Medium supply unit and image forming apparatus having the same
First Claim
1. A medium supply unit of an image forming apparatus, the medium supply unit comprising:
- a main body housing;
a tray connected to the main body housing and loading a printing-target medium therein;
an activating shaft connected to the main body housing and being rotated in a predetermined direction by an activating force of an activating source;
an intermediate member supported by one end of the activating shaft to deliver a rotating force of the activating shaft;
a first elastic member having one end connected to the intermediate member and another end supported by the activating shaft, and elastically biasing the intermediate member in a direction facing the printing-target medium according to a rotation of the activating shaft; and
a roller unit having a roller unit housing that is attachable to the intermediate member and at least one roller that is supported by the roller unit housing and picks up and supplies printing-target media loaded in the tray; and
configured to deliver to the roller(s) an elastic force of the first elastic member and a rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is rotated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medium supply unit of an image forming apparatus, the medium supply unit may include: a main body housing; a tray connected to the main body housing and loading a printing-target medium therein; an activating shaft connected to the main body housing and being rotated in a predetermined direction by an activating force of an activating source; an intermediate member supported by one end of the activating shaft to deliver a rotating force of the activating shaft; a first elastic member having one end connected to the intermediate member and the other end supported by the activating shaft; and elastically biasing the intermediate member in a direction facing the printing-target medium according to a rotation of the activating shaft; and a roller unit having a roller unit housing that is attachable to the intermediate member and at least one roller that is supported by the roller unit housing and picks up and supplies printing-target media loaded in the tray; and configured to deliver to the roller(s) an elastic force of the first elastic member and a rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is rotated.
17 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A medium supply unit of an image forming apparatus, the medium supply unit comprising:
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a main body housing; a tray connected to the main body housing and loading a printing-target medium therein; an activating shaft connected to the main body housing and being rotated in a predetermined direction by an activating force of an activating source; an intermediate member supported by one end of the activating shaft to deliver a rotating force of the activating shaft; a first elastic member having one end connected to the intermediate member and another end supported by the activating shaft, and elastically biasing the intermediate member in a direction facing the printing-target medium according to a rotation of the activating shaft; and a roller unit having a roller unit housing that is attachable to the intermediate member and at least one roller that is supported by the roller unit housing and picks up and supplies printing-target media loaded in the tray; and
configured to deliver to the roller(s) an elastic force of the first elastic member and a rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a medium supply unit configured to supply a printing-target medium; and an image forming unit configured to form an image on the printing-target medium supplied from the medium supply unit, wherein the medium supply unit comprises; a main body housing; a tray connected to the main body housing and loading a printing-target medium therein; an activating shaft connected to the main body housing and being rotated in a predetermined direction by an activating force of an activating source; an intermediate member supported by one end of the activating shaft to deliver a rotating force of the activating shaft; a first elastic member having one end connected to the intermediate member and the other end supported by the activating shaft, and elastically biasing the intermediate member in a direction facing the printing-target medium according to a rotation of the activating shaft; and a roller unit having a roller unit housing that is attachable to the intermediate member and at least one roller that is supported by the roller unit housing and picks up and supplies printing-target media loaded in the tray; and
configured to deliver to the roller(s) an elastic force of the first elastic member and a rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is rotated.
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13. A medium supply unit, comprising:
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an activating shaft to supply a rotating force; an intermediate member to receive and transfer the rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is in contact therewith; and a roller unit in contact with the intermediate member and including at least one roller to engage with and disengage with printing media based on whether the activating shaft is supplying a rotating force, wherein the intermediate member comprises; an elastic device connected to the activating shaft and the intermediate member such that when the activating shaft is rotated, the elastic device applies a force to the intermediate member to move the intermediate member toward the printing media such that the roller unit is brought into contact with the printing media, and wherein the elastic device comprises; a first elastic member surrounding the activating shaft and connected thereto at one end and connected to the intermediate member an opposite end such that when the activating member is rotated, the first elastic member receives a force to be compressed closer to the activating member; and a second elastic member connected at one end to the intermediate member to bias the intermediate member away from the printing media, wherein when the activating shaft rotates by a certain predetermined amount, the force to compress the first elastic member becomes greater that an elastic force of the second elastic member to elastically bias the intermediate member toward the printing media, and when the activating shaft is stopped from rotating, the first elastic member becomes uncompressed such that the elastic force of the second elastic member overcomes the elastic force of the first elastic member to elastically bias the intermediate member away from the printing media. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A medium supply unit, comprising:
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an activating shaft to supply a rotating force; a roller unit in contact with the activating shaft and including at least one roller to engage with and disengage with printing media based on whether the activating shaft is supplying a rotating force; and an elastic support system connected between the activating shaft and the roller unit to supply an elastic force to the roller unit to bias the roller unit toward the printing media when the activating shaft supplies a predetermined amount of rotating force, wherein the roller unit comprises; a clutching system in contact with an end of the activating shaft to engage the at least one roller to rotate when the activating shaft is rotated such that a frictional force is applied to the printing media when the activating shaft rotates, and to disengage the at least one roller to be idle when the activating shaft is stooped from being rotated.
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Specification