JP2006273535A - Image reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means to enhance the easiness in handling a document ejected onto a sheet ejection tray and the visibility even if the documents are of smaller size. <P>SOLUTION: An image reading apparatus 100 is structured so that the document placed on a document tray 2 is fed to a transport path 4 in conformity to the instruction given by an operation part 103 provided in the device body 101, the image is read, and that the document sheet is ejected to the ejection tray 3 installed under the document tray 2, wherein the document tray 2 is arranged rotatable round the axis C extending approximately along the document feeding direction to the transport path 4 on the side nearer the innermost between the closed position to feed the placed document sheet to the transport path 4 and the open position to open the over-part of the ejection tray 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that scans an image of a document placed on a document tray and discharges the image to a paper discharge tray in a scanner, a facsimile machine, a copier, and a multi-function machine.

  In image reading apparatuses such as scanners, facsimile machines, copiers, and multi-function machines, an auto document feeder (sequentially feeding a plurality of documents to a document holding cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the upper surface of the apparatus main body ( Some of them are equipped with an automatic document transport mechanism such as “ADF”) and a flat bed scanner (hereinafter referred to as “FBS”) in the apparatus body. According to the image reading apparatus, it is possible to continuously and automatically convey a plurality of documents placed on the document tray to the reading position, read the images, and discharge them to the discharge tray. For example, a conventional copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900 shown in FIG. 6 includes a machine base body 901 functioning as an FBS, and a document presser that is pivotally attached to the machine base body 901 so as to be freely opened and closed and is equipped with an ADF. A cover 902 and an operation panel 903 provided with an input key for inputting start of reading of a document, a liquid crystal panel or the like (not shown) are provided. The apparatus main body 901 has an image on a recording sheet. Are provided with an image recording unit for recording the image, a transmission unit for transmitting the image, a paper feed cassette for supplying a recording sheet for recording the read image, and the like.

  In the copier / facsimile multifunction machine 900, when the original is read by the ADF provided on the original cover 902, the original on the original tray 904 is provided below the original tray 904 as shown in FIG. The paper is conveyed through a conveyance path 906 formed so as to make a U-turn from the upper side to the lower side to the paper discharge tray 905, and the front side reading unit 907 reads an image on the front side of the document at the reading position P1, and the back side reading unit 908 at the reading position P2. The image on the back side of the original is read, and the original after the image is read is discharged to a discharge tray 905. When reading a document using the copy / facsimile multifunction machine 900 as an FBS, the document pressing cover 902 is opened by raising it from the near side to the depth direction, and a document such as a document is placed on the platen glass 909 of the apparatus main body 902. Then, the document pressing cover 902 is closed, and the document is scanned to read an image.

  In the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the paper discharged from which the original after image reading is discharged with a gap S below the original tray 904 on which the original to be read is placed. A tray 905 is disposed. When the document tray 904 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the document pressing cover 902 around the axis C1 extending in the rearward direction in the vicinity of the supply port 910 to the conveyance path 906, when the discharged document is taken out. Then, by lifting up the end of the document tray 904 away from the paper feed port 910 and opening the document tray 904 as shown by a two-dot chain line in each figure, the document discharged to the discharge tray 905 is removed. It is easy to take out (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 10-310263 A

  However, in the conventional copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900, the gap S between the document tray 904 and the paper discharge tray 905 is narrow in order to reduce the size of the machine base. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the paper feed port 910 is formed so as to protrude from the paper discharge port 911 so that the leading edge of the discharged document does not protrude from the apparatus and fall off from the paper discharge tray 905. The paper mouth 911 is in a deepened position, and a rotation center C1 of the document tray 904 is provided above the vicinity of the paper ejection opening 911 of the paper ejection tray 905. For this reason, even when the document tray 904 is opened, the document tray 904 rotates about the rotation center C1. Therefore, particularly when a small-size document such as a postcard is discharged to the discharge tray 905, the document tray There is a problem that the document 904 is difficult to take out because of obstruction, and the handling of the document is inferior. Further, in such a case, the open document tray 904 hinders the field of view of the document, and the visibility of the document is poor. Therefore, there is a problem that the user may forget to take a small size document.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide means for improving handling and visibility of a document discharged to a discharge tray even for a small-sized document. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to claim 1 is configured such that a document placed on a document tray is fed into a conveyance path in accordance with an instruction input from an operation unit provided in the apparatus body. In the image reading apparatus in which the image is read and discharged to a discharge tray provided below the document tray, the document tray has a closed position for feeding the document to be placed into the conveyance path; Between the open position where the upper side of the paper discharge tray is opened, the back side is provided so as to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially along the feeding direction of the document into the transport path. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reading device according to the first aspect, further comprising: a mechanism that holds the document tray in a closed position; and a mechanism that holds the document tray in an open position. It is said.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading device according to the first or second aspect, a plurality of the document trays are arranged in parallel along a direction in which the document is fed into the conveyance path. It is characterized by.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the document tray is provided on the back side so as to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially along the feeding direction of the document to the conveyance path, and in the open position, the discharge tray. Therefore, it is possible to open all of the upper part of the paper discharge tray covered with the document tray. Therefore, compared with the conventional image reading apparatus in which the document tray rotates around the axis extending in the depth direction, particularly when a small-size document such as a postcard is discharged to the discharge tray, Since the user can easily take out the original, the handling of the original discharged to the discharge tray is improved. Further, in such a case, the visibility of the document discharged to the discharge tray from the operation unit side is improved, so that the possibility that the user forgets to remove the document can be solved.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the second aspect, since the mechanism for holding the document tray in the closed position is provided, the document placed on the document tray can be surely sent to the conveyance path. In addition, since a mechanism for holding the document tray in the open position is provided, the user does not need to hold the opened document tray by hand when taking out the document ejected to the paper ejection tray, thereby improving workability. . In addition, since the document tray is held in the open position, the visibility of the document discharged to the discharge tray is improved.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the third aspect, since a plurality of document trays are arranged side by side substantially along the feeding direction of the document into the conveyance path, each document can be changed depending on the size of the document placed on the document tray. By appropriately positioning the tray at the open position or the closed position, the handling and visibility of the document discharged to the discharge tray can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100, which is an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, is a machine body (apparatus) that functions as a flat bed scanner (hereinafter referred to as "FBS"). Main body) 101, a document presser cover 102 pivotally attached to the machine base body 101, and an input key or a liquid crystal panel provided on the front side of the machine base body 101 for inputting a document reading start and the like Etc. (not shown) and the operation panel (operation part) 103 provided. Although not shown, the machine base body 101 supplies therein an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording sheet, a transmission unit for transmitting the image, and a recording sheet for recording the read image. A known configuration such as a paper feed cassette is also provided, and these known configurations are examples and arbitrary. In the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the document on the document tray 2 is discharged below the document tray (document hopper) 2 by the ADF 1 provided in the document holding cover 102. The tray 3 is transported through a transport path 4 formed so as to make a U-turn from above to below, and image reading is performed in the transport process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a platen glass 11 is disposed on the top surface of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 10 in the machine base body 101, and a CCD reading unit 12 is built in the housing 10. . As shown in the figure, the CCD reading unit 12 irradiates light to a linear reading position P1 extending in the main scanning direction (depth direction), and guides reflected light R from the document in a predetermined direction. 2 is a reading unit of a so-called reduction optical system that includes a reflection mirror 15, a condenser lens 16 that converges the reflected light R, and a CCD image sensor 17 that converts the converged light into an electric signal and outputs it. When the CCD reading unit 12 configured in this way functions as an FBS, it moves horizontally with respect to the platen glass 11 and scans the document on the platen glass 11 in the sub-scanning direction (left-right direction in the figure). When the ADF 1 is used, the image of the document moved to the reading position P 1 and scanned on the transport path 4 is scanned in the sub-scanning direction, and the reflected light R from each document is guided to the CCD 17 to form an image. The image is read for each line in the main scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the document presser cover 102 is arranged around an axis C0 extending substantially along the direction of feeding the document into the conveyance path 4 in the vicinity of the back end, that is, from the platen glass 11 shown in FIG. It is pivotally supported by a hinge (not shown) so as to be openable and closable by a hinge (not shown) so that it can be rotated around an axis C0 extending along the back side edge of the platen glass 11 on the back side. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF 1 is disposed in the document holding cover 102 and continuously conveys the document to the reading positions P1 and P2, and the document tray 2 on which the document is placed. A sheet discharge tray 3 disposed below the document tray 2 with a gap S therebetween, and a sheet feed tray 41 disposed in the vicinity of the sheet feed port 41 of the conveyance path 4 so that the document tray 2 is moved sideways U to the sheet discharge tray 3. The paper feed path 4 formed in a letter shape, the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 6 for sandwiching and separating the fed original in the thickness direction, and the transport path 4 are appropriately disposed so that the original is nipped and transported. A conveyance roller 7 that is disposed on the outside of the conveyance path immediately downstream of the folding portion of the conveyance path, and reads the image of the conveyed document surface for each line in the main scanning direction, and the CCD Arranged inside the conveyance path 4 on the downstream side of the reading unit 10 The CIS reading unit 8 that reads the image on the back side of the document being conveyed at the reading position P2 for each line in the main scanning direction and the discharge port 42 in the conveyance path 4 are arranged in the vicinity of the read document. A paper discharge roller 9 that nips and discharges to the paper discharge tray 3.

  The document fed into the transport path 4 from the document tray 2 by such an ADF 1 is reversed so as to make a U-turn from the top to the bottom along the lateral U-shaped transport path 4, and reaches the reading position P 1. When passing through the reading position P1, the CCD reading unit 10 reads an image on the surface of the original, and is further conveyed through the conveyance path 4 to the reading position P2. When passing through the reading position P2, the CIS reading unit 8 After the image on the back side of the original is read, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 3 below the original tray 2, so that both sides of the original can be read in a single pass, so-called one pass.

  The document tray 2 is provided on the document pressing cover 102 with its upper surface inclined slightly downward in the document supply direction, and on the upper surface, a plurality of documents before reading are carried in a stacked state. It has become. When the user places a document on the document tray 2, the document is placed on the lower end side of the document tray 2 so that the leading edge of the document is inserted into the paper feed port 41 to the conveyance path 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the document tray 2 is provided with a guide 21 that is movable in the document width direction, and regulates the position of the document placed in the document tray 2 in the width direction. It is designed to prevent feeding.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 3 is configured such that documents discharged from the discharge port 42 of the transport path 4 through the discharge rollers 9 are sequentially deposited on the upper surface thereof. It is integrally formed on the upper surface of the cover main body 102a constituting the lower part of the housing. The upper surface of the paper discharge tray 3 is formed substantially horizontally below the paper discharge port 42 on the paper discharge port 42 side, and is inclined upward toward the direction in which the document is discharged continuously. Is formed.

  The transport path 4 is formed in a horizontally U-shape so as to connect the document tray 2 and the paper discharge tray 3 arranged in two upper and lower stages, and a platen glass that becomes the reading position P1 immediately downstream of the folded portion. 18 passes through the reading position P2 on the downstream side of the reading position P1 and communicates with the paper discharge tray 3. A paper feed port 41 through which the document is fed into the transport path 4 is provided at the end of the transport path 4 on the side of the document tray 2, and a document is discharged from the transport path 4 at the end of the transport path 4 on the side of the discharge tray 3. A paper discharge port 42 is provided.

  A pickup roller 50, a paper feed roller 5, and a separation pad 6 are provided in the vicinity of the paper feed port 41 in the transport path 4. A pickup roller 50 that rotates while pressing the document on the document tray 2 feeds the document from the document tray 2, and a sheet feeding roller 5 that rotates while pressing the fed document feeds the document to the conveyance path 4. In this case, the fed document is separated by the separation pad 6 to be pressed. In this way, the originals placed on the original tray 2 are separated one by one and sequentially fed from the paper feed port 41 to the transport path 4. Further, the document fed into the conveyance path 4 is nipped by the conveyance roller 7 and conveyed to the reading positions P1 and P2.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 9 is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 42 of the conveyance path 4. The paper discharge roller 9 is supported by a metal roller shaft to which a roller made of silicon or EPDM is fixed, and is in pressure contact with each other, and discharges a document after image reading from the conveyance path 4. The tray 3 is discharged.

  Next, a configuration in which the document tray 2 is provided on the document pressing cover 102 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the document tray 2 is substantially in the direction of feeding the document into the conveyance path 4 (the direction perpendicular to the depth direction) on the back side (side away from the operation panel 103 located on the near side). It can be rotated around an axis C extending along the document holding cover 102 and can be opened and closed. At the corner of the lower surface on the back side of the document tray 2, two protruding portions 22 provided with a hole along the axis C and spaced apart are formed integrally with the lower portion. On the other hand, on the upper surface on the back side of the paper discharge tray 3, two protruding portions 31 that are provided with cylindrical protrusions facing each other along the axis C and are spaced apart are provided to protrude upward. The document tray 2 is made of a resin molded product having flexibility, and the projections of the protruding portions 31 are inserted into the holes of the protruding portions 22 by bending the document tray 2. In this way, the protruding portion 31 of the document tray 2 is rotatable with respect to the protruding portion 31 of the paper discharge tray 3, and the document tray 2 is rotatable about the axis C with respect to the paper discharge tray 3. Yes.

  As described above, the document tray 2 is provided on the document pressing cover 102 so as to be rotatable around the axis C extending substantially along the direction of feeding the document into the conveyance path 4 on the back side. When the document tray 2 is opened by lifting the end on the side (operation panel 103 side) and the document tray 2 is opened, the upper part of the paper discharge tray 3 covered by the document tray 2 is opened. Therefore, unlike the conventional image forming apparatus 900 shown in FIG. 5, even when a small-size document such as a postcard is discharged to the discharge tray 3, the opened document tray 2 is taken out. Therefore, the manuscript can be easily taken out and the handling of the manuscript is improved. Further, for the user who uses the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100 located on the operation panel 103 side, the open document tray 2 does not hinder the view of the document discharged to the discharge tray 3, and the document Since the visibility is improved, it is possible to eliminate the fear that the user forgets to take a small-size document. Further, because of such an effect, the vertical gap S between the document tray 2 and the paper discharge tray 3 can be narrowed compared to the conventional copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900, so that the size of the machine base can be reduced. It becomes possible.

  Such a document tray 2 is provided so as to be rotatable between a closed position in which a document to be placed is fed into the conveyance path 4 and an open position in which the top of the paper discharge tray 3 is opened. . The document tray 2 in the closed position is positioned so as to cover the upper side of the paper discharge tray 3 as shown by a solid line in FIG. Then, as a mechanism for holding the document tray 2 at this closed position, the support piece 23 that is engaged with the lower surface of the document tray 2 at this closed position and supports the document tray 2 is connected to the conveyance path 4 of the document pressing cover 102. It is provided so as to protrude from the lower side of the paper feed port 41. As described above, since the mechanism for stably holding the document tray 2 in the closed position is provided, by placing the document on the document tray 2 stably held in the closed position, the document is transported in the conveyance path. 4 can be surely positioned at a position suitable for feeding.

  On the other hand, the document tray 2 in the open position rises substantially vertically on the back side as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As a mechanism for holding the document tray 2 in this open position, the side surface 24 on the back side of the protruding portion 22 provided at the corner on the opposite side of the document tray 2 from the paper feed port 41 side is formed flat. Since the side surface 24 comes into contact with the substantially horizontal upper surface of the paper discharge tray 3, the document tray 2 can be stably held at the open position. Further, the document pressing cover 102 is formed with a side wall 25 substantially perpendicular to the back side of the document tray 2, and the upper surface of the document tray 2 comes into contact with the side wall 25 so that the document tray 2 can be stably held in the open position. Can be held. As described above, since the mechanism that stably holds the document tray 2 in the open position is provided, when the document discharged to the discharge tray 3 is taken out, the user holds the document tray 2 by hand. Therefore, it is possible to more easily perform the document take-out operation. Further, by holding the document tray 2 in the open position, the visibility of the document discharged to the discharge tray 3 is improved. The function of holding the document tray 2 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and other mechanical or electromagnetic configurations may be used. For example, although not shown, when a magnet is embedded at an appropriate position of the document tray 2 and the document tray 2 is positioned at the closed position and the open position, an iron piece or the like is placed on the document pressing cover 102 at a position close to the magnet. It may be buried.

  Further, when the document holding cover 102 is open, the document tray 2 may not be opened. For example, although not shown, an open / close sensor that detects the open / close state of the document presser cover 102 based on whether or not the document presser cover 102 is in contact with the upper surface of the machine base body 101 is provided on the upper surface of the machine base body 101. If the control unit controls the document tray 2 not to be opened by a lock mechanism having a mechanical configuration or an electromagnetic configuration in accordance with a detection signal output when the open / close sensor detects that the document pressing cover 102 is open. Good. Further, when the machine body 101 functions as an FBS, the document tray 2 may not be opened. For example, although not shown, the control unit may control the document tray 2 not to be opened by the lock mechanism according to a signal indicating that the machine base body 101 functions as an FBS. As described above, when the document presser cover 102 is opened or when the machine body 101 functions as an FBS, that is, when it is not assumed that an operation for taking out the document from the paper discharge tray 3 is assumed, the document tray 2 is prevented from being opened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the document tray 2 from being opened unexpectedly and disturbing the user. Conversely, when the document tray 2 is open, the document pressing cover 102 may not be opened, or the machine base body 101 may not function as an FBS. Accordingly, the user or the like can use the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100 more appropriately.

  Next, a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 110 according to a modification of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 110 has two document trays 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B arranged in parallel along the direction in which the document is fed into the conveyance path 4. The same components as those in the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100 will be described below using the same reference numerals. The document trays 2A and 2B are both rotatable about an axis C extending substantially along the direction of feeding the document into the conveyance path 4 on the back side, and are provided on the document pressing cover 112 so as to be opened and closed. The document tray 2A is arranged side by side with a small gap between the document tray 2A and the document tray 2B on the side away from the sheet feed port 41. The projections 31A, 31B, and 31AB are inserted into the holes of the protruding portions 22A and 22B of the document trays 2A and 2B, respectively, so that the document trays 2A and 2B are rotated about the axis C with respect to the paper discharge tray 3, respectively. It can be turned. The document trays 2A and 2B are provided with guides 21A and 21B that can move independently from each other. In this copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 110, when the document tray 2A is open, the document presser cover 112 is prevented from being opened, the machine body 101 is prevented from functioning as FBS, and the document tray 2B is opened. If it is, the document presser cover 112 can be opened, or the machine body 101 can function as an FBS. As shown in FIG. 5, a document tray 2C having an upper surface on which a small-size document such as a postcard can be placed, and a document tray 2D having an upper surface surrounding the upper surface of the document tray 2C in an L shape. Further, they may be arranged side by side substantially along the direction in which the document is fed into the conveyance path 4. Further, the document trays 2A and 2B arranged substantially along the feeding direction to the document conveyance path 4 are not limited to be provided so as to be rotatable around the same axis C, and the document conveyance path on the back side. 4 may be provided so as to be rotatable around different axes that extend substantially along the feed direction to 4.

  Thus, by arranging the document trays 2A and 2B in parallel, for example, when placing a small-size document such as a postcard, the document tray 2A is closed and the document tray 2B is opened. The original can be placed sufficiently stably, and the original can be easily taken out from the paper discharge tray 3 without opening the original tray 2A, thereby improving the handling of the original.

  The configurations of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripherals 100 and 110 shown in the present embodiment are only one aspect of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, for example, it can be realized as a single machine such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner machine.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an upper part of a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the upper part of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an outer appearance of the upper part of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 100, and shows a state in which a document presser cover is opened by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an upper part of a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 110 according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an upper portion according to another embodiment of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 110. FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an upper portion of a conventional copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an upper configuration of a copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral 900.

Explanation of symbols

2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Document tray 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Transport path 100 Copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral (image reading device)
101 Main unit (device main unit)
102 Document holding cover 103 Operation panel (operation unit)
110 Copy / facsimile multifunction peripherals (image readers)
112 Document cover C axis

Claims (3)

A document placed on the document tray is sent to a conveyance path in accordance with an instruction input from an operation unit provided in the apparatus main body, and an image thereof is read, and a discharge tray provided below the document tray. In the image reading device discharged to
The document tray is placed between the closed position where the placed document is fed into the conveyance path and the open position where the upper side of the discharge tray is opened to the document conveyance path at the back side of the apparatus main body. An image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading apparatus is provided so as to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially along the feeding direction.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a mechanism that holds the document tray in a closed position; and a mechanism that holds the document tray in an open position.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the document trays are arranged in parallel along a direction in which the document is fed into the conveyance path.

Images