Patent Publication Number: US-7712734-B2

Title: Multi-purpose feeder for office automation machinery

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-55548, filed on Jun. 27, 2005, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to office automation (OA) machinery such as copiers, printers, fax machines, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-purpose feeder for office automation machinery. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In general, OA machinery such as copiers, printers, fax machines, and the like, have a multi-purpose feeder (MPF) that holds several sizes and types of print papers. 
     FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are perspective views illustrating the configuration and operation of a conventional MPF, respectively. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a conventional MPF includes an MPF tray  10  rotatably installed on a main body panel  1  so that it can be opened to a predetermined angle. An auxiliary stocker  20  is rotatably installed on a front end portion of the tray  10 . 
   Moreover, guide units  11  are installed on both sides of the tray  10  to guide different sizes of paper in a horizontal direction. 
   An MPF with the above configuration is not used for a cassette feed operation of a printer. Therefore, if a user wants to use the MPF, the user first needs to rotate the tray  10  to a certain angle by using a handle  10   a  of the tray  10  to open the MPF. Then, the user needs to rotate the auxiliary stocker  20  housed inside the MPF to fully open the tray, and load paper in the tray to begin the printing operation. 
   In other words, in a conventional MPF, a user has to first open the tray and then open the auxiliary stocker, which is not convenient, especially when the user is in hurry. 
   Moreover, after using the MPF, the user has to return the auxiliary stocker back to its original, closed position. If the auxiliary stocker is not properly closed, the tray will not completely close. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for an improved multi-purpose feeder for office automation machinery that has a more convenient MPF tray with an auxiliary stocker. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose feeder for office automation machinery that can be more conveniently used, in that an auxiliary stocker is built to automatically rotate the auxiliary stocker as the MPF tray is opened and closed. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a multi-purpose feeder (MPF) for office automation (OA) machinery is provided. The MPF includes an MPF tray rotatably installed rotatably on a main body panel so that it can be opened and closed. An auxiliary stocker is rotatably installed on the tray by pivots. An auxiliary stocker pivoting unit automatically pivots the auxiliary stocker when the tray is opened and closed. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary stocker pivoting unit may include a pivoting link connected to the auxiliary stocker, and the pivoting link may have a hinge. A first end of a coupling link having a first end and a second end is hinged to the hinge of the pivoting link. A first end of a link arm having a first end and a second end is connected to the second end of the coupling link and the second end of the link arm is hinged to the main body panel. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, a first elongated hole with a predetermined length may be formed on the other end of the coupling link, so as to enable the auxiliary stocker to rotate after the tray rotates further than a predetermined rotation angle. 
   Moreover, a second elongated hole having a predetermined length may be formed on the side of the MPF tray. The second elongated hole is connected to the link arm to control a rotation angle of the tray. 
   The MPF may further include a restoring unit for providing a restoring force to bias the auxiliary stocker in a closed direction. 
   The restoring unit may be formed of a torsion spring disposed on the pivot of the auxiliary stocker. A first end of the restoring unit may be supported by the tray and a second end of the restoring unit may be supported by the auxiliary stocker. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views illustrating the configuration and operation of a conventional MPF, respectively; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a multi-purpose feeder for office automation (OA) machinery, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  diagrammatically illustrates the operation of a multi-purpose feeder for OA machinery, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a multi-purpose feeder (MPF) (or multi-purpose paper input) for office automation (OA) machinery, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the MPF of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an MPF tray  30 , an auxiliary stocker  40 , and an auxiliary stocker pivoting unit  50 . 
   The MPF tray  30  is installed rotatably on a main body panel so that it can be opened to a predetermined angle. Guide units (not shown) for guiding papers are installed on both sides of the MPF tray  30 . 
   The auxiliary stoker  40  is installed on a front end of the tray  30  by pivots  41  so that it can be opened and closed. The auxiliary stocker  40  may be opened so that, for example, a large sheet of paper can be stably mounted on the stocker. 
   The auxiliary stocker pivoting unit  50  allows the auxiliary stocker  40  to be automatically opened and closed by opening and closing the tray  30 . 
   The auxiliary stocker pivoting unit  50  includes a pivoting link  51 , a coupling link  53 , and a link arm  55 . 
   The pivoting link  51  is rotatably connected to one side of a pivot  41  of the auxiliary stocker  40 . A portion of the pivoting link  51  located away from the pivot  41  is connected to one end of the coupling link  53  by a hinge  52 . 
   Since the pivot  41  of the auxiliary stocker  40  is hinged to both sides of the front end portion of the tray  30 , respectively, the auxiliary stocker  40  is able to pivot with respect to the tray  30 . 
   A first end of the coupling link  53  is connected to one side of the pivoting link  51  by the hinge  52 . The other (second) end of the coupling link  53  has a first elongated hole  53   a  of a predetermined length formed therein, into which a sliding protrusion  56  of the link arm  55  is inserted. 
   The first elongated hole  53   a  is formed in a lateral direction of the other end of the coupling link  53 . The hinge  52  has a radius of rotation (r) with respect to the pivot  41  connecting the coupling link  53  to the pivoting link  51 . Preferably, the first elongated hole  53   a  is at least twice as long as the radius of rotation (r). 
   At one end (a first end) on one side of the link arm  55  there is the sliding protrusion  56 , which is inserted into the first elongated hole  53   a  formed in the coupling link  53  and slides inside along the hole. The other (second) end of the link arm  55  is connected to the main body panel by a hinge  58 . 
   In addition, at one end of the other side of the link arm  55  there is a suspending projection (not shown) for controlling the opening angle of the tray. This suspending projection is inserted into a second elongated hole  31   a  formed in a side frame  31 , and slides inside along the hole. 
   In this manner, when opened, the tray  30  maintains its open state at a predetermined angle with respect to the side of the main body panel. 
   The MPF further includes a restoring unit for additional convenience. When a user closes the MPF tray  30  towards the main body after using the MPF, the restoring unit provides a restoring force in the closing direction to the auxiliary stocker  40  so that the auxiliary stocker  40  may easily return to its original position. 
   The restoring unit is preferably a torsion spring  60  disposed on the pivot of the auxiliary stocker  40 . Preferably, the torsion spring is disposed on the end of the pivot  41  which is not connected to the pivoting link  51 . A first end of the torsion spring  60  is supported by the tray  30  and a second end of the torsion spring  60  is supported by the auxiliary stocker  40 . 
   The operation of the exemplary embodiment of the MPF for OA machinery according to the present invention will now be described. 
     FIG. 3  is a state diagram illustrating an opening and closing operation of the MPF of OA machinery of the present invention. As depicted in the drawing, when the MPF tray  30  is opened, the tray moves from its substantially closed position A to a partially open position B. During this movement, the auxiliary stocker  40  begins to open when the tray  30  approaches the B position. 
   When the tray  30  rotates further than a predetermined rotation angle down to the B position, the sliding protrusion  56  is suspended on the inner surface of the first elongated hole  53   a  formed in the coupling link  53 . 
   As the tray  30  moves further down to a C position and a D position, the pivoting link  51  connected to one end of the coupling link  53  by the hinge  52  is pivoted in the pull-out direction. As a result, the auxiliary stocker  40  connected to the pivoting link  51  pivots with respect to the pivot  41  in the OPEN direction. 
   Therefore, as the user opens the MPF tray  30 , the rotation of the MPF tray  30  continues until the suspending projection formed in the link arm  55  for use in the opening angle control is locked (or suspended) onto the inner surface of the second elongated hole  31  formed in the side frame  31  of the tray  30 . 
   Once the tray  30  stops rotating, the rotation of the auxiliary stocker  40  is also stopped by the interaction among the link arm  55 , the coupling link  53 , and the pivoting link  51 . 
   Meanwhile, as the user rotates the tray  30  in the CLOSE direction after using the MPF, the interaction among the link arm  55 , the coupling link  53 , and the pivoting link  51  is loosened. 
   Therefore, when an external force on the auxiliary stocker  40  disappears, the auxiliary stocker  40  is folded by the restoring force of the torsion spring  60  installed at the pivot of the auxiliary stocker  40  while making a relative rotation to the tray  30 , and eventually returns to its original position, that is, to the inside of the main body. 
   As explained so far, the exemplary embodiment of an MPF for OA machinery of the present invention has improved convenience for a user by making the auxiliary stocker, which is rotatably installed on the front end of the MPF tray so that it can be opened, be automatically opened and folded with the opening and closing operation of the MPF tray with respect to the main body. 
   While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.