JP2000016669A - Sheet conveyance device and picture image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet conveyance device and picture image processing device capable of miniaturizing the devices and improving the workability. SOLUTION: A recording paper discharge tray 10 is provided on substantially extension line of a printed recording paper to be discharged from a recording system 4 in an upper part of a cartridge cover 2, and this recording paper discharge tray 10 also serves as a tray for document. The recording paper discharge tray 10 is attached by forming an angle of 16 deg. for a document loading base 2a. As for the positional relationship between a reading system 3 and the recording system 4, such layout that a paper discharge port for printed recording paper from the recording system 4 is provided on an innermost side of this device from an insertion port of a document D to the reading system 3 is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile or a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of image processing apparatus, there is, for example, a facsimile or a copying machine.

In an apparatus such as a facsimile or a multifunction peripheral, an optical reading system for reading image information, a recording system for forming an image on the surface of a sheet, an operation panel for performing various operations, and an electrical device for performing these operations are provided. The optical reading system and the recording system each have a sheet transport path.

[0004] Referring to FIG. 7, taking a facsimile as an example, an image processing apparatus according to the prior art will be described.
The sheet transport path will be described in detail.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus (facsimile) according to the prior art.

An automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF) which feeds a document D while separating it one by one
A document tray 109 for guiding the document D is provided.

The optical reading system 103 is configured such that a user can easily set a document D, and a document is set on an upper portion of an operation panel 105 in order to reduce the size of the apparatus. 109 is the operation panel 10
5 is provided on the upper part.

Documents D conveyed one by one by an ADF device or the like read image information by an optical reading system 103 provided on the back side of the operation panel, and then read the operation panel 105.
On the front side (left side in the figure).

The recording system 104 is provided with a universal paper feeder for setting the width of the slider 115C in accordance with the width of the recording paper P.

A user can easily set a bundle of recording paper in a paper feeding device, hold the bundle of recording paper, and feed the recording paper to a recording paper feeding device for feeding paper while separating the sheets one by one. Recording paper feed tray 108 is provided.

The recording paper is fed from a recording paper feeder into the apparatus main body, a toner image is formed on the surface of a sheet by an electrophotographic method, and then discharged outside the apparatus.

A recording paper discharge tray 1 made of a molding material for stacking recorded recording paper discharged outside the apparatus.
10 are provided.

Here, the recording paper discharge tray 110 is configured to be mounted behind the document tray 109 in order to reduce the size of the apparatus.

[0014]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

As described above, in the prior art, the sheet transport paths of the optical reading system and the recording system are provided completely independently of each other, and three trays are required even in a relatively compact apparatus. It became complicated.

Further, since the document tray and the recording paper discharge tray are arranged at a narrow interval substantially in parallel to achieve compactness, it is necessary to take out the recorded recording paper stacked on the back side of the document tray. When printing, the recorded paper may be caught on the document tray attached to the front and the workability may be poor, or when the user tries to remove the recorded paper, the user may catch it on the document tray, The tray could be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image processing apparatus which improve the workability while reducing the size of the apparatus. Is to provide.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying apparatus having at least two sheet conveying paths from a sheet stacking section to a sheet discharging section. An overlapping portion is provided between a sheet stacking section of the first sheet conveying path and a sheet discharging section of a second conveying path different from the first sheet conveying path.

Therefore, since there is an overlap between the sheet stacking section and the sheet discharge section, the apparatus can be made compact.

One tray is used as at least a part of a sheet stacking section of the first sheet conveying path, and
The tray may be used as at least a part of a sheet discharge unit of the second transport path.

Further, in an image processing apparatus having a reading path for reading an image on a conveyed document sheet and an image forming path for forming an image on a conveyed recording sheet, the starting point of the reading path is An overlapping portion is provided between a certain sheet stacking portion and a sheet discharging portion which is an arrival portion of the image forming path.

Therefore, since there is an overlap between the sheet stacking section and the sheet discharge section, the apparatus can be made compact.

It is preferable that one tray is used as at least a part of a sheet stacking unit in the reading path, and the tray is used as at least a part of a sheet discharging unit in the image forming path.

When original sheets and recording sheets are stacked and stacked on the tray, the respective paths are preferably arranged so that the original sheets are located outside the apparatus.

It is preferable that the tray is disposed on a substantially extended line of the recording sheet discharged toward the sheet discharging portion of the image forming path.

Preferably, the tray is made of a molding material.

When the original sheets and the recording sheets are stacked on the tray, the respective paths are preferably arranged so that the angle between the original sheets and the recording sheets is 20 degrees or less.

Also, an image reading means for reading an image on a conveyed document sheet, an image forming means for forming an image on a conveyed recording sheet, and a recording sheet on which the image has been read by the image forming means are stacked. When the original sheet is set in the image processing apparatus including the tray, one end of the original sheet is inserted into a feeding port provided on an exterior surface of the apparatus, and the other end is supported by the tray. It is characterized by making it.

[0029]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, shape, relative arrangement, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

The sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention can be applied to any apparatus provided with two or more conveying paths, but in the following description, such an apparatus will be referred to as an image reading path. An image processing apparatus having two paths, that is, an image forming path, will be described as an example.

The image processing apparatus will be described by taking a facsimile having a copying function as an example.

(First Embodiment) An image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image processing apparatus (facsimile) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image processing apparatus (facsimile) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a state in which only a recording operation is performed, and FIG. 3 shows only a reading operation. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the recording operation and the reading operation are performed simultaneously.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the control operation of the image processing apparatus (facsimile).

First, an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus (facsimile) to which a sheet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, and reference numeral 2 denotes a cartridge cover that is configured to be able to stack a plurality of originals D and that is commonly used on an original mounting table.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an optical reading system for reading image information of the document D, and reference numeral 4 denotes a recording system including a laser beam printer.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel provided on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 1.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a recording paper discharge tray, which is formed of a molding material. The recording paper discharge tray 10 is disposed above the cartridge cover 2 substantially on the extension of the printed recording paper discharged from the recording system 4. Is provided.

The recording paper discharge tray 10 also serves as a document tray.

In the present embodiment, the recording paper discharge tray 10
Is mounted at an angle of 16 ° with the document table 2a.

With respect to the positional relationship between the reading system 3 and the recording system 4, the discharge port of the printed recording paper from the recording system 4 is located on the back side of the apparatus from the insertion port (feed port) of the original D into the reading system 3. Is laid out.

This improves the handling of the scanner, which often starts reading immediately after the original is set.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a recording paper feeder for setting a recording sheet P made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like.
Is a recording paper separating roller for feeding the recording sheets P from the recording paper feeding device 15 to the recording system 4 one by one.

The optical reading system 3 includes a friction roller 3c for pressing a document D placed on a document table 2a provided integrally with the cartridge cover 2 with a separation roller 3c pressed against a preliminary pressure contact arm 3a.
b, the sheet is separated and fed one by one by a friction piece 3b and a separation roller 3c, and further, a conveyance roller 3d pressed by a pressing spring (not shown), and a conveyance roller 3e pressed against the conveyance roller 3d. After reading the image information of the original D while pressing the original D against the close-contact image sensor 7 with the original pressing plate 6 by using the original pressing plate 6, the original D is pressed by a pressing spring. The sheet is discharged from the apparatus by a discharge roller 3f pressed by 27 and a discharge roller 3g pressed against the discharge roller 3f.

The document table 2a is provided with a slider 2c slidable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the document D (width direction of the document D). Both ends of the stacked originals D can be regulated and aligned.

The recording system 4 emits a modulation signal from a laser beam oscillator (not shown) provided in the laser scanner unit 11 on the basis of an image signal output from a control unit (not shown). Irradiation is performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12b of the image forming unit 12 by the folding mirror 11b.

The photosensitive drum 12b is a primary charging roller 12
By d, the surface is uniformly charged, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 12b is irradiated with scanning light by irradiating the surface with a scanning beam to form a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12b. Toner is supplied to the latent image from the toner tank 12f by the developing roller 12e, and the image is visualized on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12b.

The photosensitive drum 12b is provided with the primary charging roller 1
2d, a developing roller 12e, a toner tank 12f, and a cleaning blade (not shown).
2a, and is configured so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1.

The recording cartridge 12a can be replaced by opening the cartridge cover 2.

A transfer roller 12c serving as a transfer charger is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 12b of the image forming section 12, and a heat fixing device 17 is provided on the recording sheet conveying path downstream of the photosensitive drum 12b. , A discharge roller pair 18, a guide unit 20, and a discharge roller pair 13 are sequentially arranged.

The thermal fixing device 17 is roughly composed of a heater 17a as a heating element, a pressure roller 17b pressed by the heater,
It is constituted by a film 17d that rotates along the outer periphery of the cylindrical guide.

After the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12b is transferred by the transfer roller 12c to the recording sheet P, the recording sheet P is conveyed to the heat fixing device 17, where the toner image is fixed. The sheet is discharged from the discharge port 23 by the discharge roller pair 13 via the discharge roller pair 18 and the guide section 20, and discharged and stacked on the recording sheet discharge table 2b and the recording sheet discharge tray 10 with the image face down (face down). It has become so.

A flapper 19 for switching the discharge direction of the recording sheet P is provided downstream of the discharge roller pair 18.
Is provided.

By switching the flapper 19 to the lower discharge direction, the recording sheet P can be discharged straight by the discharge roller pair 18 with the image surface up (face-up).

The recording paper feeder 15 is provided at the rear of the apparatus main body 1.

When the recording sheet P stored in the recording paper feeding device 15 receives the recording paper feed signal, the middle plate 15b moves the recording paper toward the front side (left side in the figure) around the fulcrum by a pressing member (not shown). ), The recording sheet P closest to the recording sheet P is pressed against the recording sheet separation roller 14c.

Then, the recording paper separating roller 14c is driven, and the recording paper separating roller 14c and the separation pad 14a are separated one by one by a friction piece separating action, and pressed against the conveying roller 16a and the conveying roller 16a. Roller 1
The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 12 by 6c.

Further, the leading end of the recording sheet P being conveyed is detected by a registration sensor (not shown) provided downstream of the conveying roller 16a.

On the other hand, in the recording system 4, the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading end of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 12b coincides with the leading end of the recording sheet P.
The image is transferred to a correct position on the surface of the recording sheet P conveyed to the nip between the transfer roller 12c and the photosensitive drum 12b.

The image is recorded on the front side of the recording sheet P stacked on the recording paper feeding device 15.

The recording sheet P has a side regulating plate 15 movably mounted in accordance with the size of the recording sheet P.
The side edge of the recording sheet P is regulated by c so that skewing does not occur.

The size of the recording sheet P that can be accommodated in the recording paper feeding device 15 shown in the figure is of three types, A4 size, letter size and legal size, and the number is about 100.

A cartridge cover 2 is provided in the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable.
It can be pulled out and replaced.

The apparatus body 1 is provided with an interlock switch (not shown),
The recording system 4 is not operated when the cartridge cover 2 is opened.

The laser scanner unit 11 includes:
A laser shutter (not shown) that opens and closes in conjunction with opening and closing of the cartridge cover 2 is provided to prevent laser light from entering the operator's eyes when the cartridge cover 2 is opened.

If a jam of the recording sheet P occurs during recording, the recording sheet P staying inside can be taken out by opening the cartridge cover 2.

Next, a control system of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a facsimile control unit, which is a power supply unit 21b for supplying power to the entire apparatus, a modem board unit, and an NC for connecting a telephone.
U board unit 21e, display unit for displaying the contents input from operation unit 21c, etc., and printer interface 21f ₁ for obtaining data from peripheral computers.
Etc. are arranged.

The control unit 21 controls the entire device.
And PU21a _1, and ROM21a ₂ storing various programs and various data, while being used as a work area of the CPU 21a _1, isolate the RAMs 21a _3, also a facsimile and a printer for temporarily saving various data such as the number of recording sheets having input and output switching interface 21a ₇ for performing.

Reference numeral 21a ₄ denotes a line memory for storing an image of each line of image data. In the case of transmitting or copying a document, one line of image data from the document reading system 3 is stored. , The decoded data for one line is stored.

[0072] Then, the image data stored in the line memory 21a ₄ is output to the CPUB ₁ having the CPU 21a ₁ as a recording system control code to add the input and output switching interface 21a ₇ of the recording system 4, CPUB ₁ is Image decoding is performed by decoding the recording system control code.

[0073] In addition, 21a ₅ is the image information to be transmitted MH
This is an encoding / decoding unit that encodes by encoding or the like, or that decodes received encoded image data and converts it into image data.

[0074] 21a ₆ is a buffer memory for storing transmitted and received coded image data.

Next, control of the print function will be described.

First, data and a recording system control code are sent from the peripheral computer to the printer interface 21f _1.
It is taken into this device.

Then, the input / output switching interface 21
output from a ₇ to CPUB ₁ having the recording system 4, CP
The print recording is performed by the UB ₁ decoding the recording system control code.

At this time, the CPU 21a of the control unit 21
Reference numeral ₁ denotes a configuration in which print control is not performed.

In this manner, the separation between the facsimile and the printer is simplified.

Next, the usability of the actual user in the system of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram in which only the recording system is working.

In this system, only the printed recording paper P 'is stacked on the recording paper discharge tray 10, and the recording paper discharge tray 10 is placed on the cartridge cover 2 so as to be substantially on the extension of the recording sheet discharge table 2b. It is attached to.

Therefore, there is no problem in the stackability of the recorded recording paper.

Further, it is conceivable that printed recording paper such as a received image is left for a long time, but problems such as bending of the recording paper due to this are unlikely to occur.

Next, a system for transmitting a document or reading an image as a scanner will be described with reference to FIG.

The leading end of the original is sandwiched between the preliminary press-contact arms 3a, and the bundle of the originals D set on the original loading table 2a is held in contact with the recording sheet discharge tray 10 at the middle and slightly rear side. The recording paper discharge tray 10 has a form in which it protrudes from the leading end and hangs slightly behind.

In this situation, when the transmission button on the operation section is pressed, the separation roller 3c rotates, and the friction piece 3b and the separation roller 3c are rotated.
By c, the originals are separated one by one from the lower side of the original bundle, and the originals are fed in the direction of arrow α.

As described above, although the latter half of the original is slightly hung from the recording paper discharge tray 10, the original D
Since a sufficient conveying force is transmitted because the pre-pressing arm 3a is pressed against the separation roller 3c side, the pre-pressing arm 3a can be conveyed without any problem.

The originals are separated rollers 3c, transport rollers 3d, transport rollers 3e, discharge rollers 3f, discharge rollers 3g.
Since the sheet is held firmly, there is no non-feeding or uneven feeding.

Here, since the original is bent when the original D is set, if the original is left for a long period of time, there is a concern that the original may be bent.

However, the automatic paper feeder (ADF) 20
In the reading system according to the present embodiment, which is about 10 seconds per sheet and the document reading time is about 10 seconds per sheet, 3 to 4
It takes about a minute.

Considering the usage as a scanner, it is a very common usage to set a document immediately before sending a facsimile or immediately before reading a document, and to transmit / scan.

For this reason, it is very rare that the document D is left in the state of FIG. 3 for a long time, and it is difficult to think that the document has a curl under normal use. Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. We can use without problem enough.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the recording paper is not discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 10.
The same function is exhibited even in a situation where the recorded recording paper is already loaded on the recording paper discharge tray 10.

Another situation is that the recording system and the reading system are operating at the same time.

[0096] In this situation, facsimile transmission is performed at the time of direct copying, in which copying is performed while reading an original, or when reception has been completed due to memory reception, but not all received images have been printed. Or a situation in which an image is read into a computer as a scanner.

FIG. 4 shows the situation at that time.

As a recording system, printed recording paper P ′ is stacked on a recording paper discharge tray 10.

On the other hand, when the user sets the original D in the reading system of the facsimile machine to copy the original,
The leading edge of the original is sandwiched between the preliminary press-contact arms 3a, and the original
The bundle of originals set in a is held in a state where the middle and slightly rear side contact the vicinity of the leading end of the printed recording paper stacked on the recording paper discharge tray 10, and the rear end of the original document hangs slightly backward. .

In this situation, when the copy button on the operation section is pressed, the separation roller 3c rotates, and the friction pieces 3b and the separation roller 3c separate the originals one by one from the lower side of the original bundle.
The document is fed in the direction of arrow α.

On the other hand, the printed recording paper P 'obtained by copying the read original is subjected to image formation and fixing, and then the printed recording paper P' is U-turned by the guide section 20 for stacking face-down. The sheet is discharged to the recording sheet discharge table 2b by the discharge roller pair 13.

As described above, the printed recording paper P 'is configured to be discharged and stacked with the print surface facing down, behind the stacked printed recording paper.

That is, since the recording paper is stacked after the recording paper discharged immediately before, the printed recording paper is stacked in the page order.

Incidentally, the recording paper is conveyed in the direction of arrow β in FIG.

When the original is set as described above and the copy operation starts, in the portion where the original and the printed recording paper are in contact,
The conveyance direction α of the document and the conveyance direction β of the recording paper are substantially opposite.

However, the original is separated from the separation roller 3c,
Since it is firmly held by the transport roller 3d, the transport roller 3e, the discharge roller 3f, and the discharge roller 3g, there is no non-feed or uneven feeding.

Further, since the printed recording paper is ejected in such a manner that the leading end thereof comes into contact with the original being conveyed in the reverse direction and is pushed backward by the discharge roller pair 13, the leading end of the recording paper is bent. This is a configuration that easily occurs.

However, as described above, since the recording paper discharge tray 10 is attached at an angle of 16 ° to the document placing table 2a, the angle between the document and the loaded recording paper ( γ) can be reduced.

For this reason, a bundle of originals in contact with the printed recording paper stacked thereon can be pushed away by a weak force like a paper strainer.

Therefore, the printed recording paper described above does not bend at the time of stacking, and, of course, no jam occurs.

As described above, the original reading system is formed close to the recording paper discharge port outside the apparatus, and the recording paper discharge tray 10 is mounted on the cartridge cover 2 almost on the extension of the recording paper discharge port. A single tray serves as both the original loading tray and the loading tray for printed recording paper.

As described above, the sheet stacking section, which is the starting portion of the reading path (first sheet transport path) in the document reading system, and the sheet, which is the arriving section of the image forming path (second sheet transport path) in the recording system. Since the recording paper discharge tray 10 is provided so as to overlap with the discharge section, the size can be reduced.

In particular, when a document sheet is set (stacked) in a document reading system, one end of the document sheet is inserted through a feeding port provided in the device, and the other end is connected to the recording paper discharge tray 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the tray dedicated to the document sheet pop out of the apparatus as in the related art.

Therefore, not only can the number of parts be reduced, the size and the cost can be reduced, but also a design can be made that gives an impression that is clear and has no pressure.

Moreover, since there is no tray in front of the printed recording paper when taking it out, the recording paper can be easily taken out.
The handling of the recording paper can be improved, for example, the tray in front of the recording paper is not caught when the recording paper is taken out, and the workability is improved.

The overlapping portion (recording paper discharge tray 1
0), when the original sheet and the recording sheet are stacked so as to be stacked, the respective sheet conveyance paths are arranged so that the original sheet is located outside the apparatus, so that the original sheet can be easily loaded even during the recording operation. Since the work can be set, the work is not hindered, and the workability is good because the original sheet, which is to be operated immediately after setting, is usually in front.

In the above description, the angle (γ) between the original sheet and the printed recording paper is set such that the angle between the recording paper discharge tray 10 and the original placing table 2a is 16 degrees. The case where the angles are substantially the same has been described, but the point is that the angle (γ) is a small value, for example, preferably 5
The members constituting the transport path may be arranged so that the angle is not less than 20 degrees and not more than 20 degrees.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows a configuration different from the first embodiment only in the direction of the transport path.

The other configuration and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In the above-described first embodiment, a document reading system is configured so as to be closer to the outside of the apparatus than the discharge port of the recording paper.
Although the document conveyance direction is set to follow the gravity, the document conveyance direction is not particularly limited.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the same effect can be obtained by setting the direction in which the document is conveyed to the direction opposite to gravity.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of an image processing apparatus (facsimile) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, basically the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed.

After the toner image is fixed on the printed recording paper P 'by the heat fixing device 17, the recording paper P' is discharged to the front side of the apparatus (the left side in FIG. 6) by a straight paper path.

A recording paper discharge tray 24 is mounted on the front side of the apparatus.

Since the printing surface of the recording paper is discharged upward, the page order is completely reversed. However, since the paper path itself is not unreasonable, it is necessary to improve the reliability of the transportability of the recording paper. It is possible to reduce the curl amount of the recording paper P '.

For the original D, the leading end of the original D is the preliminary pressing arm 3a.
Is set from the near side so as to be sandwiched by the separation roller 3c.

The rear side of the bundle of the documents D set on the document loading table 25 is held by the recording paper discharge tray 24.

[0129]

As described above, according to the present invention, the overlapping portion is provided between the sheet stacking portion and the sheet discharging portion of different paths, so that the number of parts can be reduced, the design can be improved, and the apparatus can be improved. Can be reduced in size.

[0130] One tray can be used as an overlapping portion, and the tray can be used in a narrow space as in the conventional case.
Since there is no need to arrange the sheets, the workability is improved without adversely affecting the work of taking out the sheets stacked on the tray.

In the image processing apparatus, when the original sheet and the recording sheet are stacked on the tray, the paths are arranged so that the original sheet is located outside the apparatus. The document sheets can be easily set even during the forming operation, and the workability of the image reading operation is good.

By arranging the tray substantially on the extension of the recording sheet discharged toward the sheet discharging portion of the image forming path, the recording sheet may be left for a while after the image is formed. However, since the recording sheet is left straight, it can be kept in a clean state without curving.

When original sheets and recording sheets are stacked and stacked on the tray, if the respective paths are arranged so that the angle formed between the original sheets and the recording sheets is 20 degrees or less, the reading operation and image The forming operation can be performed simultaneously and without difficulty.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where only a recording operation is performed).

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention (in which only a reading operation is performed).

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention (a state in which a recording operation and a reading operation are performed simultaneously).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control operation of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration sectional view of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Cartridge cover 2a, 25 Original mounting table 2b Recording sheet discharge table 2c Slider 3 Optical reading system 3a Preliminary pressure contact arm 3b Friction piece 3c Separation roller 3d Transport roller 3e Transport roller 3f Discharge roller 3g Discharge roller 4 Recording system 5 Operation Panel 6 Document holding plate 7 Contact image sensor 10, 24 Recording paper discharge tray 11 Laser scanner unit 11a Polygon mirror 11b Folding mirror 12 Image forming unit 12a Recording cartridge 12b Photoconductor drum 12c Transfer roller 12d Primary charging roller 12e Developing roller 12f Toner Tanks 13, 18 Discharge roller pair 14a Separation pad 14c Recording paper separation roller 15 Recording paper feeder 15b Middle plate 15c Side regulating plate 16a Transport roller 16c Roller 17 Thermal fixing device 17a Heater 17b Pressure roller 19 Flapper 20 Guide section 23 Discharge port D Document P Recording sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H072 BA17 CB03 FB04 FB07 3F054 AA01 AA02 AC02 AC03 BA04 BA14 BB24 BE04 BF03 BF07 CA07 DA11 DA12 DA21 3F343 FA02 FA03 FB02 FB03 FC17 GA02 GB01 GC01 GD01 HC02 KB03 KB14

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sheet conveying device having at least two sheet conveying paths from a sheet stacking section to a sheet discharging section, wherein: a sheet stacking section of any one of the first sheet conveying paths;
A sheet conveying device, wherein an overlapped portion is provided between the first sheet conveying path and a sheet discharge section of a different second conveying path. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one tray is used as at least a part of a sheet stacking section of said first sheet conveying path.
The sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the tray is used as at least a part of a sheet discharge unit of a second conveyance path. 3. An image processing apparatus comprising: a reading path for reading an image on a conveyed document sheet; and an image forming path for forming an image on a conveyed recording sheet. An image processing apparatus, wherein an overlapping portion is provided between a certain sheet stacking section and a sheet discharge section which is an arrival section of the image forming path. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one tray is used as at least a part of a sheet stacking unit of the reading path, and the tray is used as at least a part of a sheet discharging unit of the image forming path. 4. The image processing device according to 3. 5. When the original sheet and the recording sheet are stacked on the tray, the respective paths are arranged so that the original sheet is located outside the apparatus. 5. The image processing device according to 4. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tray is disposed on a substantially extended line of a recording sheet discharged toward a sheet discharging portion of an image forming path. 7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said tray is made of a molding material. 8. When the original sheet and the recording sheet are stacked on the tray, each path is arranged such that the angle between the original sheet and the recording sheet is 20 degrees or less. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: 9. An image reading means for reading an image on a conveyed document sheet, an image forming means for forming an image on a conveyed recording sheet, and a recording sheet on which the image is read by the image forming means. And an image processing apparatus comprising: a tray for setting the original sheet, wherein when setting the original sheet, one end of the original sheet is inserted into a feeding port provided on an exterior surface of the apparatus, and the other end is supported by the tray. An image processing apparatus characterized in that: