JP2005029327A - Automatic manuscript conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic manuscript conveying device capable of simply taking out a manuscript sheet in an inversion route even when the automatic manuscript conveying device is stopped when a jam release cover is opened. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic manuscript conveying device 1 is provided with a separation part 3 for separating a bundle of manuscript sheets set in a manuscript base 4 in every sheet; a paper feed part 5 for conveying the manuscript sheet P separated by the separation part 3 to a manuscript reading position; a conveying part 7 for conveying the read manuscript sheet toward a paper delivery part 9 and turning over and conveying it from the paper delivery part 9 to the manuscript reading position; an inversion part 9 for turning over the front/back surface of the manuscript sheet P and again transferring the manuscript sheet P to the conveying part 7; a paper delivery part 9 for delivering the manuscript sheet P; and the jam release cover. When the jam release cover is opened during turning over action of the manuscript sheet P at the inversion part 9, it is determined whether or not the manuscript sheet P is positioned at a position capable of being taken out from the inversion part 9. When the manuscript sheet P is not positioned at the position capable of being taken out, the manuscript sheet P is conveyed to the position capable of being taken out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder which is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine and can automatically convey a document to a reading position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic document feeder having a mechanism for reading both sides of a document, an automatic document feeder having a reversing unit for reversing a document in a conveyance path of the device has become widespread. In order to remove jammed originals, such a device is generally provided with a jam release cover at the paper feed unit or the reversing / paper discharge unit, and is provided with a mechanism that allows an operator to open and close the jam release cover. A mechanism that can open and close the jam release cover of the paper feeding unit or the reversing / paper ejection unit with a simple operation even when no document is generated, that is, when the automatic document feeder is operating normally, is often used. (For example, patent document 1).
[0003]
When the automatic document feeder is operating normally, if the cover of the paper feed, reversing, or paper ejection unit is opened, the document cannot be transported correctly or the drive location of the machine is not touched accidentally. For this reason, means for completely stopping the apparatus itself is used.
[0004]
On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for generating a jam release signal without lifting up and down when a jammed document is generated outside the conveying path of the separating / feeding means.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-72589 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-171371 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described prior art of Patent Document 1 has a problem that when the original stops in the conveyance position of the original, particularly in the reverse path, the entire original may enter the reverse path. There is a problem that it takes time to remove the jam. Further, the conventional technique of Patent Document 2 can improve the workability of the jam original removing operation, but when the original stops in the reverse path that is not the place where the original jam occurs, the original is in the reverse path. The case where it enters will arise, and the same problem as patent documents 1 mentioned above will occur.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document apparatus that can easily take out a document in a reversing path even when the automatic document feeder stops when the jam release cover is opened.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a separation unit that separates a bundle of documents set on a document table one by one, a paper feeding unit that conveys the document separated by the separation unit to a document reading position, and a document that has been read Is transported toward the paper discharge unit and reversely transported from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit for reversing the front and back surfaces of the document and transferring the document to the transport unit, and discharging the document. An automatic document feeder provided with a paper discharge unit and a jam release cover, and when the jam release cover is opened while the document is being reversed at the reversing unit, the document can be removed from the reversing path. It is determined whether or not there is a document, and if the document is not at a position where it can be taken out, the document is conveyed to a position where it can be taken out.
[0009]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the jam release cover is opened, the automatic document feeder stops. However, when there is a document in the middle of reversal in the reversing unit, the document is at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path. If the original is not in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, the original can be automatically conveyed to a position where the operator can take it out. Even when the automatic document feeder stops, it is possible to easily take out a document that has entered the reverse path.
[0010]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the separation unit that separates the bundle of documents set on the document table one by one, the sheet feeding unit that feeds the document separated by the separation unit to the document reading position, and the reading is finished A transport unit that transports the document toward the paper discharge unit and reversely transports it from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document and transfers the document to the transport unit, and a document An automatic document feeder having a paper discharge unit for discharging, and whether the document is in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path when the automatic document feeder is lifted up while the document is reversed at the reversing unit. If the document is not in a position where it can be removed, the document is transported to a position where it can be removed.
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the automatic document feeder is lifted up, the automatic document feeder stops. However, if there is a document in the middle of reversal in the reversing unit, the document can be taken out from the reversing path. If it is determined whether the original is not in a position where it can be taken out from the reverse path, the original can be automatically carried to a position where the operator can take it out. Even when the automatic document feeder stops when the lift is raised, the document that has entered the reversing path can be easily taken out.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the separation unit that separates the bundle of documents set on the document table one by one, the sheet feeding unit that feeds the document separated by the separation unit to the document reading position, and the reading is finished A transport unit that transports the document toward the paper discharge unit and reversely transports it from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document and transfers the document to the transport unit, and a document An automatic document feeder provided with a paper discharge unit for discharging, and if a jam occurs at a position other than the reversing part during a reversing operation of the original at the reversing part, is the document at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path? If the document is not in a position where it can be removed, the document is transported to a position where it can be removed.
[0013]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a jam occurs in a portion other than the reversing unit, the automatic document feeder is stopped to remove the jammed document. At this time, there is a document in the middle of reversing in the reversing unit. Is determined whether the document is at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path. If it is determined that the document is not at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, the document is automatically conveyed to a position where the operator can take it out. Therefore, even when the automatic document feeder stops, it is possible to easily take out the document that has entered the reverse path.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the automatic document feeder includes a document length measuring unit that measures the sub-scanning length of the document, and measures the document length. Only when the measurement result of the reversing unit is shorter than the total of the reversing path length in the reversing unit and the withdrawal allowance necessary to take out the original, it is determined whether or not the original is in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path. If it is not at a possible position, the document is conveyed to a position where it can be taken out.
[0015]
According to the invention described in claim 4, the same effect as that of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 can be obtained, and when the jam release cover is opened or the automatic document feeder is lifted up. When the document has a sub-scanning length that can be taken out without any problem in any position in the reversing path when the automatic document feeder is stopped when the document jam occurs, the document can be taken out from the reversing path. Since it is not determined whether or not it is in the correct position and unnecessary document feeding operation is not performed, the time required for document retrieval can be shortened.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 4 is an overall view of the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment. With reference to this figure, the conveyance and reversing operations of the document P by the automatic document feeder 1 will be described. The automatic document feeder 1 includes blocks of a calling / separating unit (separating unit) 3, a paper feeding unit 5, a conveying unit 7, and a reversing / paper discharging unit (reversing unit, paper discharging unit) 9. The calling / separating unit 3 includes a calling roller 13 and a separation roller 15. By driving a calling motor, the calling roller 13 calls the document P set on the document table 4 and calls the document P on the separation roller 15. Are separated one by one. The main scanning width of the separated document P is detected by a document width detection sensor 6 provided on the document table 4.
[0017]
The paper feed unit 5 includes a pull-out sensor 17, a paper feed roller 19, and a registration sensor 21, and feeds the original P by rotating the paper feed roller 19 by driving a paper feed motor. At this time, after the leading edge of the document P is detected by the registration sensor 21, the trailing edge of the document P is detected by the pull-out sensor 17, and the sub-scanning length of the document P is calculated by the number of steps of the paper feed motor driven during that time. It is like that.
[0018]
The document size is determined from the main scanning length of the document P detected by the document width detection sensor 6 and the sub-scanning length of the document P calculated by the paper feeding unit 5 and is notified to the main body side. When the registration sensor 21 detects the trailing edge of the document P, the movement amount of the paper feed motor corresponding to the distance from the registration sensor 21 to the scan line 23 is counted, and then the paper feed motor is stopped.
[0019]
The transport unit 7 includes a scan line 23 and a transport belt 25, and reads the surface of the document P from the bottom of the contact glass 11 with the trailing edge of the document P set on the scan line 23, and the reading is completed. After that, the conveyance belt 25 is moved in the paper discharge direction by driving the conveyance motor to convey the document P.
[0020]
The reversing / paper discharging unit 9 includes a paper discharge inlet sensor 27, a reverse roller 29, a reverse switching claw 31, a paper discharge outlet sensor 33, and a paper discharge roller 35. The paper discharge motor is driven to rotate the reverse roller 29. The original P is conveyed in the paper discharge direction by the reversing roller 29 after reaching the paper discharge entrance sensor 27. When performing the reverse operation, the reverse switching claw is switched by switching the reverse solenoid connected to the reverse switching claw 31. 31 is switched to the reverse path side. The document P travels along the reversing path along the reversing roller 29, and after the leading end of the document P reaches the discharge entrance sensor 27, the document P moves a certain distance and then reverses the transport motor to move the transport belt 25 toward the scan line 23. To do. The document P that has escaped from the reverse path and has reached the transport belt 25 again is transported to the scan line 23 by the transport belt 25, and then the transport motor is stopped.
[0021]
After the reading of the back side of the original P on the contact glass 11 is completed, the original P is conveyed again to the reversing / paper discharge unit 9 by driving the conveyance motor. By switching the reverse switching claw 31 to the paper discharge path side by switching the reverse solenoid, the document P conveyed by the reverse roller 29 passes through the paper discharge outlet sensor 33 and then is determined by counting the movement amount of the document P. When the discharge is completed, the discharge motor is stopped.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment. The CPU (determination unit) 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, various devices 104, various sensors 105, engine I / O 106, and main body I / F 107 are shown. It has. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 is a central processing unit of the automatic document feeder 1, and performs arithmetic and logical operations of a control program of the automatic document feeder 1 stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, and is a RAM ( Random Access Memory) 103 is instructed to read and write data.
[0023]
The various devices 104 include a calling motor that drives the calling / separating unit 3, a paper feeding motor that drives the paper feeding unit 5, a conveying motor that drives the conveying unit 7, a paper discharging motor that drives the reverse / paper discharging unit 9, The paper feed clutch is configured to connect and disconnect the drive of the paper motor, the paper discharge clutch to connect and disconnect the drive of the paper discharge motor, and the reversing solenoid that switches the reversal switching claw 31. Various devices 104 are instructed to drive via the engine I / O 106 based on a program stored in the ROM 102.
[0024]
The various sensors 105 are a pull-out sensor 17 for monitoring the separated jam original in the calling / separating unit 3 and determining the reference position of the standby position of the fed original P, and monitoring the fed jam original in the paper feeding unit 5 and sub-scanning the original P. Registration sensor 21 for counting the length and conveying position to scan line 23, monitoring of jammed originals at reversing / paper discharging unit 9, paper discharge inlet sensor 27 for counting reverse timing, monitoring of paper jammed originals The paper discharge outlet sensor 33 counts the paper discharge timing.
[0025]
The various sensors 105 are, for example, photosensors provided on the paper feed path, take in the presence / absence of the original P as an analog signal, and determine the presence / absence of the original P based on a program stored in the ROM 102 via the engine I / O 106. .
[0026]
An instruction from the operator to the automatic document feeder 1 is issued from the main body control unit via the main body I / F 107. The main body I / F 107 performs, for example, serious communication, and receives a single-sided / double-sided paper feed instruction and a paper feed start, or transmits jam information, a document feed end notification to the scan line 23, and a paper discharge end notification.
[0027]
FIG. 1 is a view showing the reversing operation of the document P in the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A shows the front end of the document P at the paper discharge inlet sensor 27 after the reading of the document surface is completed. It is a figure which shows the state which reached | attained. At this timing, the movement amount of the document P is started. The movement amount of the document P is counted based on the number of rotations of the paper discharge motor that drives the reverse roller 29, and the reverse rotation timing of the transport belt 25 is measured. ing.
[0028]
Further, the diagram shown in (b) shows a state in which the document P passes through the reversing path along the reversing roller 29, and in this state, the rear end portion of the document P is outside the paper discharge inlet sensor 27. It is considered that it is easy to pull out the original P when the conveyance of the original P is stopped. However, if the rear end portion of the original P enters the inside of the paper discharge inlet sensor 27 from this state, the original P Completely enters the reverse path (the shaded area in the figure), so that the document P cannot be pulled out easily.
[0029]
Further, (c) shows a state in which the original comes out of the reversing path, the leading end of the original P reaches the conveying belt 25, and the conveying motor starts to reverse by the amount of movement of the original P counted in (a). is there. As described above, in a state where the document P has come out of the reverse path, the document P can be pulled out even when the apparatus is stopped. If the conveyance operation is continued as it is, the document P is conveyed to the scan line 23 by the conveyance belt 25, and then the conveyance is stopped, and the back side of the document P is in a standby state.
[0030]
Next, control of the reversing unit of the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 2A is a flowchart of conveyance monitoring showing steps for determining the position of the original P when the original is reversed and determining whether or not to stop the discharge motor, and FIG. 2B is a discharge motor. 5 is a flowchart of motor control for performing a motor drive process in accordance with an operation instruction or a stop instruction for the motor.
[0031]
In the conveyance monitoring flowchart, first, in steps S11 to S13, the reverse path length (variable a), the sub-scanning length of the original P calculated by the paper feeding unit 5 (variable b), and the operator easily takes out the original P. A process for substituting each value of the length (variable c) of the drawing allowance of the original P that can be performed is performed. Next, in step S14, a process is performed to determine whether or not the paper discharge inlet sensor 27 has been turned on, that is, whether or not the leading edge of the document P has reached the paper discharge inlet sensor 27. If it is ON, the process proceeds to the next step.
[0032]
In step S15, a process of comparing the sum of the variable a and the variable c and the variable b is performed. That is, by comparing the reversing path length with the total drawing allowance necessary for drawing the document P and the sub-scanning length of the document P, there are cases where the document P cannot enter or is taken out into the reversing path. Determine if there is a risk. If the sub-scanning length (variable b) of the document P is smaller than the sum of the reverse path length and the drawing allowance necessary for drawing the document P (variable a + variable c), the document P may not be easily taken out. It is determined that there is a risk of occurrence, and the process proceeds to the next step. In the next step S16, counting starts at the timing when the leading edge of the document P reaches the position of the sheet discharge inlet sensor 27, and measurement of the transport distance that the document P has traveled in the reverse path is started.
[0033]
In step S17, a process of comparing the transport distance traveled by the document P in the reversing path and the value obtained by subtracting the drawing margin necessary for drawing the document P from the sub-scanning length of the document P (variable b-variable c). It is determined whether or not the document P has reached a position where the operator cannot easily take it out. If it is determined that the document P has reached a position where the operator cannot easily take it out, a process for turning on a stop prohibition flag of the paper discharge motor is performed in the next step S18.
[0034]
In step S19, processing is performed to compare the transport distance traveled by the document P in the reversing path, the reversing path length, and the total drawing allowance (variable a + variable c) necessary for pulling out the document P, and the position where the operator can take it out. It is determined whether or not the original P has arrived. When the document P reaches a position where the operator can take it out, a process for turning off the stop prohibition flag is performed in the next step S20. The conveyance monitoring flowchart of the original P is completed.
[0035]
In the motor control flowchart shown in FIG. 3B, a process for determining an operation instruction for the paper discharge motor is performed in the next step S32 from the star in step S31. If there is an operation instruction, the process proceeds to the next step S33. move on. In step S33, the paper discharge motor is driven to control the paper discharge motor from through-up to steady rotation. In step S34, it is determined whether or not there is a stop instruction during the operation of the paper discharge motor. If there is any paper discharge motor stop instruction such as document jam, lift-up, or cover opening operation, step S34 is performed. In S35, processing for determining a stop prohibition flag is performed. When the stop prohibition flag is ON, it is determined that the document P is in the reversing path and the document P is in a position that cannot be easily removed by the operator. The operation of the paper discharge motor is continued to perform skip conveyance. If the prohibition stop flag is turned off, the paper discharge motor is stopped in the next step S36.
[0036]
In this manner, since the document P is skip-conveyed until the allowance for drawing out the document P can be secured, the operator can always easily take out the document P.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
In the first aspect of the invention, the automatic document feeder stops when the jam release cover is opened. If there is a document in the middle of reversal in the reversing section, is the document at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path? If it is determined that the original is not in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, the original can be automatically conveyed to a position where the operator can take it out. Even when the document conveying device is stopped, the document that has entered the reverse path can be easily taken out.
[0038]
In the invention of claim 2, when the automatic document feeder is lifted up, the automatic document feeder stops. However, if there is a document in the middle of reversal in the reversing unit, the document is at a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path. If it is determined that the original is not in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, the original can be automatically carried to a position where the operator can take it out. Even when the automatic document feeder stops sometimes, the document that has entered the reversing path can be easily taken out.
[0039]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a jam occurs in a portion other than the reversing unit, the automatic document feeder is stopped and the jammed document is removed. At this time, when there is a document in the middle of reversing in the reversing unit. Determines whether the document is in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, and if it is determined that the document is not in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path, the document is automatically transported to a position where the operator can take it out. Therefore, even when the automatic document feeder stops, it is possible to easily take out the document that has entered the reverse path.
[0040]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as in the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and when the jam release cover is opened or the automatic document feeder is lifted up In the state where the automatic document feeder is stopped when a document jam occurs, the document can be taken out from the reversing path in the case of a document having a sub-scanning length that can be taken out without any problem in any position in the reversing path. Since it is not determined whether or not it is in the position and unnecessary document feeding operation is not performed, it is possible to shorten the time for document extraction work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a document reversing operation in an automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic document feeder in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control of a reversing unit of the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an overall view of the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Automatic document feeder 3 Separation unit (calling / separation unit)
4 Document platen 5 Paper feed unit 7 Transport unit 9 Reverse / paper discharge unit (reverse unit, paper discharge unit)
P manuscript

Claims (4)

A separation unit that separates the bundle of documents set on the document table one by one, a paper feeding unit that conveys the document separated by the separation unit to a document reading position, and a document that has been read is conveyed toward the paper discharge unit. And a reversing unit that reversely conveys the document from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document and transfers the document to the conveyance unit, a paper discharge unit that discharges the document, and a jam release cover When the jam release cover is opened during the reversing operation at the reversing unit, it is determined whether or not the document is in a position where it can be taken out from the reversing path. An automatic document feeder which transports a document to a position where it can be taken out when it is not in a position where it can be taken out. A separation unit that separates the bundle of documents set on the document table one by one, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the document separated by the separation unit to the document reading position, and a document that has been read is transported toward the discharge unit And a reversing unit that conveys the document from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document and transfers the document to the conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit that discharges the document. When the automatic document feeder is lifted up while the document is reversed at the reversing unit, it is determined whether the document is in a position where it can be removed from the reversing path, and the document is removed. An automatic document feeder that conveys a document to a position where it can be taken out if it is not in a position where it can be taken out. A separation unit that separates the bundle of documents set on the document table one by one, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the document separated by the separation unit to the document reading position, and a document that has been read is transported toward the discharge unit And a reversing unit that conveys the document from the paper discharge unit to the document reading position, a reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document and transfers the document to the conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit that discharges the document. An automatic document feeder that determines whether a document is in a position where it can be removed from the reversing path when a jam occurs outside the reversing unit while the document is reversed at the reversing unit. An automatic document feeder that conveys a document to a position where it can be taken out if it is not in a position where it can be taken out. The automatic document feeder has a document length measurement unit that measures the sub-scanning length of the document, and the measurement result by the document length measurement unit is greater than the total of the reversing path length in the reversing unit and the withdrawal allowance required to take out the document. Only when the document is short, it is determined whether or not the document is at a position where the document can be taken out from the reversing path. If the document is not at the position where the document can be taken out, the document is transported to a position where the document can be taken out. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1.

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