# US 8,540,232 B2 · Stopper, paper feeding device and multi-function printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,232 B2 - Document ID: US8540232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/530,078 - Filed: 2012-06-21 - Published: 2013-05-30 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-25 - Assignees: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited; Kinpo Electronics, Inc. - Applicants: Chung-Liang Huang - Inventors: Chung-Liang Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540232B2 ## CPC - B65H 3/0684: {on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile} - B65H 3/565: {for reintroducing partially separated articles in the stack} - H04N 1/00559: {Mounting or support of components or elements (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00588: {to the scanning position (H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00599: {Using specific components (details of components related to handling thin or filamentary material B65H)} - H04N 1/0062: {Removing sheets from a stack or inputting media} - B65H 2403/513: involving elongated cam, i.e. parallel to linear transport path - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A stopper, a paper feeding device including an inner and outer cases, a first and second axels, a first and second rollers, a pair of stoppers and a tray, and a multi-function printer are provided. The outer case has two side walls and two protrusions disposed on the side walls. The inner case is between the two side walls. The first axel pivots the inner case and the side walls. The first roller covers the first axel. The stoppers are disposed at outer side of the side walls, wherein each of the stoppers has a C-ring, a connecting portion and a stopping portion. Each C-ring pivoted to the first axel has a first and second ends, and the protrusions prop against to the first ends. The second axel pivots the inner case, and the second roller covers the second axel. The tray is disposed below the first roller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stopper, adapted to a paper feeding device, having a C-ring, a connecting portion and a stopping portion, the C-ring disposed around and covering an axel of the paper feeding device, the C-ring having a first end and a second end, the second end extending along a tangent direction, connected to a third end of the connecting portion and having a protrusion protruding toward the first end, the stopping portion connected to a fourth end of the connecting portion, and an included angle formed between the stopping portion and the connecting portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the stopper is plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the included angle is an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end further has a guiding surface, and the guiding surface faces the connecting portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stopper as claimed in claim 1, further having a limiting portion, wherein the limiting portion is connected to the first end of the C-ring and extending along a radial direction of the C-ring. ### Claim 6 A paper feeding device, comprising: an outer case, having a pair of side walls and a pair of limiting protrusions, wherein each limiting protrusion is correspondingly disposed at one of the pair of side walls; an inner case, located between the pair of side walls of the outer case, and each side wall is located between the inner case and the corresponding limiting protrusion; a first axel, pivoted between the inner case and the pair of side walls; a first roller, disposed around and covering the first axel and located in the inner case; a pair of stoppers, disposed at outer sides of the pair of side walls which are relatively distant from the inner case, wherein each stopper has a C-ring, a connecting portion and a stopping portion, the C-ring is disposed around and covers the first axel, the C-ring has a first end and a second end, the limiting protrusion props against the first end, the second end extends along a tangent direction and is connected to a third end of the connecting portion, the stopping portion is connected to a fourth end of the connecting portion, and an included angle is formed between the stopping portion and the connecting portion; a second axel, pivoted at the inner case, and located at a side of the inner case opposite to the first axel; a second roller, disposed around and covering the second axel, and located in the inner case; and a tray, disposed below the first roller and located in the inner case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a material of the stoppers is plastic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the included angle formed between the stopper and the connecting portion is an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first end of each stopper further has a first guiding surface, and each limiting protrusion further has a second guiding surface, and the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface prop against each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second end of each stopper further has a protrusion, and the protrusion protrudes toward the first end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each stopper further has a limiting portion, the limiting portion is connected to the first end of the C-ring and extending along a radial direction of the C-ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a clockwise direction toward the tray by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper is propped against by the corresponding limiting protrusion, the stoppers rotates along a clockwise direction from a stopping position to a paper feeding position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each limiting protrusion has a side surface, and the limiting portions of the stoppers correspondingly prop against the side surfaces, and the stoppers are restricted by the limiting protrusions and fixed at the paper feeding position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 13, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a counter clockwise direction to return to an original position by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper and the corresponding limiting protrusion release the restriction, the stoppers rotates along a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 14, wherein via dead weights of the stoppers, the stoppers rotate along with the first axel, and the limiting portions taking the first axel as a rotating center rotate along profiles of the corresponding limiting protrusions in a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a clockwise direction toward the tray by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper is propped against by the corresponding limiting protrusion, the stoppers rotates along a clockwise direction from a stopping position to a paper feeding position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each limiting protrusion has a side surface, and the first ends of the C-rings of the stoppers prop against the side surfaces, and the stoppers are restricted by the limiting protrusions and fixed at the paper feeding position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a counter clockwise direction to return to an original position by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper and the corresponding limiting protrusion release the restriction, the stoppers rotates along a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The paper feeding device as claimed in claim 18, wherein via dead weights of the stoppers, the stoppers rotate along with the first axel, and the first ends of the C-rings taking the first axel as a rotating center rotate along profiles of the corresponding limiting protrusions in a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position. ### Claim 20 A multi-function printer, comprising: a body; a paper feeding device, disposed at the body and comprising: an outer case, covering the body, having a pair of side walls and a pair of limiting protrusions, wherein each limiting protrusion is correspondingly disposed at one of the pair of side walls; an inner case, located between the pair of side walls of the outer case, and each side wall is located between the inner case and the corresponding limiting protrusion; a first axel, pivoted between the inner case and the pair of side walls; a first roller, disposed around and covering the first axel and located in the inner case; a pair of stoppers, disposed at outer sides of the pair of side walls which are relatively distant from the inner case, wherein each stopper has a C-ring, a connecting portion and a stopping portion, the C-ring is disposed around and covers the first axel, the C-ring has a first end and a second end, the limiting protrusion props against the first end, the second end extends along a tangent direction and is connected to a third end of the connecting portion, the stopping portion is connected to a fourth end of the connecting portion, and an included angle is formed between the stopping portion and the connecting portion; a second axel, pivoted at the inner case, and located at a side of the inner case opposite to the first axel; a second roller, disposed around and covering the second axel, and located in the inner case; and a tray, disposed below the first roller and located in the inner case. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein a material of the stoppers is plastic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein the included angle formed between the stopper and the connecting portion is an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first end of each stopper further has a first guiding surface, and each limiting protrusion further has a second guiding surface, and the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface prop against each other. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second end of each stopper further has a protrusion, and the protrusion protrudes toward the first end. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein each stopper further has a limiting portion, the limiting portion is connected to the first end of the C-ring and extending along a radial direction of the C-ring. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 25, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a clockwise direction toward the tray by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper is propped against by the corresponding limiting protrusion, the stoppers rotates along a clockwise direction from a stopping position to a paper feeding position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 26, wherein each limiting protrusion has a side surface, and the limiting portions of the stoppers correspondingly prop against the side surfaces, and the stoppers are restricted by the limiting protrusions and fixed at the paper feeding position. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 27, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a counter clockwise direction to return to an original position by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper and the corresponding limiting protrusion release the restriction, the stoppers rotates along a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 28, wherein via dead weights of the stoppers, the stoppers rotate along with the first axel, and the limiting portions taking the first axel as a rotating center rotate along profiles of the corresponding limiting protrusions in a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 20, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a clockwise direction toward the tray by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper is propped against by the corresponding limiting protrusion, the stoppers rotates along a clockwise direction from a stopping position to a paper feeding position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 30, wherein each limiting protrusion has a side surface, and the first ends of the C-rings of the stoppers prop against the side surfaces, and the stoppers are restricted by the limiting protrusions and fixed at the paper feeding position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 31, wherein a side of the inner case pivoted with the first axel moves along a counter clockwise direction to return to an original position by taking the second axel as a rotating center, the first end of each stopper and the corresponding limiting protrusion release the restriction, the stoppers rotate along a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position by taking the first axel as a rotating center. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The multi-function printer as claimed in claim 32, wherein via dead weights of the stoppers, the stoppers rotate along with the first axel, and the first ends of the C-rings taking the first axel as a rotating center rotate along profiles of the corresponding limiting protrusions in a counter clockwise direction from the paper feeding position to the stopping position.