METHOD FOR COMMONLY USING SCANNING/PRINTING PATH OF A MULTIFUNCTION OFFICE MACHINE AND A DEVICE THEREOF
A method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device thereof. The device has a first and a second feeder slots adjacent to each other, whereby documents to be scanned and sheets to be printed can be respectively placed into the first and second feeder slots. A first restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the first feeder slot. A second restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the second feeder slot. A common pivotal member is disposed between the first and second restricting members. The common pivotal member is able to selectively drivingly abut against the first or the second restricting member. A power source serves to drive the first and second restricting members or the common pivotal member to respectively transfer the documents and the sheets for scanning and printing.
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This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/073914 filed Mar. 12, 2008. This patent application identified above is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is related to a method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device thereof. The device includes a common feeding power source which can be switched in operation direction as necessary for transferring documents to be scanned or sheets to be printed.
A conventional office machine with scanning and printing functions is generally designed with separated printing module and scanning module. The printing module and the scanning module respectively have different sheets/documents packing paths and feeding mechanisms. In fact, the parts of these two modules have the same function. Therefore, duplicate parts are used in the office machine. This leads to higher cost and is not economic. In addition, the volume of the office machine is enlarged so that the product of the office machine can be hardly minified and compacted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,890 discloses a multiple-function printer with common chassis feeder/output path mechanisms and method of operation. The printer has a common sheets/documents feeding mechanism. As shown in
1. Beside the pick roller, the documents in the automatic document feeder and the sheets in the automatic sheet feeder overlap each other (not totally separated). The pressure plate is supported by the spring to different extents so as to place the documents and sheets in the true feeding position. Then the pick roller serves to drivingly feed the documents or sheets. Accordingly, the precision of the documents/sheets feeding operation is apt to be affected due to different circumferential factors, for example, friction of the surface of the sheets, the wearing of the pick roller, elastic failure, etc.
2. As shown in the figures of the Patent, the documents in the automatic document feeder are positioned between the sheets in the automatic sheet feeder and the pick roller. Therefore, in use, in case that a great amount of documents are fed and scanned, only after all the documents are scanned and sent out, the sheets in the automatic sheet feeder can be fed and printed. Accordingly, the circuit must be inbuilt with a memory of very great capacity for memorizing the contents of the documents. As a result, the cost of the printer is increased so that the competitive ability of the product is lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a device with common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine. The scanning module and the printing module of the device are partially integrated and commonly used so as to reduce duplicated parts and lower manufacturing cost. In addition, the structure of the device is simplified to enhance the competitive ability of the product.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine. The transfer operation can be more easily selectively switched between documents and sheets and the precision in transfer operation can be ensured.
According to the above objects, the method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine of the present invention includes steps of: arranging a first feeder slot and a second feeder slot adjacent to each other for respectively accommodating documents and sheets therein; arranging a first restricting member with guiding function on one side of a document output end of the first feeder slot outside the document output end, which side is not adjacent to the second feeder slot and arranging a second restricting member with guiding function on one side of a sheet output end of the second feeder slot outside the sheet output end, which side is not adjacent to the first feeder slot; making a rotatable common pivotal member selectively abut against one of the restricting members, the common pivotal member being pivotally displaceable to selectively cooperate with the first restricting member or the second restricting member to drivingly hold the documents from the first feeder slot or the sheets from the second feeder slot; and using a power source to drive the two restricting members or the common pivotal member, with the common pivotal member abutting against the first restricting member or the second restricting member, the power source being used to drive the two restricting members or drive the common pivotal member so as to transfer and feed the held documents or the held sheets.
The device with common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine of the present invention includes: a frame at least having a first feeder slot and a second feeder slot, each of the first and second feeder slots having an opening, the first and second feeder slots being adjacent to each other and arranged side by side for respectively accommodating documents to be scanned and sheets to be printed therein, a first restricting member being arranged on one side of a document output end of the first feeder slot outside the document output end, a second restricting member being arranged on one side of a sheet output end of the second feeder slot outside the sheet output end; and a common pivotal member disposed between the first and second restricting members, the common pivotal member being controllably reciprocally displaceable between a first position and a second position to selectively abut against the first restricting member or the second restricting member so as to hold the documents in the first feeder slot or the sheets in the second feeder slot, a power source being used to rotationally drive the two restricting members or drive the common pivotal member or drive the restricting members as well as the common pivotal member so as to feed the held documents or the held sheets.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
Please refer to
S01. arranging two feeder slots adjacent to each other;
S02. arranging two restricting members;
S03. making a common pivotal member selectively abut against one of the restricting members; and
SO4. using a power source to drive the two restricting members or the common pivotal member.
As shown in
In conclusion, the present invention provides a method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device with common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine. The device is designed with common parts to simplify the structure and lower the manufacturing cost. In addition, the feeding operation can be more easily selectively switched between the documents and sheets to ensure true feeding operation.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine, comprising:
- a frame at least having a first feeder slot and a second feeder slot, each of the first and second feeder slots having an opening, the first and second feeder slots being adjacent to each other and arranged side by side for respectively accommodating documents to be scanned and sheets to be printed therein, a first restricting member being arranged on one side of a document output end of the first feeder slot outside the document output end, a second restricting member being arranged on one side of a sheet output end of the second feeder slot outside the sheet output end; and
- a common pivotal member disposed between the first and second restricting members, the common pivotal member being controllably reciprocally displaceable between a first position and a second position to selectively abut against the first restricting member or the second restricting member so as to hold the documents in the first feeder slot or the sheets in the second feeder slot, rotationally driving the two restricting members so as to feed the held documents or the held sheets, wherein the common pivoted member is pivotally connected with an end section of at least one rock arm, the other end section of the rock arm being arranged to pivot and allow the common pivoted member to move between the first and second restring members, whereby when the rock arm swings, the common pivotal member pivotally displaces to selectively abut against the first restricting member or the second restricting member.
2. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common pivotal member is drivable to forward or backward rotate, whereby in the first position or in the second position, the common pivotal member cooperates with the first restricting member or the second restricting member to feed the documents or the sheets in the same direction.
3. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common pivotal member is a roller.
4. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the common pivotal member is a roller.
5. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second restricting members are rollers.
6. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second restricting members are rollers.
7. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second restricting members are rollers.
8. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has a feeding space having an opening, a divider being disposed in the feeding space to divide the feeding space into the first feeder slot and the second feeder slot.
9. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame has a feeding space having an opening, a divider being disposed in the feeding space to divide the feeding space into the first feeder slot and the second feeder slot.
10. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame has a feeding space having an opening, a divider being disposed in the feeding space to divide the feeding space into the first feeder slot and the second feeder slot.
11. The device with a common scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame has a feeding space having an opening, a divider being disposed in the feeding space to divide the feeding space into the first feeder slot and the second feeder slot.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2012
Applicant: KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC. (Taipei)
Inventor: Ying-Chieh HUANG (Taipei)
Application Number: 13/331,595
International Classification: B65H 3/44 (20060101);