JP2008154093A - Scanner device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly read an original by removing dust or dirt, etc. adhered to the lower surface of an original table and to reduce manufacturing costs using simple configuration, in a scanner device. <P>SOLUTION: The unit main body 20a of a wiper unit 20 provided to the side of the recovery direction (the arrow N) of a scan unit 11 of a scanner part is provided with a wiper member 21 in contact with the lower surface of the original table 2 and comprised of sponge, etc., a supporting member 22 which supports the wiper member 21 and a coil spring 23 arranged between the lower surface of the supporting member 22 and the wiper unit 20. When moving in the reading direction (an arrow M), the engagement pawl 22c of the supporting member 22 engages with the engagement part 20b of the unit main body 20a, the wiper member is separated from the original table 2, and when moving in the recovery direction, engagement of the engagement pawl 22c with the engagement part 20b is released, the supporting member 22 is displaced upward, the wiper member 21 is brought into contact with the original table 2 in a state the member 21 is energized to the coil spring 23 and the original table 2 is wiped and cleaned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanner device that reads a document placed on a document table as image data, and an image forming apparatus using the scanner device.

  For example, in a scanner apparatus having a function of reading a document placed on the upper surface of a glass document table as image data, image data generated by reading the document when dust or dirt is attached to the document table. In addition, shadows such as dust and dirt appear. Therefore, in order to read the document satisfactorily, it is necessary to keep the document table as free of dust and dirt as possible. Since the upper surface of the document table is exposed to the outside, the user can perform wiping and cleaning. However, the lower surface of the document table is attached so that the inside of the housing is sealed so that dust or the like does not enter from the outside, so that it cannot be cleaned unless the scanner device is disassembled. If dust or dirt adheres to the bottom surface of the table, it is difficult to remove it.

  By the way, conventionally, various countermeasures have been proposed for the above problems in the scanner device. For example, in Patent Document 1, a roller for cleaning the lower surface of the document table is attached to a traveling body for scanning and reading the document, and the lower surface of the document table is cleaned when the traveling body scans during document reading. An image reading device is shown which is adapted to do so. However, in this image reading apparatus, there is a problem that the roller must be assembled so as to be able to rotate on the traveling body and abut on the document table, and the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.

  In Patent Documents 2 to 6, a reading unit for scanning and reading a document is provided with a brush, rubber, sponge, etc. for wiping the bottom surface of the document table, and the reading unit scans the document when reading the document. An image reading apparatus configured to clean the lower surface of the document table with the brush or the like is shown. However, in this configuration, for example, when the image reading apparatus is used repeatedly, and the brush or the like deteriorates and the tip wears out, the lower surface of the document table is not properly cleaned. Note that the image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 6 is configured such that when a user drives the drive unit, a cleaning member such as a brush comes into contact with the document table and wear of the cleaning member is prevented. However, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.

  In Patent Document 7, a cleaning member is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the document table so that the document table is sandwiched by magnetic attraction, and both surfaces of the document table are cleaned by moving the cleaning members on the upper surface and the lower surface integrally. The possible structure is shown. However, in this structure, since the user has to clean the entire surface of the document table using the cleaning member, there is a problem that it takes time to clean and the cleaning work is troublesome.

Patent Document 8 discloses a structure in which a contact glass of a contact sensor that comes into contact with a document can be easily cleaned in a so-called auto document feeder type scanner device that reads a document as image data while being conveyed on the contact sensor. Has been. However, Patent Document 8 does not show an effective solution for the above-described problem.
JP-A-9-270890 JP-A-6-237344 JP-A-8-278734 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243170 JP 2002-357874 A JP 2000-78357 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-42098 JP 2000-115463 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of properly reading an image by removing dust and dirt adhering to the lower surface of a document table, and has a simple configuration and a low manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is based on a scanner unit having a function of reading a document as image data and image data read by the scanner unit or image data input from the outside. An image forming unit that forms an image on paper, and the scanner unit includes a casing having a rectangular opening formed on an upper surface thereof, a platen-like original platen mounted on the opening of the casing, and made of a transparent member; Inside the housing, an upper surface is arranged so as to abut on the lower surface of the document table so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction, and the sub scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the main scanning direction of the document table. A scanning unit having an illuminating unit that illuminates a predetermined range in the scanning direction and an imaging unit that captures an image of the predetermined range illuminated by the illuminating unit, and a motor, the motor is driven And a driving mechanism for moving the scan unit in the sub-scanning direction. The scan unit moves from the predetermined home position set on one end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table by the driving unit. The original placed on the platen is read as image data by being moved in the reading direction to the other end side of the image, and then moved to the return direction opposite to the reading direction by the driving means to the home position. In the image forming apparatus configured to be returned to the position, a contact claw that protrudes in the return direction at a portion near the other end of the document table on the other side of the original table in the main scanning direction. Is disposed in the vicinity of the home position near the home position on the upper surface of the housing so that the protruding height gradually increases in the return direction. A taper portion protruding downward is disposed, and a wiper unit is disposed on a side of the scan unit on the return direction side, and the wiper unit has a main scanning direction in the longitudinal direction. And a wiper member made of resin or rubber, which is provided so as to be able to protrude from the unit body toward the document table and can wipe the document table when displaced in contact with the document table, and the interior of the unit body And a support member provided to be displaceable in the vertical direction so as to support the wiper member, and disposed between the lower surface of the support member and the bottom surface of the unit main body inside the unit main body. And a biasing member that biases the support member upward, the support member including a protrusion protruding upward from a side portion of the portion that supports the wiper member, and the wiper member Is engaged with an engaging portion formed at an end portion of the unit main body so that a tip end portion thereof is exposed in a reading direction side of the wiper unit when the wiper unit is not in contact with the document table. And an engaging claw formed so as to be disengaged from the engaging portion when its tip is urged toward the return direction while being engaged. The wiper member is held in a state where the engaging claw is engaged with the engaging portion and is not in contact with the document table when the scanning unit is moved in the reading direction when reading the document. When the abutment claw comes into contact with the tip of the engagement claw, the engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement portion is released, and the support member is displaced upward by the urging member, The scanning unit comes into contact with the original plate while being urged by the urging member, and the scanning unit is restored in that state. When the scanning unit returns to the home position, the projection is brought into contact with the tapered portion and pushed down so that the support member is moved downward. When the engaging claw is displaced and is engaged with the engaging portion, the engaging claw is held away from the original platen, thereby removing dust and dirt attached to the lower surface of the original plate inexpensively and reliably. The image can be read properly.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a scan unit having an image pickup means arranged so that a main scanning direction is a longitudinal direction is moved on a document table made of a transparent member while moving in a sub scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. A scanner device for reading a placed document as image data, wherein the scan unit is urged by a unit urging member so that an upper surface thereof is in contact with a lower surface of the document table, and an upper portion of the scan unit In this case, a wiper member made of resin or rubber is arranged so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction and comes into contact with the lower surface of the document table, and the wiper member is urged by the unit urging member. In this state, the lower surface of the document table is wiped and cleaned by moving the scan unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a wiper unit is disposed on a side portion in the sub-scanning direction of the scan unit, and the wiper unit is displaced in the vertical direction inside the unit body. A support member provided in a possible manner, and a biasing member disposed inside the unit body so as to be sandwiched between a lower surface of the support member and a bottom surface of the unit body, and biasing the support member upward The wiper member is disposed on an upper portion of the support member so as to be able to protrude from the unit main body.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a contact claw projecting toward the wiper unit is disposed at one end side of the original table in the sub-scanning direction and in the vicinity of the main scanning direction end. The lower part of the original table on the other end side in the sub-scanning direction is near the end part on the main scanning direction side so that the protruding height gradually increases from one end side to the other end side in the sub-scanning direction. A projecting tapered portion is arranged, and the support member has a protrusion protruding upward from a side portion of the portion supporting the wiper member, and the wiper member is not in contact with the document table. The wiper unit is engaged with an engaging portion formed at an end portion of the unit main body so that its tip end is exposed toward one end side in the sub-scanning direction, and the wiper unit is engaged with the engaging portion. When the distal end is urged toward the other end in the sub-scanning direction, the engagement portion The wiper member integrally has an engaging claw formed so as to be disengaged, and the wiper member has an engaging claw when the scanning unit is moved to one end side in the sub-scanning direction. The engaging claw and the engaging portion are engaged with each other when the abutting claw comes into contact with the front end of the engaging claw. The support member is displaced upward by the urging member and abuts against the document table while being urged by the urging member. By moving toward the end side, the lower surface of the document table is wiped and cleaned, and when the scan unit returns to the other end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table, the projection portion contacts the tapered portion. The support member is displaced downward, and the engaging claw is By engaging the engagement portion, in which are configured to be held in a state apart from the platen.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the wiper member is urged by the urging member and comes into contact with the document table, the lower surface of the document table is surely cleaned and an image can be read properly. Since the urging member is different from the unit urging member that urges the scan unit, the wiper member is less painful and can be reliably cleaned with a force capable of cleaning the lower surface of the document table by appropriately setting the urging force of the urging member. The wiper member can be biased. Since the wiper unit is configured by the wiper member being supported by a support member that is disposed on the unit main body and can be displaced up and down, the configuration is simple and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, when the scan unit is moved in the reading direction, the engaging claw is engaged with the engaging portion of the unit body, and the wiper member is not in contact with the document table, and the scan unit is moved in the return direction. The engagement claw is disengaged, and the wiper member abuts on the document table by the biasing member. Accordingly, the wiper member does not affect the movement of the scan unit at the time of reading, the scan unit can be moved smoothly, the original can be read satisfactorily, and the life of the wiper member can be extended. Become.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the wiper member is disposed on the upper surface of the scan unit urged by the unit urging member, and the wiper member abuts on the document table when the scan unit is moved. The lower surface of the table is reliably cleaned and images can be read properly. Since the wiper member is simply arranged in the scan unit, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the wiper unit having the support member biased upward by the biasing member is disposed on the side of the scan unit sub-scanning direction, and the wiper member is supported by the support member. Therefore, the wiper member can be brought into contact with the document table more reliably with a simple structure with a low manufacturing cost, and the lower surface of the document table can be reliably cleaned and an image can be read properly. Since the urging member is different from the unit urging member that urges the scan unit, the wiper member is less painful and can be reliably cleaned with a force capable of cleaning the lower surface of the document table by appropriately setting the urging force of the urging member. The wiper member can be biased.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the scan unit is moved to one end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table, the engagement claw engages with the engagement portion of the unit body, and the wiper member makes contact with the document table. First, when the scanning unit is moved to the other end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table, the engagement claw is disengaged and the wiper member comes into contact with the document table by the biasing member. Therefore, the period during which the wiper member contacts the document table is shortened, and the life of the wiper member can be extended.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus using a scanner device according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is a so-called printer complex machine, and is used by being connected to, for example, an external personal computer. The image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a scanner unit (scanner device) 10 at the top of the housing 100, an image forming unit 5 at the bottom of the housing 100, and an ASIC, a memory, and the like. And a control unit 6 for controlling the operation of 5.

  As shown in the figure, a document holding plate 110 is provided on the upper portion of the scanner unit 10 of the housing 100 so as to cover the upper surface of the housing 100 so as to be rotatable by a hinge 110a. A rectangular opening 100 a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 100. A flat platen 2 made of a transparent member such as glass is mounted on the opening 100a of the housing 100. A pad 111 for fixing a document is attached to a surface of the document pressing plate 110 facing the upper surface of the casing 100, and the document placed so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the document table 2 is pressed against the document pressing plate. The plate 110 is pressed against the document table 2 by a pad 111 and can be fixed so as not to move on the document table 2. A paper feed tray 120 on which recording paper P is loaded is provided at the upper rear side of the housing 100, and the recording paper P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 5 is discharged on the front surface of the housing 100. A paper discharge tray 130 is provided. On the front side of the upper portion of the housing 100, for example, an operation panel unit 31 having an operation button 31a that can be operated from the outside and a display unit 31b that displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and the like is provided. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a print function for forming an image on the recording paper P, a scan function for reading a document as image data by the scanner unit 10, a function for transmitting image data obtained by the scan function to an external personal computer, and the like. Have various functions. These functions are configured to be executed under the control of the control unit 6 based on, for example, the operation of the operation button 31a by the user or a command transmitted from an external personal computer or the like. Note that the position and configuration of the operation panel unit 31, the positions of the paper feed tray 120, the paper discharge tray 130, and the like are not limited thereto.

  As will be described later, the scanning function performed by the scanner unit 10 includes a scan unit 11 arranged in the casing 100 so that the main scanning direction (the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure) is the longitudinal direction. Is moved in the sub-scanning direction (direction indicated by arrow B in the figure) orthogonal to the document, and the scan unit 11 scans the document placed on the document table. The print function performed by the image forming unit 5 is, for example, an ink jet method on the recording paper P conveyed into the housing 100 based on image data read by the scanner unit 10 or image data input from the outside. Is executed by forming an image. The operation of transporting the recording paper P loaded in the paper feed tray 120 to the inside of the casing 100 and the operation of discharging the recording paper P on which the image is formed to the paper discharge tray 130 are performed by the recording paper transport of the image forming unit 5. (Not shown). The image forming unit 5 is not limited to the ink jet system, and may form an image by an electrophotographic system such as a laser beam printer.

  FIG. 2 shows the scanner unit 10. The arrows A and B in the figure indicate the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the scanner unit 10, respectively, as with the arrows A and B shown in FIG. In addition, arrows M and N in the figure respectively indicate a reading direction in which the scan unit 11 moves while reading a document when the scan function is executed, and a return direction that is the opposite direction. Inside the housing 100, the scan unit 11 is arranged so that the upper surface is in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2 so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction, and the scan unit 11 is attached to the housing 100. Are arranged such that the shaft 12 is movable in the sub-scanning direction, and the drive mechanism 13 is moved to move the scan unit 11 in the sub-scanning direction. The drive mechanism 13 includes an annular belt 13a disposed in the casing 100 along the sub-scanning direction, a DC motor (motor) 15 for rotating the belt 13a, and a drive driven by the DC motor 13b. A pulley 13c and a driven pulley 13d arranged so as to freely rotate are formed. The driving pulley 13c and the driven pulley 13d are arranged so as to rotate substantially horizontally in the vicinity of both side edges in the sub-scanning direction of the housing 100, and the belt 13a is hung on these two pulleys, The belt 13a is disposed so as to be stretched in the sub-scanning direction. The belt 13 a is partially connected to the scan unit 11, and when the DC motor 13 b is driven, the belt 13 a rotates with the rotation of the drive pulley 13 c, and the scan unit 11 moves along the shaft 12. Are configured to be moved in the sub-scanning direction. A wiper unit 20 is disposed on the side of the scan unit 11 on the return direction side.

  For example, a calibration sheet 200 on which a mark that can be recognized by the scan unit 11 is pasted is attached to one end side of the document table 2 in the sub-scanning direction. It is comprised so that it may become. That is, the scan unit 11 is moved to the vicinity of the other end of the document table 2 in the reading direction from the home position as a base point, scans the document placed on the document table 2, and then scans the document table 2 in the sub-scanning direction. It is configured to move in the return direction from the vicinity of the other end and return to the home position.

  In the present embodiment, a contact claw 100 b that protrudes toward the return direction, that is, toward the wiper unit 20, is provided in the vicinity of the front surface of the housing 100 and in the vicinity of the other end of the document table 2. It has been. Further, a taper portion 100c is formed in a portion of the inner surface of the upper surface of the housing 100 in the vicinity of the front surface of the housing 100 and in the vicinity of the home position. The taper portion 100c protrudes downward so that the protrusion height gradually increases toward the return direction.

  FIG. 3 shows the scan unit 11. The scan unit 11 is, for example, a so-called CIS (Contact Image Sensor), and is arranged to be supported by a sheet metal frame member 14 mounted on a sliding portion 15 slidable on the shaft 12, for example. On the upper part of the scan unit 11, a linear light source (illuminating means) 11a provided along the main scanning direction and an imaging device (imaging means) 11b provided in parallel to the linear light source 11a are provided. As shown in the drawing, both ends of the scan unit 11 in the main scanning direction are formed with shafts 11 d protruding laterally, and both ends of the upper surface of the scan unit 11 are in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2. Spacers 11e are arranged.

  The linear light source 11a is configured to guide light emitted from, for example, a light emitting diode using a light guide lens and radiate the light substantially linearly upward from the upper surface of the scan unit 11. Among them, the entire area in the main scanning direction is illuminated with substantially uniform brightness in the sub-scanning direction with a predetermined width. In the present embodiment, as the light emitting diodes, for example, a plurality of light emitting diodes having green, red, and blue emission colors are used so that the color original can be read by the scanner unit 10 by illuminating the original with white light. It is configured. The configuration of the linear light source 11a is not limited to this, and a configuration in which light emitting diodes or the like are arranged in the main scanning direction so as to emit light above the scan unit 11 may be used. Further, the light emitting diode is not configured to be illuminable with white light as described above, and may be configured to illuminate only with monochromatic light such as green.

  The imaging device 11b includes a lens array in which minute lenses are arranged in the main scanning direction, and a light receiving element array in which light receiving elements are arranged in the main scanning direction corresponding to the respective lenses. Each lens is focused on the upper surface of the document table 2. The imaging device 11b forms an image of a predetermined range of the original illuminated by the linear light source 11a on the light receiving surface of each light receiving element, and picks up an image of the predetermined range by each light receiving element.

  The scan unit 11 is attached to the frame member 14 by the shaft 11 d being pivotally supported by a shaft support portion 14 a formed at the end of the frame member 14. At this time, a coil spring (unit urging member) 16 is disposed between the lower surface of the scan unit 11 and the upper surface of the frame member 14. The scan unit 11 is biased by the coil spring 16 so that the spacer 11e is always in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2 so that the imaging device 11b is always focused on the upper surface of the document table 2. It is configured.

  4A and 4B show the wiper unit 20. The wiper unit 20 is configured by assembling a wiper member 21, a support member 22, a coil spring (biasing member) 23, and the like to a unit body 20a made of resin, for example, and is attached to the frame member 14, for example. . The wiper member 21 is formed of, for example, a sponge, and is disposed on the upper surface of the support member 22 so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction. The wiper member 21 is directed toward the document table 2 from a hole formed on the upper surface of the unit body 20a. It is provided to protrude. The support member 22 is disposed on the unit main body 20a so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction. The coil spring 23 is sandwiched between the lower surface of the support member 22 and the bottom surface of the unit body 20a inside the unit body 20a and is compressed, and the support member 22 is urged upward by its restoring force. For example, a plurality are arranged. The spring constant of the coil spring 23 is set relatively weak so as to bias the support member 22 upward to such an extent that the support member 22 can be easily displaced downward.

  Protruding portions 22 a that protrude upward are formed on both sides of the upper portion of the support member 22 in the main scanning direction of the portion that supports the wiper member 21. The protrusions 22a are formed at positions where the positions in the main scanning direction are substantially the same as the tapered portions 100c of the housing 100 and are aligned in the sub-scanning direction. Further, a thin arm portion 22b formed so as to have flexibility toward the return direction is formed in the support member 22 at a front portion in the main scanning direction, and the tip portion of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the engaging claw 22 c is formed so that the surface on the reading direction side is inclined downward in the returning direction as it goes downward. The protrusion 22 a and the engaging claw 22 c are formed integrally with the support member 22. As shown in the drawing, an engaging portion 20b is formed at the lower portion of the unit main body 20a on the front side in the main scanning direction so that the engaging claw 22c can engage with the reading direction. The engagement claw 22c and the engagement portion 20b are positions where the surface on the reading direction side of the engagement claw 22c faces the contact claw 100b of the housing 100 when the engagement claw 22c is engaged with the engagement portion 20b. It is arranged to become. The contact claw 100b fits into the engagement portion 20b with the scan unit 11 moved to the reading direction most when the scanning function is executed, and contacts and engages the surface of the engagement claw 22c on the reading direction side. The claw 22c is disposed at a position where the claw 22c is pushed into the return direction side with respect to the unit main body 20a. In a state where the engaging claw 22c is engaged with the engaging portion 20b, the support member 22 is not displaced upward from the position, and at this time, the wiper member 21 is configured not to contact the lower surface of the document table 2. ing. Further, when the arm portion 22b is bent and the engagement between the engaging portion 20b and the engaging claw 22c is released, the supporting member 22 can be displaced upward, and the supporting member 22 is moved upward by the biasing force of the coil spring 23. The wiper member 21 is displaced so as to come into contact with the document table 2 while being biased by the coil spring 23.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, by providing the wiper unit 20 as described above, when the wiper unit 20 moves along with the movement of the scan unit 11 when the scan function is executed, the wiper member 21 contacts the lower surface of the document table 2. The bottom surface of the document table 2 can be wiped and cleaned. Hereinafter, the operation at the time of executing the scan function will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6 and 7A, 7B, and 7C. FIG. 5A and FIG. 7A show the scan unit 11 when it is moved in the reading direction. 5B and 7B show the scan unit 11 when the moving direction of the scan unit 11 is reversed from the reading direction to the return direction, and the scan unit 11 when it is moved in the return direction, respectively. Show. 6 and 7C show the scan unit 11 when it is moved in the return direction and is located in the vicinity of the home position.

  In the present embodiment, when the scan unit 11 is located at the home position, the engaging portion 20b is engaged with the engaging claw 22c, and the wiper member 21 is kept in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2. ing. When the scanning function is executed and the scanning unit 11 is moved in the reading direction from the home position, and the document on the document table 2 is read, the wiper member 21 is configured not to wipe and clean the lower surface of the document table 2. (See FIGS. 5A and 7A). When the scanning unit 11 reads a document and moves to the end of the document table 2 in the sub-scanning direction, the contact claw 100b is engaged with the engaging claw immediately before the moving direction of the scanning unit 11 is reversed from the reading direction to the return direction. When the scanning unit 11 is slightly moved in the reading direction from the state (see FIG. 5 (b)), the engaging claw 22c is pushed into the returning direction side with respect to the unit main body 20a. When the portion 22b is bent, the engagement between the engagement claw 22c and the engagement portion 20b is released. At this time, the inclined surface of the engagement claw 22c facing the reading direction and the contact claw 100b are in sliding contact with each other so that the engagement claw 22c is pushed upward and the support member 22 is attached upward by the biasing force of the coil spring 23. By being biased, the support member 22 is displaced upward as shown in FIG. When the support member 22 is displaced upward, the wiper member 21 is in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2 while being biased by the coil spring 23 in the direction of the arrow F in the figure, and the protrusion 22a is connected to the unit body. It will be in the state which protruded upwards from 20a. In this way, the scan unit 11 is moved from one end portion in the sub-scanning direction of the document table 2 to the home position at the other end in a state where the wiper member 21 is in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2. The lower surface of the table 2 is wiped and cleaned, and dust, dirt, etc. adhering to the lower surface of the document table 2 are removed.

  When the scan unit 11 is moved in the return direction and returned to the home position, the wiper member 21 is returned to the state away from the lower surface of the document table 2 again. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the scan unit 11 is returned to the vicinity of the home position, the protruding portion 22a protruding from the unit main body 20a comes into contact with the lower end edge of the tapered portion 100c formed in the housing 100. . Then, as the scanning unit 11 is further moved in the return direction from that state and approaches the home position, the protruding height of the portion of the tapered portion 100c where the protruding portion 22a is slidably contacted increases. As shown, the protrusion 22a is gradually pushed downward while being in sliding contact with the tapered portion 100c. As described above, when the support member 22 is pushed and the engaging claw 22c is engaged with the engaging portion 20b by the restoring force of the arm portion 22b, the wiper member 21 is in a state where the scan unit 11 is returned to the home position. The document table 2 is held without being in contact with the lower surface of the document table 2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the wiper member 21 is reliably brought into contact with the document table 2 while being urged by the coil spring 23, so that the lower surface of the document table 2 is reliably cleaned and an image is read properly. Is possible. Since the coil spring 23 that biases the wiper member 21 is different from the coil spring 16 that biases the scan unit 11, by setting the spring constant of the coil spring 23, the wiper member 21 is less painful and surely secured. The wiper member 21 can be biased with a force capable of cleaning the lower surface of the wiper member. Since the wiper unit 20 does not have a rotating portion or the like and the configuration of the wiper unit 20 is simple, the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, since the wiper member 21 wipes and cleans the lower surface of the document table 2 only when the scan unit 11 moves in the return direction, the life of the wiper member 21 can be extended. Further, since the scan unit 11 can be moved smoothly without the influence of the frictional force between the wiper member 21 and the document table 2 on the movement of the scan unit 11 when reading the document, the document is further improved. Can be read.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8A and 8B show a scan unit of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, instead of providing the wiper unit 20 together with the scan unit 11 as in the first embodiment described above, the scan unit 211 having the wiper member 221 disposed on the upper surface is used. The point which the contact nail | claw 100b and the taper part 100c are not formed differs from 1st Embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the scan unit 211 is urged to the document table 2 by a coil spring (not shown) as in the first embodiment, and a spacer 11e disposed at the upper end of the scan unit 211 has a document table. 2 so as to contact 2 The wiper member 221 is formed of, for example, a sponge or the like, and is disposed at a position on the return direction side of the upper surface of the scan unit 211 so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the wiper member 221 is always attached to the lower surface of the document table 2 when the scan unit 211 moves in the sub-scanning direction because the scan unit 211 is biased upward. The bottom surface of the document table 2 is wiped and cleaned. Accordingly, also in the second embodiment, the lower surface of the document table 2 can be reliably cleaned, and an image can be read properly. Further, since the configuration is simple, the image forming apparatus can be manufactured at a lower cost.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible suitably in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. For example, the wiper member is not limited to a sponge, and may be made of resin or rubber such as silicon rubber. Further, instead of the coil springs 16 and 23, a member that can bias the scan unit 11 or the support member 22 by a repulsive force in a compressed state, such as a leaf spring, rubber, or sponge, may be used.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not applied only to the image forming apparatus 1 integrally including the scanner unit 10 and the image forming unit 5 as described above. For example, the scanner unit is used alone, and an external personal computer or the like is used. It is also applicable to a scanner device that is connected to and reads an original as image data.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the scanner part of the said apparatus. The perspective view which shows the disassembled state of the scanning unit and wiper unit of the said scanner part. (A) is a front view which shows the side surface by the side of the moving direction of the said wiper unit, (b) is a side view of (a). (A) is a perspective view showing the wiper unit when the scan unit is moved in the reading direction, (b) is a perspective view showing the wiper unit when the moving direction of the scan unit is reversed. The perspective view which shows the time of the home position return of the said scan unit. (A) is a side view of the wiper unit when the scan unit is moved in the reading direction, (b) is a side view showing the wiper unit when the scan unit is moved in the return direction, and (c) is a side view of the wiper unit. The side view which shows a wiper unit when a scan unit returns to a home position. (A) is a perspective view of a scan unit of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a side view of the scan unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Document stand 5 Image forming part 10 Scanner part (scanner apparatus)
11 Scan unit 11a Linear light source (illumination means)
11b Image sensor (imaging means)
13 Drive mechanism 13b Motor 16 Coil spring (unit biasing member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Wiper unit 20a Unit main body 20b Engagement part 21 Wiper member 211 Scan unit 22 Support member 221 Wiper member 22a Protrusion part 22c Engagement claw 23 Coil spring (biasing member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Case 100a Opening 100b Contact claw 100c Tapered part A Main scanning direction B Sub scanning direction M Reading direction N Returning direction P Recording paper

Claims (4)

A scanner unit having a function of reading a document as image data, and an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on image data read by the scanner unit or image data input from the outside,
The scanner unit is
A housing having a rectangular opening formed on the upper surface;
A platen platen made of a transparent member mounted on the opening of the housing; and
Inside the housing, an upper surface is arranged so as to abut on the lower surface of the document table so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction, and the sub scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the main scanning direction of the document table. A scanning unit having an illuminating unit that illuminates a predetermined range in the scanning direction and an imaging unit that captures an image of the predetermined range illuminated by the illuminating unit;
A motor, and a drive mechanism that moves the scan unit in the sub-scanning direction by driving the motor;
The scanning unit is placed on the document table by being moved in the reading direction from a predetermined home position set at one end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table by the driving means to the other end side of the document table. In the image forming apparatus configured to read the original as image data, and then move to a return direction opposite to the reading direction by the driving unit and return to the home position.
A contact claw projecting toward the return direction is arranged in the vicinity of the main scanning direction side end on the other end side of the original platen of the housing,
In the vicinity of the home position on the upper surface of the housing, in the vicinity of the end portion on the side in the main scanning direction, a tapered portion protruding downward is disposed so that the protruding height gradually increases in the return direction. And
A wiper unit is disposed on the side of the return direction side of the scan unit,
The wiper unit is
Resin or rubber made of resin or rubber that can be projected from the unit body toward the document table so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction, and can be wiped off when the document table is displaced in contact with the document table. A wiper member;
A support member provided inside the unit main body so as to be vertically displaceable so as to support the wiper member;
Inside the unit main body, it is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the lower surface of the support member and the bottom surface of the unit main body, and has a biasing member that biases the support member upward,
The support member is
A protrusion protruding upward from a side portion of the portion supporting the wiper member;
When the wiper member is not in contact with the document table, the wiper unit is engaged with an engaging portion formed at an end portion of the unit body so that a tip end portion thereof is exposed in the reading direction side, An engaging claw formed so as to be disengaged from the engaging portion when its tip is urged toward the return direction while being engaged with the engaging portion. And
The wiper member is
When the scanning unit is moved in the reading direction when reading a document, the engaging claw is engaged with the engaging portion, and is held in a state of not contacting the document table,
When the abutment claw comes into contact with the front end of the engagement claw, the engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement portion is released, and the support member is displaced upward by the urging member. Abutting on the document table in a state of being biased by a biasing member, and in that state, the scanning unit is moved in the return direction, thereby wiping and cleaning the lower surface of the document table,
When the scan unit returns to the home position, the protrusion comes into contact with the taper and is pushed down to displace the support member downward, and the engaging claw engages with the engaging portion. , Held away from the document table,
Thus, an image forming apparatus characterized in that dust and dirt attached to the lower surface of the document table can be reliably removed at low cost and an image can be read appropriately. An image of a document placed on a document table made of a transparent member is imaged while moving a scan unit having an imaging means arranged so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. A scanner device for reading as data,
The scan unit is urged by a unit urging member so that the upper surface of the scan unit comes into contact with the lower surface of the document table,
A wiper member made of resin or rubber is arranged on the upper part of the scan unit so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction and comes into contact with the lower surface of the document table.
A scanner configured to wipe and clean the lower surface of the document table by moving the scan unit in a state where the wiper member is urged by the unit urging member. apparatus. A wiper unit is disposed on the side of the scan unit in the sub-scanning direction,
The wiper unit is
A support member provided to be displaceable in the vertical direction inside the unit body;
Inside the unit main body, it is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the lower surface of the support member and the bottom surface of the unit main body, and has a biasing member that biases the support member upward,
The scanner device according to claim 2, wherein the wiper member is disposed on an upper portion of the support member so as to protrude from the unit main body. A contact claw projecting toward the wiper unit is disposed at a position near one end in the main scanning direction on one end side in the sub scanning direction of the document table,
In the other end side in the sub-scanning direction of the original platen, in the vicinity of the end portion in the main scanning direction side, the original table is projected downward so that the projecting height gradually increases from one end side to the other end side in the sub-scanning direction. The taper part is arranged,
The support member includes a protrusion projecting upward from a side portion of the portion supporting the wiper member, and toward the one end side in the sub-scanning direction of the wiper unit when the wiper member is not in contact with the document table. Engage with the engaging portion formed at the end of the unit main body so that the leading end is exposed, and with the engaging portion engaged, the leading end is directed toward the other end in the sub-scanning direction. It has an engaging claw formed so as to be disengaged from the engaging portion when biased,
The wiper member is
When the scanning unit is moved to one end side in the sub-scanning direction, the engaging claw is engaged with the engaging portion, and is held in a state of not contacting the document table,
When the abutment claw comes into contact with the front end of the engagement claw, the engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement portion is released, and the support member is displaced upward by the urging member. Abutting against the document table in a state of being biased by the biasing member, and in that state, the scan unit is moved toward the other end side in the sub-scanning direction to wipe and clean the lower surface of the document table.
When the scan unit returns to the other end side in the sub-scanning direction of the document table, the protrusion is pressed down by contacting the taper, and the support member is displaced downward, and the engagement claw is engaged. The scanner device according to claim 3, wherein the scanner device is configured to be held in a state of being separated from the document table by engaging with a portion.

Images