Feeding sheets into a photocopier
A simplified sheet sensor and registration gate for feeding print media sheets from a stack loaded by a user into a receptacle on a photocopier. The gate is pivoted on the mechanism and has a flag attached; and, upon user loading of sheets into the receptacle, the gate is pivoted against a locking arm and the flag is moved to actuate an optic sensor that sheets have been loaded. The locking arm is pivoted on the nudger roll arm and unlocks the gate when the nudger roll is moved down to contact the top sheet in the stack. When the sheet receptacle is unloaded, the gate is pivoted by gravity to the downward position and the locking arm pivots by gravity to reset. If the nudger is raised for sheet jam clearance, the locking arm is pivoted to clear the gate, allowing the gate to drop. The locking resets by gravity.
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The present disclosure relates to the operation of feeding print media sheets into a photocopier and particularly to such copiers employing a tray or receptacle into which the user loads a stack of sheets to be subsequently automatically fed serially into the photocopier for completion of a desired number of printed copies. In effecting such operations, it is necessary to sense the presence of the print media sheets when loaded in the receptacle by the user and to register the leading edge of the sheets in a stack such that the top sheet of the stack can be correctly positioned for feeding into the copier at a precise location for receiving an image printed thereon.
Heretofore, the detection of the presence of the print media sheets has been accomplished by optical sensors or interrupt sensors activated by flags or indicators physically moved by the media sheets when loaded into the receptacle or tray.
Registration of the leading edge of the media sheet stack has heretofore been accomplished by a vertical wall and lift gate provided to guide the sheets over the wall when feeding. One known technique for enabling feeding of the sheets employs a solenoid for activating a plurality of fingers that pivot out of the paper path to permit feeding. In such arrangements, the fingers are pivoted from above the stack and are prevented from rotation until the sheet nudger is lowered onto the stack for feeding.
This arrangement for sensing, registration and initiating of feeding of sheets from the stack into a photocopier has required the use of costly sensors and mechanisms for registration and feeding of the sheets into the copier. Thus, it has been desired to provide a simplified and less costly construction for a photocopier sheet stack registration and feeding apparatus which provides sufficient locational accuracy for the print media sheets to provide for proper advancement and location of the sheets in the copier to receive an image printed thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThe apparatus and method of the present disclosure address the above described problem and provide guides on a media sheet tray which are movable for providing lateral sheet registration in the stack to thereby centrally position the sheet stack for subsequent feeding. For feed registration, the user pushes the stack forward such that the leading edge which contacts a registration gate which undergoes a limited movement until making with a stop and subsequently providing a registration surface for the leading edge of the sheets in the stack. The limited movement of the gate between first contact by the leading edge of the sheets in the stack and the gate contacting the stop effects the movement of a flag or indicator away from an optical interrupt sensor which provides a signal to the copier controller that the media sheets are present in the tray or receptacle. Upon receipt of the “sheets present” signal, the machine controller then effects lowering of the nudger into contact with the top sheet in the stack. The lowering of the nudger releases the stop for the registration gate; and, upon activation of the nudger, the movement of the leading edge of the top sheet effects pivoting of the gate upwardly and out of the way to permit feeding of the sheet by the nudger into the copier feeding mechanism.
When the last sheet in the stack has been fed into the copier, the registration gate returns under the force of gravity to its original position. The nudger is then raised to its upward or original position which effects locking of the gate stop for subsequent loading of media sheets for the next job.
In the event that there is a paper jam, upon raising of the nudger for clearance, the gate stop is permitted to pivot under the registration gate permitting the gate to return under gravity to its original position; and, the pivoting lock is further rotated under gravitational force to its original position and is, thus, reset.
The present disclosure describes apparatus and method for economically and simply controlling the sensing and registration of print media sheets in a stack when loaded into the receptacle of a photocopier for commencing a printing job.
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The nudger arm 28 has attached thereto an axle about which is pivoted a nudger roll 32 which is driven by a gear 34 engaged by idler gear 36 which is driven by gear 38 on the feeder roll 30. The feeder roll is powered separately by a motor controlled by the electronic controller (not shown) for the copier. Referring to
The gate 24 is shown in
A locking arm 44 is pivotally mounted about pin 46 on the nudger arm 28; and, the arm 44 has a finger portion 48 disposed on one side of the pivot for engagement by the gate arm locking portion 50. The end of the arm 44 opposite the locking portion 48 has a notch 52 provided thereon which contacts a stop pin 54 provided on the nudger arm.
With the gate 24 in the fully downward position shown in
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The method and apparatus of the present disclosure thus provides a media sheet stack registration and feeding operation with a reduced number of parts for the mechanism and combines in the gate the function of sensing the presence of the print media sheets in the stack by the leading edge thereof and the registration of the stack. The gate moves from an initial position to a locked position; and, upon lowering of the nudger arm for powering the nudger roll, the gate lock is released and feeding of the sheets effects movement of the gate to an upward position permitting advancing of the sheets to the feeder rolls. In the event of a paper jam, raising of the nudger roll permits the gate lock to move to a reset position under the force of gravity and the gate itself returns to a closed position under the force of gravity. Upon re-lowering of the nudger arm for continuing the print job, the gate locking mechanism is effective upon the gate sensing the presence of print media sheets in the stack.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A sheet feeding mechanism for a photocopier comprising:
- (a) a sheet stack receptacle for user loading a supply of print media with guides for directing sheet feed;
- (b) a registration gate disposed to be contacted by the leading edge of the sheets to be fed and movable between an open and closed position, the gate moveably responsive upon the sheets contacting the gate to effect a sheet position signal;
- (c) a sensor operable to detect the sheet position signal and provide an output signal;
- (d) a releasable stop operable to maintain the gate in a closed position upon contact thereby; and,
- (e) a sheet nudger moveable between a first position contacting a sheet from a stack to be fed and a second position away from the stack, wherein movement of the nudger to the first position effects release of the stop thereby allowing a sheet, upon urging of the nudger, to effect opening of the gate and upon energization of the nudger permitting sheet movement for feeding into the copier.
2. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the gate is mounted on the mechanism for pivotal movement.
3. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the gate includes a flag moveable therewith for effecting the signal.
4. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an electro-optic device;
5. The mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein upon completion of sheet feeding from the stack, the gate is moved from the open position under the force of gravity to the closed position.
6. A method of loading print media sheets from a receptacle into a feeder mechanism comprising:
- (a) disposing a moveable gate between the sheets and the feeder mechanism, and releasably locking the gate in a closed sheet registering position;
- (b) sensing movement of the gate and generating a control signal;
- (c) moving a nudger into a sheet contacting position in response to the control signal and relieving the gate lock; and,
- (d) energizing the nudger and moving a sheet for effecting movement of the gate to an open position.
7. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising, when the receptacle is unloaded, moving the nudger to an away position and permitting the gate to close under the force of gravity.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of sensing movement of the gate includes disposing a flag with the gate and sensing movement of the flag.
9. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of sensing movement of the gate includes electro-optically sensing movement of a flag on the gate.
10. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of locking the gate includes moving a stop member upon movement of the nudger to a position away from the sheets.
11. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of releasably locking the gate in closed position includes moving the gate under the force of gravity to an initial position upon unloading of the receptacle and moving a locking member under the force of gravity.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 4, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges (London), Roy Norman Gladwin (Aylesbury)
Application Number: 11/732,643
International Classification: B65H 5/00 (20060101);