Paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus and method of feeding a sheet of paper into a feeding apparatus

Abstract

A paper-flattening device includes a stationary seat unit to be mounted adjacent to a paper-supporting tray of a feeding apparatus, a spindle member disposed rotatably in the stationary seat unit, an arm member fixed on the spindle member for co-rotation therewith, and a cam unit disposed between and coupling the seat unit and the spindle member in such a manner that rotation of the spindle member in first and second directions results in movement of the spindle member together with the arm member to upper and lower positions. When at the lower position, the arm member slidably contact the paper in the tray to prevent curling and folding of the paper.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus that includes a paper-supporting tray, a roller shaft, and a feed-in roller mounted on the roller shaft above the paper-supporting tray for feeding sheets of paper into the feeding apparatus, the paper-flattening device comprising: 
 a stationary seat unit adapted to be mounted on the feeding apparatus adjacent to the paper-supporting tray;    a spindle member disposed rotatably in said stationary seat unit, and having a top end projecting upwardly from said stationary seat unit;    an arm member fixed on said top end of said spindle member for co-rotation therewith, projecting transversely from said spindle member, said arm member being adapted to extend over the paper-supporting tray so as to unfold the paper; and    a cam unit disposed between and coupling said seat unit and said spindle member in such a manner that rotation of said spindle member in a first direction results in movement of said spindle member together with said arm member to an upper position, in which said arm member is moved away from the paper, and that rotation of said spindle member in a second direction opposite to said first direction results in movement of said spindle member together with said arm member to a lower position, in which said arm member is moved toward the paper.    
     
     
         2 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said cam unit includes a cam in the form of a protrusion mounted on an upper surface of one of said spindle member and said stationary seat unit, and a helical groove formed on an outer surface of the other one of said spindle member and said stationary seat unit, said protrusion slidably engaging said helical groove.  
     
     
         3 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a driven shaft that engages and drives said spindle member to rotate in said first and second directions upon being driven.  
     
     
         4 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 3  further comprising a transmission unit connected between said driven shaft and said feed-in roller.  
     
     
         5 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said transmission unit includes a bevel gear co-axially fixed on said driven shaft, a driving pinion adapted to be mounted on the roller shaft, a driven gear meshed with said bevel gear, a first transmission gear co-axially associated with said driven gear, and a second transmission gear disposed between meshing with said first transmission gear and said driving pinion.  
     
     
         6 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said transmission unit that includes a bevel gear co-axially fixed on said driven shaft, a driving pinion adapted to be mounted on the roller shaft, a driven gear meshed with said bevel gear, a transmission gear co-axially associated with said driven gear, and a toothed belt trained on said transmission gear and said driving pinion.  
     
     
         7 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 6  further comprising a motor adapted to drive the roller shaft, a sensor connected electrically to said motor to provide a first signal to cause said motor to rotate in a third direction, and a second signal to cause said motor to rotate in a fourth direction opposite to said third direction, wherein said first signal is produced upon sensing presence of and approach of the paper toward the feed-in roller, and said second signal is produced upon sensing finishing of paper feeding operation and absence of the paper in the paper-supporting tray.  
     
     
         8 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said stationary seat unit includes a pair of tubular seats adapted to be mounted respectively on two opposite sides of the paper-supporting tray, said spindle member including a pair of spindles disposed rotatably and respectively in said tubular seats, said arm member including a pair of arms fixed respectively to top ends of said spindles.  
     
     
         9 . The paper-flattening device for a feeding apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said spindles has an inner surface formed with a pair of axially extending grooves, said driven shaft having two diametrically disposed engaging tongues engaging respectively said grooves in a respective one of said spindles so as to co-rotate therewith.  
     
     
         10 . A method of feeding a sheet of paper into a feeding apparatus that includes a paper-supporting tray, a roller shaft, and a feed-in roller mounted on the roller shaft above the paper-supporting tray for feeding sheets of paper into the feeding apparatus, the method comprising: 
 placing the paper onto the paper-supporting tray; and    flattening the paper by the use of a paper-flattening device that includes: 
 a stationary seat unit adapted to be mounted on the feeding apparatus adjacent to the paper-supporting tray,  
 a spindle member disposed rotatably in said stationary seat unit, and having a top end projecting upwardly from said stationary seat unit,  
 an arm member fixed on said top end of said spindle member for co-rotation therewith, projecting transversely from said spindle member, said arm member being adapted to extend over the paper-supporting tray so as to unfold the paper, and  
 a cam unit disposed between and coupling said seat unit and said spindle member in such a manner that rotation of said spindle member in a first direction results in movement of said spindle member together with said arm member to an upper position, in which said arm member is moved away from the paper, and that rotation of said spindle member in a second direction opposite to said first direction results in movement of said spindle member together with said arm member to a lower position, in which said arm member is moved toward the paper.  
   
     
     
         11 . A method of feeding a sheet of paper into a feeding apparatus including a paper-supporting tray, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the paper onto the paper-supporting tray; and    flattening the paper on the paper-supporting tray.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising one step of: sensing the paper on the paper-supporting tray after the step of placing the paper onto the paper-supporting tray.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the feeding apparatus further comprises a paper-flattening device for flattening the paper.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the paper moves toward a feeding mouth of the feeding apparatus, and the method further comprising one step of: flattening the paper prior to arriving at the feeding mouth of the feeding apparatus.