JP2008177699A - Image reader, facsimile apparatus and tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store and manage documents efficiently in an image reader equipped with an automatic document feeder. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic document feeder 11 comprises a tray 21 for feeding a document, and a tray 22 for discharging a document. The document tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 have the same shape and each of the trays 21, 22 can be attached removably to the automatic document feeder 11. Two trays 21, 22 can be stacked reversely like a box while setting the documents separated from the automatic document feeder 11. A plurality of trays 21 and 22 can be stored in a stacked state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and a facsimile apparatus including an automatic document feeder, and a configuration of a tray used for them.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 is a configuration of a sheet feeding portion of an image forming apparatus, not an image reading apparatus, and separates and feeds sheets one by one by a sheet feeding unit from a sheet stacking unit that stacks a large number of sheets. Disclosed is a sheet feeding apparatus that includes a simple feeding cassette that has a sheet feeding unit and is detachably attached to the sheet feeding unit and can store a plurality of sheets. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 assumes that the configuration of the sheet feeding device can store the sheet satisfactorily and improve the operability by the detachable simple supply cassette.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-2335028

  However, the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above is for storing the sheets of the image forming apparatus, and the reading document storage is not considered at all. For this reason, in Patent Document 1, dust or dirt is attached to the read document, which may affect image reading. There is also room for improvement in the efficiency of the operation of reading an original using the image reading apparatus.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, the following configuration of an image reading apparatus including an automatic document feeder is provided. That is, the automatic document feeder includes a document tray for supplying a document and a discharge tray for discharging the document. The document tray and the discharge tray have the same shape, and each tray can be attached to and detached from the automatic document feeder.

  Thereby, the document can be set and stored on the tray separated from the automatic document feeder. Further, when the user wants to read a document, the document can be set on the automatic document feeder together with the tray. After the image is read, the document ejected from the automatic document feeder can be separated and stored as it is. it can. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the operation of setting the original on the image reading apparatus, and collecting and storing the original after reading. Further, since the tray can be separated from the automatic document feeder, maintenance is facilitated, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced because the document tray and the discharge tray are common parts.

  In the image reading apparatus, it is preferable that the two trays separated from the automatic document feeder can be superposed on each other upside down to form a box shape.

  Thus, with the original set on the tray, the other tray is stacked upside down and stored in a box shape, whereby the original can be protected from dust and dirt, and the image quality of the read image can be prevented from deteriorating.

  In the image reading apparatus, it is preferable that the tray separated from the automatic document feeder can be stacked up and down.

  Thereby, a plurality of trays and documents can be stored in a compact space. Also, the trays stacked on the upper side serve as a cover, and the originals on the lower tray can be protected from dust and dirt.

  In the image reading apparatus, the tray includes a pair of guides for guiding side portions of the document, and the distance between the guide surfaces of the guides increases as the distance from the end portion on the side connected to the automatic document transport device increases. It is preferable to be configured to narrow.

  Thus, when the document is discharged from the automatic document feeder to the tray, the document is automatically guided by the guide surface. Therefore, since the positions of the discharged originals are automatically aligned, the work of aligning and arranging the originals becomes easy.

  In the image reading apparatus, it is preferable that the tray has an identification portion for identifying the tray or a document stored in the tray.

  Thereby, it is possible to facilitate manuscript management and improve work efficiency.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus as the image reading apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tray configured to be detachable from both a document supply port and a document discharge port of an automatic document feeder provided in the image reading device. Provided.

  Thereby, the document can be set and stored on the tray separated from the automatic document feeder. In addition, when reading an original, the original can be set together with the tray at the original supply port of the automatic document feeder, and after the image is read, the original discharged from the original outlet of the automatic document feeder can be set for each tray. It can be separated and stored as it is. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the operation of setting the original on the image reading apparatus, and collecting and storing the original after reading. Further, since the tray can be separated from the automatic document feeder, the maintenance becomes easy, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by using the document tray and the discharge tray as a common component.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing attachment / detachment of a tray to / from an automatic document feeder of the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral, and FIG. Is a perspective view of the tray removed from the automatic document feeder, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tray removed from the automatic document feeder and stacked upside down, and FIG. 5 is a tray removed from the automatic document feeder. It is a perspective view which shows the state which accumulated up and down.

  A copy facsimile multifunction machine 10 as an image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image reading unit that reads a copy original or a facsimile transmission original. This image reading unit is configured as a scanner that serves as both a flat bed and an auto document feeder (ADF), and the ADF scanner unit includes an automatic document feeder 11 for conveying a document.

  The automatic document feeder 11 includes a main body 20 having a document conveyance path 25 therein, a document tray 21 for supplying a document to the document conveyance path, and a document read through the document conveyance path 25. A discharge tray 22.

  The document tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 have the same shape, and the trays 21 and 22 are configured such that the upper side and the side (connection port) connected to the automatic document feeder 11 are opened. The document tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 are configured to be detachable from the main body 20 of the automatic document feeder 11 as will be described later.

  Inside the main body 20, an unillustrated transport roller for transporting the document along the document transport path 25 is appropriately installed. Further, in the main body 20, a document supply port 23 is formed on the entrance side of the document transport path 25, and a document discharge port 24 is formed on the exit side.

  Tray insertion ports 13 and 13 are formed in the document supply port 23 and the document discharge port 24, and the trays 21 and 22 can be connected to the tray insertion ports 13 and 13, respectively. Corresponding to the shape of the connection port of the trays 21 and 22, the tray insertion ports 13 and 13 have a U-shaped cross section. By inserting the connection port of the trays 21 and 22 into this portion, 21 and 22 can be attached to the main body 20. It is also possible to remove the trays 21 and 22 from the main body 20 by pulling them out as they are.

  Since the two tray insertion ports 13 and 13 have the same shape, and the trays 21 and 22 have the same shape, the document tray 21 is on the document discharge port 24 side, and the discharge tray 22 is on the document supply port 23 side. Each can also be installed. Since the mounting positions of the trays 21 and 22 can be exchanged as described above, for example, the front surface of the document is read by the image reading unit in the state of FIG. 1 and discharged to the discharge tray 22, and then the discharge tray 22 is separated together with the document. Then, it is possible to perform a workflow in which the document is loaded on the document supply port 23 side, and this time the back side of the document is read by the image reading unit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the trays 21 and 22 are a pair of a rectangular horizontal portion 31 on which a document is placed, and a pair of vertically raised from both ends (both ends in the width direction of the document) of the horizontal portion 31. Side wall portions 32 and 32, and a rear wall portion 33 raised vertically from one end portion (the end portion opposite to the connection port) of the horizontal portion 31 are provided.

  Further, the trays 21 and 22 are provided with a pair of guides (original guide sections) 14 and 14 for guiding side portions of the set original. Accordingly, in the document tray 21, the guides 14 and 14 come into contact with both sides of the document, so that the document can be sent straight from the document supply port 23 to the document transport path 25 in the main body 20. The guides 14 and 14 are configured to be movable along the slide groove 18, and by moving the guides 14 and 14, it is possible to cope with various sizes of originals to be set.

  Further, the surfaces of the pair of guides 14 and 14 facing each other (guide surfaces that perform the guiding operation of the document) have an arc portion at the end on the connection port side. And by this circular arc part, the space | interval of a pair of guide surfaces is comprised so that it may become narrow as it leaves | separates from the edge part by the side of the said connection port.

  Accordingly, in the discharge tray 22, the document discharged from the document discharge port 24 is guided by the guide surface (arc portion), so that the document discharge position is automatically aligned in the width direction. Therefore, the work of collecting and organizing the documents in the discharge tray 22 is simplified.

  A name plate 17 as an identification portion is installed on the rear wall 33 of the trays 21 and 22. The name plate 17 describes information for identifying the document and the tray, such as the name of the document and the name of the tray. This facilitates the identification of the documents in the tray and the tray itself, and makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the work.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the trays 21 and 22 can be formed in a box shape by superposing the two trays upside down while being detached from the automatic document feeder 11. In other words, the direction of the connection ports of the two trays is opposite to each other, and when one tray is turned upside down and the two are combined alternately, the open side of one tray is closed by the other tray and closed as a whole It can be made to be a box shape.

  By storing the document 19 on the trays 21 and 22 while being stacked as shown in FIG. 4, the internal document 19 can be well protected from external dust and dirt. When the two trays are overlapped, as shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 32 on one side of one tray is inserted between the side wall 32 of the other tray and the guide 14. The box shape shown in the figure is stable, and a compact box shape can be realized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of trays 21 and 22 can be stacked vertically in the same direction with the trays 21 and 22 removed from the automatic document feeder 11. Accordingly, the tray stacked on top can serve as a cover, and the document 19 set on the lower tray can be protected.

  A convex portion (positioning portion) 16 is provided on the bottom surface of the horizontal portion 31 of each tray 21, 22, and a concave portion (positioning portion) is provided on the upper surface of the side wall portions 32, 32 at a position corresponding to the convex portion 16. ) 15 is provided. With this configuration, when the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 15 are fitted when stacking the trays, a plurality of trays can be easily aligned and stacked, and in that state, the positional deviation is not stabilized. Can do.

  As described above, the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment includes the automatic document feeder 11, and the automatic document feeder 11 includes a document tray 21 that supplies a document and a discharge tray 22 that discharges the document. Prepare. The document tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 have the same shape, and the trays 21 and 22 are configured to be detachable from the automatic document feeder 11.

  In other words, the trays 21 and 22 for the image reading apparatus shown in this embodiment are configured to be detachable from both the document supply port 23 and the document discharge port 24 of the automatic document feeder 11.

  Thereby, the document 19 can be set and stored on the trays 21 and 22 separated from the automatic document feeder 11. Further, when the original 19 is to be read, the original 19 can be set together with the tray 21 in the original supply port 23 of the automatic document feeder 11, and after the image reading, the original discharged from the original discharge port 24 can be set in the tray. The whole 22 can be separated and stored as it is. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the work of setting the original 19 on the image reading unit, the recovery of the original 19 after the reading, and the storing work. Further, since the trays 21 and 22 can be separated from the automatic document feeder, maintenance such as repair and replacement is facilitated. Furthermore, since the document tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 are common parts, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the trays 21 and 22 separated from the automatic document feeder 11 can be superposed on each other upside down to form a box shape.

  As a result, when the original 19 is set on the tray, the other tray is stacked upside down and stored in a box shape, so that the internal original 19 can be protected from dust and dirt, and the image quality at the time of reading the original is lowered. Can be prevented.

  Further, the trays 21 and 22 separated from the automatic document feeder 11 are configured to be able to be stacked vertically in the same direction as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, the plurality of trays 21 and 22 and the original can be stored in a compact space. Further, the tray stacked on top serves as a cover, and can protect the document 19 set on the lower tray.

  Further, the trays 21 and 22 are provided with a pair of guides 14 and 14 for guiding the side portions of the document, and the distance between the guide surfaces of the guides 14 and 14 is the end on the side connected to the automatic document feeder 11. It is comprised so that it may narrow as it leaves | separates from a part.

  Accordingly, when the original is discharged from the automatic document feeder 11 using the tray as the discharge tray 22, the original is automatically guided by the guide surfaces of the guides 14 and 14. Accordingly, since the positions of the discharged documents are automatically aligned in the tray 22, it is easy to align and organize the documents.

  The trays 21 and 22 have a name plate 17 for identifying the document 19 or the trays 21 and 22 to be stored.

  Thereby, management of the original 19 can be facilitated and work efficiency can be improved.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above configuration can be changed as follows, for example.

  The connection method of the trays 21 and 22 to the automatic document feeder 11 is not limited to the insertion method. For example, a snap-fit is provided at the connection port portion of the trays 21 and 22 and is locked to the document supply port 23 and the document discharge port 24. Then, a fixing method can be adopted.

  The guides 14 inside the trays 21 and 22 are not limited to moving both sides, but can be changed to a configuration in which only one side is movable. Further, the moving method of the guide 14 can be appropriately changed according to circumstances, such as using a slide rail instead of the slide groove 18. Furthermore, the guides on both sides are fixed, and trays of various sizes are prepared for each document size, and the required trays are mounted on the main body 20 of the automatic document feeder 11 for use. Can be changed.

  The method for stacking the trays 21 and 22 up and down, and the shapes and arrangements of the concave portions 15 and the convex portions 16 can be appropriately changed. Further, the number of trays 21 and 22 to be stacked is shown in FIG. 5 as being three, but may be two or four or more. Further, when the trays 21 and 22 are stacked, the trays 21 and 22 can be stacked in a stepped manner while appropriately shifting the positions, instead of overlapping the positions as shown in FIG. Further, a plurality of combinations of the two trays shown in FIG.

  The installation location of the name plate 17 is not limited to the case where the name plate 17 is installed on the rear wall portion 33, and can be appropriately changed according to circumstances such as the side wall portion 32. Further, as the identification portion, instead of using the name plate 17, for example, a paper adhesive label, a tag printed with a barcode, or the like can be used.

  The configuration of the present embodiment can be applied not only to an image reading unit serving both as a flat bed and an ADF but also to an image reading unit dedicated to ADF. The configuration of the present embodiment can be applied not only to the copy facsimile multifunction machine 10 but also to, for example, an image scanner, a copy apparatus or a facsimile apparatus having only a copy function or only a facsimile function.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the attachment / detachment of the tray to / from the automatic document feeder of the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral. The perspective view of the tray of the state removed from the automatic document feeder. The perspective view which piled up the tray removed from the automatic original conveying apparatus upside down. The perspective view which piled up and down the tray removed from the automatic document feeder.

Explanation of symbols

10 Copy facsimile multifunction peripherals (image reading devices, facsimile devices)
11 Automatic Document Feeder 13 Tray Insert 14 Guide (Document Guide)
15 Recessed part (positioning part)
16 Convex part (positioning part)
17 Name plate (identification part)
18 Slide groove 19 Document 21 Document tray (tray)
22 Discharge tray (tray)
23 Document supply port 24 Document discharge port 25 Document transport path

Claims (11)

In an image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder,
The automatic document feeder includes:
A document tray for feeding documents,
A discharge tray for discharging the document,
The document tray and the discharge tray have the same shape,
An image reading apparatus, wherein each tray is detachable from the automatic document feeder. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1,
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray separated from the automatic document feeder can be formed in a box shape by superimposing two trays upside down. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray separated from the automatic document feeder can be stacked up and down. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The tray is provided with a pair of guides for guiding side portions of the document, and the interval between the guide surfaces of the guides is configured to become narrower as the distance from the end portion on the side connected to the automatic document feeder is increased. An image reading apparatus. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray has an identification portion for identifying the tray or a document stored in the tray.   A facsimile apparatus as an image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. In a tray for an image reading device,
A tray configured to be detachable from both a document supply port and a document discharge port of an automatic document feeder provided in the image reading apparatus. A tray according to claim 7,
A tray that is separated from the automatic document feeder and can be superposed on top and bottom to form a box shape. The tray according to claim 7 or 8,
A tray that is separated from the automatic document feeder and can be stacked vertically. A tray according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The tray is provided with a pair of guides for guiding side portions of the document, and the interval between the guide surfaces of the guides is configured to become narrower as the distance from the end portion on the side connected to the automatic document feeder is increased. Tray characterized by. A tray according to any one of claims 7 to 10,
A tray having an identification portion for identifying the tray or a document stored in the tray.

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