Apparatus and method for controlling pressing force of separation roller
First Claim
1. A separation roller pressing force control apparatus for controlling a pressing force of a separation roller applied to a feed roller, said apparatus comprising:
- a separation roller retention mechanism for retaining said separation roller in such a manner that said separation roller is pressed against said feed roller; and
a pressing force adjusting mechanism for maintaining a conveyance force of said feed roller applied to paper substantially constant by changing the pressing force of said separation roller in accordance with a change in the coefficient of friction of said feed roller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a method in which a conveyance force of a feed roller applied to recording paper is maintained constant in a period from the start to the end of use of the feed roller and a separation roller. The separation roller pressing force control method according to the present invention is such that a pressing force of the separation roller applied to the feed roller is set to be low in a variable range (Sa) such as the start of use in which the coefficient of friction of the feed roller is high, so that the conveyance force applied to the recording paper is not too large. As the coefficient of friction gradually decreases in accordance with the use of the feed roller, the pressing force of the separation roller is made to be gradually raised, thereby increasing the conveyance force applied to the recording paper and retaining it in a stable area Sb. As a result, reduction in the coefficient of friction and the conveyance force in accordance with the use of the feed roller and the separation roller is canceled or offset by adjusting the pressing force of the separation roller applied to the feed roller, whereby the feed roller can always feed the sheets of recording paper at a constant conveyance force, thus making it possible to prevent defective conveyance and defective separation of the sheets of recording paper.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A separation roller pressing force control apparatus for controlling a pressing force of a separation roller applied to a feed roller,
said apparatus comprising: -
a separation roller retention mechanism for retaining said separation roller in such a manner that said separation roller is pressed against said feed roller; and
a pressing force adjusting mechanism for maintaining a conveyance force of said feed roller applied to paper substantially constant by changing the pressing force of said separation roller in accordance with a change in the coefficient of friction of said feed roller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A separation roller pressing force control method in which sheets of recording paper are passed between a feed roller and a separation roller with a pressing force of said separation roller applied to said feed roller being controlled so as to feed the sheets of recording paper one by one,
said method comprising: -
retaining said separation roller so as to permit said separation roller to move toward said feed roller; and
maintaining the pressing force of said separation roller applied to said feed roller at a constant value by changing the pressing force of said separation roller applied to said feed roller by the use of a driving force of said feed roller so as to offset a change in the coefficient of friction of said feed roller which changes in accordance with the number of sheets of paper being fed.
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Specification