JP2003134283A - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the operability of an automatic document feeder provided to an image forming device. SOLUTION: An adjustable damper is employed for a damper of a hinge in the automatic document feeder so as to adjust dispersion and a secular change in a hinge spring later.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, when forming an image of copying an original, there are roughly two methods. One is to form an image by using an automatic document feeder or the like. Generally, the automatic document feeder closes the originals on the image forming apparatus and stacks the originals on the automatic document feeder. Automatic document feeding for those that are placed on a table and start image formation by the start signal of the image forming device, and for those that cannot be loaded on the automatic document feeding device such as books, glued, etc. There is one in which an apparatus is opened and directly placed on a platen glass, which is an image reading unit of an image forming apparatus, to perform copying. And
The automatic document feeder has an opening / closing support mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a hinge) so that the automatic document feeder may be operated to open and close on a daily basis. In order to offset the self-weight of the feeding device, the hinge is provided with an elastic body such as a cam and a spring, a damper and the like so that the user can easily open and close the hinge.

[0003]

However, since the automatic document feeder provided in the high-speed copying machine is heavy in weight, the spring provided in the hinge is a spring having a strong acting force. Therefore, the spring force changes due to the variation of the elastic body such as the spring and the change of the spring force due to long-term continuous use, and when the spring force increases, the automatic document feeder will move to the normal position with respect to the image forming apparatus. If it is not closed or if the spring force is weak, there is a problem that the automatic document feeder drops due to impact. Therefore, there is a problem in that the user does not feel uncomfortable due to poor document conveyance, noise, or impact.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a hinge, which is a rotation supporting mechanism provided in an automatic document feeder, is provided with other elastic members such as cams and springs. The adjustable damper that can adjust the damper effect is provided to suppress and promote the action of the spring force. When the spring is strong, adjust the damper effect so that it works weakly so that the automatic document feeder closes in the proper position with respect to the image forming device.When the spring is weak, adjust the damper effect so that it works strongly. , The automatic document feeder is prevented from dropping due to impact.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a section of the automatic document feeder 2 and a simplified section of the image forming apparatus 1. Using this figure,
First, document transportation and image information reading will be described.
The original S is set on the paper feed stack 21 of the automatic original feeder 2. In response to an image formation start signal from the image forming apparatus 1, document feeding and conveyance are started. For a document placed on the document stacking table 21 that is placed against the shutter 22, the shutter 22 first descends to open the document transport path, then the paper feed roller 23 descends onto the document, and then the clock. The originals are rotated around and conveyed to the left in FIG. 1, the originals are separated one by one by the separating roller 22 and the separating belt 25, and the originals separated one by one are further conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 26. As a result, the leading edge of the original reaches the roller nip of the registration roller pair 27 which is further conveyed and stopped. Since the registration roller pair 27 is stopped, the leading edge of the original does not advance further than the nip, and is pushed afterwards, a loop is formed in the original, and the original moves through the registration roller pair nip. The tip is aligned in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. That is, even if the original is skewed (in a state of being conveyed obliquely) due to paper feeding, separation, etc., it is corrected. After a certain loop is formed, the registration roller pair 27 starts rotating and the document conveyance is continued.

The transport belt 30 is elastically stretched between the transport drive roller 28 and the transport driven roller 29 by a spring member or the like. And the transport drive roller 28
The belt pressing means for pressing the conveyor belt against the platen glass 12 on the image forming apparatus to generate a conveying force between the platen glass 12 and the conveyor drive roller 29 and inside the conveyor belt 30. Roll row 31, 32, 34
Further, a belt pressing roller 40 for uniformly pressing the belt against the platen glass 12 in the width direction is arranged in the direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction.

The original is recorded on the pair of registration rollers 27.
The sheet is conveyed between the conveyor belt 30 and the platen glass 12 and stopped at a predetermined position.

After the document is stopped, the scanner 11 irradiates the document with light or the like and picks up the reflected light to read the image information of the document.

The original from which the image information has been read is then
The sheet is ejected from the platen glass 12 through the sheet ejection flapper 35, the sheet ejection intermediate roller 36, and the sheet ejection roller 37 onto the sheet ejection tray 13.

The above is the flow of document transportation and the flow of image information reading.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the image forming apparatus 1 and the automatic document feeder 2 mounted thereon. The automatic document feeder is partially sectioned to show how the hinges 40, 50 are attached. Two hinges are attached to the back side of the image forming apparatus so as to be separated from each other on the right and left sides.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the hinge 5 in which the automatic document feeder 2 is placed on the image forming apparatus 1 and is closed.
This shows the state of 0.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the hinge 5 in which the automatic document feeder 2 is placed on the image forming apparatus 1 and is open.
This shows the state of 0.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional state of the hinge in FIG. 3, and the hinge 50 will be described with reference to this drawing. The hinge 50 is fixed to the automatic document feeder 2 by a mounting plate 60 provided on the frame 51, and is rotated by the automatic document feeder 2 (rotation moving part), the core base 59, the cam 53, and the like. It is divided into non-moving parts (non-operating parts) that are connected to the image forming apparatus. The rotary working part and the non-working part are rotatably connected by a rotary shaft 52. The spring 56 and the damper 57 are arranged between the independent housings 54 and 55 in the moving part, and the spring 56 acts so as to spread between the housings, and one housing 55 is fixed by the fixed shaft 61. Although it is not movable, the other housing 54 is movable until it comes into contact with the cam 53. This housing 54
The pressure contact force of the cam 53 offsets the self-weight of the automatic document feeder to reduce the operation load of the user opening and closing. As the damper 57, there are a gas damper using gas, an oil damper using oil, and the like, but the damper 57 is not limited to the type. As a general performance of the damper 57, a strong force works against a sudden contraction (or extension), and a weak force works on a slow motion, and the contraction,
It is characterized in that the acting force is applied to either one of the extending operations, and the hinge mechanism provided in the automatic document feeder uses the one that acts in the contracting direction of the damper. Further, the damper has an adjusting mechanism 58 for adjusting the acting force, and the adjusting mechanism can be operated from the outside of the hinge unit by a simple tool or the like. After being assembled as one unit, the operation force of the hinge can be adjusted after connecting to the automatic document feeder, and even after the user has used the hinge for a long time and the operation feeling of the hinge changes. It is characterized by being adjustable.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional state of the hinge in FIG. 4, showing a state in which the spring 56 and the damper 57 in the hinge 50 are extended, and the housing 54 and the cam 53 in this state. Is also in contact with.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, 1
The example in which the spring 56 and the damper 57 having the adjusting mechanism are built in one hinge has been described. However, in the automatic document feeder having a plurality of hinge means, one hinge means has the spring and the adjusting mechanism. It is possible to obtain the effects of the present invention without simultaneously providing the dampers described above. For example, one hinge may be provided with only a spring, and the other hinges may be provided with a damper having an adjusting mechanism. It may be possible to obtain an effect. That is, an automatic document feeder having a plurality of hinge means is characterized by having at least one damper having a spring and an adjusting mechanism.

(Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 1, 1
The example in which the spring 56 and the damper 57 having the adjusting mechanism are built in one hinge has been described. However, in the automatic document feeder having a plurality of hinge means, one hinge means has the spring and the adjusting mechanism. It is possible to obtain the effect of the present invention without simultaneously providing the damper described above. For example, one hinge is provided with a spring and a normal damper, and the other hinge is provided with a spring and a damper having an adjusting mechanism. Alternatively, the same effect may be obtained. That is, an automatic document feeder having a plurality of hinge means is characterized by having at least one damper having an adjusting mechanism.

[0019]

As described above, in the automatic document feeder provided in the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, the hinge means which is the rotation supporting mechanism thereof has the elastic body such as the spring and the adjusting mechanism. By having the damper, the damper is equipped with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the effect of the damper according to the variation of the spring force due to the variation of the elastic body such as the spring and the change with time. By doing so, it is possible to change the opening / closing force and the acting force suitable for the machine, and it is possible to stabilize the document feeding property and improve the operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic document feeder and a simplified view of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an automatic document feeder including the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side view (closed state) of the automatic document feeder on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a left side view (open state) of the automatic document feeder on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (closed state) of the hinge means provided with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view (closed state) of the hinge means provided with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional hinge means (closed state).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming device 2 Automatic document feeder 11 Image reading means 12 Platen glass 13 Output tray 21 Document loading table 22 shutter 23 Paper feed roller 24 Separate Paper Feed Roller 25 separation belt 26 Separation roller pair 27 Registration roller pair 28 Belt drive roller 29 Belt driven roller 30 conveyor belt 31, 34 Conveyor belt pressing roller (tire type) 32, 33 Conveyor belt pressing roller 35 Paper ejection flapper 36 Paper discharge intermediate roller 37 Paper ejection roller 40,50 hinges 51 frames 52 rotation axis 53 cam 54,55 housing 56 spring 57 damper 58 adjustment mechanism 59 core stand 60 mounting plate 61 fixed axis

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme coat (reference) G06T 1/00 420 G06T 1/00 420J F term (reference) 2H012 CB12 2H076 AA58 BA08 BA51 BA52 BA95 BA96 3F049 DA05 LA01 LB02 5B047 AA01 BA01 BC18 BC20 5C062 AB32 AD02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A document provided in an image forming apparatus capable of conveying a document to a predetermined image information reading position of an image information apparatus,
In the automatic document feeder, the automatic document feeder has a rotation supporting means for supporting the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can be opened and closed, and the rotation supporting means includes a rotation mechanism and a spring for opening / closing operation. An automatic document feeder, characterized in that it has an elastic body and a damper using a gas or liquid substance, and the damper has an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the damper effect. 2. A document provided in an image forming apparatus capable of conveying a document to a predetermined image information reading position of an image information apparatus,
In the automatic document feeder, the automatic document feeder has a plurality of rotation supporting means for supporting the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can be opened and closed, and at least one of the rotation supporting means can be opened and closed. An automatic system characterized by having a rotating mechanism, an elastic body such as a spring, and a damper using a gas or liquid substance, and the damper having an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the damper effect. Document feeder. 3. An image forming apparatus equipped with an original capable of conveying a document to a predetermined image information reading position of the image information apparatus,
In the automatic document feeder, the automatic document feeder has a plurality of rotation supporting means for supporting the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus can be opened and closed. In the plurality of rotation supporting means, at least one rotating mechanism is provided. It has one or more elastic bodies such as springs and a damper using one or more gas or liquid substances, and the damper has an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the damper effect. Automatic document feeder. 4. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism in the damper described above is an adjusting mechanism capable of variably adjusting a displacement time of the damper that expands or contracts. . 5. The automatic mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism in the damper described above is an adjusting mechanism capable of varying an acting force acting at the time of extension or contraction. Document feeder. 6. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism of the damper described above is adjustable from the outside of the rotation support means. 7. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the damper described above is a gas damper using gas. 8. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the damper described above is an oil damper using oil.