US20100270729A1 - Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same - Google Patents
Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100270729A1 US20100270729A1 US12/557,306 US55730609A US2010270729A1 US 20100270729 A1 US20100270729 A1 US 20100270729A1 US 55730609 A US55730609 A US 55730609A US 2010270729 A1 US2010270729 A1 US 2010270729A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- sensor
- document
- roller module
- feeding channel
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
- B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/18—Handling of layers or the laminate
- B32B38/1825—Handling of layers or the laminate characterised by the control or constructional features of devices for tensioning, stretching or registration
- B32B38/1833—Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
- B32B38/1841—Positioning, e.g. registration or centering during laying up
- B32B38/185—Positioning, e.g. registration or centering during laying up combined with the cutting of one or more layers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B41/00—Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/20—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
- B65H39/14—Associating sheets with webs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
- B65H7/20—Controlling associated apparatus
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2309/00—Parameters for the laminating or treatment process; Apparatus details
- B32B2309/70—Automated, e.g. using a computer or microcomputer
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2309/00—Parameters for the laminating or treatment process; Apparatus details
- B32B2309/70—Automated, e.g. using a computer or microcomputer
- B32B2309/72—For measuring or regulating, e.g. systems with feedback loops
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2429/00—Carriers for sound or information
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
- B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
- B32B37/16—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating
- B32B37/22—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating involving the assembly of both discrete and continuous layers
- B32B37/223—One or more of the layers being plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
- B65H2301/443—Moving, forwarding, guiding material by acting on surface of handled material
- B65H2301/4432—Moving, forwarding, guiding material by acting on surface of handled material by means having an operating surface contacting only one face of the material, e.g. roller
- B65H2301/44324—Rollers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
- B65H2301/445—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other
- B65H2301/4452—Regulating space between separated articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
- B65H2301/54—Auxiliary process performed during handling process for managing processing of handled material
- B65H2301/541—Counting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/50—Occurence
- B65H2511/51—Presence
- B65H2511/514—Particular portion of element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/50—Timing
- B65H2513/512—Starting; Stopping
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/13—Parts concerned of the handled material
- B65H2701/131—Edges
- B65H2701/1311—Edges leading edge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/13—Parts concerned of the handled material
- B65H2701/131—Edges
- B65H2701/1313—Edges trailing edge
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a spacing interval control method, and more particularly to a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents.
- the present invention also relates to a sheet laminating apparatus using such a spacing interval control method.
- automatic document feeders are widely used in a diversity of document processing machines such as printers, copiers and multifunction peripherals.
- the automatic document feeders are used for successively feeding a stack of documents into the inner portion of the document processing machine so as to implement associated operations and achieve the labor-saving purpose.
- the conventional automatic document feeders still have some drawbacks.
- the conventional automatic document feeder is only designed to feed the documents into the inner portion of the document processing machine.
- the manufacturer of the conventional automatic document feeder does not consider whether the spacing between any two successive documents in the feeding path is equal.
- the conventional automatic document feeder is applied to a sheet laminating apparatus, the automatic document feeder becomes hindrance from operating the sheet laminating apparatus.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating apparatus.
- the conventional automatic document feeder 11 comprises a sheet pick-up roller 111 and a sheet feeding channel 112 .
- the sheet feeding channel 112 is arranged between the sheet pick-up roller 111 and a sheet laminating mechanism 12 .
- a sheet ejecting path 13 is arranged at the outlet of the sheet laminating mechanism 12 .
- the sheet pick-up roller 111 is used for successively feeding multiple documents 14 into the sheet feeding channel 112 .
- the documents 14 are subject to a heating and pressing operation (also referred as a laminating operation) by the sheet laminating mechanism 12 .
- a heating and pressing operation also referred as a laminating operation
- the documents 14 are covered with a protective film 15 , thereby ejecting corresponding film-covering documents 16 to the sheet ejecting path 13 .
- the film-covering documents 16 are transported across an automatic cutting mechanism 17 .
- the cutting lines 19 of these film-covering documents 16 are successively cut by the automatic cutting mechanism 17 , so that the film-covering documents 16 are cut into multiple separate laminated documents 18 .
- the spacing interval between any two film-covering documents 16 should be identical. If the spacing intervals between the adjacent film-covering documents 16 are not identical, the positions of some cutting lines 19 are improper. Under this circumstance, the sizes of the laminated documents 18 are different or the laminated documents 18 are possibly damaged.
- the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents in the sheet feeding channel should be kept constant.
- the documents are successively fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller at a constant time interval or at a specified distance between any two documents. Since the documents are transported by the sheet pick-up roller due to a friction force, the time periods required for feeding the documents into the sheet feeding channel are usually different. In other words, the conventional method fails to achieve the purpose of controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents.
- a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents.
- the documents are successively transported from an automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism includes a sheet entrance, a sheet exit communicating with the sheet laminating mechanism, a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor.
- the multiple documents are successively transported from the sheet entrance to the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the spacing interval control method includes the following steps.
- a step (A) the multiple documents are successively fed and transported into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module, so that the documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the first sensor is used to detect a specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel. Once a tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module stops transporting the specified document.
- the second sensor is used to detect the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel and a next document following the specified document.
- the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled again, so that the specified document is continuously transported and the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the first sensor and spaced from the first sensor by the spacing interval.
- the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- a sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents.
- the multiple documents are successively transported from the automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism includes a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up roller module, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor.
- the sheet feeding channel is arranged within the automatic document feeding mechanism and used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents.
- the sheet pick-up roller module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance.
- the transfer roller module is used for transporting the multiple documents from the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with the sheet laminating mechanism.
- the first sensor and the second sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses of the documents in the sheet feeding channel.
- the first sensor and the second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing interval. Once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by the first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by the second sensor, the specified document and the next document are simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing interval and successively fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of the multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- the transfer roller module includes a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- the sheet pick-up roller module includes a sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents.
- the multiple documents are successively heated and pressing by a sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism.
- the sheet laminating apparatus includes a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents, a transfer roller module, a first sensor, a second sensor, a heating and pressing mechanism, a sheet entrance and a sheet exit communicating with an inlet of the heating and pressing mechanism.
- the multiple documents are successively transported from the sheet entrance to the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the spacing interval control method includes the following steps.
- a step (A) the multiple documents are successively fed and transported into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module, so that the documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the first sensor is used to detect a specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel. Once a tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module stops transporting the specified document.
- the second sensor is used to detect the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel and a next document following the specified document.
- the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled again, so that the specified document is continuously transported and the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module.
- the second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the first sensor and spaced from the first sensor by the spacing interval.
- a step (D) the documents that are transported to the sheet exit are heated and pressed by the heating and pressing mechanism.
- the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the heating and pressing mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the heating and pressing mechanism.
- a sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents and heating and pressing the documents.
- the multiple documents are successively heated and pressing by the sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism.
- the sheet laminating apparatus includes a heating and pressing mechanism, a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up roller module, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor.
- the heating and pressing mechanism is used for heating and pressing the multiple documents.
- the sheet feeding channel is arranged within the sheet laminating apparatus and used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents.
- the sheet pick-up roller module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance.
- the transfer roller module is used for transporting the multiple documents from the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with the heating and pressing mechanism.
- the first sensor and a second sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses of the documents in the sheet feeding channel. The first sensor and the second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing interval.
- the specified document and the next document are simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing interval and successively fed into the heating and pressing mechanism.
- the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of the multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- the transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- the transfer roller module includes a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- the sheet pick-up roller module includes a sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating apparatus
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two documents.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- the sheet laminating apparatus comprises an automatic document feeding mechanism 2 and a sheet laminating mechanism 3 .
- the sheet laminating mechanism 3 is connected to the rear end of a sheet feeding channel of the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 .
- the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 comprises a sheet entrance 20 , a sheet exit 21 , a sheet feeding channel 22 , a sheet pick-up roller module 23 , a first sensor 24 , a second sensor 25 , a fourth sensor 27 and a transfer roller module 28 .
- the sheet pick-up roller module 23 is arranged in the vicinity of the sheet entrance 20 , and comprises a sheet pick-up roller 231 , a sheet separation roller 232 and a sheet separation slice 233 .
- the sheet feeding channel 22 is used as a path for transmitting documents.
- the sheet feeding channel 22 is arranged between the sheet entrance 20 and the sheet exit 21 .
- the sheet exit 21 communicates with an inlet of the sheet laminating mechanism 3 .
- the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28 are used for transporting the document that is in the sheet feeding channel 22 .
- the first sensor 24 , the second sensor 25 and the fourth sensor 27 are used for detecting the transporting status of the document. In this embodiment, the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 are spaced from each other by a spacing interval D.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the transfer roller module 28 of the second embodiment comprises a first transfer roller assembly 281 and a second transfer roller assembly 282 .
- the first transfer roller assembly 281 can replace the sheet pick-up roller module 23 to transport the document that is in the sheet feeding channel 22 .
- the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 of the second embodiment further comprises a third sensor 26 to detect the transporting status of the document.
- FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents.
- a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents with reference to FIG. 4 .
- the documents are successively fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 through the sheet entrance 20 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 .
- these documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and/or the transfer roller module 28 .
- step S 2 a specified document that is transported in the sheet feeding channel 22 is detected by the first sensor 24 . Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor 24 , the transfer roller module 28 stops transporting the specified document.
- step S 3 the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel 22 and a next document following the specified document are detected by the second sensor 25 .
- the transfer roller module 28 is enabled again to transport the specified document.
- the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and/or the transfer roller module 28 .
- step S 4 the document that is transported to the sheet exit 21 is heated and pressed by the sheet laminating mechanism 3 .
- the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 is enabled.
- the sheet separation roller 232 and the sheet separation slice 233 offers a friction force on the document, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 .
- the frictional forces resulted from the documents, the sheet separation slice 233 and the sheet separation roller 232 should be elaborately controlled. It is preferred that the frictional force U 3 between the document and the sheet separation roller 232 is greater than the frictional force U 1 between the document and the sheet separation slice 233 , and the frictional force U 1 is greater than the frictional force U 2 between the documents (i.e. U 3 >U 1 >U 2 ).
- a document (e.g. a first document) is fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 . Since the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28 are enabled at this moment, the first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28 . Even if the tail edge of the first document is detected by the second sensor 25 , the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28 are continuously enabled and thus the first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 . Meanwhile, the next document (e.g. a second document) is fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 .
- the next document e.g. a second document
- a first document is fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 . Since the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23 ) and the second transfer roller assembly 282 are enabled at this moment, the first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23 ) and the second transfer roller assembly 282 . Even if the tail edge of the first document is detected by the third sensor 26 (or the second sensor 25 ), the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23 ) and the second transfer roller assembly 282 are continuously enabled and thus the first document is advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 . Meanwhile, a second document is fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 .
- the transfer roller module 28 is disabled and stops transporting the first document.
- the second sensor 25 waits for detecting the second document following the first document. Once the front edge of the second document is detected by the second sensor 25 , the transfer roller module 28 will be enabled again. As such, the first document is continuously transported and the second document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 and the transfer roller module 28 .
- the second transfer roller assembly 282 is disabled and stops transporting the first document.
- the second sensor 25 waits for detecting the second document following the first document. Once the front edge of the second document is detected by the second sensor 25 , the second transfer roller assembly 282 will be enabled again. As such, the first document is continuously transported and the second document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 by the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23 ) and the second transfer roller assembly 282 .
- the first document and the second document are simultaneously advanced in the sheet feeding channel 22 when the front edge of the second document is detected by the second sensor 25 and the tail edge of said first document is detected by the first sensor 24 .
- the multiple documents could be successively fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 at a constant spacing interval D between any two adjacent documents.
- the documents following the second document are successively fed into the sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-up roller module 23 according to the above-mentioned control method.
- the multiple documents could be successively fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 at a constant spacing interval D between any two adjacent documents.
- the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 further comprises a fourth sensor 27 at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel 22 .
- the fourth sensor 27 could discriminate whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 .
- the fourth sensor 27 could count the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 . According to the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism 3 , the user can discriminate whether any paper jam event or other breakdown event occurs within the automatic document feeding mechanism 2 .
- the documents are successively transported to the sheet exit 21 and heated and pressed by the sheet laminating mechanism 3 .
- an automatic cutting mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that is connected to the outlet of the sheet laminating mechanism 3 , the heated and pressed documents are then cut into multiple separate laminated documents. Since there is a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of the heated and pressed documents, the automatic cutting mechanism is set to cut the heated and pressed documents at a constant cutting cycle. In other words, the heated and pressed documents could be easily cut into identical-sized laminated documents.
Abstract
A spacing interval control method is used in a sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The sheet laminating apparatus includes an automatic document feeding mechanism and a sheet laminating mechanism. By means of multiple sensors within the automatic document feeding mechanism, multiple documents are successively transported from the automatic document feeding mechanism to the sheet laminating mechanism at a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. As a consequence, the documents after being heated or pressed by the sheet laminating mechanism will be cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents.
Description
- The present invention relates to a spacing interval control method, and more particularly to a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents. The present invention also relates to a sheet laminating apparatus using such a spacing interval control method.
- With the maturity of automatic document technologies, automatic document feeders are widely used in a diversity of document processing machines such as printers, copiers and multifunction peripherals. The automatic document feeders are used for successively feeding a stack of documents into the inner portion of the document processing machine so as to implement associated operations and achieve the labor-saving purpose.
- The conventional automatic document feeders, however, still have some drawbacks. For example, the conventional automatic document feeder is only designed to feed the documents into the inner portion of the document processing machine. In other words, the manufacturer of the conventional automatic document feeder does not consider whether the spacing between any two successive documents in the feeding path is equal. In a case that the conventional automatic document feeder is applied to a sheet laminating apparatus, the automatic document feeder becomes hindrance from operating the sheet laminating apparatus.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating apparatus. The conventionalautomatic document feeder 11 comprises a sheet pick-up roller 111 and asheet feeding channel 112. Thesheet feeding channel 112 is arranged between the sheet pick-up roller 111 and asheet laminating mechanism 12. Asheet ejecting path 13 is arranged at the outlet of thesheet laminating mechanism 12. The sheet pick-up roller 111 is used for successively feedingmultiple documents 14 into thesheet feeding channel 112. When thedocuments 14 are fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 12 through thesheet feeding channel 112, thedocuments 14 are subject to a heating and pressing operation (also referred as a laminating operation) by thesheet laminating mechanism 12. After the heating and pressing operation is performed, thedocuments 14 are covered with aprotective film 15, thereby ejecting corresponding film-coveringdocuments 16 to thesheet ejecting path 13. Next, the film-coveringdocuments 16 are transported across anautomatic cutting mechanism 17. Thecutting lines 19 of these film-coveringdocuments 16 are successively cut by theautomatic cutting mechanism 17, so that the film-coveringdocuments 16 are cut into multiple separate laminateddocuments 18. Ideally, the spacing interval between any two film-coveringdocuments 16 should be identical. If the spacing intervals between the adjacent film-coveringdocuments 16 are not identical, the positions of somecutting lines 19 are improper. Under this circumstance, the sizes of the laminateddocuments 18 are different or the laminateddocuments 18 are possibly damaged. - For solving the above drawbacks, the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents in the sheet feeding channel should be kept constant.
- In accordance with a conventional method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents, the documents are successively fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller at a constant time interval or at a specified distance between any two documents. Since the documents are transported by the sheet pick-up roller due to a friction force, the time periods required for feeding the documents into the sheet feeding channel are usually different. In other words, the conventional method fails to achieve the purpose of controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent documents.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacing interval control method and a sheet laminating apparatus using such a spacing interval control method. By an automatic document feeding mechanism of the sheet laminating apparatus, multiple documents are successively transported to a sheet laminating mechanism of the sheet laminating apparatus at a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents.
- In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The documents are successively transported from an automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism. The automatic document feeding mechanism includes a sheet entrance, a sheet exit communicating with the sheet laminating mechanism, a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor. The multiple documents are successively transported from the sheet entrance to the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. The spacing interval control method includes the following steps. In a step (A), the multiple documents are successively fed and transported into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module, so that the documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. In a step (B), the first sensor is used to detect a specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel. Once a tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module stops transporting the specified document. In a step (C), the second sensor is used to detect the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel and a next document following the specified document. Once a front edge of the next document is detected by the second sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled again, so that the specified document is continuously transported and the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. The second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the first sensor and spaced from the first sensor by the spacing interval.
- In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The multiple documents are successively transported from the automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism. The automatic document feeding mechanism includes a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up roller module, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor. The sheet feeding channel is arranged within the automatic document feeding mechanism and used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents. The sheet pick-up roller module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance. The transfer roller module is used for transporting the multiple documents from the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with the sheet laminating mechanism. The first sensor and the second sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses of the documents in the sheet feeding channel. The first sensor and the second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing interval. Once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by the first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by the second sensor, the specified document and the next document are simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing interval and successively fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of the multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- In an embodiment, the transfer roller module includes a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- In an embodiment, the automatic document feeding mechanism further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- In an embodiment, the sheet pick-up roller module includes a sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents. The multiple documents are successively heated and pressing by a sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism. The sheet laminating apparatus includes a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents, a transfer roller module, a first sensor, a second sensor, a heating and pressing mechanism, a sheet entrance and a sheet exit communicating with an inlet of the heating and pressing mechanism. The multiple documents are successively transported from the sheet entrance to the sheet exit by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. The spacing interval control method includes the following steps. In a step (A), the multiple documents are successively fed and transported into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module, so that the documents are successively advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. In a step (B), the first sensor is used to detect a specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel. Once a tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module stops transporting the specified document. In a step (C), the second sensor is used to detect the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel and a next document following the specified document. Once a front edge of the next document is detected by the second sensor, the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module is enabled again, so that the specified document is continuously transported and the next document is continuously advanced in the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module. The second sensor is disposed at a rear end of the first sensor and spaced from the first sensor by the spacing interval.
- In a step (D), the documents that are transported to the sheet exit are heated and pressed by the heating and pressing mechanism.
- In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, in the step (A), the specified document that is being transported in the sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the heating and pressing mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the heating and pressing mechanism.
- In accordance with a still aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents and heating and pressing the documents. The multiple documents are successively heated and pressing by the sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism. The sheet laminating apparatus includes a heating and pressing mechanism, a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up roller module, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor. The heating and pressing mechanism is used for heating and pressing the multiple documents. The sheet feeding channel is arranged within the sheet laminating apparatus and used as a path for transmitting the multiple documents. The sheet pick-up roller module is arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting the multiple documents into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance. The transfer roller module is used for transporting the multiple documents from the sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with the heating and pressing mechanism. The first sensor and a second sensor are used for detecting transporting statuses of the documents in the sheet feeding channel. The first sensor and the second sensor are spaced from each other by the spacing interval. Once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by the first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by the second sensor, the specified document and the next document are simultaneously transported by the sheet pick-up roller module and/or the transfer roller module, so that the specified document and the next document are spaced from each other by the spacing interval and successively fed into the heating and pressing mechanism.
- In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the second sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a third sensor between the sheet pick-up roller module and the second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of the multiple documents in the sheet feeding channel. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the third sensor, the next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through the sheet entrance by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- In an embodiment, once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- In an embodiment, the transfer roller module includes a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by the first sensor, the second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting the specified document, but the first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance the next document.
- In an embodiment, the sheet laminating apparatus further includes a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of the sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into the sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into the sheet laminating mechanism.
- In an embodiment, the sheet pick-up roller module includes a sheet pick-up roller for feeding the multiple documents into the sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on the multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into the sheet feeding channel by the sheet pick-up roller module.
- The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a conventional automatic document feeder to a sheet laminating apparatus; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two documents. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2 , the sheet laminating apparatus comprises an automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2 and asheet laminating mechanism 3. Thesheet laminating mechanism 3 is connected to the rear end of a sheet feeding channel of the automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2. The automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2 comprises asheet entrance 20, asheet exit 21, asheet feeding channel 22, a sheet pick-uproller module 23, afirst sensor 24, asecond sensor 25, afourth sensor 27 and atransfer roller module 28. The sheet pick-uproller module 23 is arranged in the vicinity of thesheet entrance 20, and comprises a sheet pick-uproller 231, asheet separation roller 232 and asheet separation slice 233. Thesheet feeding channel 22 is used as a path for transmitting documents. Thesheet feeding channel 22 is arranged between thesheet entrance 20 and thesheet exit 21. Thesheet exit 21 communicates with an inlet of thesheet laminating mechanism 3. In addition, the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and thetransfer roller module 28 are used for transporting the document that is in thesheet feeding channel 22. Thefirst sensor 24, thesecond sensor 25 and thefourth sensor 27 are used for detecting the transporting status of the document. In this embodiment, thefirst sensor 24 and thesecond sensor 25 are spaced from each other by a spacing interval D. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a sheet laminating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with the first embodiment, thetransfer roller module 28 of the second embodiment comprises a firsttransfer roller assembly 281 and a secondtransfer roller assembly 282. The firsttransfer roller assembly 281 can replace the sheet pick-uproller module 23 to transport the document that is in thesheet feeding channel 22. In addition, the automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2 of the second embodiment further comprises athird sensor 26 to detect the transporting status of the document. -
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents. Hereinafter, a method for controlling the spacing interval between any two adjacent documents with reference toFIG. 4 . - In the step S1, the documents are successively fed into the
sheet feeding channel 22 through thesheet entrance 20 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23. In addition, these documents are successively advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and/or thetransfer roller module 28. - In the step S2, a specified document that is transported in the
sheet feeding channel 22 is detected by thefirst sensor 24. Once the tail edge of the specified document is detected by thefirst sensor 24, thetransfer roller module 28 stops transporting the specified document. - In the step S3, the specified document that is being transported in the
sheet feeding channel 22 and a next document following the specified document are detected by thesecond sensor 25. Once the front edge of the next document is detected by thesecond sensor 25, thetransfer roller module 28 is enabled again to transport the specified document. At this moment, the next document is continuously advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and/or thetransfer roller module 28. - In the step S4, the document that is transported to the
sheet exit 21 is heated and pressed by thesheet laminating mechanism 3. - The operating principles will be illustrated in more details with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3 again. Before the heating and pressing operation of thesheet laminating mechanism 3 is performed, the automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2 is enabled. When the document is fed into thesheet entrance 20 by the sheet pick-uproller 231 and transported to thesheet separation roller 232, thesheet separation roller 232 and thesheet separation slice 233 offers a friction force on the document, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into thesheet feeding channel 22. - By the way, the frictional forces resulted from the documents, the
sheet separation slice 233 and thesheet separation roller 232 should be elaborately controlled. It is preferred that the frictional force U3 between the document and thesheet separation roller 232 is greater than the frictional force U1 between the document and thesheet separation slice 233, and the frictional force U1 is greater than the frictional force U2 between the documents (i.e. U3>U1>U2). - In the step S1 of
FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment (seeFIG. 2 ), a document (e.g. a first document) is fed into thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23. Since the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and thetransfer roller module 28 are enabled at this moment, the first document is advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and thetransfer roller module 28. Even if the tail edge of the first document is detected by thesecond sensor 25, the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and thetransfer roller module 28 are continuously enabled and thus the first document is advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22. Meanwhile, the next document (e.g. a second document) is fed into thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23. - In the step S1 of
FIG. 4 according to the second embodiment (seeFIG. 3 ), a first document is fed into thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23. Since the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23) and the secondtransfer roller assembly 282 are enabled at this moment, the first document is advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23) and the secondtransfer roller assembly 282. Even if the tail edge of the first document is detected by the third sensor 26 (or the second sensor 25), the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23) and the secondtransfer roller assembly 282 are continuously enabled and thus the first document is advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22. Meanwhile, a second document is fed into thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23. - In the steps S2 and S3 of
FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment (seeFIG. 2 ), once the tail edge of the first document is detected by thefirst sensor 24, thetransfer roller module 28 is disabled and stops transporting the first document. In addition, thesecond sensor 25 waits for detecting the second document following the first document. Once the front edge of the second document is detected by thesecond sensor 25, thetransfer roller module 28 will be enabled again. As such, the first document is continuously transported and the second document is continuously advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23 and thetransfer roller module 28. - In the steps S2 and S3 of
FIG. 4 according to the second embodiment (seeFIG. 3 ), once the tail edge of the first document is detected by thefirst sensor 24, the secondtransfer roller assembly 282 is disabled and stops transporting the first document. In addition, thesecond sensor 25 waits for detecting the second document following the first document. Once the front edge of the second document is detected by thesecond sensor 25, the secondtransfer roller assembly 282 will be enabled again. As such, the first document is continuously transported and the second document is continuously advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 by the first transfer roller assembly 281 (or the sheet pick-up roller module 23) and the secondtransfer roller assembly 282. - Since the
first sensor 24 and thesecond sensor 25 are spaced from each other by the spacing interval D, the first document and the second document are simultaneously advanced in thesheet feeding channel 22 when the front edge of the second document is detected by thesecond sensor 25 and the tail edge of said first document is detected by thefirst sensor 24. In other words, the multiple documents could be successively fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3 at a constant spacing interval D between any two adjacent documents. - Moreover, the documents following the second document are successively fed into the
sheet feeding channel 22 by the sheet pick-uproller module 23 according to the above-mentioned control method. As a consequence, the multiple documents could be successively fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3 at a constant spacing interval D between any two adjacent documents. - In some embodiments, the automatic
document feeding mechanism 2 further comprises afourth sensor 27 at a rear end of thesheet feeding channel 22. Before the multiple documents are fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3, thefourth sensor 27 could discriminate whether the multiple documents are indeed fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3. In addition, thefourth sensor 27 could count the number of documents fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3. According to the number of documents fed into thesheet laminating mechanism 3, the user can discriminate whether any paper jam event or other breakdown event occurs within the automaticdocument feeding mechanism 2. - In the step S4 of
FIG. 4 , the documents are successively transported to thesheet exit 21 and heated and pressed by thesheet laminating mechanism 3. By means of an automatic cutting mechanism (not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 ) that is connected to the outlet of thesheet laminating mechanism 3, the heated and pressed documents are then cut into multiple separate laminated documents. Since there is a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of the heated and pressed documents, the automatic cutting mechanism is set to cut the heated and pressed documents at a constant cutting cycle. In other words, the heated and pressed documents could be easily cut into identical-sized laminated documents. - While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Claims (22)
1. A spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents, said documents being successively transported from an automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism, said automatic document feeding mechanism comprising a sheet entrance, a sheet exit communicating with said sheet laminating mechanism, a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel, a transfer roller module, a first sensor and a second sensor, said multiple documents being successively transported from said sheet entrance to said sheet exit by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, said spacing interval control method comprising steps of:
(A) successively feeding and transporting said multiple documents into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module, so that said documents are successively advanced in said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module;
(B) using said first sensor to detect a specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel, wherein once a tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module stops transporting said specified document; and
(C) using said second sensor to detect said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel and a next document following said specified document, wherein once a front edge of said next document is detected by said second sensor, said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module is enabled again, so that said specified document is continuously transported and said next document is continuously advanced in said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, wherein said second sensor is disposed at a rear end of said first sensor and spaced from said first sensor by said spacing interval.
2. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by said second sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
3. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
4. The spacing interval control method according to claim 1 wherein said automatic document feeding mechanism further comprises a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
5. A sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents, and said multiple documents being successively transported from said automatic document feeding mechanism to a sheet laminating mechanism, wherein said automatic document feeding mechanism comprises:
a sheet feeding channel arranged within said automatic document feeding mechanism and used as a path for transmitting said multiple documents;
a sheet pick-up roller module arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting said multiple documents into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance;
a transfer roller module for transporting said multiple documents from said sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with said sheet laminating mechanism; and
a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of said documents in said sheet feeding channel, said first sensor and said second sensor being spaced from each other by said spacing interval, wherein once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by said first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by said second sensor, said specified document and said next document are simultaneously transported by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, so that said specified document and said next document are spaced from each other by said spacing interval and successively fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
6. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
7. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said automatic document feeding mechanism further comprises a third sensor between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of said multiple documents in said sheet feeding channel, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
8. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting said specified document, but said sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance said next document.
9. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said transfer roller module comprises a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting said specified document, but said first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance said next document.
10. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said automatic document feeding mechanism further comprises a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
11. The sheet laminating apparatus having an automatic document feeding mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said sheet pick-up roller module comprises a sheet pick-up roller for feeding said multiple documents into said sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on said multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module.
12. A spacing interval control method for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents, said multiple documents being successively heated and pressing by a sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism, said sheet laminating apparatus comprising a sheet pick-up roller module, a sheet feeding channel used as a path for transmitting said multiple documents, a transfer roller module, a first sensor, a second sensor, a heating and pressing mechanism, a sheet entrance and a sheet exit communicating with an inlet of said heating and pressing mechanism, said multiple documents being successively transported from said sheet entrance to said sheet exit by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, said spacing interval control method comprising steps of:
(A) successively feeding and transporting said multiple documents into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module, so that said documents are successively advanced in said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module;
(B) using said first sensor to detect a specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel by said first sensor, wherein once a tail edge of said specified document is detected, said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module stops transporting said specified document;
(C) using said second sensor said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel and a next document following said specified document, wherein once a front edge of said next document is detected by said second sensor, said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module is enabled again, so that said specified document is continuously transported and said next document is continuously advanced in said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, wherein said second sensor is disposed at a rear end of said first sensor and spaced from said first sensor by said spacing interval; and
(D) heating and pressing said documents that are transported to said sheet exit by said heating and pressing mechanism.
13. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12 wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by said second sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
14. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12 wherein in said step (A), said specified document that is being transported in said sheet feeding channel is detected by a third sensor between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
15. The spacing interval control method according to claim 12 wherein said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into said heating and pressing mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into said heating and pressing mechanism.
16. A sheet laminating apparatus for controlling a constant spacing interval between any two adjacent ones of multiple documents and heating and pressing said documents, said multiple documents being successively heated and pressing by said sheet laminating apparatus and then cut into multiple separate and identical-sized laminated documents by an automatic cutting mechanism, said sheet laminating apparatus comprising:
a heating and pressing mechanism for heating and pressing said multiple documents;
a sheet feeding channel arranged within said sheet laminating apparatus and used as a path for transmitting said multiple documents;
a sheet pick-up roller module arranged in a vicinity of a sheet entrance for successively feeding and transporting said multiple documents into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance;
a transfer roller module for transporting said multiple documents from said sheet feeding channel to a sheet exit, which communicates with said heating and pressing mechanism; and
a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of said documents in said sheet feeding channel, said first sensor and said second sensor being spaced from each other by said spacing interval, wherein once a tail edge of a specified document is detected by said first sensor and a front edge of a next document is detected by said second sensor, said specified document and said next document are simultaneously transported by said sheet pick-up roller module and/or said transfer roller module, so that said specified document and said next document are spaced from each other by said spacing interval and successively fed into said heating and pressing mechanism.
17. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said second sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
18. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a third sensor between said sheet pick-up roller module and said second sensor for detecting transporting statuses of said multiple documents in said sheet feeding channel, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said third sensor, said next document is fed into said sheet feeding channel through said sheet entrance by said sheet pick-up roller module.
19. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said transfer roller module is disabled and stops transporting said specified document, but said sheet pick-up roller module is continuously enabled to transport and advance said next document.
20. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said transfer roller module comprises a first transfer roller assembly and a second transfer roller assembly, wherein once said tail edge of said specified document is detected by said first sensor, said second transfer roller assembly is disabled and stops transporting said specified document, but said first transfer roller assembly is continuously enabled to transport and advance said next document.
21. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said sheet laminating apparatus further comprises a fourth sensor arranged at a rear end of said sheet feeding channel for discriminating whether said multiple documents are indeed fed into said sheet laminating mechanism and counting the number of documents fed into said sheet laminating mechanism.
22. The sheet laminating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said sheet pick-up roller module comprises a sheet pick-up roller for feeding said multiple documents into said sheet entrance, and a sheet separation roller and a sheet separation slice for offering a friction force on said multiple documents, so that one only document is allowed to be fed into said sheet feeding channel by said sheet pick-up roller module.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/734,451 US8828165B2 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2013-01-04 | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TW098113592A TWI347894B (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2009-04-24 | Method for controlling the spacing between any two documents on the front feeding path and a laminator having the same thereof |
TW098113592 | 2009-04-24 |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/734,451 Division US8828165B2 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2013-01-04 | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100270729A1 true US20100270729A1 (en) | 2010-10-28 |
Family
ID=41203445
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/557,306 Abandoned US20100270729A1 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2009-09-10 | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same |
US13/734,451 Expired - Fee Related US8828165B2 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2013-01-04 | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/734,451 Expired - Fee Related US8828165B2 (en) | 2009-04-24 | 2013-01-04 | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20100270729A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2469696B (en) |
TW (1) | TWI347894B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130288823A1 (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2013-10-31 | Acushnet Company | Co-forged golf club head and method of manufacture |
US9616303B2 (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2017-04-11 | Acushnet Company | Co-forged golf club head and method of manufacture |
US11918867B2 (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2024-03-05 | Acushnet Company | Co-forged golf club head and method of manufacture |
US11065513B2 (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2021-07-20 | Acushnet Company | Set of golf club heads and method of manufacture |
US10953646B2 (en) | 2018-10-26 | 2021-03-23 | ACCO Brands Corporation | Laminating system with coded film cartridge |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6170816B1 (en) * | 1996-02-27 | 2001-01-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method of controlling a device for removing flat items of post from a stack |
US6244322B1 (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 2001-06-12 | Xyron, Inc. | Master processing apparatus with an exit tray |
US6536497B2 (en) * | 2001-04-18 | 2003-03-25 | Banner American Products, Inc. | Laminating system |
US20050082739A1 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2005-04-21 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus |
US20070074810A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Primax Electronics Ltd. | Laminating apparatus and laminating process |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060263103A1 (en) * | 2005-05-23 | 2006-11-23 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for inducing substrate transport faults in image forming machines |
DE202009012837U1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2009-12-24 | Tex Year Industries Inc., Wu-Ku | Apparatus for detecting a rolled film in a laminating machine |
-
2009
- 2009-04-24 TW TW098113592A patent/TWI347894B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-09-09 GB GB0915767A patent/GB2469696B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-09-10 US US12/557,306 patent/US20100270729A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2013
- 2013-01-04 US US13/734,451 patent/US8828165B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6170816B1 (en) * | 1996-02-27 | 2001-01-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method of controlling a device for removing flat items of post from a stack |
US6244322B1 (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 2001-06-12 | Xyron, Inc. | Master processing apparatus with an exit tray |
US6536497B2 (en) * | 2001-04-18 | 2003-03-25 | Banner American Products, Inc. | Laminating system |
US20050082739A1 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2005-04-21 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus |
US20070074810A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Primax Electronics Ltd. | Laminating apparatus and laminating process |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TW201038407A (en) | 2010-11-01 |
US8828165B2 (en) | 2014-09-09 |
GB2469696B (en) | 2011-03-16 |
GB0915767D0 (en) | 2009-10-07 |
TWI347894B (en) | 2011-09-01 |
GB2469696A (en) | 2010-10-27 |
US20130119599A1 (en) | 2013-05-16 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8828165B2 (en) | Spacing interval control method and sheet laminating apparatus using the same | |
JP5321146B2 (en) | Document feeder and image forming apparatus | |
US10469688B2 (en) | Conveyance apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus | |
JP6360307B2 (en) | Sheet feeding device, document feeding device, image reading device | |
US20060255531A1 (en) | Automatic printer stack edge guide alignment information | |
US9567174B2 (en) | Sheet feeder | |
JP2004026320A (en) | Sheet thickness detecting device, sheet processing device and image forming device provided with sheet thickness detecting device | |
JP4706625B2 (en) | Paper sheet separation mechanism | |
JP2013173620A (en) | Sheet feeder, scanner, printer, facsimile, and copying machine | |
JP2008230759A (en) | Sheet material feeder | |
US20190273833A1 (en) | Image forming apparatus | |
JP6612308B2 (en) | Sheet feeding apparatus and image reading apparatus | |
JP6700598B2 (en) | Image reading device, feeding method | |
JP2017071467A (en) | Sheet bundle binding process device and image formation system equipped with the same | |
JP2009242055A (en) | Sheet feeder | |
JP2018061095A (en) | Sheet conveying device, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and sheet conveying method | |
JP2009263128A (en) | Belt unit, image reading device, and image forming device | |
JP6958656B2 (en) | Image forming device | |
JP4823962B2 (en) | Automatic document feeder and image reading apparatus | |
JP2006298541A (en) | Paper feeding device and image formation device | |
JP6816306B2 (en) | Media transfer device | |
JP2009051585A (en) | Document carrying device | |
EP2927883A1 (en) | Mechanism for preventing coin from being mistakenly inserted in banknote processing machine | |
JP2020055676A (en) | Paper feeder, image reader and image formation apparatus | |
JP2020015630A (en) | Sheet feeder and image reading device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, BIN-TAO;PAN, YUNG-TAI;LIU, HONG-QIANG;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:023215/0041 Effective date: 20090907 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |