# US 6,293,539 B1 · Rotating or pivoting apparatus and medium feeding apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,539 B1 - Document ID: US6293539B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/516,772 - Filed: 2000-03-01 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-06-02 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Kunio Fukatsu; Masao Obama; Katsumi Inoue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293539B1 ## CPC - G03G 15/6511: {Feeding devices for picking up or separation of copy sheets} - B65H 1/14: comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/0638: {Construction of the rollers or like rotary separators (B65H3/0615 takes precedence; construction of feed or guide rollers B65H27/00)} - B65H 2513/40: Movement - B65H 2515/30: Forces; Stresses - B65H 2515/50: Vibrations; Oscillations - G03G 2215/00396: Pick-up device - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A medium feeding apparatus comprises a driving motor for moving a backup plate to press a medium against a pickup roller, piezoelectric elements for sensing slippage between the pickup roller and the medium which occurs while the roller rotates, and a controller for driving the driving motor to thereby vary a force for pressing the medium against the pickup roller, when the sensing means has sensed slippage between the pickup roller and the medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotating or pivoting apparatus comprising: an inner ring rotating or pivoting when power is transmitted thereto from a driving source; an outer ring located outside the inner ring and rotating or pivoting when power is transmitted thereto from the inner ring, thereby transmitting power to a to-be-treated medium; and sensing means provided between the inner ring and the outer ring for sensing vibration of the outer ring to thereby sense slippage between the outer ring and the to-be-treated medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A rotating or pivoting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses the frequency of the vibration of the outer ring to detect the slippage from the sensed frequency. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A rotating or pivoting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are formed of cylindrical members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A rotating or pivoting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are formed of partially cut-out cylindrical members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A rotating or pivoting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer ring has an outer peripheral surface formed such that a substantially central portion is swollen in the shape of an arc. ### Claim 6 A medium feeding apparatus comprising: mounting means for mounting thereon a medium in a stacked manner; a pickup roller for picking up each of the medium while it rotates or pivots; a driving source for driving the pickup roller; and driving means for moving the mounting means to press the medium against the pickup roller; sensing means provided in the pickup roller for sensing a change in fine acceleration of the pickup roller to thereby sense slippage between the pickup roller and the medium; and control means for executing control so as to drive the driving means to thereby vary a force for pressing the medium against the pickup roller, when the sensing means has sensed slippage between the pickup roller and the medium. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A medium feeding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control means repeats the control for varying the force to press the medium against the pickup roller, until the sensing means does not sense any more slippage between the pickup roller and the medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A medium feeding apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising separating means for separating, one by one, the medium picked up by the pickup roller. ### Claim 9 A medium feeding apparatus comprising: mounting means for mounting thereon a medium in a stacked manner; a pickup roller for picking up each of the medium while it rotates or pivots; a driving source for driving the pickup roller; and driving means for moving the mounting means to press the medium against the pickup roller; sensing means provided in the pickup roller for sensing a change in fine acceleration of the pickup roller to thereby sense slippage between the pickup roller and the medium; and control means for executing control so as to drive the driving means to thereby vary a force for pressing the medium against the pickup roller, when the sensing means has sensed slippage between the pickup roller and the medium, wherein the pickup roller includes: an inner ring rotating or pivoting when power is transmitted thereto from the driving source; and an outer ring located outside the inner ring and rotating or pivoting when power is transmitted thereto from the inner ring, thereby transmitting power to the medium, and the sensing means is provided between the inner ring and the outer ring for sensing a change in fine acceleration of the outer ring to thereby sense slippage between the outer ring and the medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A medium feeding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means repeats the control for varying the force to press the medium against the pickup roller, until the sensing means does not sense any more slippage between the pickup roller and the medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A medium feeding apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising separating means for separating, one by one, the medium picked up by the pickup roller.