JP2001061029A - Image reader and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader that can stably read an original and easily conduct its internal processing and to provide an image forming device. SOLUTION: Relating to the image reader that is provided with an original platen 6 with an original mounted thereon that forms an opening to expose the inside of the image reader through the movement and with a scanner base 20 that is mounted on the original platen 6 to read an image of the original, a notch 6b is provided for the original platen 6 so as to position the original platen 6 and the scanner base 20 and the scanner base 20 is provided with a projecting part 20a to fit to the notch 6b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an ink jet system and a facsimile apparatus applied to such an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to conventional facsimile transmission and reception functions, image reading such as facsimile (multifunction facsimile) having a function of performing color copying or a function of a scanner connected to a computer and taking a color image into the computer. An apparatus or an image forming apparatus has been devised.

In this apparatus, paper different from paper used for facsimile transmission is used as a document.

[0004] Examples of such paper include newspaper clippings, color photographs, color pages of magazines, business cards, and the like. Newspaper and magazine clippings are thin and weak paper types,
Often there is also printing on the back.

When transporting these, it is essential that the original is not damaged rather than the separation performance, and that the back surface as well as the front surface is not stained.

However, a rubber material having a high coefficient of friction is used for a separation piece of a sheet conveying section of a conventional facsimile machine. Therefore, even if the pressing force is weakened, the document may be scratched or damaged due to the high friction coefficient of the separation piece.

[0007] Further, the rubber material used for the separation piece and the original rub against each other, so that rubber marks (rubber scum) of the separation piece adhere to the back surface. When thick hard paper such as a business card is used as a document, it is difficult to convey the paper only by reducing the pressing force.

In view of the above, in order to transport thick paper (such as a business card) and transport the original such as a photograph and a newspaper without damaging the back surface without leaving a trace of rubber, the separation piece is completely released from the separation roller. A mechanism is required.

Here, as a technique of a mechanism for releasing a separation piece by operating and rotating a lever, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
A technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-100141 has been devised.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-100141, a multifunction facsimile having a separation piece release mechanism in a reading section and an ink jet printer in a recording section has been devised.

[0011]

However, in the case of the above-described conventional image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus,
There is a problem that inconvenience may occur when the original is stably conveyed and the internal processing of the apparatus is performed.

That is, a conventional multi-function facsimile having, for example, an ink-jet printer as a recording unit is used personally as a peripheral device of a computer rather than for use in an office, so that the size of the device is required to be reduced.

For this reason, in the conventional apparatus, the recording unit is arranged behind the reading unit (document insertion port side), and the cover at the top of the recording unit functions as a lid for a take-out opening for exchanging the document loading table and the ink cartridge. By realizing both, miniaturization was realized.

However, the prior art such as a multi-function facsimile having a reading unit having a separating piece release mechanism for operating a lever having the above configuration has the following two problems.

The first problem is that when the separation piece is released by operating the separation piece release lever, the operation lever is protruded toward the document insertion port side, and the cover at the top of the recording unit is opened to replace the ink cartridge. In this case, the cover and the protruding portion of the operation lever interfere with each other, so that the ink cartridge cannot be replaced while the separation piece is released.

In such a release mechanism of the separation piece, when the separation piece is released, the operation lever protrudes largely toward the document insertion port side, so that the user can determine whether or not the separation piece has been released from the appearance. It is characterized by being easily recognizable.

Therefore, when the separating piece is in the released state, the protruding portion of the operation lever is located above the cover, and the cover cannot be opened upward. If the cover is forcibly opened, the lever protruding from the document insertion port side may be broken.

The second problem is that the reading range of the document is not equal in the right and left, and the document may be read in a state shifted to the right or left.

In order for an original to be read equally on the left and right,
It is necessary that the center of the set document (in the width direction) coincides with the center of the image sensor that reads the document.
A side guide for positioning in the width direction at the time of document setting is mounted on a cover to reduce the size of the apparatus.

Since the cover has a function as a lid of the ink cartridge take-out port in addition to the function as the document loading table, the cover is rotatably attached to the housing.

When replacing the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is replaced while the cover is rotated upward and the upper portion of the recording unit is opened.

In order to prevent the sliding portion between the cover and the housing from being scraped due to the opening and closing operation when replacing the ink cartridge, and to enable the cover to be opened and closed with a small force, the left and right directions (document) are provided between the housing and the printer cover. Gap in the width direction)
The structure allows smooth opening and closing.

Further, since the cover is not assembled to the reading section but attached to the housing, the cover and the reading section are not directly positioned.

Therefore, when a document is set on the document loading table, there is a gap between the cover and the housing, and the cover is not positioned with respect to the reading unit. May shift to either.

Therefore, even if the document is regulated by the side guide, there is a problem that the center of the document may be shifted left or right with respect to the center of the image sensor of the reading unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that enable stable reading of a document and that can easily perform internal processing of the apparatus.

[0027]

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a document loading device for loading a document; and a reading device for reading an image of the document loaded on the document loading device. Means, the document stacking means is movable with respect to the reading means, and the document stacking means and the reading means perform positioning between the document stacking means and the reading means. It is characterized by having a fitting means for performing.

Further, the reading means includes a separating means for separating the document from the document bundle in which the plurality of documents are bundled.

[0029] The reading means may be an operating means capable of protruding from the reading means above the document stacking means, and comprising an operating means for switching whether or not to separate the documents by the separating means. It is characterized by.

Further, the fitting means is provided on a notch portion provided on one of the document loading means and the reading means, and on the other of the document loading means and the reading means. It is characterized by being formed by a projection fitted into the notch.

The document stacking means has the notch, the reading means has the projection fitted into the notch, and the operating means is projected above the document stacking means. In this case, it is characterized in that the document stacking unit is disposed at a position where the document stacking unit does not interfere with the movement of the document stacking unit by overlapping the projection.

Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an image forming means for forming an image of the document read by the image reading device on a sheet material.

Therefore, according to the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even when the document stacking means and the reading means are fitted, the document loading means and the reading means are provided with the fitting means. Therefore, at the time of these positioning, for example, occurrence of a left-right shift or the like can be prevented, and stable image reading can always be performed.

Further, one of the document stacking means and the reading means has a notch, and the other has a projection which fits into the notch. It can prevent the occurrence of left and right misalignment,
It is possible to always perform stable image reading.

Further, since the reading means includes the separating means for separating the document from the document bundle, the convenience can be further improved.

By operating the operation means, it is possible to switch whether or not to separate the original. Therefore, even if the original is a thick paper original or a double-sided printed original, for example, Can be carried out in accordance with the condition, and the integrity of document conveyance can be improved, and the operation means can protrude above the document stacking means.
It is easy for the user to determine whether or not the document is separated by the separating means.

Further, since the operation means is projected onto the document stacking means so as to overlap with the projection provided on the reading means, the movement of the document stacking means is not hindered by the operation means, and It is possible to easily perform the process of exposing the inside of the image reading apparatus or the image forming apparatus, for example, exchanging the ink cartridge by moving the ink cartridge.

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus in which a cartridge exchange type ink jet printer is provided in a recording unit as image forming means, and reading means for transporting and reading a document is disposed in front of the printer. When the image reading apparatus or the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied, the upper part of the recording unit has a cover as a document stacking unit that rotates upward when the cartridge attached to the housing is replaced and opens the upper part of the recording unit. In the case where a side guide for document positioning is provided on the cover, and a separation piece release mechanism operation lever is provided on the side of the document insertion port,
It is possible to prevent that the cover cannot be opened or closed if the separation piece is released by operating the separation piece release lever as the operating means.

Further, the fitting of the notch and the projection prevents the reading range of the original from being shifted to the left or right due to the left-right gap between the cover and the housing. , An image reading apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus and an image forming apparatus can be provided.

[0040]

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 materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

An embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, an embodiment of the image reading apparatus described below is also an image reading apparatus including an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Therefore, in the following description, the description of the embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention also serves as the description of the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The image reading apparatus shown in the following figures is an embodiment in which the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 3 is released. is there.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the separation piece shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a view showing the position of the operation knob when the separation piece shown in FIG. 3 is pressed against the separation roller. is there.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the position of the operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 6 is released, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a view of the position of the operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view of the position of the operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 7 is released, as viewed from the operation panel section side. FIG. 10 is a view showing the original table and the color scanner section shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the shape of the convex portion viewed from the front.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a color facsimile apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is applied has an original-conveying color image inside a housing which forms front, rear, left and right walls of FIG. A color scanner unit 2 serving as a reading device, a serial recording type recording device, and a color control board and a power supply (not shown) are built in. These components are individually configured so that they can be easily replaced and detached.

The housing has a lower cover 3 as a first housing serving as a lower housing, an upper cover 4 serving as an upper housing, and a power supply for guiding a recording sheet S as a sheet material. And a rear cover 19 serving as a third housing for this purpose.

The upper cover 4 is provided with a side guide 5 which is adjustable in width to guide the document D in the width direction, and which moves about one central portion by moving only one side. A document table 6 serving as a document stacking means is rotatably supported with respect to the upper cover 4 to enable access to a recording head 7 serving as an image forming means.

A detachable document placing tray 8 is provided at the rear of the document table 6. For example, when a sheet-like document D of A4 size is conveyed forward toward the color scanner unit 2 as a document, a rear end thereof is provided. To prevent it from sagging.

The original D transported forward with the original surface facing downward is transported from below the color scanner unit 2 to the front of the facsimile machine 1 and discharged and placed on the original discharge tray 9. The document discharge tray 9 is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 (the front-back direction of the facsimile machine 1).

On the other hand, after the recording sheet S conveyed to the recording apparatus is regulated in the width direction by the movement of the side guide 11 provided on the recording sheet table 10 disposed on the back side of the facsimile machine 1, After serial recording in a printer unit 12 described later, which is an ink jet recording unit, the sheet is discharged onto a recording sheet table 10 below the color scanner unit 2.

When the recording sheet S is conveyed so that its longitudinal direction is in the front-rear direction of the facsimile machine 1, the rear recording sheet support 13 and the front recording sheet support are used to prevent the recording sheet S from sagging. A rod 14 is provided.

The recording sheet support table 13 is provided for the recording sheet table 10.
And is configured to be at the position shown in FIG. 1 when pulled out as appropriate. Further, the recording sheet support bar 14 on the front side is provided so as to be able to be pulled out in the front-rear direction similarly to the document discharge tray 9 including the above-described document support bar.

The upper cover 4 is, as shown in FIG.
The lower cover 3 has a shape surrounding the color scanner unit 2 and extends along the edge 4 a of the upper cover 4.
By removing the color scanner unit 2 from the lower cover 3, the color scanner unit 2 can be opened while being left on the lower cover 3.

The color scanner section 2 has a scanner body section and an operation panel section 15 coupled to each other so as to open and close about a hinge (not shown). The operation panel unit 15 includes an operation unit such as a liquid crystal display unit 16 and push button keys 17.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the facsimile apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 from which the upper cover 4 is omitted, and a lower cover in which an opening surface surrounded by a base serving as a bottom surface and a side wall serving as an exterior is integrally formed. 3, a color scanner unit 2 which is an original transport type image reading apparatus that reads an image written on the original surface of the original D while transporting the original D, and performs serial recording while transporting the recording sheet S. Printer unit 12 which is a serial type recording apparatus for performing the above-mentioned operations, a color control board (not shown) which performs predetermined control by being connected to the printer unit 12 and a power supply, and an ink which becomes unnecessary by the intended ejection of ink from the recording head 7 Absorbing ink absorber 18 and rear cover 19
The recording sheet table 10 and all of the unillustrated speakers can be fixed to the lower cover 3 without using any tools.

Next, the configuration of each section will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the document D is placed on the document table 6. The color scanner unit 2 irradiates the original surface of the original D with light and converts the reflected light into an electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to another machine or to its own printer unit 12 according to the operation mode. Things.

In the main body of the color scanner section 2, the scanner base 20 as a reading means is
And is fixed to the lower cover 3 to guide the lower side of the document D.

The scanner base 20 has a separation roller 21 as a rotating body serving as a sheet conveying means for feeding the original D, a feed roller 22 for conveying the original D, and a discharge roller for discharging the original D onto the original discharge tray 9. There is provided a color contact sensor 24 and the like comprising an image reading means 23 for reading image information of the document D.

The operation panel section 15 is rotatably attached to the scanner base 20 by a fulcrum (not shown). The operation panel section 15 is opposed to the document upper guide 25 for guiding the upper side of the document D and the separation roller 21 and serves as a friction means. A separation piece 26 composed of a member is disposed, and is pressed against the feed roller 22 and the discharge roller 23 to face the feed roller 27 and the discharge roller 2 respectively.
8, a reading white background 29 serving as a reading white reference is placed by pressing the color contact sensor 24 in opposition to the color contact sensor 24, and a release lever 30 (see FIG. 3) for releasing the pressing of the separation piece 26 to convey a thick document D or the like. Etc.) are provided.

The operation panel section 15 attached to the upper guide 25 forms a part of the exterior, and includes operation keys such as push button keys 17 and a liquid crystal display section 16 such as an LCD (liquid crystal device). Panel substrate and the like are provided.

Here, the transport and reading operation of the original D by the color scanner unit 2 and the scanner base 20 are performed by a motor and a sensor driving circuit (not shown). Display control and the like are controlled by a color control board (not shown).

Next, the printer section 12 will be described. The printer unit 12 is provided with a recording sheet table that supports the middle plate 10a by a fulcrum (not shown).
Is pressed by a spring. The base of the recording sheet table 10 is fixed to the main body of the printer unit 12 by screws or the like.

The recording sheet S is stacked on the middle plate 10a, the back surface of which is supported by the recording sheet support table 13 and the recording sheet table 10 which are provided on the base of the recording sheet table 10 so as to be extendable and contractible. The position is regulated by a side guide 11 movably provided on the middle plate 10a. Further, the feed roller 31 feeds out the recording sheets S one by one and sends them out to the printer unit 12.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a transport roller, which is pressed by a pinch roller 33 disposed opposite to the transport roller.
The recording sheet S sent from the printer is sent out to a recording unit facing the recording head 7 disposed further downstream.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a plunger which supports the back surface of the recording sheet S in opposition to the recording head 7. On the front side of the recording sheet S, the recording head 7 mounted on a carriage 36 which is supported by a guide shaft 35 and reciprocates. As a result, a recorded image is formed.

After that, the recording sheet S is discharged from the printer unit 12 by the discharge roller pair 37 and is discharged and placed on the recording sheet discharge table 38 provided on the lower cover 3.

Here, the conveyance and recording operation of the recording sheet S of the printer unit 12 are performed by a motor, a sensor, a head drive circuit and the like (not shown), and these controls are controlled by a control board unit (not shown). .

The recording relay board 39 relays signals from these motors, sensors, head drive circuits, etc., and transfers them to the control board section. In addition, an ink absorber 18 that absorbs waste ink generated at the time of operation such as ink clogging prevention in the printer unit 12 is attached to the lower cover 3.

Next, the flow of the document D will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the color scanner unit 2, and the transport path of the document D is as shown by an arrow b in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the document D is placed on the document placing tray 8 with the image side of the document D facing downward. Document loading tray 8
The original D placed thereon is positioned by a side guide 5 that can move in the width direction.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a preliminary transfer arm, and the separation roller 21
It is arranged at the position facing to. The preliminary transport arm 40 is pressed against the separation roller 21 by a preliminary transport pressing spring 41.

Accordingly, the document insertion port 4 serving as a sheet insertion port
The bundle of the originals D inserted and set from 2 is preliminarily conveyed with the leading end being loosened by the cooperation of the preparatory conveyance arm 40 and the separation roller 21.

The separating piece 26 is a pressing means from above in FIG. 3 and presses the separating roller 21 by an ADF spring 43 composed of an elastic spring, and the document which has been preliminarily conveyed by the cooperation of the separating piece 26 and the separating roller 21. D is separated and transported one by one from below. Further, the separation roller 21 also has a role of conveying the document D to the feeding roller 22.

The original D conveyed by the separation roller 21 is nipped by a feed roller 22 and a feed roller 27 facing the feed roller 22 to form a color contact sensor 24.
Are conveyed to the opposing reading position, and the color contact sensor 24 reads the image of the document D.

The reading white background 29 arranged opposite to the color contact sensor 24 is made of a sheet metal of white background, and from above in FIG.
And the image of the document D conveyed separately is brought into close contact with the reading line of the color contact sensor 24.

The original D whose image has been read by the color contact sensor 24 is conveyed while being nipped and held by a discharge roller 23 and a discharge roller 28 opposed thereto, and is attached to and detached from the facsimile machine 1 body.
Discharged on top.

Next, the configuration of the document separating and conveying section A shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG.
The document D is inserted and set from a document insertion port 42 formed between the document upper guide 25 and the document lower guide 45.

The separation piece 26 is made of a rubber piece having a relatively large friction coefficient mounted on the ADF holder 46, and the preliminary transfer arm 40 is made of a plastic member having a relatively small friction coefficient. The ADF holder 46 has a projection shaft 46a.
Is extending.

The preliminary transport arm 40 is provided with a concave portion 40a into which the projection shaft 46a of the ADF holder 46 is fitted, and the projection shaft 46a is fitted and attached to this concave portion 40a. Thus, the preliminary transport arm 40 is configured to be rotatable around the concave portion 40a.

The preliminary transport pressing spring 41 is constituted by a tension coil spring. One end of the preliminary transport pressing spring 41 is engaged with the projection locking portion 40b of the preliminary transport arm 40, and the other end is AD.
It is engaged with the projection locking portion 46b of the F holder 46.

The document upper guide 25 is provided with a concave portion (not shown).
The ADF holder 46 is configured to be rotatable about the projection shaft 46a.

The ADF holder 46 is located at a position facing the separation roller 21, and is arranged such that the preliminary transport arm 40 and the separation piece 26 come into contact with the separation roller 21. One end of the ADF spring 43 is engaged with the spring receiving surface 46c of the ADF holder 46, and the other end of the ADF spring 43 is engaged with the operation panel section 15.

The ADF spring 43 is a compression coil spring.
6 is pressed against the separation roller 21.

FIG. 6 and FIG.
This shows a state in which the holder 46 and the release lever 30 are assembled. The release lever 30 that separates the separation piece 26 from the separation roller 21 and releases friction is attached rotatably about a shaft 25 a provided on the original upper guide 25. One end of the release lever 30 has an inclined portion 30a and a flat portion 30.
b is formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation knob 30c as the operating means, which is disposed on the document insertion port 42 side of the release lever 30, is positioned substantially along the end 25b of the upper document guide 25, Projection 4 provided on ADF holder 46
The inclined portion 30 a of the release lever 30 does not come into contact with 6 d. At this time, the separation piece 26 is pressed against the separation roller 21 by the pressing force of the ADF spring 43.

When the operation lever 30c is operated to rotate the release lever 30 about the shaft 25a in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 6, the inclined portion 30a of the release lever 30 comes into contact with the projection 46d of the ADF holder 46. Move this ADF holder 4
5, the flat portion 30b of the release lever 30 goes under the protrusion 46d of the ADF holder 46 and separates after the upper portion 6 rotates around the protrusion shaft 46a against the pressing force of the ADF spring 43 in the upward direction in FIG. When the piece 26 is separated from the separation roller 21, the friction is released and held, and at this time, the operation knob 30
The position c is located at the center of the original insertion opening 42 side in a state of protruding from the end 25b of the upper document guide 25 (a state of protruding outside the apparatus main body) (see FIG. 7).

Here, H in FIG. 4 indicates that the release lever 30 is
Is a gap created between the separation piece 26 and the separation roller 21 when the state shown in FIG.

Since the force of the ADF spring 43 pressing the ADF holder 46 is strong, the preliminary transport arm 40 is
The separation roller 21 is pressed by the elastic force of 1.

Therefore, even when the release lever 30 is operated, the preliminary transport arm 40 is kept pressed by the separation roller 21. Therefore, the pressing position of the preliminary transport arm 40 is
6 is the same as when not separated from the separation roller 21.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, since the frictional force does not act between the separating piece 26 and the document D, the function of separating a plurality of document D bundles is reduced, but one sheet of thick paper or the like can be fed. In addition, since no rubber mark of the separation piece 26 adheres to the back surface of the document D and no scratch is generated due to friction with the separation piece 26, the document D such as a clipped newspaper, a color page of a magazine, a color photograph, a business card, etc. Can be conveyed to read an image.

As described above, the user operates the operation knob 30c of the release lever 30 without disassembling the apparatus, thereby separating the separation piece 26 from the separation roller 2.
It is configured to be able to be released by being separated from 1.

Next, a method of positioning the document table 6 and the reading section (scanner base 20) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a normal state in which the separation piece 26 is pressed against the separation roller 21, and the operation knob 30 c of the release lever 30 is set to such a degree that the operation knob 30 c is very little exposed to the outside of the apparatus. I have.

FIG. 9 shows the state of the operation knob when the separation piece 26 is released. The operation knob 30c projects substantially at the center of the document insertion slot 42.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 6a denotes a shaft for mounting the document table 6 and the upper cover 4 (not shown). The document table 6 has a function as a lid of an ink cartridge exchange port, and can rotate upward with respect to the shaft 6a as a center of rotation. When replacing the ink cartridge, the original table 6 is rotated upward, and the ink cartridge is replaced while the upper portion of the ink cartridge is open.

There is a slight gap between the document table 6 and the mounting portion of the upper cover so that the user can rotate the document table 6 smoothly, and the document table 6 rotates smoothly.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a document side guide, which is mounted on a document table 6 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. By positioning the side guide 5 along the side of the document, the left and right positions of the document are regulated.

Reference numeral 6b denotes a concave notch on the document table 6, which constitutes a fitting means. The notch 6b has a shape avoiding the operation knob 30c so that the document table 6 can be opened upward around the axis 6a when the operation knob 30c is protruding from the document insertion port side. Has become.

Even when the separation piece 26 is released and the operation knob 30c is projected by the notch 6b, the document table 6 is rotated upward without interference between the document table 6 and the operation knob 30c. To open and replace the ink cartridge.

Reference numeral 20a denotes a protruding portion of the scanner base 20 as a projection, which constitutes a fitting means. The convex portion 20a of the scanner base 20 has a shape that just fits into the concave cutout portion 6b when the document table 6 is closed.

The convex portion 20a and the concave notch portion 6b
Just fits, the position of the scanner base 20 and the platen 6 is determined, and when the platen 6 is closed,
Since the convex portion 20a and the concave cutout portion 6b are exactly aligned, even if there is a gap between the document table 6 and the scanner base 20, the document does not shift left and right.

Since the scanner base 20 and the document table 6 are directly positioned by the convex portions 20a and the notch portions 6b of the concave portions, respectively, the center of the scanner base 20 and the center of the document table are left or right. Match without shifting.

Therefore, the original set on the original platen 6 can be set at the center of the reading unit without being shifted to the right or left with respect to the reading unit (scanner base 20), and the image can be stably and uniformly left and right. It is possible to read.

Although the projection 20a and the notch 6b of the depression are fitted and positioned, the side surface of the projection 20a may be inclined.

FIG. 10 shows a concave notch 6b in which the side of the convex portion 20a is inclined and the platen 6 is opened upward with the shaft 6a as the center of rotation, and the platen 6 is closed. And the state of the projection 20a. FIG. 10 is a front view of a state in which the notch 6b and the protrusion 20a are fitted.

FIG. 10A shows the case where the document table 6 is opened upward with the axis 6a as the center of rotation, and FIG. 10B shows the state where the document table 6 is closed and the notch 6b and the convex section 20a Represents the state when the mouse is stuck.

The side surface of the protruding portion 20a has an inclined shape that tapers toward the top. By doing so, even when the document table 6 is shifted to the left or right due to the gap with the upper cover and closed, the document table 6 does not ride on the convex portion 20a and fits firmly into a prescribed position. Positioning can be performed.

[0111]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, one of the document stacking means and the reading means is provided with a notch and the other is provided with a projection. It is possible to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a shift such as a left-right shift between the document stacking unit and the reading unit, and can stably read an original. .

Further, since the operating means is projected so as to overlap the projection provided on the reading means, even when the original loading means is moved, the operating means does not interfere with the original loading means. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can easily perform processing inside the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state where a separation piece shown in FIG. 3 is released.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a separation piece shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing the position of an operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 3 is pressed against a separation roller.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a position of an operation knob in a state where a separation piece shown in FIG. 6 is released.

8 is a view of the position of the operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 6 is pressed against the separation roller, as viewed from the operation panel unit side.

FIG. 9 is a view of the position of the operation knob in a state where the separation piece shown in FIG. 7 is released, as viewed from the operation panel unit side.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the shape of the original plate and the convex portion of the color scanner section shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Color scanner part 3 Lower cover 4 Upper cover 4a Edge part 5 Side guide 6 Document table 6a Shaft 6b Notch part 7 Recording head 8 Document loading tray 9 Document discharge tray 10 Recording sheet table 10a Middle plate 11 Side guide 12 Printer unit 13 Recording sheet support 14 Recording sheet support rod 15 Operation panel unit 16 Liquid crystal display unit 17 Push button key 18 Ink absorber 19 Rear cover 20 Scanner base 20a Convex part 21 Separation roller 22 Feeding roller 23 Discharge roller 24 Color contact Sensor 25 Document upper guide 25a Shaft 25b End 26 Separation piece 27 Feed roller 28 Discharge roller 29 Reading white background 30 Release lever 30a Inclined portion 30b Flat portion 30c Operation knob 31 Feed roller 32 Transport roller 33 Pinch roller 34 Plastic Jars 35 Guide shaft 36 Carriage 37 Discharge roller pair 38 Recording sheet discharge table 39 Recording relay board 40 Preliminary transport arm 40a Depressed portion 40b Projection locking portion 41 Preliminary transport pressing spring 42 Document insertion port 43 ADF spring 44 White background spring 45 Document lower guide 46 ADF holder 46a Projection shaft 46b Projection locking portion 46c Spring receiving surface 46d Projection A Document separation and conveyance section D Document H Gap S Recording sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2H076 AA04 AA58 BA24 BA45 BA91 3F343 FA03 FB03 GA02 GB01 GC01 GD01 HA12 HA27 HB01 HE04 HE23 KB03 KB07 KB08 KB18 KB19 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB29 AB31 AB33 AB38 AC02 AC04 AC10 AD10 AE03 BA01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: document loading means for loading a document; and reading means for reading an image of the document loaded on the document loading means, wherein the document loading means moves with respect to the reading means. An image reading apparatus, wherein the document stacking means and the reading means include a fitting means for positioning between the document stacking means and the reading means. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit includes a separating unit that separates the document from a document bundle in which the plurality of documents are bundled. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is an operation unit that can protrude from the reading unit above the document stacking unit, and includes an operation unit for switching whether or not the document is separated by the separation unit. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitting unit includes a notch provided in one of the document stacking unit and the reading unit, and a notch provided in the other of the document stacking unit and the reading unit. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is formed by a protrusion fitted to the notch. 5. The document stacking unit includes the notch, the reading unit includes the protrusion fitted into the notch, and the operation unit is protruded above the document stacking unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the case, the image reading apparatus is arranged at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the document stacking unit by overlapping with the protrusion. 6. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image of the document read by the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 on a sheet material. .