Automatic document feeder capable of releasing jammed documents

Details Automatic document feeder capable of releasing jammed documents Automatic document feeder capable of releasing jammed documents

2000-11-20

2003-03-25

Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3654)

Sheet feeding or delivering

Feeding

By means to convey sheet

C074S354000, C271S264000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06536762

ABSTRACT:

This application incorporates by reference Taiwanese application Serial No. 89211856, Filed Jul. 10, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an automatic document feeder (ADF), and more particularly to an ADF capable of releasing jammed papers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Having the advantage of transmitting documents continuously, ADFs are widely used in photo-copy machines, facsimile machines, printers, and image scanners.
However, the problem of paper jam is a barrier of the development and application of ADFs. Many reasons can cause paper jam. Ceasing the document transmitting process suddenly is one of the main reasons. Some other reasons are more related to feeding improper document. For example, documents with improper thickness (too thick or too thin), moisture (documents with high moisture are too soft while documents with low moisture are too hard) or size or rugged documents often cause paper jam.
Typically, there is special design for easily removing the jammed documents in an ADF. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional ADF
100
is shown. The ADF
100
contains at least three roller sets including an ADF roller set
102
, a first feeding roller set
104
, and a second feeding roller set
106
. While the document is forwarded, it is transmitted along the transmitting directions
130
a
,
130
b
, and
130
c
and is passed through the ADF roller set
102
, the first feeding roller set
104
, and the second feeding roller set
106
sequentially. The appearance of the ADF
100
typically includes an upper cover
108
and a main body
110
. The upper cover
108
can be opened along the direction shown by the arrow
112
. The roller of the ADF roller set
102
is rotatably mounted to the upper cover
108
and the idle pulley
104
b
of the first feeding roller set
104
is also rotatably mounted to the upper cover
108
.
Therefore, the ADF roller set
102
and the first feeding roller set
104
can be easily released by opening the upper cover
108
along the direction of the arrow
112
. Consequently, the paper jammed in the ADF roller set
102
and the first feeding roller set
104
can be easily removed.
However, while the paper is jammed in the second feeding roller set
106
, it is rather hard to be removed either along the paper transmitting direction
114
or anti-paper transmitting direction
116
. Paper can be even torn up and a portion thereof is left inside the ADF
100
. Hard removing of the paper jammed in the second feeding roller set
106
is mainly caused by the damping produced by the motor
120
. Damping results from the magnetic force between the stator (not shown) made of magnet and the rotor (not shown) made of coil in the motor
120
. The magnetic force generates great resistance while the motor
120
is driven. Further more, damping produced by the motor
120
is enhanced by the speed down design of the gears of the driven machinery. So the jammed paper in the second feeding roller set
106
is hard to be removed no matter in which direction.
Another conventional ADF is as shown in FIG.
2
. The ADF in
FIG. 2
contains at least three roller sets including an ADF roller set
202
, a first feeding roller set
204
, and a second feeding roller set
206
. When the document is forwarded, it is transmitted along the transmitting directions
230
a
,
230
b
, and
230
c
and is passed through the ADF roller set
202
, the first feeding roller set
204
, and the second feeding roller set
206
sequentially. The first feeding roller set
204
and the second feeding roller set
206
are connected by a transmission belt and are driven by a motor
214
indirectly. The appearance of the ADF
200
typically includes an upper cover
208
and a main body
210
. The upper cover
208
can be opened along the direction shown by the arrow
212
. The roller of the ADF roller set
202
is rotatably mounted to the upper cover
208
and the idle pulley
204
b
of the first feeding roller set
204
is also rotatably mounted to the upper cover
208
.
Therefore, the ADF roller set
202
and the first feeding roller set
204
can be easily released by opening the upper cover
208
along the direction of the arrow
212
. Consequently, the paper jammed in the ADF roller set
202
and the first feeding roller set
204
can be easily removed.
However, while the paper is jammed in the second feeding roller set
206
, it is rather hard to be removed either along the paper transmitting direction or anti-paper transmitting direction. Paper can be even torn up and left only a portion inside the ADF
200
. Hard removing of the paper jammed in the second feeding roller set
206
is mainly caused by the damping produced by the motor
214
. Damping comes from the magnetic force between the stator formed by magnet and the rotor formed by coil in the motor
214
. The magnetic force generates large resistance while the motor
214
is driven. Further more, damping produced by the motor
214
is enhanced by the speed down design of the gears of the driven machinery. So the jammed paper in the second feeding roller set
206
is hard to be removed no matter in which direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an ADF, which has special design to prevent damping and the enhancement thereof resulted from the speed down design of the transmission mechanism.
According to the object of the invention, an ADF capable of releasing jammed documents is disclosed. The ADF achieves the object by disconnecting the transmission mechanism between the motor and the feeding roller set. As a result, the damping generated by the motor and the enhancement thereof is avoided.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an ADF capable of releasing jammed documents. The ADF capable of releasing jammed documents includes at least a feeding roller set, a motor, and a transmission mechanism connecting the feeding roller and the motor. The motor drives the feeding roller set through the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a number of transmission devices. The ADF has the following characteristics. The transmission mechanism thereof includes at least a removable device among the transmission devices. The removable device has an away status and a working status. While the removable device is in the away status, the removable device is away from the transmission mechanism and the transmission mechanism is disconnected so that jammed documents can be removed easily.
According to a further object of the invention, a disconnecting apparatus for installing in an ADF capable of releasing jammed documents is disclosed. The ADF at least includes a transmission mechanism for transmitting the second feeding roller set. The transmission mechanism includes a number of transmission devices and one of the transmission devices is a removable transmission device. The disconnecting apparatus thereof is an elastic device, such as a spring or leaf spring, and a connecting rod. The elastic device pushes the removable transmission device away from the original position from the transmission mechanism and disconnects the transmission mechanism when necessary. The connecting rod is connected to the removable transmission device at one end and connected to the ADF at the other end so that the removable transmission device is able to move backwards and forwards by the aid of the connecting rod.
The ADF further includes an upper cover and a main body. While the upper cover is opened, the elastic device pushes the removable transmission device, such as a gear, away from the transmission mechanism and therefore disconnects the transmission mechanism. The removable transmission device is then in the away status. While the upper cover is closed, the removable transmission device returns back to the original position and is mounted with the adjacent transmission devices. Thus, the transmission mechanism is recovered and is able to transmit the second feeding roller set. The removable transmission device is then in a

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