Scanning device with paper feed mechanism

Abstract

To provide a scanning device having a space for adequately feeding a book and a paper feed mechanism capable of adequately guiding even a single sheet of paper to prevent the paper from warping or tilting. [Solution] A scanning device 100 having a paper feed mechanism includes a housing 10, an accommodation space 11, a paper feed path 20 that passes through from the front end of the housing to the rear end of the housing and includes a paper feed port 23 and a paper discharge port 24, a pair of paper feed rollers housed in the accommodation space and including an upper paper feed roller 31 and a lower paper feed roller 32 that face each other vertically and contact each other, with the contact point located within the paper feed path, a paper feed stopper arm 40 that is movably and pivotally connected to the upper side of the paper feed path and has a portion lowered into the paper feed path, a paper feed tray 50 that is movably and pivotally connected to the lower side of the paper feed path, and a spring connected between the housing and the paper feed tray to lift a portion of the paper feed tray into the paper feed path.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism for a scanner, and more particularly to a paper feed mechanism provided at the paper feed port of a scanning device to feed paper into a paper feed path. [Background technology]

[0002] Please refer to Fig. 1. A conventional scanner 100' includes a housing 10', a paper feed path 20' that penetrates the housing 10', a plurality of paper feed rollers 21' that are housed in the housing 10' and that are provided along the paper feed path 20', and at least one scan light emitter 22'.

[0003] Furthermore, in order to allow conventional scanner 100' to be used for scanning not only normal paper but also books of a certain thickness, the height of paper feed opening 23' of scanner 100' is often set slightly larger than the thickness of the book. In addition, by movably providing paper feed rollers 21' on both sides of paper feed path 20', the distance between paper feed rollers 21' automatically corresponds to the thickness of the paper fed into paper feed path 20'.

[0004] However, as shown in Figure 2, although a relatively high paper feed opening 23' provides more space for the paper, it also provides less restriction to the paper, making it more likely for the paper to curl or tilt as it passes through the paper feed opening 23'. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a paper feed mechanism that has enough space to feed the book and can sufficiently guide even a single sheet of paper to prevent the paper from curling or tilting. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed mechanism that has sufficient space for feeding books and can adequately guide even a single sheet of paper to prevent the paper from curling or tilting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the scanning device having a paper feed mechanism of the present invention includes: a housing having an internal storage space; a paper feed path that penetrates from the front end of the housing to the rear end of the housing and includes a paper feed inlet and a paper discharge outlet; a pair of paper feed rollers housed in the storage space and including an upper paper feed roller and a lower paper feed roller that are opposed to each other and contact each other vertically, with the contact point located within the paper feed path; a paper feed stopper arm that is movably and pivotally connected to an upper side of the paper feed path and has a portion lowered into the paper feed path to shield the upper paper feed roller that is higher than the position of the contact point; a paper feed tray that is movably and pivotally connected to a lower side of the paper feed path; and a spring that is connected between the housing and the paper feed tray to apply an upward force to the paper feed tray and that lifts a portion of the paper feed tray into the paper feed path to shield the lower paper feed roller that is lower than the position of the contact point.

[0007] In one preferred embodiment, the paper feed roller further includes a paper feed roller mount movably disposed within the accommodating space and an elastic member connected between the paper feed roller mount and the housing, and the upper paper feed roller is pivotally mounted on the paper feed roller mount.

[0008] In one preferred embodiment, the scanning device further includes a single-sheet feed path extending at an angle downward from the top surface of the housing, and a U-shaped feed path whose ends are connected to the single-sheet feed path and the feed path, respectively, and whose connection point with the feed path is located between the feed opening and the pair of feed rollers.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment, the paper feed stopper arm includes a stopper arm shaft pivotally connected between the paper feed opening and the upper paper feed roller, a guide arm extending from the stopper arm shaft toward the contact point, and a limit arm extending upward from the stopper arm shaft.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment, the paper feed tray includes a paper feed tray body, at least one paper feed tray shaft provided on a side edge of the paper feed tray body and movably pivotally connected to the housing, and a guide slope provided on the top surface of the paper feed tray body.

[0011] In one preferred embodiment, the spring is provided as a torque spring, and is provided coaxially with the paper feed tray axis, with one end of the torque spring abutting against the paper feed tray body and the other end abutting against the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional automatic scanner. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a paper sheet is warped as it passes through a paper feed path of a conventional automatic scanner; [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a scanning device according to the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper feed mechanism of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper feed stopper arm of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper feed tray of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a thin document passes through a scanning device according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram showing a bound book passing through a scanning device in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state in which a scanned document is ejected from the scanning device in accordance with the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and examples to explain in detail the technical contents, structure and features, objectives achieved, and effects achieved by the present invention.

[0014] 3 and 4, a scanning device 100 according to the present invention includes a housing 10 having an accommodation space 11 formed therein. A paper feed path 20 is provided within the accommodation space 11. In this preferred embodiment, the paper feed path 20 includes a single-sheet feed path 21 that passes through the housing 10 from the front end to the rear end thereof, and a U-shaped paper feed path 22 that slopes downward from the top surface of the housing 10 and extends into the single-sheet feed path 21.

[0015] The single sheet feed path 21 includes a paper feed opening 23 provided at the front end of the housing 10 and a paper discharge opening 24 provided at the rear end of the housing 10, and is provided to feed single sheets of documents or books. Meanwhile, the U-shaped paper feed path 22 is connected between the single sheet feed path 21 and a continuous paper feed tray at the top of the housing 10 to allow for continuous scanning of a large number of documents. The connection point of the U-shaped paper feed path 22 with the single sheet feed path 21 is located behind the paper feed opening 23.

[0016] The pair of paper feed rollers 30 is accommodated in the accommodation space 11 and includes an upper paper feed roller 31 and a lower paper feed roller 32 that are in contact with each other while facing each other vertically. A contact point 33 of the pair of paper feed rollers 30 is provided in the paper feed path 20 and is located behind the connection point between the U-shaped paper feed path 22 and the single-sheet feed path 21. In this preferred embodiment, the scanning device 100 according to the present invention further includes a paper feed roller mount 31a movably provided in the accommodation space 11 and an elastic member (not shown) connected between the paper feed roller mount 31a and the housing 10, and the upper paper feed roller 31 is pivotally mounted on the paper feed roller mount 31a.

[0017] To strengthen the guide of the paper, the scanning device 100 according to the present invention is further provided with a paper feed stopper arm 40, which is movably pivoted above the single-sheet feed path 21 and partially lowered into the single-sheet feed path 21 to shield the upper feed roller 31, which is higher than the position of the contact point 33. The paper feed stopper arm 40 includes a stopper arm shaft 41 pivoted between the paper feed opening 23 and the upper feed roller 31, a guide arm 42 extending from the stopper arm shaft toward the contact point 33, and a limit arm 43 extending upward from the stopper arm shaft 41.

[0018] A paper feed tray 50 is movably and pivotally connected to a lower side of the single-sheet feed path 21. The paper feed tray 50 includes a paper feed tray body 52, at least one paper feed tray shaft 53 provided on a side edge of the paper feed tray body 52 and movably and pivotally connected to the housing 10, and a guide slope 54 provided on an upper surface of the paper feed tray body 52. ​​A spring 51 is connected between the housing 10 and the paper feed tray 50 to apply an upward force to the paper feed tray 50, and lifts a portion of the paper feed tray 50 into the paper feed path 20 to shield the lower paper feed roller 32, which is lower than the position of the contact point 33.

[0019] In this preferred embodiment, the spring 51 is provided as a torque spring, and is provided coaxially with the paper feed tray shaft 53. One end of the torque spring abuts against the paper feed tray main body 52, and the other end abuts against the housing 10.

[0020] 7 to 9, the operation flow when scanning different documents using the scanner of the present invention is described as follows.

[0021] First, as shown in FIG. 7, when the scanner of the present invention scans a single sheet of paper, the paper feed stopper arm 40 rotates while biased downward due to its own weight, causing the guide arm 42 to block the front of the upper paper feed roller 31.

[0022] In addition, when the paper feed tray 50 is lifted upward by the action of the spring 51, the guide slope 54 blocks the front of the lower paper feed roller 32. Therefore, when a sheet is fed from the paper feed opening 23 into the single-sheet feed path 21, the sheet is guided to the contact point 33 by the guide arm 42 and the guide slope 54, reducing the risk of the sheet being warped or tilted.

[0023] 8, when the scanner of the present invention scans a bound book, when the bound book, which has a relatively high rigidity, comes into contact with the guide arm 42 and the guide slope 54, it lifts the feed stopper arm 40 and pushes down the feed tray 50. Therefore, when a book is fed into the single sheet feed path 21 from the feed slot 23, the feed stopper arm 40 and the feed tray 50 are pushed open by the book, making it possible to scan the book.

[0024] 9, when scanning of the book is completed, the book is sent out from the paper discharge port 24, and after the book is no longer pressing against it, the paper feed stopper arm 40 rotates while biased downward again due to the action of its own weight, so that the guide arm 42 blocks the front of the upper paper feed roller 31. At the same time, the paper feed tray 50 is again lifted upward by the action of the spring 51, so that the guide slope 54 blocks the front of the lower paper feed roller 32.

[0025] In summary, the scanning device with a paper feed mechanism of the present invention includes a housing, an accommodation space, a paper feed path that penetrates from the front end of the housing to the rear end of the housing and includes a paper feed inlet and a paper discharge outlet, a pair of paper feed rollers that are accommodated in the accommodation space and include an upper paper feed roller and a lower paper feed roller that face each other vertically and contact each other, with the contact point located within the paper feed path, a paper feed stopper arm that is movably and pivotally connected to the upper side of the paper feed path and has a portion lowered into the paper feed path, a paper feed tray that is movably and pivotally connected to the lower side of the paper feed path, and a spring connected between the housing and the paper feed tray to lift a portion of the paper feed tray into the paper feed path.

[0026] In this way, the movable paper feed stopper arm and paper feed tray ensure that the paper feed path has sufficient space to feed books, and can also guide single sheets of paper to prevent them from curling or tilting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 100' scanner 10' Housing 20' Paper Path 21' Paper feed roller 22' Scan light emitter 23' Paper feed slot 100 Scanning device with paper feed mechanism 10. Housing 11 Containment Space 20 Paper feed path 21 Single sheet feed path 22 U-shaped paper feed path 20 Paper feed slot 24 Paper output slot 30 Paper feed roller pair 31 Upper paper feed roller 31a Paper feed roller mount 32 Lower feed roller 33 Contact points 40 Paper feed stopper arm 41 Stopper arm axis 42 Guide arm 43 Limit Arm 50 Paper Tray 51 Spring 51a Torque spring 52 Paper feed tray body 53 Paper feed tray shaft 54 Guide slope

Claims

1. a housing having an accommodation space formed therein; a paper feed path that passes through the housing from a front end to a rear end thereof and includes a paper feed port and a paper discharge port; a pair of paper feed rollers housed in the housing space, including an upper paper feed roller and a lower paper feed roller that are vertically opposed to each other and in contact with each other, the contact point being provided within the paper feed path; a paper feed stopper arm that is movably pivotally connected to an upper side of the paper feed path and has a portion lowered into the paper feed path so as to shield an upper paper feed roller that is higher than the position of the contact point; a paper feed tray movably and pivotally connected to a lower side of the paper feed path; a spring connected between the housing and the paper feed tray to apply an upward force to the paper feed tray, the spring lifting a portion of the paper feed tray into the paper feed path to shield a lower paper feed roller that is lower than the position of the contact point; A scanning device characterized by:

2. The paper feed roller a paper feed roller mount movably provided within the accommodation space; an elastic member coupled between the feed roller mount and the housing, the upper feed roller is pivotally mounted on the feed roller mount; 2. The scanning device according to claim 1.

3. a single sheet feed path extending downwardly at an incline from the upper surface of the housing; a U-shaped paper feed path, both ends of which are connected to the single sheet feed path and the paper feed path, and a connecting point with the paper feed path is located between the paper feed opening and the pair of paper feed rollers; 2. The scanning device according to claim 1.

4. The paper feed stopper arm is a stopper arm shaft pivotally connected between the paper feed opening and the upper paper feed roller; a guide arm extending from the stopper arm shaft toward the contact point; a limit arm extending upward from the stopper arm shaft; 2. The scanning device according to claim 1.

5. The paper feed tray is A paper feed tray body, at least one paper feed tray shaft provided on a side edge of the paper feed tray body and movably pivotally connected to the housing; a guide slope provided on the upper surface of the paper feed tray body, 2. The scanning device according to claim 1.

6. the spring is provided as a torque spring and is provided coaxially with the sheet feed tray shaft; One end of the torque spring abuts against the paper feed tray body, and the other end abuts against the housing.

6. The scanning device according to claim 5.

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