US 12,391,498 B2
Paper feeding apparatus
Hong Min Kim, Seoul (KR)
Appl. No. 18/274,080
Filed by A4 HOUSE CO., LTD., Seoul (KR)
PCT Filed Nov. 1, 2021, PCT No. PCT/KR2021/015500
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 25, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/169068, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 11, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20-2021-0000369 (KR), filed on Feb. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0327147 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. B65H 1/20 (2006.01); B65H 1/14 (2006.01); B65H 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 1/20 (2013.01) [B65H 1/14 (2013.01); B65H 7/02 (2013.01); B65H 2403/30 (2013.01); B65H 2403/52 (2013.01); B65H 2405/15 (2013.01); B65H 2511/15 (2013.01)] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paper feeding apparatus comprising:
a main body configured such that a paper discharge outlet is formed in an upper portion of a front side thereof, a space is formed therein, and a door configured to be selectively opened and closed is formed in the front side thereof;
a paper support plate formed in a plate shape so that paper is stacked and supported thereon;
an elevation unit installed inside the main body, and configured to selectively elevate and lower the paper support plate;
a power unit mounted in a lower part of the main body, and configured to move the paper support plate;
a sensor configured to measure a weight of the paper stacked on the paper support plate; and
a controller configured to control driving of the power unit in conjunction with the sensor;
wherein the controller:
when the sensor detects a change in weight of the stacked paper, elevates the paper support plate in association with a moving distance calculated according to a reduction in weight by driving the motor to extend a multi-stage screw; and
further includes a communication unit configured to transmit a paper replenishment request signal when the paper feeding apparatus senses a paper shortage state and transmit a paper replenishment completion signal when the paper feeding apparatus senses a paper replenishment completion state;
wherein the controller further includes a first height detection unit configured to detect whether the paper support plate reaches a first set remaining amount height; and the controller generates a paper shortage signal when the first height detection unit detects a situation in which the paper support plate reaches the first set remaining amount height;
wherein the elevation unit includes: a plurality of guide rails formed inside the main body in a vertical direction; a plurality of guide rods formed inside the main body in a vertical direction, and arranged in parallel with the guide rails; and a multi-stage screw formed under the paper support plate;
wherein the paper support plate is configured such that a plurality of bushings to be fitted around the guide rods are formed and insertion grooves into which the guide rails are coupled are formed therein;
wherein the power unit includes a motor mounted in a lower part of the main body and provided with a driving pulley, a driven pulley formed at a lower end of the multi-stage screw, and a chain configured to connect the driving pulley and the driven pulley; and
wherein the multi-stage screw includes: a first-stage screw connected to a driven pulley, and provided with a thread that is formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a second-stage screw screwed to the first-stage screw, and provided with a thread that is formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a third-stage screw screwed to the second-stage screw, and provided with a thread that is formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof; and a screw housing screwed to an outside of the third-stage screw, and provided with a top end that is fixed to the paper support plate.