JP2017135462A - Image reading device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to read a page of a book without causing positional deviation of the book and quickly perform the work even in reading a plurality of pages.SOLUTION: An image reading device 5 of the present invention comprises: a reading part 30 that includes a second platen glass 32 and reads a document placed on the second platen glass 32; a document conveying part 30 that is supported openably/closably with respect to the reading part 30; and a belt-like flexible band 51 that is removably attached to the second platen glass 32, overlapped on the second platen glass 32 across the second platen glass 32, and provided with a tension.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus for reading a document, and more particularly to a technique for facilitating reading of an open book.

  This type of image reading apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image of a document, and an opening / closing unit that is supported to be openable and closable with respect to the reading unit. The document is placed on a platen glass of the reading unit, and is opened and closed. The document is read by the reading unit through the platen glass in a state where the unit is closed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a document conveying unit (opening / closing unit) is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to a reading unit, and a document is placed on a platen glass of the reading unit and the document conveying unit is closed. The original is read by the reading unit. In addition, a pressure contact plate is attached to the lower surface of the document conveyance portion via an elastic sheet, and when the document conveyance portion is closed, the document on the platen glass is pressed by the pressure contact plate.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a roll-shaped document pressing sheet is provided in place of the opening / closing unit, and the roll-shaped document pressing sheet is drawn out so as to cover the document placed on the document table, and the roll-shaped document pressing sheet is thus provided. The document is read by the reading device in a state where the document is pressed by the roll-shaped document pressing sheet.

JP 2004-254202 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-186137

  By the way, instead of a flat document on a platen glass, a book may be opened and placed, and a page of the opened book may be read by a reading unit. At this time, the center part where the book is bound is lifted from the platen glass, and if the page of the book is read in this state, the center part of the read image is read black or the center part is distorted. To do. For this reason, it is preferable to press the book against the platen glass to reduce the floating of the central portion where the book is bound. However, when performing this operation, the user must press the book with one hand and operate the apparatus with the other hand, which is cumbersome.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, the book transport unit can be closed and the book can be pressed by the weight of the document transport unit. However, when the document transport unit is closed, the book is pushed away by the document feed unit and the position of the book is May shift.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a book can be covered and pressed by a roll-shaped document pressing sheet. However, when reading a plurality of pages of a book, the roll-shaped document pressing sheet is removed, the book is taken up, and the pages of the book are picked up. Then, place the book on the platen again, pull out the roll-shaped document pressing sheet so as to cover the book, fasten the end of the roll-shaped document pressing sheet, and press the book with the roll-shaped document pressing sheet. It is necessary to repeat complicated work.

  A problem similar to that of a book also occurs with a creased manuscript or a pamphlet.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can read a page of a book or the like without causing misalignment of the book or the like, and can quickly perform a work even when reading a plurality of pages. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a platen glass, a reading unit that reads a document placed on the platen glass, and an opening / closing unit supported to be openable and closable with respect to the reading unit; The platen glass is arranged across the platen glass from one end to the other end, and a belt-like or string-like material that applies tension to the original in a state where the original is sandwiched between the platen glass and the platen glass. And a flexible member.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and an image forming unit that forms an image of a document read by the reading unit of the image reading device on a recording sheet. Image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a book placed on a platen glass can be pressed by a belt-like or string-like flexible member to which tension is applied. For this reason, a page of a book or the like can be read without causing misalignment of the book or the like, and even when a plurality of pages are read, the operation can be quickly performed.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the image reading apparatus, and shows a state in which a document conveying unit is closed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the image reading apparatus, and shows a state in which a document conveying unit is opened. It is sectional drawing which shows the reading part of an image reading apparatus roughly. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the state which pulled out the flexible band and was piled up on the 2nd platen glass of the reading part. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the winding part which winds up a flexible band. (A) is sectional drawing which shows roughly the state which pressed the book on 2nd platen glass with a flexible band, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the state which closed the original conveyance part. is there.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 47, an image forming unit 120, a fixing device 13, a paper feeding unit 14, and an image reading unit (ISU; Image scanner unit) 5 in the apparatus main body 2. Is done.

  The operation unit 47 is operated by a user, and receives an execution instruction or the like for an image forming operation or an image reading operation in accordance with this operation.

  When performing an image reading operation, the image reading device 5 optically reads an image of a document and generates image data. Image data generated by the image reading device 5 is stored in a built-in HDD or a computer connected to a network.

  When performing an image forming operation, the image data generated by the image reading operation described above, image data received from a user terminal device such as a computer or smartphone connected to a network, or image data stored in a built-in HDD Based on this, the image forming unit 120 forms a toner image on the recording paper P as a recording medium supplied from the paper supply unit 14.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a magenta image forming unit 12M, a cyan image forming unit 12C, a yellow image forming unit 12Y, and a black image forming unit 12Bk. Each of the image forming units 12M, 12C, 12Y, and 12Bk exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 122, the charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 122, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 to the surface. An exposure device (LSU; Laser scanning units) 123 that forms an electrostatic latent image; a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 into a toner image using toner; a primary transfer roller 126; Each is equipped.

  When performing color printing, in each of the image forming units 12M, 12C, 12Y, and 12Bk, the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is uniformly charged and then exposed, and the surface corresponds to an image of a color component of color. An electrostatic latent image is formed, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is developed by a developing device, a toner image of the color component is formed on the photosensitive drum 122, and the toner image is transferred to the primary transfer roller. The primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 stretched around the driving roller 125A and the driven roller 125B by 126.

  The intermediate transfer belt 125 has an image bearing surface on which the toner image is transferred on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and is driven by the driving roller 125 </ b> A while being in contact with the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 122. The intermediate transfer belt 125 runs endlessly between the driving roller 125A and the driven roller 125B while being synchronized with each photosensitive drum 122.

  The toner images of the respective color components transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 with the transfer timing adjusted to become a color toner image. The secondary transfer roller 210 transfers the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 from the paper supply unit 14 to the conveyance path 190 at the nip portion N between the secondary transfer roller 210 and the intermediate transfer belt 125. Secondary transfer is performed on the recording paper P that has been conveyed through.

  Thereafter, the recording paper P is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 13, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed by thermocompression bonding, and the recording paper P is discharged to the discharge tray 151 through the discharge roller pair 159.

  The paper feed unit 14 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes. When any one of the paper feed cassettes is instructed by the operation of the operation unit 47 by the user, the pickup roller 145 of the paper feed cassette is rotated and the recording paper P is conveyed and supplied to the conveyance path 190.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the image reading device 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of the image reading device 5. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image reading device 5 and shows a state in which the document conveying unit 20 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image reading apparatus 5 includes a document conveying unit 20 and a reading unit 30. The document transport unit 20 includes a document feed tray 22, a pickup roller 25, a transport roller 26, a discharge roller 27, a document discharge tray 28, and the like. The reading unit 30 includes a first platen glass 31, a second platen glass 32, a white reference plate 33, a carriage 34, an optical system unit 35, a condenser lens 36, a CCD (Charge Coup Light Source Device) sensor 37, and the like. ing.

  Here, two hinges 50 are provided at one end of the upper surface 30a of the reading unit 30 so that the document conveying unit 20 is pivotally supported by the hinges 50 so that the document can be opened and closed by a user. The opening / closing operation of the transport unit 20 is enabled.

  In a state in which the document conveying unit 20 is closed, the documents MS placed on the document feeding tray 22 are pulled out one by one, and the document MS is conveyed through the first platen glass 31 of the reading unit 30. When the document conveying unit 20 is opened, the first platen glass 31 and the second platen glass 32 of the reading unit 30 are opened, and the document can be placed on the second platen glass 32 of the reading unit 30. When the document transport unit 20 is further closed, the document MS placed on the second platen glass 32 is pressed by the document transport unit 20. The reading unit 30 optically reads the document MS transported by the document transport unit 20 and passed on the first platen glass 31 or the document MS placed on the second platen glass 32.

  White paint or a white sheet is attached to the entire lower surface of the document conveying unit 20.

  By the way, on the second platen glass 32, instead of a flat document, a book may be opened and placed, and the page of the opened book may be read by the reading unit 30. At this time, when the page of the book is read by the reading unit 30 in a state where the central portion where the book is bound is lifted from the second platen glass 32, the central portion of the read image is read in black or the central portion May cause image distortion. Further, if the book is merely placed on the second platen glass 32, when the document conveying unit 20 is closed, the book may be pushed away by the document conveying unit 20 and the position of the book may be shifted.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a flexible band 51 that overlaps the second platen glass 32 is detachably provided across the second platen glass 32, and the book is placed on the second platen glass 32 by the flexible band 51. It can be pressed down. As a result, the floating of the central portion where the book is bound can be reduced, and the page of the book can be read without causing any misalignment of the book.

  Next, the flexible band 51 and the mounting structure of the flexible band 51 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the reading unit 30 of the image reading device 5. As shown in FIG. 4, a winding unit 55 is provided on one side wall of the housing 30 b of the reading unit 30. One end of a flexible band 51 is connected to the winding unit 55, and the flexible band 51 is wound up by the winding unit 55, and the flexible band 51 can be pulled out from the winding unit 55. . That is, the winding unit 55 is provided on one end side of the second platen glass 32 and holds one end of the flexible band 51 to perform both winding and drawing of the flexible band 55.

  Further, a male surface fastener 52 a having a hook surface (male surface) is fixed to the other side wall of the housing 30 b of the reading unit 30, and the other end of the flexible band 51 pulled out from the winding unit 55 is attached to the other side wall. A female surface fastener 52b having a loop surface (female surface) is provided. The male surface fastener 52a of the housing 30b and the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 can be detachably locked to each other. That is, the female surface fastener 52b is an engagement member that detachably attaches the other end of the flexible band 51 to the other end portion (the end portion opposite to the one end portion) of the second platen glass 32. is there.

  The flexible band 51 is a band-shaped member that is elastically deformed, and is, for example, a band-shaped synthetic resin sheet. Further, at least the lower surface of the flexible band 51 facing the second platen glass 32 is coated with white or a white sheet 20a is attached, similarly to the lower surface of the document conveying unit 20.

  That is, the flexible band 51 is disposed across the second platen glass 32 from one end to the other end of the second platen glass 32. The flexible band 51 is a band-like or string-like member that applies tension to the document while the document is sandwiched between the second platen glass 32.

  The flexible band 51 may be provided at the center portion in the main scanning direction of a predetermined standard book size. For example, on the second platen glass 32, a reading position for reading a medium to be read having a standard size is set for each size. The flexible band 51 is the above-mentioned reading position on the second platen glass 32 with the size most frequently read, for example, an A5 size book spread A4 size sideways (296 mm (sub-scanning direction) × 210 mm (main scanning direction)). The flexible band 51 is attached to the housing 30b of the reading unit 30 so as to be positioned at the center of the book in the main scanning direction.

  The second platen glass 32 is an example of a platen glass in the claims, the document conveying unit 20 is an example of an opening / closing unit in the claims, and the flexible band 51 is acceptable in the claims. It is an example of a flexible member.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the flexible band 51 is pulled out from the take-up portion 55, the flexible band 51 is stacked on the second platen glass 32, and the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 is attached to the housing 30b. To the male surface fastener 52a. As a result, the flexible band 51 crosses the second platen glass 32 and overlaps the second platen glass 32. In this state, only the both ends of the flexible band 51 are supported, and the central portion of the flexible band 51 can be brought into and out of contact with the second platen glass 32.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the winding unit 55. As shown in FIG. 6, the winding unit 55 includes a reel 53 to which one end of the flexible band 51 is connected, and a spring spring 54 provided inside the reel 53. In addition, a female surface fastener 52b is provided at the other end of the flexible band 51, and in the vicinity of the other end, it abuts against the opening edge 55a of the winding portion 55 to wind the flexible band 51. A stopper 56 for stopping taking is provided.

  Here, the outer end of the mainspring 54 is connected to the reel 53, the inner end of the mainspring 54 is supported at a fixed point, one end of the flexible band 51 is pulled out in the arrow direction B, and the reel 53 is wound. When rotating in the direction opposite to the take-up direction A, the mainspring spring 54 is wound and the reel 53 is biased in the take-up direction A by the mainspring spring 54.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the flexible band 51 is pulled out from the winding portion 55 and overlapped on the second platen glass 32, and the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 is connected to the male surface of the housing 30b. In the state of being locked to the fastener 52a, the reel 53 is urged in the winding direction A by the mainspring spring 54. For this reason, the flexible band 51 is urged in the direction opposite to the arrow direction B, and tension is applied to the flexible band 51. Further, when the flexible band 51 is lifted away from the second platen glass 32, the flexible band 51 is further pulled out, and the reel 53 is further rotated in the direction opposite to the winding direction A, and the spring spring 54 is rotated. Is further tightened, and the tension of the flexible band 51 is increased.

  Further, when the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 is removed from the male surface fastener 52a of the housing 30b, the reel 53 rotates in the winding direction A by the biasing force of the mainspring spring 54, and the flexibility The band 51 is wound around the reel 53.

  Next, an operation procedure for reading a book page by the image reading device 5 will be described. First, the user opens the document feeder 20, opens the second platen glass 32, opens the book 61 as shown in FIG. 7A, and places the page of the book 61 on the second platen glass 32. Put it on top. Then, one end of the flexible band 51 is pulled out, the flexible band 51 is overlapped on the book 61, and the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 is locked to the male surface fastener 52a of the housing 30b. As a result, the reel 53 is urged in the winding direction A by the mainspring 54, tension is applied to the flexible band 51, and the flexible band 51 is overlapped with the book 61 and separated from the second platen glass 32. Therefore, an urging force in a direction approaching the second platen glass 32 is generated in the flexible band 51, and the book 61 is placed on the second platen glass 32 by the flexible band 51 as indicated by a dotted line and a solid line. Pressed down. Further, the higher the height of the central portion 61a to which the book 61 is bound on the second platen glass 32 is higher, the more the flexible band 51 is pulled out, and the mainspring spring 54 is further tightened. Since the tension of the book is increased, the book 61 is securely pressed onto the second platen glass 32. Thereby, the book 61 is positioned on the second platen glass 32, and the floating of the central portion 61a to which the book 61 is bound is reduced.

  Subsequently, when the user closes the document conveying unit 20 as shown in FIG. 7B, the weight of the document conveying unit 20 is applied to the book 61, and the book 61 is second platen glass as shown by the dotted line and the solid line. Further, the central portion 61a to which the book 61 is bound is further reduced, and the lift is further reduced. Further, since the book 61 is pressed onto the second platen glass 32 by the flexible band 51, the book 61 is hardly displaced due to contact with the document conveying unit 20.

  Thereafter, when the user operates the operation unit 47 to instruct execution of copying, the page of the book 61 is read by the image reading device 5, and an image (toner image) showing the page of the book 61 is read by the image forming unit 120. ) Is recorded on the recording paper P, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed by the fixing device 13, and the recording paper P is discharged to the discharge tray 151.

  Subsequently, when copying the next page of the book 61, the document conveying unit 20 is opened, the book 61 is pulled out from between the flexible band 51 and the second platen glass 32, and the page of the book 61 is turned. The central portion of the flexible band 51 is lifted, the book 61 is slid between the flexible band 51 and the second platen glass 32, and the next page of the book 61 is placed on the second platen glass 32. The document conveying unit 20 is closed. When the operation unit 47 is operated to instruct execution of copying, the next page of the book 61 is read, an image indicating the next page of the book 61 is recorded on the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is loaded on the discharge tray. 151 is discharged. Thereafter, if the same operation is repeated, a plurality of pages of the book 61 can be copied.

  When the copying of the book 61 is completed, the user removes the female surface fastener 52b of the flexible band 51 from the male surface fastener 52a of the housing 30b, and puts the flexible band 51 into the winding unit 55. The book 61 is taken up from the second platen glass 32 by being wound up and stored.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the document conveying unit 20 is opened, the page of the book 61 is placed on the second platen glass 32, one end of the flexible band 51 is pulled out, and the knife of the flexible band 51 is pulled out. The page of the book 61 can be read by a simple operation of engaging the mold surface fastener 52b with the male surface fastener 52a of the housing 30b, closing the document conveying section 20, and operating the operation section 47.

  Further, when the document conveying unit 20 is closed, the book 61 is pressed against the second platen glass 32 by the flexible band 51, so that the position of the book 61 is not easily displaced due to contact with the document conveying unit 20. Further, since the book 61 is pressed against the second platen glass 32 by the flexible band 51 and the document conveying unit 20, the book 61 is sufficiently opened, and the floating of the central portion 61a to which the book 61 is bound is reduced. Is done. Thereby, the area of the central portion where the image read by the image reading device 5 becomes dark is effectively reduced, and the distortion of the image at the central portion is also reduced.

  Further, since the lower surface of the document conveying unit 20 and the lower surface of the flexible band 51 are white, the document conveying unit 20 and the flexible band 51 are not reflected in the image.

  When copying the next page of the book 61, the book 61 is pulled out from between the flexible band 51 and the second platen glass 32, the page of the book 61 is turned, and the central portion of the flexible band 51 is moved. Since the book 61 is simply slid between the flexible band 51 and the second platen glass 32 and the next page of the book 61 is placed on the second platen glass 32, a plurality of pages of the book 61 are quickly copied. can do.

  In the above embodiment, a band-shaped synthetic resin sheet is illustrated as the flexible band 51, but a rubber band may be applied. In the case of a rubber band, when the rubber band is stretched and fixed at both ends, and the rubber band is stacked on the second platen glass 32, tension is generated in the rubber band. For this reason, the book 61 can be pressed onto the second platen glass 32 only by the rubber band without depending on the urging force of the mainspring 54 of the winding portion 55. Therefore, instead of providing the take-up portion 55 that supports one end of the rubber band, one end of the rubber band may be fixedly or detachably supported on one side wall of the housing 30b of the image reading apparatus 5.

  Further, as the flexible band 51, a synthetic resin or rubber string may be applied instead of the belt.

  Further, instead of the hook-and-loop fastener, one end of the flexible band 51 may be detachably locked using a hook or the like.

  Further, although the book 61 is illustrated, the same effect can be obtained by using the flexible band 51 for a creased document, a pamphlet, and the like.

  A plurality of flexible bands 51 may be provided in the housing 30b of the reading unit 30 in the main scanning direction. In this case, even if the book is thick, the plurality of flexible bands 51 can reliably press the paper surface of the book against the second platen glass 32. Further, according to the size of the book in the main scanning direction, the plurality of flexible bands 51 can be used properly to reliably press the paper surface of the book against the second platen glass 32 regardless of the book size. Become. When a plurality of flexible bands 51 are provided as described above, the female surface fasteners 52b as engaging members are provided on the respective flexible bands 51.

  Further, the configuration and processing of the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 are merely examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the configuration and processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 5 Image reading apparatus 13 Fixing apparatus 14 Paper feed part 20 Original conveyance part 30 Reading part 31 1st platen glass 32 2nd platen glass 47 Operation part 51 Flexible band 52a Male surface fastener 52b Female Mold surface fastener 53 Reel 54 Spring spring 55 Winding part 56 Stopper 61

Claims (7)

A reading unit that has a platen glass and reads a document placed on the platen glass;
An opening / closing part supported to be freely opened and closed with respect to the reading part;
The platen glass is arranged across the platen glass from one end to the other end, and can be a strip or string that applies tension to the document while the document is sandwiched between the platen glass and the platen glass. An image reading apparatus comprising: a flexible member.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is provided at a central portion in a main scanning direction of a predetermined standard book size.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the flexible members are provided in the main scanning direction. A winding portion provided on the one end side of the platen glass, holding one end of the flexible member and winding and pulling out the flexible member;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging member that detachably attaches the other end of the flexible member to the other end portion of the platen glass. A winding portion provided on the one end side of the platen glass, holding one end of the flexible member and winding and pulling out the flexible member;
The image according to claim 3, further comprising: an engaging member that detachably attaches the other end of the flexible member to the other end portion of the platen glass for each of the plurality of flexible members. Reader. The lower surface of the opening / closing part is a pressing surface for pressing the document on the platen glass,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing surface and the surface of the flexible member on the side facing the platen glass are white. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image of a document read by a reading unit of the image reading device on a recording sheet.

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