Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Document handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2001-09-18
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Document handling
C271S010030, C271S265020, C399S023000, C400S708000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a paper detecting apparatus of an electrophotographic processor which saves product cost by enabling total sensing of paper loading and paper transporting in a paper cassette with one sensor.
2. Prior Art
Generally, electrophotographic processors, such as printers, facsimiles, and photocopiers, which use normal recording paper, are provided with a paper supply cassette
110
(
FIG. 1
) which is provided with a paper support
112
, one side thereof being resiliently supported by a compressed coil spring
111
, and a finger (not shown) which separates paper into single sheets.
The topmost paper among the paper loaded on the paper support
112
is picked up by the frictional force of a pick-up roller
120
, and the paper picked up is transported to the developer
140
by a transport roller
130
and numerous idle rollers
131
-
133
, and while the paper is passing through the developer, an image is produced by a photosensitive drum
141
, picture convey roller
142
, and laser scanning unit
150
.
Then, toner is fixated by a heating roller
161
and a compression roller
162
and the image is completely produced on the paper, and the paper with the image produced thereon is ejected to the outside by being passed through a transport roller
170
and a paper ejection roller
180
.
The paper usually starts off at point A and is ejected at point D. However, if the cover
190
is open, the paper does not pass through the paper ejection roller
180
and instead starts at point A and is ejected at point C.
On the other hand, in an electrophotographic processor, independently from the automatic paper transporting structure composed as the above, a paper tray (not shown) installed in a removable manner and used for manual paper supply may be employed.
Therefore, during manual paper supply, the paper is supplied at point B and is ejected at point C or D.
The path between the transport roller
130
and the other transport roller
170
is a shared paper transport path.
In addition, in an electrophotographic processor, there are provided various sensors for sensing respective sections, and an exemplary sensor among these sensors is the paper detecting apparatus. As the paper detecting apparatus, there are the sensor for sensing whether paper has been loaded within the paper cassette, and the sensor for sensing the paper transport state.
Here, the sensor for sensing the paper loading senses whether there is paper loaded on the paper support and outputs this data to a controller with a predetermined signal, and if it is determined that there is no paper loaded, the controller outputs error and warning messages so that the user may provide paper.
The sensor for sensing paper transport state senses whether the picked up paper has reached the printing location and senses the initiation time (position) of printing, and if the picked up paper is unable to reach the sensor location within a certain amount of time after paper pickup, it recognizes this as JAM
0
, and if the picked up paper is unable to pass through the sensor location within a certain amount of time, it also recognizes this as JAM
1
.
However, according to the conventional paper detecting apparatus composed as the above, because the sensor for sensing paper loading and the sensor for sensing paper transport state are provided separately, there is an undesirable problem in the aspect of economic inefficiency of the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is disclosed to resolve the above mentioned problems, wherein the object thereof is to provide a paper detecting apparatus of an electrophotographic processor which enables product cost reduction by sensing whether the paper is loaded within the paper cassette and the paper transport state with only one sensor required.
To achieve the object, the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a first actuator in which one end thereof is hinged to a hinge section to produce a displacement depending on whether the paper loaded on the paper support is loaded or not; an L shaped second actuator in which the center thereof is hinged to the hinge section to produce a displacement depending on the paper transport state; a sensing section which outputs different signals according to the abutment state with the end of the second actuator; an elastic section which controls the abutment state of the sensing section and the second actuator according to the paper loading state, and which connects the first actuator and the second actuator such that the abutment between the end of the second actuator and the sensing section is released during paper transport; a timer which measures the time periods of the signals inputted from the sensing section; and a control unit which determines paper loading state and paper transport state according to the output value of the timer and the sensing section.
According to a preferable feature of this invention, the sensing section is at an off position at normal times, and is provided with an aperture into which one end of the first actuator is inserted when paper is not loaded in the paper support.
According to another preferable feature of this invention, the control unit senses paper according to the steps of: determining paper loading state by checking whether the sensor switch is on or not; determining whether a print command has been inputted or not; picking up the paper; counting a first set time; determining JAM
0
by checking whether the sensor switch is off or not; counting a second set time; and indicating JAM
1
or a paper supply message by checking whether the sensor switch is on or not.
Alternatively, the timer and control unit may be embodied through the controller of the electrophotographic processor.
The paper detecting apparatus having these features according to the present invention inter-actuates the second actuator for turning the switch on and off with the first actuator to which displacement is produced depending on paper loading in the paper cassette and produces a displacement of the second actuator depending on the actuation of the first actuator, and also produces a displacement of the second actuator depending on the paper transport and thereby is able to sense both the paper loading state within the paper cassette and the paper transport state within the electrophotographic processor according to the on/off state of the switch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5897112 (1999-04-01), Kwag
patent: 6152631 (2000-11-01), Park
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Chen Sophia S.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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