Patent Description:
Document <CIT> discloses an automatic document feeder device.

The scope of the invention is described by the appended claims.

For machines such as enterprise scanners, customers are often looking for higher document feeder input capacity, especially for large scan jobs. In large capacity jobs containing dozens or even hundreds of sheets of paper, the automatic document feeder may need to be adjusted to accommodate the sheets. Typically, the entire height of the machine increases by the sum of the input height and output height of the automatic document feeder. When the entire machine's height increases, the raw material, shipping/packaging, and manufacturing costs similarly increase and the extra height often results in a chunky, and aesthetically displeasing configuration. The examples described herein provide a technique to adjust the input capacity of an automatic document feeder while also adjusting the output capacity of the printed/scanned/copied documents without increasing the total height of the automatic document feeder. The output rollers, through which the media; e.g., sheets of paper, etc. exits the printer/scanner moves up/down and possibly laterally according to the up/down movement of the automatic document feeder. As referred to herein, the term media may refer to one or more sheets of paper or any other media suitable for insertion into a machine such as a printer, scanner, copier, or fax machine, etc..

The examples described herein provide an automatic document feeder device comprising a document tray, a pair of rollers, at least one controller that automatically adjusts a height of the document tray and the pair of rollers based on an amount of media contained on the document tray, and a slide aligned to the pair of rollers to alter a media pathway distance as the height of the pair of rollers changes. The at least one controller is to adjust the height of the document tray independently from adjusting the height of the pair of rollers. In an example, the at least one controller comprises a first controller that automatically adjusts the height of the document tray, and a second controller that automatically adjusts the height of the pair of rollers.

According to an example, the automatic document feeder device comprises a guide adjacent to the document tray, wherein the guide is to bend as the height of the document tray increases. The slide comprises any of a flexible, stretchable, bendable, and telescoping slide, according to various examples. In an example, the automatic document feeder device comprises a slot retaining at least a portion of the slide, wherein the slide is to move with respect to the slot as the height of the pair of rollers changes. The automatic document feeder device comprises a sensor to determine a thickness of media contained on the document tray, according to an example.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating an automatic document feeder device <NUM>, according to an example. The automatic document feeder device <NUM> comprises a document tray <NUM>, a pair of rollers <NUM>, and at least one controller <NUM> that automatically adjusts a height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> and the pair of rollers <NUM> based on the amount of media <NUM> contained on the document tray <NUM>. A slide <NUM> is aligned to the pair of rollers <NUM> to alter the media pathway distance D as the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> changes.

The media pathway distance D represents the distance that the media <NUM> travels inside a machine such as a printer, scanner, copier, fax machine, etc. When the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> changes, then the corresponding media pathway distance D also changes since the distance from the scan modules, which are not shown in <FIG>, to the output rollers <NUM> changes. The slide <NUM> is provided in the area between the scan modules and the output rollers <NUM> and to allow the media <NUM> to travel in this area in the machine, and as such the media pathway distance D may be equal to the length of the slide <NUM> in one example. Accordingly, as the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> increases; e.g., as the pair or rollers <NUM> move up, the media pathway distance D increases. Similarly, as the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> decreases; e.g., as the pair or rollers <NUM> move down, the media pathway distance D decreases. According to an example, the slide <NUM> may be any of a flexible, stretchable, bendable, and telescoping slide <NUM>. In such configurations, the slide <NUM> is able to alter its length and/or angle corresponding to the change of the media pathway distance D required by the movement of the pair of rollers <NUM>. In one example, the slide <NUM> may comprise Mylar® material allowing for the length of the slide <NUM> to alter. In another example, the slide <NUM> may be configured as a tube. In still another example, the slide <NUM> changes angle but does not change length, wherein the pair of rollers <NUM> move towards the slide <NUM> when in the upper position; e.g., the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> changes by moving upwards. The pair or rollers <NUM> would move away from the slide <NUM> when in the lower position. In yet another example, the slide <NUM> changes angle but does not change length, and the pair of rollers <NUM> do not move towards or away from the slide <NUM>. Here, the media <NUM> may jump across a gap from the slide <NUM> to the pair of rollers <NUM>.

In the various figures, the dashed lines shown for the document tray <NUM>, pair of rollers <NUM>, media <NUM>, controller <NUM>, slide <NUM>, and media pathway distance D represent the positioning of the document tray <NUM>, pair of rollers <NUM>, controller <NUM>, media <NUM>, slide <NUM>, and media pathway distance D after the height adjustment occurs; i.e., after the document tray <NUM> moves up by height H<NUM> and the pair of rollers <NUM> move up by height H<NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be either moveable or stationary, e.g., moving or not moving up/down, according to various examples. The at least one controller <NUM> adjusts the height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> independently from adjusting the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM>. In another example, the at least one controller <NUM> adjusts the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> upon adjusting the height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> such that the corresponding adjustments of the heights H<NUM> and H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> and the pair of rollers <NUM> may occur simultaneously, or may be delayed such that the height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> is adjusted first followed by adjustment of the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> at some certain time delay thereafter.

<FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, is a schematic diagram illustrating a controller <NUM> for an automatic document feeder device <NUM>, according to an example. In this example, the at least one controller <NUM> may comprise a first controller <NUM> that automatically adjusts the height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM>, and a second controller <NUM> that automatically adjusts the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM>. The first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may be independently configured or may be controlled by one set of circuits. The first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may include any suitable device used to control motion including, but not limited to, motors, actuators, springs, rack-and-pinion systems, gears, belts, and linkages, among others.

<FIG> and <FIG>, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, are schematic diagrams illustrating an automatic document feeder device <NUM> and a pair of rollers <NUM> moving to different heights, according to an example. The device <NUM> may comprise a guide <NUM> adjacent to the document tray <NUM>, wherein the guide <NUM> may bend as the height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> increases; e.g., as the document tray <NUM> moves up. The guide <NUM> may be a flexible plastic strip in one example that is spring-loaded causing the guide <NUM> to bend as the document tray <NUM> moves up. In an example, the guide <NUM> separates the document tray <NUM> from the pair of rollers <NUM>, and as such may act as an end wall or stop for the media <NUM> loaded onto the document tray <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may be positioned on the edge of the document tray <NUM> or it may be positioned through the document tray <NUM>. In an example, the guide <NUM> bends away from the pair of rollers <NUM> as the document tray <NUM> moves up.

The device <NUM> may comprise a slot <NUM> retaining at least a portion of the slide <NUM>, wherein the slide <NUM> is able to move with respect to the slot <NUM> as the height H<NUM> of the pair of rollers <NUM> changes. In this configuration, the slide <NUM> may be rigid or it may be any of a flexible, stretchable, bendable, and telescoping slide <NUM>. Because at least a portion of the slide <NUM> is positioned in the slot <NUM>, the slide <NUM> may be rigid such that it moves translationally within the slot <NUM> to alter the length of the exposed slide <NUM>; e.g., not within the slot <NUM>, between the scan modules and the output rollers <NUM> in the machine.

The device <NUM> may comprise a sensor <NUM> to determine a thickness; e.g., height H<NUM> of the media <NUM> contained on the document tray <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may include an optical sensor, a scale to measure mass/weight, a counter, or any other type of sensing device capable of determining how many sheets of media <NUM> are on the document tray <NUM> and the reduction in sheets as the media <NUM> is continuously fed into the machine until no remaining media <NUM> remains on the document tray <NUM>. Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> may comprise a laser rangefinder system, force gauge, or spring force sensor to detect the changes in height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM>. In one example, the sensor <NUM> is positioned adjacent to or in the document tray <NUM>. In other examples, the sensor <NUM> may be positioned at an appropriate location to conduct the suitable sensing activity of the media <NUM> and/or the document tray <NUM>.

<FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, illustrate schematic diagrams of an automatic document feeder device <NUM> according to other examples. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the device <NUM> at a first height configuration and <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the device <NUM> at a second height configuration. The device <NUM> comprises an automatic document feeder tray <NUM>, at least one media output roller <NUM>, a control system <NUM> to automatically adjust a height H<NUM>, H<NUM> of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> and the at least one media output roller <NUM> based on a height H<NUM> of media <NUM> contained on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>, and a guide <NUM> in between the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> and the at least one media output roller <NUM> to provide a clear media discharge path <NUM> emanating from the at least one media output roller <NUM>. In an example, only one output roller <NUM> is provided with a corresponding stationary member <NUM> with only the one output roller <NUM> rotating and with the stationary member <NUM> having no rotation. However, both the output roller <NUM> and the stationary member <NUM> may be adjusted in height using the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may include any suitable device used to control motion including, but not limited to, controllers, motors, actuators, springs, rack-and-pinion systems, gears, belts, and linkages, among other types of devices.

Similar to device <NUM>, the device <NUM> comprises a slide <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> aligned to the at least one media output roller <NUM>, wherein the slide <NUM> alters a media pathway distance D as the height H<NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> changes. Again, the slide <NUM> may be rigid or it may be any of a flexible, stretchable, bendable, and telescoping slide <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may bend away from the at least one media output roller <NUM> as the height H<NUM> of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> increases.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the device <NUM> may comprise a mechanism <NUM> to rest on the media <NUM> on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM> to determine a pivot angle ϕ of the mechanism <NUM> as the height H<NUM> of the media <NUM> on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> decreases. The mechanism <NUM> may comprise a flexible, plastic arm-like structure, according to one example, such that the mechanism <NUM> bends as the document tray <NUM> rises. The rising of the document tray <NUM> causes the mechanism <NUM> to pivot creating a rotational or pivot angle ϕ. The sensor <NUM> may be communicatively linked to the mechanism <NUM> to sense the change in the pivot angle ϕ. This sensing of the pivot angle ϕ of the mechanism <NUM> indicates that the document tray <NUM> has changed height H<NUM>, whereby the control system <NUM> adjusts the height H<NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM>.

<FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, is a schematic diagram illustrating a control system <NUM> for an automatic document feeder device <NUM>, according to another example. Here, the control system <NUM> may comprise a first motor <NUM> to automatically adjust the height H<NUM> of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> based on the height H<NUM> of media <NUM> contained on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>. The control system <NUM> also comprises a second motor <NUM> to automatically adjust the height H<NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> based on the height H<NUM> of media <NUM> contained on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>.

<FIG> serves as an example useful for understanding the invention, and shows some of the features of the claimed apparatus. <FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus <NUM>, according to an example. The apparatus <NUM> comprises an automatic document feeder tray <NUM> to hold media <NUM>, at least one media output roller <NUM> comprising rotational θ and translational movement s, a sensor <NUM> adjacent to the automatic feeder tray <NUM>, and a processor <NUM> to receive a measurement of a thickness; i.e., height H<NUM>, of the media <NUM> on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> from the sensor <NUM>, and send a signal to adjust a height H<NUM>, H<NUM> of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> and the at least one media output roller <NUM> based on the measured thickness; i.e., height H<NUM>, of the media <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the sensor <NUM> by wired or wireless connection. Moreover, the processor <NUM> may be part of the machine's central processing unit and may further be linked to an interface panel on the machine, not shown.

<FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, is a schematic diagram illustrating the apparatus <NUM>, according to another example. Here, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a slide <NUM> aligned to the at least one media output roller <NUM>, wherein the slide <NUM> is to alter a media pathway distance D for the media <NUM> as the at least one media output roller <NUM> translationally moves s. A guide <NUM> is provided to separate the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> from the at least one media output roller <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may serve as an end wall or stop for the media <NUM> loaded on the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>. The guide <NUM> provides an unobstructed media discharge path <NUM> between a discharge <NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> and an area <NUM> underneath the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>. In one example, when the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> and at least one media output roller <NUM> are at the initial heights; e.g., lower heights, the guide <NUM> does not extend beyond the bottom of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>, and as such the media discharge path <NUM> between the discharge <NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> and the area <NUM> underneath the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> is unobstructed. Moreover, because the guide <NUM> is configured to bend away from the at least one media output roller <NUM>, as the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> and the at least one media output roller <NUM> rise, the media discharge path <NUM> between the discharge <NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> and the area <NUM> underneath the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> is unobstructed. The unobstructed media discharge path <NUM> permits media <NUM> that is output from the
at least one media output roller <NUM> to easily discharge from the machine onto the discharge tray; e.g., area <NUM>, without become entangled. Furthermore, since the height H<NUM> of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> rises, the area <NUM> to receive discharged media <NUM> is sufficiently spaced to suitably accommodate all of the discharged media <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate one output roller <NUM>. However, a pair of output rollers <NUM> may be incorporated into the apparatus <NUM>. In one example, the processor <NUM> sends the signal to adjust the height H<NUM> of the at least one media output roller <NUM> after the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> has changed height H<NUM> to a certain level. The signal may result in the at least one media output roller <NUM> to adjust in height H<NUM> a certain time delay after the automatic document feeder tray <NUM> has changed height H<NUM>, or both heights H<NUM>, H<NUM> may be adjusted simultaneously. However, to prevent obstruction of the media discharge path <NUM>, the at height adjustment of the at least one media output roller <NUM> would not happen prior to the height adjustment of the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, are schematic diagrams illustrating a machine <NUM> in different configurations, according to an example. <FIG>, with reference to <FIG>, is a schematic diagram illustrating a machine <NUM> with a document tray <NUM> and output rollers <NUM> moving from a first configuration to a second configuration, according to an example herein. The machine <NUM> may comprise a printer, scanner, copier, and/or fax machine, etc. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the path <NUM> of media <NUM> from the document tray <NUM> into and through the machine <NUM>, and then out of the machine <NUM>. Media <NUM>, which may include one or more sheets of paper, film, transparencies, fabric, photographs, or other types of sheets, is placed on the document tray <NUM>. An adjustable pair of input rollers <NUM> grab the uppermost sheet of media <NUM>. The guide <NUM> assists the pair of input rollers <NUM> input the media <NUM> into the machine <NUM>. A separation pad <NUM> may be aligned with one of the input rollers <NUM> to help pick and separate the media <NUM> as it enters the machine <NUM>. Other pairs of drive rollers <NUM>, <NUM> may be appropriately positioned in the machine <NUM> to guide the media <NUM>. The pair of drive rollers <NUM> guide the media <NUM> to one or more scan modules <NUM>. A slide <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the scan modules <NUM>, wherein the length of the slide <NUM> defines a media pathway distance D. The slide <NUM> may be rigid or it may be any of a flexible, stretchable, bendable, and telescoping slide <NUM>. A slot <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the scan modules <NUM>, wherein the slot <NUM> may retain at least a portion of a slide <NUM>. The slide <NUM> leads the media <NUM> towards one or more output rollers <NUM>. The media <NUM> exits the machine <NUM> in a discharge path <NUM>, which is between the discharge <NUM> of the output rollers <NUM> and an area <NUM> underneath the automatic document feeder tray <NUM>.

As subsequent sheets of the media <NUM> are fed into the machine <NUM>, the number of sheets of media <NUM> on the document tray <NUM> becomes reduced. This reduction in the number of sheets of media <NUM> is detected by the sensor <NUM>. In various examples, the sensor <NUM> may detect the change in the number of sheets of media <NUM> optically or by weight. In another example, a flexible mechanism <NUM> rests on the media <NUM>, which pivots based on any of the sensed change in height H<NUM> of the media <NUM> and the change in height H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM>, whereby the sensor <NUM> may detect the resulting change in the pivot angle ϕ of the mechanism <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may directly send a signal to one or more controllers <NUM> that control the height adjustments H<NUM>, H<NUM> of the document tray <NUM> as well as the one or more rollers <NUM>, respectively. Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> sends a signal to a processor <NUM>, which then sends a corresponding signal to the one or more controllers <NUM> for performing the height adjustments H<NUM>, H<NUM>. As the number of sheets of media <NUM> become smaller due to being fed into the machine <NUM>, the one or more controllers <NUM> automatically move the document tray <NUM> upwards without requiring user intervention to facilitate the adjustment of the document tray <NUM>.

As the document tray <NUM> rises, the one or more controllers <NUM> adjust the height H<NUM> of the one or more rollers <NUM>. In this regard, not only do the one or more rollers have rotational motion θ to facilitate the discharge of the media <NUM> out of the machine, but the one or more rollers <NUM> also have translational motion s corresponding to the adjustment of the height H<NUM>. In one example, the adjustment of the H<NUM> of the one or more rollers <NUM> may be in the range of approximately <NUM>-<NUM>. The guide <NUM> bends away from the one or more rollers <NUM> thereby creating an unobstructed media discharge path <NUM> to facilitate an easy discharge of the media <NUM> from the machine <NUM> and onto the area <NUM>; e.g., discharge tray, underneath the document tray <NUM>.

The upward movement of the document tray <NUM> and the one or more rollers <NUM> creates a proportionally open area <NUM> under the document tray <NUM> such that the total height of the machine <NUM> does not change; only the height of the document tray <NUM> in relation to the area <NUM> under the document tray <NUM> changes. In other words, as the height of the document tray <NUM> increases, the area <NUM> under the document tray <NUM> also increases, but the area <NUM> above the document tray <NUM> decreases, thereby resulting in no change in the vertical/height footprint of the machine <NUM>. As indicated in <FIG>, the input height Hi of the document tray <NUM> and the output height Ho of the area <NUM> underneath the document tray <NUM> is significantly increased without increasing the overall height of the machine <NUM>. Accordingly, the examples provided herein permit the automatic document feeder input capacity to increase without increasing the overall automatic document feeder height. Once the print/scan/copy/fax job is completed, the document tray <NUM> and one or more rollers <NUM> revert back to the original positions; e.g., lower positions.

Claim 1:
An automatic document feeder device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a document tray (<NUM>);
a pair of rollers (<NUM>);
at least one controller (<NUM>) that automatically adjusts a height of the document tray (<NUM>) and the pair of rollers (<NUM>) based on an amount of media (<NUM>) contained on the document tray (<NUM>); and
a slide (<NUM>) aligned to the pair of rollers (<NUM>) to alter a media pathway distance as the height of the pair of rollers (<NUM>) changes;
characterized in that
the at least one controller (<NUM>) is to adjust the height of the document tray (<NUM>) independently from adjusting the height of the pair of rollers (<NUM>).