JP2012246099A - Sheet transfer device, and image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet transfer device and an image reading device convenient at maintenance or the like.SOLUTION: The sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet includes: a device body formed by connecting a first unit to a second unit so as to be openable and closable; a sheet transfer path formed between the first unit in a closed state and the second unit to extend from above the device body in the downward direction; and a sheet transfer means disposed on the sheet transfer path to nip and transfer the sheet by a pair of rollers disposed to face each other across the sheet transfer path. The second unit comprising a release means which is disposed at the upper end of the second unit, and release the nipping force of the pair of rollers by being pushed down toward the lower end of the device body. When the nipping force is released by the release means, the first unit is brought into an opened state that the first unit separates from the second unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus and an image reading apparatus such as a scanner provided with such a sheet conveying apparatus.

  In a sheet conveying apparatus incorporated in a scanner or the like, for example, the front cover unit on the front side can be opened and closed in order for a user to perform jam processing of sheets and apparatus maintenance. By the way, there has been proposed an image reading apparatus in which a user presses one open / close button with one hand and opens a front cover unit with a pressing force of the reading unit so that the conveyance path can be opened. (See Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-88572

  In the image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the open / close button of the cover is arranged on the back surface of the apparatus or the surface (side surface) on one side of the apparatus. For this reason, depending on the installation environment of the device, for example, when installing the back of the device on the wall side or when arranging equipment etc. around the device, access to the open / close button may be substantially restricted. There is a problem of poor usability. Note that the above-described problem does not occur only in the image reading apparatus, but may also occur in other apparatuses such as a sheet conveying apparatus that handles sheets and an office machine equipped with the sheet conveying apparatus.

  In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image reading apparatus that are easy to use at the time of maintenance or the like regardless of the installation environment of the apparatus.

  The sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention is formed between an apparatus main body formed by connecting a first unit to a second unit so as to be openable and closable, and the first unit and the second unit in a closed state. A sheet conveying path extending from the upper side toward the lower side, and a sheet conveying means that conveys the sheet while nipping the sheet by a pair of rollers disposed in the sheet conveying path and opposed to each other across the sheet conveying path, The second unit has release means that is provided at an upper end portion of the second unit and that releases the nip force by the roller pair by pressing down toward the lower side of the apparatus main body. When the nip force is released, the first unit is opened in a direction away from the second unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus.

  Further, the image reading apparatus of the present invention is formed between the apparatus main body formed by connecting the first unit to the second unit so as to be openable and closable, and the first unit and the second unit in the closed state. A sheet conveying path extending from the upper side to the lower side of the main body, an image reading sensor arranged in the sheet conveying path for reading an image of the sheet, and arranged on the side opposite to the sheet conveying path side of the image reading sensor. A pressing member that presses the image reading sensor toward the sheet conveyance path, and the second unit is provided at an upper end portion of the second unit and is pressed down toward the lower side of the apparatus main body. Release means for releasing the pressing force of the pressing member on the reading sensor, and when the pressing force is released by the releasing means, the first unit is moved to the second unit. And characterized in that in a direction away from the preparative opened.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use sheet conveying apparatus and image reading apparatus during maintenance or the like regardless of the installation environment of the apparatus. In particular, according to the present invention, since the release means is provided at the upper end of the apparatus main body, for example, even if an object is placed around the apparatus, the apparatus can be immediately opened, and the user can It is possible to dramatically improve usability.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an information reading apparatus provided with a sheet conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a conveyance guide member of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveyance device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention (tray development view). FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention (tray storage diagram). FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a releasing unit of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a releasing unit of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a stress relationship of the information reading apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic block diagram (closed state) of the information reader provided with the sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The schematic block diagram (open state) of the information reader provided with the sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Information reader]
First, an overall configuration of an image reading apparatus that is an example of an information reading apparatus that is an object of the present invention will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, an information reading device (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 2 that feeds a sheet S, an information reading unit 3 that reads information on the sheet S, and a discharge unit that discharges the sheet S. 4. Then, image information on the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 is read by the information reading unit 3, and the sheet S on which the information is read is discharged from the discharge unit 4. In the present embodiment, an example of a configuration in which a sheet conveying apparatus is configured by an apparatus main body of a scanner and a sheet conveying path provided in the apparatus main body, and an information reading unit 3 is added to the sheet conveying apparatus will be described. To do.

[Paper Feeder]
The paper feed unit 2 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 11 of the scanner 1, and is disposed opposite to the transport roller 22 as a feed roller (feed roller) for feeding a sheet to the information reading unit 3. And a tray 21 on which the sheet S is placed, and a separation roller 23 as a separation member. The apparatus main body 11 is divided into two units in this embodiment. One unit constitutes a main body portion 11a (second unit) which is the main body side of the scanner 1, and the other unit is a cover portion 11b (first unit) connected to the main body portion 11a so as to be openable and closable. Consists of.

  The tray 21 serving as a sheet stacking base includes an intermediate plate 21 b that is rotatably supported with respect to the main body 11 a of the apparatus main body 11. The intermediate plate 21b is urged toward the transport roller 22 by a spring (not shown). The transport roller 22 is provided on the cover portion 11b of the apparatus main body 11, and is rotationally driven by a motor that is a drive source (not shown). Then, the sheet S comes into contact with the sheet S on the intermediate plate 21 b and is conveyed toward the information reading unit 3. In the case of this embodiment, the conveyance roller 22 is disposed at a position facing the central portion in the width direction of the tray 21.

  Further, a separation roller 23 is provided at a position facing the conveyance roller 22 downstream of the tray 21 in the sheet conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 22. The separation roller 23 is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which the separation roller 23 moves far and away, and is urged in a direction toward the conveyance roller 22 by a spring (not shown). In addition, a motor which is a driving unit (not shown) is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the transport roller 22. The separation roller 23 applies a force in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the conveying roller 22 to the sheet when the conveying roller 22 conveys the sheet. Accordingly, a sheet resistance acting in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction is generated on the sheet, and the conveyed sheet S is easily separated from other sheets. The separation roller 23 is provided with a torque limiter so that power transmission from the motor can be cut off when a torque exceeding a predetermined value is applied.

  The positional relationship between the conveyance roller 22 and the separation roller 23 in the sheet conveyance direction is such that the conveyance roller 22 is shifted to the upstream in the sheet conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 22 relative to the separation roller 23. This makes it easy to pick up the sheet S on the tray 21.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 11 is separable into a main body part 11a and a cover part 11b with a conveyance path 13 through which the sheet S is conveyed in the apparatus main body 11 as a boundary. Of these, the main body 11a is provided with the tray 21 and the separation roller 23 described above, and the transport roller 22 is supported by the cover 11b. The cover part 11b is rotatable with respect to the main body part 11a around a lower end portion (rotating hinge part 46) of the main body part 11a. When the cover portion 11b is rotated, the conveyance path 13 is exposed (opened), and a sheet jammed in the conveyance path 13 can be removed. That is, the scanner 1 of the present embodiment has an apparatus main body 11 provided with a conveyance path 13 for conveying the sheet S. The apparatus main body 11 is connected to the main body 11a and the main body 11a so as to be opened and closed. Cover portion 11b. Further, a conveyance path 13 is formed between the main body portion 11a and the cover portion 11b constituting the apparatus main body 11. The scanner 1 according to the present embodiment is provided so as to be inclined from the feeding unit (sheet intake port) 2 on the upper end side of the apparatus main body 11 to the lower end side of the apparatus main body 11 in the installed state. The conveyance path 13 is formed of a path to a discharge portion (sheet discharge port) 4 that is bent at the lower end portion side and opens to the upper side of the apparatus body 11. In addition, the conveyance path 13 of the present embodiment is provided in a U-turn shape (substantially J-shape) in which the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is bent in the apparatus installation state. Although details will be described later, the scanner 1 according to the present embodiment can switch between a J path (U-turn path) and a straight path.

  When the cover portion 11b is closed, the transport roller 22 contacts the separation roller 23, and the separation roller 23 sinks in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the spring as the biasing means (moves away from the transport roller 22). To do). As a result, the conveyance roller 22 and the separation roller 23 are in elastic contact with each other. That is, the conveying roller 22 receives an urging force from the separation roller 23 by a spring, thereby forming a nip portion between the roller pair.

  Further, the intermediate plate 21b rotates around the rotation support portion in a direction against the elastic force of the spring by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown) via a power transmission mechanism such as a gear. To do. A gap between the transfer roller 22 and the conveying roller 22 is provided.

  That is, when the intermediate plate 21b is urged toward the conveying roller 22, when the sheet (or sheet bundle) S is placed on the tray 21, the leading edge of the sheet S is conveyed with the intermediate plate 21b. It is difficult to enter between the rollers 22. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the intermediate plate 21b is rotated in the direction opposite to the spring urging direction so that a gap is formed between the intermediate plate 21b and the conveying roller 22. Accordingly, when the sheet (or sheet bundle) S is placed on the tray 21, the leading edge of the sheet S can easily enter between the intermediate plate 21 b and the conveyance roller 22, and the conveyance of the sheet S by the conveyance roller 22 is facilitated. It can be done smoothly.

  Here, in the scanner 1 of the present embodiment described above, the tray 21 is provided in the paper feeding unit 2. Specifically, a tray 21 serving as a sheet stacking table for stacking sheets is connected to the upper end of the main body 11 a of the apparatus main body 11. Such a tray 21 includes a tray main body 210 and a tray extension base 211 that can be extended from the tray main body 210.

  The tray main body 210 constituting the tray 21 is rotatably connected to the main body 11a, and can close the opening of the sheet S intake port. In other words, the tray main body 210 also serves as a cover that covers the sheet S taking-in port. Thereby, when the tray main body 210 is stored, a compact appearance can be realized while maintaining high designability as a whole.

  Further, as described above, the tray extension base 211 is retractably accommodated from the front end of the tray main body 210, that is, the upper end in the installed state of the scanner 1, and the tray extension base 211 is accommodated at the end of the tray extension base 211. Is provided with a sheet support member 211a that can further extend the stacking surface of the sheets S. For example, in the present embodiment, the sheet support portion 211a is formed by a pair of plate-like members that can approach or retract from the center in the width direction of the sheet extension base 211. A rib 211b protrudes from the opposite end of each sheet support portion 211a. By such a pair of sheet support portions 211a, it is possible to form a supply posture of the sheet S so that the sheet S can be supplied into the scanner 1 without being skewed.

  Further, the above-described intermediate plate 21b is connected to the lower end portion of the tray main body 210, that is, the end portion on the sheet S taking-in side. Specifically, guide wall portions 213 each having a guide hole 212 are erected on both ends in the width direction of the tray main body portion 210. On the other hand, guide projections 214 to be inserted into the guide holes 212 of the guide wall 213 are respectively provided at both ends of the intermediate plate 21b.

  The guide hole 212 of the tray main body 210 is partially cranked, and the middle plate 21b (guide protrusion 214) guides the tray main body 210 as the tray main body 210 rotates (operation to close the sheet S intake port). It moves along the hole 212. At this time, the intermediate plate 21 b moves along the guide hole 212 substantially parallel to the tray main body 210.

  Specifically, the intermediate plate 21 b is lifted and moved to the tray main body 210 as the tray main body 210 moves. The intermediate plate 21b is accommodated between the tray main body 210 and the apparatus main body 11 in a state where the front end of the tray main body 210 is in contact with the upper end of the cover 11b. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tray 21 can be stored while closing the upper openings (sheet intake ports) of the main body 11a and the cover 11b. Thereby, it is possible to realize the scanner 1 which is compact and excellent in design while effectively preventing dust and the like from entering the apparatus from the upper part of the scanner 1. Such a tray 21 may be provided detachably from the apparatus main body 11.

  The middle plate 21b is provided with a pair of regulating plates 215 that regulate both sides in the width direction of the sheet S so as to be slidable in the surface direction and the width direction of the middle plate 21b. Such a pair of regulation plates 215 is accommodated in the upper opening of the apparatus main body 1 in conjunction with the accommodation of the middle plate 21b. In addition, by arranging such a pair of regulating plates 215 near the opening of the sheet feeding unit, in particular, near the conveying roller (feeding roller) 22, the sheet S can be efficiently fed toward the inside of the apparatus while maintaining the sheet feeding posture. Can be separated and fed one by one.

[Information reading unit]
As shown in FIG. 1, the information reading unit 3 is disposed at an intermediate portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the apparatus main body 11. The information reading unit 3 includes a roller pair 31, a registration sensor 32, and an image sensor 33 a. , 33b are arranged. The roller pair 31 includes a driving roller 31a and a driven roller 31b. Of these, the driving roller 31a is provided on the main body 11a, and the driven roller 31b is provided on the cover 11b. The driving roller 31a is rotationally driven by a motor which is a driving source (not shown), and the driven roller 31b rotates following the driving roller 31a. Such a roller pair 31 conveys the sheet S conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 2 in the same direction as the conveying direction by the conveying roller 22. The roller pair 31 and the conveying roller pair 42 on the downstream side of the roller pair 31 are urged from the driven roller side to the driving roller side by an urging means (not shown) such as a spring.

  The registration sensor 32 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet S conveyed by the roller pair 31. Examples of such a registration sensor 32 include a photo sensor provided with a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and a sensor that detects the operation of a lever. The photo sensor detects the passage of the sheet S when the sheet S blocks the light, and the detection by the lever detects that the sheet S tilts the lever. In this embodiment, a photo sensor is used.

  Each of the image sensors 33a and 33b is a CIS (contact image sensor), and reads information on the front and back surfaces of the sheet S. That is, one image sensor 33a is provided on the main body 11a side, and the other image sensor 33b is provided on the cover 11b side. The surface from which the information of each image sensor 33a, 33b is read is the conveyance path 13 side, and information on both sides of the sheet S passing through the conveyance path 13 is read by the image sensors 33a, 33b. The information read in the present embodiment is information on an image formed on the front surface or the back surface of the sheet S.

[Discharge part]
The discharge unit 4 is disposed downstream of the apparatus main body 11 in the sheet conveyance direction, and has a U-shaped conveyance path 41 continuous with the conveyance path 13, a conveyance roller pair 42, a discharge roller pair 43, a discharge tray 44, and a sheet. Holding member 45. Of these, the U-shaped conveyance path 41 is a sheet conveyance path that guides the sheet conveyed from above in the installed state upward through a curved path (formed in a U-shape). Such a U-shaped conveyance path 41 is located on the outer periphery of a U-shaped curved surface portion 41a formed on the lower surface of the cover portion 11b, and is covered with a U-shaped curved cover 41b. The curved cover 41 b is rotatably connected to the apparatus main body 11 by a rotary hinge portion 46. Therefore, when the sheet that has been conveyed jams in the U-shaped conveyance path 41, the curved cover 41b is rotated to expose the U-shaped conveyance path 41, so that the jam processing can be performed.

  Further, the curved cover 41 b includes a U-shaped curved member 41 c that is a conveyance guide member that rotates about the rotation shaft 47. As shown in FIG. 2, the bending member 41 c rotates together with the rotation shaft 47 by rotating a lever 52 provided at one end of the rotation shaft 47. In addition, a spring member 53 is provided at the other end portion of the rotation shaft 47 and urges the bending member 41 c in the direction of the arrow 54 together with the rotation shaft 47. When the bending member 41c is in the state shown in FIG. 1, the engaging protrusion 52a provided on the lever 52 and the engaged portion (not shown) provided on the bending cover 41b are engaged to prevent the bending member 41c from rotating. Yes. Further, this engagement is prevented from being inadvertently released due to the urging of the spring member 53. That is, the U-shaped discharge path 41 that is a discharge path on the downstream side of the transport path 13 is a curved member 41c that is a discharge path forming member that is mounted on the front side of the apparatus body 11 and at the lower end, and the lower surface of the cover portion 11b. And the outer periphery of the U-shaped curved surface portion 41a.

  The bending member 41c constitutes the U-shaped conveying path 41 in the state of FIG. 1, and by rotating from this state, a part of the U-shaped conveying path 41 is opened so that the conveying path can be switched. Yes. When rotating the bending member 41c, the lever 52 is pulled in the direction opposite to the arrow 54, and the engagement protrusion 52a provided on the lever 52 and the engaged portion (not shown) provided on the bending cover 41b are engaged. Remove. Then, the lever 52 is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. 1 to a predetermined position. Thereby, a part of the U-shaped conveyance path 41 is opened, and another conveyance path for discharging the sheet conveyed from the conveyance path 13 by the conveyance roller pair 42 is formed.

  Thus, the scanner 1 according to the present embodiment can change the sheet discharge method. For example, normally, if the sheet is discharged in the state shown in FIG. 1, it is compact and the installation space can be reduced. On the other hand, if the curved member 41c is rotated to form another conveyance path so that the sheet can be discharged straight, it is not necessary to pass the U-shaped conveyance path 41 when discharging a thick sheet that is difficult to bend, for example. The sheet can be discharged well.

  Further, the conveyance roller pair 42 is disposed at the entrance to the U-shaped conveyance path 41 from the conveyance path 13 of the apparatus main body 11 and upstream of the rotary hinge portion 46 in the sheet conveyance direction. Similarly to the roller pair 31 described above, such a pair of conveying rollers 42 includes a driving roller and a driven roller, and one roller is provided on the main body portion 11a and the other roller is provided on the cover portion 11b. Then, the sheet conveyed from the information reading unit 3 is conveyed to the U-shaped conveyance path 41.

  The paper discharge roller pair 43 is a discharge unit, and is provided at the outlet of the U-shaped conveyance path 41 to discharge the sheet upward from the U-shaped conveyance path 41 in an installed state. Such a pair of paper discharge rollers 43 is also composed of a drive roller 43a and a driven roller 43b. The drive roller 43a is provided at the distal end portion of the curved cover 41b and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). Then, the sheet is conveyed by rotating in contact with the sheet.

  The driven roller 43b is provided at a position facing the driving roller 43a of the cover portion 11b, and forms a nip portion N with the driving roller 43a. Therefore, the driven roller 43b is urged toward the drive roller 43a by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). Then, it comes into contact with the driving roller 43a in a pressurized state (via a sheet when there is a sheet), and rotates following the rotation of the driving roller 43a.

[Scanner open / close operation]
The scanner 1 described above can open the cover portion 11b in a direction away from the main body portion 11a, for example, in maintenance work such as jam processing and cleaning. That is, the conveyance path 13 formed between the cover part 11b and the main body part 11a can be opened, and thereby, a sheet jammed in the conveyance path 13 can be removed, and the image sensors 33a and 33b can be appropriately cleaned. .

  And in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4, the opening / closing operation | work of such a cover part 11b is simplified by the release button 100 provided in the upper end part of the main-body part 11a. Specifically, in the main body 11a, the release button 100 is disposed at the upper end of the main body 11a, and the nip force generated between the cover 11b and the main body 11a in the closed state by the operation of the release button 100. To cancel. That is, when the nip force is released by the release button 100, the cover portion 11b is opened in a direction away from the main body portion 11a. Thereby, the user can open the conveyance path 13 only by pulling the cover portion 11b forward, and workability such as maintenance can be improved.

  The cover portion 11b is connected to the main body portion 11a via a rotary hinge portion 46 so as to be freely opened and closed. Then, when the nip force is released by the release button 100, the rotational moment M1 in the opening direction generated in the rotary hinge portion 46 is based on the rotational moment M2 generated in the rotary hinge portion 46 of the cover portion 11b due to the weight of the cover portion 11b. It is enlarged (see FIG. 7). Thereby, the opening / closing operation | movement of the cover part 11b can be performed smoothly.

  Here, the release button 100 of the present embodiment has a pressing projection 101 inserted through the mounting portion of the main body portion 11a, as shown in FIGS. A coil spring 102 is inserted through the pressing protrusion 101 of the release button 100. A coil spring 102 is disposed between the release button 100 and the mounting portion of the main body 11a, and is biased in a direction opposite to the pressing direction of the release button 100.

  On the other hand, an engagement protrusion 103 that protrudes toward the main body 11a is provided at the upper end of the cover 11b that is detachable from the main body 11a. The engaging protrusion 103 includes an engaging claw 104 that engages with the main body 11 a and an abutting portion 105 with which the pressing protrusion 101 of the release button 100 abuts. The contact portion 105 has a tapered receiving surface 106 whose upper surface on the distal end side is inclined toward the distal end side, and receives the distal end portion of the pressing projection 101 by the tapered receiving surface 106.

  That is, when the release button 100 is pushed into the main body 11a side, the coil spring is compressed, and the tip of the pressing projection 101 comes into contact with the engagement projection 103 (taper receiving surface 106) and slides on the taper receiving surface 106. Be touched. Thereby, the engaging claw 104 of the engaging protrusion 103 is detached from the main body 11a, and the cover 11b is opened in a direction away from the main body 11a. At this time, the nip force generated between the cover portion 11b and the main body portion 11a in the closed state is released (released) by operating the release button 100. Thus, the release button 100 serves as a means for releasing the nip force generated between the roller pair. In the present embodiment, the release button 100 and the pressing protrusion 101 constitute a release unit.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the driven rollers 31b and 42b respectively apply loads G1 and G2 to the opposing drive rollers 31a and 42a by the spring member S. Moreover, the cover part 11b generates the rotational moment M1 centering on the rotation hinge part 30 by the reaction force of load G1, G2. On the other hand, the cover portion 11b is rotatable about the rotary hinge portion 30, and its own weight is applied in the mass L direction from the center of gravity position. The cover part 11b generates a rotational moment M2 around the rotary hinge part 30. At this time, by providing the relationship of rotational moment M2 <rotational moment M1, the connection (connection) of the cover portion 11b to the main body portion 11a is released, and the cover portion 11b can be popped up.

  In the present embodiment, the release button 100 described above is arranged in parallel with the storage area of the tray 21. Specifically, the release button 100 is provided at the upper end of the main body 11a and at the outer end (corner) of the storage area of the tray. Accordingly, the cover portion 11b can be opened without unfolding the tray 21, that is, even when the tray 21 is stored.

[Scanner operation]
In the case of this embodiment, first, a sheet (or sheet bundle) for reading information is placed on the tray 21. When the sheet is placed on the tray 21, the middle plate 21 b is sunk as described above, and the leading edge of the sheet enters between the middle plate 21 b and the conveyance roller 22. In this state, for example, when the operation is started by the user pressing a reading start button provided in the apparatus, the intermediate plate 21b is urged by the spring, and the leading edge of the sheet is moved to the intermediate plate 21b and the conveyance roller. 22.

  From this state, the conveyance roller 22 is driven to rotate, and the separation roller 23 rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, in the case of a sheet bundle, the sheets are separated one by one and conveyed to the conveyance path 13. On the other hand, when the number of sheets is one, the torque limiter provided on the separation roller 23 is operated, and the power transmission to the separation roller 23 is cut off. The separation roller 23 is rotated by the rotation of the conveying roller 22. To do. As a result, one sheet is conveyed to the conveyance path 13.

  The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 13 is nipped by the roller pair 31 and further conveyed. Then, the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the registration sensor 32, and information on both sides (or any side) of the sheet is read by the image sensors 33a and 33b. That is, reading by the image sensors 33a and 33b is started a predetermined time after the registration sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the sheet, and the image sensors 33a and 33b are started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration sensor 32 detected the trailing edge of the sheet. End reading by. Information read by the image sensors 33a and 33b is stored in a storage means (memory) provided in the apparatus or sent to an external terminal (not shown) (such as a personal computer).

  The sheet that has passed through the image sensors 33 a and 33 b is nipped by the conveyance roller pair 42 and conveyed to the U-shaped conveyance path 41. The sheet conveyed to the U-shaped conveyance path 41 is further nipped by the discharge roller pair 43 and discharged to the discharge tray 44.

<Other embodiments>
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail based on 1st Embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the scanner 1 having two conveyance routes (straight path and U-turn path) is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. A scanner having a conveyance path with only a straight path may be used. Even in this case, similar to the above-described embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by providing the release means having the release button 100 and the engagement protrusion 103 for opening and closing the cover portion 11b. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. 8 and 9, the paper discharge tray 60 is provided, but the paper discharge tray 60 may not be provided.

1 Document information reader (scanner)
3 Information reading unit 4 Ejecting unit (sheet conveying device)
43 discharge roller pair 43a driving roller 43b driven roller 100 release button N nip S sheet

Claims (16)

An apparatus body in which the first unit is connected to the second unit so as to be openable and closable;
A sheet conveyance path formed between the first unit and the second unit in the closed state and extending from the upper side to the lower side of the apparatus body;
A sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet while nipping the sheet by a pair of rollers disposed in the sheet conveying path and opposed to each other across the sheet conveying path;
The second unit has release means that is provided at an upper end portion of the second unit and that releases the nip force by the roller pair by pressing down toward the lower side of the apparatus main body.
When the nip force is released by the release means, the first unit is opened in a direction away from the second unit.   The first unit is connected to the second unit through a rotary hinge portion so as to be openable and closable. When the nip force is released by the release means, a rotational moment in the opening direction generated in the hinge portion. 2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein is greater than a rotational moment generated in the hinge portion of the first unit due to the weight of the first unit.   2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the release unit includes a release button provided at an upper end portion of the second unit and releases the nip force by pressing the release button. Conveying device.   2. The release button is disposed at a peripheral edge of an opening of a sheet take-in port provided on the upper end side of the second unit and at a corner of the second unit. 4. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1.   5. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release button and a sheet stacking table for stacking sheets are arranged in parallel at an upper end portion of the second unit. .   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet stacking table can be stored in the sheet take-in port.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet stacking base includes an extension base that can be extended in a direction opposite to a sheet take-in direction.   The sheet transporting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet stacking table includes a sheet support member that is storable at a front end portion of the extension table and further extends a sheet stacking surface.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet stacking base is detachably provided with respect to the second unit. The conveying means has a separation feeding means for separating sheets one by one from a sheet bundle stacked on the upper part of the apparatus main body and feeding the sheets to the sheet conveying path,
The separation feeding unit includes a feeding roller that feeds the sheet, and a separation roller that is disposed to face the feeding roller and is rotatable in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the feeding roller,
The separation roller is biased to the feed roller by a biasing member,
10. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release unit releases a biasing force of the separation roller with respect to the feed roller. 11. The transport means includes a transport roller pair including a drive roller that is rotationally driven and a driven roller that is urged by the urging member and is rotated by the rotation of the drive roller.
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release unit is configured to release a biasing force of the driven roller biased against the driving roller. An image reading sensor that reads an image of a sheet is disposed in the sheet conveyance path,
A pressing member disposed on the side opposite to the sheet conveyance path side of the image reading sensor and pressing the image reading sensor toward the conveyance path;
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release unit releases a pressing force applied by the pressing member to the image reading sensor.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one roller of the pair of rollers is formed of an elastic member. The first unit is rotatably connected to the second unit on the lower end side of the apparatus main body,
14. The center of gravity of the apparatus main body in the open state is located on the second unit side with respect to the connection portion between the first unit and the second unit. The sheet conveying apparatus according to 1.   An image reading apparatus comprising the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1. An apparatus body in which the first unit is connected to the second unit so as to be openable and closable;
A sheet conveyance path formed between the first unit and the second unit in the closed state and extending from the upper side to the lower side of the apparatus body;
An image reading sensor arranged in the sheet conveyance path for reading an image of the sheet;
A pressing member that is disposed on the opposite side of the image reading sensor from the sheet conveying path and presses the image reading sensor toward the sheet conveying path.
The second unit includes release means that is provided at an upper end portion of the second unit and releases the pressing force by the pressing member on the image reading sensor by pressing toward the lower side of the apparatus main body.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the pressing force is released by the releasing unit, the first unit is opened in a direction away from the second unit.

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