Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-03-20
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
C271S184000, C271S225000, C271S291000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203007
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for DISCHARGE MECHANISM IN DUPLEX PRINTING APPARATUS earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Dec. 16, 1997 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 69208/1997.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic duplex printing apparatus, and in particular, to a discharge mechanism for discharging sheets facedown.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses include an optical copier, a digital copier, an LBP (Laser Beam Printer) and a facsimile. Among these apparatuses, the LBP and the copier may have a duplex printing function. An apparatus having the duplex printing function is called a duplex printing apparatus. A user of the duplex printing apparatus can select one of simplex and duplex printing modes at the discretion of the user.
Of concern is the ability of an apparatus to discharge duplex printed paper so that the first side printed on comes out of the machine face down. This may require a device for inverting a sheet of paper upon discharge. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,785 to Stemmle discloses one such mechanism. It is noted that in Stemmle that a sheet diverter and two different paths are required depending on if the device is to invert a sheet or not invert a sheet of paper. U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,309 discloses a document flipper that automatically flips or inverts a sheet of paper. However, such a device does not allow for passage of a sheet of paper without inverting.
What is needed is a compact and simple device that can either invert a sheet of paper or allow a sheet of paper to pass non-inverted.
The following patents each discloses the features in common with the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,036 to Takahashi, entitled Device For Controlling Stacking Of Paper Sheets On An Intermediate Tray Of An Image Forming Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,309 to Garrison et al. entitled Document Sheet Flipper, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,785 to Stemmle, entitled Sheet Stacking Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,740 to Holtje, entitled Disk Type Inverter-Stacker With Improved Sheet Control With Automatically Repositionable Fingers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,249 to Ichikawa, entitled Paper Conveyor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,292 to Plain, entitled Sheet Stacking And Reversing Separator, U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,196 to Matsumoto, et al. entitled Imaging Apparatus Equipped with Automatic Recirculating Document Handler, and Sheet-Circulating Feeder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a discharge mechanism which is advantageous to miniaturization of a duplex printing apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a discharge mechanism capable of discharging a sheet with the side first printed on facedown.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device that can allow a sheet of paper to pass uninverted or to invert a sheet of paper upon passing.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a discharge mechanism enabling a duplex printing apparatus to match the order of pages printed by an organic photoconductive drum with the order of print pages provided from a computer.
To achieve the above object, a discharge mechanism in a duplex printing apparatus having a driving gear includes a discharge roller gear engaged with the driving gear; a pair of discharge rollers rotatable by the discharge roller gear, the discharge rollers keeping in contact with each other; a disklike support member having a shaft fixed on a same line of a shaft of the driving gear, intervening between the driving gear and the discharge rollers; a friction disk attached to the discharge roller gear, for transferring a driving force of the driving gear to the disklike support member; a compression coil spring interposed between the friction disk and the disklike support member, a shaft of a selected one of the discharge rollers passing through the compressing coil spring; and a solenoid for restricting rotation of the disklike support member when supplied with a current.
The disklike support member has a pair of opposite stoppers formed at outer circumference. Each of the stoppers has two opposite protrusions, one of which has a perpendicular outer wall, another of which has a slope.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4252309 (1981-02-01), Garrison et al.
patent: 4712785 (1987-12-01), Stemle
patent: 4890826 (1990-01-01), Rutishauser
patent: 5026036 (1991-06-01), Takahashi
patent: 5183249 (1993-02-01), Ichikawa
patent: 5537196 (1996-07-01), Matsumoto et al.
patent: 5549292 (1996-08-01), Plain
patent: 5692740 (1997-12-01), Holtje
Beauchaine Mark J
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Walsh Donald P.
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