US3901427A

US3901427A - Copy paper feeder

Info

Publication number: US3901427A
Application number: US422855A
Authority: US
Inventors: Yoshiharu Namba
Original assignee: Fuji Xerox Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp
Priority date: 1972-12-27
Filing date: 1973-12-07
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26
Also published as: JPS5236699B2; JPS4990131A; GB1459409A; DE2363144A1; DE2363144C2

Abstract

Copy paper feeder for delivering from at least one roll of paper one or more selected lengths of paper utilizing a solenoid controlled gearing arrangement.

Description

United States Patent Namba Aug. 26, 1975 [54] COPY PAPER FEEDER 1,019,454 3/1912 Goodspeed 74 359 2,962,282 11/1960 Bergland 226/135 [75] Inventor: Yshlharu Namba Tokyo Japan 3,076,586 2/1963 Doyle et a1. 226/136 73 Assigneez Fuji Xerox C Ltd. Tokyo Japan 3,170,614 2/1965 Faust 1 1 226/134 3,229,880 1/1966 Arp 226/136 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1973 3,412,913 11/1968 Palter 226/135 3,506,175 4/1970 Turner 226/135 [21] APPL 422,855 3,517,872 6/1970 Chmela 226/156 3,761,000 9/1973 Hagstrom 226/152 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec 27 1972 la an 47429858 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk p Assistant ExaminerRichard K. Thomson [52] U S Cl 226/135 226/l56 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGera1d J. Ferguson, Jr.;

51 Int. Cl B6511 17/22 JSePh Bake [58] Field of Search 226/134, 135, 136, 140,

226/152, 156; 74/359 [57] ABSTRACT Copy paper feeder for delivering from at least one roll [56] References Cited of paper one or more selected lengths of paper utiliz- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing a solenoid controlled gearing arrangement. 743,067 11/1903 Evans 74/359 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure COPY PAPER FEEDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a paper feeder, and more particularly to a paper feeder which delivers selected lengths of copy paper from a roll.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Generally, in order to obtain copy paper sheets of a certain size, for example 134 size (364 mm X 257 mm), from a roll of copy paper, it is necessary to cut a 364 mm wide paper strip or web into sheets of 257 mm length each. To obtain copy sheets of a desired size from a roll of paper strip or web, there has generally been used a method in which each passage of a given length of the paper is detected by a microswitch provided on the paper pathway. Although this method has an advantage in permitting easy setting of the length of paper to be fed, it is often difficult to obtain sheets of a fixed length if the thickness and other conditions of paper vary, or if other factors occur such as variation of the actuating angle of the microswitch. Consequently, there is a tendency in prior art paper feeders for the cut sheets to be non-uniform in length and for cumulative error to be introduced in the sheet lengths.

Further, the microswitch of prior art paper feeders is delicate and not very resistant to rough treatment. Hence, it is quite susceptible to damage when removing the paper sheets jammed in the machine or in other occasions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the above-said problems, and is intended to provide an improved copy paper feeder which is capable of consistently delivering copy paper of a correct length without producing cumulative error, and which is structurally strong, and which is capable further of delivering paper sheets of two different lengths or combined lengths thereof, and which also permits easy selection of the length or lengths of paper to be delivered.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the appended claims in conjunction with the following detailed description and the attached drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE of the drawing is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENET In the drawing, spring clutches 1 and 2 are shown. The input shaft 3 of spring clutch 1 is connected to a power source (not shown) of a copy machine or the like. Mounted on input shaft 3 is an input gear Z, which engages another input gear Z mounted on the input shaft 4 of spring clutch 2 so that input shaft 4 of spring clutch 2 is rotated with rotation of input shaft 3. However, spring clutches 1 and 2 do not transmit rotation to their respective output shafts 7 and 8 unless solenoids and 6, respectively connected thereto, are excited.

Solenoids 5 and 6 are excited by electrical pulses and when they are excited, their respective magnet bars 9 and 10 are withdrawn into the respective cores of the solenoids 5 and 6, whereupon interposers 11 and 12 re spectivcly connected to bars 9 and 10 are withdrawn from lobes 13 and 14 respectively provided on spring clutches 1 and 2.

Neither of the lobes 13 and 14 has any hitch or catch on its back side, as is apparent from the depiction of lobe 14 in the drawing, so that with one excitation of solenoid 5 (or 6), the spring clutches 1 (or 2) turns 360 until it is stopped by the released interposers 11 (or 12). In other words, the spring clutches 1 and 2 can transmit rotation to their respective output shafts 7 and 8 only when interposers l1 and 12 are not holding lobes 13 and 14, respectively. The rotating force transmitted to output shafts 7 and 8 is further respectively transmitted through oneway clutches 15 and 16 to output gears Z and 2,, which are provided on the output side of clutches 15 and 16 and which engage each other. Clutches l5 and 16 permit output gears Z and Z to be rotated even when output shafts 7 or 8 are stationary.

Extending from output shaft Z is a shaft 17 which carries at its other end a gear Z which engages a gear Z mounted at an end ofa shaft 18. Also mounted along the shaft 18 are paper feed rollers 19 arranged to feed the rolled paper 20 a predetermined distance or length upon rotation of rollers 19.

In operation, when it is desired to obtain for example B4 size (364 mm X 257 mm) copy sheets, a 364 mm wide roll of paper is placed in position and then solenoid 5 is excited by an electrical pulse whereupon spring clutch 1 is turned 360 as described above, followed by a corresponding 360 turn of output shaft 7, output gear Z shaft 17 and gear Z The amount of rotation, that is, the turn angle (which usually is more than 360) of gear Z and hence shaft 18 and feed rollers 19 varies depending on the number of teeth of gears Z and Z but the length of paper 20 delivered by feed rollers 19 is determined by multiplying the circumference of each feed roller 19 by its turn angle. Therefore, if the diameter of each feed roller and the number of teeth of gears Z and Z, are so selected that the result of multiplying the circumference of each feed roller 19 by its turn angle is 257 mm, that is, the result is such that 257 mm of paper are delivered with one full or a 360 turn of gear Z it is possible to obtain desired B4 size sheets.

When it is desired to obtain A4 or 297 X 210 mm size sheets, a 297 mm wide roll of paper is placed in position and then solenoid 6 is excited by an electrical pulse. When solenoid 6 is excited, output shaft 8 of spring clutch 2 isturned 360 and transmits rotation from input gears Z and Z; to gear Z (which is also turned 360) through one-way clutch 16. Output gear Z is thus turned 360 N /N where N and N, are the numbers of teeth of output gears Z and Z respectively.

The ratio of the shorter side width of the A4 sheet to that of the B4 sheet is 210 mm 257 mm, that is, 9 l 1.01, which may practically be given as 9 l 1. Therefore, if N 1 N is set at 9 1 l, the output gear Z will turn 360 X 9/11 for every 360 turn of the output gear Z As stated hereinbefore, the diameter of feed rollers 19 and the number of teeth of gears Z and Z are so selected that when the output gear Z turns 360, the feed rollers 19 will deliver a 257 mm length of paper, which is the shorter side length of a B4 sheet. Thus, if output gear 2;, is turned 360 X 9/11, the feed rollers 19 deliver a 210 mm length of paper, which is the shorter side length of an A4 sheet.

In this way, according to the paper feeder of the present invention, it is possible to feed either B4 sheets or A4 sheets, as desired, by switching excitation of the solenoids and 6. It is also to be noted that the ratio of teeth number N of input gear Z; of spring clutch l to the teeth number N of input gear Z of spring clutch 2 is equal to the ratio of teeth number N;, of output gear Z, of clutch l to teeth number N, of output gear Z of clutch 2that is,

But as stated above Thus, if formula (2) is substituted into the formula there results:

Thus, the angular velocity of the output gear Z is equal to that of the input gear 2,.

On the other hand, when feeding B4 sheets, solenoid 5 is excited to actuate spring clutch l as described above, so the angular velocity of output gear Z becomes equal to the angular velocity w ofinput gear Z Thus, if the gear ratio of the respective engaged gears is set to satisfy the relation of the angular velocity of shaft 17 is constant no matter which type of sheets, either A4 or B4, is fed. Further, the paper delivery speed of feed rollers 19 is constant regardless of whether A4 or B4 sheets are fed.

Also, delivery of copy paper not only A4 or B4 size but also A5 or B5 size (or any other size) is possible by suitably selecting the diameters of gears Z and Z and feed rollers 19. It is also possible to alternately deliver the respective lengths for A5 sheets and A4 sheets (which are the same width but different lengths) by successively alternately actuating the solenoids 5 and 6.

Still further, although there has been described hereinbefore a mechanism in which copy paper is delivered by feed rollers at a constant speed, it will be easily understood that various delivery speeds can be obtained by suitably selecting the number of teeth of gears Z Z Z and Z For example, if input gears Z and Z have the same number of teeth and the gear ratio of output gears Z and Z is equal to the ratio of paper lengths delivered from the paper roll, it is possible to deliver two different lengths of paper in the same period of time.

As described in detail above, the copy paper feeder according to the present invention comprises a pair of spring clutches l and 2, engaged input gears Z and Z respectively mounted on spring clutches l and 2, engaged output gears Z and Z respectively mounted on output shafts 7 and 8 of the spring clutches 1 and 2, interposers 11 and 12 normally engaged with the lobes l3 and 14 of spring clutches 1 and 2, but respectively releasing engagement with the lobes upon receiving a pertinent signal, and paper feed rollers 19 connected to one of said output gears Z or Z wherein the gear ratio of said respective engaged gears is so selected that the amount of rotation of the feed rollers will vary depending on which one of said interposers 11 or 12 has released its associated lobe. Therefore, it is possible to feed sheets of two different unit lengths or the combined length thereof. For instance, the B4 sheets may be fed by placing in position a B4 type roll of paper and releasing the lobe 13 from interposer 11 or A4 sheets may be fed by placing in position a roll of A4 type paper and releasing the lobe 14 from the interposer 12. Selection of the paper length can be accomplished with ease, and since the paper length is determined by the rotational angle of spring clutch l or 2, the rotational angle is always correct and constant and thus, the paper length can always be maintained constant and hence all of the obtained copy sheets are uniform in size, with no possibility of producing any .cumulative error. Further, since no easy-to-break microswitch is used, the entire mechanism of the apparatus is structurally strong.

Numerous modifications of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing disclosure. During such a reading it will be evident that this invention provides unique copy paper feeder for accomplishing the objects and advantages hereinstated.

What is claimed is:

1. A copy paper feeder in a copying machine or the like for feeding either one of only two selected lengths of paper from a roll of said copy paper, said feeder comprising:

roller means for delivering paper from said roll, said roller means being mounted on a roller shaft so that the length of paper delivered by said roller means is a function of the turn angle that said roller shaft is rotated through;

a drive shaft;

means for rotating said drive shaft;

first rotation providing means in response to a first control signal for providing over a first path a first predetermined amount of rotation from said drive shaft to said roller shaft to deliver a first selected length of paper from said roll, said first rotation providing means including first clutch means for connecting said drive shaft to a roller shaft in re sponse to said first control signal, and first disconnecting means for causing said first clutch means to disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft, after said first amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft, said first disconnecting ler shaft after said first amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft. 3. A copy paper feeder as in claim 2 where said first disconnecting means comprises means including a first lobe having notching means 5 a first lobe having notching means provided about provided about said first clutch means and a first said first clutch means solenoid means having a first elongated interposer a first solenoid means having a first elongated interfor normally engaging said notching means to preposer for normally engaging said notching menas to vent rotation of said first clutch means and thereby prevent rotation of said first clutch means and disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft, 10 thereby disconnect said drive shaft from said roller said first solenoid means being responsive to said shaft, said first solenoid menas being responsive to first control signal for temporarily disengaging said said first control signal for temporarily disengaging first elongated interposer from said notching means said first elongated interposer from said notching to permit said first clutch means to rotate through means to permit said first clutch means to rotate said first predetermined amount of rotation until through a third predetermined amount of rotation said notching means is again engaged by said first until said notching means is again engaged by said interposer so that said first amount of rotation may first interposer so that said first amount of rotation be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said rolshaft; and ler shaft.

second rotation providing means in response to a sec- 4. A copy paper feeder as in claim 3 where said first ond control signal for providing over a second path a second predetermined amount of rotation from said drive shaft tosaid roller shaft to deliver a second selected length of paper from said roll, said second rotation providing means including a first gear connected to said drive shaft, a second gear mounted on a first auxiliary shaft, said first and second gears engaging one another, a third gear mounted on a second auxiliary shaft, a fourth gear mounted on a third auxiliary shaft, said third and fourth gears engaging one another, the ratio of the number of teeth of said fourth and third gears respectively being substantially the same as the ratio of said first selected length of paper to said second selected length of paper, second clutch means for connecting said first and second auxiliary shafts in response to said second control signal, and second disconnecting means for causing said second clutch means to disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft after said second amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft, said second disconnecting means including a second lobe having second notching means provided about said second clutch means and a second amount of rotation equals said third amount of rotation.

5. A copy paper feeder as in claim 2 where said second roation providing means includes a first gear connected to said drive shaft;

a second gear mounted on a first auxiliary shaft, said first and second gears engaging one another;

a third gear mounted on a second auxiliary shaft;

a fourth gear mounted on a third auxiliary shaft, said third and fourth gears engaging one another, the ratio of the number of teeth of said fourth and third gears respectively being substantially the same as gear mounted on said third auxiliary shaft and a sixth gear mounted on said roller shaft, said fifth and sixth gears engaging one another.

7. A copy paper feeder as in claim 5 where said second disconnecting means comprises solenoid means having a second elongated interposer for normally engaging said second notching means to prevent rotation of said second clutch means and thereby disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft, said second solenoid means being responsive to said second control signal for temporarily disengaging said second elongated interposer from said second notching means to permit said second clutch means to rotate through a fourth predetermined amount of rotation until said second notching means is again engaged by said second interposer so that said second amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft.

2. A copy paper feeder as in claim 1 where said first rotation providing means includes first clutch means for connecting said drive shaft to a roller shaft in response to said first control signal; and

first disconnecting means for causing said first clutch means to disconnect said drive shaft from said rola second lobe having second notching means provided about said second clutch means a second solenoid means having a second elongated interposer for normally engaging said second notching means to prevent rotation of said second clutch means and thereby disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft, said second solenoid means being responsive to said second control signal for temporarily disengaging said second elongated interposer from said second notching means to permit said second clutch means to rotate through a fourth predetermined amount of rotation until said second notching means is again engaged by said second interposer so that said second amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft.

Claims

1. A copy paper feeder in a copying machine or the like for feeding either one of only two selected lengths of paper from a roll of said copy paper, said feeder comprising: roller means for delivering paper from said roll, said roller means being mounted on a roller shaft so that the length of paper delivered by said roller means is a function of the turn angle that said roller shaft is rotated through; a drive shaft; means for rotating said drive shaft; first rotation providing means in response to a first control signal for providing over a first path a first predetermined amount of rotation from said drive shaft to said roller shaft to deliver a first selected length of paper from said roll, said first rotation providing means including first clutch means for connecting said drive shaft to a roller shaft in response to said first control signal, and first disconnecting means for causing said first clutch means to disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft, after said first amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft, said first disconnecting means including a first lobe having notching means provided about said first clutch means and a first solenoid means having a first elongated interposer for normally engaging said notching means to prevent rotation of said first clutch means and thereby disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft, said first solenoid means being responsive to said first control signal for temporarily disengaging said first elongated interposer from said notching means to permit said first clutch means to rotate through said first predetermined amount of rotation until said notching means is again engaged by said first interposer so that said first amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft; and second rotation providing means in response to a second control signal for providing over a second path a second predetermined amount of rotation from said drive shaft to said roller shaft to deliver a second selected length of paper from said roll, said second rotation providing mEans including a first gear connected to said drive shaft, a second gear mounted on a first auxiliary shaft, said first and second gears engaging one another, a third gear mounted on a second auxiliary shaft, a fourth gear mounted on a third auxiliary shaft, said third and fourth gears engaging one another, the ratio of the number of teeth of said fourth and third gears respectively being substantially the same as the ratio of said first selected length of paper to said second selected length of paper, second clutch means for connecting said first and second auxiliary shafts in response to said second control signal, and second disconnecting means for causing said second clutch means to disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft after said second amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft, said second disconnecting means including a second lobe having second notching means provided about said second clutch means and a second solenoid means having a second elongated interposer for normally engaging said second notching means to prevent rotation of said second clutch means and thereby disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft, said second solenoid means being responsive to said second control signal for temporarily disengaging said second elongated interposer from said second notching means to permit said second clutch means to rotate through a fourth predetermined amount of rotation until said second notching means is again engaged by said second interposer so that said second amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft.

2. A copy paper feeder as in claim 1 where said first rotation providing means includes first clutch means for connecting said drive shaft to a roller shaft in response to said first control signal; and first disconnecting means for causing said first clutch means to disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft after said first amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft.

3. A copy paper feeder as in claim 2 where said first disconnecting means comprises a first lobe having notching means provided about said first clutch means a first solenoid means having a first elongated interposer for normally engaging said notching menas to prevent rotation of said first clutch means and thereby disconnect said drive shaft from said roller shaft, said first solenoid menas being responsive to said first control signal for temporarily disengaging said first elongated interposer from said notching means to permit said first clutch means to rotate through a third predetermined amount of rotation until said notching means is again engaged by said first interposer so that said first amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft.

4. A copy paper feeder as in claim 3 where said first amount of rotation equals said third amount of rotation.

5. A copy paper feeder as in claim 2 where said second roation providing means includes a first gear connected to said drive shaft; a second gear mounted on a first auxiliary shaft, said first and second gears engaging one another; a third gear mounted on a second auxiliary shaft; a fourth gear mounted on a third auxiliary shaft, said third and fourth gears engaging one another, the ratio of the number of teeth of said fourth and third gears respectively being substantially the same as the ratio of said first selected length of paper to said second selected length of paper; second clutch means for connecting said first and second auxiliary shafts in response to said second control signal; and second disconnecting means for causing said second clutch means to disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft after said second amount of rotation has been provided to said roller shaft.

6. A copy paper feeder as in claim 5 including a fifth gear mounted on said third auxiliary shaft and a sixth Gear mounted on said roller shaft, said fifth and sixth gears engaging one another.

7. A copy paper feeder as in claim 5 where said second disconnecting means comprises a second lobe having second notching means provided about said second clutch means a second solenoid means having a second elongated interposer for normally engaging said second notching means to prevent rotation of said second clutch means and thereby disconnect said first auxiliary shaft from said second auxiliary shaft, said second solenoid means being responsive to said second control signal for temporarily disengaging said second elongated interposer from said second notching means to permit said second clutch means to rotate through a fourth predetermined amount of rotation until said second notching means is again engaged by said second interposer so that said second amount of rotation may be transmitted from said drive shaft to said roller shaft.