The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 07, 1990
Sadao Unuma, Aichi, JP;
Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A cover is disclosed for a paper feed tractor having first and second side frames, a paper receiving plate extending perpendicularly from the second side frame and having a hole formed therein, and a paper exhaustion detector mounted to the second side frame. The paper exhaust detector of the paper feed tractor includes a microswitch with an upwardly biased plunger, and an actuator pressed upwardly by the plunger and pivotable between a first position in which it detects the presence of paper and a second position in which it detects the absence of paper. The cover of the present invention includes a plate, and elongated ribs projecting downwardly from the bottom surface of the plate on opposing sides of an elongated slot formed through the plate. The cover is characterized in that rib type elongated paper contactors project downwardly from the bottom surface of the plate at a position in which, when the plate is positioned directly above the paper receiving plate, the contactors will be adjacent the hole formed through the paper receiving plate. In this manner, when paper is fed between the paper receiving plate and the plate of the cover, the portion of the paper which is pressed upwardly by a contact portion of the actuator of the paper exhaustion detector is supported by the paper contactors so that the paper is not significantly deformed upwardly. In this manner, errors in detecting whether the paper is present or is exhausted are avoided.