Automatic sheet feeder with retractable sheet supporting structure

Abstract

An automatic sheet feeder includes a body, a sheet-feeding mechanism and a sheet supporting structure. The body has a sheet passageway which has an input end and an output end. The sheet-feeding mechanism disposed in the body feeds a sheet from the input end into the sheet passageway and then discharges the sheet out of the output end. The sheet supporting structure, disposed at one of the input end and the output end and pivotally connected to the body, supports the sheet to be fed into the input end or the sheet to be discharged from the output end. The sheet supporting structure is rotatable relatively to the body and can be thus spread out or retracted relatively to the body.

1 . An automatic sheet feeder, comprising:
 a body having a sheet passageway, wherein the sheet passageway has an input end and an output end;   a sheet-feeding mechanism, disposed in the body, for feeding a sheet from the input end into the sheet passageway and then discharging the sheet out of the output end; and   a sheet supporting structure, disposed at one of the input end and the output end and pivotally connected to the body, for supporting the sheet to be fed into the input end or the sheet to be discharged from the output end, wherein the sheet supporting structure is rotatable relatively to the body so that the sheet supporting structure can be spread out or retracted relatively to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure is pivotally connected to two lateral sides of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure has a platen for supporting the sheet, and the platen of the sheet supporting structure is connected to the sheet passageway when the sheet supporting structure is spread out. 
     
     
         4 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has a concavity, and the sheet supporting structure is retracted into the concavity. 
     
     
         5 . The feeder according to  claim 4 , wherein when the sheet supporting structure is retracted into the concavity, a top surface of the sheet supporting structure and a top surface of the body lie at the same level of height. 
     
     
         6 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power source, wherein the sheet-feeding mechanism comprises a plurality of rollers and the power source drives the rollers. 
     
     
         7 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image reading module, disposed in the body, for reading an image on the sheet transported through the sheet passageway.   
     
     
         8 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a printing module, disposed in the body, for printing data on the sheet.   
     
     
         9 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure has a platen, and the platen has a plurality of ribs spaced from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure has a platen, and the platen has a plurality of ribs crossing one another. 
     
     
         11 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure is disposed at the input end, and the feeder further comprises:
 a second sheet supporting structure, disposed at the output end and pivotally connected to the body, for supporting the sheet discharged from the output end, wherein the second sheet supporting structure is rotatable relatively to the body so that the second sheet supporting structure can be spread out or retracted relatively to the body.   
     
     
         12 . The feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet supporting structure is disposed at the input end, the body further comprises a discharge tray accommodating portion, and the feeder further comprises:
 a discharge tray, mounted on the body, for supporting the sheet to be discharged out of the output end, wherein the discharge tray is retractable into the discharge tray accommodating portion.