Sheet inputting mechanism with stopper and automatic sheet feeder using the same

Abstract

A sheet inputting mechanism includes a first body, a first roller, a second body, a second roller and a stopper. The first roller is mounted on the first body. The second body is rotatably connected to the first body. The second roller is mounted on the second body. The stopper rotatably mounted on the first body is directly driven by the second body. When the second body is rotated to a first state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to a closing state relatively to the first body to prevent a sheet from being moved to a sheet input position. When the second body is rotated to a second state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to an open state relatively to the first body to allow the sheet to be moved to the sheet input position and in contact with the first roller.

1 . A sheet inputting mechanism, comprising:
 a first body;   a first roller mounted on the first body;   a second body rotatably connected to the first body;   a second roller mounted on the second body; and   a stopper rotatably mounted on the first body and directly driven by the second body, wherein:   when the second body is rotated to a first state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to a closing state to prevent a sheet from being moved to a sheet input position; and   when the second body is rotated to a second state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to an open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the sheet input position and to be in contact with the first roller.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises an external frame for mounting the first roller and a middle frame for mounting the stopper, and the second body comprises a frame for mounting the second roller. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein a stopper guide hole for receiving and abutting one end of the stopper is provided in the second body, wherein a surface of the stopper guide hole abuts the one end of the stopper and drives the stopper to rotate as the second body is rotated relative to the first body. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the stopper comprises a sheet stopping portion and a force receiving portion, and the stopper guide hole receives and abuts the force receiving portion, wherein:
 the force receiving portion is moved by the surface of the stopper guide hole to a first position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a restricting position and enters the closing state, and the sheet stopping portion stops the sheet from being moved to the sheet input position; and   the force receiving portion is moved by the surface of the stopper guide hole to a second position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a retracted position and enters the open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the sheet input position and to be in contact with the first roller.   
     
     
         5 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein a supporting shaft for abutting one end of the stopper is provided in the second body, wherein the supporting shaft abuts the one end of the stopper and drives the stopper to rotate as the second body is rotated relative to the first body. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the supporting shaft is mounted on two extending arms of the second body. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the stopper comprises a sheet stopping portion and a force receiving portion, and the supporting shaft abuts the force receiving portion, wherein:
 the force receiving portion is moved by the supporting shaft to a first position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a restricting position and enters the closing state, and the sheet stopping portion stops the sheet from being moved to the sheet input position; and   the force receiving portion is moved by the supporting shaft to a second position such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a retracted position and enters the open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the sheet input position and to be in contact with the first roller.   
     
     
         8 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first roller comprises a first roller portion and a second roller portion disposed separately from each other, and the stopper is disposed between the first roller portion and the second roller portion. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a guiding structure disposed on the first body and the second body to facilitate the relative movement between the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         10 . An automatic sheet feeder, comprising:
 a supply tray for storing a sheet;   a sheet passageway connected to the supply tray;   a sheet inputting mechanism for feeding the sheet into the sheet passageway; and   a transporting mechanism for transporting the sheet through and out of the sheet passageway;   wherein the sheet inputting mechanism comprises:   a first body;   a first roller mounted on the first body and disposed at an inlet of the sheet passageway;   a second body rotatably connected to the first body;   a second roller mounted on the second body; and   a stopper rotatably mounted on the first body, directly driven by the second body, and disposed between the inlet of the sheet passageway and the supply tray, wherein:   when the second body is rotated to a first state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to a closing state to prevent the sheet from being moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway; and   when the second body is rotated to a second state relatively to the first body, the stopper is rotated to an open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway.   
     
     
         11 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a friction pad disposed at the inlet and may be in frictional contact with the first roller.   
     
     
         12 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a scanning module, disposed opposite a scan region of the sheet passageway, for acquiring an image of the sheet being transported past the scan region.   
     
     
         13 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the first body comprises an external frame for mounting the first roller and a middle frame for mounting the stopper, and the second body comprises a frame for mounting the second roller. 
     
     
         14 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein a stopper guide hole for receiving and abutting one end of the stopper is provided in the second body, wherein a surface of the stopper guide hole abuts the one end of the stopper and drives the stopper to rotate as the second body is rotated relative to the first body. 
     
     
         15 . The feeder according to  claim 14 , wherein the stopper comprises a sheet stopping portion and a force receiving portion, and the stopper guide hole receives and abuts the force receiving portion, wherein:
 the force receiving portion is moved by the surface of the stopper guide hole to a first position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a restricting position and enters the closing state, and the sheet stopping portion stops the sheet from being moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway; and   the force receiving portion is moved by the surface of the stopper guide hole to a second position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a retracted position and enters the open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway.   
     
     
         16 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the a supporting shaft for abutting one end of the stopper is provided in the second body, wherein the supporting shaft abuts the one end of the stopper and drives the stopper to rotate as the second body is rotated relative to the first body. 
     
     
         17 . The feeder according to  claim 16 , wherein the supporting shaft is mounted on two extending arms of the second body. 
     
     
         18 . The feeder according to  claim 16 , wherein the stopper comprises a sheet stopping portion and a force receiving portion, and the supporting shaft abuts the force receiving portion, wherein:
 the force receiving portion is moved by the supporting shaft to a first position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a restricting position and enters the closing state, and the sheet stopping portion stops the sheet from being moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway; and   the force receiving portion is moved by the supporting shaft to a second position, such that the sheet stopping portion is swung to a retracted position and enters the open state to allow the sheet to be moved to the inlet of the sheet passageway.   
     
     
         19 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , wherein the first roller comprises a first roller portion and a second roller portion disposed separately from each other, and the stopper is disposed between the first roller portion and the second roller portion. 
     
     
         20 . The feeder according to  claim 10 , further comprising a guiding structure disposed on the first body and the second body to facilitate the relative movement between the first body and the second body.