), the routine is returned back to Step S3. On the other hand, if the first detector 27 does not detect the sheet B, the routine proceeds to Step S10 where rotation of the manual sheet feed roller 6 is promptly stopped for terminating the sheet feed operation. Then, CPU 31 will output an operation signal to a display or a buzzer (not shown) for the purpose of alarming so as to notify the temporary stop of the sheet feed operation to the operator. In this connection, as shown in Fig. 4(a), the distance between the first sheet detector 27 and the manual feed roller 6 should be of a sufficient length for the trailing end portion of the sheet B still to be nipped by the manual sheet feed roller 6 and the pinch roller 7 after non detection of the sheet by the first sheet detector 27. With this arrangement, even if the sheet B whose length is shorter than a predetermined length is manually inserted into the insertion slot 4, the trailing edge portion of the sheet B is nipped by these rollers 6 and 7 prior to the detection of the leading edge of the sheet B by the second sheet feed detector 29 and after non-detection of the trailing edge by the first detector 27. The manual feed roller 6 is promptly stopped if the first detector 27 leases to detect the trailing end. In this instance, the sheet B is not completely entered into the sheet feed path defined by the guide plate 9b, but the trailing end portion of the sheet B is still positioned upstream of the manual feed roller 6. Therefore, the sheet B can be easily removed by removing the sheet cassette 3, the removal of the cassette 3 providing the large open space for facilitating access to these rollers 6 and 7. It goes without saying that the present invention is not suitable for use with a sheet having a length less than the distance between the first detector 27 and the manual feed roller 6. Further, in addition to employment with a sheet B whose length is shorter than the predetermined length, the device is also useful with an elongated sheet E as shown in Fig. 4(b). For example, even if such sheet E is crumpled or bent for any reason, between the manual feed roller 6 and the upstream feed roller lla, and sheet jamming occurs within the sheet feed path defined by the guide plate 9b, the rotation of the manual feed roller 6 can be stopped while the trailing end portion of the sheet is still positioned upstream of the manual feed roller 6. Therefore, the sheet E can also be removed in the above described manner. Fig. 5 shows another example of a control routine. In this modification, instead of Step S10 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3 Steps S11 through S13 shown in Fig. 5 are executed. That is, if the judgment in the Step S9 is No, the routine goes to the Step S11 where the rotational direction of the manual feed roller 6 is reversed, that is, the direction is changed from a clockwise direction to an anticlockwise direction in Fig. 1. Then, in Step S12, judgment is made as to whether or not the trailing edge of the sheet B is detected by the first sheet detector 27 during the reverse rotation period of the manual feed roller 6. If sheet B is detected (S12:YES), the routine goes back to the Step S11. If the sheet is not detected (S12:NO), the routine proceeds to Step S13 for stopping rotation of the manual feed roller 6 to end the control operation. Accordingly, since the manual feed roller 6 is rotated in a direction reverse to the sheet feed direction (in a direction indicated by an arrow D in Fig. 4(a)), the sheet B can be returned back to the upstream side of the manual feed roller 6. Thus, the sheet can be easily removed without detachment of the sheet cassette 3. As described above in the sheet feed device according to the present invention, it is possible to stop the feeding operation for a sheet having too short a length to be capable of feeding or a sheet which is jammed in the sheet feed path due to any reason prior to the complete insertion of such sheet into the sheet feed path because of the provision of the first and second sheet feed detectors. Therefore, intricate sheet removing work is avoidable with enhanced handleablity and simple construction. That is, the sheet feeding operation is temporarily stopped or the sheet is reversally fed if the trailing end of the sheet has just moved past the first sheet detector while the leading end of the sheet has not yet been detected by the second sheet detector.

Claims: A sheet feed device for feeding a sheet along a sheet feed path, the sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the sheet feed device comprising: a first roller (6) disposed in the sheet feed path for feeding a sheet (B), the first roller (6) being rotatable for feeding the sheet (B) in a sheet feed direction; a second roller (11a) disposed downstream of the first roller (6) for feeding the sheet (B) fed by the first roller (6) toward an intended section (15); a first detector (27) disposed upstream of the first roller (6) for detecting the presence of the sheet (B), the first detector (27) generating a first detection signal when the sheet (B) is present thereat; a second detector (29) disposed downstream of the second roller (11a) for detecting the presence of the sheet (B), the second detector generating a second detection signal when the sheet (B) is present thereat; and a drive control means (31,33,39,45) comprising means for stopping rotation of the first roller (6); characterised in that said drive control means further comprises means (31,33) for determining if the second detector (29) has not detected the sheet (B) at the time when detection of the sheet (B) by the first detector (27) finishes; and in that said drive control means is adapted to stop rotation of the first roller (6) if said determining means (31,33) so determines. A sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control means further comprises; a first motor (45) for drivingly rotating the first roller (6), a control circuit (39) connected to the first motor 5 (45) for controlling rotation of the first roller (6); and a control means (31) connected to the control circuit (39), the first and second detectors (27, 29) being also connected to the control means (31) and the first and second detection signals being transmittable from the (31). first and second detectors (27, 29) to the control means (31). A sheet feed device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the drive control means further comprises means for reversely rotating the first roller (6). A sheet feed device according to any preceding claim wherein the drive control means further comprises: means for judging, in response to the second signal, the arrival of the leading edge of the sheet B at the second detector (29); and means for judging, in response to non supply of the first signal, the departure of the trailing edge of the sheet B from the first detector (27). A sheet feed device according to claim 4 wherein the drive control means further comprises: means for stopping the first motor (45) when the trailing edge has moved past the first detector (27) while the leading edge has not yet been judged to have arrived at the second detector (29). A sheet feed device according to claim 4, wherein the drive control means further comprises: means for stopping the first motor and reversely rotating the first motor when the trailing edge has moved past the first detector (27) while the leading edge has not yet been judged to have arrived at the second detector (29). A sheet feed device according to claim 6 wherein the drive control means further comprises means for stopping rotation of the first motor (45) in response to the first detection signal after the reversal movement of the sheet (8). A sheet feed device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second detectors (27,29) comprise photosensors. A sheet feed device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sheet (B) which is longer than the distance between said first and second detectors (27,29). An image recording apparatus including a sheet feed device according to any preceding claim. A method of feeding a sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge along a sheet feed path, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the sheet (B) in a sheet feed direction using a first rotatable roller (6) disposed in the sheet feed path; feeding the sheet (B) fed by the first roller (6) toward an intended section (15) using a second roller (lla) disposed downstream of the first roller (6); detecting the presence of the sheet (B) using a first detector (27) disposed upstream of the first roller (6); generating a first detection signal when the sheet (B) is present at the first detector (27); detecting the presence of the sheet (B) using a second detector (29) disposed downstream of the second roller (11a); and generating a second detection signal when the sheet (B) is present at the second detector; characterised by comprising the further step of using drive control means (31,33) to stop rotation of the first roller (6) if the second detector (29) does not detect the sheet (B) at the time when detection of the sheet (B) by the first detector (27) finishes.

Inventors: SUGIURA TOSHIAKI, SUGIURA, TOSHIAKI, SUGIURA, TOSHIAKI, C/O BROTHER KOGYO K.K.
Applicants: BROTHER IND LTD, BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H7
IPC codes: B65H7, B41J29, B41J11