Abstract: The present invention relates to a passenger detecting sensor which is installed in a seat to detect whether a passenger is seated on a seat, and a method of manufacturing the same. A method of manufacturing a passenger detecting sensor includes printing corrosion preventive ink on aluminum bonded on a flexible panel in accordance with a pattern; forming an aluminum pattern by corroding the aluminum; cleaning the corrosion preventive ink on the aluminum pattern; and printing a carbon paste on the aluminum pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a passenger detecting sensor which is installed in a seat to detect whether a passenger is seated on a seat, and a method of manufacturing the same. A method of manufacturing a passenger detecting sensor includes printing corrosion preventive ink on aluminum bonded on a flexible panel in accordance with a pattern; forming an aluminum pattern by corroding the aluminum; cleaning the corrosion preventive ink on the aluminum pattern; and printing a carbon paste on the aluminum pattern.

Abstract: A paper cassette feeder and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper cassette feeder includes: a main frame; a loading unit on which paper is loaded; a first paper guide which is tilted up with respect to the loading unit; and a second paper guide which is disposed at the first paper guide in a turnable manner, and is tilted up with respect to the first paper guide according to a position of the second paper guide. Accordingly, a paper cassette feeder can be easily separated from an image forming apparatus when paper is jammed in a paper feeding path, so as to remove a paper jam easily.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser scanning unit that irradiates a light. A photoconductive medium forms thereon an electrostatic latent image using the light from the laser scanning unit. A developing roller transfers a developer onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image. A transferring roller forms a transfer nip in tight contact with the photoconductive medium and transfers the developer attached on the photoconductive medium onto a paper passing through the transfer nip. A paper supplying part stacks the paper thereon. A pickup roller picks up the paper stacked on the paper supplying part. A paper edge sensor senses a top edge of the paper picked up by the pickup roller. The paper picked up by the pickup roller is directly supplied toward the transfer nip. A paper moving path is reduced, thereby minimizing the whole size of the image forming apparatus. Also, the number of parts is reduced, thereby decreasing material costs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit and a shutter arm unit. The shutter arm unit includes a shutter arm that swings to first and second positions, and a stopper arm, connected to the shutter arm, which protrudes toward a transportation path when the shutter arm swings to the second position in which the stopper arm prevents extra sheets of recording media from moving along the transportation path. The force of the paper moving along the transportation path swings the shutter arm unit into the second position, a protrusion cam and an escape cam prevent an increase in the return load of the shutter arm, and a pair of ends of the shutter arm aligns the front end of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: A paper picking-up unit and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper picking-up unit includes a knock-up plate to stack paper thereon; a shaft disposed at a front end of the knock-up plate to rotate, a pick-up roller engaged with the shaft to rotate and pick-up the paper stacked on the knock-up plate, and a knock-up plate ascending and descending portion to raise and lower the knock-up plate according to the rotation of the pick-up roller. The pick-up roller includes a roller body engaged and rotatable with the shaft, and having a frictional layer to pick-up the paper by causing friction with the paper, a pair of roller housings to support opposite sides of the roller body such that the roller body does not move in a lengthwise direction of the shaft, and a damper disposed at an outer circumference of each roller housing to reduce noise caused by a collision of the roller housings and the knock-up plate.

Abstract: A paper supply device and an image forming apparatus, capable of always maintaining a constant pickup force regardless of the amount of loaded sheets of paper. The paper supply device includes a paper supply cassette, a pickup unit to pick up the paper, a paper supply plate and a press spring to bias the paper toward the pickup unit, a first restraining device to restrain the paper supply plate and to release the restraint of the paper supply plate, a second restraining device to permit the pickup unit to move vertically when the pickup unit picks up the paper and restricts the vertical movement of the pickup unit when the pickup unit does not pick up the paper, and an elastic member to bias the pickup unit toward the paper to provide the pickup unit with a pickup force when the pickup unit picks up the paper.

Abstract: A print medium feeding apparatus, comprising: a knockup plate on which a ream of print medium is stacked thereon; a pickup roller for picking up a sheet of print medium stacked on the knockup plate; a sheet separation member installed in a manner to form a contact nip with the pickup roller, and supplying friction force for separating the print medium sheet by sheet; and a friction pad disposed at an upper side of the sheet separation member, being in front of the contact nip. The print medium feeding apparatus of the present invention features an improved paper feeding capacity in that variable friction force is applied for separating printing medium. Moreover, since the friction pad does not come in contact with the pickup roller, the abrasion rate of the friction pad is much reduced. Furthermore, the material cost can be reduced by reducing the size of the friction pad.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a paper pickup unit includes a power unit to drive a shaft of the paper pickup unit, wherein the paper pickup unit includes a pressing plate at which a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper, is stacked, a paper feed unit body to receive the pressing plate, a shaft rotatably mounted on a front end of the pressing plate, a pickup roller to rotatably engage the shaft to pick up the recording medium stacked on the pressing plate, and a guide cam installed at least one side of the shaft and having a shock absorbing part engaged with a guide part installed at the paper feed unit body.

Abstract: A paper supply device and an image forming apparatus, capable of always maintaining a constant pickup force regardless of the amount of loaded sheets of paper. The paper supply device includes a paper supply cassette, a pickup unit to pick up the paper, a paper supply plate and a press spring to bias the paper toward the pickup unit, a first restraining device to restrain the paper supply plate and to release the restraint of the paper supply plate, a second restraining device to permit the pickup unit to move vertically when the pickup unit picks up the paper and restricts the vertical movement of the pickup unit when the pickup unit does not pick up the paper, and an elastic member to bias the pickup unit toward the paper to provide the pickup unit with a pickup force when the pickup unit picks up the paper.

Abstract: A paper cassette feeder and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper cassette feeder includes: a main frame; a loading unit on which paper is loaded; a first paper guide which is tilted up with respect to the loading unit; and a second paper guide which is disposed at the first paper guide in a turnable manner, and is tilted up with respect to the first paper guide according to a position of the second paper guide. Accordingly, a paper cassette feeder can be easily separated from an image forming apparatus when paper is jammed in a paper feeding path, so as to remove a paper jam easily.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit and a shutter arm unit. The shutter arm unit includes a shutter arm that swings to first and second positions, and a stopper arm, connected to the shutter arm, which protrudes toward a transportation path when the shutter arm swings to the second position in which the stopper arm prevents extra sheets of recording media from moving along the transportation path. The force of the paper moving along the transportation path swings the shutter arm unit into the second position, a protrusion cam and an escape cam prevent an increase in the return load of the shutter arm, and a pair of ends of the shutter arm aligns the front end of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: A print medium feeding apparatus, comprising: a knockup plate on which a ream of print medium is stacked thereon; a pickup roller for picking up a sheet of print medium stacked on the knockup plate; a sheet separation member installed in a manner to form a contact nip with the pickup roller, and supplying friction force for separating the print medium sheet by sheet; and a friction pad disposed at an upper side of the sheet separation member, being in front of the contact nip. The print medium feeding apparatus of the present invention features an improved paper feeding capacity in that variable friction force is applied for separating printing medium. Moreover, since the friction pad does not come in contact with the pickup roller, the abrasion rate of the friction pad is much reduced. Furthermore, the material cost can be reduced by reducing the size of the friction pad.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a paper pickup unit includes a power unit to drive a shaft of the paper pickup unit, wherein the paper pickup unit includes a pressing plate at which a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper, is stacked, a paper feed unit body to receive the pressing plate, a shaft rotatably mounted on a front end of the pressing plate, a pickup roller to rotatably engage the shaft to pick up the recording medium stacked on the pressing plate, and a guide cam installed at least one side of the shaft and having a shock absorbing part engaged with a guide part installed at the paper feed unit body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser scanning unit that irradiates a light. A photoconductive medium forms thereon an electrostatic latent image using the light from the laser scanning unit. A developing roller transfers a developer onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image. A transferring roller forms a transfer nip in tight contact with the photoconductive medium and transfers the developer attached on the photoconductive medium onto a paper passing through the transfer nip. A paper supplying part stacks the paper thereon. A pickup roller picks up the paper stacked on the paper supplying part. A paper edge sensor senses a top edge of the paper picked up by the pickup roller. The paper picked up by the pickup roller is directly supplied toward the transfer nip. A paper moving path is reduced, thereby minimizing the whole size of the image forming apparatus. Also, the number of parts is reduced, thereby decreasing material costs.

Abstract: A paper picking-up unit and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper picking-up unit includes a knock-up plate to stack paper thereon; a shaft disposed at a front end of the knock-up plate to rotate, a pick-up roller engaged with the shaft to rotate and pick-up the paper stacked on the knock-up plate, and a knock-up plate ascending and descending portion to raise and lower the knock-up plate according to the rotation of the pick-up roller. The pick-up roller includes a roller body engaged and rotatable with the shaft, and having a frictional layer to pick-up the paper by causing friction with the paper, a pair of roller housings to support opposite sides of the roller body such that the roller body does not move in a lengthwise direction of the shaft, and a damper disposed at an outer circumference of each roller housing to reduce noise caused by a collision of the roller housings and the knock-up plate.

Abstract: A device for engaging and disengaging an object in one direction and a photosensitive medium cleaning device of a liquid printer using the same are provided. The device for engaging and disengaging includes a housing, a driving motor disposed at the housing, a rotating bracket, rotatably disposed at the housing, for supporting the object, and a cam unit, capable of rotating and moving linearly by a rotating force of the driving motor, for transferring the rotating bracket to one side by being rotated after being moved linearly to the rotating bracket while the driving unit is rotating in one direction, the cam unit being separated from the rotating bracket enabling the rotating bracket to return to an initial position while the driving motor is rotating reversely.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a liquid level in a vessel using an acoustic wave. Acoustic tubes have first ends disposed vertically along a sidewall of the vessel for each of the liquid levels to be measured, and the tubes communicate with the inside of the vessel. Second ends of the tubes are connected to a common tube. A storage level sensor board generates the acoustic wave in the vessel, receives the acoustic wave propagated through the acoustic tubes and the common tube, and determines the level of liquid in the vessel based on the received acoustic wave.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a liquid level in a vessel using an acoustic wave. Acoustic tubes have first ends disposed vertically along a sidewall of the vessel for each of the liquid levels to be measured, and the tubes communicate with the inside of the vessel. Second ends of the tubes are connected to a common tube. A storage level sensor board generates the acoustic wave in the vessel, receives the acoustic wave propagated through the acoustic tubes and the common tube, and determines the level of liquid in the vessel based on the received acoustic wave.

Abstract: A device for engaging and disengaging an object in one direction and a photosensitive medium cleaning device of a liquid printer using the same are provided. The device for engaging and disengaging includes a housing, a driving motor disposed at the housing, a rotating bracket, rotatably disposed at the housing, for supporting the object, and a cam unit, capable of rotating and moving linearly by a rotating force of the driving motor, for transferring the rotating bracket to one side by being rotated after being moved linearly to the rotating bracket while the driving unit is rotating in one direction, the cam unit being separated from the rotating bracket enabling the rotating bracket to return to an initial position while the driving motor is rotating reversely.