EP0027546A2 - Individual-sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Individual-sheet feeding device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0027546A2
EP0027546A2 EP80105499A EP80105499A EP0027546A2 EP 0027546 A2 EP0027546 A2 EP 0027546A2 EP 80105499 A EP80105499 A EP 80105499A EP 80105499 A EP80105499 A EP 80105499A EP 0027546 A2 EP0027546 A2 EP 0027546A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
plate
stack
paper
tray
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP80105499A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0027546B1 (en
EP0027546A3 (en
Inventor
Paul Aloysius Quinn Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0027546A2 publication Critical patent/EP0027546A2/en
Publication of EP0027546A3 publication Critical patent/EP0027546A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0027546B1 publication Critical patent/EP0027546B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/103—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides for the sheet feeding section

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for feeding sheets of paper for a typewriter, and, more particularly, such a device which comprises means making it possible to remove the bottom sheet of paper from a stack and bring it to the plate. of the typewriter.
  • the device for feeding sheets of paper can separate the different sheets and feed one sheet at a time onto the stage of the typewriter, without this separation requiring the use of drive rollers or additional power, which would make the device more complicated. Furthermore, it is also desirable that, as soon as a sheet of paper is positioned on the platen for the printing operation, there are means enabling automatic interruption matically the sheet shifting operation until, having completed the printing operation, it is necessary to bring another sheet onto the platen.
  • the main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for feeding sheets of paper which can be easily mounted on a typewriter and makes it possible to feed one sheet at a time onto the plate of the machine from a pile of leaves.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for feeding sheets of paper which is inexpensive and easily achievable, but which can operate reliably and requires only a minimum of intervention on the part of the operator.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for feeding sheets of paper for a typewriter which can also receive the sheet which has just been printed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a typewriter 10 to which is connected a device for feeding sheets of paper according to the present invention.
  • the typewriter 10 comprises a keyboard or other similar element 11, a plate 12 and a printing element 13 which moves along the plate 12 by means of a carriage (not shown) so as to print, via , for example, a ribbon, characters or symbols on a sheet of paper which conventionally surrounds the plate 12.
  • the typewriter 10 comprises a stepping motor or the like. 14 which is coupled to the plate 12 so as to advance the latter (and therefore one or more sheets of paper) step by step, either when the operator presses a key such as the key 15, or automatically by to a pre-programming, or again via the return key of the carriage which is on the machine.
  • the feed device 20 receives a stack of sheets of paper, makes it possible to remove the lower sheet from the latter and bring it to the stage. 12, and can optionally receive, from the plate, the sheet which has just been printed.
  • This is achieved by first spreading the different sheets of paper making up the stack so that the bottom sheet is first drawn in a first direction away from the platen of the typewriter and then driven in the opposite direction, as a result of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the wheel that the sheet shifting device comprises, so that said sheet reaches the nipping zone of the drive rollers, which can be coupled to platinum.
  • the sheet of paper is then brought onto the platen and, when the latter rotates, is extracted from the feed device. To this end, and as shown in FIGS.
  • the supply device comprises a rectangular-shaped tray 21 provided with walls 22 and 23 which are perpendicular to the surface of the tray and are located, one with respect to the other, at a sufficient distance so that a stack of sheets of paper 30 can be arranged between them on which characters and other symbols can be printed using the typewriter 10.
  • the surface of the tray, on which is arranged and held by gravity the stack of sheets of paper, comprises two support elements, 24 and 25, which are separated from each other, so that there is between them an opening 28 capable of receiving at least one leaf shifting wheel 29 which projects vertically in the opening 28 above the plane of the elements 24 and 25, the latter being located closest to the plate, so that a stack 30 of sheets of paper placed on elements 24 and 25 rests , in the central part of the plate, on the wheel 29 and therefore has a slightly arched shape (see Figure 4).
  • the wheel 29 therefore comes into contact with the lower sheet 30a of the stack 30.
  • the element 24, which is the furthest from the plate 12, has a flange or a projection, while the element 25 preferably has two fingers 26, 27, projecting and separated from each other, on which rests the front edge of the sheet bottom of the stack.
  • the rotation of the wheel 29 is ensured by drive means 31 constituted, for example, by a motor operating in direct current coupled via a belt 32 to a pulley 33 mounted on a shaft 34 on which the wheel 29 is itself mounted.
  • drive means 31 constituted, for example, by a motor operating in direct current coupled via a belt 32 to a pulley 33 mounted on a shaft 34 on which the wheel 29 is itself mounted.
  • the motor 31 drives the wheel 29 so that the bottom sheet 30a of the stack 30 is driven in a first direction, which has the effect of moving it away from the plate 12 of the typewriter.
  • the sheet shifting operation continues until the front edge 30b (FIG. 5B) of this sheet 30a leaves its support formed by the fingers 26 and 27 (FIG. 3).
  • This position of the sheet is detected by an upper detector 35, which causes a reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 31 and, consequently, a reversal of the direction of rotation of the wheel 29.
  • the sheet 30a After detection by the detector 35 of the lower sheet 30a and reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 31 and of the wheel 29, the sheet 30a is introduced between a driven roller 40 and an idler roller 40a which is mounted below each of the fingers 26 and 27.
  • the element 25 comprises, below each of the fingers 26 and 27, a tongue 25a which is inclined downwards and acts as a guide surface, the idler roller 40a being mounted on this surface 25a ( Figure 4), which aims to facilitate the separation and guiding of the sheets.
  • a second detector, or lower detector 36 (see FIG. 4), is used to deactivate the motor 31.
  • this roller 40 In order to drive the roller 40 so that the sheet of paper 30a is brought onto the plate 12 of the typewriter via an opening 50 in the form of a slot, in the preferred embodiment, this roller 40, which is below the two fingers 26 and 27, is connected to a shaft 41 which is arranged perpendicular to the axis of the plate 21 and ends with a pinion 42 (FIG. 2) which is coupled via a driven pinion 43 to a second driven pinion 44, the object of which will be described later.
  • a belt 43a to connect the driven pinion 43 to the plate of the typewriter, or any other drive means allowing either to turn the plate manually to remove the sheet of paper therefrom, or using a motor such as the motor 14 associated with the typewriter to ensure the rotation of the platen and to send the sheet to a position for printing start.
  • any means may be used to rotate the roller 40 by coupling it to the plate 12 or to any other drive means, it being understood that it is only necessary that the lower sheet of paper 30a be brought to the plate passing through the slot 50.
  • the second driven pinion 44 is coupled, by means, for example, of a shaft 45a (see FIG. 2) which is also arranged perpendicular to the axis of the plate 21 and which is connected to a pair of driven rollers 46 arranged at a certain distance from one another and which make it possible to apply the sheet of paper which has just been printed against the idle rollers 47 to remove it from the plate and place it on top of the stack 30.
  • the operation of the feed device can be controlled using simple timing devices making it possible to move the bottom sheet of paper away from the stack, due to the action of the wheel 29, then reverse the direction of rotation of the motor so that this sheet can pass under the fingers 26 and 27.
  • a simple electromechanical detector can be used such as a microswitch and a locking circuit for control the direction of rotation of the drive motor and the time intervals during which it is on and off.
  • the arrangement with two detectors which is described below in more detail is preferable since it is inexpensive and can be easily carried out.
  • the motor control circuit 31 which drives the wheel 29 is shown in Figure 6.
  • this circuit has a conventional configuration in H 60 and includes a pair of PNP transistors 61 and 62 connected to a voltage source V1 via resistors R1 and R2.
  • the lower half of this H is formed by two NPN transistors 63 and 64 whose emitters are grounded at 65 and whose collectors are connected to the collectors of the PNP transistors 61 and 62.
  • the motor 31 is mounted, as shown in the figure 6, between the conductors 66a and 66b which connect the various collectors and respectively connect the transistor 61 to the transistor 63 and the transistor 62 to the transistor 64.
  • the inputs of the transistors 61 and 64 are marked “high” and those of transistors 62 and 63, the mention “low”, these terms referring to the direction of rotation of the motor which causes the displacement of the bottom sheet 30a of the battery 30 towards the "top”, that is to say towards the detector 35, or towards the "bottom", that is to say towards the plate.
  • the base of the transistors 61 and 62 receives an input via the bias resistors R3 and R5 and the resistors R4 and R6 respectively connected to the output of the inverters 67 and 68.
  • the base of the transistor 63 receives a input via inverters 69 and 70, and the base of transistor 64, via inverters 71 and 72.
  • the polarization resistors R7, R8, R9 and R10 play their normal role. If it is assumed, for example, that a "high" signal (indicating with respect to FIG. 9 the fact that the lower sheet of paper 30a is driven towards the top of the feed device by the wheel 29 , which amounts to saying, relative to FIG. 4, that the wheel 29 rotates counterclockwise) is a signal having a positive transition, the inverter 67 reverses this signal and turns the transistor 61 on, so that 'a current flows in this transistor from source VI. On the other hand, this "high” signal is also applied to the transistor 64 via the inverters 71 and 72, the transistor 64 being turned on.
  • the current reaches transistor 64, then to ground 65, after having passed through transistor 61 and motor 31.
  • the signal applied to transistor 62 and 63 is at low level, these transistors are blocked and are not crossed by any current.
  • the DC motor 31 rotates the wheel 29 which drives the bottom sheet of paper 30a upward until it has been detected by the detector 35, after which an inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor, and consequently of the wheel 29, occurs.
  • a positive signal is applied to the "low” inputs of transistors 62 and 63, and the "high” signal ceases to be applied to transistors 61 and 64.
  • the high level signal applied to the input of the inverter 68 which is associated with the PNP transistor 62 turns the latter on, so that the current flows through the latter as well as the motor 31 and the transistor 63, which is turned on because the positive signal applied to the inverters 69 and 70 causes an increase in the voltage applied to the base of the NPN transistor 63, the current then being able to reach ground 65 by following this path and, consequently, passing through the motor 31, the direction of rotation of which is then reversed.
  • the upper detector 35 which is schematically represented in FIG. 7 comprises a standard voltage source V2 from which the voltage is applied via resistors R11 and R12 to a light-emitting diode D1 and to a phototransistor 75.
  • the latter is arranged on the same side of the sheet of paper 30a as the diode D1 and therefore operates in the so-called reflection mode.
  • the output of the phototransistor 75 is applied to an NPN amplification transistor 76, which is turned on, a pulse is then applied to two Schmitt flip-flops with inverted outputs 77 and 78, so that an output pulse referenced "detector 35 "and whose shape is analogous to that shown in FIG. 7 is obtained at the output of the flip-flop 78.
  • the phototransistor 75 When the phototransistor 75 detects the presence of a sheet of paper such as the bottom sheet 30a, it provides an output analogous to that shown in FIG. 7, which is applied to the flip-flop 80 and causes it to change state, thus making the transistors 61 and 64 pass by and putting the motor 31 out of function.
  • the output of detector 35 is applied to a second flip-flop 81, the output of which then passes to the high level, the shape of this output being practically similar to that shown in FIG. 9.
  • This output has the effect of making the transistors 62 and 63 passable in the manner previously described and to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 31.
  • the capacitor C2 has the effect of slightly delaying the change of state of the flip-flop 81, so that one can be certain that the transistors 61 and 64 will be blocked before the transistors 62 and 63 are turned on to cause an inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor.
  • the lower detector 36 is identical to the upper detector 35 and includes resistors R13 and R14 connected to a voltage source V2, a light-emitting diode D2 and a phototransistor 83 which operates in the reflection mode, so that the transistor NPN amplification 84 is turned on when the presence of a sheet of paper is detected by the phototransistor.
  • the output of transistor 84 is applied to two Schmitt flip-flops with inverted outputs 85 and 86, and the signal then obtained, referenced "detector 36" and having a shape similar to that shown in FIG. 8 , is applied to the other device of the flip-flop 81 (FIG. 9), passing the latter to the low level and blocking the transistors 62 and-63.
  • Transistors 61 to 64 Darlington pairs
  • a temporary element 90 comprising in the region of the fingers 26 and 27 of the recesses 91 and 92 and which can be connected by means of a hinge with the vertical walls 22 and 23 of the tray so as to support the lower edge of the stack when it is initially placed in the tray on the element 24.
  • the element 90 requires the use of a cover 95 which must be lifted by the user by pivoting it around the pivot 96 when it deposits the stack of sheets in the tray on elements 24 and 90.
  • the link 97 coupled to the latter rotates clockwise (relative to FIG. 2) a pair of cams 98 and 99 which bear against the lower surface of the element 90, rotating it up above the fingers 26 and 27.
  • the cover is first lifted, thus causing an upward rotation of the element 90 which makes it possible to deposit the sheets of paper thereon without any of the sheets being able to separate from the stack and fall below the fingers 26 and 27.
  • the cover 95 also makes it possible to separate the blank sheets from the sheets already printed so that the user can easily grasp them, and, because of its weight, increases the pressure exerted by the stack of sheets of paper on the wheel 29 of the shift device , and on the support elements 24, 25, 26 and 27.
  • the detector 35 In order to be able to use sheets of paper of different lengths, it is preferable for the detector 35, as shown in FIG. 1, to be mounted on a slide 100 that the element 24 of the tray has, this slide being able to slide in a groove 101 comprising various stop positions such as positions 102 and 103 in order to allow the user to choose the position of the upper detector 35 as a function of the length of the sheets of paper used. It would obviously be possible to make appropriate modifications to the tray so that it can, if necessary, move laterally so as to allow the use of sheets of paper of variable widths.
  • the feed device is preferably arranged so as to make an angle with the base of the typewriter 10 so that the sheets of paper can more easily be brought to the plate 12.
  • the slot 50 must therefore be arranged so as to make a given angle in the case of the use of a given typewriter and can be easily connected to the rear part of the frame of the machine using, for example, the support 104 so conventional, for example by means of self-tapping screws, wing nuts, bolts, etc., or may optionally be integral with the typewriter.
  • a metal grid 110 having a convex shape and comprising an opening 28a intended to allow the passage of the wheel 29.
  • This grid is preferably rence supported in the tray so as to cause a curvature of the stack of sheets 30 in the desired direction, and allows, when connected to ground, the flow of electrostatic charges existing on the bottom sheet 30a of the stack 30 .
  • the feeding device of the present invention is both simple and inexpensive and can easily be used with an automatic typewriter.

Landscapes

  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
  • Conveyance By Endless Belt Conveyors (AREA)

Abstract

1. A paper sheet feed apparatus for a printer having a cylindrical platen (12) for holding and advancing a sheet of paper, said platen comprising first and second pressure means for applying a sheet of paper against the platen between an input portion and an output portion, of the type including : - a rectangular tray (21) for supporting thereon a paper sheet stack, one edge of which is provided in close and parallel relationship with said platen (12), - sheet separation means for separating the lower most sheet from the remaining portion of the stack, comprising at least a sheet shingler wheel (29) located in a recessed portion of said tray (21) and able to cooperate with lower most sheet (30a) of the stack, - rotation drive means (32) to effect rotation of said wheel (29), - guiding means for driving said lower most sheet onto said platen, - support means for supporting printed sheets and, - removal means for removing said printed sheet from said platen and for driving it onto said printed sheet support means, characterized in that : - said tray (21) includes a rear support (24) and a forward support (26, 27) separated by said recessed portion, for respectively supporting thereon the rear and forward ends of a stack of paper, said forward end being the one the closest to said platen, - said separation means include : - control means (31) responsive to a first command for driving said drive means (32) in a first direction tending to move the lower most sheet (30a) backwards, and - first sensing means (35) for sensing when the edge of said lower most sheet (30a) is no longer supported by said forward support (26, 27) of tray (21) at which time said forward edge is separated from the remaining portion of the paper stack by gravity, for generating in response to said sensing a second control signal and applying said signal to said control means (31) for driving said driving means (32) into the opposite direction, which drives said lower most sheet (30a) forward, - said guiding means are located under said forward support (26, 27) for cooperating id with the forward edge of said lower most sheet (30a) when said forward edge has been separated from the remaining portion of the paper stack and moves in said opposite direction and for orientating said sheet toward said first pressure means of said platen, - said removal means (46, 47) are located above said guiding means and said tray (21), and - said printed sheet support means are comprised of a cover (95) which, in operating position, covers the paper stack provided on said tray and, in the same time, allows the lower most sheet of the paper stack to be applied onto said shingler wheel with a uniform pressure.

Description

Domaine TechniqueTechnical area

La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier pour machine à écrire, et, plus particulièrement, un tel dispositif qui comporte des moyens permettant de retirer la feuille de papier inférieure d'une pile et de l'amener sur la platine de la machine à écrire.The present invention relates to a device for feeding sheets of paper for a typewriter, and, more particularly, such a device which comprises means making it possible to remove the bottom sheet of paper from a stack and bring it to the plate. of the typewriter.

Etat de la Technique AntérieureState of the Prior Art

Il existe dans l'art antérieur un certain nombre de dispositifs de décalage de feuilles (cf., par exemple, le brevet- des E.U.A. No. 3 008 709). Ces dispositifs nécessitent généralement l'emploi de moyens permettant d'appliquer un force perpendiculairement à la pile de feuilles de papier afin de retirer de celle-ci la feuille supérieure ou la feuille inférieure. Un dispositif de ce type qui permet de retirer la feuille inférieure de la pile de feuilles de papier est décrit dans le brevet des E.U.A. No. 4 165 870, ainsi que dans la publication "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin", Vol. 21, No.9, février 1979, pages 3538-3539 et 3540-3542.There are a number of sheet shifters in the prior art (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,008,709). These devices generally require the use of means making it possible to apply a force perpendicular to the stack of sheets of paper in order to remove from it the upper sheet or the lower sheet. One such device for removing the bottom sheet from the stack of paper sheets is described in the U.S. Patent. No. 4 165 870, as well as in the publication "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin", Vol. 21, No. 9, February 1979, pages 3538-3539 and 3540-3542.

Il est particulièrement souhaitable que le dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier puisse séparer les différentes feuilles et amener une feuille à la fois sur la platine de la machine à écrire, sans que cette séparation nécessite l'emploi de galets d'entraînement ou d'alimentation supplémentaires, ce qui aurait pour effet de rendre le dispositif plus compliqué. Par ailleurs, il est également souhaitable que, dès lors qu'une feuille de papier est positionnée sur la platine en vue de l'opération d'impression, l'on dispose de moyens permettant d'interrompre automatiquement l'opération de décalage des feuilles jusqu'à ce que, l'opération d'impression en cours étant terminée, il soit nécessaire d'amener une autre feuille sur la platine.It is particularly desirable that the device for feeding sheets of paper can separate the different sheets and feed one sheet at a time onto the stage of the typewriter, without this separation requiring the use of drive rollers or additional power, which would make the device more complicated. Furthermore, it is also desirable that, as soon as a sheet of paper is positioned on the platen for the printing operation, there are means enabling automatic interruption matically the sheet shifting operation until, having completed the printing operation, it is necessary to bring another sheet onto the platen.

Le principal objet de la présente invention est donc de fournir un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier qui puisse être aisément monté sur une machine à écrire et permette d'amener une feuille à la fois sur la platine de la machine à partir d'une pile de feuilles.The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for feeding sheets of paper which can be easily mounted on a typewriter and makes it possible to feed one sheet at a time onto the plate of the machine from a pile of leaves.

Un autre objet de la présente invention est de fournir un tel dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier qui soit peu onéreux et aisément réalisable, mais qui puisse fonctionner de façon fiable et n'exige qu'un minimum d'interventions de la part de l'opérateur.Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for feeding sheets of paper which is inexpensive and easily achievable, but which can operate reliably and requires only a minimum of intervention on the part of the operator.

Un autre objet de la présente invention est de fournir un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier pour machine à écrire qui puisse également recevoir la feuille qui vient d'être imprimée.Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for feeding sheets of paper for a typewriter which can also receive the sheet which has just been printed.

Brève Description des Figures

  • La figure 1 représente schématiquement une machine à écrire comportant un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier réalisé conformément à la présente invention.
  • La figure 2 est une vue latérale partielle du dispositif d'alimentation de la figure 1.
  • La figure 3 est une vue de dessus du dispositif d'alimentation des figures 1 et 2.
  • La figure 4 est une vue latérale du dispositif prise suivant les lignes 4-4 de la figure 3.
  • Les figures 5A à 5D représentent schématiquement la façon dont une feuille de papier est amenée sur la platine et s'éloigne ensuite de celle-ci.
  • La figure 6 représente schématiquement un circuit de commande électrique destiné à un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier réalisé conformément à la présente invention.
  • Les figures 7 et 8 représentent schématiquement des circuits de détection susceptibles d'être utilisés avec le dispositif de la présente invention.
  • La figure 9 représente schématiquement un circuit susceptible d'être utilisé pour commander le fonctionnement du dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de la présente invention.
Brief Description of the Figures
  • FIG. 1 schematically represents a typewriter comprising a device for feeding sheets of paper produced in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the supply device of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of the supply device of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the device taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.
  • FIGS. 5A to 5D schematically represent the manner in which a sheet of paper is brought onto the plate and then moves away from it.
  • FIG. 6 schematically represents an electrical control circuit intended for a device for feeding sheets of paper produced in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figures 7 and 8 schematically represent detection circuits that can be used with the device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 schematically represents a circuit capable of being used to control the operation of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

Description de l'InventionDescription of the Invention

On a représenté sur la figure 1 une machine à écrire 10 à laquelle est connecté un dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles de papier conforme à la présente invention. La machine à écrire 10 comprend un clavier ou autre élément analogue 11, une platine 12 et un élément d'impression 13 qui se déplace le long de la platine 12 grâce à un chariot (non représenté) de manière à imprimer, par l'intermédiaire, par exemple, d'un ruban, des caractères ou des symboles sur une feuille de papier qui entoure de façon classique la platine 12. Dans le présent exemple, la machine à écrire 10 comporte un moteur pas-à-pas ou autre élément analogue 14 qui est couplé à la platine 12 de manière à faire avancer celle-ci (et par conséquent une ou plusieurs feuilles de papier) pas-à-pas, soit lorsque l'opérateur enfonce une touche telle que la touche 15, soit automatiquement grâce à une pré-programmation, soit encore par l'intermédiaire de la touche de retour du chariot qui se trouve sur la machine.FIG. 1 shows a typewriter 10 to which is connected a device for feeding sheets of paper according to the present invention. The typewriter 10 comprises a keyboard or other similar element 11, a plate 12 and a printing element 13 which moves along the plate 12 by means of a carriage (not shown) so as to print, via , for example, a ribbon, characters or symbols on a sheet of paper which conventionally surrounds the plate 12. In the present example, the typewriter 10 comprises a stepping motor or the like. 14 which is coupled to the plate 12 so as to advance the latter (and therefore one or more sheets of paper) step by step, either when the operator presses a key such as the key 15, or automatically by to a pre-programming, or again via the return key of the carriage which is on the machine.

Selon la présente invention, le dispositif d'alimentation 20 reçoit une pile de feuilles de papier, permet de retirer de celle-ci la feuille inférieure et de l'amener sur la platine 12, et peut éventuellement recevoir, depuis la platine, la feuille qui vient d'être imprimée. Ce résultat est obtenu en provoquant d'abord un étalement des différentes feuilles de papier constituant la pile de telle sorte que la feuille inférieure soit d'abord entraînée dans un premier sens qui l'éloigne de la platine de la machine à écrire et soit ensuite entraînée en sens inverse, par suite d'une inversion du sens de rotation de la roue que comporte le dispositif de décalage des feuilles, de telle sorte que ladite feuille parvienne à la zone de pincement de galets d'entraînement, lesquels peuvent être couplés à la platine. La feuille de papier est ensuite amenée sur la platine et, lorsque cette dernière tourne, est extraite du dispositif d'alimentation. A cette fin, et comme le montrent les figures 1 à 4, le dispositif d'alimentation comprend un plateau de forme rectangulaire 21 pourvu de parois 22 et 23 qui sont perpendiculaires à la surface du plateau et se trouvent, l'une par rapport à l'autre, à une distance suffisante pour que l'on puisse disposer entre elles une pile de feuilles de papier 30 sur laquelle des caractères et autres symboles pourront être imprimés à l'aide de la machine à écrire 10. La surface du plateau, sur laquelle est disposée et maintenue par gravité la pile de feuilles de papier, comprend deux éléments formant support, 24 et 25, qui sont séparés l'un de l'autre, si bien qu'il existe entre eux une ouverture 28 susceptible de recevoir au moins une roue 29 de décalage des feuilles qui fait saillie verticalement dans l'ouverture 28 au-dessus du plan des éléments 24 et 25, ce dernier se trouvant le plus près de la platine, de telle sorte qu'une pile 30 de feuilles de papier disposée sur les éléments 24 et 25 repose, dans la partie centrale du plateau, sur la roue 29 et présente de ce fait une forme légèrement arquée (voir figure 4). La roue 29 entre donc en contact avec la feuille inférieure 30a de la pile 30. L'élément 24, qui est le plus éloigné de la platine 12, comporte un rebord ou une avancée, cependant que l'élément 25 comporte de préférence deux doigts 26, 27, formant saillie et séparés l'un de l'autre, sur lesquels vient reposer le bord avant de la feuille inférieure de la pile.According to the present invention, the feed device 20 receives a stack of sheets of paper, makes it possible to remove the lower sheet from the latter and bring it to the stage. 12, and can optionally receive, from the plate, the sheet which has just been printed. This is achieved by first spreading the different sheets of paper making up the stack so that the bottom sheet is first drawn in a first direction away from the platen of the typewriter and then driven in the opposite direction, as a result of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the wheel that the sheet shifting device comprises, so that said sheet reaches the nipping zone of the drive rollers, which can be coupled to platinum. The sheet of paper is then brought onto the platen and, when the latter rotates, is extracted from the feed device. To this end, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the supply device comprises a rectangular-shaped tray 21 provided with walls 22 and 23 which are perpendicular to the surface of the tray and are located, one with respect to the other, at a sufficient distance so that a stack of sheets of paper 30 can be arranged between them on which characters and other symbols can be printed using the typewriter 10. The surface of the tray, on which is arranged and held by gravity the stack of sheets of paper, comprises two support elements, 24 and 25, which are separated from each other, so that there is between them an opening 28 capable of receiving at least one leaf shifting wheel 29 which projects vertically in the opening 28 above the plane of the elements 24 and 25, the latter being located closest to the plate, so that a stack 30 of sheets of paper placed on elements 24 and 25 rests , in the central part of the plate, on the wheel 29 and therefore has a slightly arched shape (see Figure 4). The wheel 29 therefore comes into contact with the lower sheet 30a of the stack 30. The element 24, which is the furthest from the plate 12, has a flange or a projection, while the element 25 preferably has two fingers 26, 27, projecting and separated from each other, on which rests the front edge of the sheet bottom of the stack.

La rotation de la roue 29 est assurée par des moyens d'entraînement 31 constitués, par exemple, par un moteur fonctionnant en courant continu couplé par l'intermédiaire d'une courroie 32 à une poulie 33 montée sur un arbre 34 sur lequel la roue 29 est elle-même montée. Ainsi qu'on le verra plus loin, lors de l'enfoncement du bouton 16 que comporte le clavier 11 (figure 1), le moteur 31 entraîne la roue 29 de telle sorte que la feuille inférieure 30a de la pile 30 soit entraînée dans un premier sens, ce qui a pour effet de l'éloigner de la platine 12 de la machine à écrire. L'opération de décalage des feuilles se poursuit jusqu'à ce que le bord avant 30b (figure 5B) de cette feuille 30a quitte son support constitué par les doigts 26 et 27 (figure 3). Cette position de la feuille est détectée par un détecteur supérieur 35, lequel provoque une inversion du sens de rotation du moteur 31 et, par conséquent, une inversion du sens de rotation de la roue 29.The rotation of the wheel 29 is ensured by drive means 31 constituted, for example, by a motor operating in direct current coupled via a belt 32 to a pulley 33 mounted on a shaft 34 on which the wheel 29 is itself mounted. As will be seen below, when the button 16 on the keyboard 11 is depressed (FIG. 1), the motor 31 drives the wheel 29 so that the bottom sheet 30a of the stack 30 is driven in a first direction, which has the effect of moving it away from the plate 12 of the typewriter. The sheet shifting operation continues until the front edge 30b (FIG. 5B) of this sheet 30a leaves its support formed by the fingers 26 and 27 (FIG. 3). This position of the sheet is detected by an upper detector 35, which causes a reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 31 and, consequently, a reversal of the direction of rotation of the wheel 29.

Après détection par le détecteur 35 de la feuille inférieure 30a et inversion du sens de rotation du moteur 31 et de la roue 29, la feuille 30a est introduite entre un galet entraîné 40 et un galet fou 40a qui est monté au-dessous de chacun des doigts 26 et 27. A cet égard, on notera que l'élément 25 comporte, au-dessous de chacun des doigts 26 et 27, une languette 25a qui est inclinée vers le bas et fait fonction de surface de guidage, le galet fou 40a étant monté sur cette surface 25a (figure 4), qui a pour but de faciliter la séparation et le guidage des feuilles. Un second détecteur, ou détecteur inférieur 36 (voir figure 4), sert à mettre hors fonction le moteur 31.After detection by the detector 35 of the lower sheet 30a and reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 31 and of the wheel 29, the sheet 30a is introduced between a driven roller 40 and an idler roller 40a which is mounted below each of the fingers 26 and 27. In this regard, it will be noted that the element 25 comprises, below each of the fingers 26 and 27, a tongue 25a which is inclined downwards and acts as a guide surface, the idler roller 40a being mounted on this surface 25a (Figure 4), which aims to facilitate the separation and guiding of the sheets. A second detector, or lower detector 36 (see FIG. 4), is used to deactivate the motor 31.

Afin d'entraîner le galet 40 de telle sorte que la feuille de papier 30a soit amenée sur la platine 12 de la machine à écrire par l'intermédiaire d'une ouverture 50 en forme de fente, dans la réalisation préférée, ce galet 40, qui se trouve au-dessous des deux doigts 26 et 27, est connecté à un arbre 41 qui est disposé perpendiculairement à l'axe du plateau 21 et se termine par un pignon 42 (figure 2) qui est couplé par l'intermédiaire d'un pignon entraîné 43 à un second pignon entraîné 44, dont l'objet sera décrit plus loin. Dans la réalisation préférée, on peut utiliser une courroie 43a pour connecter le pignon entraîné 43 à la platine de la machine à écrire, ou tout autre moyen d'entraînement permettant soit de faire tourner la platine manuellement pour en retirer la feuille de papier, soit d'utiliser un moteur tel que le moteur 14 associé à la machine à écrire pour assurer la rotation de la platine et faire parvenir la feuille à une position de début d'impression. Cependant, un moyen quelconque peut être employé pour faire tourner le galet 40 en couplant celui-ci à la platine 12 ou à tout autre moyen d'entraînement, étant entendu qu'il est seulement nécessaire que la feuille de papier inférieure 30a soit amenée sur la platine en passant par la fente 50. On pourrait également coupler le pignon entraîné 42 au pignon 45 disposé sur l'arbre 12a que comporte la platine de telle sorte que cette dernière provoque la rotation du pignon entraîné 42 et par conséquent des pignons 43 et 44.In order to drive the roller 40 so that the sheet of paper 30a is brought onto the plate 12 of the typewriter via an opening 50 in the form of a slot, in the preferred embodiment, this roller 40, which is below the two fingers 26 and 27, is connected to a shaft 41 which is arranged perpendicular to the axis of the plate 21 and ends with a pinion 42 (FIG. 2) which is coupled via a driven pinion 43 to a second driven pinion 44, the object of which will be described later. In the preferred embodiment, it is possible to use a belt 43a to connect the driven pinion 43 to the plate of the typewriter, or any other drive means allowing either to turn the plate manually to remove the sheet of paper therefrom, or using a motor such as the motor 14 associated with the typewriter to ensure the rotation of the platen and to send the sheet to a position for printing start. However, any means may be used to rotate the roller 40 by coupling it to the plate 12 or to any other drive means, it being understood that it is only necessary that the lower sheet of paper 30a be brought to the plate passing through the slot 50. One could also couple the driven pinion 42 to the pinion 45 disposed on the shaft 12a which the plate comprises so that the latter causes the rotation of the driven pinion 42 and consequently pinions 43 and 44.

Afin de permettre le retrait de la feuille de papier enroulée sur la platine, et conformément à une caractéristique de la présente invention, le second pignon entraîné 44 est couplé, au moyen, par exemple, d'un arbre 45a (voir figure 2) qui est également disposé perpendiculairement à l'axe du plateau 21 et qui est connecté à une paire de galets entraînés 46 disposés à une certaine distance l'un de l'autre et qui permettent d'appliquer la feuille de papier qui vient d'être imprimée contre les galets fous 47 pour la retirer de la platine et la placer au-dessus de la pile 30.In order to allow the withdrawal of the sheet of paper wound on the plate, and in accordance with a characteristic of the present invention, the second driven pinion 44 is coupled, by means, for example, of a shaft 45a (see FIG. 2) which is also arranged perpendicular to the axis of the plate 21 and which is connected to a pair of driven rollers 46 arranged at a certain distance from one another and which make it possible to apply the sheet of paper which has just been printed against the idle rollers 47 to remove it from the plate and place it on top of the stack 30.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif d'alimentation peut être commandé à l'aide de simples dispositifs de temporisation permettant d'éloigner de la platine la feuille de papier inférieure de la pile, du fait de l'action de la roue 29, puis d'inverser le sens de rotation du moteur de telle sorte que cette feuille puisse passer au-dessous des doigts 26 et 27. Par ailleurs, on peut employer un simple détecteur électromécanique tel qu'un micro-interrupteur et un circuit de verrouillage pour commander le sens de rotation du moteur d'entraînement et les intervalles de temps pendant lesquels il est en fonction et hors fonction. Néanmoins, l'agencement à deux détecteurs qui est décrit ci-après de façon plus détaillée est préférable car il est peu coûteux et peut être aisément réalisé.The operation of the feed device can be controlled using simple timing devices making it possible to move the bottom sheet of paper away from the stack, due to the action of the wheel 29, then reverse the direction of rotation of the motor so that this sheet can pass under the fingers 26 and 27. In addition, a simple electromechanical detector can be used such as a microswitch and a locking circuit for control the direction of rotation of the drive motor and the time intervals during which it is on and off. However, the arrangement with two detectors which is described below in more detail is preferable since it is inexpensive and can be easily carried out.

Le circuit de commande du moteur 31 qui entraîne la roue 29 est représenté sur la figure 6. Comme le montre cette figure, ce circuit présente une configuration classique en H 60 et comprend une paire de transistors PNP 61 et 62 connectés à une source de tension V1 par l'intermédiaire de résistances R1 et R2. La moitié inférieure de ce H est constituée par deux transistors NPN 63 et 64 dont les émetteurs sont à la masse en 65 et dont les collecteurs sont connectés aux collecteurs des transistors PNP 61 et 62. Le moteur 31 est monté, comme le montre la figure 6, entre les conducteurs 66a et 66b qui relient les différents collecteurs et connectent respectivement le transistor 61 au transistor 63 et le transistor 62 au transistor 64. Sur la figure, les entrées des transistors 61 et 64 portent la mention "haut" et celles des transistors 62 et 63, la mention "bas", ces termes se rapportant au sens de rotation du moteur qui provoque le déplacement de la feuille inférieure 30a de la pile 30 vers le "haut", c'est-à-dire vers le détecteur 35, ou vers le "bas", c'est-à-dire vers la platine. La base des transistors 61 et 62 reçoit une entrée par l'intermédiaire des résistances de polarisation R3 et R5 et des résistances R4 et R6 respectivement connectées à la sortie des inverseurs 67 et 68. D'autre part, la base du transistor 63 reçoit une entrée par l'intermédiaire des inverseurs 69 et 70, et la base du transistor 64, par l'intermédiaire des inverseurs 71 et 72. Les résistances de polarisation R7, R8, R9 et R10 jouent leur rôle normal. Si l'on suppose, à titre d'exemple, qu'un signal "haut" (indiquant par rapport à la figure 9 le fait que la feuille de papier inférieure 30a est entraînée vers le haut du dispositif d'alimentation par la roue 29, ce qui revient à dire, relativement à la figure 4, que la roue 29 tourne dans le sens anti-horaire) est un signal présentant une transition positive, l'inverseur 67 inverse ce signal et rend le transistor 61 passant, si bien qu'un courant circule dans ce transistor depuis la source VI. D'autre part, ce signal "haut" est également appliqué au transistor 64 par l'intermédiaire des inverseurs 71 et 72, le transistor 64 étant rendu passant. De la sorte, le courant parvient au transistor 64, puis à la masse 65, après avoir traversé le transistor 61 et le moteur 31. Dans le même temps, le signal appliqué au transistor 62 et 63 est au niveau bas, ces transistors sont bloqués et ne sont traversés par aucun courant. De la façon qui vient d'être décrite, le moteur fonctionnant en courant continu 31 fait tourner la roue 29 qui entraîne la feuille de papier inférieure 30a vers le haut jusqu'à ce qu'elle ait été détectée par le détecteur 35, après quoi une inversion du sens de rotation du moteur, et par conséquent de la roue 29, se produit. Cela étant, un signal positif est appliqué aux entrées "bas" des transistors 62 et 63, et le signal "haut" cesse d'être appliqué aux transistors 61 et 64. Le signal de niveau haut appliqué à l'entrée de l'inverseur 68 qui est associé au transistor PNP 62 rend ce dernier passant, si bien que le courant traverse ce dernier ainsi que le moteur 31 et le transistor 63, lequel est rendu passant parce que le signal positif appliqué aux inverseurs 69 et 70 provoque une augmentation de la tension appliquée à la base du transistor NPN 63, le courant pouvant alors parvenir à la masse 65 en suivant ce chemin et, par conséquent, en traversant le moteur 31, dont le sens de rotation est alors inversé.The motor control circuit 31 which drives the wheel 29 is shown in Figure 6. As shown in this figure, this circuit has a conventional configuration in H 60 and includes a pair of PNP transistors 61 and 62 connected to a voltage source V1 via resistors R1 and R2. The lower half of this H is formed by two NPN transistors 63 and 64 whose emitters are grounded at 65 and whose collectors are connected to the collectors of the PNP transistors 61 and 62. The motor 31 is mounted, as shown in the figure 6, between the conductors 66a and 66b which connect the various collectors and respectively connect the transistor 61 to the transistor 63 and the transistor 62 to the transistor 64. In the figure, the inputs of the transistors 61 and 64 are marked "high" and those of transistors 62 and 63, the mention "low", these terms referring to the direction of rotation of the motor which causes the displacement of the bottom sheet 30a of the battery 30 towards the "top", that is to say towards the detector 35, or towards the "bottom", that is to say towards the plate. The base of the transistors 61 and 62 receives an input via the bias resistors R3 and R5 and the resistors R4 and R6 respectively connected to the output of the inverters 67 and 68. On the other hand, the base of the transistor 63 receives a input via inverters 69 and 70, and the base of transistor 64, via inverters 71 and 72. The polarization resistors R7, R8, R9 and R10 play their normal role. If it is assumed, for example, that a "high" signal (indicating with respect to FIG. 9 the fact that the lower sheet of paper 30a is driven towards the top of the feed device by the wheel 29 , which amounts to saying, relative to FIG. 4, that the wheel 29 rotates counterclockwise) is a signal having a positive transition, the inverter 67 reverses this signal and turns the transistor 61 on, so that 'a current flows in this transistor from source VI. On the other hand, this "high" signal is also applied to the transistor 64 via the inverters 71 and 72, the transistor 64 being turned on. In this way, the current reaches transistor 64, then to ground 65, after having passed through transistor 61 and motor 31. At the same time, the signal applied to transistor 62 and 63 is at low level, these transistors are blocked and are not crossed by any current. As just described, the DC motor 31 rotates the wheel 29 which drives the bottom sheet of paper 30a upward until it has been detected by the detector 35, after which an inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor, and consequently of the wheel 29, occurs. However, a positive signal is applied to the "low" inputs of transistors 62 and 63, and the "high" signal ceases to be applied to transistors 61 and 64. The high level signal applied to the input of the inverter 68 which is associated with the PNP transistor 62 turns the latter on, so that the current flows through the latter as well as the motor 31 and the transistor 63, which is turned on because the positive signal applied to the inverters 69 and 70 causes an increase in the voltage applied to the base of the NPN transistor 63, the current then being able to reach ground 65 by following this path and, consequently, passing through the motor 31, the direction of rotation of which is then reversed.

Le circuit de commande qui permet de mettre en fonction le moteur 31 et de commander le fonctionnement du circuit en H 60 pour obtenir la mise en fonction et hors fonction du moteur à l'aide, respectivement, des détecteurs 35 et 36 est représenté sur les figures 7, 8 et 9. Comme le montre la figure 9, à laquelle on se reportera tout d'abord, l'enfonce-- ment de la touche 16 que comporte le clavier de la machine à écrire fait circuler le courant de la résistance de polarisation Rl1 à la masse par l'intermédiaire du condensateur non chargé C1, ce qui provoque la formation d'une pointe négative à l'entrée d'une bascule 80 et l'apparition d'un signal positif à la sortie "haut", laquelle sortie est appliquée aux transistors 61 et 64 de la façon précédemment décrite (figure 6). Le signal de restauration de l'alimentation ("POR") appliqué à la bascule 80 apparaît lors de la mise en fonction de la machine, si bien que la sortie "haut" est initialement au niveau bas, ce qui revient à dire que c'est le signal "POR" qui définit l'état initial de la bascule 80.The control circuit which makes it possible to put the motor 31 into operation and to control the operation of the circuit in H 60 to obtain the activation and deactivation of the motor using detectors 35 and 36, respectively, is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. As shown in Figure 9, to which reference will be made first, pressing the key 16 that the keyboard of the typewriter comprises circulates the current of the bias resistor Rl1 to ground via the uncharged capacitor C1, which causes the formation of a negative tip at the input of a flip-flop 80 and the appearance of a positive signal at the "high" output, which output is applied to the transistors 61 and 64 in the manner previously described (FIG. 6). The power restoration signal ("POR") applied to the flip-flop 80 appears when the machine is turned on, so that the "high" output is initially low, which amounts to saying that c 'is the signal "POR" which defines the initial state of the flip-flop 80.

Le détecteur supérieur 35 qui est schématiquement représenté sur la figure 7 comprend une source standard de tension V2 depuis laquelle la tension est appliquée par l'intermédiaire de résistances Rll et R12 à une diode à émission de lumière D1 et à un phototransistor 75. Ce dernier est disposé du même côté de la feuille de papier 30a que la diode Dl et fonctionne par conséquent dans le mode dit de réflexion. La sortie du phototransistor 75 est appliquée à un transistor NPN d'amplification 76, qui est rendu passant, une impulsion étant alors appliquée à deux bascules de Schmitt à sorties inversées 77 et 78, si bien qu'une impulsion de sortie référencée "détecteur 35" et dont la forme est analogue à celle représentée sur la figure 7 est obtenue à la sortie de la bascule 78. Lorsque le phototransistor 75 détecte la présence d'une feuille de papier telle que la feuille inférieure 30a, il fournit une sortie analogue à celle représentée sur la figure 7, qui est appliquée à la bascule 80 et la fait changer d'état, rendant ainsi les transistors 61 et 64 passants et mettant hors fonction le moteur 31.The upper detector 35 which is schematically represented in FIG. 7 comprises a standard voltage source V2 from which the voltage is applied via resistors R11 and R12 to a light-emitting diode D1 and to a phototransistor 75. The latter is arranged on the same side of the sheet of paper 30a as the diode D1 and therefore operates in the so-called reflection mode. The output of the phototransistor 75 is applied to an NPN amplification transistor 76, which is turned on, a pulse is then applied to two Schmitt flip-flops with inverted outputs 77 and 78, so that an output pulse referenced "detector 35 "and whose shape is analogous to that shown in FIG. 7 is obtained at the output of the flip-flop 78. When the phototransistor 75 detects the presence of a sheet of paper such as the bottom sheet 30a, it provides an output analogous to that shown in FIG. 7, which is applied to the flip-flop 80 and causes it to change state, thus making the transistors 61 and 64 pass by and putting the motor 31 out of function.

Dans le même temps, la sortie du détecteur 35 est appliquée à une seconde bascule 81, dont la sortie passe alors au niveau haut, la forme de cette sortie étant pratiquement analogue à celle représentée sur la figure 9. Cette sortie a pour effet de rendre passants les transistors 62 et 63 de la façon précédemment décrite et d'inverser le sens de rotation du moteur 31. On notera que le condensateur C2 a pour effet de retarder légèrement le changement d'état de la bascule 81, afin que l'on puisse avoir la certitude que les transistors 61 et 64 seront bloqués avant que les transistors 62 et 63 ne soient rendus passants pour provoquer une inversion du sens de rotation du moteur.At the same time, the output of detector 35 is applied to a second flip-flop 81, the output of which then passes to the high level, the shape of this output being practically similar to that shown in FIG. 9. This output has the effect of making the transistors 62 and 63 passable in the manner previously described and to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 31. It will be noted that the capacitor C2 has the effect of slightly delaying the change of state of the flip-flop 81, so that one can be certain that the transistors 61 and 64 will be blocked before the transistors 62 and 63 are turned on to cause an inversion of the direction of rotation of the motor.

Le détecteur inférieur 36 est identique au détecteur supérieur 35 et comprend des résistances R13 et R14 connectées à une source de tension V2, une diode à émission de lumière D2 et un phototransistor 83 qui fonctionne dans le mode de réflexion, si bien que le transistor NPN d'amplification 84 est rendu passant lorsque la présence d'une feuille de papier est détectée par le phototransistor. De même que dans le cas précédent, la sortie du transistor 84 est appliquée à deux bascules de Schmitt à sorties inversées 85 et 86, et le signal alors obtenu, référencé "détecteur 36" et présentant une forme analogue à celle représentée sur la figure 8, est- appliqué à l'autre dispositif de la bascule 81 (figure 9), faisant passer cette dernière au niveau bas et bloquant les transistors 62 et-63.The lower detector 36 is identical to the upper detector 35 and includes resistors R13 and R14 connected to a voltage source V2, a light-emitting diode D2 and a phototransistor 83 which operates in the reflection mode, so that the transistor NPN amplification 84 is turned on when the presence of a sheet of paper is detected by the phototransistor. As in the previous case, the output of transistor 84 is applied to two Schmitt flip-flops with inverted outputs 85 and 86, and the signal then obtained, referenced "detector 36" and having a shape similar to that shown in FIG. 8 , is applied to the other device of the flip-flop 81 (FIG. 9), passing the latter to the low level and blocking the transistors 62 and-63.

Le tableau ci-dessous a pour but de faciliter la réalisation des circuits représentés sur les figures 6 à 9 en précisant les valeurs ou les types des différents composants:

Figure imgb0001
Figure imgb0002
 The table below aims to facilitate the realization of the circuits shown in Figures 6 to 9 by specifying the values or types of the different components:
Figure imgb0001
Figure imgb0002

Transistors 61 à 64: Paires de DarlingtonTransistors 61 to 64: Darlington pairs

Bien que la mise en place de la pile de feuilles de papier sur les éléments 25 et 24 du plateau par l'utilisateur ne présente aucune difficulté, on a prévu, afin d'éviter que l'utilisateur de la machine n'omette par inadvertance de placer la pile de feuilles sur l'élément 25 ou sur les doigts 26 et 27, l'emploi d'un élément provisoire 90 comportant dans la région des doigts 26 et 27 des évidements 91 et 92 et pouvant être connecté au moyen d'une charnière aux parois verticales 22 et 23 du plateau de manière à soutenir le bord inférieur de la pile lorsqu'elle est initialement disposée dans le plateau sur l'élément 24.Although the installation of the stack of sheets of paper on the elements 25 and 24 of the tray by the user presents no difficulty, provision has been made, in order to avoid the user of the machine inadvertently omitting placing the stack of sheets on the element 25 or on the fingers 26 and 27, the use of a temporary element 90 comprising in the region of the fingers 26 and 27 of the recesses 91 and 92 and which can be connected by means of a hinge with the vertical walls 22 and 23 of the tray so as to support the lower edge of the stack when it is initially placed in the tray on the element 24.

Comme le montrent les figures 2 et 3, l'élément 90 nécessite l'emploi d'un couvercle 95 qui doit être soulevé par l'utilisateur en le faisant pivoter autour du pivot 96 lorsqu'il dépose la pile de feuilles dans le plateau sur les éléments 24 et 90. Lorsqu'on fait pivoter le couvercle 95, la liaison 97 couplée à ce dernier fait tourner dans le sens horaire (relativement à la figure 2) une paire de cames 98 et 99 qui portent contre la surface inférieure de l'élément 90, faisant tourner celui-ci vers le haut au-dessus des doigts 26 et 27. De la sorte, lorsque l'utilisateur de la machine place les feuilles de papier sur le plateau, le couvercle se trouve d'abord soulevé, provoquant ainsi une rotation vers le haut de l'élément 90 qui permet de déposer les feuilles de papier sur celui-ci sans qu'aucune des feuilles ne puisse se séparer de la pile et tomber au-dessous des doigts 26 et 27. Lorsqu'on fait pivoter le couvercle dans le sens horaire et qu'on le dépose au-dessus de la pile de feuilles de papier, les cames 98 et 99 s'enfoncent, permettant ainsi à l'élément 90 de passer au-dessous du plan des doigts 26 et 27, lesquels soutiennent alors la pile de feuilles. Le couvercle 95 permet également de séparer les feuilles vierges des feuilles déjà imprimées afin que l'utilisateur puisse facilement les saisir, et, du fait de son poids, augmente la pression exercée par la pile de feuilles de papier sur la roue 29 du dispositif de décalage, et sur les éléments de support 24, 25, 26 et 27.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the element 90 requires the use of a cover 95 which must be lifted by the user by pivoting it around the pivot 96 when it deposits the stack of sheets in the tray on elements 24 and 90. When the cover 95 is pivoted, the link 97 coupled to the latter rotates clockwise (relative to FIG. 2) a pair of cams 98 and 99 which bear against the lower surface of the element 90, rotating it up above the fingers 26 and 27. In this way, when the user of the machine places the sheets of paper on the tray, the cover is first lifted, thus causing an upward rotation of the element 90 which makes it possible to deposit the sheets of paper thereon without any of the sheets being able to separate from the stack and fall below the fingers 26 and 27. When rotate the cover clockwise and place it on top of the sheet pile the paper ones, the cams 98 and 99 sink, thus allowing the element 90 to pass below the plane of the fingers 26 and 27, which then support the stack of sheets. The cover 95 also makes it possible to separate the blank sheets from the sheets already printed so that the user can easily grasp them, and, because of its weight, increases the pressure exerted by the stack of sheets of paper on the wheel 29 of the shift device , and on the support elements 24, 25, 26 and 27.

Afin de pouvoir utiliser des feuilles de papier de différentes longueurs, il est préférable que le détecteur 35, comme le montre la figure 1, soit monté sur une glissière 100 que comporte l'élément 24 du plateau, cette glissière pouvant glisser dans une rainure 101 comportant diverses positions d'arrêt telles que les positions 102 et 103 afin de permettre à l'utilisateur de choisir la position du détecteur supérieur 35 en fonction de la longueur des feuilles de papier utilisées. Il serait évidemment possible d'apporter des modifications appropriées au plateau afin que celui-ci puisse, si nécessaire, se déplacer latéralement de manière à permettre l'emploi de feuilles de papier de largeurs variables.In order to be able to use sheets of paper of different lengths, it is preferable for the detector 35, as shown in FIG. 1, to be mounted on a slide 100 that the element 24 of the tray has, this slide being able to slide in a groove 101 comprising various stop positions such as positions 102 and 103 in order to allow the user to choose the position of the upper detector 35 as a function of the length of the sheets of paper used. It would obviously be possible to make appropriate modifications to the tray so that it can, if necessary, move laterally so as to allow the use of sheets of paper of variable widths.

Comme le montre la figure 1, le dispositif d'alimentation est de préférence disposé de manière à faire un angle avec la base de la machine à écrire 10 afin que les feuilles de papier puissent plus aisément être amenées sur la platine 12. La fente 50 doit donc être disposée de manière à faire un angle donné dans le cas de l'emploi d'une machine à écrire donnée et peut être aisément connectée à la partie arrière du châssis de la machine en utilisant, par exemple, le support 104 de façon classique, par exemple au moyen de vis auto-taraudeuses, d'écrous à oreilles, de boulons, etc., ou peut éventuellement être solidaire de la machine à écrire.As shown in FIG. 1, the feed device is preferably arranged so as to make an angle with the base of the typewriter 10 so that the sheets of paper can more easily be brought to the plate 12. The slot 50 must therefore be arranged so as to make a given angle in the case of the use of a given typewriter and can be easily connected to the rear part of the frame of the machine using, for example, the support 104 so conventional, for example by means of self-tapping screws, wing nuts, bolts, etc., or may optionally be integral with the typewriter.

Par ailleurs, comme le montre la figure 3, on peut éventuellement utiliser une grille métallique 110 présentant une forme convexe et comportant une ouverture 28a destinée à permettre le passage de la roue 29. Cette grille est de préférence soutenue dans le plateau de manière à provoquer une courbure de la pile de feuilles 30 dans le sens désiré, et permet, lorsqu'elle est reliée à la masse, l'écoulement des charges électrostatiques existant sur la feuille inférieure 30a de la pile 30.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, one can optionally use a metal grid 110 having a convex shape and comprising an opening 28a intended to allow the passage of the wheel 29. This grid is preferably rence supported in the tray so as to cause a curvature of the stack of sheets 30 in the desired direction, and allows, when connected to ground, the flow of electrostatic charges existing on the bottom sheet 30a of the stack 30 .

Le dispositif d'alimentation de la présente invention est à la fois simple et peu onéreux et peut aisément être utilisé avec une machine à écrire automatique.The feeding device of the present invention is both simple and inexpensive and can easily be used with an automatic typewriter.

Bien que l'on ait décrit dans ce qui précède et représenté sur les dessins les caractéristiques essentielles de l'invention appliquées à un mode de réalisation préféré de celle-ci, il est évident que l'homme de l'art peut y apporter toutes modifications de forme ou de détail qu'il juge utiles, sans pour autant sortir du cadre de ladite invention.Although the essential characteristics of the invention applied to a preferred embodiment of the invention have been described in the foregoing and represented in the drawings, it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can provide all of them. modifications of form or detail which he judges useful, without departing from the scope of said invention.

Claims (8)

1. Dispositif d'alimentation en feuilles individuelles pour imprimante munie d'une platine (12) de maintien et d'avance des feuilles individuelles, du genre comprenant: un plateau rectangulaire (21) pour supporter ladite pile de feuilles et disposé au voisinage de ladite platine (12), des moyens de séparation de feuilles pour séparer la feuille inférieure du reste de la pile,
caractérisé en ce que : ledit plateau (21) comporte un support arrière (24) et un support avant (26, 27) séparés par un espace, pour supporter respectivement les parties arrière et avant de la pile, ladite partie avant étant celle située la plus près de ladite platine, lesdits moyens de séparation comportent : au moins une roue de décalage de feuilles 29 disposée dans ledit espace et susceptible de coopérer avec la feuille inférieure (30a) de la pile, des moyens d'entraînement en rotation (32) de ladite roue (29), des moyens de commande (31) répondant à un premier signal de commande pour entraîner lesdits moyens d'entraînement (32) dans un premier sens tendant à déplacer là feuille inférieure (30a) dans le sens arrière, des premiers moyens de détection (35) pour détecter le moment où le bord avant de ladite feuille inférieure (30a) n'est plus supporté par ledit support avant (26, 27) du plateau (21) pour produire en réponse un second signal de commande, et appliquer ce signal auxdits moyens de commande (31) afin d'entraîner lesdits moyens d'entraînement (32) dans un second sens opposé au premier, ce qui a pour effet d'entraîner ladite feuille inférieure (30a) dans le sens avant et des moyens de guidage (25a) disposés au-dessous dudit support avant (26, 27) pour coopérer avec le bord avant de ladite feuille inférieure (30a) lorsqu'elle se déplace dans ledit second sens et l'orienter vers ladite platine (12). 1 . Device for supplying individual sheets for a printer provided with a plate (12) for holding and advancing individual sheets, of the type comprising: a rectangular plate (21) for supporting said stack of sheets and disposed in the vicinity of said plate (12), sheet separation means for separating the bottom sheet from the rest of the stack,
characterized in that: said tray (21) has a rear support (24) and a front support (26, 27) separated by a space, for supporting the rear and front parts of the stack respectively, said front part being that located closest to said plate , said separation means include: at least one sheet shifting wheel 29 disposed in said space and capable of cooperating with the bottom sheet (30a) of the stack, means for driving in rotation (32) said wheel (29), control means (31) responding to a first control signal to drive said drive means (32) in a first direction tending to move the lower sheet (30a) backwards, first detection means (35) for detecting the moment when the front edge of said bottom sheet (30a) is no longer supported by said front support (26, 27) of the plate (21) to produce in response a second signal of control, and applying this signal to said control means (31) in order to drive said drive means (32) in a second direction opposite to the first, which has the effect of driving said bottom sheet (30a) in the direction before and guide means (25a) arranged below said front support (26, 27) for cooperating with the front edge of said bottom sheet (30a) when it moves in said second direction and orienting it towards said plate (12 ). 2. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit support avant comprend deux doigts (26, 27) disposés symétriquement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal dudit plateau (21).2. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that said front support comprises two fingers (26, 27) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said plate (21). 3. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de guidage (25a) comprennent deux languettes inclinées vers le bas disposées au-dessous desdits doigts (26, 27).3. Feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that said guide means (25a) comprise two downwardly inclined tongues arranged below said fingers (26, 27). 4. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des premiers moyens d'entraînement de feuilles (40, 40a) disposés à la sortie desdits moyens de guidage (25a) pour saisir la feuille extraite dudit plateau (21) et la diriger vers ladite platine (12).4. Feeding device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises first sheet drive means (40, 40a) arranged at the outlet of said guide means (25a) for gripping the sheet extracted from said plate (21) and direct it towards said plate (12). 5. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des seconds moyens de détection (36) pour détecter le passage d'une feuille dans lesdits premiers moyens d'entraînement (40, 40a) de feuille, produire en réponse un signal de commande, et appliquer ce signal auxdits moyens de commande (31) afin de stopper les moyens d'entraînement en rotation (32) de ladite roue (29).5. Feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises second means for detection (36) for detecting the passage of a sheet in said first sheet driving means (40, 40a), producing in response a control signal, and applying this signal to said control means (31) in order to stop the means for driving in rotation (32) said wheel (29). 6. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens (42, 43) pour coupler lesdits premiers moyens d'entraînement de feuille (40, 40a) avec les moyens d'avance (43) de ladite platine (12) afin de faire avancer lesdits premiers moyens d'entraînement de feuille (40, 40a) en même temps et de la même façon que ladite platine.6. Feeding device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises means (42, 43) for coupling said first sheet driving means (40, 40a) with the advancing means (43 ) of said plate (12) in order to advance said first sheet driving means (40, 40a) at the same time and in the same way as said plate. 7. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des seconds moyens d'entraînement de feuille (46, 47) disposés au voisinage de ladite platine (12) et au-dessus desdits premiers moyens d'entraînement de feuilles (40, 40a), destinés à saisir le bord avant de la feuille sortant de ladite platine (12) et ramener cette dernière sur ledit plateau (21), lesdits seconds moyens d'entraînement de feuille (46, 47) étant également couplés aux moyens d'avance (43a) de ladite platine (12).7. Feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises second sheet drive means (46, 47) arranged in the vicinity of said plate (12) and above said first drive means sheets (40, 40a), intended to grip the front edge of the sheet leaving said plate (12) and bring the latter back onto said plate (21), said second sheet driving means (46, 47) also being coupled to the advance means (43a) of said plate (12). 8. Dispositif d'alimentation selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un couvercle (95) destiné à reposer sur la pile dé feuilles vierges (30) après chargement du plateau et à séparer les feuilles vierges des feuilles imprimées amenées sur ledit plateau par lesdits seconds moyens d'entraînement (46, 47) de feuilles.8. Feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cover (95) intended to rest on the stack of blank sheets (30) after loading the tray and to separate the blank sheets from the printed sheets brought to said tray by said second drive means (46, 47) of sheets.
EP19800105499 1979-10-17 1980-09-15 Individual-sheet feeding device Expired EP0027546B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8582679A 1979-10-17 1979-10-17
US85826 1979-10-17

Publications (3)

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EP0027546A2 true EP0027546A2 (en) 1981-04-29
EP0027546A3 EP0027546A3 (en) 1982-09-29
EP0027546B1 EP0027546B1 (en) 1985-02-06

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800105499 Expired EP0027546B1 (en) 1979-10-17 1980-09-15 Individual-sheet feeding device

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EP (1) EP0027546B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS601252B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1149313A (en)
DE (1) DE3070115D1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0036072A1 (en) * 1980-03-18 1981-09-23 International Business Machines Corporation Sheet paper feed apparatus
EP0320048A2 (en) * 1987-12-05 1989-06-14 Philips Patentverwaltung GmbH Office machine with a paper cartridge

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS57210877A (en) * 1981-06-20 1982-12-24 Usac Electronics Ind Co Ltd Paper feeder in printer

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237874A (en) * 1939-10-24 1941-04-08 Remington Rand Inc Paper feeding device
US3350089A (en) * 1965-06-15 1967-10-31 Frederick Post Co Sheet-feeding method and apparatus
DE2054935A1 (en) * 1970-11-07 1972-05-10 Anker Werke Ag Document feed and separation device on booking machines or the like
US4165870A (en) * 1978-03-20 1979-08-28 International Business Machines Corporation Wave generator to shingle sheets

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237874A (en) * 1939-10-24 1941-04-08 Remington Rand Inc Paper feeding device
US3350089A (en) * 1965-06-15 1967-10-31 Frederick Post Co Sheet-feeding method and apparatus
DE2054935A1 (en) * 1970-11-07 1972-05-10 Anker Werke Ag Document feed and separation device on booking machines or the like
US4165870A (en) * 1978-03-20 1979-08-28 International Business Machines Corporation Wave generator to shingle sheets

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0036072A1 (en) * 1980-03-18 1981-09-23 International Business Machines Corporation Sheet paper feed apparatus
EP0036072B1 (en) * 1980-03-18 1984-05-16 International Business Machines Corporation Sheet paper feed apparatus
EP0320048A2 (en) * 1987-12-05 1989-06-14 Philips Patentverwaltung GmbH Office machine with a paper cartridge
EP0320048A3 (en) * 1987-12-05 1990-01-17 Philips Patentverwaltung Gmbh Office machine with a paper cartridge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0027546B1 (en) 1985-02-06
EP0027546A3 (en) 1982-09-29
CA1149313A (en) 1983-07-05
JPS5661249A (en) 1981-05-26
DE3070115D1 (en) 1985-03-21
JPS601252B2 (en) 1985-01-12

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