Electrophotography – Document handling – Copy
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2001-03-27
Moses, Richard (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Document handling
Copy
C399S391000, C271S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208831
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting an image forming apparatus such as an electrographic color copying machine or a color printer.
The mounting device of this type has a paper feed function, so that a plurality of types of paper sheets can be fed into an image forming apparatus (hereinafter the mounting device will be referred to as a “paper feed rack”). In some of the paper feed racks, a paper feed speed can be changed in accordance with a copying speed of the image forming apparatus, that is, a paper transfer speed.
Methods for changing the paper transfer speed include a method of exchanging a drive gear with a gear having a different number of teeth or a method of controlling a rotation number of a drive motor. Furthermore, a method is known using two electro-magnetic clutches different in the number of teeth. In this method, one of the two electromagnetic clutches is regularly connected and the other is connected at occasions when the speed is required to be changed.
However, in the method of exchanging the drive gear, a service technician has to disassemble the machine more or less. Therefore, time and labor are required.
In the method of controlling the rotation number of the drive motor, if the paper transfer speed is changed from e.g., 260 mm/sec to 400 mm/sec, the rotation number of the drive motor results in 1.5 times. It is therefore extremely difficult to change the paper transfer speed by the method using the drive motor.
Furthermore, in the method of using the electro-magnetic clutches, one of the electromagnetic clutches is always left unused, with the result that the cost increases.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for an image forming apparatus capable of changing a feed speed of a medium in a simple structure in place of exchanging a drive gear, controlling the rotation number of the drive motor, and using an electromagnetic clutch.
A mounting device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises
a mounting rack for mounting an image forming apparatus for forming an image at a predetermined speed;
feeding means provided within the mounting rack for feeding a medium into the image forming apparatus; and
changing means for changing a medium feeding speed of the feeding means in accordance with an image forming speed of the image forming apparatus,
the changing means comprising
a movable gear having coaxially-arranged large and small gear portions different in the number of teeth and rotating upon receipt of driving force; and
first and second power transmitting systems for transmitting power to the feeding means when the large and small gear portions are selectively connected by shifting the movable gear, to drive the feeding means at a different speed.
A mounting device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
a mounting rack for mounting an image forming apparatus forming an image at a predetermined speed;
feeding means provided within the mounting rack for feeding a medium into the image forming apparatus; and
changing means for changing a medium feeding speed of the feeding means in accordance with an image forming speed of the image forming apparatus,
the changing means comprising
first and second gears rotating at different speeds upon receipt of driving force; and
a movable gear for transmitting power to the feeding means by selectively engaging with the first and second gears, thereby rotating at a different speed.
A mounting device for mounting an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
a mounting rack for selectively mounting a first image forming apparatus forming an image at a first speed and having a first output gear capable of being driven and rotated at a speed corresponding to the first speed or a second image forming apparatus forming an image at a second speed, which differs from the first speed, and having a second output gear capable of being driven and rotated at a speed corresponding to the second speed;
feeding means provided within the mounting rack, for feeding a medium into the first or the second image forming apparatus;
first power transmitting means provided within the mounting rack and having a first input gear to which the first output gear is connected when the first image forming apparatus is mounted, for transmitting power to the feeding means; and
second power transmitting means provided within the mounting rack and having a second input gear to which the first output gear is connected when the second image forming apparatus is mounted, for transmitting power to the feeding means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5186449 (1993-02-01), Ohmi et al.
patent: 5255904 (1993-10-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 5602571 (1997-02-01), Suda et al.
patent: 5689760 (1997-11-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5924686 (1999-07-01), Jacobson et al.
patent: 62-36939 (1987-08-01), None
Foley & Lardner
Moses Richard
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
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