JP2013059124A - Document conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document conveying device with significantly improved stability of document conveyance capable of efficiently cooling inside of a device with a fan, as well as effectively improving a document conveying performance.SOLUTION: In a document conveying device 1, a document conveyance path 13 extending from a document locating tray 2 to a document exhausting tray 3 is formed to be curved into a U-shape in an upward and downward direction, and a fan 34, a second document reading device 16, and control substrates 32, 33 are arranged at a portion surrounded by the document conveyance path 13 curved into the U-shape. The second document reading device 16 is arranged on one of an upstream side and a downstream side in a document conveyance direction to a curved part of the document conveyance path 13 at an interval between the second document reading device 16 and the control substrates 32, 33, and the control substrates 32, 33 are arranged on the other side. A suction port 34a of the fan 34 is directed to the curved part of the document conveyance path 13, and an exhaust port 34b is directed to a downstream end face of a bundle of documents piled on the document locating tray 2 between the second document reading device 16 and the control substrates 32, 33.

Description

  The present invention relates to a document conveying apparatus applicable to an image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine or a facsimile.

  Some image forming apparatuses such as copiers and facsimiles include a document transport device that automatically sends a plurality of documents to a document reading unit. The document conveying device separates and conveys one sheet at a time from the uppermost layer of the bundle of documents stacked on the document placing tray. The original is read by the original reading unit, and then discharged onto a document discharge tray provided on the most downstream side of the original conveyance path.

  A supply member such as a supply roller or a supply belt is used to transfer the document from the document placement tray to the document transport path continuing to the document reading unit. The supply member is provided at the downstream side of the document placing tray in the document transport direction, and presses the uppermost layer of the document bundle to send the document downstream. On the document conveyance path, conveyance rollers and rollers for conveying the document are provided at various locations, and the document is inserted and conveyed through a nip formed by the pressure-contact between these conveyance rollers and the roller. .

  In the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, the image data on the surface is read when the document contacts or approaches the document reading device at the position of the document reading unit. However, at this time, there is a concern that the original document sticks to the glass portion on the surface of the original reading device and is difficult to be separated, and the conveyance performance is lowered. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a structure for improving the separation property of the document on the surface of the document reading apparatus has been proposed. In the document feeding device (document conveying device) described in Patent Document 1, an air flow from a fan is blown from the downstream side in the document conveying direction toward the platen glass at the reading position of the document reading device.

  On the other hand, separation means using an air flow has been proposed in order to separate the originals stacked on the original placement tray one by one in the original conveying apparatus. In this method, air is blown from the lateral direction to the downstream end surface of the document bundle in the conveying direction to lift and separate the upper layer document. Patent Documents 2 and 3 show examples of document conveying devices that facilitate separation of documents stacked in this way.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-200352 (page 4, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent No. 2947855 (second page, FIG. 1) JP-A-9-165144 (5th page, FIG. 1)

  The document feeding device (document transporting device) described in Patent Document 1 uses an air flow at a reading position of the document reading device to improve separation of the document from the platen glass. In terms of preventing sticking to the sheet, it is possible to improve the conveyance performance. However, since the air is blown from the downstream side in the document transport direction in the document reading unit, the document is transported in the form of a brake, and it is difficult to say that the document transport performance is effectively improved. .

  In addition, the automatic document feeder described in Patent Document 2 and the automatic document feeder described in Patent Document 3 supply the document by blowing air against the bundle of documents stacked on the document placement tray. It is possible to improve the separation performance of the original and improve the supply performance. However, this air flow is used only to facilitate the separation of the original when the original is supplied, and is used to separate the original from the platen glass or to improve other conveyance performance. It is not done. Therefore, the configuration and power for generating the air flow are not efficiently used.

  On the other hand, the document conveying device may have a built-in motor for driving the conveying roller, its control board, and a document reading device for duplex printing. If the temperature inside the document conveying device is increased and the temperature rises, the image formed on the document surface, the control board, and the document reading device may be adversely affected and the document reading accuracy may be reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently cool the inside of the document conveying device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in addition to efficiently cooling the inside of the apparatus with a fan, the document conveying performance can be effectively improved, and the stability of document conveying is greatly improved. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved document conveying apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a fan for cooling the inside of a document transporting apparatus that separates and transports documents stacked on a document placing tray one by one so as to read image data on a document surface. In addition, it is provided in such a direction that air flows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the document conveying direction, and the air is provided to flow through the document conveying path on the intake side and exhaust side of the fan, and the exhaust port is an image of the document. The control board for controlling the document reading device and / or the document conveying device for reading data is directed to the downstream end surface of the document bundle stacked on the document placing tray.

  In the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, the exhaust louver that directs the air discharged from the exhaust port toward the downstream end surface of the document stack stacked on the document stacking tray is provided on the downstream end surface of the document bundle. It was decided to be provided on the wall located just downstream of the wall.

  In the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, a space is provided between the exhaust louver and the downstream end surface of the document bundle, and the exhaust louver is provided on the wall portion.

  Further, in the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, the document in which at least a part of the air discharged toward the downstream end surface of the document stack stacked on the document placing tray is provided on the most downstream side of the document conveying path. It was decided to circulate toward the document discharge port for discharging the document to the discharge tray.

  Further, in the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, an exhaust duct is provided in which air discharged from the exhaust port is directed to the document discharge port.

  In the document conveying apparatus having the above-described configuration, the fan has its suction side directed toward the document surface of the document passing through the document conveying path on the upstream side of the fan in the document conveying direction.

  Further, in the document conveying apparatus having the above-described configuration, the fan has its air inlet directed toward the document surface contacting the peripheral surface of the conveying roller provided upstream of the fan in the document conveying direction.

  In the document conveying apparatus having the above-described configuration, a plurality of the conveying rollers are provided in the document width direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction, and the fan circulates air between these two adjacent rollers. We decided to provide it.

  Further, in the document conveying device having the above-described configuration, the document placing tray and the document discharge tray are configured in two upper and lower stages with their document feeding directions reversed, and the document placing tray to the document. The document supply port for feeding the document and the document discharge port for discharging the document to the document discharge tray are provided on the same side of each tray, and the document conveyance path extending from the document supply port to the document discharge port is U-shaped in the vertical direction. It was supposed to be curved.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, in a document conveying apparatus that separates and conveys the documents stacked on the document placing tray one by one so as to read the image data on the document surface, the fan for cooling the inside is arranged in the document conveying direction. Since the air is provided in such a direction that the air flows from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the air is provided so as to flow through the document conveyance path on the intake side and the exhaust side of the fan, the air flow by the fan is It follows the flow, and the document can be conveyed without applying a brake. Then, the document is pulled on the upstream side of the fan, and the conveyance of the document can be facilitated. Further, the fan has its exhaust port directed to a control board for controlling the document reading device and / or the document conveying device for reading the image data of the document, and a downstream end surface of the document bundle stacked on the document loading tray. Therefore, the air flow by the fan can be blown against the document reading device and the control board and the end face of the document bundle. Thereby, it is possible to promote separation of the original while cooling the original reading device and the control board, and it is possible to improve the supply performance. Therefore, the air flow generated by the fan can be used to enhance the document transport performance or to promote the separation of the document when the document is supplied. Thus, in addition to efficiently cooling the inside of the apparatus by the fan, it is possible to effectively improve the document conveying performance and to provide a document conveying device in which the stability of the document conveying is greatly improved. Is possible.

  Further, an exhaust louver that directs the air exhausted from the exhaust port to the downstream end surface of the original stack stacked on the original stacking tray is provided on the wall portion located immediately downstream of the downstream end surface of the original stack. Since it is provided, the air flow by the fan can easily travel toward the end face of the document bundle. Thereby, air can be strongly blown against the end face of the original bundle, and the action of separating the original can be enhanced. Therefore, the supply performance at the time of document supply is improved.

  In addition, since a space is provided between the exhaust louver and the downstream end surface of the document bundle and the exhaust louver is provided on the wall portion, the air flow from the fan easily flows out from the exhaust louver. As a result, air can be accurately blown onto the end face of the document bundle, and the action of separating the documents can be enhanced. Therefore, the supply performance at the time of document supply is improved.

  Further, at least a part of the air discharged toward the downstream end surface of the stack of documents stacked on the document stacking tray discharges the document to the document discharge tray provided on the most downstream side of the document transport path. Since the air flows toward the outlet, the original can be actively pushed out from the original discharge port to the original discharge tray by the exhaust of the fan. As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that the document discharged to the document discharge tray is stuck at the position of the document discharge port, caught by a discharge roller or the like provided in the vicinity thereof, and caught and damaged at an unintended position. It is. Therefore, in addition to improving the document conveyance performance, it is possible to prevent the document from being damaged at the document discharge port.

  In addition, since the exhaust duct in which the air discharged from the exhaust port is directed to the document discharge port is provided, the action of positively pushing out the document from the document discharge port to the document discharge tray can be enhanced. Therefore, the effect of preventing the document from being damaged at the position of the document discharge port is improved.

  In addition, since the intake side of the fan is directed to the document surface of the document passing through the document conveyance path on the upstream side in the document conveyance direction of the fan, it is easy to pull the document using the suction force of the fan. As a result, it is possible to further facilitate the conveyance of the document. Therefore, it is possible to improve the document conveyance performance.

  Further, since the fan has its intake port directed to the document surface contacting the peripheral surface of the conveyance roller provided upstream of the fan in the document conveyance direction, the document is stretched on the conveyance roller by the suction of the fan. It can be attached. As a result, the adhesion between the transport roller and the document increases, and the document can be transported by the transport roller without slipping. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the document conveyance performance.

  Further, a plurality of conveying rollers are provided in the document width direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction, and the fan is provided so as to circulate air between these two adjacent rollers. It is possible to apply an action of sticking the original to the conveyance roller at a location closer to the location where the contact is made. Thereby, the conveyance roller and the original can be further brought into close contact with each other, and the conveyance performance of the original can be improved.

  In addition, the document placement tray and the document discharge tray are configured in two upper and lower stages with the document transport direction opposite to each other, a document supply port for feeding the document from the document placement tray, and a document discharge tray The document discharge port for discharging the document is provided on the same side of each tray, and the document conveyance path extending from the document supply port to the document discharge port is curved in a U shape in the vertical direction. In such a compactly designed document conveying apparatus, in addition to efficiently cooling the inside of the apparatus with a fan, the document conveying performance can be effectively improved, and the stability of document conveying can be improved. It becomes possible to greatly increase.

1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of a document conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing a document feeding portion of the document conveying device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conveyance unit of the document feeding unit, viewed from the left in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conveyance unit of the document feeding unit, viewed from the right side of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transport unit of the document feeding unit as viewed from above, and shows a state where the transport guide member is removed. It is a vertical cross-section part enlarged front view which shows an exhaust louver periphery. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the document conveying device viewed from the direction of the document placing tray. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the document conveying device viewed from the direction of the document placing tray, and shows a state where the document placing tray is removed. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front view of the vertical section showing the periphery of the exhaust louver, and shows a state in which the conveyance of the original has progressed from FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, an outline of the structure of an original conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of a document conveying device. A solid arrow in the figure indicates a sheet conveyance path and a conveyance direction. The document conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention is designed as a document conveying device mounted on the upper part of a copier, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having a function of a copier or a facsimile as an image forming apparatus. Shall.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the document conveying device 1 includes a document placing tray 2, a document feeding unit 10, and a document discharge tray 3.

  The document placing tray 2 is provided on the upper part of the document conveying device 1. On the document placing tray 2, the documents can be placed from above and stacked. The document placing tray 2 is configured to be inclined from upstream to downstream in the document conveying direction, that is, from right to left in FIG.

  A lift member 4 is provided on the downstream side of the document tray 2 in the document transport direction. The lift member 4 is configured by a plate-like member having a shape along the placement surface of the document placement tray 2. The lift member 4 is provided so as to be rotatable in a vertical plane with the support shaft 4a provided at the upstream end as a center and the downstream end as a free end. The lift plate 4 is driven to rotate about a support shaft 4a by a motor (not shown) so that the downstream end of the original stacked on the original stacking tray 2 is always in contact with the supply roller 12 arranged above the original. And is biased upward.

  The document feeder 10 includes a document supply port 11 and a supply roller 12 at the downstream end of the document placement tray 2 in the document conveyance direction. The supply roller 12 separates and supplies the originals stacked on the original placement tray 2 one by one from the uppermost layer. A document transport path 13 extends toward the inside of the document feeder 10 on the downstream side of the document supply port 11.

  The tip of the document conveyance path 13 reaches the bottom surface of the document conveyance device 1, and a first document reading unit 14 is provided at this position. The document sent to the first document reading unit 14 is moving further on the document conveyance path 13 to the downstream side, that is, in the position of the first document reading unit 14 in FIG. 1 from the left to the right. In addition, image data on the first surface, which is the lower surface, is read by a document reading device (not shown, hereinafter referred to as a first document reading device) of the image forming apparatus main body provided below.

  A second document reading unit 15 is provided downstream of the first document reading unit 14 in the document conveyance path 13. When it is necessary to read image data on both sides of the document, the document sent to the second document reading unit 15 is further moved downstream on the document conveyance path 13, that is, at the position of the second document reading unit 15 in FIG. Is moved from the left side to the right side, the image data on the second surface, which is the upper surface, is read by the second document reading device 16 provided above.

  A document discharge port 17 is provided at the downstream end of the document transport path 13. The document whose image data has been read is discharged from the document discharge port 17 to the document discharge tray 3.

  The document discharge tray 3 is provided immediately below the document placement tray 2, and these trays are configured in two upper and lower stages. The document discharged to the document placing tray 3 can be taken out from the front side of the document conveying device 1 (see FIG. 7).

  The document placing tray 2 and the document discharge tray 3 are opposite to each other in the document transport direction, that is, in FIG. 1, the document placing tray 2 sends the document to the left, and the document discharge tray 3 sends the document to the right. It is configured to be sent out to Thus, the document supply port 11 and the document discharge port 17 are provided on the same side of each tray, that is, on the left side in FIG. The document conveyance path 13 extending from the document supply port 11 to the document discharge port 17 is provided in a shape curved in a U-shape in the vertical direction as shown in FIG.

  With the above configuration, the document conveying device 1 feeds the document placed on the document placing tray 2 into the document feeding unit 10, reads the image data by the document reading unit, and then discharges the document to the document discharge tray 3. .

  Next, the detailed configuration of the document feeder 10 of the document conveying device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing the document feeding portion of the document conveying device. In FIG. 2, the solid line arrows indicate the document conveyance path and conveyance direction, and the white arrows indicate the air circulation path and distribution direction.

  As described above, the document feeder 10 includes the document supply port 11 and the supply roller 12 at the downstream end of the document tray 2 in the document transport direction (see FIG. 2). The supply roller 12 is provided at a substantially central portion in the document width direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction (see FIG. 7), presses the uppermost layer of the document stack stacked on the document loading tray 2, and moves the document downstream. And send it out. The document transport path 13 extends obliquely downward on the downstream side of the document supply port 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a separation roller 18 a and a paper feed roller 18 b that are in pressure contact with each other are provided on the document conveyance path 13 immediately downstream of the document supply port 11. The separation roller 18a and the paper supply roller 18b separate the originals received from the supply roller 12 one by one and send them out toward the first original reading unit 14 on the downstream side.

  A registration roller pair 19 is provided downstream of the conveyance roller pair 18. The registration roller pair 19 is composed of a registration roller 19a and a roller 19b that are in pressure contact with each other, and after correcting the oblique feeding so that accurate reading can be performed with respect to the document going to the first document reading unit 14. Send it out.

  A relatively large-diameter conveying roller 20 is provided downstream of the registration roller pair 19. The document conveying path 13 is about half the circumference of the large-diameter conveying roller 20 and continues downstream along the circumferential surface. As a result, the document conveyance path 13 extends toward the left in FIG. 2 on the upstream side of the large-diameter conveyance roller 20, and extends toward the right on the downstream side. During this time, three rollers 21, 22, and 23 that are in pressure contact with the large-diameter conveying roller 20 are provided in the document conveying path 13.

  Of the three rollers in pressure contact with the large-diameter conveying roller 20, the first document reading unit 14 is provided between the rollers 22 and 23. The original sent to the first original reading unit 14 moves further down on the original conveyance path 13, that is, the position of the first original reading unit 14 in FIG. 2 from the left to the right. The image data on the first surface, which is the lower surface, is read by the document reading device of the image forming apparatus main body, which is the first document reading device 100 provided below.

  A second document reading unit 15 is provided downstream of the first document reading unit 14 and further downstream of the roller 23. The second document reading unit 15 is provided with a second document reading device 16 composed of a contact image sensor and a conveyance roller 24. The second document reading device 16 is disposed above the document conveyance path 13 so as to face the conveyance roller 24 across the document conveyance path 13. The conveyance roller 24 is provided below the document conveyance path 13, and conveys the document by passing it between the second document reading device 16, which is an opposing member thereof. The document sent to the second document reading unit 15 moves further down on the document conveyance path 13, that is, the position of the second document reading unit 15 in FIG. 2 from the left to the right. The image data on the second surface, which is the upper surface, is read by the second document reading device 16 provided thereabove.

  A document discharge port 17 and a document discharge roller pair 25 are provided on the downstream side of the second document reading unit 15 and at the downstream end of the document transport path 13. The document whose image data has been read is discharged from the document discharge port 17 to the document discharge tray 3 (see FIG. 1) by a document discharge roller pair 25 including a discharge roller 25a and a discharge roller 25b.

  In the document feeding section 10 of the document conveying apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the components in the inner portion of the document conveying path 13 that extends in a U-shaped shape from the document supply port 11 to the document discharge port 17 in a vertical direction are conveyed. The unit 30 is configured as a unit.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the transport unit 30 of the document transport apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 in addition to FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the transport unit of the document feeding section shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the left side of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transport unit as viewed from the right side of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transport unit as viewed from above, and shows a state where the transport guide member is removed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport unit 30 is surrounded by the document transport path 13 extending in a U-shaped curved shape in the vertical direction from the document supply port 11 to the document discharge port 17 in FIG. 2. The part is unitized.

  The conveyance unit 30 includes a conveyance guide member 31 on the lower side of the document conveyance path 13 around the conveyance roller 18a and the registration roller 19a. The transport unit 30 includes a large-diameter transport roller 20 and includes a second document reading device 16 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the large-diameter conveying roller 20 is configured such that a common support shaft 20a extending in the document width direction passes through five relatively narrow rollers 20b.

  When the conveyance guide member 31 is removed from the conveyance unit 30, the internal structure is exposed as shown in FIG. Inside the transport unit 30, two control boards 32 and 33 for controlling the second document reading device 16 are disposed above the transport unit 30. The second document reading device 16 and the control boards 32 and 33 generate heat when the document conveying device 1 is driven.

  Two fans 34 for cooling the inside of the document conveying device 1 are provided at a position downstream of the large-diameter conveying roller 20 in the document conveying direction of the conveying unit 30. The two fans 34 are separately arranged so as to be positioned between two adjacent ones of the five rollers 20b provided in the document width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the air inlet 34 a of the fan 34 contacts from the inside of the large-diameter conveyance roller 20 to a location on the peripheral surface of the large-diameter conveyance roller 20 in the document conveyance path 13, that is, this peripheral surface. It is provided so as to be directed to the original surface. Thus, by driving the fan 34, air flows between the two adjacent rollers 20b.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the fan 34 has an exhaust port 34 b directed to the second document reading device 16, the two control boards 32 and 33, and the document discharge port 17 on the downstream side in the document transport direction. It is provided to do. And the exhaust grille 35 is provided in the downstream end of the conveyance unit 30 to which the air discharged | emitted from this exhaust port 34b goes, as shown in FIG.2 and FIG.4. Air that drives the fan 34 and is discharged from the exhaust port 34 b is sent out of the conveyance unit 30 from the exhaust grill 35 while cooling the second document reading device 16 and the two control boards 32 and 33. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, an exhaust louver 26 is provided on the downstream side in the air flow direction by the fan 34 of the transport unit 30 configured as described above and outside the exhaust grill 35.

  Next, a detailed configuration around the exhaust louver 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a partially enlarged front view of the vertical section showing the periphery of the exhaust louver, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the document conveying device viewed from the direction of the document placing tray, and FIG. 8 is the same as FIG. 7 viewed from the direction of the document placing tray. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the original conveying apparatus, and shows a state in which the original placing tray is removed. In FIG. 6, solid arrows indicate the document conveyance path and conveyance direction, and white arrows indicate the air distribution path and distribution direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the exhaust louver 26 allows air to flow between these two spaces between the place where the transport unit 30 is provided and the place where the document placing tray 2 is provided. Are provided on the wall 27. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the exhaust louver 26 is disposed immediately downstream of the downstream end face of the document bundle Dm stacked on the document stacking tray 2. The exhaust louver 26 is configured to face slightly upward from the transport unit 30 side toward the document placement tray 2 side (see FIG. 6).

  With such an exhaust louver 26, the air discharged from the exhaust port 34 b (see FIG. 2) of the fan 34 passes through the exhaust grille 35 and is discharged from the transport unit 30 and stacked on the document stacking tray 2. It will be directed to the downstream end face of Dm.

  Next, the operation of the exhaust louver 26 when the document conveyance proceeds will be described with reference to FIG. 9 in addition to FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged front view of the vertical section showing the periphery of the exhaust louver similar to FIG. 6, and shows a state in which the conveyance of the document has advanced from FIG. As in FIG. 6, in FIG. 9, solid arrows indicate the document conveyance path and conveyance direction, and white arrows indicate the air distribution path and distribution direction.

  First, FIG. 6 shows a state before the start of document conveyance. In this state, many originals D are placed on the original placement tray 2, and the lift member 4 is located relatively below. When the document conveying apparatus 1 is started by pressing a reading start button or the like to start reading image data of the document D, the fan 34 rotates to cool the inside of the apparatus.

  As described above, the air discharged from the exhaust port 34b (see FIG. 2) of the fan 34 is discharged from the transport unit 30 through the exhaust grill 35, and is stacked on the document placing tray 2 through the exhaust louver 26. Is sprayed on the downstream end face of the original bundle Dm. As a result, the upper-layer document D can be lifted and separation can be promoted.

  Thereafter, when the reading of the image data of the document D continues, the number of documents D on the document loading tray 2 decreases as shown in FIG. Thereby, the downstream end of the lift member 4 is raised by a motor (not shown). When the downstream end of the lift member 4 rises, the downstream end face of the lift member 4 closes the outlet of the exhaust louver 26 as shown in FIG. Therefore, a part of the air discharged toward the downstream end face of the document bundle Dm stacked on the document placing tray 2 through the exhaust louver 26 is blocked from going and guided downward. .

  Here, an exhaust duct 28 is provided outside the exhaust grill 35 and below the exhaust grill 35 and the exhaust louver 26. The exhaust duct 28 is provided so that the air discharged from the exhaust grill 35 of the transport unit 30 is directed to the document discharge port 17 at the downstream end of the document transport path 13.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the air guided by the downstream end face of the lift member 4 at the location of the exhaust louver 26 and guided downward is further passed through the exhaust duct 28 to the location of the document outlet 17. Led up to.

  On the other hand, when the conveyance of the document proceeds and the number of documents D on the document loading tray 2 decreases, the number of documents D that have been read increases on the document discharge tray 3. Then, the document D is pushed out toward the document discharge tray 3 by the exhaust of the fan 34 guided to the position of the document discharge port 17.

  In this manner, in the document conveying apparatus 1 that separates and conveys the documents D stacked on the document placing tray 2 one by one so as to read the image data on the document surface, the fan 34 that cools the inside is supplied with air. The air flow by the fan 34 follows the flow of the document conveyance because the document conveyance path 13 is circulated on the upstream side of the fan 34 and is provided so as to circulate from the upstream side to the downstream side in the document conveyance direction. The document D can be conveyed without applying a brake. Then, the document D is pulled on the upstream side of the fan 34, and the conveyance of the document D can be facilitated. Further, since the exhaust port 34 b of the fan 34 is directed to the downstream end surface of the document bundle Dm stacked on the document placing tray 2, the air flow from the fan 34 can be blown against the end surface of the document bundle Dm. . Thereby, the separation of the document D can be promoted, and the supply performance can be improved. Therefore, the air flow generated by the fan 34 can be used to improve the conveyance performance of the document D or to promote separation of the document D when the document is supplied. In this way, in addition to efficiently cooling the inside of the apparatus by the fan 34, the conveyance performance of the document D can be effectively improved, and the document conveyance apparatus in which the stability of document conveyance is greatly improved. 1 can be provided.

  Further, the exhaust louver 26 that directs the air discharged from the exhaust port 34b toward the downstream end surface of the document bundle Dm stacked on the document stacking tray 2 is located immediately downstream of the downstream end surface of the document bundle Dm. Since it is provided on the wall portion 27 that is positioned, the air flow by the fan 34 easily proceeds toward the end face of the document bundle Dm. Thereby, air can be strongly blown to the end face of the document bundle Dm, and the action of separating the document D can be enhanced. Therefore, the supply performance at the time of document supply is improved.

  Further, at least a part of the air discharged toward the downstream end face of the document bundle Dm stacked on the document placing tray 2 is placed on the document discharge tray 3 provided on the most downstream side of the document transport path 13. Therefore, the document D can be actively pushed out from the document discharge port 17 to the document discharge tray 3 by exhausting the fan 34. As a result, the document D discharged to the document discharge tray 3 stagnates at the position of the document discharge port 17 and is caught by the discharge roller 25a provided in the vicinity thereof, and is prevented from being damaged by being caught at an unintended position. Is possible. Therefore, in addition to improving the conveyance performance of the document D, it is possible to prevent the document D from being damaged at the document discharge port 17.

  Further, since the exhaust duct 28 is provided in which the air discharged from the exhaust port 34b is directed to the document discharge port 17, the action of pushing out the document D from the document discharge port 17 to the document discharge tray 3 positively. Can be increased. Therefore, the effect of preventing damage to the document D at the document discharge port 17 is improved.

  The fan 34 is directed toward the document surface that contacts the peripheral surface of the large-diameter conveyance roller 20 provided on the upstream side of the fan 34 in the document conveyance direction. The document D can be attached to the conveying roller 20. As a result, the adhesion between the large-diameter conveying roller 20 and the original D is increased, and the original D can be conveyed by the large-diameter conveying roller 20 without slipping. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the conveyance performance of the document D.

  A plurality of large-diameter conveying rollers 20 are provided in the document width direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction, and the fan 34 is provided so as to circulate air between these two adjacent rollers 20b. An action of sticking the document D to the large-diameter conveyance roller 20 can be applied at a location closer to the location where the diameter conveyance roller 20 and the document D are in contact with each other. Thereby, the large-diameter conveyance roller 20 and the original D can be further brought into close contact with each other, and the conveyance performance of the original D can be improved.

  Further, the document placement tray 2 and the document discharge tray 3 are configured in two upper and lower stages with their document transport directions reversed, and a document supply port 11 for feeding the document D from the document placement tray 2. A document discharge port 17 for discharging the document D to the document discharge tray 3 is provided on the same side of each tray, and a document conveyance path 13 extending from the document supply port 11 to the document discharge port 17 is U-shaped in the vertical direction. In the document conveying apparatus 1 that is compactly designed in such a shape, the fan 34 efficiently cools the inside of the apparatus by the fan 34 and effectively improves the conveying performance of the document D. Therefore, it is possible to greatly improve the stability of document conveyance.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, two fans 34 are separately provided between the adjacent rollers 20b. However, the number, arrangement location, and the like are not limited to this, and other configurations are possible. It doesn't matter.

  The present invention can be used in all document conveying apparatuses applicable to image forming apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document conveying apparatus 2 Document loading tray 3 Document discharge tray 4 Lift member 10 Document feeding section 11 Document supply port 13 Document transport path 14 First document reading section 15 Second document reading section 16 Second document reading apparatus 17 Document exit 20 Large-diameter conveying roller (conveying roller)
20b Roller 26 Exhaust louver 28 Exhaust duct 30 Transport unit 32, 33 Control board 34 Fan 34a Intake port 34b Exhaust port 35 Exhaust grill

Claims (8)

In a document conveying device that separates and conveys documents stacked on a document placing tray one by one in order to read image data on a document surface, and discharges them to a document discharge tray after the reading.
The document placement tray and the document discharge tray are configured in two upper and lower stages with the document transport direction opposite to each other, and a document supply port for feeding a document from the document placement tray, and the document A document discharge port for discharging documents to the discharge tray is provided on the same side of each tray, and a document conveyance path extending from the document supply port to the document discharge port is formed to be curved in a U-shape in the vertical direction. ,
A fan that cools the inside surrounded by the document conveyance path, a document reading device that reads image data of the document, and a control that controls the document conveyance device in a portion surrounded by the document conveyance path curved in a U-shape And place the board
The document reading device is arranged on one side upstream or downstream in the document transport direction with respect to the curved portion of the document transport path so that a space is provided between the document reading device and the control board, and the document scanning device is disposed on the other side. Place the control board,
The fan has an inlet port directed to the curved portion of the document conveyance path, and an exhaust port between the document reading device and the control board, and downstream of the bundle of documents stacked on the document tray. An original conveying apparatus, wherein the original conveying apparatus is provided so as to face a side end face.   An exhaust louver that directs the air discharged from the exhaust port toward the downstream end face of the original bundle stacked on the original placement tray is provided on a wall portion located immediately downstream of the downstream end face of the original bundle. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the document feeder is provided.   3. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a space is provided between the exhaust louver and a downstream end face of the document bundle, and the exhaust louver is provided on the wall portion.   4. At least a part of the air discharged toward the downstream end face of the bundle of documents stacked on the document stacking tray flows toward the document discharge port. The document feeder according to any one of the above.   5. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an exhaust duct is provided in which air discharged from the exhaust port is directed toward the document discharge port.   6. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fan is directed to a document surface of a document passing through the curved portion of the document conveying path.   The document conveying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fan is directed to a document surface in which the intake port contacts a circumferential surface of a conveyance roller provided in the curved portion of the document conveyance path.   8. The conveying roller is provided in a plurality in a document width direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction, and the fan is provided so as to circulate air between these two adjacent rollers. Document transport apparatus described in 1.

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