US 5,954,326 A · Three state shifting device for multi-function office equipment

Abstract

A multi-function sheet handling system including an automatic document feeder (ADF) for automatically feeding sheets of a document held in an ADF input tray. An ADF pick roller selectively picks a sheet of the document and advances the picked sheet along an ADF path. The system includes an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) for automatically feeding sheets of a print media held in an ASF input tray. An ASF pick roller selectively picks a sheet from the ASF input tray and advances the picked sheet along an ASF path. The system further includes an ADF gear for driving the ADF roller, an ASF gear for driving the ASF roller, and a motor drive including a gear train, the motor drive including a stepper motor or other motor with position control. A three-state shifting device couples the motor drive gear train to the ADF and the ASF gears. The shifting device has a neutral state wherein neither the ADF gear nor the ASF gear is driven, an ADF state wherein only the ADF gear is driven, and an ASF state wherein only the ASF gear is driven. The shifting device includes a cam swing arm having a plurality of cam surfaces, and a ratcheting cam follower. The shifting device is shifted from one state to another by operation of the motor in a sequence of reverse and/or forward motor drive operations.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A multi-function sheet handling system, comprising:

a first sheet feeder for feeding sheets of a document held in a first input source, the first sheet feeder including a first pick roller for selectively picking a sheet of the document and advancing the picked sheet along a first path;
a second sheet feeder for feeding sheets of a print media held in a second input source, the second sheet feeder including a second pick roller for selectively picking a sheet from the second input source and advancing the picked sheet along a second path;
a first gear for driving said first pick roller;
a second gear for driving said second pick roller;
a motor drive including a motor and a gear train;
a three-state shifting device coupling the motor drive gear train to said first and said second gears, said shifting device having a neutral state wherein neither said first gear nor said second gear is driven, a first gear drive state wherein only said first gear is driven, and a second gear drive state wherein only said second gear is driven, said device including a cam swing arm having a plurality of cam surfaces, and a ratcheting cam follower, and wherein said shifting device is shifted from one state to another by operation of said motor in a sequence of reverse and/or forward motor drive operations and without the use of a solenoid to actively drive said cam swing arm.

3 more elements

A method for handling sheets in a multi-function sheet handling system, comprising the steps of:

providing a first supply of sheets in a first input source;
providing a first pick roller for selectively picking a sheet in the first input supply and advancing the picked sheet along a first path;
providing a second supply of sheets in a second input source;
providing a second pick roller for selectively picking a sheet from the second input source and advancing the picked sheet along a second path;
providing a first gear for driving said first pick roller, a second gear for driving said second pick roller, and a motor drive including a motor and a gear train;
providing a three-state shifting device coupling the motor drive gear train to said first and said second gears, said shifting device having a neutral state wherein neither said first gear nor said second gear is driven, a first gear drive state wherein only said first gear is driven, and a second gear drive state wherein only said second gear is driven, said device including a cam swing arm having a plurality of cam surfaces, and a ratcheting cam follower;
operating said motor in a sequence of reverse and/or forward motor drive operations to shift the shifting device from one state to another and without the use of a solenoid to actively drive said cam swing arm.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Three state shifting device for multi-function office equipment

Life of this patent

Three state shifting device for multi-function office equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21