JP2010128121A - Automatic manuscript feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent some of the manuscripts, which are already read and stacked in the ejecting section stacking the read manuscripts, from being pushed out of there and falling down by the manuscripts carried in later when carrying and reading manuscripts. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic manuscript feeder has a container to hold a number of manuscripts, an ejection section to stack the read manuscripts, a carrier to transfer the manuscripts stacked in the container down to the ejection section after passing through the manuscript reader, a first rocker including a contact touching the upper surface of the manuscripts stacked in the ejection section and a sensed part to be sensed and rocking around its point of support, a sensor to detect that the sensed part on the first rocker has reached the position for sensing corresponding to the regulated stacking amount in the ejection section, and a regulator to stop the transfer operation of the carrier when obtaining the detected information from the sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, automatic document feeders that automatically convey a document read by a reading unit of a document reading device are known (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

For example, the automatic document feeder described in Patent Document 3 detects the presence or absence of a document on a sheet discharge tray that is disposed below a sheet stacking tray on which a document before reading is stacked and loads a document after reading. When the detecting means detects that there is a document after the document reading operation is completed, the sheet stacking tray is moved upward.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-18704 JP 2005-12444 A JP 2005-15122 A

  According to the present invention, when a document is transported and the document is read, a part of the document already stored in the discharge unit that stores the stacked documents after being read is stored later. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic document feeder capable of preventing the occurrence of problems such as the occurrence of a problem of being pushed out of a storage portion by a document and falling, and a document reading device and an image forming apparatus using the automatic document feeder.

The automatic document feeder according to the present invention (A1) includes a storage unit that can store a plurality of documents, a discharge unit that stacks and stores read documents, and the documents stored in the storage unit. A conveying device that conveys through the reading unit that is read to the discharge unit;
A first swinging member having a contact part that touches the upper surface of the document stacked on the discharge part and a detected part to be detected and swinging around a fulcrum;
A detection device that detects that the detected portion of the first swinging member has moved to a detection target position corresponding to the accommodation restriction amount of the discharge portion;
And control means for prohibiting the transport operation of the transport device when detection information from the detection device is obtained.

The automatic document feeder according to the invention (A2) is the document feeder of the invention A1,
A second rocking member having a contact portion pressed by a document housed in the housing portion and a detected portion to be detected and swinging about a fulcrum;
In addition to detecting the detected portion of the first swing member, the detection device detects the detected portion of the second swing member at a detection target position when no document is present in the storage portion. It is also used to detect that it has moved.

The automatic document feeder of this invention (A3) is the document feeder of the above invention A2,
The control means prohibits the transport operation of the transport device when it obtains information from the detection device that detects at least one detected portion of the first swing member and the second swing member. is there.

The automatic document feeder according to the invention (A4) is the document feeder of the invention A1,
The first swing member is not moved by the original stored in the discharge unit and detected by the detection device when the detected portion does not actually reach the detection target position. It is composed of.

The automatic document feeder of this invention (A5) is the document feeder of the above invention A1 or A4.
An original guide member is provided for moving the leading end of the original when it is transported and stored in the discharge section without being in direct contact with the first swing member.

  The automatic document feeder of this invention (A6) is the document feeder of the above-mentioned invention A1, wherein the contact portion of the first swinging member is not in contact with the portion of the discharge portion where the document is accommodated. It is what is kept in.

The automatic document feeder of the present invention (A7) is the document feeder of the above invention A2,
The detection device has a function of being turned on or off by changing the position of each detected portion in the first rocking member and the second rocking member,
The first rocking member and the second rocking member are installed such that the detection device is turned off when the respective detected portions are moved to the respective detection target positions.

  The document reading device of the present invention (B) includes a reading unit that reads a document, and the automatic document feeding device according to any one of the inventions A1 to A7 as an automatic document feeding device that sends and passes the document to the reading unit. It is what you have.

  The image forming apparatus of the invention (C) includes the document reading device of the invention B and an image forming device for forming an image based on information of the document read by the document reading device.

  According to the automatic document feeder of the invention A1, when the document is transported and the document is read, the documents already stored in the discharge unit that stacks and stores the documents after reading are stored. It is possible to prevent a problem that a part of the document is pushed out of the storage unit and dropped due to a document stored later.

  In the document feeding device according to the invention A2, the detected portion of the first swing member and the detected portion of the second swing member are detected by one detection device, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. can do.

  In the document feeder of the invention A3, compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, even when the document remains in the storage unit, the transport of the document is stopped and already stored in the discharge unit. Occurrence of a problem such that a part of a document that has been pushed out from the storage unit by a document stored later and dropped is prevented.

  In the document feeder of the invention A4, the first swing member is actually in a stage where the document is not actually stored in the discharge portion in an amount corresponding to the storage restriction amount, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. It is possible to prevent the conveyance of the document from being unnecessarily stopped by swaying so that the detected portion reaches the detection target position and being detected by the detection device.

  In the document feeder according to the invention A5, compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, the leading end portion of the document in which the first swing member is accommodated is not touched and moved unnecessarily, and the detection unit is By being swung more than necessary and detected by the detection device, the conveyance of the document is not interrupted more than necessary.

  In the document feeder according to the invention A6, compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, the storing state of the document stored in the discharge unit at the initial stage is hindered by the contact portion of the first swing member. In addition, the swinging member itself is also prevented from being worn by unnecessary contact with the document.

  In the document feeder according to the invention A7, the detection device is turned off due to an unexpected phenomenon such as a failure of the detection device or disconnection of the connected parts, as compared with the case of not having the configuration of the invention. Even when the normal detection information cannot be obtained, the conveyance of the original is prohibited and kept in a safe state.

  According to the document reading apparatus of the invention B, at the time when the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder is being read, one of the documents after reading already stored in the discharge portion of the automatic document feeder. The document can be read without causing a problem such as a part being pushed out of the storage unit and dropped by a document stored later.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention C, when an image is formed based on information of a document read by the document reading device, the time when the document read by the automatic document feeder is read by the document reading device In addition, a part of the document already stored in the discharge unit of the automatic document feeder can be formed without causing a problem such that the document stored later is pushed out of the storage unit and dropped. It can be performed.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (simply referred to as “embodiment”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 show an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a document reading apparatus 8 and an image forming apparatus 100 to which the automatic document feeder 1 according to the first embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the automatic document feeder 1 and the document reading apparatus 8 in FIG. As shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic document feeder 1 includes a storage tray 10 that stores a sheet-like document (document) 2 in which information to be read is recorded on a recording medium such as a sheet, and a reading tray 10. A discharge container 12 that stacks and stores the originals 2 after being stacked, and a document transport that transports the documents 2 stored in the storage tray 10 to the discharge container 12 via the reading unit 82 in the document reader 8. Unit 14, document presence / absence detection device 15 that detects whether document 2 is stored and present in storage tray 10, and whether document 2 stored in discharge storage unit 12 has reached a preset storage restriction amount It mainly includes an accommodation detection device 16 for detecting whether or not, and a control unit 18 (see FIG. 8) for comprehensively controlling the operation of the entire document feeder. The discharge accommodating portion 12 and the document conveying portion 14 are provided on a support frame (not shown).

  The storage tray 10 is composed of a plate-like member having a holding surface 11 on which one or a plurality of documents 2 are placed and held. The storage tray 10 is disposed at a position where one end portion 10a thereof is spaced upward from the discharge storage portion 12 on the side where the document transport portion 14 is connected to the discharge storage portion 12, and the other end portion 10b is discharged. It exists above the accommodating part 12 with a gap and is held in an inclined state so as to gradually rise from the one end part 10a.

  The discharge accommodating portion 12 is configured as a structure in which, for example, a curved accommodating surface 12 protruding upward is formed on a portion of the upper portion of a support frame (not shown) facing the accommodating tray 10. The discharge accommodating portion 12 is disposed so as to be spaced from the lower position of the accommodating tray 10. Incidentally, the accommodating portion 12 may be configured as a structure that also serves as a support frame.

  The document transport unit 14 sends out the document 2 from the storage tray 10 one by one, and the discharge transport unit 25 transports the document 2 after passing through the reading unit 82 toward the discharge storage unit 12 and discharges it. And a document conveyance path 30 that conveys the document 2 in a section from the sending unit 20 to the discharge accommodating unit 12 via the reading unit 82.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sending unit 20 is a portion formed at a position where it is connected to the one end portion 10 a of the storage tray 10, and sends out the documents 2 on the storage tray 10 one by one. A sending device 21 is installed. The delivery device 21 is mainly configured by a feeding roll 22, a transport roll 23, and a separation pad (separation member) 24. In FIG. 2 and the like, reference numeral 27 denotes an exterior cover, 28 denotes a guide plate (guide rib) that guides when the document 2 on the storage tray 10 is introduced, and 29 swings up and down around the axis of the transport roll 23 for feeding. The swing support frame (part) of holding the roll 22 is shown.

  The feeding roll 22 in the sending device 21 feeds the document 2 from the storage tray 10 by contacting the upper surface of the document 2 stored in the storage tray 10 so as to be able to contact and separate and rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow. The transport roll 23 is for transporting the document 2 fed by the feed roll 22 by rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow. The separation pad 24 is brought into contact with the transport roll 23 under a required pressure to form a contact portion, and the portion of the document 2 fed by the feed roll 22 before the contact portion is fed in an overlapped state (multiple feed). This is a pad for preventing double feeding that stops and separates the original (the document existing below).

  The feeding roll 22 is attached to the tip end side of a swing support frame 29 that swings in a direction indicated by a dotted arrow with a shaft concentric with the rotation axis of the transport roll 23 as a fulcrum, for example. The feeding roll 22 and the transport roll 23 are driven to rotate by receiving power from a rotation driving means (not shown).

  The discharge conveyance unit 25 is a portion that also serves as a document discharge port formed at a position higher than the one end side of the discharge storage unit 12 at a position obliquely raised from the reading unit 82, and an opening portion serving as the document discharge port A pair of discharge rolls 26 is installed.

  The discharge roll pair 26 is an apparatus in which the two rolls 26a and 26b come into contact with each other under pressure and rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow. The discharge roll pair 26 is a drive roll in which one roll is rotated by receiving power from a rotation drive means (not shown), and the other roll is pressed by a pressure means (not shown) and comes into contact with one roll. Thus, it is configured as a driven roll that is driven to rotate while forming a contact portion. In this embodiment, the roll 26a is configured as a drive roll and the roll 26b is configured as a driven roll.

  The document conveyance path 30 extends from the sending unit 20 to the position above the one end of the discharge accommodating unit 12 (the discharge roll pair 26 of the discharge conveyance unit 25) via the reading unit 82 positioned below it. As a whole, the cross-sectional space is formed to be a U-shaped curved passage.

  In FIG. 2 and the like, a reference numeral 31 is installed on the inner side of a path from the sending unit 20 through the reading unit 82 to the discharge accommodating unit 12 (actually, the discharge roll pair 26 of the discharge conveyance unit 25). The inner channel | path formation member divided | segmented and comprised by the several member so that the shape curved in the U shape may be shown. Reference numeral 32 denotes, for example, a curved shape corresponding to the shape of a part of the inner passage forming member 31 that is attached to the exterior cover 27 and installed outside the path from the sending unit 20 to the reading unit 82. The 1st outer side channel | path formation member is shown. Reference numeral 33 denotes a second outer passage formed in a curved shape corresponding to the shape of a part of the inner passage forming member 31 installed outside the path from the reading unit 82 to the discharge roll pair 26 of the discharge conveyance unit 25. The member is shown.

  The document transport path 30 is provided with a transport roll pair 34 at a position upstream of the path from the sending section 20 to the reading section 82 and transports to a position downstream of the path (position before the reading section 82). A timing adjustment roll pair 35 is installed. In addition, a rotating body (roller) 36 is installed at a position on the upstream side of the path from the reading unit 82 to the discharge accommodating unit 25 to rotate when the conveyed document 2 comes in contact with the document and to reduce the conveyance resistance of the document. ing. Both the transport roll pair 34 and the transport timing adjustment roll pair 35 are devices in which the two rolls 34a and 34b and the rolls 35a and 35b are in contact with each other under pressure and rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow. In substantially the same manner, it is composed of a drive roll and a driven roll. In this embodiment, the rolls 34a and 35a are configured as drive rolls.

  The document presence / absence detection device 15 has a shape having a contact portion 41 pressed by the document 2 stored in the storage tray 10 and a detection portion 42 detected by a sensor (45) which will be described later. The detection oscillating body 40 swaying in the directions indicated by the arrows A1 and A2, and the optical sensor 45 that detects that the detected portion 42 of the detection oscillating body 40 has moved to the detection target position. The support shaft 43 is installed, for example, at a position below the one end 10 a of the storage tray 10 and between the feed roll 22 and the transport roll 23 of the delivery device 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the detection rocking body 40 has a contact portion 41 and a detected portion 42 that are substantially orthogonal to each other with respect to both ends of the shaft portion that also serves as the support shaft 43. It is the structure formed in this way. Further, when the document 2 is not present in the storage tray 10, the detection rocking body 40 is in a state in which the contact portion 41 protrudes from the opening formed in a part of the one end portion 10 a of the storage tray 10 to the holding surface 11. When the document 2 is accommodated in the tray 10, the contact portion 41 is pushed by the document 2 and falls down (see FIG. 5). For example, the detection oscillating body 40 is provided with a torsion (torsion) spring attached to the support shaft 43, and the contact portion 41 is kept protruding from the holding surface 11 of the storage tray 10 when the document 2 is not present on the storage tray 10. It is configured to lean. The detected portion 42 swings in the directions indicated by the arrows A1 and A2 around the support shaft 43 in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion 41, and its position moves and is displaced. Further, the detected portion 42 is configured to block detection light described later of the sensor 45.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 45 includes a light emitting unit 46 that generates the detection light 47 and a light receiving unit 48 that receives the detection light 47. The light emitting unit 46 and the light receiving unit 48 are spaced apart from each other. It is arrange | positioned in the state which opposed. The detection oscillating body 40 is installed such that the detected portion 42 passes between the light emitting portion 46 and the light receiving portion 48 (detection space) of the sensor 45 and enters and exits.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the document presence / absence detection device 15 detects the detection light that the detected portion 42 of the detection rocking body 40 faces the light receiving portion 48 of the sensor 45 when the document 2 does not exist in the storage tray 10. 47 (this optical path) is set to a position (referred to as the “detection target position” of the detection device 15 in this embodiment) (refer to the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5). Yes. Further, when the document 2 is present on the storage tray 10, the detected portion 42 of the detection rocking body 40 has moved to a position where the detection light 47 directed to the sensor 45 light receiving portion 48 is not blocked (the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 5). See). The sensor 45 is turned off when the detection light 47 is blocked and is not received by the light receiving unit 48, and is turned on when the detection light 47 is not blocked and received by the light receiving unit 48. Used to be.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the storage detection device 16 includes a contact portion 51 that touches the upper surface of the (topmost) document 2 that is stacked and stored in the discharge storage portion 12 and a detection portion 52 that is detected by a sensor. And a detection oscillating body 50 that oscillates in the directions indicated by dotted arrows B1 and B2 around the support shaft 53, and an optical that detects that the detected portion 52 of the detection oscillating body 50 has moved to the detection target position. And a sensor of the formula (55). In this embodiment, the optical sensor 45 in the document presence / absence detection device 15 is also used as the sensor (55) of the storage detection device 16. The support shaft 53 is disposed, for example, at a position below the one end portion 10 a of the storage tray 10 and in the vicinity of the upper portion of the discharge roll 26 a in the delivery conveyance unit 25.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the detection oscillating body 50 is an inverted triangle that protrudes in a state where the contact portion 51 approaches the accommodation surface 13 of the discharge accommodating portion 12 at one end portion of a rod-shaped main body supported by the support shaft 53. On the other hand, the other end of the main body is used as the detected portion 52. The detection oscillating body 50 is formed such that the contact portion 51 is heavier than the side where the detected portion 52 is present with the support shaft 53 interposed therebetween, and the center of gravity of the oscillating body is higher than the contact portion. The position is set so as to be offset toward the 51 side.

  In addition, when the original 2 is discharged and does not exist in the discharge accommodating portion 12, the detection rocking body 50 has the contact portion 51 (the lowermost portion 51 a) having a desired interval E from the accommodating surface 13 of the discharge accommodating portion 12. When the document 2 is discharged into the discharge container 12 and begins to be stored, the contact unit 51 is lifted to the stacked document 2 (according to the amount of stacking). And move (displace) in the ascending direction B2 (see the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection rocking body 50 is partly brought into contact with the stop member 54, so that the contact portion 51 is prevented from rocking in the direction indicated by the arrow B <b> 2, so The twelve receiving surfaces 13 are kept out of contact with each other.

  The contact portion 51 is a point of view to avoid swinging in the ascending direction B2 each time the original document 2 immediately after being discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 (corresponding to the discharge port) in the discharge conveyance portion 25 is touched. From, for example, the lowermost portion 51a of the discharge accommodating portion 12 at a position separated from the discharge roll pair 26 by a distance L that is about the size of the minimum document feed direction (for example, length 210 mm when A5 size document is vertically fed). It is formed so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the document 2 loaded on the storage surface 13 (FIG. 3).

  The detected portion 52 swings around the support shaft 53 in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion 51, and its position moves and is displaced. The detection oscillating body 50 is installed such that the detected portion 52 passes between the light emitting portion 46 and the light receiving portion 48 (detection space) of the sensor 45 and enters and exits. The detected portion 52 is configured to block the detection light 47 of the sensor 45.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the storage detection device 16 is configured such that when the amount (number) of documents 2 reaching a preset storage regulation amount is discharged and stored in the discharge storage unit 12, The detected portion 52 is moved to a position where the detection light 47 (its optical path) toward the light receiving portion 48 of the sensor 45 is blocked (in this embodiment, this position is referred to as a “detection target position” of the detection device 16). It is set as follows. Further, when the document 2 is not stored in the discharge storage unit 12 or when the document 2 is stored in an amount that does not reach the storage regulation amount, as shown in FIG. The unit 52 is set so as to move to a position where it does not block the detection light 47 toward the light receiving unit 48 of the sensor 45.

  The above-mentioned accommodation restriction amount is based on the maximum height H at which the uppermost height of the originals 2 (bundle) stacked on the accommodation surface 13 of the discharge accommodating portion 12 is not pushed out by the subsequent original 2 to be ejected next. (Fig. 7). 3 and 7 indicate the height of the uppermost surface of the stored document 2 corresponding to the storage restriction amount.

  By the way, when the restricted amount of storage is set by, for example, the number of sheets (total number) of documents 2 accommodated in the discharge container 12, the number of documents conveyed and discharged is counted (counted) to a specified number. The document feeding operation can be controlled to stop when the document reaches the end. However, if the document 2 after reading is removed from the discharge storage unit 12 one by one or several sheets while the reading operation is continued, the discharge storage is performed. Even when the height of the stacked originals 2 discharged and stored in the section 12 is low, the original transport operation is stopped when the restricted number of sheets is reached. If this is the case, problems such as inability to perform appropriate control and why the user does not know the reading operation (document conveying operation) will occur.

  The control unit 18 includes an arithmetic processing device, a storage unit (storage device), an input / output device, and the like, and controls the operation of the document feeder 1 based on a program and data stored in the recording unit.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a sensor 45 that is used as both the document presence / absence detection device 15 and the accommodation detection device 16 is connected to the control unit 18 of the document feeder 1, and detection information of the sensor 45 is input. It has become so. The control unit 18 is connected to the document conveying unit 14 and transmits a control signal to a driving device in the document conveying unit 14. In addition, when the document feeder 1 is combined with the document reader 8 and the document reader 8 is provided with a display unit 89 for displaying information on the operation state, setting conditions, and the like on the document reader 8 side, the display unit 89 is connected to the control unit 18 of the document feeder 1, and the control unit 18 displays necessary information on the display unit 89. If necessary, the display unit 89 may be provided in the document feeder 1 or the image forming apparatus. The control unit 18 is connected to a control unit 87 of the document reading device 8 used in combination with the document feeding device 1 so that necessary information is exchanged.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 18 performs control related to the document conveying operation based on the detection information of the document presence / absence detection device 15 and the storage detection device 16. This control content is stored in the storage unit of the control unit 18 as a control program or the like.

  On the other hand, the document reading device 8 is mounted in a state that can be opened and closed by swinging the automatic document feeding device 1 on the upper surface of the housing 80 in the vertical direction at the rear end thereof via a support shaft (hinge). ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document reading device 8 reads the document 2 in a state where the document 2 is transported to a portion of the upper surface portion of the housing 80 facing the document transport unit 14 of the automatic document feeder 1. A document traveling type reading unit 82 is provided. The reading unit 82 attaches a transparent plate 83 such as a glass plate to a region facing the conveyance path 30 between the conveyance timing adjustment roll pair 35 of the document conveyance unit 14 and the rotating body 36 on the upper surface portion of the casing 80. Reading means 84 mainly equipped with an illumination device that illuminates the document 2 under the transparent plate 83 and an image sensor such as a line-type CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor that reads reflected light from the document 2 by photoelectric conversion. It is arranged and configured. The code | symbol 81 in FIG. 2 shows an exterior cover.

  Further, the document reading device 8 is a document fixing type reading unit that reads the document 2 in a stopped (fixed) state on a portion of the upper surface portion of the casing 80 facing the discharge accommodating portion 12 of the automatic document feeder 1. 85 is installed. The reading unit 85 attaches a transparent plate 86 such as a glass plate on which the document 2 is placed in a region facing the discharge housing unit 12 on the upper surface of the housing 80, and reads the document 2 below the transparent plate 86. Is arranged. The document 2 placed on the transparent plate 86 is pressed by the lower surface of the discharge container 12 of the automatic document feeder 1.

  As the reading means 87 in the reading section 85, one having a configuration in which the reading means 84 of the reading section 82 is supported so as to reciprocate (scan) in the lower region of the transparent plate 86 can be used. As the other reading means 87, for example, an illuminating device and optical components such as a reflecting plate and a lens are mounted on a moving body (carrier) that reciprocates in the lower region of the transparent plate 86, and the reflected light from the document 2 is imaged. It is also possible to apply what is constituted so that it can be read and read. When the latter reading unit 87 is adopted, the reading unit 82 is also read in a state where the reading unit 87 is moved to a position directly below the transparent plate 83 of the reading unit 82 and stopped instead of the reading unit 84. Can be configured to perform.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the document reading device 8 has a control unit 87 that comprehensively controls the operation of the entire device. The control unit 87 is configured similarly to the control unit 18 in the document feeder 1. An operation input unit 88 provided with a start button or the like for starting a reading operation is connected to the control unit 87, and information necessary for operating the reading device 8 is input thereto. In addition, reading units 82 and 85 are connected to the control unit 87, and control signals relating to the respective operations (illumination, imaging, movement, etc.) are transmitted or received to the reading means of the reading units. Yes. When the display unit 89 for displaying information on the operation state, setting conditions, and the like is installed on the document reading device 8, the display unit 89 is connected to the control unit 87, and the control unit 87 has information necessary for the display unit 89. Is displayed.

  Next, a document conveying operation and a reading operation by the automatic document feeder 1 and the document reading device 8 will be described.

  When reading an original, as shown in FIG. 10, first, a plurality of originals 2 to be read are placed on the storage tray 10 of the automatic document feeder 1 in a stacked state.

  At this time, in the automatic document feeder 1, the control unit 18 checks whether or not a reading start command (signal) is input from the operation input unit 88 of the document reading device 8 as shown in FIG. S10) When there is a reading start command, it is confirmed whether or not the sensor 45 is in an ON state (step S11).

  That is, in the document feeder 1, since the document presence / absence detection device 15 and the storage detection device 16 also serve as one sensor 45, the sensor 45 is turned on due to the following two factors before reading the document. It becomes a state.

  One factor is that the document 2 is stored in the storage tray 10. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10, when the document 2 is stored in the storage tray 10, the detection rocking body 40 of the document presence / absence detection device 15 is pushed by the document 2 via the contact portion 41 and It swings so as to be pushed down in the direction of A2 (see the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 5). As the contact portion 41 is swung, the detected rocking body 40 moves to a position where the detected portion 42 does not block the detection light 47 of the sensor 45, so that the sensor 45 is turned on.

Another factor is the amount after reaching the specified storage amount S after reading into the discharge storage unit 12.
This is because the document 2 is not placed. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10, generally, when reading of a new document is started, there is often no document 2 after reading in the discharge container 12, so that the detection rocking body 50 of the storage detection device 16 is detected. Swings so as to descend in the direction of arrow B1 with the contact portion 51 at the head due to the relationship of the center of gravity (see the state shown in FIG. 6). As the contact portion 51 swings, the detection swinging body 50 moves to a position where the detected portion 52 does not block the detection light 47 of the sensor 45, so that the sensor 45 is turned on.

  For this reason, if it is determined in step S11 that the sensor 45 is not in the ON state (in other words, it is in the OFF state), the document 2 to be read is not stored in the storage tray 10 or is discharged and stored. The amount (S) of the document 2 that has reached the storage limit amount is stored in the section 12 and is not removed, or is in either state. In this case, the control unit 18 gives a warning such as a message prompting the apparatus user to place a document on the storage tray 10 and a warning such as a message prompting the user to remove the document 2 from the discharge storage unit 12. The information is also displayed on the display unit 89 in the document reading device 8 (step S12).

  If it is determined in step S11 that the sensor 45 is in the ON state, the control unit 18 controls the document conveying unit 14 to operate, whereby the document feeding operation by the document feeder 1 is executed (step S11). S13).

  The document transport operation is started by first feeding the document 2 at the top of the storage tray 10 to the document transport path 30 one by one by the sending device 21 of the sending unit 20 in the document feeding unit 14.

  At this time, the feeding device 21 has a contact portion between the transport roll 23 and the pad member 24 in a state where a plurality of originals 2 are overlapped by rotating the supply roll 22 in contact with the originals 2 on the storage tray 10. Send it to. After that, between the transport roll 23 and the pad member 24, the document located below is stopped by the pad member 24 before the contact portion and separated from the top document, and only the top document is removed. The contact portion is passed by the transport force of the transport roll 23 and sent to the document transport path 30.

  Subsequently, the document 2 sent out by the sending device 21 is transported by the transport roll pair 34 in the document transport path 30, and once the transport leading end reaches the transport timing adjustment roll pair 35, the adjustment roll pair 35 temporarily After being stopped, it is sent out so as to pass through the transparent plate 83 of the reading unit 82 in accordance with the reading timing. In the reading unit 82, information (characters, figures, photographic images, etc.) recorded on the moving document 2 is read by the reading unit 84. The document 2 passing through the reading unit 82 is pressed against the transparent plate 83 by a document pressing member (not shown), and is transported in a state where the transport leading end side can contact the rotating body 36.

  The document 2 that has been read is transported in the document transport path 30 toward the discharge transport unit 25 by receiving the transport force of the transport timing adjustment roll pair 35, and finally is discharged by the discharge roll pair 26 in the discharge transport unit 25. By being conveyed, it is discharged to the discharge container 12.

  The document 2 discharged to the discharge container 12 is discharged so that its leading end falls on the storage surface 13 of the discharge container 12 and moves while being in contact with the storage surface 13. The rear end portion is separated from the discharge roll pair 26 and dropped and held on the storage surface 13 to be stored.

  In the document feeder 1, the above-described transport operation of the document 2 is similarly repeated for the number of documents 2 stored in the storage tray 10. As a result, a plurality of read originals 2 are stored in the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage unit 12 so as to be stacked.

  In particular, when the second and subsequent originals 2 are discharged to the discharge accommodating portion 12, the transport leading end moves while contacting the upper surface of the preceding original 2 already accommodated in the accommodating surface 13. At this time, since there is a gap of a distance E (FIG. 3) between the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 of the storage detection device 16 and the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage portion 12, an initial stage (document storage height). The document 2 stored at a time before the distance E approaches the distance E) is not disturbed by the presence of the contact portion 51. In addition to this, the uppermost one of the preceding document 2 already stored in the discharge storage unit 12 is moved from the storage surface 13 by the transport leading end portion of the subsequent document 2 discharged later contacting and moving. Slightly affected by being pushed out.

  Further, in this document feeder 1, when a document 2A of a certain amount or more (amount in which the height of the stored document 2 exceeds the above-mentioned interval E) on the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage unit 12 starts to be stacked, FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface of the uppermost document 2 comes into contact with the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 in the storage detection device 16, and thereafter the document 2 increases as the amount of the document 2 stored increases. Begins to swing so that the contact portion 51 of the detection swinging body 50 is lifted in the direction of arrow B2 (see the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6).

  In the document feeder 1, while the document transport operation (including the reading operation) is being performed, the control unit 18 finishes reading one document 2 to be transported (for example, when the document 2 is transported). Each time the reading of the rear end of the sensor 45 is completed), it continues to detect whether or not the sensor 45 is in an OFF state (steps S14 to S15). At this time, while it is determined that the sensor 45 is not in the OFF state (in other words, in the ON state), the document transport operation is continued.

  When it is determined that the sensor 45 is in the OFF state, the control unit 18 controls the operation of the document conveying unit 14 to stop, so that at least the subsequent (remaining) document conveying operation after the OFF state is detected. Prohibit and stop (step S16).

  In the document feeder 1, since the document presence / absence detection device 15 and the storage detection device 16 also serve as one sensor 45, the sensor 45 is turned off due to the following two factors.

  One factor is that all the originals 2 stored in the storage tray 10 are conveyed and no longer exist. In other words, in this case, the originals 2 were stored in the storage tray 10 as shown in FIG. When all the documents 2 are sent out, the detection rocking body 40 of the document presence / absence detecting device 15 swings in the direction of the arrow A1 because there is no document 2 that is in contact so as to push down the contact portion 41 (FIG. 5). The state shown at the top). As the contact portion 41 swings, the detection rocking body 40 moves to a position (detection target position) where the detected portion 42 blocks the detection light 47 of the sensor 45, so that the sensor 45 is OFF. It becomes a state.

  In the case of this factor, since the document 2 to be transported does not exist in the storage tray 10, the document transport operation by the document transport unit 14 ends. If the sensor 45 is in an OFF state due to this factor, the amount of documents stored in the discharge storage section 12 (the height of the stored document 2A) does not reach the specified storage amount (S). That is, it is when the detected portion 52 of the detection rocking body 50 in the accommodation detection device 16 is not swung to a position where the detection light 47 of the sensor 45 is blocked (when it is in a position where it is not blocked).

  Another factor is that the amount of the document 2 stored in the discharge storage unit 12 reaches the storage regulation amount S when the document 2 stored in the storage tray 10 remains. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the contact rocking body 50 of the storage detection device 16 makes contact with the upper surface of the uppermost document 2 due to the presence of the document 2 stored in the discharge storage unit 12. It swings in the direction of arrow B2 so that it can be lifted through 51. At this time, the lowermost part 51a of the contact part 51 moves while swinging to a position where the accommodation regulation amount S is reached (see FIGS. 7 and 12). As the contact portion 51 is swung, the detection rocking body 50 moves to a position (detection target position) where the detected portion 52 blocks the detection light 47 of the sensor 45, so that the sensor 45 is OFF. It becomes a state.

  In the case of this factor, the document transport operation is prohibited and stopped even though the document 2 to be transported remains in the storage tray 10. However, the uppermost one of the stored originals 2 (S) that have already been stored in the discharge storage part 12 and have reached the storage restriction amount S, and the transport leading end of the original 2 stored later come into contact with it and move. Therefore, the operation of being pushed out from the discharge accommodating portion 12 (the accommodating surface 13 thereof) is not received.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as the document 2 already stored being pushed by the document 2 accommodated later and being pushed out of the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage unit 12 and falling. The As a result, the document 2 stored in the discharge storage unit 12 falls from the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage unit 12 to a device installation place such as a floor surface. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as

  Further, the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 in the discharge detection device 16 comes into contact with the upper surface of the document 2 when being stacked and stored in the discharge storage portion 12, and the document 2 is directed to the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage portion 12. It will be in a pressing state. For this reason, the accommodation state (posture) of the document 2 is stabilized, and even if the conveyance leading end 2a of the document 2 accommodated later comes into contact (the curved and deformed leading end is not deformed). Even in the case of contact, the document 2 already stored is kept in a stable state that is difficult to move.

  When the document transport operation is stopped due to the second factor, the detection swing body 50 of the storage detection device 16 swings in the direction of arrow B1 by removing the document 2 stored in the discharge storage unit 12. As a result, the sensor 45 is turned on (FIG. 6), so that the transport operation and the reading operation of the document 2 remaining on the storage tray 10 can be resumed. At this time, the conveyance operation and the reading operation of the document 2 are resumed by performing again the operation for generating the reading start command.

  In the automatic document feeder 1, the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 in the storage detection device 16 is placed on the upper surface of the document 2 that is stacked and stored in the discharge storage portion 12 at a position separated from the discharge roll pair 26 by a distance L. Contact.

  For this reason, in the conveyance stage before the amount of the document 2 accommodated in the discharge accommodating portion 12 reaches the accommodation regulation amount S, the conveyance leading end portion of the document 2 immediately after being ejected from the ejection roll pair 26 is a detection oscillator. 50 is less likely to come into contact with the contact portion 51, and the phenomenon that the detection rocking body 50 is swung in the direction of the rising arrow B2 each time the document 2 is discharged is less likely to occur. As a result, the detection rocking body 50 is swung in the direction of the arrow B2 every time the document 2 is discharged, and the sensor 45 is turned off and the document transport operation is not frequently stopped. As a result, it is possible to reduce the reduction in productivity due to the slowdown of the document conveying operation and thus the reading operation.

  Further, in the automatic document feeder 1, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the conveyance leading end 2a of the document 2 when it is discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 toward the discharge storage unit 12 is detected by the storage detection device 16. A discharge guide plate 17 is provided for guiding the moving body 50 so as to move in a state where it does not directly contact a part of the moving body 50, particularly the contact portion 51.

  The discharge guide plate 17 is formed at a position between the discharge roll pair 26 on the back side of the storage tray 10 and the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 so as to protrude toward the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage portion 12. Rib-shaped. The discharge guide plate 17 in this embodiment is entirely formed in an inverted triangular shape. Specifically, the discharge guide plate 17 has an inclined surface 17a that gradually slopes in a state in which the discharge guide plate 17 gradually approaches the accommodation surface 13 from a position slightly away from the discharge roll pair 26 and also approaches the lowermost portion 51a of the contact portion 51, and the lowermost portion thereof. 17b is formed to be a position (a distant position) higher than the accommodation regulation amount S by a distance M.

  By providing the discharge guide plate 17, the conveyance leading end 2 a of the document 2 when being discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 toward the discharge accommodating portion 12 is first discharged as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 13. The guide plate 17 is guided in a direction in contact with the inclined surface 17 a of the guide plate 17 and approaching the storage surface 13 of the discharge storage portion 12. Thereafter, the leading end 2a of the document is brought into contact with the storage surface 13 and supported between the lowermost portion 17b of the discharge guide plate 17 and the storage surface 13 so as to be curved and move along the storage surface 13. Be made.

  As a result, the original 2 when being discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 to the discharge accommodating portion 12 moves in a state in which the conveyance front end portion 2a is not in direct contact with a part of the detection rocking body 50, in particular, the contact portion 51. Good accommodation on the accommodation surface 13. Further, when the amount of the document 2 stored on the storage surface 13 is increased (the amount of storage of the document satisfies an interval E between the contact portion 51 and the storage surface 13), the document transport leading end 2a when the document is stored. Comes into contact with the lowermost part 51a of the contact part 51 of the detection rocking body 50 and thereafter moves in contact with the lowermost part 51a after contacting the inner side surface 51b of the contact part 51. However, at any stage, the conveyance leading end 2 a of the document comes into contact with the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 after being guided by the discharge guide plate 17.

  As a result, the conveyance leading end 2a of the document 2 when it is discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 to the discharge container 12 directly contacts a part of the detection rocking body 50 and is unnecessary in the direction of the arrow B2 in which the contact portion 51 rises. The detection unit 52 of the detection oscillating body 50 is oscillated more than necessary and the sensor 45 is turned off, so that the conveyance of the document is not interrupted more than necessary. As a result, the position where the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 comes into contact with the upper surface of the document 2 stored in the discharge storage portion 12 is shifted to the side closer to the discharge roll pair 26 side (shown in FIG. 3). By shortening the separation distance L from the discharge roll pair 26, it is possible to shorten the length of the detection rocking body 50 protruding toward the discharge accommodating portion 12.

FIG. 14 illustrates a configuration example in the case where the discharge guide plate 17 is not provided. In the illustrated configuration example, the height J of the rib 10 b is the contact portion 51 at a position between the contact portion 51 of the detection rocking body 50 and the discharge roll pair 26 in the rib 10 b formed on the back surface of the storage tray 10. As a result, the inclined portion 10c is formed so as to gradually increase toward the housing surface 13 as it approaches.
In this case, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing, the conveyance leading end 2a of the document 2 when being discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 to the discharge container 12 is a part of the detection rocking body 50 (of the contact portion 51). There may be direct contact with the inner slope 51b).

  However, even in the case of the configuration example shown in FIG. 14, for example, by adopting the following configuration, the conveyance leading end portion 2 a of the document 2 is detected when being discharged from the discharge roll pair 26 to the discharge accommodating portion 12. The proportion of direct contact with a part of the rocking body 50 can be reduced.

  As an example, a position (a separation distance from the discharge roll pair 26) of the detection rocking body 50 that contacts the upper surface of the document 2 stored in the discharge storage section 12 of the contact section 51 (the lowermost portion 51a thereof). And can be formed so as to be at a position corresponding to a distance K (> L) farther away than the above-mentioned distance L (FIG. 3) (refer to the contact portion 51B indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 14). . As another example, for the detection rocking body 50, for example, a configuration in which a rotating body that easily rotates while being exposed from the inner inclined portion 51 b is attached to the contact portion 51, or exposed at the lowermost portion 51 a of the contact portion. A configuration in which the rotating body that is rotated in this manner is attached and the weight of the contact portion 51 is slightly increased, or a configuration in which the width of the contact portion 51 (a dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to the document discharge direction) is increased to increase the weight of the component portion 51. It is also possible to adopt.

  In addition, in the automatic document feeder 1, the document presence / absence detection device 15 and the accommodation detection device 16 are in the OFF state when the detected portions 42 and 52 of the respective detection rockers 40 and 50 are moved to the respective detection target positions. (The state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5 and the state shown in FIG. 7). For this reason, for example, sensor 45 is turned off due to an unexpected phenomenon such as failure of sensor 45 or disconnection of connecting parts such as sensor 45, and normal detection information is obtained. Even when there is no such situation, the control unit 18 controls the document so that it is prohibited from being conveyed and kept in a safe state.

  Next, an image forming apparatus 100 to which the document reading device 8 combined with the automatic document feeder 1 as described above is applied will be described.

  An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is installed on an upper portion of a casing 101 so as to mount a document reading device 8 combined with an automatic document feeder 1. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an image forming apparatus 110 that forms an image on a sheet 9 and a sheet feeding that supplies the image forming apparatus 110 with the sheet 9 used for image formation. An apparatus 130 and an image processing apparatus 140 for performing final image processing on image information input from the document reading device 8 and the like to generate final image information are mainly installed. The sheet 9 is a sheet-like recording medium capable of forming and conveying an image in the image forming apparatus 110.

  The image processing apparatus 140 is connected to the document reading device 8 so that image information of a document read by the reading device 8 is input. Further, the image processing apparatus 140 receives image information generated by an external connection device such as a computer connected to the image forming apparatus 100, or a recording medium reading apparatus connected to or equipped with the image forming apparatus 100. The image information read in is input. The final image information generated by the image processing device 140 is transmitted to the later-described exposure device (114) in the image forming device 110 at the time of image formation.

  The image forming device 110 is configured using, for example, a known electrophotographic method. In the image forming apparatus 110 in this embodiment, a photosensitive member 112 rotating in a direction indicated by an arrow is charged by a charging device 113, and exposure according to image information transmitted from the image processing device 140 to the charged photosensitive member 112 is performed. After the electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device 114, the latent image is developed with a developer (toner) supplied from the developing device 115 to form a toner image, and finally the toner image on the photoconductor 112 is transferred. The image is transferred to the sheet 9 by the device 116. The photoreceptor 112 after the transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 117.

  Further, in this image forming device 110, the paper 9 on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 120 and the toner image is fixed on the paper 9. As the fixing device 120, for example, a device including a heating rotator 121 that rotates by being heated to a required temperature and a pressure rotator 122 that rotates by contacting the heating rotator 121 under pressure is used. .

  For example, the paper feeding device 130 is detachably mounted in the lower part of the housing 10 and accommodates a plurality of paper sheets 9, and a feeding device 132 that feeds the paper 9 from the paper feeding cassette 131 one by one. The sheet 9 is conveyed and supplied to a transfer position (between the photosensitive member 112 and the transfer device 116) of the image forming device 110 at the time of image formation. A chain line with an arrow in FIG. 1 indicates a main conveyance path through which the sheet 9 is conveyed. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numerals 135 to 138 denote conveyance roll pairs that convey the paper 9.

  The sheet 9 on which an image has been formed by the image forming device 110 is discharged from the fixing device 120 and then discharged to a paper discharge storage portion 102 formed on the top of the housing 101.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 150 that comprehensively controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit 150 is basically composed of substantially the same components as the control unit 18 in the document feeder 1. The control unit 150 is connected to the control unit 18 of the document feeder 1 and the control unit 87 of the document reading device 8 so that necessary information can be exchanged between them.

  The control unit 150 is connected to a touch-type display panel for inputting information such as operation conditions when performing image formation, selection of settings, and the like, and an operation input unit 160 provided with buttons and the like. Information necessary for 100 operations is input. The operation input unit 160 may include the operation input unit 88 of the document reading device 8. When the display unit 170 that displays information on the operation state, setting conditions, and the like is installed in the image forming apparatus 100, the display unit 170 is connected to the control unit 160, and the control unit 150 is necessary for the display unit 170. Information is displayed. The display unit 170 may include the display unit 19 of the document feeder 1 and the operation input unit 88 of the document reader 8.

  In this image forming apparatus 100, when an image is formed based on the image information of the document 2 read by the document reading device 8, the document 2 is fed by the automatic document feeder 1 to the reading unit 82 of the document reading device 8. It is conveyed and read.

  At the time when the document 2 is transported and read, the document 2 after being read stored in the discharge container 12 of the document feeder 1 even though the document 2 to be read remains in the storage tray 10. When the storage limit amount S is reached, as described above, the state is detected by the storage detection device 16 and the conveying operation of the document 2 is stopped. For this reason, a part of the original document 2 (particularly the uppermost original document etc.) already stored in the discharge storage section 12 of the automatic document feeder 1 is removed from the discharge storage section 12 by the subsequent original document 2 stored later. An image is formed without causing problems such as being pushed out and dropping.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus used as a so-called copying machine. In addition to this, for example, an image forming apparatus used as a facsimile having a communication function, a copying (copying) function, and the like. Further, the image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus used as a so-called multi-function machine having a plurality of other functions such as a printer function and a facsimile function. Among these, when configured as a facsimile or an image forming apparatus having a facsimile function, when reading information of the document 2 communicated as a facsimile, the document 2 already stored in the discharge container 12 of the document feeder 1 is read. A subsequent document 2 in which a part (especially the uppermost document or the like) is accommodated later does not cause a problem such as being pushed out of the discharge accommodating portion 12 and dropped.

[Other Embodiments]
In the automatic document feeder 1 according to the first embodiment, an optical type that detects the detected portion 52 of the detection rocking body 50 in the accommodation detection device 16 and the detected portion 42 of the detection rocking body 40 in the document presence / absence detection device 15. In this example, the sensor 45 is also used to detect with one common sensor. However, the detected portion 52 of the detection rocking body 50 may be detected with a dedicated sensor. it can. Further, the detected portions 42 and 52 of the detection oscillators 40 and 50 may be configured to detect using a switch type detection device instead of the optical sensor 45.

  Further, since the automatic document feeder 1 reads both sides of the document 2, the document 2 after the reading of the first surface is reversed with the front and back sides reversed. There is no problem even if a reverse re-transmission path is provided for transporting to pass again. Further, the automatic document feeder 1 has a surface opposite to the surface of the document 2 read by the reading unit 82 of the document reading device 8 in order to read the front and back surfaces of the document 2 when the document 2 is conveyed once. It is also possible to install a reading means for reading the image on the side of the document feeder 1 (for example, the document conveyance path between the conveyance timing adjustment roll pair 35 and the discharge roll pair 26). In this case, the document feeder 1 has a reading function for reading one side of the document.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the configuration example in which the automatic document feeder 1 is combined with the document reader 8 is illustrated as an example. However, the automatic document feeder 1 is configured as a single device without the document reader 8. It is also possible to do. Further, although the case where the automatic document feeder 1 integrated with the document reader 8 is used in combination with the image forming apparatus 100 is illustrated, the image forming apparatus 100 is not provided and the automatic document feeder 1 is used as the document reader. 8 can be configured as a single device (automatic document reading device) integrated with 8.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 110 configured using the electrophotographic method is applied as the image forming apparatus 100 is illustrated, but the document reading apparatus 8 combined with the automatic document feeder 1 is exemplified. As long as the image formation is performed using the information of the document 2 read in step 1, it is possible to configure the image forming apparatus using another image forming method. Other image forming methods include known methods such as an ink ejection method and a thermal recording method.

1 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an automatic document feeder, a document reading device, and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing the entire automatic document feeder and the document reading device in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing, in an enlarged manner, main parts (such as a document presence / absence detection device and an accommodation detection device) of the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when components such as a document presence / absence detection device and an accommodation detection device in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 2 are viewed from the upper surface side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure and operation state of a document presence-and-absence detection device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure and operation | movement state (state when a sensor will be in an ON state) of an accommodation detection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure and operation | movement state (state when a sensor will be in an OFF state) of an accommodation detection apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each control unit and its periphery of an automatic document feeder, a document reading device, and an image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart showing control details regarding a document transport operation by an automatic document feeder. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one operation state of the automatic document feeder (before and at the start of a document transport operation). FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing another operation state of the automatic document feeder (first form of stopping the document conveying operation). FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another operation state of the automatic document feeder (second form of stopping the document conveying operation: when the accommodation regulation amount is reached). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a document discharge state when there is a document guide member of the automatic document feeder. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a document discharge state when the document guide member of the automatic document feeder is not present.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic document feeder 2 ... Document 2a ... Conveyance front end (front end)
8 ... Document reading device 10 ... Storage tray (storage unit)
12 ... discharge accommodating part (discharge part)
13 ... Accommodation surface (portion where the document of the discharge unit is accommodated)
14 ... Document transport section (conveyance device)
17. Document guide plate (document guide member)
18. Control unit (control means)
21 ... Sending device (part of the conveying device)
26 ... discharge roll pair (part of the transport device)
34 ... Pair of transport rolls (part of transport device)
35 ... Pair of transport timing adjustment rolls (part of transport device)
40: Detection rocking body (second rocking member)
41 ... contact part 42 ... detected part 43 ... support shaft (fulcrum)
50. Detection rocking body (first rocking member)
51 ... Contact part 52 ... Detected part 53 ... Support shaft (fulcrum)
82... Reading unit 100... Image forming apparatus 110... Image forming apparatus S.

Claims (9)

A storage section that can store a plurality of documents;
A discharge unit that stacks and stores the scanned originals;
A transport device that transports a document stored in the storage unit to the discharge unit via a reading unit that reads the document;
A first swinging member having a contact part that touches the upper surface of the document stacked on the discharge part and a detected part to be detected and swinging around a fulcrum;
A detection device that detects that the detected portion of the first swinging member has moved to a detection target position corresponding to the accommodation restriction amount of the discharge portion;
An automatic document feeder comprising: control means for prohibiting the conveying operation of the conveying device when detection information is obtained from the detecting device. A second rocking member having a contact portion pressed by a document housed in the housing portion and a detected portion to be detected and swinging about a fulcrum;
In addition to detecting the detected portion of the first swing member, the detection device detects the detected portion of the second swing member at a detection target position when no document is present in the storage portion. 2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the automatic document feeder is also used to detect the movement.   The control means prohibits the transport operation of the transport device when obtaining information that detects at least one detected portion of the first swing member and the second swing member from the detection device. The automatic document feeder according to claim 2, wherein:   The first swing member is not moved by the original stored in the discharge unit and detected by the detection device when the detected portion does not actually reach the detection target position. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the automatic document feeder is configured as follows.   5. The document guide member is provided for moving the leading edge of the document when it is transported and stored in the discharge unit without being in direct contact with the first swinging member. 6. Automatic document feeder.   2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion of the first swinging member is kept in a non-contact state with respect to a portion of the discharge portion in which the document is accommodated. The detection device has a function of being turned on or off by changing the position of each detected portion in the first rocking member and the second rocking member,
The first oscillating member and the second oscillating member are installed such that the detection device is turned off when the respective detected portions are moved to the respective detection target positions. The automatic document feeder according to claim 2. A reading section for reading a document;
8. An original reading apparatus comprising: the automatic original feeding apparatus according to claim 1 as an automatic original feeding apparatus that sends and passes an original to the reading unit. An original reading apparatus according to claim 8,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on information of an original read by the original reading apparatus.

Images