FR2776279A1 - Paper sheet two track transfer feed for scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

The scanner includes a processing unit (19) installed inside a processing space (41), with paper inputs (21) and outputs (23) arranged at a side of the processing space and a paper insertion feed (25). Two sheet tracks (15,17) cross the processing space. The two tracks converge towards the input/output and parts of the rollers (29A, 29B) are hinged to occupy one of two predetermined positions at which the track part (26) extends coplanar with one track.

Description

The invention relates to a device for processing sheets.

  comprising two paths for transferring such sheets, more particularly making it possible to subject a sheet to two-sided processing,

  automatically, as soon as it is engaged in said device.

  The invention applies in particular to the processing of sheets of paper, the processing being able to consist, for example, of reading graphic information located on a sheet engaged in the device or, on the contrary, of printing information on a sheet. The improvement, object of the invention, more particularly consists in optimizing the trajectory of the sheet along such a path by eliminating or reducing as much as possible, the curvatures thereof as soon as one advances therein. a sheet, this in order to avoid operating anomalies which may result in

deterioration of the leaf.

  In the following description, the term "path" designates the

  predetermined trajectory of a sheet or part of this trajectory through a given sub-assembly, independently of the material guidance means and other mechanisms which determine this trajectory. A part of the device housing at least one treatment unit and in which there are areas of activity of such a unit with respect to a sheet passing through said treatment space is also called "treatment space". borrowing

an aforementioned path.

  The invention relates more particularly to a sheet processing device of the kind indicated above capable of carrying out automatic and double-sided processing of a sheet, introduced into the device

  and successively subject to take one path then the other.

  Several devices of this type are known which are capable of providing two-sided processing, that is to say processing of the sheet on each of its faces. For example, document JP 59-99867 describes such a device comprising a mobile processing unit, mounted inside a processing space in which two parallel paths are defined. Sheet entry means and sheet exit means are arranged on one side of this processing space while sheet entry-exit means comprising an intermediate storage unit forming a switch, are arranged from the other side of the treatment space. The release of the sheet allows the movement and the inversion of the processing unit inside

  of said processing space and therefore processing in recto mode

  back. In such a device, however, the aforementioned input-output means constitute a mechanically complex and relatively bulky and expensive assembly. In addition, its implementation can cause problems depending on the type of sheets used, because of the general profile, very curved, of each path. Indeed, the leading edge of a flexible sheet risks abutting against a wall or other obstacle to the point that the sheet remains blocked, causing an operating anomaly commonly known as "paper jam". The sheet creases inside the processing device, with many folds that can damage it. This risk increases when the humidity of the ambient atmosphere is high. On the contrary, if a relatively rigid sheet is used, its leading edge risks abutting against the same type of obstacle. The sheet remains blocked causing an operating anomaly commonly called "non-feeding". The means for moving the sheet "slip" on it. This risk increases when the ambient atmosphere has a low humidity and a temperature

relatively low.

  The invention makes it possible to solve this type of problem by paying particular attention to making the sheet path as flat as possible over the entire path of the sheet. In particular, the invention results from the recognition of a critical point at the interface between the processing space and the input-output means which can constitute the means for returning

  sheet from one path to another, during a double-sided processing.

  More specifically, the invention therefore relates to a sheet processing device comprising a processing unit installed inside a processing space, sheet input means and sheet output means arranged on one side of said processing space as well as sheet entry-exit means arranged on the other side of said processing space and two sheet paths passing through it, one established between said entry means and said means input-output and the other established between said input-output means and said output means, said processing unit being able to operate in two predetermined locations of said processing space, respectively opposite the two paths and said means of entry-exit comprising a clean section of path, extending the two paths defined in the treatment space, characterized in that the two paths of the treatment space converge in the direc tion of the input-output means and in that at least a part of these latter is articulated to occupy one or the other of two predetermined positions for which said path section extends. at least approximately coplanar one or the other of said paths of the processing space, respectively. As mentioned previously, the input-output means constitute sheet return means making it possible to extract the sheet from the treatment space after a first so-called "front" treatment, to keep it waiting for the time necessary for the The processing unit switches to the reverse mode of operation and finally to reintroduce it into the treatment space by advancing it along the other path for the implementation of the reverse treatment. As a result, the input-output means comprise, in a manner known per se, an invertible sheet driving unit comprising two rollers substantially in tangential contact and between which a sheet is capable of being inserted and maintained. In this case, said own section of path by means of input-output can be defined as belonging to the tangent plane common to these two rollers. Advantageously,

  the latter are integral with the same tilting support articulated to a fixed frame.

  One of the rollers in question may be a motorized roller,

  i.e. coupled in rotation to an electric motor, preferably of the stepping type

  not. Advantageously, said tilting support can be articulated around a

  axis coincident with that of said motor roller.

  The invention can be implemented with spaces for

treatment of various structures.

  For example, in the processing space, the two aforementioned paths can be embodied by the same movable guide arrangement between two predetermined positions making it possible to ensure the passage of the sheets along one or the other of said paths. The guide arrangement and the processing unit can be part of a mobile assembly; the latter can advantageously be generally cylindrical and mounted rotating around a main axis disposed horizontally. Under these conditions, the rotation of the mobile assembly makes it possible to place the processing unit in one or the other of

  two operating positions opposite two aforementioned paths.

  The invention can also be applied in the case where the two aforementioned paths of the processing space are materialized by two fixed guide arrangements and converging in the direction of the input-output means. In this case, the processing unit alone can be mounted mobile so as to be placed opposite one or the other of the paths. It is also possible to provide that the processing unit consists of two similar sub-assemblies respectively placed permanently opposite a corresponding path. In some cases, the two elements in question may be optical systems alternately coupled by a pivoting mirror to a single optoelectronic processing unit, the assembly being fixed inside.

processing space.

  The processing unit can, depending on the case, carry out very different treatments. With regard to the processing of a sheet of paper, it may for example essentially comprise a read head and a pressing means

  arranged to apply a moving sheet against this read head.

  The device then constitutes a "scanner" for the development of digital information representative of a graphic worn on the sheet. The same

  device can be integrated into a fax machine.

  The processing unit can also include a printing means, of any known type, for example of the thermal transfer type or

inkjet or laser.

  The invention also relates to any office automation machine characterized in that it comprises or is equipped with a sheet processing device according to the above definition and more particularly according to the embodiments and variants mentioned. The machine can essentially constitute a scanner, a fax machine or a printer, depending on the type of processing. The processing device integrated into this office automation machine can be equipped with means for connection to a computer. The invention also relates to any microcomputer characterized in that it comprises at least

  a device for processing sheets in accordance with the description above.

  In the case where the processing means and the guide means materializing the paths inside the processing space are integrated into a mobile assembly, preferably generally cylindrical and mounted

  rotating around a main axis, the articulated part of the input means

  outlet, located outside the moving element, may comprise an actuating lever or the like placed on the path of a control element secured to the moving element. Thus, it is the very rotation of the latter which conditions the orientation of said path section specific to said input-output means. The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof

  will appear more clearly in the light of the description of a device for

  treatment of sheets in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a currently preferred embodiment of a processing device sheets according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another position of the movable assembly of the sheet processing device; - Figure 3 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1 illustrating more particularly the motorization system; Figure 4 is a schematic view similar to Figure 2 illustrating more particularly the motorization system; and - Figure 5 is a block diagram of an electronic card of

  device control according to figure 1.

  The sheet processing device illustrated in the drawings is here an office automation machine 11 comprising a processing space 13, here of generally cylindrical shape, inside which is a processing unit 19 as well as two sheet paths, 15 , 17 crossing it. The paths mentioned here have the definition indicated above and represent in

  makes the possible trajectories of a sheet inside the processing space.

  The latter is essentially occupied by a generally cylindrical moving element 41, mounted to rotate about its longitudinal main axis O, arranged horizontally and supported by a frame 18. The latter also carries sheet entry means 21, exit means sheet 23 and sheet input-output means 25. The input means 21 and the output means 23 are placed on the same side of the moving element 41 while the input-output means 25 are placed on the other side of the moving part. They are all arranged at the periphery of the treatment space 17 and outside of it, but carried by the frame 18. The path 15, crossing the treatment space, is established between the input means 21 and the input-output means 25 while the path 17 is established between the input-output means 25 and the output means 23. The processing unit 19 is integral with the mobile assembly and rotates with it , it is therefore able to operate at two predetermined locations in the processing space, respectively opposite the two paths 15 and 17,

  as shown by comparing Figures 1 and 2.

  The input-output means 25 comprise a section of clean path 26 extending the two paths 15 and 17 defined in the processing space. More specifically, paths 15 and 17 converge towards

  input-output means 25 and meet in the immediate vicinity of these.

  These input-output means thus constitute sheet return means for a two-sided operating mode of the device and comprise, in a manner known per se, a sheet drive unit 28 with invertible control comprising two rollers 29A, 29B parallel to the axis O of the moving element, that is to say horizontal. These rollers are substantially in tangential contact and a sheet is capable of being introduced between them. We can therefore consider that said clean path section 26 is defined in the

  tangent plane common to these two rollers 29A, 29B.

  According to a remarkable characteristic of the invention, at least a portion of the input-output means 25 is articulated to occupy one or the other of two predetermined positions for which said own path section 26 extends at least approximately coplanar with either of these paths 15, 17 of the processing space, respectively. In the example, the two paths are materialized in the treatment space by the same guide arrangement 39 movable between two predetermined positions (shown in Figures 1 and 2) allowing

  ensuring the passage of the sheets along one or the other of said paths.

  Consequently, according to the invention, for one or the other of the two operating positions of the movable assembly (double-sided), said articulated part of the input-output means 25 will be placed in one or the other of the two predetermined positions, respectively, for which the tangent plane common to the two rollers will be in the natural extension of the guide arrangement. In the example described, this plane is practically in the same plane as the part adjacent to path 15, in the front operating position (FIG. 1) while it forms a very sharp dihedral with the part adjacent to path 17, in the reverse operating position

(figure 2).

  The two rollers 29A, 29B of the input-output means are integral with the same tilting support 61 (Figures 3 and 4) articulated to the frame. One of the rollers 29A is a motor roller coupled in rotation to an electric motor, preferably of the stepping type. The tilting support is here

  advantageously articulated around an axis O 'coincident with that of the roller-

  engine. In other words, to move from one position to another, said articulated part of the input-output means (essentially the non-motorized roller)

  rocks around the axis O 'of the roller 29A.

  The articulated part of the input-output means, (more particularly here the tilting support 61), comprises an actuating lever 62 or the like, placed on the path of at least one control element secured to the movable assembly. Thus, it is the very rotation of this movable element 41 which determines the change in position of the input-output means 25. In the example shown, the movable element comprises two such control elements, forming sorts of tabs 63, 64 and placed so as to cooperate with the actuating lever 62, respectively for one or the other of two positions of the movable assembly corresponding respectively to one or the other of said two predetermined positions of

  the guide arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say

  tell the operating positions of the moving element 41.

  Furthermore, as appears in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inlet means 21 are composed of two parallel rollers 45A, 45B substantially in tangential contact and of a guide 46. Likewise, the outlet means 23 are composed of two parallel rollers 47A, 47B, substantially in tangential contact and of a guide 48. The rollers 45A and 47A are motor rollers coupled to the same motor M1, of the stepping type, carried by the frame 18. The means input-output 25 which form means for returning a sheet during processing are provided with a specific electric motor M2, coupled to the motor roller 29A. This motor is reversibly controlled and carried by the frame 18. In this way, controlling the motor in one direction or the other makes it possible to extract a sheet of the processing space when it moves in the direction of the first path 15 and then reintroduce it into the same processing space, after rotation of the moving assembly, in the direction of the second path 17. Between these two processing steps, the orientation of the input-output means 25 has been modified during the rotation of the movable assembly from the front position to the back position, by the action of the cleat 63 on the lever 62. The orientation of the input-output means is again modified in the other direction during the rotation of the moving element 41 from the back position to the front position, by the action of the cleat 64 on the

lever 62.

  Furthermore, the moving element 41 is rotated, in one direction or the other, by an electric motor M3 carried by the frame 18. This is

  for example of a stepper motor with reversible control.

  The moving element 41 also includes a presser means in contact with a treatment face of the treatment unit 19. A sheet of

  treat can be engaged between the presser means and the treatment face.

  In the example, this presser means is a presser roller 65 which is also a motor roller coupled in rotation to an electric motor M4 carried by the mobile assembly. Thus, the pressure roller 65 has the dual function of applying the sheet against the processing face of the processing unit and participating in the driving of the sheet during its movement in

the moving part 41.

  FIG. 5 represents a simplified diagram of an electronic card intended to be associated with the device described above for controlling the implementation of its various functions. This electronic card mainly comprises, linked together by an address and data bus 116: - a central processing unit 111, - a random access memory 112, - a read-only memory 113, - an input-output port 114 serving to receive the information entered on a user interface 119 or supplied by the processing unit 19 and

  to the user interface 119, in particular for displaying the functions.

  The random access memory 112 receives and stores the information resulting from the processing of the sheets, if it is for example a scanner or necessary for the implementation of this processing, if it is for example a printer . It communicates, via a parallel input-output port 114 'with an operating system (PC) such as a computer where said information can be transferred or processed. It also includes a special register 112a in which the operating parameters of the processing unit are kept. A portion 118 of the read-only memory 113 is adapted to keep the operating program of the central processing unit 111. The latter is adapted to implement the processing procedures and in particular the position changes of the moving equipment causing those of the input-output means as indicated above, it manages the command

  motors 111 to 114 via a power interface 117.

  When the processing procedure is launched by the central unit 111, the motors M1 and M4 are set in motion, in order to insert a sheet in the input means 21 and to introduce it into the processing space 13, that is to say more particularly in the guide arrangement 39. Its processing is then implemented. The M2 motor is also used

movement in the first direction.

  If the single-sided processing mode, programmed by an operator on the control panel of the device, has been chosen, the rollers of the input-output means 25, driven by the motor M2, eject the sheet

  definitely. Then the motors M1, M2 and M3 are stopped.

  If the duplex mode has been chosen, the rollers of the output input means 25 are controlled to remove the sheet from the processing space 13; it nevertheless remains retained between the rollers 29A and 29B, in the vicinity of its trailing edge. This movement must be sufficient so that the trailing edge does not hamper the rotation of the moving element. The motor M3 is then set in motion, causing the rotation of the moving element 41, according to arrow 50. When the moving element is in the vicinity of its operating position "back", FIGS. 2 and 4, the lever 62 cooperates with the cleat 63, tilting the support 61 according to the arrow 51. Said section of the path 26 is thus "aligned" with the path 17, when the mobile assembly 41 has reached its

"back" operating position.

  The motor M2 drives the input-output means in a second direction. The movement of the sheet is reversed and the trailing edge becomes the leading edge. This last is then directed again towards the mobile assembly 41, enters it and progresses in the guide arrangement 39. The processing of the sheet is implemented and the motors M1 and M4 drive the output means 23 and the pressure roller 65 to finally eject

  definitely the leaf, treated on both sides.

  The motor M3 then causes the mobile assembly to rotate in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow 50 in FIG. 4, in order to bring the mobile assembly 41 back to the standby position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. When the moving part is in the vicinity of its "front" operating position, FIGS. 1 and 3, the lever 62 cooperates with the cleat 64, tilting the support 61 in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow 51 in FIGS. 2 and 4. The section of path 26 is thus again aligned with path 15 when

  the moving element 41 reaches its "front" operating position.

  In addition, if in the abovementioned embodiments, up to four motors are used to perform the different operations, a different number of motors can be used, or even a single motor coupled by a set of gears suitable for the input means , output, input-output, to the pressure roller 65 and to the movable assembly 41. Depending on the nature of the processing unit (reading means or printing means), it will be possible to design several office automation machines. operating on this principle. Among the possible machines, we will mainly use a document scanner or a printer. It is also possible to design a fax machine comprising a reading unit and a

  printing unit operating on this principle.

Claims (16)

  1- Sheet processing device comprising a processing unit (19) installed inside a processing space (41), sheet input means (21) and sheet output means (23) arranged on one side of said processing space as well as sheet input-output means (25) arranged on the other side of said processing space and two sheet paths (15, 17) passing through it, I ' a workbench between said means of entry and   said input-output means and the other established between said input-   exit and said exit means, said processing unit being able to operate in two predetermined locations of said treatment space, respectively opposite the two paths and said entry-exit means comprising a section of clean path (26), extending the two paths defined in the processing space, characterized in that the two paths (15, 17) of the processing space converge in the direction of the input-output means and in that at least some of these the latter is articulated to occupy one or the other of two predetermined positions for which said path section (26) extends at least approximately coplanar one or the other of said paths (15, 17) of the space of treatment, respectively.  2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said input-output means constitute sheet return means and comprise, in a manner known per se, a reversible control sheet drive unit comprising two rollers (29A , 29B) substantially in tangential contact between which a sheet may be introduced, said path section (26) being defined in the tangent plane common to these two rollers and in that the latter are integral with the same support   tilting (61) articulated to a fixed frame (18).   3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the rollers is a motor roller coupled in rotation to an electric motor   M2, preferably of the step-by-step type.   4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said tilting support (61) is articulated around an axis coincident with that of said motorized roller (29A).   - Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the two aforementioned paths are materialized, in said processing space, by the same guide arrangement (39) movable between two predetermined positions making it possible to ensure the passage of the sheets the   along either of said paths.   6- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said guide arrangement (39) and said processing unit (19) are part of a mobile equipment.   7- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said movable assembly is generally cylindrical and mounted to rotate about a main axis O.   8- Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in   that said articulated part of the input-output means comprises an actuating lever (62) or the like placed on the path of a control element   (63, 64) integral with said mobile assembly.   9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said movable assembly comprises two such control elements (63, 64), forming tabs, placed so as to cooperate with said actuating lever (62) respectively for one or the other of two positions of the moving assembly corresponding respectively to one or the other of said two positions   of the guide arrangement.   10- Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said processing unit (19) comprises at least one Reading head.   11- Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in   that said processing unit (19) comprises at least one means printing.   12- Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in   that the two aforementioned paths are materialized by two arrangements of fixed, converging guides.   13- Office machine characterized in that it comprises or is equipped with a sheet processing device according to one of the previous claims.   14- Office machine according to claim 13,   characterized in that it essentially constitutes a document scanner.   - Office machine according to claim 13,   characterized in that it essentially constitutes a fax machine.   16- Office machine according to claim 13,   characterized in that it essentially constitutes a printer.   17- Office machine according to one of claims 13 to   16, characterized in that said sheet processing device is equipped with   means of connection (114 ') to a computer.   18- Microcomputer characterized in that it comprises at least one   sheet processing device according to one of claims 1 to 12.