JP2015098389A - Sheet transport device, image reader device, and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet transport device which prevents initial skew from occurring on a sheet fed from a sheet loading part.SOLUTION: A sheet transport device includes: sheet feeding means 20 which contacts with a sheet S loaded on a sheet loading part 10 from above and feeds the sheet S; and position setting means 30 having an abutted part 32 and a holding part 33. The sheet feeding means 20 is formed so as to move between a lowered position where the sheet feeding means 20 contacts with the sheet S and an elevated position where the sheet feeding means 20 is separated from the sheet S. The abutted part 32 is formed so as to move between an upper position where a tip part of the sheet S loaded on the sheet loading part 10 is abutted with the abutted part 32 when viewed in a feeding direction and a lower position where the abutted part 32 is retreated to an area below a feeding path of the sheet S. The holding part 33 is formed so as to move between an upper position where the holding part 33 pushes up the sheet feeding means 20 to the elevated position and a lower position where the holding part 33 pulls down the sheet feeding means 20 to the lowered position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus, an image reading apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.

  An image reading apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine is equipped with a sheet conveying device for continuously feeding a document to an image reading unit. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet conveying apparatus including a pickup roller that contacts a sheet stacked on a sheet stacking unit from above and feeds the sheet, and a sheet regulating member that is disposed below the pickup roller is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The pickup roller described above is configured to move between a position in contact with the sheet and a position away from the sheet. The sheet regulating member described above is configured to move between a position where the leading end of the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking unit abuts and a position where the sheet is retracted below the sheet feeding path.

  Further, the sheet regulating member is configured to move the pickup roller to a position away from the sheet when the sheet regulating member moves to a position where the leading end in the feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit abuts. Further, the sheet regulating member is configured to move the pickup roller to a position in contact with the sheet when moved to a position where the sheet regulating member is retracted downward in the sheet feeding path.

  That is, the sheet regulating member regulates the position of the leading end portion in the feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit and pushes up the pickup roller to a position away from the sheet.

  However, in Patent Document 1, when the sheet restricting member pushes the pickup roller away from the sheet, a load such as the pickup roller acts on the sheet restricting member, and the sheet restricting member may be bent. For this reason, when stacking sheets on the sheet stacking section, the position of the leading edge of the sheet feeding direction is shifted by the amount of deflection of the sheet regulating member, and the sheet posture is slanted. There is a concern that an initial skew may occur in the sheet to be processed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus in which an initial skew is not generated in a sheet fed from a sheet stacking unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheet in contact with the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit from above. And a position setting means disposed below the sheet feeding means and having an abutting part and a holding part, wherein the sheet feeding means is located between a position in contact with the sheet and a position away from the sheet. The abutting portion is configured to move, and the abutting portion is a position where a leading end portion of the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking portion abuts against the abutting portion, and a position where the abutting portion retracts below the sheet feeding path. The holding unit moves between a position where the sheet feeding unit is pushed up to a position away from the sheet and a position where the sheet feeding unit is retracted below the sheet feeding path. It is configured.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet conveying apparatus in which an initial skew does not occur in a sheet fed from a sheet stacking unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which the sheet feeding unit is separated from the sheet in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which the sheet feeding unit is in contact with the sheet in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view in the direction A of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view in the B direction of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding unit is separated from a sheet in a sheet conveying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding unit is separated from a sheet in a sheet conveying apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding unit is separated from a sheet in a sheet conveying apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding unit is separated from a sheet in a sheet conveying apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view which shows the state from which the sheet feeding means left | separated from the sheet | seat in the sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention.

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

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet stacking unit 10 includes a table 11 and a guide unit 12 adjacent to the downstream side of the table 11 in the sheet conveyance direction (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Yes.

  In the sheet stacking unit 10, a bundle of sheets S, which are documents, is placed over the table 11 and the guide unit 12, and a conveyance path for the sheet S is formed along the upper surface of the guide unit 12. .

  The guide portion 12 has an upstream opening (not shown) for projecting an abutting portion 32 and a holding portion 33 of a position setting means 30 described later to the upper side of the guide portion 12. Further, the guide portion 12 has a downstream opening (not shown) for exposing an upper portion of a separation roller 24 of a sheet feeding unit 20 to be described later to the upper side of the guide portion 12. This downstream opening is located downstream of the upstream opening in the sheet conveying direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet feeding unit 20 includes a pickup holder 21 disposed above the guide portion 12, a pickup roller 22, a feed roller 23, a separation roller 24, and a bracket 25. It consists of

  The pickup roller 22 has an axis extending in the sheet width direction, and is mounted on the upstream end (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the pickup holder 21 in the sheet conveying direction so as to face the guide portion 12. The pickup roller 22 is configured to rotate clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 by driving means (not shown).

  The feed roller 23 is attached to the downstream end of the pickup holder 21 in the sheet conveyance direction so as to face the guide portion 12. The feed roller 23 is configured to rotate clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 by driving means (not shown).

  The separation roller 24 is disposed below the guide portion 12 and supported by a frame (not shown) so that the upper portion is exposed above the guide portion 12 from the downstream opening described above. The separation roller 24 is configured to rotate counterclockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 by a driving unit (not shown).

  The pickup holder 21 is supported by a frame (not shown) so as to swing up and down about the axis of the feed roller 23. Further, the feed roller 23 and the separation roller 24 are configured such that the outer peripheral portions are in contact with each other to form a nip portion.

  That is, the pickup holder 21 moves between a lowered position where the pickup roller 22 is in contact with the sheet S stacked on the sheet stacking unit 10 from above and an elevated position where the pickup roller 22 is separated from the sheet S stacked on the sheet stacking unit 10. It is supposed to be.

  The bracket 25 is located between the pickup roller 22 and the feed roller 23 and is attached to the pickup holder 21 so as to face the guide portion 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the position setting means 30 includes a rotation shaft 31 disposed below the guide portion 12, and a plurality of abutting portions 32 and a holding portion 33 attached to the rotation shaft 31. It consists of

  The rotating shaft 31 is made of a metal material. The abutting portion 32 and the holding portion 33 are formed of a resin material. The resin material that forms the abutting portion 32 is a light color that is easy to see, and the resin material that forms the holding portion 33 is a material that is inconspicuous such as black.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotation shaft 31 extends in the seat width direction and is supported by a frame (not shown). The rotation shaft 31 is configured to rotate in the circumferential direction by a driving unit (not shown).

  The abutting portions 32 are arranged at intervals in the sheet width direction, and respective base end portions are fitted to the rotating shaft 31. The abutting portion 32 has an upper position where the tip portion of the abutting portion 32 protrudes from the upstream opening portion to the upper side of the guide portion 12 in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft 31, and the entire abutting portion 32. It moves between the lower position where it retracts below the guide part 12.

  The abutting portion 32 is configured such that, in the upper position, the leading end portion of the sheet S stacked in the sheet stacking portion 10 abuts against the leading end portion of the abutting portion 32. In addition, the abutting portion 32 is configured such that the entire abutting portion 32 is retracted below the sheet S feeding path at the lower position.

  The holding portion 33 is located between the predetermined abutting portions 32, and the base end portion is fitted on the rotation shaft 31. The holding portion 33 has an upper position where the tip portion of the holding portion 33 protrudes above the guide portion 12 from the upstream opening described above according to the rotation of the rotation shaft 31, and the entire holding portion 33 is the guide portion 12. It moves between the lower position where it evacuates below.

  In the upper position, the holding portion 33 is configured such that the leading end portion of the holding portion 33 hits the bracket 25 and pushes the sheet feeding unit 20 to the raised position. In the lower position, the holding portion 33 is entirely retracted below the sheet S feeding path, the leading end of the holding portion 33 is separated from the bracket 25, and the sheet feeding means 20 is pulled down to the lowered position. It is configured as follows.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the leading end portion of the holding portion 33 at the upper position is configured to be located downstream of the leading end portion of the abutting portion 32 at the upper position in the sheet conveying direction.

  The drive means for the pickup roller 22, feed roller 23, separate roller 24, and rotating shaft 31 described above are all motors, and these motors are controlled by a controller (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet stacking unit 10 described above has a side reference fence 13 for setting the position in the width direction of the sheet S by abutting one edge of the sheet S.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the sheet conveying apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  When the sheet conveying apparatus 1 is on standby, the abutting portion 32 and the holding portion 33 are moved to the upper position so that the leading end portions of the abutting portion 32 and the holding portion 33 protrude above the guide portion 12. The feeding means 20 is pushed up to the raised position. As a result, a bundle of sheets S can be stacked on the sheet stacking unit 10.

  When the sheet S is stacked on the sheet stacking unit 10, the leading end portion of the sheet S in the feeding direction hits the leading end portion of the abutting portion 32, but does not hit the leading end portion of the holding portion 33. This is because, in the upper position, the leading end portion of the holding portion 33 is located on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction than the leading end portion of the abutting portion 32. Accordingly, the sheet S is positioned at the leading end in the feeding direction by the abutting portion 32 and positioned at one edge by the side reference fence 13.

  In addition, since the load of the sheet feeding unit 20 acts on the holding unit 33, the holding unit 33 may bend. However, the load of the sheet feeding unit 20 does not act on the abutting unit 32. The portion 32 does not bend and the position of the abutting portion 32 in the sheet feeding direction does not shift. Therefore, when the sheets S are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 10, the position of the leading end portion of the sheet S in the feeding direction is not shifted, and the initial skew is not generated in the sheet S fed from the sheet stacking unit 10. .

  Further, since the resin material forming the abutting portion 32 is a bright color that is easy to see, when the sheets S are stacked on the sheet stacking portion 10, the position of the abutting portion 32 is positively given to the user. Can make you conscious. Therefore, the user can reliably abut the leading end portion of the sheet S in the feeding direction against the abutting portion 32. On the other hand, since the resin material forming the holding portion 33 is made of a material such as black that is not easily noticeable, the user does not mistake the abutting portion 32 and the holding portion 33.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet conveying apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30. In FIG. 5, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 4 represent the same items.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet conveying apparatus 2 includes a frictional force reducing member 26 formed of a resin material having a low frictional resistance as a sliding resistance reducing member. The frictional force reducing member 26 is attached to the lower surface of the bracket 25 of the sheet feeding unit 20 so as to face the front end of the holding unit 33 of the position setting unit 30.

  When the holding unit 33 pushes up the sheet feeding unit 20, the sheet conveying device 2 slides with the tip of the holding unit 33 in contact with the frictional force reducing member 26 having a small frictional resistance. For this reason, the stress which acts on the holding part 33 and the load which acts on the drive means of the rotating shaft 31 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet conveying apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30. In FIG. 6, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 represent the same items.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet conveying apparatus 3 includes a frictional force reducing member 34 formed of a resin material having a low frictional resistance as a sliding resistance reducing member. The frictional force reducing member 34 is attached to the distal end portion of the holding portion 33 of the position setting means 30 so as to face the bracket 25 of the sheet feeding means 20.

  In the sheet conveying device 3, when the holding unit 33 pushes up the sheet feeding unit 20, the frictional force reducing member 34 having a small frictional resistance slides in contact with the bracket 25. For this reason, the stress which acts on the holding part 33 and the load which acts on the drive means of the rotating shaft 31 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet conveying apparatus 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30. In FIG. 7, portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 represent the same items.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet conveying device 4 includes a guide roller 27 having an axis extending in the sheet width direction as a sliding resistance reducing member. The guide roller 27 is rotatably attached to the bracket 25 of the sheet feeding unit 20 so that the leading end of the holding unit 33 of the position setting unit 30 is in contact therewith.

  In the sheet conveying device 4, when the holding unit 33 pushes up the sheet feeding unit 20, the guide roller 27 rotates while the leading end of the holding unit 33 comes into contact with the guide roller 27. For this reason, the stress which acts on the holding part 33 and the load which acts on the drive means of the rotating shaft 31 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the sheet conveying apparatus 5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30. In FIG. 8, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 represent the same items.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the sheet conveying device 5 includes a guide roller 35 having an axis extending in the sheet width direction as a sliding resistance reducing member. The guide roller 35 is rotatably attached to the distal end portion of the holding portion 33 of the position setting means 30 so as to contact the bracket 25 of the sheet feeding means 20.

  In the sheet conveying device 4, when the holding unit 33 pushes up the sheet feeding unit 20, the guide roller 35 contacts the bracket 25 and the guide roller 27 rotates. For this reason, the stress which acts on the holding part 33 and the load which acts on the drive means of the rotating shaft 31 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet conveying apparatus 6 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit 10, a sheet feeding unit 20, and a position setting unit 30. 9, the part which attached | subjected the code | symbol same as FIGS. 1-4 represents the same thing.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet conveying apparatus 6 uses a holding unit 36 for the position setting unit 30 instead of the holding unit 33 in FIGS. 1 to 4. The holding portion 36 is formed of a resin material having a small frictional resistance and a high slidability as compared with the resin material forming the abutting portion 32.

  The holding portion 36 is located between the predetermined abutting portions 32, and the base end portion is fitted on the rotation shaft 31. The holding portion 36 has an upper position where the tip portion of the holding portion 36 protrudes above the guide portion 12 from the above-described upstream opening according to the rotation of the rotation shaft 31, and the entire holding portion 36 is the guide portion 12. It moves between the lower position where it evacuates below.

  In the upper position, the holding portion 36 is configured such that the tip portion of the holding portion 36 hits the bracket 25 and pushes the sheet feeding means 20 to the raised position. Further, in the holding position 36, in the lower position, the entire holding section 33 is retracted below the sheet S feeding path, the leading end of the holding section 36 is separated from the bracket 25, and the sheet feeding means 20 is pulled down to the lowered position. It is configured as follows.

  Further, the leading end portion of the holding portion 36 at the upper position is configured to be located downstream of the leading end portion of the abutting portion 32 at the upper position in the sheet conveying direction, similarly to the holding portion 33 described above.

  In the sheet conveying device 6, when the holding unit 36 pushes up the sheet feeding unit 20, the front end portion of the holding unit 36 formed of a resin material having low frictional resistance is in contact with the bracket 25 and slides. For this reason, the stress which acts on the holding part 36 and the load which acts on the drive means of the rotating shaft 31 can be reduced.

  The sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Sheet conveying device 10 Sheet stacking unit 20 Sheet feeding means 26, 34 Friction force reducing member (sliding resistance reducing member)
27, 35 Guide roller (sliding resistance reducing member / rotating member)
30 Position setting means 32 Abutting portion 33, 36 Holding portion S sheet

Japanese Patent No. 4328272

Claims (9)

A sheet stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheet in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit from above, a lowering unit disposed below the sheet feeding unit, A position setting means having a holding part,
The sheet feeding means is configured to move between a lowered position in contact with the sheet and an elevated position away from the sheet;
The abutting portion is between an upper position where a leading end portion of the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking portion abuts against the abutting portion and a lower position where the sheet retracts downward in the sheet feeding path. Configured to move,
The holding unit is configured to move between an upper position that pushes the sheet feeding unit to a raised position and a lower position that pulls the sheet feeding unit to a lowered position. .   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abutting portions are arranged in a sheet width direction, and the holding portion is disposed between the abutting portions.   When the sheet feeding unit is pushed up by the holding unit, the holding unit or the sheet feeding unit includes a sliding resistance reducing member that contacts the sheet feeding unit or the holding unit. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliding resistance reducing member is a frictional force reducing member.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliding resistance reducing member is a rotating member.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is made of a material having a smaller frictional resistance than a material forming the abutting portion.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a color different from that of the abutting portion.   An image reading apparatus comprising the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 8.

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