JP2019038692A - Roller, separation unit, image reading device, and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce variations of deformation of a surface of a roller when conveying a medium by using the roller which can be manufactured easily while suppressing a reduction in durability.SOLUTION: A roller 1 comprises a shaft 62, and an elastic body part 64 provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 62. The elastic body part 64 comprises an inner peripheral part 66 at a shaft 62 side and a peripheral part 68 at an outer peripheral side with respect to the inner peripheral part 66, and further comprises a space part 80 between the inner peripheral part 66 and the peripheral part 68, and a plurality of connection parts 70 connecting the inner peripheral part 66 and the peripheral part 68 in the space part 80. At least a part of the connection part 70 is an R shape, and the connection part 70 is connected to the inner peripheral part 66 and the peripheral part 68 such that a connection portion Ji of the connection part 70 and the inner peripheral part 66 and a connection portion Jo of the connection part 70 and the peripheral part 68 do not form an acute angle in the space part 80.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a roller, a separation device, an image reading device, and a recording device.

A roller for conveying a medium is used in various apparatuses. For example, it is used in a medium conveying apparatus, a separating apparatus that separates a plurality of overlapping media, an image reading apparatus and a recording apparatus including the conveying apparatus, the separating apparatus, and the like. In an apparatus equipped with such a roller, in order to increase the contact area between the roller and the medium, the medium is transported so that the contact surface with the medium (the surface of the roller) is elastically crushed slightly. Things are being done. That is, a roller capable of suitably transporting the medium with the surface of the roller being crushed is used.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a roller (paper feed roller) that connects an inner ring portion and an outer ring portion with a plurality of linear connection walls (connection portions) that are arranged radially from the rotation center. In this state, the medium can be transported in a crushed state.
Patent Document 2 discloses a roller capable of feeding paper sheets (medium), and a rib (connecting portion) that connects the shaft portion and the circumferential portion between the shaft portion and the circumferential portion. A flexible roller (feed roller) provided with a cavity (space portion) is disclosed, and the medium can be conveyed while the surface of the roller is crushed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-175710 JP 2003-341859 A

Here, as a configuration in which the medium can be conveyed in a state where the surface of the roller is crushed, it can also be achieved by using a foam rubber material. However, in order to secure the conveyance performance of the roller with the foamed rubber material, a material with high characteristics is required, and there is a problem that the cost is increased. In addition, cracks are likely to occur over time starting from the foamed site, and when repeated deformation is applied, the shape becomes difficult to return to the original shape, resulting in a problem that the durability of the roller is lowered.
In the roller disclosed in Patent Document 1, the connecting wall is arranged to extend radially and linearly from the center of rotation. Therefore, the degree of crushing of the roller between the state where the connecting wall is located in a direction in which the force is applied from the roller to the medium (a state where the connecting wall is not easily crushed) and the state where the connecting wall is not located in the direction (a state where the roller is easily crushed) Will fluctuate. In other words, the crushing of the surface of the roller when the medium is conveyed fluctuates. And when the crushing of the surface of a roller fluctuates, the conveyance performance of a medium will fall.
In addition, the roller disclosed in Patent Document 2 is connected so that the connecting portions on the shaft portion side and the circumferential portion side of the rib form an acute angle in the hollow portion, and the connecting portion having such a configuration is manufactured. It may be difficult to manufacture the mold. Furthermore, since these connecting portions are connected so as to form an acute angle in the hollow portion, the force concentrates on the corner portion constituting the acute angle, and cracking or the like is likely to occur on the basis of the corner portion, resulting in a problem in durability. is there.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce fluctuations in the crushing of the surface of the roller when a medium is conveyed using a roller that can be easily manufactured while suppressing a decrease in durability.

  The roller of the 1st mode of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned subject is a roller provided with the elastic body part provided on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft, and the elastic body part is the inner peripheral part used as the shaft side. And an outer peripheral portion that is an outer peripheral side with respect to the inner peripheral portion, and a space portion between the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, and the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion in the space portion. A plurality of connecting parts, and at least a part of the connecting part is R-shaped, and a connecting part between the connecting part and the inner peripheral part and a connecting part between the connecting part and the outer peripheral part are provided. It is connected with respect to the said inner peripheral part and the said outer peripheral part so that it may not become an acute angle in the said space part.

According to this aspect, at least a part of the connecting portion that connects the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion in the space portion is R-shaped. Since the force applied from the roller to the medium can be effectively dispersed by forming the connecting portion in an R shape, fluctuations in the force applied from the roller to the medium can be reduced regardless of the arrangement of the roller with respect to the medium. For this reason, the fluctuation | variation of the crushing of the surface of a roller can be reduced.
Moreover, the connection part of a connection part and an inner peripheral part and the connection part of a connection part and an outer peripheral part are connected with respect to the inner peripheral part and the outer peripheral part so that it may not become an acute angle in a space part. For this reason, for example, the structure of the mold (particularly the structure of the region corresponding to these connecting portions) when manufacturing the elastic body can be simplified, and the manufacture of the roller is facilitated. Further, it is possible to disperse the force applied to these connecting portions, and to suppress a decrease in durability. If these connecting portions are connected so as to form an acute angle in the space portion, the force concentrates on the corner portion constituting the acute angle, and cracking or the like tends to occur on the basis of the corner portion, but does not constitute an acute angle ( This is because cracks and the like can be made difficult to occur by eliminating such corners.
Here, the “R shape” means a shape in which an end portion on one space portion side and an end portion on the other space portion side of the joint portion are rounded (bent) in the same direction.
In addition, “connected so that it does not become an acute angle” means “not connected so as to form a sharp angle”. For example, the connecting portion between the connecting portion and the inner peripheral portion, and the connecting portion and the outer peripheral portion. A configuration in which the corner portion of the space portion in the connecting portion is a right angle or an obtuse angle or a configuration in which the tip is round (curved surface) even if it is a sharp angle. In addition, since it means “not connected so as to form a sharp angle”, it does not mean in a strict sense “so as not to be less than 90 °… connected”, for example, less than 90 °. Even if it is an angle close to a right angle that does not become an angle of less than 80 °, it is acceptable.

  The roller according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the connecting portion is connected in a direction perpendicular to a tangent line of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion.

According to this aspect, since the connecting portion is connected in a direction perpendicular to the tangent line of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, it is possible to particularly distribute the force applied to the connecting portion, and to suppress a decrease in durability. In addition, since the force applied to the connection portion can be effectively dispersed, it is possible to suppress the connection portion from being thickened, and it is possible to effectively reduce fluctuations in the crushing of the surface of the roller.
Here, “connected in the vertical direction” means not only in the case of being connected in the vertical direction in the strict sense of being connected in the direction of 90 ° with respect to the tangent line of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, This also includes the case where they are connected at an angle slightly deviated from 90 ° with respect to the tangent line of the portion and the outer peripheral portion. For example, it is meant to include the case where they are connected in the direction of 90 ° ± 10 ° with respect to the tangent line of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion.

  In the first or second aspect, the roller according to the third aspect of the present invention is the connection portion between the first connection portion of the connection portions and the inner peripheral portion, and the first of the connection portions. The connection part of the 2nd connection part adjacent to a connection part and the said outer peripheral part is provided on the same straight line extended in the radial direction of the said roller, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this aspect, the connecting portion between the first connecting portion and the inner peripheral portion and the connecting portion between the second connecting portion adjacent to the first connecting portion and the outer peripheral portion are on the same straight line extending in the radial direction of the roller. Is provided. By adopting such a configuration, the strength can be maintained while suppressing an increase in the volume of the joint portion (the roller is less likely to be crushed and the conveyance performance is reduced), and the roller is less likely to be crushed and the conveyance performance is reduced. This can be suppressed.

  In the roller according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the elastic body portion includes an inner layer portion on the shaft side and an outer layer portion on the side in contact with the medium. And the inner layer portion includes the connecting portion, the inner peripheral portion, and the outer peripheral portion.

  According to this aspect, the present invention can be applied even when the elastic body portion of the roller has a two-layer structure, and the effects of the above aspects can be obtained.

  The roller according to the fifth aspect of the present invention includes, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a partition portion that partitions the space portion into one side and the other side in the axial direction of the roller. Features.

  When an elastic body part is manufactured by insert molding or the like using a raw material having low fluidity, there is a tendency that the shape accuracy of the final molded product is lowered, but according to this aspect, the flow of the raw material is caused by the partition part. Therefore, the occurrence of the problem can be suppressed.

  The roller according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion located next to the first connecting portion are the elastic members. When the body part is crushed in the radial direction, the body part is in a positional relationship that does not interfere in the radial direction.

  According to this aspect, the first joint portion of the joint portions and the second joint portion located next to the first joint portion do not interfere in the radial direction when the elastic body portion is crushed in the radial direction. Since it is in a positional relationship, it is possible to suppress a change in crushing caused by interference between the first connecting part and the second connecting part when the roller surface is crushed.

In the roller according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, in the sixth aspect, the thickness of the outer peripheral portion in the radial direction is equal to or greater than the thickness of the connecting portion in the circumferential direction. Features.
According to this aspect, since the thickness of the said outer peripheral part in radial direction is more than the thickness of the said connection part in the circumferential direction, the fluctuation | variation of the crushing when a roller surface is crushed can be suppressed.

The roller according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is the roller according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the connecting portion has a connection portion between the inner peripheral portion and a connection portion between the outer peripheral portion in the circumferential direction. And is S-shaped when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis.
According to this aspect, the connecting portion is displaced in the circumferential direction between the connecting portion with the inner peripheral portion and the connecting portion with the outer peripheral portion, and has an S-shape when viewed from the rotation axis direction. In the configuration, the same effects as any of the first to seventh aspects described above can be obtained.

  A separation apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention includes a separation roller including a feeding roller and a retard roller that forms a pair with the feeding roller and separates the medium other than the medium conveyed from the bundle of media and returns the medium upstream. And the said retard roller is a roller of any one aspect of said 1st to 8th, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this aspect, an effective separation device can be realized by a pair of a feed roller and a retard roller.

  In the separation device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the shaft is provided with a positioning portion that determines a position of the elastic body portion with respect to the shaft in a rotation direction of the roller. And

  According to this aspect, the position of the elastic body part with respect to the shaft in the rotation direction of the roller can be determined as an appropriate position by the positioning part.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the separation device of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the shaft is provided with a flange, and the flange determines a position of the elastic body portion with respect to the shaft in a rotation direction of the roller. A positioning portion is provided.

  According to this aspect, the position of the elastic body part with respect to the shaft in the rotation direction of the roller can be determined as an appropriate position by the positioning part.

  An image reading apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads image information of a medium, and a roller that is provided in a medium conveyance path that passes through a reading execution area of the reading unit and applies a feeding force to the medium. In the reading apparatus, the roller has a structure in which a contact surface is elastically collapsed when pressed against a medium, and at least one of the rollers is the roller according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. It is characterized by being.

  According to this aspect, the effects described in the above aspects can be obtained as the image reading apparatus.

An image reading apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention includes a reading unit that reads image information on a medium, and the separation apparatus according to any of the ninth to eleventh aspects.
According to this aspect, the same effect as any of the ninth to eleventh aspects described above can be obtained in the image reading apparatus.

  A recording apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit; and a roller that is provided in a medium conveyance path that passes through a recording execution area of the recording unit and applies a feeding force to the medium. Is a structure in which the contact surface is elastically crushed when pressed against the medium, and at least one of the rollers is the roller according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. .

  According to this aspect, the effects described in the above aspects can be obtained as the recording apparatus.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The principal part sectional view showing the separation device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The expanded side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The expanded side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The expanded side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. Sectional drawing showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. The side view and partial enlarged view showing a part (elastic body part) of a roller concerning Embodiment 8 of the present invention. The side view and partial enlarged view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller concerning Embodiment 9 of the present invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 10 of this invention, and a partial enlarged view. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 11 of this invention, and a partial enlarged view. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 12 of this invention, and a partial enlarged view. The side view and partial enlarged view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller concerning Embodiment 13 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller which concerns on Embodiments 1-13 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 14 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 14 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 14 of this invention. The perspective view showing the roller which concerns on Embodiment 14 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 15 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 16 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 17 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 17 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 18 of the present invention. The side view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 18 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 19 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part of roller concerning Embodiment 19 of the present invention. A side view showing a part (holder) of a roller concerning Embodiment 20 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 20 of this invention. A side view showing some rollers (holder) concerning Embodiment 21 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 21 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 22 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (elastic body part) of the roller which concerns on Embodiment 22 of this invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 23 of the present invention. The perspective view showing a part (holder) of the roller concerning Embodiment 24 of the present invention. The side view showing the roller concerning Embodiment 25 of the present invention. The side view showing the roller concerning Embodiment 25 of the present invention. The enlarged side view showing a part of roller of a reference example.

First, as an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an example of the continuous automatic feeding type image scanner shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. explain. Next, as an example of the separating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the separating apparatus and the outline of the separating action will be described by taking the separating apparatus shown in FIG. 3 mounted on the image reading apparatus as an example.
Subsequently, taking as an example the roller according to Embodiments 1 to 25 represented in FIGS. 4 to 46 that can be applied to the retard roller of the separation device, while partially comparing with the roller of the reference example illustrated in FIG. Specific examples of the roller of the present invention will be described. Finally, an embodiment in which the roller of the present invention is applied to a recording apparatus will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component part which show | plays the same function in each figure, and the overlapping description shall be avoided.

(1) Outline of overall configuration of image reading apparatus (see FIGS. 1 and 2)
The image reading apparatus 10 includes a lower unit 12, an upper unit 14, a cover unit 16, and a discharge tray 18. Although not shown, the upper unit 14 has a rotation fulcrum at the downstream end of the lower unit 12 in the medium transport direction A, and the lower unit 12 can be rotated via the rotation fulcrum. It is attached to.

  Although not shown, the lower unit 12 has a rotation fulcrum at the upper part on the back side, and the cover 16 is rotatably attached to the lower unit 12 via the rotation fulcrum. The cover portion 16 is in a non-feeding state (not shown) that covers the upper portion of the upper unit 14 and the feeding port 20, and a feed that rotates to the back side of the apparatus as shown in FIG. Possible states. Then, when the cover portion 16 is in a feedable state as shown in FIG. 1, the back surface of the cover portion 16 comes out and functions as a medium placement portion 16 a on which the medium P is placed.

  A discharge port 24 for discharging the medium P is provided on the front side of the lower unit 12. The lower unit 12 includes a discharge tray 18 that can be pulled out from the discharge port 24 toward the front side of the apparatus. The discharge tray 18 is attached to the lower unit 12 so that it can be pulled out so as to be in a state of being housed in the bottom of the lower unit 12 (not shown) and in a state of being pulled out to the front side of the apparatus (see FIG. 1). It has been. In addition, the discharge tray 18 is configured by connecting a plurality of tray members, and the length withdrawn from the discharge port 24 can be adjusted with respect to the size of the medium P to be discharged.

(2) Configuration of Medium Transport Path in Image Reading Apparatus Next, the configuration of the medium transport path 26 in the image reading apparatus 10 will be described based on FIG. In FIG. 2, only the outline of the lower unit 12 and the upper unit 14 is shown by phantom lines. In FIG. 2, a thick solid line denoted by reference symbol P indicates a trajectory of the conveyance of the medium P conveyed along the medium conveyance path 26 in the image reading apparatus 10. Then, the double-feed medium P (not shown) is separated by a separation device 60 described later, separated from the medium P conveyed toward the reading unit 52, and the remaining medium P remains at a position where it is separated by the separation device 60. It is configured as follows.

  The medium bundle G with the leading end inserted into the feeding port 20 is set in a state where it is supported by the medium mounting portion 16a described above, as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The medium placement unit 16 a is provided with a placement unit detection sensor 28. The placement unit detection sensor 28 is configured as an example by a contact type sensor having a lever or the like, an optical non-contact type sensor, or the like. When the medium P is set on the medium placement unit 16a, the detection signal is shown in FIG. During, it transmits to the control part 30 shown with a virtual line.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of edge guides 22 is provided in the medium placement unit 16a. The edge guide 22 is configured to be movable in a direction approaching each other and a direction separating from each other in the apparatus width direction X. When the medium P is set on the medium placement portion 16a, the guide surface of the edge guide 22 contacts the left and right side portions of the medium P in the apparatus width direction X, and the position of the medium P in the apparatus width direction X is restricted. Thus, the feeding of the medium P toward the reading unit 52 is guided. Note that the edge guide 22 in FIG. 1 shows a state of being most separated in the apparatus width direction X, that is, the width direction of the medium P.

Of the medium bundle G set on the medium mounting portion 16a, the medium P positioned at the lowermost position is directed downstream in the medium conveying direction A by a feeding roller 34 that is rotationally driven by a feeding driving motor (not shown). Are sent. Although not shown, two feeding rollers 34 are provided at intervals in the apparatus width direction X as an example. The outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 34 is made of a high friction material (for example, synthetic rubber or elastomer).
In FIG. 2, a bundle G of documents (medium) is held at a feeding standby position shown in FIG. 2 by a stopper (not shown) before feeding is started, and a feeding roller 34 and a retard roller 36 described later. Intrusion between is restricted.

In addition, a retard roller 36 that is a constituent member of a separation device 60 described later is provided together with the feed roller 34 at a position facing the feed roller 34. As with the feeding roller 34, two retard rollers 36 are provided in the apparatus width direction X as an example. The retard roller 36 is provided in a state of being biased toward the feeding roller 34 by a biasing means (not shown).
The retard roller 36 is configured to be rotationally driven in a rotational direction C opposite to the rotational direction B of the feeding roller 34 by a conveyance drive motor (not shown). The retard roller 36 includes a torque limiter 40. The retard roller 36 is configured to receive a driving torque of a conveyance driving motor (not shown) via the torque limiter 40.

  A first medium detection sensor 42 that detects the feeding of the medium P is provided at a downstream position of the medium conveyance path 26 between the feeding roller 34 and the retard roller 36. Although not shown, the first medium detection sensor 42 is arranged as an example in the conveyance area of the maximum size medium P that can be fed in the apparatus width direction X of the medium conveyance path 26. The first medium detection sensor 42 is configured as an example of an optical non-contact type sensor that includes a light emitting unit 42 a and a light receiving unit 42 b that are disposed at positions facing each other across the medium conveyance path 26. When the medium P is transported to the medium transport path 26, the medium P blocks the detection light from the light emitting unit 42a, so that the feeding of the medium P is detected and the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 30. It is configured.

  On the downstream side of the first medium detection sensor 42 in the medium conveyance direction A in the medium conveyance path 26, a double-feed detection sensor 44 that detects double-feed of the medium P is disposed in the medium conveyance region in the apparatus width direction X as an example. ing. The double feed detection sensor 44 includes a speaker unit 44a and a microphone unit 44b. The double feed detection sensor 44 oscillates an ultrasonic wave from the speaker unit 44a toward the medium P passing through the medium conveyance path 26, and reflects the reflected sound from the medium P into the microphone. The unit 44b is configured to detect. In the present embodiment, the double feed detection sensor 44 is configured not only to detect double feed of the medium P but also to detect the type of the medium P such as the thickness of the medium P based on the frequency of the reflected sound. Yes.

  A transport roller pair 46 configured by including a transport drive roller 46 a and a transport driven roller 46 b is provided at a downstream position in the medium transport direction A of the double feed detection sensor 44 in the medium transport path 26. In addition, a second medium detection sensor 48 configured by a contact sensor having a lever is provided at a downstream position in the medium conveyance direction A of the conveyance roller pair 46 as an example.

  A reading unit 52 that reads an image expressed on the medium P as image information is provided at a downstream position in the medium conveyance direction A of the second medium detection sensor 48. The reading unit 52 includes a first reading unit 52 </ b> A provided for the lower unit 12 so as to face a first surface that is a lower surface of the medium P conveyed along the medium conveyance path 26, and the medium conveyance path 26. And a second reading unit 52B provided in the upper unit 14 so as to face the second surface which is the upper surface of the medium P to be conveyed. The first reading unit 52A and the second reading unit 52B are configured as a contact image sensor module (CISM) as an example.

The medium P on which the image expressed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface is read by the reading unit 52 is transported to the discharge roller pair 54 positioned at the downstream position in the medium transport direction A of the reading unit 52. Is done. The discharge roller pair 54 includes a discharge drive roller 54a and a discharge driven roller 54b, and the medium P is nipped by the discharge roller pair 54 configured in this manner and discharged from the discharge port 24 to the outside. Is done.
In addition, the conveyance drive roller 46a of the conveyance roller pair 46 and the discharge drive roller 54a of the discharge roller pair 54 may be rotationally driven by using one motor which is a common drive source, or separate motors are used. Thus, it may be separately rotated.

The image reading apparatus 10 according to the aspect of the present invention is provided with the above-described reading unit 52 that reads the image information of the medium P, and the medium conveyance path 26 that passes through the reading execution area of the reading unit 52. Various rollers 34, 36, 46, 54, and the like as described above. These rollers 34, 36, 46, 54 and the like have a structure in which the contact surface S (see FIG. 3) is elastically crushed when pressed against the medium P.
And at least 1 of these rollers 34, 36, 46, 54 grade | etc., Is comprised by the roller 1 of the aspect which concerns on this invention mentioned later. In this embodiment, the retard roller 36 is comprised by the roller 1 of the aspect which concerns on this invention.

(3) Configuration of separation device (see FIG. 3)
The separation device 60 includes a feeding roller 34 and a retard roller 36 that forms a pair with the feeding roller 34 and separates the medium P other than the medium P conveyed from the medium bundle G and returns it to the upstream, and the retard roller 36 is the present invention. It is comprised by the roller 1 of the aspect which concerns on.
The roller 1 of the aspect which concerns on this invention is provided with the shaft 62 and the elastic-body part 64 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 62. As shown in FIG. The shaft 62 may be regarded as a member constituting the separation device 60 separately from the roller 1 instead of the roller 1.
The elastic body portion 64 of the roller 1 includes an inner peripheral portion 66 on the shaft 62 side and an outer peripheral portion 68 on the outer peripheral side with respect to the inner peripheral portion 66. And between the inner peripheral part 66 and the outer peripheral part 68, the space part 80 and the some connection part 70 which connects the inner peripheral part 66 and the outer peripheral part 68 in the space part 80 are provided.

Further, the connecting portion 70 is provided in a state of being inclined in the same direction in the circumferential direction E with respect to the radial direction D of the roller 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, when the direction of the inclination of the connecting portion 70 receives the pressing force F from the medium P, the connecting portion with the inner peripheral portion 66 of the connecting portion 70 is Ji, When the connecting portion of the connecting portion 70 with the outer peripheral portion 68 is Jo, the swinging direction with the connecting portion Ji as a fulcrum is the direction R for returning the medium P to the upstream side in the medium conveying direction A. It has been. Needless to say, the swinging direction with the connection portion Ji as a fulcrum may be attached so as to be opposite to the direction R in which the medium P is returned to the upstream side of the medium transport direction A.

(4) Separation action of the separation device (see FIG. 3)
Next, the separation action of the medium P by the separation device 60 will be described separately for (A) basic separation action and (B) unique separation action obtained by the roller 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
(A) Basic Separation Action When the rotational torque received from the feed roller 34 exceeds the limit torque of the torque limiter 40, the retard roller 36 drives the retard roller 36 by the torque limiter 40, and a drive system of a conveyance drive motor (not shown). 3 and is rotated in the clockwise direction as indicated by the rotation direction C in FIG.

When the feeding of the medium P is started and a plurality of media P enter between the feeding roller 34 and the retard roller 36, the retard roller 36 does not receive the rotational torque from the feeding roller 34, and the feeding roller 34 The driven rotation stops. The retard roller 36 receives the driving force from the transport drive motor via the torque limiter 40 and rotates in the opposite direction to the feeding roller 34 (in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the broken arrow R in FIG. 3). Begin.
As a result, the medium P that should prevent the upper multi-feed excluding the lowermost medium P to be fed cannot receive the transport force for proceeding downstream in the medium transport direction A, and the retard roller 36 rotates. The medium P is returned to the upstream side in the medium conveyance direction A, and the double feeding of the medium P is prevented. Since the lowest medium P to be fed is in direct contact with the feeding roller 34, it is conveyed downstream in the medium conveying direction A by the conveying force received from the feeding roller 34.

(B) Specific Separation Action Before the medium P is supplied between the feed roller 34 and the retard roller 36, the feed roller 34 and the retard roller 36 are in contact with each other. When a feeding force is applied to the lowermost medium P of the bundle of media G set on the medium mounting portion 16 a by the rotation of the feeding roller 34, a plurality of media P are interposed between the feeding roller 34 and the retard roller 36. Enters.
Since the retard roller 36 is not in contact with the feeding roller 34 as described above by these media P, the follower rotation in the clockwise direction is stopped as shown by the rotation direction C in FIG. Rotation starts (counterclockwise as indicated by the broken arrow R in FIG. 3), and the second or more sheets of medium P are returned upstream in the medium transport direction A from the bottom surface.

The retard roller 36 to which the roller 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied has a pressing force F from the medium P toward the retard roller 36 at the moment when the medium P enters between the feeding roller 34 and the retard roller 36. The outer peripheral surface of the retard roller 36 is slightly crushed.
Further, when the outer peripheral surface of the retard roller 36 is crushed, the connecting portion 70 slightly swings with the connecting portion Ji between the connecting portion 70 and the inner peripheral portion 66 as a fulcrum, but the inclination direction of the connecting portion 70 is shown in FIG. 3, a slight rotation in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 occurs instantaneously due to the swing. The instantaneous rotation contributes to returning the medium P to the upstream side in the medium transport direction A. Therefore, an effective separation action of the medium P can be realized by the retard roller 36 according to this embodiment to which the roller 1 according to the aspect of the present invention is applied.

(5) Specific configuration of the roller 1 (see FIGS. 3 to 46)
As a specific configuration of the roller 1, first, the roller 1 (roller 1 </ b> A) of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.
As described above, the roller 1 </ b> A of the present embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6 is a roller including the shaft 62 and the elastic body portion 64 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 62. As described above, the elastic body portion 64 includes the inner peripheral portion 66 on the shaft 62 side and the outer peripheral portion 68 on the outer peripheral side with respect to the inner peripheral portion 66. Between the outer peripheral part 68, the space part 80 and the some connection part 70 which connects the inner peripheral part 66 and the outer peripheral part 68 in the space part 80 are provided.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 70 includes an end portion (for example, the end portion 2 a) on the one space portion 80 side and an end portion (for example, an end portion) on the other space portion 80 side in the connecting portion 70. 2b) is rounded (curved) in the same direction. Then, the inner peripheral portion 66 so that the connecting portion Ji between the connecting portion 70 and the inner peripheral portion 66 and the connecting portion Jo between the connecting portion 70 and the outer peripheral portion 68 do not form an acute angle in the space portion 80 (avoid an acute angle configuration). And the outer peripheral portion 68.

If at least a part of the connecting portion 70 that connects the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68 in the space portion 80 has an R shape, the roller can be effectively made by bending the R shape portion, which is an easily bent shape. 1 to the force applied to the medium P can be dispersed. Therefore, regardless of the arrangement of the roller 1 with respect to the medium P, variation in force applied from the roller 1 to the medium P can be reduced, and variation in crushing of the surface of the roller 1 can be reduced.
Further, the connecting portion Ji between the connecting portion 70 and the inner peripheral portion 66 and the connecting portion Jo between the connecting portion 70 and the outer peripheral portion 68 are connected to the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68 so as not to form an acute angle in the space portion. Yes. Therefore, for example, the roller 1 can be easily manufactured such that the structure of the mold (particularly, the structure corresponding to the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo) can be simplified when the elastic body portion 64 is manufactured. become. Furthermore, the force applied to the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo can be dispersed, and a decrease in durability can be suppressed. If these connection portions Ji and connection portions Jo are connected so as to form an acute angle in the space portion 80, the force concentrates on the corner portion 5 that forms the acute angle, and cracks or the like are generated based on the corner portion 5. Although it is easy, cracks and the like can be made difficult to occur by eliminating such corners 5 so as not to constitute an acute angle (not to become an acute angle).
Here, “so as not to be an acute angle ... connected” means “not connected so as to form a sharp angle”. For example, the connecting portion Ji between the connecting portion 70 and the inner peripheral portion 66 and the connecting portion are connected. The corner portion 5 of the space portion 80 in the connecting portion Jo between the portion 70 and the outer peripheral portion 68 has a right angle or an obtuse angle, a configuration in which the tip has a round shape (curved surface) even if it is acute. Is mentioned. In addition, since it means “not connected so as to form a sharp angle”, it does not mean in a strict sense “so as not to be less than 90 °… connected”, for example, less than 90 °. Even if it is an angle close to a right angle that does not become an angle of less than 80 °, it is acceptable. In the roller 1A of the present embodiment, each of the corner portions 5 of the space portion 80 has a right angle or an obtuse angle, and the tip has a round shape (see FIGS. 3 to 6). Further, in the roller 1B to the roller 1X, which will be described later, each of the corner portions 5 of the space portion 80 is at least a right angle or an obtuse angle or has a round tip.

  In the roller 1A of the present embodiment, a plurality of annular grooves 4 are formed at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction of the roller 1A on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body portion 64 that contacts the medium P.

Further, the roller 1A of the present embodiment, as particularly shown in FIG. 6, is a partition portion 3 that partitions the space 80 into one side and the other side in the axial direction of the roller 1A (direction along the apparatus width direction X). It has.
When the elastic body portion 64 is manufactured by insert molding or the like using a raw material having low fluidity, there is a problem that the shape accuracy of the final molded product is lowered. However, the roller 1A according to the present embodiment includes the partition portion 3. This can improve the fluidity of the raw material, so that the occurrence of the problem can be suppressed.
In addition, there is no limitation in particular in the shape of the partition part 3, Other than the shape formed integrally with the connection part 70 like the partition part 3 of this embodiment, and connecting with the internal peripheral part 66 and the outer peripheral part 68, for example, a connection A shape that is not connected to at least one of the portion 70, the inner peripheral portion 66, and the outer peripheral portion 68, a shape in which a hole penetrating in the apparatus width direction X is open, and the like can be adopted.

  However, the roller 1 of this invention is not limited to the structure provided with the partition part 3. FIG. Therefore, as a specific configuration of the roller 1 that does not include the partition portion 3, the roller 1 (roller 1 </ b> B) according to the second embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the roller 1 (roller 1 </ b> C) according to the third embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9. 10 and FIG. 10, the roller 1 (roller 1D) of the fourth embodiment is used with reference to FIG. 11, the roller 1 (roller 1E) of the fifth embodiment is used with reference to FIG. 12, and the roller 1 (roller 1F of the sixth embodiment) is used. ) Will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, when demonstrating the roller 1 of Embodiment 2-Embodiment 4, it demonstrates compared with the roller 101 of the reference example represented by FIG.

  The roller 1B according to the second embodiment has the same shape as the roller 1A according to the first embodiment, except that the partition portion 3 is not provided. In other words, the roller 1B of the second embodiment is configured such that the space 80 of the roller 1A of the first embodiment penetrates in the axial direction of the roller 1A.

The same applies to the roller 1 </ b> A of the first embodiment, but in the roller 1 </ b> B of the second embodiment, the connecting portion 70 is connected in a direction perpendicular to the tangent lines of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68. For this reason, especially the force concerning the connection part Ji and the connection part Jo can be disperse | distributed, and it has the structure which can suppress a durable fall. Further, the force applied to the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo can be effectively dispersed, so that the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo can be prevented from being thickened, and the fluctuation of the crushing of the surface of the roller 1 can be effectively reduced. It can be configured.
Here, “connected in the vertical direction” means not only in the case of being connected in the vertical direction in the strict sense of being connected in the direction of 90 ° with respect to the tangent line of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68, This also includes the case where the tangent lines of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68 are connected at an angle slightly deviated from 90 °. For example, it is meant to include a case where the tangent lines of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68 are connected in a direction of 90 ° ± 10 °.

  The roller 1 </ b> C of the third embodiment is an example of the roller 1 that does not include the partition part 3 and that has the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo configured to be thick. The effect of reducing fluctuations in the crushing of the surface of the roller 1 is higher in the roller 1B of the second embodiment than in the roller 1C of the third embodiment, but the roller 1C of the third embodiment is connected more than the roller 1B of the second embodiment. The durability of the portion Ji and the connection portion Jo can be enhanced.

  Here, as compared with the roller 101 of the reference example shown in FIG. 47, the roller 101 of the reference example has a corner portion 105 of the space portion 80 in the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo having an acute angle. For this reason, for example, the structure of the mold when manufacturing the elastic body portion 64 (particularly, the structure of the region corresponding to the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo) cannot be simplified, and the manufacture of the roller 101 is complicated. It has become. Furthermore, since the force applied to these connection portions Ji and connection portions Jo cannot be dispersed, it is not possible to suppress a decrease in durability. Since the connection portion Ji and the connection portion Jo are connected to form an acute angle in the space portion 80, the force concentrates on the corner portion 105 that forms the acute angle, and a crack or the like is generated based on the corner portion 105. This is because it is easy.

  The roller 1 </ b> C of the third embodiment can be expressed as a configuration in which the tip of the corner portion 105 is rounded with respect to the roller 101 of the reference example.

  The same applies to the roller 1A of the first embodiment, but the roller 1B of the second embodiment has a configuration in which any corner 5 is rounded as shown in FIG. However, like the roller 1D of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the corner 5 may be formed with a right angle and an obtuse angle instead of a round shape. In addition, the roller 1D of the fourth embodiment also has a configuration in which the connecting portion 70 is connected in the vertical direction with respect to the tangent lines of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the outer peripheral portion 68, similarly to the roller 1B of the second embodiment.

  The roller 1A of the first embodiment and the roller 1D of the fourth embodiment are the same, but the roller 1B of the second embodiment is a connecting portion Ji of the one connecting portion 70 and a connecting portion adjacent to the one connecting portion 70. 70 connecting portions Jo are provided on the same straight line extending in the radial direction D of the roller 1. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the connection portion Ji between the first connection portion 70 a and the inner peripheral portion 66 of the connection portion 70, and the first connection portion 70 a of the connection portion 70. The connecting portions Jo between the adjacent second connecting portions 70 b and the outer peripheral portion 68 are provided on the same straight line extending in the radial direction D of the roller 1. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to maintain the strength while suppressing an increase in the volume of the joint portion 70 (the roller 1 is less likely to be crushed and lower the conveyance performance), and the roller 1 is less likely to be crushed and the conveyance performance. Can be suppressed.

A mechanism that allows the roller 1 to be easily crushed and suppress a decrease in conveyance performance by using such a configuration will be described.
Here, the roller 1E of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 12 and the roller 1F of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 are connected to the connecting portion Ji of the one connecting portion 70 and the connecting portion 70 adjacent to the one connecting portion 70. The connecting portion Jo of the portion 70 is not provided on the same straight line extending in the radial direction D of the roller 1.
When the connecting portion 70 is configured to have an angle smaller than an appropriate angle (sleeping) with respect to the rotation direction C as in the roller 1E of the fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. In order to maintain the strength of 64, the occupied volume of the connecting portion 70 must be increased, and the roller 1 is difficult to be crushed and the conveyance performance is deteriorated.
On the other hand, when the connecting portion 70 is configured to have an angle larger than the appropriate angle (standing) with respect to the rotation direction C as in the roller 1F of the sixth embodiment illustrated in FIG. The force applied between the inner peripheral part 66 and the outer peripheral part 68 by the part 70 becomes large, and the roller 1 is not easily crushed and the conveying performance is lowered.
For this reason, like the roller 1B of Embodiment 2, the connection part Ji and the connection part Jo of the adjacent connecting part 70 are provided on the same straight line extending in the radial direction D of the roller 1 with respect to the rotation direction C. A configuration in which the connecting portion 70 has an appropriate angle is preferable. However, configurations such as the roller 1E of the fifth embodiment and configurations such as the roller 1F of the sixth embodiment are also included in the present invention.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17 for the roller 1 (roller 1G) of the seventh embodiment, FIG. 18 for the roller 1 (roller 1H) of the eighth embodiment, and the roller 1 (roller 1I) of the ninth embodiment. 19, using FIG. 20 for the roller 1 (roller 1J) of the tenth embodiment, using FIG. 21 for the roller 1 (roller 1K) of the eleventh embodiment, the roller 1 (roller 1L) of the twelfth embodiment The roller 1 (roller 1M) of the thirteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the roller 1 </ b> G according to the seventh embodiment has the same configuration as that of the roller 1 </ b> A according to the first embodiment in the connection portion Jo between the joint 70 and the outer peripheral portion 68. A connecting portion Ji between the inner peripheral portion 66 and the inner peripheral portion 66 is configured to be thick. The roller 1G according to the seventh embodiment has the same configuration as the roller 1A according to the first embodiment except for the connection portion Ji.

  As illustrated in FIG. 18, the roller 1 </ b> H according to the eighth embodiment includes an end portion (for example, an end portion 2 a) on one space portion 80 side and an end portion (for example, an end portion) on the other space portion 80 side in the joint portion 70. 2b) has a portion 6 that is rounded in the same direction side, and a portion 7 that is not rounded in the same direction side. That is, the entire connecting portion 70 is not R-shaped, but part (portion 6) is R-shaped. In this way, a configuration in which only a part of the connecting portion 70 has an R shape may be employed, and there is no particular limitation on the shape of the portion that is not an R shape.

  Further, like the roller 1I of the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. 19 and the roller 1J of the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the connecting portion so as to have a different round degree and round direction from the roller 1A of the first embodiment. 70 R shapes may be configured. That is, there is no particular limitation on the round degree and the round direction in the R shape of the connecting portion 70.

  In addition, like the roller 1K of the eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the R shape of the connecting portion 70 is not configured in a smooth aspect, but is configured in a pseudo round shape by combining a plurality of planes 8. May be.

Further, like the roller 1L of the twelfth embodiment shown in FIG. 22, the connecting portion 70 and the outer periphery are not the connecting portion Ji between the connecting portion 70 and the inner peripheral portion 66, contrary to the roller 1G of the seventh embodiment. You may comprise the connection part Jo with the part 68 in thickness.
In addition, when the connection part Ji and the connection part Jo are comprised thickly, there is no limitation in particular about the structure of the connection part Ji and the connection part Jo, such as the shape of a thick part.

  Further, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the inner peripheral portion 66 and the configuration of the outer peripheral portion 68, such as the uneven portion 9 being provided on the inner peripheral portion 66 like the roller 1M of the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG.

Next, the holder 11 that holds the elastic body portion 64 used in the roller 1 of the first to thirteenth embodiments by the shaft 62 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 24, the holder 11 has a shaft 62 and a flange 13. Specifically, two inner flanges 13 a are provided inside the shaft 62 in the direction along the apparatus width direction X, and two outer flanges 13 b are provided outside the shaft 62 in the direction along the apparatus width direction X. And the position (two places) between the inner side flange 13a and the outer side flange 13b in the shaft 62 is the attachment position 62a of the elastic body part 64.

However, the configuration of the holder 11 is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the holder 11 may be provided with a positioning portion so that the elastic body portion 64 attached to the shaft 62 does not move in the rotation direction C.
In a configuration such as the roller 1 using the holder 11 shown in FIG. 24, a plurality of elastic body portions 64 may be attached to the holder 11. In such a configuration, it may be required to determine the phase (arrangement) in the rotation direction C of each of the plurality of elastic body portions 64 attached to the holder 11. The degree of collapse of the elastic body portion 64 may vary depending on the phase (arrangement) of the elastic body portion 64 with respect to the shaft 62, and the variation is determined by determining the arrangement of each of the plurality of elastic body portions 64 (matching the phase). It is because it can reduce.

Therefore, a specific example of the roller 1 in which the positioning portion 15 is provided so that the elastic body portion 64 does not move in the rotation direction C with respect to the shaft 62 will be described below.
FIG. 25 shows the roller 1 (roller 1N) of the fourteenth embodiment, and FIG. 29 shows the roller 1 (roller 1O) of the fifteenth embodiment. 31 and FIG. 32 for the roller 1 (roller 1Q) of the seventeenth embodiment, and the roller 1 of the nineteenth embodiment using FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 for the roller 1 (roller 1R) of the eighteenth embodiment. 35 and 36 for the roller 1S, FIGS. 37 and 38 for the roller 1 (roller 1T) of the twentieth embodiment, and FIGS. 39 and 40 for the roller 1 (roller 1U) of the twenty-first embodiment. The roller 1 (roller 1V) of the twenty-second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 41 and 42. For error 1W) with reference to FIG. 43, with reference to FIG. 44 for a roller 1 (roller 1X) embodiments 24, using a roller 1 (roller 1Y) for FIGS. 45 and 46 embodiment 25 will be described.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, the roller 1 </ b> N according to the fourteenth embodiment is provided with the positioning portion 15 (a convex positioning portion 15 </ b> A along the apparatus width direction X) at the attachment position 62 a of the elastic body portion 64. Yes. Thus, the positioning part 15 which determines the position of the elastic body part 64 with respect to the shaft 62 in the rotation direction C of the roller 1 is provided on the shaft 62 of the roller 1N of the fourteenth embodiment. For this reason, the position of the elastic body part 64 with respect to the shaft 62 in the rotation direction C of the roller 1 can be determined to an appropriate position by the positioning part 15.

  In detail, as shown in FIG. 27, the inner peripheral portion 66 of the elastic body portion 64 of the roller 1N according to the fourteenth embodiment has a device corresponding to the convex positioning portion 15A along the device width direction X. A recessed (groove-shaped) positioned portion 31 along the width direction X is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 28, the elastic body portion 64 is attached to the shaft 62 so that the positioning portion 15 </ b> A and the positioned portion 31 are fitted together, whereby the elastic body portion is attached to the shaft 62. 64 is positioned.

27 and 28, the roller 1N according to the fourteenth embodiment includes an inner layer portion 74 on which the elastic body portion 64 is on the shaft 62 side and an outer layer portion 76 on the side in contact with the medium P. The inner layer portion 74 includes a connecting portion 70, an inner peripheral portion 66, and an outer peripheral portion 68.
In addition, the outer layer part 76 is comprised as an example with high friction materials, such as a synthetic rubber and an elastomer, similarly to the feeding roller 34 mentioned above.

  As shown in FIG. 26 and the like, the positioning portion 15A in the roller 1N of the fourteenth embodiment has a symmetrical shape in the rotation direction C when viewed from the direction along the apparatus width direction X. And the to-be-positioned part 31 corresponding to this positioning part 15A is also a symmetrical shape in the rotation direction C seeing from the direction along the apparatus width direction X, as represented in FIG. For this reason, the roller 1N according to the fourteenth embodiment has a configuration in which the elastic body portion 64 can be attached to the holder 11 in the opposite direction in the direction along the apparatus width direction X.

On the other hand, the positioning portion 15B of the roller 10 according to the fifteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 29 and the positioning portion 15C of the roller 1P according to the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 30 are symmetrical with respect to the rotational direction C when viewed from the direction along the direction X. The shape is not right. Specifically, the positioning portion 15B has a slope 17 formed in part, and the positioning portion 15C has a notch 19 formed in part. Although not shown, the positioned portion of the roller 1O according to the fifteenth embodiment is formed with a groove-shaped portion corresponding to the positioning portion 15B, and the positioned portion of the roller 1P according to the sixteenth embodiment corresponds to the positioning portion 15C. The groove-shaped part of the shape to be formed is formed.
For this reason, the roller 1O according to the fifteenth embodiment and the roller 1P according to the sixteenth embodiment are configured such that the elastic body portion 64 cannot be attached to the holder 11 in the opposite direction in the direction along the apparatus width direction X. .

In addition, the roller 1Q of the seventeenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 is configured with two positioning portions 15D at intervals of 90 ° in the rotation direction C at each mounting position 62a. And although not shown, the grooved part of two places is formed in the position to be positioned of the roller 1Q of the seventeenth embodiment at a position corresponding to the positioning part 15D.
Note that the two positioning portions 15D are slightly different in size or shape from the two positioned portions.
For this reason, the roller 1Q of the seventeenth embodiment also attaches the elastic body portion 64 to the holder 11 in the opposite direction in the direction along the apparatus width direction X, similarly to the roller 1O of the fifteenth embodiment and the roller 1P of the sixteenth embodiment. Is impossible.

As described above, the roller 1 according to the fourteenth to seventeenth embodiments has a convex positioning portion 15 along the device width direction X in the holder 11 and a concave (groove shape) along the device width direction X in the elastic body portion 64. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
As illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, the roller 1 </ b> R according to the eighteenth embodiment includes a concave (groove-shaped) positioning portion 15 (positioning portion 15 </ b> E) along the device width direction X at the mounting position 62 a of the shaft 62 of the holder 11. Is formed, and a convex positioned portion 32 along the device width direction X is formed on the inner peripheral portion 66 of the elastic body portion 64. Such a structure may be sufficient as the roller 1 of this invention.

  Further, as described above, the rollers 1 according to the fourteenth to eighteenth embodiments have a configuration in which the positioning portion 15 is formed on the shaft 62, but are not limited to such a configuration. The flange 13 provided on the shaft 62 may be provided with a positioning portion 15 that determines the position of the elastic body portion 64 relative to the shaft 62 in the rotation direction C of the roller 1. Even in such a configuration, the positioning unit 15 can determine the position of the elastic body part 64 with respect to the shaft 62 in the rotation direction C of the roller 1 to an appropriate position.

  The roller 1S of the nineteenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 has a positioning portion 15 (concave shape) that determines the position of the elastic body portion 64 with respect to the shaft 62 in the rotation direction C of the roller 1 on the flange 13 (outer flange 13b). A positioning part 15F) is provided. As shown in FIG. 36, the elastic body portion 64 of the roller 1S according to the nineteenth embodiment has a convex positioned portion 33 corresponding to the concave positioning portion 15F. 36, the elastic body portion 64 is attached to the shaft 62 so that the positioning portion 15F and the positioned portion 33 are fitted to each other, whereby the elastic body portion is attached to the shaft 62. 64 is positioned.

  Note that the positioning portion 15F in the roller 1S of the nineteenth embodiment has a symmetrical shape in the rotation direction C when viewed from the direction along the apparatus width direction X. And the to-be-positioned part 33 corresponding to this positioning part 15F also has the shape symmetrical to the rotation direction C seeing from the direction along the apparatus width direction X, as represented by FIG. Therefore, in the configuration in which the two elastic body portions 64 are attached to the attachment positions 62a from both outsides in the direction along the device width direction X with respect to the holder 11, these two elastic body portions 64 are attached to the device width direction X. It is possible to reverse the direction of and to attach to the opposite attachment positions 62a.

On the other hand, the positioning portion 15G of the roller 1T of the twentieth embodiment shown in FIG. 37 does not have a symmetrical shape in the rotational direction C when viewed from the direction along the direction X. Specifically, a slope 21 is formed on a part of the positioning portion 15G (the leading side in the rotation direction C). As shown in FIG. 38, the positioned portion 35 of the roller 1T according to the twentieth embodiment is formed with a slope 23 having a shape corresponding to the positioning portion 15G.
For this reason, since the arrangement of the slopes 23 in the rotation direction C changes when the elastic body portion 64 is reversed, the roller 1T according to the twentieth embodiment attaches the two elastic body portions 64 to the holder 11 in the opposite attachment positions. The structure cannot be attached to 62a.

39 and 40, the roller 1U according to the twenty-first embodiment has an interval at which the concave positioning portions 15H are separated by 90 ° in the rotation direction C as shown in FIG. It consists of two locations. As illustrated in FIG. 40, the roller 1U according to the twenty-first embodiment has two convex positioning portions 37 at positions corresponding to the concave positioning portions 15H in the inner peripheral portion 66 of the elastic body portion 64. Has been formed.
The two positioning portions 15H are slightly different in size or shape from the two positioned portions 37.
For this reason, the roller 1U of the twenty-first embodiment also changes the position of the positioned portion 37 in the rotation direction C when the elastic body portion 64 is reversed. The two elastic body portions 64 cannot be attached to the opposite attachment positions 62a.

As described above, the roller 1 according to the nineteenth to twenty-first embodiments has a configuration in which the concave positioning portion 15 is formed on the holder 11 and the convex positioning portion is formed on the elastic body portion 64. It is not limited to the configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, in the roller 1V of the twenty-second embodiment, a convex positioning portion 15 (positioning portion 15I) is formed on the flange 13 (outer flange 13b) of the holder 11, and an elastic body portion 64 is formed. In this configuration, a concave positioned portion 38 is formed on the inner peripheral portion 66.

As described above, the rollers 1 according to the nineteenth to the twenty-second embodiments have a configuration in which the positioning portion 15 is formed on the outer flange 13b. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration.
A configuration in which the positioning portion 15 is formed on the inner flange 13a may be employed, as in the roller 1W of the twenty-third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 43 and the roller 1X of the twenty-fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG.
Further, even in such a configuration, like the roller 1W of the twenty-third embodiment, the holder 11 has a convex positioning portion 15 such as the positioning portion 15J (that is, the elastic body portion 64 has a concave positioned portion). Or a concave positioning portion 15 such as a positioning portion 15K (that is, a convex positioned portion on the elastic body portion 64) is formed on the holder 11 like the roller 1X of the twenty-fourth embodiment. May be.

  In addition, as described above, the positioning unit 15 having various shapes and the positioning unit corresponding to the positioning unit 15 have been disclosed in the roller 1 of Embodiments 14 to 24, but the positioning unit 15 and the positioning unit 15 There is no particular limitation on the shape and arrangement.

  Next, the roller 1Y of Embodiment 25 will be described with reference to FIGS. The 1st connection part 70a of the connection parts 70 and the 2nd connection part 70b located next to it are in the positional relationship which does not interfere, when the outer peripheral part 68 of the roller 1 is crushed in the radial direction D.

45 shows a state before the roller 1 is deformed, and FIG. 46 shows an example of the state after the roller 1 is deformed. 45 and 46, the roller 1 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing in contact with the medium P sent downstream.
As shown in FIG. 46, when the outer peripheral portion 68 of the roller 1 is crushed in the radial direction D, the first connecting portion 70a and the second connecting portion 70b located adjacent thereto do not interfere with each other in the radial direction. The fluctuation | variation of the crushing of the outer peripheral part 68 can be reduced. The fluctuation of the crushing of the outer peripheral part 68 here is a fluctuation of the pressing force applied to the medium P by the outer peripheral part 68 in the circumferential direction E, and if this fluctuation becomes significant, there is a risk of causing poor separation. The twenty-fifth embodiment suitably suppresses such problems.

Hereinafter, the specific structure which exhibits such an effect will be further described. 45, a region A1 indicates a formation region of the first connection portion 70a in the circumferential direction E, and a region A2 indicates a formation region of the second connection portion 70b in the circumferential direction E. In the circumferential direction E, the region A1 and the region A2 do not have overlapping portions. Thus, when the outer peripheral portion 68 is crushed in the radial direction D, the first connecting portion 70a and the second connecting portion 70b located adjacent thereto do not interfere in the radial direction D.
Note that the first connecting portion 70a and the second connecting portion 70b located adjacent thereto do not interfere with each other in the radial direction D. For example, in terms of the first connecting portion 70a, the first connecting portion 70a is deformed. In this case, it means that the deformation is not hindered at all by the second connecting portion 70b located next to the second connecting portion 70b, or that there is no significant influence even if the deformation is somewhat affected. Moreover, the 1st connection part 70a and the 2nd connection part 70b located next to it should just not interfere in the radial direction D, and the contact in the circumferential direction E is accept | permitted.

45, the space portion 80 includes a first space portion 80a facing the outer peripheral portion 68 and a second space portion 80b facing the inner peripheral portion 66. The width B1 of the first space 80a in the circumferential direction E is wider than the width B2 of the second space 80b.
The connecting portion 70 is displaced in the circumferential direction E between the connecting portion Ji with the inner peripheral portion 66 and the connecting portion J0 with the outer peripheral portion 68, and has an S-shape when viewed from the rotational axis direction (X-axis direction). doing. The S-shape is a shape when the retard roller 1A is viewed from one side surface, and is an inverted S-shape when viewed from the other side surface.

Further, reference numeral t1 represents the thickness of the outer peripheral portion 68 in the radial direction D, reference numeral t1 represents the thickness of the outer peripheral portion 68 in the radial direction D, reference numeral t2 represents the thickness of the inner peripheral portion 66 in the radial direction D, and reference numeral t3 represents the circumferential direction. The thickness of the connection part 70 in E is shown, respectively.
The thickness t1 of the outer peripheral portion 68 is preferably equal to or greater than the thickness t3 of the connecting portion 70. Thereby, the fluctuation | variation of the crushing of the outer peripheral part 68 can be reduced.
As an example, the roller 1 according to Embodiment 25 has an outer diameter = 27 mm, an inner diameter (shaft outer diameter) = 13 mm, a thickness t1 = 1.75 mm, a thickness t2 = 1.5 mm, a thickness t3 = 1.0 mm, and a width. These dimensions can be set such that B1 = 3.4 mm and width B2 = 1.9 mm. The hardness can be 42 degrees. With such dimensions and hardness settings, when the roller 1 is pressed against the medium P with a load of 200 gf, the roller 1 is crushed by about 1.0 mm to 1.6 mm in the radial direction D, and the nip width at that time (contact in FIG. 3) The length of the surface S) can be about 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.
Further, it is more preferable that the thickness t1 of the outer peripheral portion 68 is not less than twice the thickness t3 of the joint portion 70. For example, if the thickness t3 = 1.0 mm, the thickness t1 is preferably 2.0 mm or more.
However, such dimensions and hardness settings are merely examples, and it goes without saying that various values can be selected.

  Further, the roller 1 according to the aspect of the present invention described above and the separation device 60 in which the roller 1 is applied to the retard roller 36 can be applied to a recording apparatus that performs recording on the medium P. In other words, a recording apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an inkjet printer including a recording unit such as a recording head, and a roller that is provided in a medium conveyance path 26 that passes through a recording execution area of the recording unit and applies a feeding force to the medium P. The roller has a structure in which the contact surface S is elastically crushed when pressed against the medium P, and at least one of the rollers, for example, the retard roller 36 is provided according to the present invention. It can be constituted by the roller 1 of the aspect.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are intended to solve part or all of the above-described problems, or one of the above-described effects. In order to achieve part or all, replacement or combination can be appropriately performed. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

1 ... roller, 1A ... roller, 1B ... roller, 1C ... roller, 1D ... roller,
1E ... Roller, 1F ... Roller, 1G ... Roller, 1H ... Roller,
1I roller, 1J roller, 1K roller, 1L roller
1M ... roller, 1N ... roller, 1O ... roller, 1P ... roller,
1Q ... Roller, 1R ... Roller, 1S ... Roller, 1T ... Roller,
1U ... roller, 1V ... roller, 1W ... roller, 1X ... roller, 1Y ... roller,
2a ... the end of one connecting portion 70 on the side of the space 80,
2b: an end of the connecting portion 70 on the other space 80 side, 3 ... a partitioning portion, 4 ... a groove portion,
5 ... Corner,
6 ... the part where the end part on the one space part 80 side and the end part on the other space part 80 side in the connecting part 70 are rounded in the same direction side;
7: a portion in which the end portion on the one space portion 80 side and the end portion on the other space portion 80 side in the connecting portion 70 are not rounded in the same direction side;
8 ... Plane, 9 ... Uneven portion, 10 ... Image reading device, 11 ... Holder, 12 ... Lower unit,
13 ... Flange, 13a ... Inner flange, 13b ... Outer flange,
14 ... upper unit, 15 ... positioning part, 15A ... positioning part, 15B ... positioning part,
15C ... positioning part, 15D ... positioning part, 15E ... positioning part,
15F ... Positioning part, 15G ... Positioning part, 15H ... Positioning part,
15I: Positioning part, 15J: Positioning part, 15K: Positioning part, 16 ... Cover part,
16a ... medium placement unit, 17 ... slope, 18 ... discharge tray, 19 ... notch,
20 ... Feeding port, 21 ... Slope, 22 ... Edge guide, 23 ... Slope, 24 ... Discharge port,
26 ... Medium transport path, 28 ... Placement part detection sensor, 30 ... Control part,
31 ... Positioned part, 32 ... Positioned part, 33 ... Positioned part,
34 ... feed roller, 35 ... positioned part, 36 ... retard roller,
37 ... Positioned part, 38 ... Positioned part, 40 ... Torque limiter,
42 ... 1st medium detection sensor, 42a ... Light-emitting part, 42b ... Light-receiving part,
44: Double feed detection sensor, 44a: Speaker unit, 44b: Microphone unit,
46: pair of transport rollers, 46a: transport drive roller, 46b: transport driven roller,
48 ... second medium detection sensor, 52 ... reading unit, 52A ... first reading unit,
52B ... second reading unit, 54 ... discharge roller pair, 54a ... discharge driving roller,
54b ... discharge driven roller, 60 ... separation device, 62 ... shaft, 64 ... elastic body part,
66 ... Inner peripheral part, 68 ... Outer peripheral part, 70 ... Connecting part, 70a ... First connecting part,
70b ... 2nd connection part, 74 ... Inner layer part, 76 ... Outer layer part, 80 ... Space part,
101 ... Roller, 105 ... Corner, A ... Media transport direction, B ... Rotation direction,
C: rotational direction opposite to rotational direction B, D: radial direction, E: circumferential direction, F: pressing force,
G: a bundle of media, Ji: a connecting portion with the inner peripheral portion 66 of the connecting portion 70,
Jo: Connection portion with the outer peripheral portion 68 of the connecting portion 70, P: medium, R: return direction, S: contact surface,
X: Device width direction (axial direction)

Claims (14)

A roller comprising an elastic body provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft,
The elastic body part is
An inner peripheral portion on the shaft side, and an outer peripheral portion on the outer peripheral side with respect to the inner peripheral portion,
Between the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, a space portion, and a plurality of connecting portions connecting the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion in the space portion,
The connecting portion is
At least a portion is R-shaped,
The connecting portion between the connecting portion and the inner peripheral portion and the connecting portion between the connecting portion and the outer peripheral portion are connected to the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion so as not to form an acute angle in the space portion. Characteristic roller. The roller according to claim 1,
The roller, wherein the connecting portion is connected in a direction perpendicular to a tangent line of the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion. In the roller according to claim 1 or 2,
The connection part between the first connection part of the connection part and the inner peripheral part, the second connection part adjacent to the first connection part of the connection part, and the connection part of the outer peripheral part, A roller provided on the same straight line extending in a radial direction of the roller. In the roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The elastic body part is
An inner layer on the shaft side;
An outer layer portion on the side in contact with the medium,
The roller, wherein the inner layer portion includes the connecting portion, the inner peripheral portion, and the outer peripheral portion. In the roller according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The roller characterized by including the partition part which partitions off the said space part into the one side and the other side in the axial direction of the said roller. 3. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body portion of the first connection portion and the second connection portion located next to the first connection portion are crushed in the radial direction. In a positional relationship that does not interfere in the radial direction
A roller characterized by that. The roller according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the outer peripheral portion in the radial direction is equal to or greater than the thickness of the connecting portion in the circumferential direction.
A roller characterized by that. The roller according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting portion is displaced in a circumferential direction between a connecting portion between the inner peripheral portion and a connecting portion between the outer peripheral portion, and a rotating shaft. S-shaped when viewed from the direction,
A roller characterized by that. A separation device comprising: a feed roller; and a retard roller that forms a pair with the feed roller and separates the medium other than the medium conveyed from the bundle of media and returns it upstream.
The said retard roller is a roller as described in any one of Claims 1-8, The separation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The separation device according to claim 9, comprising the shaft.
The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is provided with a positioning portion that determines a position of the elastic body portion with respect to the shaft in a rotation direction of the roller. The separation device according to claim 9, comprising the shaft.
The shaft is provided with a flange,
The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the flange is provided with a positioning portion that determines a position of the elastic body portion with respect to the shaft in a rotation direction of the roller. An image reading apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads image information of a medium; and a roller that is provided in a medium conveyance path that passes through a reading execution area of the reading unit and that feeds the medium.
The roller has a structure in which the contact surface is elastically crushed when pressed against the medium,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rollers is a roller according to claim 1. A reading unit for reading the image information of the medium;
An image reading device comprising: the separation device according to any one of claims 9 to 11. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit; and a roller that is provided in a medium conveyance path that passes through a recording execution area of the recording unit and applies a feeding force to the medium,
The roller has a structure in which the contact surface is elastically crushed when pressed against the medium,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rollers is a roller according to claim 1.

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