JP2020022059A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that ensures security of a document after reading.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus reads a document conveyed through a conveyance path to generate image data and forms an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data, the image forming apparatus comprising a storage unit that can store the document read and conveyed through the conveyance path inside the apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a document ejection port that ejects the read document, and the storage unit has a space in which the document ejection port faces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic document feeder (ADF) that transports a document to a reading unit and discharges the read document to a paper discharge unit is known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a sorting device that sorts a read document into different sorter bins.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that secures security of a document after reading.

  In order to solve the above problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that reads a document conveyed via a conveyance path, generates image data, and forms an image on a sheet based on the image data. And an image forming apparatus including a storage unit capable of storing the document read and conveyed via a conveyance path inside the apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that ensures security of a document after reading.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a top view and a first front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a usage state of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a modification of the usage state of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a first enlarged cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st operation example of the locking part which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd operation example of the locking part which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory view of the 3rd example of operation of the locking part which is one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a second front view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an enlarged second cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a third front view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a third cross-sectional enlarged view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is an example of a table stored in a storage unit. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st example of switching discharge processing. It is a flowchart of a reading process example. It is a flowchart of a storage part switching discharge process example. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of a switching discharge process. It is a flowchart which shows the example of an unlocking process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings for describing the embodiments of the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are described once by assigning the same reference numerals as much as possible after discrimination. Then, the description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner 2 that reads an image of a document, an automatic document feeder 3 as an example of a feed reading unit that reads the image of the fed document that has been fed, and an operation input to the image forming apparatus 1. Operating unit 4 for receiving an image, a sheet discharging unit 5 for discharging an image-formed sheet, storage units 6A and 6B for storing the read original in the image forming apparatus 1, and an image for forming an image on the sheet. A forming unit 7, a jam processing unit 8 for processing a sheet jam generated in the image forming unit 7, sheet trays 9 </ b> A, 9 </ b> B, and 9 </ b> C for stacking sheets conveyed to the image forming unit 7; The image forming apparatus 1 includes an opening 10 formed at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 1, an electrical component storage unit 11 for storing electrical components used in the image forming device 1, and a housing 12 that covers an internal configuration of the image forming device 1. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 has a card reader R for reading a user authentication card in which a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1 is registered on the front of the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the user performs an operation on the front of the image forming apparatus 1 in each drawing. The surface of the image forming apparatus 1 to which the user faces when the user operates the image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as the front of the image forming apparatus 1. The X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 is the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1, the Y-axis direction is the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and the Z-axis direction is the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The upper part of the paper discharge unit 5 is covered with a part of the image forming apparatus 1, for example, the scanner 2 in FIG. In addition, since the paper discharge unit 5 is provided within the width of the image forming apparatus 1, space saving in the width of the image forming apparatus 1 can be realized.

  The storage sections 6A, 6B have handles 61A, 61B for pulling out the storage sections 6A, 6B. The user pulls the handles 61A, 61B toward the front of the image forming apparatus 1 from the state of being housed inside the image forming apparatus 1, thereby pulling out the storage sections 6A, 6B from the image forming apparatus 1 at least partially. be able to. The internal space of the storage sections 6A and 6B is covered in the front-rear direction (Z-axis direction), the up-down direction (Y-axis direction), and the left-right direction (X-axis direction) with the housing 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the like. Each of the storage sections 6A and 6B can hold a document therein so that the read document cannot be taken out or the contents of the read document cannot be viewed. When taking out the internal document from the storage units 6A and 6B, the document can be taken out by pulling it out from the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, a take-out port that can be opened and closed may be provided in a part, and the take-out port may be opened to open the take-out port. The storage units 6A and 6B are respectively located below the automatic document feeder 3 and overlap in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C have handles 90A, 90B, 90C for pulling out the sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C. The user pulls the handles 90A, 90B, 90C toward the front of the image forming apparatus 1 from the state of being housed inside the image forming apparatus 1 so that the sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C are at least removed from the inside of the image forming apparatus 1. Some can be pulled out.

  The opening 10 has an opening upper end 101 that is the upper end of the opening 10. In FIG. 1, the opening is opened downward, so that a wheelchair user can approach and operate the image forming apparatus 1 without hitting the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1. The opening 10 is provided as a part of the housing 12 as an example in FIG. 1, and the upper end 101 of the opening can be said to be a part of the housing 12.

  The electrical storage unit 11 stores electrical components such as an electrical board having a controller and a power supply for controlling the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The housing 12 has a front surface, a side surface, and a back surface that cover other members of the image forming apparatus 1. The depth and width of the image forming apparatus 1 are, as an example in FIG. Distance between the back surfaces) and width (the distance between both side surfaces). It is also possible to hold the storage section 6, the sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C and the like.

  Here, the positional relationship between the plurality of sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C and the opening 10 will be described. Assuming that the bottoms of the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C are the bottom 91A, the bottom 91B, and the bottom 91C, respectively, the bottom 91C is the lowest among the bottom 91A, the bottom 91B, and the bottom 91C. The upper end of the opening 10 is located lower than the bottom 91C of the sheet tray 9C, which is the lowest sheet tray among the three sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C. With such a configuration, an image forming apparatus that is easy for the user to operate can be provided. As an example, the operability of the lowest sheet tray is improved. Further, since the opening 10 is open to the front of the image forming apparatus 1, a user such as a wheelchair performs an operation such as putting a footrest portion into the opening 10 and pulling out the sheet tray 9C or the like in a state approaching the apparatus. Can be operated with good operability.

  Here, the positional relationship between the plurality of sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C will be described. The sheet tray 9C as the first sheet tray, which is the sheet tray having the lowest bottom among the plurality of sheet trays, and the sheet tray 9A as the second sheet tray are arranged in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1, that is, in FIG. They are arranged in parallel in the middle X-axis direction. With such a configuration, it is possible to secure the capacity of a plurality of sheet trays while improving the operability of the lowest sheet tray. When a plurality of sheet trays are arranged in parallel, each sheet tray may or may not have a portion that overlaps in the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1, that is, in the Y-axis direction in FIG. As an example, the sheet tray 9 </ b> A and the sheet tray 9 </ b> C are arranged in parallel without any overlapping portion in the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Here, the positional relationship between the plurality of sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C and the opening 10 will be further described. Among the plurality of sheet trays, a sheet tray 9C as a first sheet tray whose bottom is the lowest sheet tray and a sheet tray 9A as a second sheet tray are arranged in parallel. It is located below at least one of the sheet tray 9C as one sheet tray and the sheet tray 9A as the second sheet tray. The opening 10 is located below the sheet tray 9C and the sheet tray 9A.

Further, the opening 10 is located below a portion between the sheet tray 9C and the sheet tray 9A.
That is, the opening 10 is continuously formed from immediately below the sheet tray 9C to immediately below the sheet tray 9A. With such a configuration, a wheelchair user or the like can easily operate both the first sheet tray and the second sheet tray by putting a footrest in the opening 10.

  Here, the configuration of the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, as an example, the front surface of each sheet tray when the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C are accommodated inside the image forming apparatus 1 and the front surface of the housing 12 are substantially the same plane. In other words, the portion forming the opening 10 of the housing 12 and the front surfaces of the sheet trays in a state where the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C are accommodated inside the image forming apparatus 1 are substantially flush with each other.

  In addition, the sheet tray 9C as the first sheet tray having the lowest sheet tray among the plurality of sheet trays, and the sheet tray 9A as the second sheet tray arranged in parallel with the sheet tray 9C include: The maximum accommodating sizes of sheets that can be accommodated may be different from each other. The maximum number of sheets that can be stored may be different from each other. A sheet tray having a different sheet storage size, that is, a sheet tray having a different width in the left-right direction of the apparatus, or a sheet tray having a different maximum number of sheets, that is, a sheet tray having a different width in the height direction of the apparatus, is appropriately arranged in relation to other members. This increases the degree of freedom of the layout of the image forming apparatus 1. As an example, the maximum size / maximum capacity of each sheet tray is legal / 500 for the sheet tray 9A, A4 / 100 for the sheet tray 9B, and A4 / 250 for the sheet tray 9C.

  FIG. 2 is a top view and a front view of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a top view of the image forming apparatus 1. In FIG. 2A, W represents the size of the image forming apparatus 1 in the width direction, and is, for example, a distance between both side surfaces of the housing 12. D represents the size of the image forming apparatus 1 in the depth direction, and is, for example, the distance between the front surface and the rear surface of the housing 12. The automatic document feeder 3 has a document loading unit 31 on which documents are loaded, and a document discharge unit 32 from which the transported documents are discharged. The document discharge unit 32 is configured so that the document discharged to the document discharge unit 32 is exposed outside the image forming apparatus 1.

An arrow P indicates a direction in which the sheet is conveyed when an image is formed, and the direction in which the image-formed sheet is discharged. An arrow d indicates a direction in which the document is conveyed in the automatic document conveying unit 3.
And the arrow d are orthogonal. That is, the document transport direction of the document transported by the automatic document transport unit 3 is orthogonal to the sheet transport direction in which the sheet on which an image is formed is transported. With such a configuration, for example, when copying a long sheet, it is possible to suppress an increase in the width of the image forming apparatus.

  D is 450 mm or less as an example. W is 900 mm or less as an example. By deciding the width on the basis of the size of the office furniture, for example, a cabinet for storing documents and the like, the image forming apparatus 1 protrudes into the original passage when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in the office. There is no. For example, it is easy to secure a passage for a wheelchair user.

  FIG. 2B is a front view of the image forming apparatus 1.

In FIG. 2 _{(b), W 10} represents the size of the width direction of the opening 10. The image forming apparatus 1 has a bottom plate 13 at the bottom. The bottom plate 13 is configured as a bottom of the opening 10, and an end of the bottom plate 13 on the front surface side of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as an opening lower end 102 which is a lower end of the opening 10. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 has therein a transport path 70 that is a sheet transport unit that transports the sheets stored in the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C to the image forming unit 7 and the paper discharge unit 5. The sheets stored in the sheet trays 9A, 9B, and 9C are conveyed along the conveyance path 70, and form an image when passing through the image forming unit 7 from below to above.

  The scanner unit 2 as an example of a stacked document reading unit includes a pressure plate 2A that presses a document, a reading unit 2B on which a read document is placed, and a scanner body 2C that reads an image of the document stacked on the reading unit 2B. Having. The paper discharge unit 5 has a sheet stacking unit 50 on which an image-formed sheet is stacked, and an outlet 51 for a user to take out the image-formed sheet. Since the outlet 51 is open to the front of the image forming apparatus 1, the wheelchair user puts a footrest portion into the opening 10 and a sheet on which an image is formed from the outlet 51 in a state approaching the image forming apparatus 1. Can be taken out.

  The pressure plate 2A can be opened and closed with respect to the reading unit 2B. That is, the pressure plate 2A can have a closed position in which the pressure plate 2A is closed by covering the upper portion of the reading unit 2B, and an open position in which the upper portion of the reading unit 2B is opened. FIG. 2 shows a case where the pressure plate 2A is in the closed position. The user places a document on the reading unit 2B with the pressure plate 2A moved to the open position, moves the pressure plate 2A to the closed position, and causes the scanner body 2C to read the document. The pressure plate 2A can prevent the original from being displaced by applying pressure to the original in the closed position. Further, since the pressure plate 2A serves as a background plate at the time of reading a document in the closed position, good reading can be performed.

  The automatic document feeder 3 as an example of the transport reading unit may be configured to be openable and closable with respect to the storage unit 6A. That is, the automatic document feeder 3 can have a closed position in which the upper portion of the storage portion 6A is closed by covering the upper portion, and an open position in which the upper portion of the storage portion 6A is opened. FIG. 2 shows a case where the automatic document feeder 3 is at the closed position. The user can perform a desired operation by placing a document or a sheet on the upper part of the storage unit 6A with the automatic document feeder 3 moved to the open position. The user can use the automatic document feeder 3 by moving the automatic document feeder 3 to the closed position.

  Note that the scanner section 2 as an example of the stacked original reading section and the automatic original transport section 3 as an example of the transport reading section are arranged in parallel so as to overlap in the height direction. Can be suppressed, and the image forming apparatus 1 that is space-saving and easy for the user to operate can be realized.

The _{W 10} is 600mm or more as an example. Alternatively, it is equal to or larger than the wheelchair seat width W1 specified in JIS-T9201. With such a configuration, the footrest portion of the wheelchair can be inserted into the opening 10, so that the wheelchair user can easily approach and operate the device. For example, by setting the width of the image forming apparatus 1 to be 600 mm or more and 900 mm or less, an opening for accommodating a footrest of a wheelchair can be provided. Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in an office, the image forming apparatus 1 is originally mounted. Never protrude into the aisle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. H is the height of the bottom plate 13 with respect to the floor. H can also be said to be the height of the opening lower end 102 with respect to the floor. _HL is the height to the bottom 91C of the sheet tray 9C having the lowest bottom with respect to the floor. D ₁₀ represents the size of the depth direction of the opening 10. The automatic document feeder 3 includes a first surface reading member 35 that reads an image on the front surface of the document to be transported (the upper surface of the document placed on the document loading portion 31), and a back surface (the document loading portion) of the document to be transported. And a second surface reading member 36 for reading an image of the lower surface of the original placed on the original 31).

  While the document placed by the user on the upper portion of the automatic document feeder 3 is conveyed through the first surface reading member 35 while being conveyed along the path indicated by the arrow d, the image of the front surface is read, and the second surface reading member 36 is read. When passing through, the image on the back side is read. With such a configuration, it is possible to read the images on both sides of the document while carrying the document in one direction once per document. With such a configuration, the conveyance path is shorter than in the case where the conveyance is performed in two or more directions for one document, so that the jam occurrence rate in the automatic document conveyance unit 3 can be reduced and the operability can be improved. Such a configuration may be called a one-pass double-sided reading configuration.

Here, H is, for example, lower than 50 mm which is a foot support height H7 of a wheelchair specified in JIS-T9201. _{Further, D 10} is wheelchair foot support length L5 than stipulated in JIS-T9201. With such a configuration, the wheelchair user can operate closer to the image forming apparatus 1 without hitting the footrest portion of the image forming apparatus 1.

_HL is 300 mm or more as an example. With such a configuration, the wheelchair user can perform operations such as opening and closing the sheet tray, for example, by approaching the image forming apparatus 1 without hitting the footrest portion of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As described above, when the opening 10 is continuously formed from the lower part of the first sheet tray 9A to the lower part of the second sheet tray 9C, as shown in FIG. Various operations of the image forming apparatus 1 can be performed at a substantially central position of the image forming apparatus 1 in the state where the image forming apparatus 1 is inserted into the opening 10.

  Specifically, the operation unit 4 located substantially at the center of the image forming apparatus 1 can be operated almost in front of the operation unit 4. Further, the user can reach and operate the left and right sheet trays of the sheet trays arranged in the width direction across the operation path 70 located near the center of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the user can reach and operate the left and right sheet trays of the sheet trays arranged side by side in the width direction across the conveyance path 70 located near the center of the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, the replacement of the components of the image forming section 7 and the jam processing of the jam processing section 8 which are arranged with the central portion of the image forming apparatus 1 sandwiched therebetween can be easily reached and processed. In addition, both the scanner 2 and the automatic document feeder 3 that are arranged with the central portion of the image forming apparatus 1 interposed therebetween can be accessed and operated.

  FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an opening / closing unit 71 that opens the inside of the image forming unit 7, an opening / closing unit 81 that opens the inside of the jam processing unit 8, an opening / closing unit 111 that opens the inside of the electrical equipment storage unit 11, It has a control board 14 for controlling the device 1.

  The image forming unit 7 includes toner bottles 72K, 72C, 72M, and 72Y for storing toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and black and cyan using toner supplied from the toner bottles 72K, 72C, 72M, and 72Y. , Magenta, and yellow image forming units 73K, 73C, 73M, and 73Y.

  The image forming section 7 also includes an intermediate transfer unit 74 to which the image of each color formed by the image forming units 73K, 73C, 73M, and 73Y is transferred, and an intermediate transfer unit 74 to be transferred to a sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 70. And a registration roller 75 for transporting a sheet to the secondary transfer unit 73.

  The jam processing unit 8 includes a jam processing opening / closing cover 82 that is a conveyance unit cover that covers the conveyance path 70 at least during image formation, a slide rail 84 that slides and moves the jam processing opening / closing cover 82, and a user-operated conveyance path 70. The jam processing space 85 is a sheet removal space for performing a jam processing such as removing a sheet from the image forming apparatus, and a jam processing space opening 86 that opens the jam processing space 85 to the front of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The secondary transfer unit 73 is attached to the jam processing opening / closing cover 82, and the secondary processing unit 82 moves the jam processing opening / closing cover 82 to move the secondary transfer position to the secondary transfer to the sheet and to open the conveyance path 70. It is movable between positions.

  The electrical storage unit 11 is arranged in parallel with the sheet tray 9C so as to overlap in the height direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 1), and an SD card insertion slot 112 into which an SD card as a storage medium can be inserted; It has a USB memory insertion port 113 into which a USB memory as a medium can be inserted, and a LAN cable connection port 114 into which a LAN cable can be connected. The SD card insertion slot 112, the USB memory insertion slot 113, and the LAN cable connection port 114 are provided on the front of the image forming apparatus 1. With such a configuration, a user who performs other operations on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 can also directly operate the electrical component storage unit 11. When it is desired to increase the capacity of the sheets stored in the image forming apparatus 1, a further sheet tray may be provided instead of the electrical storage unit 11 at a position where the electrical storage unit 11 is disposed.

  The control board 14 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 based on an operation input from the operation unit 4 or an external device. As an example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), which are storage media for storing programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU, and a CPU when executing the program. It is a control board provided with a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a work area (work area), a power supply circuit for supplying power to the apparatus inside the image forming apparatus 1 and controlling the power supply, and the like.

  Here, image formation on a sheet by the image forming unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG. Under the control of the control board 14, the sheets stored in the sheet trays 9A, 9B, 9C are conveyed to the image forming unit 7 by the conveying path 70, which is a sheet conveying unit, to form an image. The sheet on which the image has been formed is further transported by the transport path 70 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 5.

  The transport path 70 is provided so as to pass in the height direction near the width direction between the sheet tray 9A and the sheet tray 9C and between the sheet tray 9A and the sheet tray 9B. Then, while the conveyance path 70 conveys the sheet in the height direction, an image is applied to the sheet on the conveyance path 70 from either the left or right in the width direction. In FIG. 4, an image is provided on the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 70 from the left side in the width direction, that is, the image is provided in the direction indicated by the arrow T.

  In FIG. 4, an image is given to the surface that was the upper surface in the state where the sheet is stored in the sheet tray 9A, and is the opposite surface when stored in the sheet tray 9B and the sheet tray 9C that are arranged in parallel with the sheet tray 9A. An image is provided on the lower surface.

Image grant may be from the right side toward the transport path 70. In this case, the image forming unit 7 is arranged at the position of the jam processing unit 8 in FIG. 4, and the jam processing unit 8 is arranged at the position of the image forming 7 in FIG. In that case, an image is given to the surface that was the lower surface when stored in the sheet tray 9A, and the lower surface that was the opposite surface when stored in the sheet tray 9B and the sheet tray 9C arranged in parallel with the sheet tray 9A. Is given an image.

  Since the transport path 70 is configured as described above, the surface on which the image is formed by the image forming unit on the sheet stored in the first sheet tray and the image forming on the sheet stored in the second sheet tray are formed. The surface on which an image is formed by the unit is a surface that is upside down when stored in the first sheet tray or the second sheet tray. With such a configuration, the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1 can be suppressed, and an image can be efficiently formed within the width W.

  Here, the jam processing will be described with reference to FIG. The jam processing space 85 is arranged within the width of the image forming apparatus 1. As an example, it is arranged above any one of the plurality of sheet trays. With such a configuration, the operation of the sheet tray and the operation of taking out the sheet from the conveyance path can be performed within the width of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The jam opening / closing cover 82 serving as a transport unit cover is movable in the jam processing space 85. As an example, the jam opening / closing cover 82 moves the transport path 70 from a closed position that covers the transport path 70 to an open position that opens the transport path 70 with respect to the jam processing space 85, thereby causing the transport path to move. 70 can be opened and closed with respect to the jam processing space 85. With such a configuration, it is possible to open the conveyance unit cover within the width dimension of the image forming apparatus 1 and perform an operation of the sheet feeding tray and an operation of taking out the sheet from the conveyance path.

  Further, the jam processing space 85 has a take-out space opening 86 opened on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1. With such a configuration, the user can perform jam processing along with other operations on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The opening / closing unit 81 can open / close the take-out space opening 86 with respect to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. With such a configuration, the take-out space can be closed except when the sheet is taken out from the transport unit, to protect the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 and improve the appearance.

  In FIG. 4, the image forming unit 7 of the so-called full-color electrophotographic system has been described as an example, but the system of the image forming unit 7 is not limited to this. For example, the image forming unit 7 may be a monochrome electrophotographic image forming unit 7 that forms an image only with black toner. Further, the image forming unit 7 may be an ink jet type image forming unit 7 which forms an image on a sheet conveyed from each sheet tray by an ink jet head.

  With the configuration described above, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the three surfaces of the rear surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 is increased. That is, with the opening / closing configuration of the scanner 2 and the automatic document feeder 3 described above, the scanner 2 and the automatic document feeder 3 do not exceed the back of the image forming apparatus 1 due to the opening / closing operation. Therefore, the back surface of the image forming apparatus 1 can be substantially brought into close contact with a wall or the like. Further, as described above, the paper discharge unit 5, each sheet tray, the jam processing unit 8, and the like are arranged within the width of the image forming apparatus 1, and can be operated within the width. Therefore, office furniture such as a cabinet can be brought into close contact with the left side surface and the right side surface of the image forming apparatus 1. In this way, restrictions on installing the image forming apparatus 1 in the office are reduced, and coexistence with other office furniture becomes possible.

  FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a usage state of the image forming apparatus 1. The scanner 2 has a pressure plate support shaft 20A that rotatably supports the pressure plate 2A, and a pressure plate handle 21. The image forming apparatus 1 has a support shaft 30A that rotatably supports the automatic document feeder 3. Hh is the height of the operation position for opening and closing the pressure plate 2A and the automatic document feeder 3 with respect to the lower end of the paper discharge unit 5. FIG. 5 shows a case where the pressure plate 2A and the automatic document feeder 3 are at the open position.

  The pressure plate support shaft 20 </ b> A is disposed at the left end in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the axis extends parallel to the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1. The pressure plate 2A is rotatable around the pressure plate support shaft 20A with respect to the reading unit 2B, the scanner main body 2C, and the image forming apparatus 1. The pressure plate 2A can be opened and closed with respect to the reading unit 2B by this rotating operation. The user can easily operate the pressure plate 2A by holding the pressure plate handle 21. For example, when the pressure plate support shaft 20A is in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1, when the user performs an operation of opening the pressure plate 2A from the front surface, the user moves away from the front surface of the image forming device 1 in the depth direction as the pressure plate 2A opens. As a result, the user may not be able to reach the pressure plate 2A and may have difficulty in operating the pressure plate 2A. As described above, since the axis of the pressure plate supporting shaft 20A is in the depth direction, it is possible to solve the problem that the pressure plate 2A moves away from the user in the depth direction, making it difficult for the user to operate.

  The support shaft 30 </ b> A is arranged at the right end in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the axis extends parallel to the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1. The automatic document feeder 3 is rotatable about the support shaft 30 </ b> A as a fulcrum with respect to the placement unit 6 and the image forming apparatus 1. By this rotating operation, the automatic document feeder 3 can be opened and closed with respect to the receiver 6. For example, when the support shaft 30 </ b> A is in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 and the user performs an operation of opening the automatic document feeder 3 from the front, the user moves away from the front of the image forming apparatus 1 in the depth direction as the automatic document feeder 3 opens. As a result, the user may not be able to reach the automatic document feeder 3 and may be difficult to operate. As described above, since the axis of the support shaft 30A is in the depth direction, the problem that the automatic document feeder 3 moves away from the user in the depth direction to make it difficult for the user to operate can be solved.

  FIG. 6 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG.

  The scanner 2 has a pressure plate support shaft 20B that rotatably supports the pressure plate 2A, and the image forming apparatus 1 has a support shaft 30B that rotatably supports the automatic document feeder 3. FIG. 6 also shows a case where the pressure plate 2A and the automatic document feeder 3 are at the open position as in FIG.

  The pressure plate support shaft 20B is disposed at the center in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the axis extends in parallel with the depth direction of the image formation device 1, and the pressure plate 2A is read with the pressure plate support shaft 20B as a fulcrum. The section 2B and the scanner main body 2C are rotatable. Similar to the pressure plate support shaft 20A of FIG. 6, since the axis of the pressure plate support shaft 20B is in the depth direction, it is possible to solve the problem that the pressure plate 2A does not reach the pressure plate 2A in the depth direction.

  The support shaft 30B is disposed at the center in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the axis extends in parallel with the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and the automatic document feeder 3 uses the support shaft 30B as a fulcrum. The mounting section 6 is rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus 1. As with the pointing shaft 30A of FIG. 6, since the axis of the support shaft 30B is in the depth direction, it is possible to solve the problem that the axis does not reach the automatic document feeder 3 in the depth direction.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a reading unit and a storage unit peripheral portion. FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the automatic document feeder 3 and the storage unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a discharge destination switching unit 15 that switches between the storage unit 6 and the document discharge unit 32 as an example of a discharge destination of a document after reading. The discharge destination switching unit 15 includes a first switching member 151, a second switching member 152, and a storage unit transport path 153 that is a transport path to the storage unit 6.

  Since the read original can be discharged to the storage unit 6 in this manner, for example, a document obtained by reading a receipt, a contract, and a questionnaire result including personal information can be stored in the storage unit, thereby reducing the risk of information leakage. Can be lowered. In addition, since the document can be stored in a highly secure storage unit at the same time as the reading, it is possible to reduce the work load of transporting the document to another storage space every time the document is read in order to maintain security when reading a large amount of these documents.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a second document discharge port 16A and a third document discharge port 16B for discharging a document to the storage sections 6A and 6B, respectively.

  The image forming apparatus 1 further includes locking sections 17A and 17B for locking the storage sections 6A and 6B so that the storage sections 6A and 6B cannot be pulled out of the image forming apparatus 1. Although the locking portions are provided in the storage portions 6A and 6B, a plurality of storage portions may be locked by one locking portion.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the automatic document feeder 3 includes a document stacker 31, a document discharger 32, a feed roller 33 as a paper feeder, a feed path 34, a first surface reading member 35, Two-sided reading member 36, first document discharge port 37, document discharge section conveyance path 38 which is a conveyance path to document discharge section 32, and document discharge section discharge for detecting discharge of a document to document discharge section 32 It has a detection sensor 39. The document discharge section 32 has a space 321 facing the document discharge port 37 and a discharged document stacking section 322.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 6 includes a storage tray 62A and a storage tray 62B for storing originals after reading, a storage unit discharge detection sensor 63A for detecting discharge of the originals to the storage tray 62A, and a storage tray 62B. , A document detection sensor 64B that detects the presence or absence of a document in the storage tray 62A, a document presence detection sensor 64B that detects the presence of a document in the storage tray 62A, and a storage tray. A document amount detection sensor 65A that detects the amount of the document in 62A, and a document amount detection sensor 65B that detects the amount of the document in the storage tray 62A. The storage tray 62A has an opening 621A for receiving a document, 622A as a space facing the second document discharge port 16A, and a lock connection portion 623A. The storage tray 62B has an opening 621B for receiving a document, 622B as a space facing the second document discharge port 16B, and a lock connection portion 623B.

  Hereinafter, reading of a document and discharge of the document after the reading will be described with reference to FIG.

  Documents set on the document stacking section 31 are conveyed one by one by conveyance rollers 33, conveyed along a conveyance path 34 shown by a broken line in FIG. 7, arrive at a first surface reading member 35, and are one side of the document. The reading of the first side is started. The position where reading is performed by the first surface reading member 35 may be referred to as a first surface reading position. Then, the document is further conveyed through the conveyance path 34, reaches the second surface reading member 36, and starts reading the surface of the document opposite to the surface read by the first surface reading member 35. A position where reading is performed by the second surface reading member 36 may be referred to as a second surface reading position. The second surface reading member 36 reads the surface of the conveyed document opposite to the first surface.

  The manuscript read on both sides of the first side and the second side is further discharged to the storage unit 6 or the first manuscript discharge port 37 included in the manuscript discharge unit 32 and the first manuscript discharge port 37 Are discharged to the space 321 facing the space, and discharged to the discharged document stacking section 322 to be stacked. Here, the direction in which the document is discharged to the storage unit 6 is the same as the direction in which the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 32, and these directions are the front direction of the image forming apparatus 1 (the Z-axis direction in the figure). is there. FIG. 7 shows a case where a document whose both sides, the first surface and the second surface, have been read is discharged to the storage unit 6. Hereinafter, discharge of the document to the storage unit 6 will be described.

  The original path that has passed through the second surface reading member 36 is switched by rotating the first switching member 151 to change the position. In FIG. 7, the first switching member 151 indicates a position where the sheet is conveyed to the storage unit 6, that is, a position where the first switching member 151 is switched to the storage unit conveyance path 153 indicated by a chain line.

  The document that has passed through the first switching member 151 passes through the second document discharge port 16A and the opening 621A, is discharged to the space 321 facing the second document discharge port 16A, and is stored in the storage tray 62A. Alternatively, the sheet is transported to the storage section 6B. FIG. 7 shows a case where a document is discharged to the storage section 6B. Hereinafter, discharge of a document to the storage section 6B will be described.

  The original path that has passed through the first switching member 151 is switched by rotating the second switching member 152 to change the position. FIG. 7 shows a position where the second switching member 152 switches to transport to the storage section 6B.

  The document that has passed through the switching member 152 passes through the second document discharge port 16B and the opening 621B, is discharged to a space 622B facing the second document discharge port 16B, and is stored in the storage tray 62B.

  As described above, the document discharged after reading is detected by the document discharge unit discharge detection sensor 39 to be discharged to the document discharge unit 32 through the first document discharge port 37. Also, the discharge to the storage tray 62A is detected by the storage section discharge detection sensor 63A. The discharge to the storage tray 62B is detected by the storage section discharge detection sensor 63B. Each discharge detection sensor is, for example, an optical sensor provided near each document discharge port, but is not limited thereto.

  The presence / absence of the discharged document in the storage tray 62A is detected by the first document presence / absence detection sensor 64A. Further, the presence / absence in the storage tray 62B is detected by the first document presence / absence detection sensor 64B. Each document presence / absence detection sensor is an optical sensor provided on the bottom surface of each storage tray, but is not limited to this.

  The document discharged as described above is detected by the document amount detection sensor 65A to determine whether the document amount in the storage tray 62A has exceeded the maximum storage amount of the storage tray 62A, for example. The document amount detection sensor 65B detects whether the document amount in the storage tray 62B, for example, exceeds the maximum storage amount of the storage tray 62B. Each document presence / absence detection sensor is a pressure sensor that is provided on the upper surface of each storage example and detects that the document bundle P stacked in the storage tray reaches a predetermined amount and is pressed, but is not limited thereto. Absent. Since the document amount detection sensors 65A and 65B are provided, when it is detected that the storage unit 6 has exceeded the maximum storage amount, a message to the effect that the user is full is displayed on the operation unit 4 or the like to notify the user. .

  The locking sections 17A and 17B are connected to the locking connection sections 623A and 623B, respectively, and locked so that the storage trays 62A and 62B cannot be pulled out of the image forming apparatus 1, and the connection with the locking connection sections 623A and 623B is released. The lock is unlocked so that the image forming apparatus 1 can be pulled out. Hereinafter, the operation of the locking units 17A and 17B will be described more specifically.

  FIG. 8 is a first explanatory diagram of the operation of the locking unit. FIG. 8 shows a locked state. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking portion 17A is, for example, a locking portion formed by a solenoid and fixed to a part of the housing 12, and includes a coil portion 171A, an iron core 172A, and a spring 173A. Iron core 172A has inclined portion 1721A.

  When the power supply to the coil portion 171A is off, the spring 173A pushes down the iron core 172A and enters the locking connection portion 623A into the recess 6231A of the locking connection portion 623A. This state of the locking portion 17A may be referred to as a locking position of the locking portion 17A. Since the rightward direction in FIG. 8 is the direction in which the storage tray 62A is pulled out, in this state, the portion of the storage tray 62A indicated by the dotted line 6232A in the figure is hooked on the iron core 172A, and the user cannot pull out. At this time, the storage tray 6A is at a storage position where the document is stored inside the image forming apparatus 1 and the document cannot be taken out from the inside. In addition, when it is in this position, it is locked and may be in the locked position.

  FIG. 9 is a second explanatory diagram of the operation of the locking unit. FIG. 9 shows the unlocked state.

  When the power supply to the coil portion 171 is on, the coil operates, the iron core 172 pushes up the spring 173, and the iron core 172 comes out of the concave portion 6231 </ b> A of the lock connection portion 623. This state of the locking portion 17 may be referred to as the unlocked position of the locking portion 17. At this time, the user can pull out the storage tray 62 without being caught by the iron core 172. At this time, the storage tray 6A is at a take-out position where the document is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 and the document can be taken out from the inside. Here, the direction in which the storage tray 6A moves from the storage position to the takeout position is the same as the direction in which the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 32, and these directions are the forward direction of the image forming apparatus 1 (in FIG. In the Z-axis direction). Thereby, the direction of taking out the document from the storage tray 6A can be made the same as the direction of taking out the document from the document discharge section 32, and the operability is improved.

  FIG. 10 is a third explanatory view of the operation of the locking unit. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the storage tray is moved from the pulled-out state to the storage position.

  When the power supply to the locking unit 17 is off, the iron core 172 is pushed down as in FIG. That is, the locking section 17 is at the locking position as in FIG. When the storage tray 62 is pushed rightward in FIG. 8 in this state, the lock connection portion 623 comes into contact with the inclined portion 1721, and a force for compressing the spring 173 acts on the spring 173. In this figure, the vehicle gets over the portion indicated by the dotted line 6232A, enters the inside of the concave portion 6231A, and enters the locked state. After the storage section 62 is pushed into the locked state, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the coil section 171 cannot be pulled out unless power is supplied.

  FIG. 10 illustrates the case where the storage tray 62 is moved to the storage position from the state where the power supply is off. In this case, when the storage tray 62 is pushed into the image forming apparatus 1, the lock can be automatically performed, but is not limited thereto. That is, the tray 62 may be closed in the state shown in FIG. 9, and after the user closes the tray 62, a lock instruction may be input from the operation unit 4 to turn off the power to the coil unit 171 and lock the coil unit 171.

  FIG. 11 is a modification of the image forming apparatus 1. 2B, the document is read from the front to the back of the image forming apparatus 1 and discharged, whereas the document is read from right to left and discharged from left to right. You. As described above, the document conveying direction may be changed according to the usage pattern of the user.

  FIG. 12 is another example of a cross-sectional view around the reading unit and the storage unit. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the automatic document feeder 3 and the storage unit 6 in the cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The description of the configuration in FIG. 12 is the same as the description of each component with the same reference numeral in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a modification of the image forming apparatus 1. It has an automatic transport device 3, an operation unit 4, an ejection unit 5, a storage unit 6, a handle 61, an image forming unit 7, and sheet trays 9A to 9D. In this modified example, there is one storage unit. As described above, the number of storage sections and sheet trays can be appropriately selected according to the usage pattern of the user. In the modification, the width direction is narrow, and the installation space can be further reduced.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the reading unit and the storage unit, and is another example. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the automatic document feeder 3 and the storage unit 6 in the cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The description of the configuration in FIG. 14 is the same as the description of each component with the same reference numeral in FIG.

  Although the present invention has been described using the image forming apparatus 1 as an example, the invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be realized as a reading apparatus having the automatic transport device 3 and the storage unit 6 described above. Further, an operation unit 4 and the like may be provided. By realizing the reading device, the effect of the present invention can be obtained with a more compact configuration when the image forming unit 7 is unnecessary.

  FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an input receiving unit 110 that receives an input, a display control unit 120 that controls display on the operation unit 4, a control unit 130 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1, and the image forming apparatus 1. It has a storage unit 140 for storing various data and programs, and a read / write processing unit 150 for reading and writing various data and programs to and from the storage unit 140. The storage unit 140 further includes a discharge destination authority storage unit 1401, a document discharge destination storage unit 1402, and an unlocking authority storage unit 1403.

  The input receiving unit 110 is realized by the processing of the operation unit 4 and performs a function of receiving an input according to a user operation. Information necessary for the operation may be displayed to the user.

  The display control unit 120 is realized by CPU processing of the control board 14 and executes a function of controlling a display screen displayed on the input reception unit 110.

  The control unit 130 is realized by CPU processing of the control board 14 and executes a function of controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The storage unit 140 is executed by processing of the HDD of the control board 14, and executes a function of storing a program, document data, various setting information necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, an operation log of the image forming apparatus 1, and the like.

  The read / write processing unit 150 is executed by the processing of the CPU of the control board 14, and performs a function of storing various data in the storage unit 140 and reading various data stored in the storage unit 140.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a table stored in the storage unit 140 in advance. As shown in FIG. 16A, in the discharge destination authority storage unit 1401, the login ID of the image forming apparatus 1 and the presence or absence of the use authority of the storage unit 6 of the login ID are associated in advance as an example of the user information. I have. The user information may be, for example, a login ID registered to use the image forming apparatus 1, but is not limited thereto, and may be a user ID separately registered to use the storage unit 6.

  As shown in FIG. 16B, a document creation date, which is a date when a document was created, as an example of document information, and a discharge destination storage unit are previously associated in the document discharge destination storage unit 1402. I have. Specifically, the document creation date is associated with “2011.01.01 or later” and the storage unit 6A, and the document creation date is “other / unknown” and the storage unit 6B. The example of the document information is not limited thereto, and may be any information on the document to be read, such as the document creator, the size of the document, whether the document is color or monochrome, the title of the document, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 16C, the unlocking authority storage unit 1403 previously associates the login ID of the image forming apparatus 1 as an example of the user information with the storage unit 6 whose login ID has the unlocking authority. Have been.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of the reading and discharging process. The flowchart starts when the user loads an original on the original stacking unit 31 or inputs an original to the operation unit 4 to activate the automatic original transport unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, the input receiving unit 110 receives a user ID input from the card reader R or the operation unit 4 (S11). The user ID input to use the image forming apparatus 1 may be used, or the user may be input again.

  Then, the input receiving unit 110 receives the discharge destination information input from the operation unit 4 (S12). The discharge destination information includes information on whether the read destination of the read document is the storage unit 6 or the document discharge unit 32. As an example of the receiving method, the display control unit 120 may display a button or the like on the operation unit 4 for selecting whether or not the user wants to discharge the paper to the storage unit 6, and may input the user. As another example of the accepting method, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the user has the authority to use the storage unit 6 as a discharge destination by referring to the discharge destination authority storage unit 1401 using the user ID input in step S11 as a key, The display control unit 120 may display a message to that effect to an unauthorized user. By doing so, the users who use the storage unit 6 can be further restricted, and the security can be strengthened.

  Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not to discharge to the storage unit 6 based on the input discharge destination information (S13). If it is determined that the document is to be discharged to the storage unit 6 (YES), the process proceeds to step S14. If the document is to be discharged to the document discharge unit 32 (No), the process proceeds to step S15.

  If the result of the determination in step S13 is that the document is to be discharged to the storage unit 6, the control unit 130 controls the discharge destination switching unit 15 to switch the discharge destination of the read original to the storage unit 6 (step S14). . An example of the switching method will be described with reference to FIG. 14. When the power supply to the first switching unit 151 of the discharge destination switching unit 15 is OFF, it is set so that the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 32. In S14, by starting to supply power to the first switching unit 151 of the discharge destination switching unit 15, the transport destination is switched to the storage unit transport path 153 that is the transport path of the storage unit 6A.

  Next, the control unit 130 executes a document reading process (S15). When the reading process is executed after the discharge destination is switched in this way, the automatic document feeder 3 can convey the document to the discharge destination while reading the document, thereby realizing the miniaturization and high-speed processing.

  When the reading process is completed in step S15, the control unit 130 discharges the document until the rear end of the document reaches the discharge destination (S16), and this flow ends.

  If the result of the determination in step S13 is that the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 36, the control unit 130 maintains the power supply to the discharge destination switching unit 15 OFF (S17). That is, as described with reference to FIG. 14, the control unit 130 sets the document to be discharged to the document discharge unit 32 when the power supply to the first switching member 151 of the discharge destination switching unit 15 is OFF as described above. In this case, by turning the power supply from the ON state to the OFF state, the document conveyance path is switched to the document discharge section conveyance path 38, which is the conveyance path of the document discharge section 32. In step S17, the read original is discharged to the original discharge unit 32 by maintaining the power OFF state of the first switching member 151 of the discharge destination switching unit 15.

  After the end of step S17, the control unit 130 executes steps S15 and S16, and this flow ends.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the reading process. 18 is a flowchart illustrating details of step S15 in FIG. 17 using FIG.

  When step S14 or step S17 in FIG. 17 ends, the control unit 130 instructs each member of the automatic document feeder 3 to start reading (S101). Then, the transport roller 33 as a paper feed unit is driven (S102), and the transport of the documents stacked on the document stacking unit 31 is started. When the conveyed document reaches the first surface reading position, the first surface reading member 35 reads the first surface of the document (S103), and when the conveyed document reaches the second surface reading position, the second surface reading member 35 reads the first surface. 36 reads the second side of the document (S104), this flow ends, and the routine goes to Step S16.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the accommodation unit switching process. The flow illustrated in FIG. 19 is an example in a case where the storage unit 6 has a plurality of storage units, for example, two storage units 6A and 6B.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 17, when step S13 is YES, the control unit 130 turns on the power supply to the first switching member 151 of the switching unit 15 (S201). As an example of the switching method, it is set so that the first switching member 151 is discharged to the document discharging unit 32 when the power supply to the first switching member 151 is OFF, and the first switching member 151 of the switching unit 15 is set in step S14. Then, the supply destination is switched to the storage section transfer path 153 which is the transfer path of the storage section 6 by starting the power supply to the storage section 6.

  Next, the control unit 130 determines whether the discharge destination is the storage unit 6B (S202). As an example of the determination method, if the storage unit 6A or 6B is input as the discharge destination information, the determination is made from the discharge destination information. As another example, the empty storage unit is determined as the discharge destination. This example is applied to a case where there are a plurality of storage units (6A, 6B) having unlocking authority, such as a specific login ID “12345” shown in FIG. The case where the login ID has the unlocking authority only in one storage unit is not applied, and a display such as “the storage unit 6A is full and cannot be stored” is displayed on the operation unit 4. That is, the control unit 130 acquires the detection results of the document presence / absence detection sensors 64A and 64B at that time, and determines the storage unit where there is no document as the discharge destination. As still another example, a storage unit capable of additionally storing a document is determined as a discharge destination. In other words, the control unit 130 acquires the detection results of the original amount detection sensors 65A and 65B at that time, and determines that the storage unit that can be additionally stored is the discharge destination, not the storage unit that already has a large amount of originals and cannot store any more. .

  If the result of the determination in step S202 is that the storage section 6B has been discharged (YES), the control section 130 turns on the power supply to the second switching member 152 (S203), and this flow ends. As an example of the switching method, the power supply to the second switching member 152 is set to be discharged to the storage section 6A in the OFF state, and the power supply to the second switching member 152 is started in step S203. Then, the discharge destination is switched to the storage section 6B.

  On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S202 is that the sheet is discharged to the storage section 6B (NO), the control section 130 maintains the power supply to the second switching member 152 OFF (S204), and this flow ends. In other words, as described above, when the power supply to the second surface reading member 152 is set to be discharged to the storage unit 6A when the power supply to the second surface reading member 152 is OFF as described above, the control unit 130 switches from the state where the power supply is once ON to By turning it off, the discharge destination of the document is switched to the storage unit 6B. In step S204, the read original is discharged to the storage unit 6B by maintaining the power OFF state of the second switching member 152.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the reading and discharging process. The flowchart starts when the user loads an original on the original stacking unit 31 or inputs an original to the operation unit 4 to activate the automatic original transport unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, the input receiving unit 110 receives a user ID input from the card reader R or the operation unit 4 (S21). The user ID input to use the image forming apparatus 1 may be used, or the user may be input again.

  Then, the input receiving unit 110 receives the discharge destination information input from the operation unit 4 (S22). The discharge destination information includes information on whether to discharge the read document to the storage unit 6 or the document discharge unit 32. As an example, the input may be performed by displaying a button or the like on the operation unit 4 for selecting whether or not the user wants to discharge to the storage unit 6. As another example of the accepting method, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the user has the authority to use the storage unit 6 as a discharge destination by referring to the discharge destination authority storage unit 1401 using the user ID input in step S11 as a key, The display control unit 120 may display a message to that effect to an unauthorized user. By doing so, the users who use the storage unit 6 can be further restricted, and the security can be strengthened.

  Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not to discharge to the storage unit 6 based on the input discharge destination information (S23). If it is determined that the paper is discharged to the storage unit 6 (YES), the process proceeds to step S24. If it is discharged to the document discharge unit 32 (NO), the process proceeds to step S25.

  If the result of the determination in step S23 is that the sheet is to be discharged to the storage unit 6, the control unit 130 executes a document reading process (S24). A specific example of the reading process in step S24 is the same as the flow in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 130 determines a discharge destination according to the document information obtained by reading in step S24 (S25). As an example of the determination method, the control unit 130 extracts an original creation date of the read original by performing an OCR (Optical Character Recognition / Reader) process on the read original. Using the extracted document creation date as a key, the document delivery destination storage unit 1402 shown in FIG. 16B is searched, and a delivery destination is selected. By determining the discharge destination in accordance with the information of the read original in this way, it is possible to reliably select the discharge destination and discharge the read original.

  Then, based on the determined discharge destination, the control unit 130 controls the discharge destination switching unit 15 (S26). A specific example of the processing in step S26 is the same as the flow in FIG. When step S26 is completed, the control unit 130 discharges the document until the rear end of the document reaches the discharge destination (S16), and this flow ends.

  When the discharge is determined based on the document information read from the first surface of the document as in this flow, the leading edge of the document is moved to the second switching member 152 after the document has passed the reading position on the first surface. It is necessary to perform image recognition until the image reaches the destination, and to execute determination of the discharge destination in step S25. Similarly, when determining discharge from document information read from the second surface, image recognition is performed after the document passes the reading position on the second surface until the leading edge of the document reaches the second switching member 152, It is necessary to execute up to the determination of the discharge destination in step S25. Since the processing time may be severe depending on the processing capacity and layout of the control unit 130 that determines the discharge destination, the switching of the first switching unit 151 is performed first before the start of the reading process in step S24. You may. By doing so, the time required to pass from the first switching unit 151 to the second switching unit 152 can be used as the processing time.

  On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S23 is not the storage unit 6 (NO), the control unit 130 maintains the reading process in step S28, the control OFF of the discharge destination switching unit 15 in step S29, and further discharges the rear end of the document. First, in this case, discharge is performed until the document reaches the document discharge 32 (S27), and this flow ends. A specific example of the process of step S28 is the same as the flow of FIG. 19, and a specific example of the process of step S29 is the same as step S17.

  Although it is possible to select a discharge destination not only from the storage sections 6A and 6B but also the document discharge section 32 from the read document information, the storage section 6 is selected as the discharge destination as in the present embodiment. By selecting the discharge destination from the document information only for the document with high security, the load on the apparatus required to acquire the document information can be reduced.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the unlocking process. It is a flow executed when the unlocking unit 17 is unlocked to pull out the storage unit 6.

  First, the input receiving unit 110 receives a user ID input from the card reader R or the operation unit 4 (S31). The user ID input to use the image forming apparatus 1 may be used, or the user may be input again.

  Then, the input receiving unit 110 receives an instruction for a desired storage unit from the user (S32).

  Then, the control unit 130 searches the unlocking authority storage unit 1403 using the input user ID as a key, and determines whether or not the user has the unlocking authority for the desired storage unit (S33).

  If the authority is granted in step S33 (YES), the desired storage unit is unlocked (S34), and this processing flow ends. As an example of the unlocking method, the power is supplied to the coil unit 171 as described with reference to FIG. 9 and the locking unit 17 is moved to the unlocking position. Then, the user can pull out the desired storage unit.

  If there is no authority in step S33 (YES), the display control unit 120 displays a message on the operation unit 4 indicating that there is no authority (S35), and this processing flow ends.

  Since only the authorized user can unlock the storage unit 6 in this manner, security can be enhanced.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. It is possible.

1 Image Forming Apparatus 3 Automatic Document Conveyor 32 Document Ejector 6 Storage 15 Discharge Destination Switching Unit 151 First Switching Unit 152 First Switching Unit 17 Locking Unit

JP-A-7-10362

Claims (17)

An image forming apparatus that reads a document conveyed through a conveyance path, generates image data, and forms an image on a sheet based on the image data,
An image forming apparatus including a storage unit capable of storing the document read and conveyed via a conveyance path inside the apparatus. A document discharge port for discharging the read document;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit has a space facing the document discharge port.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a document discharge unit configured to discharge the read document while exposing the document to the outside of the apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch which of the read document is discharged to the storage unit or the document discharge unit. 5. The storage unit is movable between a storage position where the document is stored and a removal position where the document can be removed from the storage unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a direction in which the storage unit moves is the same as a direction in which the document is discharged to the document discharge unit, and is the same as a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switching unit is controlled in accordance with document information that is information on the read document to switch a discharge destination of the document.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a locking unit that locks the storage unit so that the storage unit cannot be moved to the removal position. An operation unit that receives an operation input to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the locking / unlocking of the locking unit is performed based on an operation input to the operation unit.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus can be unlocked when a user who has performed an operation input to the operation unit has an authority to unlock. A transport reading unit that reads the transported document and generates image data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is located below the transport reading unit, and overlaps in a width direction of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the storage sections, and the plurality of the storage sections are located below the conveyance reading section and overlap in a height direction of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transport reading unit is capable of reading both sides of the document by one transport. A stacked document reading unit for reading the placed document,
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transport reading unit and the stacked document reading unit are arranged in parallel so as to overlap in a height direction. The transport reading unit is rotatable about a support shaft and can be opened and closed,
The support shaft is provided at an end of the image forming apparatus,
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an axis of the support shaft is a depth direction of the image forming apparatus. The transport reading device is rotatable about a support shaft and can be opened and closed,
The support shaft is provided at a central portion of the image forming apparatus,
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an axis of the support shaft is a depth direction of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a document transport direction, which is a transport direction of the transported document, is orthogonal to a sheet transport direction in which a sheet on which an image is formed is transported. A conveyance reading unit that reads a document conveyed through the conveyance path and generates image data;
A reading device including a storage unit capable of storing the document read and conveyed via a conveyance path inside the apparatus.