Link type paper tray structure

Details Link type paper tray structure Link type paper tray structure

2002-01-08

2003-11-25

Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)

Sheet feeding or delivering

Feeding

Pack holders

Reexamination Certificate

active

06651979

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a link type paper tray structure for receiving paper to be automatically conveyed.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ADF type device, such as a scanner, a printer or a photocopying machine, is provided with a paper tray in which paper can be placed. By the automatic paper feeding effect of the above-mentioned device, the paper on the paper tray may be serially sent to the scanner, printer or photocopying machine.
Referring to
FIGS. 8 and 9
, a paper tray
10
includes a base
11
for paper to be placed. The base
11
has an upper surface
12
. The upper surface
12
is provided with a first movable guide
13
and a second movable guide
14
. The second movable guide
14
may be moved relative to the first movable guide
13
.
The lower surface
15
of the base
11
is provided with a rotatable gear
16
. A first rack
17
is mounted on the lower surface
15
of the base
11
, and is combined with the first movable guide
13
to engage the gear
16
. A second rack
18
is mounted on the lower surface
15
of the base
11
, and is combined with the second movable guide
14
to engage the gear
16
. The first rack
17
and the second rack
18
respectively mesh with the opposite two sides of the gear
16
.
In use, the user has to drive either one of the first movable guide
13
and the second movable guide
14
, or to drive both of the first movable guide
13
and the second movable guide
14
, so that the first movable guide
13
and the second movable guide
14
are moved toward each other or opposite to each other, so as to adjust the width between the first movable guide
13
and the second movable guide
14
, thereby facilitating the placement of the paper (not shown) therebetween.
The adjustment action of the first movable guide
13
and the second movable guide
14
is achieved by the relative movement between the first rack
17
, the second rack
18
and the gear
16
. At this time, contact of the first rack
17
and the second rack
18
with the gear
16
will produce apparent sound due to friction, thereby creating larger noise. In addition, when the first movable guide
13
or the second movable guide
14
is driven, the contact force of the first movable guide
13
or the second movable guide
14
with the base
11
is increased, so that the driving action is not smooth, thereby causing inconvenience of operation.
In addition, the first movable guide
13
and the first rack
17
are made of plastic material. Thus, after combination, the connection position will form melted points
19
in a melted manner, so that the first movable guide
13
may be combined with the first rack
17
. Similarly, the connection position of the second movable guide
14
and the second rack
18
will form melted points
21
,
50
that the second movable guide
14
may be combined with the second rack
18
. Thus, the combined and melted manufacturing manner is more inconvenient apparently, thereby relatively increasing cost of fabrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a link type paper tray structure including at least one movable guide mounted on a base, and a link mechanism connected with the movable guide. The movable guide may be moved by operating the link mechanism. Thus, mounting of the elements may be simplified, so that the fabrication is more simpler, thereby decreasing cost of fabrication. In addition, hit or friction between the elements may be reduced, thereby reducing noise during use and facilitating operation of the user.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4174103 (1979-11-01), Back et al.
patent: 5655764 (1997-08-01), Ota et al.
patent: 5881337 (1999-03-01), Higashikawa et al.
patent: 5972702 (1999-10-01), Beier et al.
patent: 1-226652 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 6-92476 (1994-04-01), None

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