JP2005210624A - Document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document feeder which reduces document feed errors, by surely locking a lock means for fixing the document feed section with respect to the document read section. <P>SOLUTION: The document feeder is provided with a document feed section 2 which can be freely openable relative to a document read 3 section, includes a document-pressing means 2a for pressing a document placed in the document read section 3, and feeds the document to the document reading section 3; an opening/closing detection means for detecting whether the document feed section 2 is opened or closed, relative to the document read section 3; a lock means 4 for fixing the document feed section 2, while closing it relative to the document read section 3; a control means 5 for displacing the lock means 4 to a lock position and an unlock position; and a locked state detection means 6 for detecting the locked state of the lock means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is configured to be openable and closable with respect to a document conveying device, particularly a document reading unit, and has document pressing means for pressing a document placed on the document reading unit. The present invention relates to a document conveying device including a document conveying unit that conveys and an open / close detection unit that detects an open / closed state of the document conveying unit with respect to the document reading unit.

In a document conveying device such as a copying apparatus having a document reading unit for reading a document and a document conveying unit having a document pressing unit for pressing a document placed on the document reading unit, the document reading unit is completely closed by the document conveying unit. In order to prevent an error in document conveyance such as a paper jam caused by not being performed, an open / close detection unit is provided for detecting an open / closed state of the document conveyance unit with respect to the document reading unit.
In this type of technology, the document holding unit of the document conveying unit is irradiated with light from an exposure lamp provided in the document reading unit, and the reflected light level is read to open / close the document conveying unit with respect to the document reading unit. There is an original conveying apparatus that includes an open / close detecting means for detecting whether or not an original can be conveyed based on an open / closed state detected by the open / close detecting means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, the document transport apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 may cause a document transport error when the document transport unit is opened due to some external force or load during document transport. Further, when the document conveying device is transferred, it is necessary to fix the document conveying unit using a fixing tape in order to protect the document reading unit.
On the other hand, there is a document conveying device provided with a lock unit that fixes the document conveying unit to the document reading unit while being closed with respect to the document reading unit (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-56515 A JP 9-15757 A

However, the locking means of the document conveying device of Patent Document 2 fixes the document conveying unit to the document reading unit when the document conveying device is transferred, and fixes the document conveying unit to the document reading unit when reading the document. It is not a thing. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a document conveyance mistake caused by an accidental opening of the document conveyance unit or a document conveyance error caused by the document conveyance unit not being completely closed with respect to the document reading unit. I can't.
Further, in this document conveying device, the open / close detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the document conveying section does not have detection accuracy capable of detecting the locked state of the locking means, so that it is possible to confirm whether the locked state is complete. There was a problem that I could not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a document transport device that ensures a locked state of a lock unit that fixes a document transport unit to a document reading unit, and reduces document transport errors. There is in point to do.

[Characteristic configuration 1]
In order to achieve this object, the first characteristic configuration of the document conveying device according to the present invention is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document reading unit, and has document pressing means for pressing the document placed on the document reading unit. A document conveying unit that conveys the document to the document reading unit, an open / close detecting unit that detects an open / closed state of the document conveying unit with respect to the document reading unit, and the document conveying unit is closed with respect to the document reading unit. A lock means for fixing in a state, a control means for displacing the lock means between a lock position and a release position, and a lock state detection means for detecting the lock state of the lock means.

  In other words, according to this feature configuration, the document transport unit includes the lock state detection unit that detects the lock state of the lock unit, in addition to the open / close detection unit that detects the open / close state of the document transport unit. It can be surely confirmed that it is properly fixed. This reliably prevents an error in document conveyance due to the opening of the document conveyance unit during document conveyance and an error in document conveyance due to the document conveyance unit not being completely closed with respect to the document reading unit. It is possible to avoid unnecessary printing such as image defects.

[Characteristic configuration 2]
In the second characteristic configuration, the locking means includes an arm portion configured to be rotatable around a support shaft provided in the document conveying portion, and extends in a direction crossing the arm portion to read the document. A hook-like member having an engaging portion that engages with an engaged member provided on the portion side, and the length from the support shaft to the tip of the engaging portion is from the support shaft to the engagement It is in the point set longer than the length to the cross | intersection part of a part and the said arm part.

  That is, according to this characteristic configuration, the length from the support shaft to the tip of the engaging portion is set to be longer than the length from the support shaft to the intersecting portion, so that the engaging portion of the locking means is relatively Therefore, even if the closed state of the document conveying unit with respect to the document reading unit is not perfect, the locking unit is forcibly driven until it is in a normal locked state. The document conveying section can be completely closed. In addition, since the locking means is composed of a bowl-shaped member, in a normal locked state, the force acting in the direction in which the document conveying unit separates from the document reading unit can be well received, and the locked state is reliably maintained. can do.

[Characteristic configuration 3]
The third characteristic configuration is that the control means drives the lock means to the lock position based on an operation start signal for the document conveying section.
That is, according to this feature configuration, the locking unit is driven at the time of starting the document conveyance by the document conveyance unit, so that the document conveyance unit is prevented from being locked to the document reading unit when the user does not intend. Can do. In addition, by automating the driving of the locking means using the control means as in this feature configuration, there is provided a document conveying apparatus that can reliably prevent a document conveyance error without any special operation without the user being particularly conscious. be able to.

[Characteristic configuration 4]
In the fourth feature configuration, after the control unit is driven to the lock position, the document conveyance unit stops the document conveyance when the lock state detection unit cannot detect a normal lock state. And a warning means for notifying abnormality of the locked state.
That is, according to this feature configuration, when the normal lock state cannot be detected, that is, when the document transport unit is not fixed to the document reading unit, the document transport is stopped. Damage can be prevented. In addition, according to this feature configuration, since the warning means for notifying abnormality is provided, it is possible to prompt the user to appropriately deal with the abnormality.

[Characteristic configuration 5]
In the fifth feature configuration, when the control unit cannot detect a normal lock state in the lock state detection unit after the lock unit is driven to the lock position, the lock unit is set to the lock position. The driving operation is repeated for a set number of times.
That is, according to this feature configuration, when the normal lock state cannot be detected, the lock unit is repeatedly driven a set number of times, so that the control unit can drive the lock unit to the normal state more reliably. Can do. Further, by driving the set number of times repeatedly, the reliability of the determination of the lock state of the lock means can be improved.

[Characteristic configuration 6]
The sixth feature is that a holding means for holding the locking means in the locked position when the power is stopped is provided.
In other words, according to this characteristic configuration, when the power supply is stopped, for example, when the document conveying device is transferred, the document conveying unit can be securely fixed to the document reading unit, so the document conveying unit is fixed to the document reading unit. No need for fixed tape. Further, it is possible to more reliably prevent damage to the document reading unit due to unintentional opening of the document conveying unit.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a document conveying device according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “the present invention device”) will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a copying apparatus as an example of an original conveying apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The document conveying device 1 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document reading unit 3, and has document pressing means 2 a that presses the document placed on the document reading unit 3, and conveys the document to the document reading unit 3. Document transport unit 2, an open / close detection unit that detects an open / closed state of document transport unit 2 with respect to document reading unit 3, lock unit 4 that fixes document transport unit 2 in a closed state with respect to document reading unit 3, and lock unit 4 Is configured to include a control means 5 for displacing the lever to a lock position and a release position, and a lock state detection means 6 for detecting the lock state of the lock means 4.

  The document transport unit 2 includes a document placing table 2b on which a document is set, a document pressing unit 2a for pressing the transported document, and a discharge tray on which the scanned document is stacked. It is installed at the top. Further, the document conveying unit 2 includes a locking unit 4, a support shaft that engages the locking unit 4, and a locking unit on the front surface of the apparatus 1 of the present invention, that is, on the open side of the document conveying unit 2. Control means 5 for driving 4 is installed. The document placing table 2b is provided on the upper part of the document conveying unit 2 and includes document detection means that can always detect whether or not a document is set. The document pressing unit 2a is configured by the entire lower surface of the document conveying unit 2, and is configured to cover the entire document reading area on the upper surface of the document reading unit 3 described later with the document conveying unit 2 closed. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lock unit 4 includes an arm portion 4b configured to be rotatable around a support shaft provided in the document conveying portion 2, and extends in a direction intersecting the arm portion 4b. It is composed of a hook-like member having an engaging portion 4c that engages with an engaged member 7 provided in the reading portion 3, and the length from the support shaft to the tip of the engaging portion 4c is engaged from the support shaft. It is set longer than the length to the intersection of the part 4c and the arm part 4b. The arm portion 4b is formed with a substantially square hole 4d for engaging a control means 5 (described later) and receiving a driving force from the control means 5 at the tip opposite to the engagement portion 4c side. A bearing portion 4a that engages with a support shaft provided in the document conveying portion 2 is formed on the engagement portion 4c side from 4d. The engaging portion 4c has a substantially arcuate surface in contact with the engaged member 7 so that the engaging portion 4c can be smoothly engaged with the engaged member 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control means 5 is configured using a solenoid, and is configured to displace the lock means 4 between a lock position and a release position. Specifically, the solenoid operating portion 5a is engaged with the hole 4d of the locking means 4, and the operating means 5a is slid in the horizontal direction so that the locking means 4 is rotated around the support shaft within a certain range. Let The control unit 5 drives the solenoid based on an operation start signal for the document transport unit 2, the end of document transport by the document transport unit 2, and input of a stop key.

  The document reading unit 3 has a document reading area on its upper surface, and an optical sensor as an example of an open / close detection unit on the fulcrum side of the hinge connected to the document conveying unit 2 and when reading a document one by one. And a flatbed portion on which a document is placed. Further, the document reading unit 3 has an engaged member 7 that engages the engaging portion 4c of the locking unit 4 on the side opposite to the fulcrum side of the hinge, and a locked state in which the locked state of the locking unit 4 is detected. Detection means 6 is installed. The engaged member 7 is composed of a rod-shaped member and is installed along the front-rear direction of the document conveying device 1. Here, the lock state detection means 6 is a touch sensor, and when the engagement portion 4 c of the lock means 4 is engaged with the engaged member 7 of the document reading portion 3, the tip of the engagement portion 4 c comes into contact. Thus, it is configured to detect that the locking means 4 is in a normal locked state.

  The document reading unit 3 includes warning means for notifying the abnormality of the lock state when the lock state detection means 6 cannot detect the normal lock state after the control means 5 drives the lock means 4 to the lock position. ing. The warning unit of the present embodiment is configured to issue a warning using a display panel or sound output unit that is installed in the document feeder 1 in advance, and displays an abnormality content on the display panel when an abnormality occurs. Then, the sound output means outputs a sound related to the abnormal content, a warning sound, or the like.

  In addition, the document conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a holding unit that holds the lock unit 4 at the lock position when the power is stopped. The holding means here is set and operated at the time of factory shipment or by maintenance personnel, and holds the locking means 4 in the lock position when the transfer mode is set before the power supply is stopped. Specifically, when the transfer mode is set, the lock unit 4 is driven to the lock position by the control unit 5 and locked before the power is stopped. After the power is turned on, when the transfer mode is canceled by a setting operation by a maintenance person or the like, the lock unit is unlocked and the control unit 5 drives the lock unit 4 to the release position.

Hereinafter, control of the document feeder 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
The document feeder 1 is in a state in which it is detected by the document detection means that a document is placed on the document placing table 2b (step # 101), and when the input of the start key is confirmed (step # 102). ), It is confirmed by the open / close detection means whether or not the document conveying section 2 is closed (step # 103).

  In step # 103, when it is confirmed by the open / close detection means that the document conveying unit 2 is not closed, the apparatus 1 of the present invention makes an error determination and issues an error message notifying that the document conveying unit 2 is not closed. While being displayed on the display unit, the sound output means is caused to output a warning sound (step # 104).

  If an error canceling operation is confirmed after the error is detected, the error is canceled and the display on the display unit is returned to the normal display (# 105). Here, as the error canceling operation, opening / closing operation of the document conveying section 2, input of a start key, or reloading of the document is set. When the opening / closing operation of the document conveying unit 2 is detected, specifically, when the open state of the document conveying unit 2 is detected by the opening / closing detecting unit of the document conveying unit 2, the process proceeds to step # 106 when the closed state is detected. If the input of the start key is confirmed, the process proceeds to step # 103. If it is confirmed that the original is reloaded, the process returns to step # 101 to check the original by the original detection means.

  In step # 103, when it is confirmed by the open / close detection means that the document conveyance unit 2 is closed, an operation start signal for document conveyance is output to the document conveyance unit 2 prior to the document conveyance start. . Based on this operation start signal, the control means 5 drives the solenoid to drive the lock means 4 (# 106), and the lock state detection means 6 confirms the lock state of the lock means 4 (# 107). The control means 5 of the present embodiment, after driving the lock means 4, when a normal lock state is not detected by the lock state detection means 6 within a predetermined time, here within 3 seconds, Again, the locking means 4 is driven and the locked state is confirmed. If a normal lock state is not detected after repeating a preset number of times, here three times, error determination is performed.

  In step # 107, when a normal lock state is not detected, the warning means displays an error message such as “Please check ADF” on the display unit, and also has a similar sound or warning sound. Is output (# 108). After the error notification by the warning means, the process proceeds to step # 105, and if an error canceling operation, that is, an operation of opening / closing the document conveying unit 2, an input of a start key, or reloading of the document is confirmed, an error is indicated. Cancel and return the error display on the display to normal display.

  If a normal lock state is confirmed in step # 107, the document conveying section 2 starts conveying the document (# 109). When the document conveyance by the document conveyance unit 2 is completed, the control unit 5 drives the lock unit 4 to the release position to release the lock (# 110).

  If the input of the stop key is confirmed after the document conveyance is started and before the document conveyance is completed (# 201), the document conveyance unit 2 stops the document conveyance and discharges the document on the conveyance path (#). 202). After the document is discharged, the control means 5 drives the lock means 4 to release the lock (# 203).

  In this embodiment, an example in which a solenoid is used as the control means 5 has been described. However, it is also a preferred embodiment to use other driving means such as a motor. Moreover, the shape of the engaging part 4c of the locking means 4 is not limited to the shape mentioned above, For example, it is also a preferable embodiment to comprise a rectangular plate-like member. Furthermore, the lock state detection means 6 is not limited to the touch sensor, and it is sufficient that the lock state can be reliably detected. Any configuration can achieve the object of the present invention.

Schematic diagram of a document feeder according to the present invention Schematic diagram of locking means according to the present invention 7 is a flowchart showing control of the document feeder according to the present invention. 7 is a flowchart showing control of the document feeder according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document conveying apparatus 2 Document conveying part 2a Document pressing means 3 Document reading part 4 Locking means 4a Support shaft 4b Arm part 4c Engaging part 5 Control means 6 Lock state detecting means 7 Engaged member

Claims (6)

A document conveying unit configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document reading unit, having a document pressing unit that presses a document placed on the document reading unit, and conveying a document to the document reading unit;
An open / close detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the original conveying unit with respect to the original reading unit;
Locking means for fixing the document conveying unit to the document reading unit in a closed state;
Control means for displacing the lock means between a lock position and a release position;
An original conveying apparatus comprising: a lock state detection unit that detects a lock state of the lock unit.   The locking means includes an arm portion configured to be rotatable around a support shaft provided in the document conveying portion, and a cover provided on the document reading portion side extending in a direction intersecting the arm portion. A hook-shaped member having an engaging portion that engages with the engaging member, and a length from the support shaft to a tip end portion of the engaging portion is between the support shaft and the engaging portion and the arm portion. The document conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the document conveying device is set to be longer than the length to the intersection.   The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives the locking unit to the locked position based on an operation start signal for the document conveying unit.   After the control unit is driven to the lock position, when the lock state detection unit cannot detect a normal lock state, the document conveyance unit stops the document conveyance, and the locked state The document conveying apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a warning unit that notifies abnormality.   The control means repeats the operation of driving the lock means to the lock position a set number of times when the lock state detection means cannot detect a normal lock state after driving the lock means to the lock position. The document feeder according to claim 3 or 4, wherein   6. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding unit that holds the lock unit in the lock position when the power is stopped.

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