Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – With means to align sheet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-19
2001-10-09
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
With means to align sheet
C271S239000, C271S272000, C271S264000, C271S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299161
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the class of devices for performing electrophotography, and more particularly to an apparatus for guiding a paper in a printer from the transfer device to the fixing unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, in an image forming device which utilizes electrophotography, such as a printer, a copier, or a combined office automatic instrument, an apparatus is provided for guiding the paper as the paper is introduced into the fixing device after passing through the transferring device, while preserving the surface of the paper on which image is formed. In one example of an apparatus for guiding a paper, the transferring drum is on top in the transferring unit, and the paper is fed horizontally to the fixing device with the image on the upper surface of the paper. A guide wheel having an asterisk cross-section contacts the upper side of the paper to guide it to the fixing device. The friction of the guide wheel with the image side of the paper can, however, lead to damage to the surface of the paper containing the image.
In a second example of an apparatus for guiding a paper, the transferring drum is on the bottom in the transferring unit, and the paper is fed horizontally to the fixing device with the image on the lower surface of the paper. A guide wheel having an asterisk cross-section contacts the lower surface of the paper to guide it to the fixing device. Again, the friction of the guide wheel with the image side of the paper can lead to damage to the surface of the paper containing the image.
In a third example of an apparatus for guiding a paper, an electrostatic device is mounted in the printer or copier facing the surface of the paper on the opposite side from where the image is formed, so as to keep the paper from hanging down. However, the electrostatic device has a complicated structure, resulting in increasing cost of manufacturing the printer or the copier having this electrostatic device.
Based on my observation of the art, I have found that what is needed is an apparatus for guiding a paper from the transferring drum to the fixing unit which does not involve contact with the surface of the paper where the image to be fixed is formed. This apparatus for guiding a paper is mechanically simple and inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved paper guide for a printer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper guide for a printer which does not require use of a guide wheel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paper guide for a printer which does not damage the image to be fixed.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a paper guide for a printer which does not contact the surface of the paper containing the image to be fixed.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a paper guide which is simple in operation.
It is a still yet further object of the present invention to provide a paper guide which is inexpensive to make.
The present invention has been made to overcome the above described problems of conventional printers and provides an apparatus for guiding a paper for printing, which is capable of guiding the paper without damage to the surface on which an image is formed. To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a guiding apparatus comprising a pair of guide arms for guiding a paper which is carried from a transferring device to a fixing device, in which the guide arms are mounted between the transferring device and the fixing device and spaced roughly at a width of a paper from each other so as to be in contact with non-image portions of a surface of the paper on which an image is formed and to guide the paper. Preferably, these portions are both side edges of the surface on which the image is formed.
The guide arm includes a bracket fixed to a guide wall which is positioned over a passageway of the paper, a connecting section extended from the bracket to the surface of the paper on which the image is formed, and paper support extending from the connecting section to the edges of the surface of the paper on which the image is formed, so that the paper support is in contact with the edges of the surface.
The guide arms respectively have a plurality of the paper supports formed in parallel to each other and the paper supports have a knife edge shape to minimize the contact with the surface of the paper on which the image is formed. The paper supports preferably have an edge curved to be in correspond with the paper path, the edge being in contact with the surface of the paper on which the image is formed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4131358 (1978-12-01), Windele
patent: 4629177 (1986-12-01), Roddeman et al.
patent: 4772907 (1988-09-01), Marson
patent: 5534902 (1996-07-01), Hoesly
patent: 5927877 (1999-07-01), Kelly et al.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Miller Jonathan R.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Walsh Donald P.
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