Paper feeding mechanism
A paper feeding mechanism includes a base, a driven roller, an active roller, a shaft, and a plurality of torsion elements. The shaft is disposed on the base, and the torsion elements are coaxially connected to the shaft with a first and a second force arm pressing against the rotational axial position of the driven roller and the base respectively. The torsion elements provide a normal force to the driven roller, so that the driven roller may press against the active roller constantly.
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095214058 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Aug. 9, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeding mechanism of a peripheral, and more particularly, to a paper feeding mechanism capable of providing a normal force to press and pick up paper.
2. Related Art
Generally speaking, the operation of an office relies much on the use of paper, for example, business letters and various documents, so a paper feeding mechanism of a peripheral such as a printer, plotter, fax, scanner, copier, multi function peripheral (MFP) is required to facilitate the scan, print, copy, or fax of paper. Considering the high demand for paper, the output quality and operating efficiency are always the key issue of development for the peripheral manufacturers. However, the currently used peripherals such as copiers usually use mechanisms such as rollers to transmit paper, so as to achieve a smooth transmission without folding paper when feeding, scanning, printing, or ejecting paper.
The design of roller structure in a conventional paper feeding mechanism has a function of separating and feeding paper when transmitting paper. For example, the driven roller in the paper feeding mechanism usually adopts a compression spring or blade spring to provide a normal force to the device. However, in a confined space, the travel is insufficient and the force cannot be easily controlled. Moreover, due to manufacturing and processing techniques and the limitation in the manufacturing cost and the assembly in the product line, the roller structure of the paper feeding mechanism cannot be installed and repaired conveniently and rapidly. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost is increased. Besides, the roller positioning structure of the conventional paper feeding mechanism influences the repair, replace and maintenance of the roller structure, and cause an increase in the manufacturing cost and the difficulty in assembling.
Furthermore, if an external force is applied to an axis under non-uniform pressure or different coaxial elements, a torque or bending moment is generated on the axis. Thus, angular velocities of the paper getting out of driven roller and active roller are inconsistent, thereby causing a paper jam or resulting in the deformation or break of the bear due to the improper use.
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The conventional art cannot effectively reduce the volume to be adapted to a narrow space, and a component force is generated from the normal force, such that the normal force cannot completely act on the driven roller, thus resulting in an unsmooth paper feeding and folding paper. Moreover, the installation is inconvenient and the parts are complicated, so that the manufacturing cost increases. In view of the above problems, the present invention is directed to provide a paper feeding mechanism. The paper feeding mechanism of the present invention comprises a base, a shaft, and a plurality of torsion elements. The base is provided with a driven roller, and an active roller is disposed corresponding to the driven roller, wherein the driven roller presses against the active roller constantly. The paper feeding mechanism comprises a shaft disposed on the base. A plurality of torsion elements is coaxially connected to the shaft, wherein each of the torsion elements has a first and a second force arm pressing against the rotational axial position of the driven roller and the base, respectively.
The paper feeding mechanism disclosed in the present invention has a reduced volume and can be applied to a narrow space and provide a normal force between the paper and the driven roller. The normal force can completely act on the driven roller, so as to achieve a close contact between the driven roller and the active roller and eliminate the ineffective component force. Further, the driven roller is characterized by bumps disposed thereon, which is advantageous for arranging paper to smoothly feeding the paper. Moreover, the parts are simple, thus saving the material and assembling processes. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of low cost.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
According to the paper feeding mechanism disclosed in the present invention, the paper feeding mechanism can be applied, but not limited to, printers, plotters, faxes, copiers, MFPs, scanners, and so on. The present invention can be applied to any equipment having a paper feeding mechanism to input/output paper.
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Further, two shafts 15 adjacent to one side of the driven roller shaft 14 are joined with the base 50. One of the two opposite ends of each shaft 15 is a free end, and the other is fixed on the base 50. Moreover, the shafts 15 are parallel to the axial direction of the driven roller shaft 14.
The paper feeding mechanism 10 also has a plurality of torsion elements 30 disposed between the driven roller shaft 14 and the base 50. The torsion elements 30 can be torsion springs. Each of the torsion elements 30 has a first force arm 31 and a second force arm 32 extending outwards with respect to the torsion element 30.
Moreover, the active roller 12 rolls by the use of the transmission shaft 13. The driven roller 11 is in rolling contact with the active roller 12 and presses against the active roller 12 constantly. The torsion elements 30 are coaxially connected to the shaft 15, such that the first force arm 31 and the second force arm of 32 of each torsion element 30 respectively extend outward to any other places. Moreover, clamping portions 51 are disposed on the base 50 corresponding to the torsion elements 30. The first force arm 31 and the second force arm 32 of each torsion element 30 respectively press against the driven roller shaft 14 and the clamping portion 51 of the base 50.
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The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A paper feeding mechanism, comprising:
- a base having a driven roller disposed thereon the base and an active roller disposed corresponding to the driven roller, the driven roller pressing against the active roller constantly;
- a shaft disposed on the base; and
- a plurality of torsion elements coaxially connected to the shaft;
- wherein each of the torsion element has a first force arm and a second force arm respectively pressing against the rotational axial position of the driven roller and the base.
2. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of clamping portions are disposed on the base corresponding to the torsion elements to be pressed against by the torsion elements.
3. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active roller is rolled by a transmission shaft.
4. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a driven roller shaft is disposed on the base in the rotational axial direction of the driven roller and passes through the driven roller.
5. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shaft is parallel to an axial direction of the driven roller shaft.
6. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a stopper disposed in a limited position adjacent to the driven roller shaft, and when the driven roller press against the active roller, the driven roller only moves to the limited position.
7. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the retaining element and the base are integrally formed.
8. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion elements are torsion springs.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Inventors: Chun-Liang Liu (Banciao City), Jen-Chieh Liu (Danshuei Township)
Application Number: 11/878,189
International Classification: B65H 5/06 (20060101);