JP2021066609A - Medium transportation unit, image reader and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain a configuration capable of more reliably and quickly detecting an occurrence of a jam in the vicinity of a feed roller pair while suppressing an increase in cost of a unit.SOLUTION: A medium transportation unit comprises: a feed roller feeding a medium to a downstream side; a separation roller separating the medium by nipping the medium between the feed roller and the separation roller; a pressing member pressing the medium against a separation roller side or a feed roller side at a position shifted from a nip position between the feed roller and the separation roller in a medium width direction being a direction intersecting with a medium transportation direction, and being capable of changing a posture; and detection means detecting a change in posture of the pressing member. The pressing member presses the medium against the feed roller side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a medium transport device for transporting a medium, and an image reading device and a recording device including the same.

Hereinafter, a scanner, which is an example of an image reading device, will be described as an example. The scanner may be provided with a feeder (also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder)) that automatically feeds a document, which is an example of a medium, and may be configured to automatically feed and read a plurality of documents. is there.

An example of such an apparatus configuration is shown in Patent Document 1. The medium supply device described in Patent Document 1 employs a configuration of a movable waist portion that presses and bends the medium. The waist portion bends the medium toward the pick roller side to give the medium a firmness, and suppresses clogging of the medium in the nip region of the medium by the feed roller pair composed of the pick roller and the brake roller.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-136644

By the way, a document detecting means for detecting the passage of a document is generally provided in the transport path for transporting the document. The document detecting means is provided at an appropriate position on the document transport path, and the control unit of the apparatus determines the passage of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the document, the size of the document, etc. based on the detection signal of the document detecting means. It can be detected.

Here, there are thick and thin originals, but especially in the case of extremely thin paper constituting non-carbonless copy paper, since the waist is weak, the above-mentioned waisting portion is used. Even if it is provided, the tip of the document does not smoothly enter the feed roller pair, and there is a risk that the paper tip will be crushed near the nip position of the feed roller pair and cause a jam. In general, the document detecting means that passes through the leading edge or the trailing edge of the document as described above is provided downstream of the feed roller pair, and the document detecting means provided at such a position does not detect the document. If the transfer of the original is stopped, the stop timing is late for the jam as described above, the jam becomes remarkable, and the damage given to the original becomes more remarkable.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a configuration capable of more reliably and quickly detecting the occurrence of jam in the vicinity of the feed roller while suppressing an increase in the cost of the apparatus. There is.

The medium transporting device according to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems separates the medium by niping the medium between the feed roller that feeds the medium to the downstream side and the feed roller. A posture change that presses the medium toward the separation roller side or the feed roller side at a position deviated from the nip position of the feed roller and the separation roller in the medium width direction that intersects the roller and the medium transfer direction. It is characterized by including a possible pressing member and a detecting means for detecting a change in posture of the pressing member.

According to this aspect, the medium transport device feeds the medium to the separation roller side or the feed at a position deviated from the nip position of the feed roller and the separation roller in the medium width direction which is the direction intersecting the medium transport direction. Since it is provided with a pressing member whose posture can be changed to press the roller side, the rigidity of the medium can be improved by bending at least a part of the medium by the pressing member, and the medium can be jammed (clogging). Can be suppressed.

Further, since the detection means for detecting the posture change of the pressing member is provided, that is, the jam of the medium is detected by using the pressing member, the jam of the medium can be detected at an earlier timing. In addition, by detecting jam in the medium using the pressing member, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cost of the device.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the pressing member presses the medium toward the feed roller side.
According to this aspect, since the pressing member presses the medium toward the feed roller side, an appropriate feed force is applied from the feed roller to the medium.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the detecting means has a posture larger than the posture change of the pressing member when the thickest medium among the conveyed media is pressed. It is characterized by detecting a change.

According to this aspect, the detecting means detects a posture change larger than the posture change of the pressing member when pressing the thickest medium among the conveyed media, so that the thick medium is conveyed. And the jam of the medium can be distinguished.

A fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a configuration in which, in any one of the first to third aspects, the detecting means detects a partial displacement of the pressing member due to a change in the posture of the pressing member.
According to this aspect, the detection means can be configured at low cost.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the detecting means includes a configuration for detecting the amount of change in posture of the pressing member.
According to this aspect, since the detecting means has a configuration for detecting the amount of change in the posture of the pressing member, jam can be detected with high accuracy.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is to stop the rotation of the feed roller when the detecting means detects a posture change of the pressing member by a predetermined amount or more in any one of the first to fifth aspects. It is a feature.

According to this aspect, when the detecting means detects a posture change of the pressing member by a predetermined amount or more, the rotation of the feed roller is stopped, so that damage to the medium when a jam occurs can be suppressed.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the control unit that controls the feed roller is equal to or more than a predetermined amount of the pressing member when the thickness of the obtained medium is thicker than a predetermined thickness. When the change in posture of the medium is detected, the feed operation of the medium by the feed roller is continued for a predetermined time.

When the thickness of the medium is thicker than the predetermined thickness, the medium is stiff, so that the non-feed due to insufficient transport force, for example, is more than the jam caused by the tip crushing near the nip position between the feed roller and the separation roller. Probability is high. Therefore, when the control unit that controls the feed roller detects a posture change of the pressing member by a predetermined amount or more when the thickness of the medium is thicker than a predetermined thickness, the control unit immediately feeds the feed roller for a predetermined time without stopping the rotation of the feed roller. Continue operation. As a result, erroneous detection can be suppressed and appropriate transportation can be performed.
The thickness of the medium can be obtained from, for example, driver information, or can be obtained from the thickness detecting means when the thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the medium is provided.

The image reading device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention includes a reading means for reading the medium and a medium carrying device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects for transporting the medium to the side of the reading means. It is characterized by being prepared.

The recording device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention includes a recording means for recording on a medium, a medium transfer device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects for transporting the medium to the side of the recording means, and the like. It is characterized by having.

According to the eighth aspect, the same effect as any one of the first to seventh aspects described above can be obtained in the image reading device and in the recording device according to the ninth aspect, respectively. ..

The perspective view of the non-feeding state of the medium in the image reading apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover is opened and the output tray is unfolded in the image reading device according to the present invention. The side view which shows the medium feeding path in the image reading apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper unit is rotated with respect to the lower unit in the image reader. The perspective view which shows the periphery of the feed roller. A side view showing a state of a pressing member when a thin paper is conveyed. The perspective view which shows the state of the pressing member when a thin paper is conveyed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The side view which shows the state of the pressing member when a thick paper is conveyed. The side view which shows the state of the pressing member when the paper jam occurs at the nip position of a feed roller and a separation roller. The perspective view which shows the state of the pressing member when the paper jam occurs at the nip position of a feed roller and a separation roller. The perspective view which shows the periphery of the feed roller in 2nd Example. The side view which shows the posture of the pressing member in the jam non-detection state in 2nd Example. The perspective view which shows the posture of the pressing member in the jam non-detection state in 2nd Example. The side view which shows the posture of the pressing member in the jam detection state in 2nd Example. The perspective view which shows the posture of the pressing member in the jam detection state in 2nd Example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same configuration in each embodiment is designated by the same reference numerals and will be described only in the first embodiment, and the description of the configuration will be omitted in the subsequent examples.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medium in a non-feeding state in the image reading device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a state in which the cover is opened and the paper ejection tray is expanded (that is, paper feeding) in the image reading device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a feedable state), FIG. 3 is a side view showing a medium feeding path in the image reading device according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the feed roller is moved, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the feed roller.

Further, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the state of the pressing member when the thin paper is conveyed, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state of the pressing member when the thin paper is conveyed. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state of a pressing member when thick paper is conveyed, and FIG. 10 is a nip between a feed roller and a separation roller. It is a side view which shows the state of the pressing member when the paper is jammed at the position.

Further, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state of the pressing member when a paper jam occurs at the nip position between the feed roller and the separation roller, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the feed roller in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a side view showing the posture of the pressing member in the jam non-detected state in the second embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the posture of the pressing member in the jam non-detected state in the second embodiment. 15 is a side view showing the attitude of the pressing member in the jam detection state in the second embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the attitude of the pressing member in the jam detection state in the second embodiment. ..

Further, in the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction is the device width direction, the paper width direction, the Y direction is the paper transport direction in the image reading device, and the Z direction is orthogonal to the Y direction. It shows a direction that is approximately orthogonal to the surface of the paper to be conveyed. In each drawing, the −Y direction side is the front side of the device, and the + Y direction side is the back side of the device.

■■■ Example ■■■■
<<< About image reader >>>
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the scanner 10 as an “image reader” includes a lower unit 12, an upper unit 14, a cover portion 16, a paper ejection tray 18, and a paper transport device 48 (FIG. 1) described later. 5) and. In this embodiment, the upper unit 14 is rotatably attached to the lower unit 12 with the downstream side in the paper transport direction as a rotation fulcrum with respect to the lower unit 12 (see FIG. 4).

Further, a cover portion 16 is rotatably attached to the lower unit 12 on the upper portion on the back surface side of the lower unit 12. The cover portion 16 has a non-feeding state that covers the upper portion of the upper unit 14 and the feeding port 20 (see FIG. 2) as shown in FIG. 1 and a back surface of the device as shown in FIG. 2 from the non-feeding state of FIG. It is possible to take a feedable state in which the feed port 20 is opened by rotating to the side. Then, when the cover portion 16 is in a feedable state as shown in FIG. 2, the back surface of the cover portion 16 functions as a paper placing surface 16a of the paper P as a “medium”.

Further, a discharge port 24 for discharging the paper P is provided on the front side of the lower unit 12 device. Further, the lower unit 12 includes a paper discharge tray 18 that can be pulled out from the discharge port 24 toward the front side of the device. The output tray 18 may be stored in the bottom of the lower unit 12 (see FIG. 1) or pulled out to the front side of the device (see FIG. 2). Further, in the present embodiment, the output tray 18 is configured by connecting a plurality of tray members, and the drawing length from the ejection port 24 can be adjusted according to the length of the ejected paper P.

<About the paper transport route in the scanner>
Next, the paper transport path 26 as the “medium transport path” in the scanner 10 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Further, in FIG. 3, in the lower unit 12 and the upper unit 14, only the outer shell of the housing is shown by a virtual line. The thick solid line with the reference numeral P in FIG. 3 indicates the guide path of the paper transported along the paper transport path 26 in the scanner 10. Further, in FIG. 3, the pressing member 50, the detecting means 52, and the driven roller 54, which will be described later, are not shown.

In this embodiment, the paper P set in the feeding port 20 is supported and mounted on the back surface of the cover portion 16 which takes a posture of rotating toward the back surface side of the device with respect to the lower unit 12, that is, the paper mounting surface 16a. Placed. A plurality of sheets of paper P can be set in the feeding port 20.

The paper P placed on the paper mounting surface 16a is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction by a feed roller 28 in which the paper P placed at the bottom is rotationally driven by a motor which is a drive source (not shown). Will be done. The outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 28 is made of a high friction material (for example, an elastomer such as rubber).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral G indicates a bundle of paper P placed (set) on the paper mounting surface 16a. Before the start of feeding, the tip of the paper bundle G is held at the feeding standby position (position in FIG. 3) by a stopper (not shown), and the paper bundle G is restricted from entering between the feeding roller 28 and the separation roller 30 described later. ing.

Further, a separation roller 30 is provided at a position facing the feed roller 28. The separation roller 30 is provided in a state of being urged with respect to the feed roller 28 by an urging means (not shown). In this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the separation roller 30 is made of a high friction material (for example, an elastomer such as rubber) like the feed roller 28.

Further, in this embodiment, the separation roller 30 is provided with a torque limiter 32. The separation roller 30 is in a direction opposite to the rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) for sending the document downstream from a torque applying means (not shown) or a drive source such as a motor via the torque limiter 32 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). It is configured to receive drive torque in the clockwise direction).

That is, when the separation roller 30 is in direct contact with the feed roller 28, the rotational torque received from the feed roller 28 exceeds the limit torque of the torque limiter 32, so that the separation roller 30 rotates in accordance with the feed roller 28 (in FIG. 3). Clockwise).

Then, when the feeding of the paper P is started and a plurality of sheets of paper P are inserted between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, the separation roller 30 does not receive rotational torque from the feed roller 28 and is driven by the feed roller 28. The rotation stops. As a result, the upper paper P (paper P for which double feeding should be prevented) other than the lowest paper P to be fed cannot receive the conveying force for advancing to the downstream side, and the tip thereof becomes the separation roller 30. It is not possible to proceed to the downstream side while in contact. Therefore, double feeding of the paper P is prevented. Since the lowest paper P to be fed is in direct contact with the feed roller 28, it advances to the downstream side due to the transport force received from the feed roller 28.

In this embodiment, a plurality of feed rollers 28 are provided at intervals in the device width direction (X direction) as shown in FIG. Specifically, the lower unit 12 is provided with two feed rollers 28 at intervals in the device width direction. Further, two separation rollers 30 are also provided at intervals in the device width direction corresponding to each feed roller 28.

Subsequently, a double feed detection sensor 34 for detecting double feed of the paper P is arranged on the downstream side of the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30. In this embodiment, the double feed detection sensor 34 is configured as an ultrasonic sensor including a speaker unit and a microphone unit. Further, the double feed detection sensor 34 is configured to oscillate ultrasonic waves from the speaker unit toward the paper P passing through the paper transport path 26, and detect the reflected sound from the paper P by the microphone unit. In this embodiment, the double feed detection sensor 34 is configured to not only detect double feed of the paper P by the frequency of the reflected sound, but also detect a paper type such as thick paper.

Further, in the paper transport path 26, a transport roller pair 36 is provided on the downstream side of the double feed detection sensor 34. The transport roller pair 36 includes a transport drive roller 36a and a transport driven roller 36b that rotates driven by the transport drive roller 36a. In this embodiment, the transport drive roller 36a is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown).

An image reading unit 38 as a "reading means" is provided on the downstream side of the transport roller pair 36. Here, the image reading unit 38 is conveyed along the paper conveying path 26 and the upper reading unit 40 provided in the upper unit 14 so as to face the upper surface of the paper P conveyed along the paper conveying path 26. A lower reading unit 42 provided on the lower unit 12 so as to face the lower surface of the paper P is provided. In this embodiment, the upper reading unit 40 and the lower reading unit 42 are configured as reading units, and as an example, they are configured as a close contact type image sensor module (CISM).

After the image reading unit 38 reads an image of at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the paper P, the paper P is nipped into a discharge roller pair 44 located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the image reading unit 38 and discharged. It is discharged from 24.

Further, in the present embodiment, the discharge roller pair 44 includes a discharge drive roller 44a and a discharge driven roller 44b that rotates driven by the discharge drive roller 44a. In this embodiment, the discharge drive roller 44a is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown). The transport drive roller 36a and the discharge drive roller 44a may be rotationally driven by a common drive source, or may be rotationally driven separately by different drive sources.

Further, in this embodiment, a control unit 46 is provided in the lower unit 12. In this embodiment, the control unit 46 is configured as an electric circuit including a plurality of electronic components. The control unit 46 controls a drive source that rotationally drives the upper reading unit 40, the lower reading unit 42, the feed roller 28, the transport drive roller 36a, and the discharge drive roller 44a. Further, the control unit 46 receives the detection signal from the double feed detection sensor 34 and controls the transfer of the paper P in the scanner 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 46 is configured to control the feeding and image reading operation of the paper P in the scanner 10. Further, the control unit 46 may control the operation necessary for executing the document reading operation in the scanner 10 by an instruction from the outside (PC or the like).

■■■ First Example ■■■■
<<< About paper transport equipment >>>
Next, the paper transport device 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 11. The separation roller 30 is not shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. In this embodiment, the paper transport device 48 includes a feed roller 28, a separation roller 30, a pressing member 50, and a detection means 52. With reference to FIG. 5, the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 are in contact with each other at position T1. That is, the position T1 is a nip position where the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 nip the paper P. Then, in the present embodiment, the driven roller 54 is provided on the upstream side of the nip position T1 in the transport direction in the paper transport path 26.

The driven roller 54 comes into contact with the feed roller 28 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the nip position T1 in a state where the upper unit 14 is closed with respect to the lower unit 12. Then, the driven roller 54 nips the paper P placed on the paper mounting surface 16a between the feed roller 28 and feeds the paper P to the nip position T1 between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30.

In this embodiment, the pressing member 50 is provided at the position where the separation roller 30 is provided in the transport direction in the paper transport path 26. The pressing member 50 is arranged between the two separating rollers 30 in the device width direction. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the pressing member 50 includes a base end portion 50a having a swing shaft 56, a pressing portion 50b, a detected portion 50c, and a regulated portion 50d.

In this embodiment, the base end portion 50a is formed on the downstream side of the pressing portion 50b in the conveying direction, and the detected portion 50c is in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the paper P to be conveyed with respect to the pressing portion 50b. It is formed on the upper side. Further, the regulated portion 50d protrudes from the detected portion 50c toward the feed roller 28 side.

In this embodiment, the pressing member 50 is configured to be swingable with the swing shaft 56 as the swing center. Specifically, when the pressing member 50 swings in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6 with the swing shaft 56 as the swing center, the pressing portion 50b protrudes into the paper transport path 26 and swings in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. When moved, the pressing portion 50b retracts from the paper transport path 26.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the urging means 58 is attached to the swing shaft 56. In this embodiment, the urging means 58 is configured as a torsion spring as an example. Then, one end of the urging means 58 is attached to the base end portion 50a, and the other end is attached to the first regulating portion 14a provided in the upper unit 14. The urging means 58 urges the pressing member 50 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6, that is, the pressing portion 50b is directed toward the feed roller 28.

Further, when the paper P is not conveyed in the paper conveying path 26, the regulated portion 50d of the pressing member 50 comes into contact with the second regulating portion 14b provided on the upper unit 14 due to the urging force of the urging means 58. , Is being urged towards the second regulatory section 14b. That is, the pressing member 50 is restricted from swinging in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 so that the pressing portion 50b does not protrude more than a predetermined amount into the paper transport path 26 by the urging force of the urging means 58.

When the paper P is conveyed in a state where the pressing portion 50b protrudes into the paper conveying path 26 in the pressing member 50, the pressing portion 50b and the tip of the paper P come into contact with each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the pressing portion 50b of the pressing member 50 presses the paper P between the pair of feed rollers 28. More specifically, the pressing member 50 curves the portion of the paper P that comes into contact with the pressing portion 50b, that is, the portion between the pair of feed rollers 28 in the width direction of the device, downward. As a result, when the paper P comes into contact with the pressing portion 50b in the paper transport path 26, a cock ring shape is formed on the paper P, and the rigidity of the paper P can be increased.

Further, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 again, the upper unit 14 is provided with the detecting means 52. In this embodiment, the detection means 52 is configured as an optical sensor as an example. As shown in FIG. 7, the detecting means 52 includes a light emitting unit 52a and a light receiving unit 52b. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 52a and the light receiving unit 52b are arranged at intervals in the device width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the detected portion 50c enters between the light emitting portion 52a and the light receiving portion 52b due to the swing of the pressing member 50, and blocks the light emitted from the light emitting portion 52a toward the light receiving portion 52b. Then, the detection means 52 is in the detection state. Then, when the detection means 52 is in the detection state, the detection means 52 is configured to transmit a detection signal to the control unit 46. In this embodiment, when the control unit 46 receives the detection signal from the detection means 52, the control unit 46 controls to stop the rotation of the feed roller 28 (details will be described later).

The relationship between the pressing member 50 and the detecting means 52 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11. In FIG. 6, the solid line with the reference numeral P1 indicates a guide path for thin paper in the paper transport path 26. That is, FIGS. 6 and 7 show the state of the pressing member 50 when the thin paper P1 is conveyed along the paper conveying path 26. In this embodiment, the thin paper P1 includes, for example, extremely thin paper constituting non-carbonless copy paper.

When the thin paper P1 is transported along the paper transport path 26, the posture change of the pressing member 50 centered on the swing shaft 56 is small, so that the posture change in the detected portion 50c is also small. In this state, the detected unit 50c does not enter between the light emitting unit 52a and the light receiving unit 52b of the detecting means 52. Therefore, the detection means 52 maintains the non-detection state. Since the control unit 46 has not received the detection signal of the detection means 52, the rotary drive of the feed roller 28 is continued. That is, the thin paper P1 is continuously conveyed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the pressing member 50 when the thick paper P2 is transported to the paper transport path 26 will be described. The thick paper P2 in this embodiment is set as the thickest medium among the papers P conveyed by the scanner 10. Further, the thick paper P2 includes a paper having a large friction coefficient between the papers and easily causing double feeding, for example, a special paper having a coat layer. When the thick paper P2 is conveyed between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, the pressing portion 50b of the pressing member 50 comes into contact with the thick paper P2. Then, the pressing member 50 swings in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9 against the urging force of the urging means 58.

As the pressing member 50 swings in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9, the detected portion 50c also swings in the counterclockwise direction. However, in this embodiment, when the thick paper P2 comes into contact with the pressing member 50, the amount of swing of the pressing member 50, and thus the detected portion 50c, that is, the posture change in the detected portion 50c is the detection position of the detecting means 52. It is smaller than the attitude change up to. Therefore, even if the thick paper P2 is conveyed along the paper conveying path 26, the detected unit 50c is not detected by the detecting means 52, so that the control unit 46 continues the rotational drive of the feed roller 28 to increase the thickness. Continue the transport of thick paper P2.

Next, the detection state of the detection means 52 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The solid line with the reference numeral P1'in FIG. 10 indicates a state in which the paper is jammed (paper jam) at the position where the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 are provided in the transport direction of the paper transport path 26.

As shown in FIG. 10, since the paper P1 having a thin thickness has low paper rigidity, the tip of the paper P1 does not smoothly enter between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, and the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 The tip of the paper P1 is crushed near the nip position T1 of the paper, and a jam (paper jam) tends to occur.

Here, if a jam (paper jam) occurs near the nip position T1 between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, the tip of the paper P1 is in a state where the paper P1 is stopped in the downstream side in the transport direction. Since the portion on the upstream side from the tip of the paper P1 continues to receive the conveying force from the feed roller 28, the portion on the upstream side is fed toward the tip of the paper P1. As a result, the portion upstream from the tip of the paper P1 is crushed in the paper transport path 26, particularly near the nip position T1.

Then, the crushed portion of the paper P1 makes the pressing portion 50b of the pressing member 50 oppose the urging force of the urging means 58 in the + Z-axis direction in FIG. 10, that is, a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the conveyed paper. Lift to. As a result, the posture change of the pressing member 50 becomes larger than the posture change when the thick paper P2 is conveyed, and the detected portion 50c enters between the light emitting portion 52a and the light receiving portion 52b of the detecting means 52 and is detected. The means 52 detects the detected portion 50c (see FIG. 11). Note that in FIG. 11, the jammed paper P1 is not shown.

When the detection means 52 detects the detected unit 50c of the pressing member 50, the detection means 52 transmits the detection signal to the control unit 46. Then, when the control unit 46 receives the detection signal, it determines that a jam (paper jam) has occurred between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, and stops the rotational drive of the feed roller 28. Next, the control unit 46 issues an alert to the effect that a jam has occurred.

That is, in this embodiment, the detection means 52 is set to detect a posture change larger than the posture change of the pressing member 50 when the thickest paper P2 among the papers P conveyed by the scanner 10 is pressed. Has been done. Then, since the control unit 46 stops the rotational drive of the feed roller 28 in response to the detection signal of the detection means 52, it is possible to suppress damage to the paper P due to jam (paper jam) before the jam on the paper P becomes noticeable. ..

■■■ Second Example ■■■■
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16. In the first embodiment, the detecting means 52 is configured to detect at least a part of the pressing member 50, that is, the detected portion 50c, but in the second embodiment, the detecting means 60 determines the amount of change in the posture of the pressing member 50. It differs from the first embodiment in that it is configured to detect. The separation roller 30 is not shown in FIGS. 14 and 16.

With reference to FIG. 12, the paper transport device 62 includes a feed roller 28, a separation roller 30, a pressing member 50, and a detection means 60. In this embodiment, the detection means 60 includes an encoder sensor 64 and a rotary scale 66.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, a disk-shaped rotary scale 66 is attached to the swing shaft 56 of the pressing member 50 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the rotary scale 66 swings together with the swing shaft 56. Further, a plurality of slit patterns (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary scale 66 along the circumferential direction. The slit patterns are provided at uniform intervals in the circumferential direction.

Further, the encoder sensor 64 is attached to the upper unit 14. The encoder sensor 64 is configured to sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the rotary scale 66 (see FIGS. 14 and 16). Then, when the rotary scale 66 swings together with the swing shaft 56, the encoder sensor 64 reads and detects a slit pattern (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary scale 66, and detects the swing shaft 56 and the pressing member. The amount of swing of 50, that is, the amount of change in posture is detected. That is, in this embodiment, the detection means 60 is configured as a rotary encoder.

Then, the detecting means 60 transmits the detected posture change amount of the pressing member 50 to the control unit 46. Then, when the posture change amount of the pressing member 50 is equal to or less than a preset predetermined amount, the control unit 46 continues the rotational drive of the feed roller 28, and when the posture change amount of the pressing member 50 is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. , The rotary drive of the feed roller 28 is stopped.

Hereinafter, a more specific description will be given. As shown in FIG. 13, when the thin paper P1 is conveyed, the posture change amount of the pressing member 50 is equal to or less than the set predetermined amount, so that the control unit 46 continues the rotational drive of the feed roller 28. Continue to convey the thin paper P1. The solid line with the reference numeral P1 in FIG. 13 indicates the guide path of the paper to be conveyed along the paper conveying path 26.

Next, the detection state of the detection means 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. The solid line with the reference numeral P1'in FIG. 15 indicates a state in which the paper is jammed (paper jam) at the position where the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 are provided in the transport direction of the paper transport path 26.

When a jam (paper jam) occurs near the nip position T1 between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, the crushed portion of the paper P1 uses the pressing portion 50b of the pressing member 50 as the urging force of the urging means 58. Against this, the paper is lifted in the + Z axis direction in FIG. 15, that is, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the paper to be conveyed. As a result, the amount of change in posture of the pressing member 50 exceeds a predetermined amount of change in posture. Then, the detecting means 60 detects that the posture change amount of the pressing member 50 exceeds a predetermined posture change amount, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 46.

Then, when the control unit 46 receives the detection signal, it determines that a jam (paper jam) has occurred between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, and stops the rotational drive of the feed roller 28. Next, the control unit 46 issues an alert to the effect that a jam has occurred. Also in this embodiment, the control unit 46 stops the rotational drive of the feed roller 28 in response to the detection signal of the detection means 60, so that the paper P is damaged before the jam on the paper P becomes noticeable, that is, due to the jam (paper jam). Can be suppressed.

<<< Example of modification of the example >>>
(1) In each embodiment, the control unit 46 controls to stop the rotation of the feed roller 28 when the detection signal in the detection means 52 or the detection means 60 is received, but it depends on the thickness of the paper P. You may change the control. For example, when the thickness of the conveyed paper P is equal to or greater than a predetermined thickness, the control unit 46 may continue the rotation operation of the feed roller 28 for a predetermined time after receiving the detection signal, instead of stopping the feed roller 28 immediately. ..

More specifically, when the thickness of the paper P is equal to or larger than a predetermined thickness, the rigidity is often high, and the feed roller 28 may have a jam (paper jam) between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30. There is a high possibility of non-feed due to insufficient transport capacity. Therefore, by continuing the rotational operation of the feed roller 28 for a predetermined time after the detection signal is received by the control unit 46, non-feed can be suppressed and erroneous detection by the detection means 52 and 60 can be suppressed. Further, in this case, the thickness of the paper P transported along the paper transport path 26 can be obtained from the driver information as an example. Alternatively, a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the paper P is provided on the upstream side of the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 in the transport direction of the paper transport path 26, and the feed roller 28 is based on the detection information from the thickness detecting means. You may control the rotation operation of.

(2) In each embodiment, the pressing member 50 has a configuration in which the paper P is pressed toward the feed rollers 28, but instead of this configuration, the paper P may be pressed toward the separation rollers 30. ..
(3) In the present embodiment, the pressing member 50 is arranged between the separation rollers 30 in the device width direction, but instead of this configuration, the pressing member 50 is placed at the nip position between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 in the device width direction. The paper P may be provided at a position deviated from T1 and pressed against the feed roller 28 side or the separation roller 30 side at a position deviated from the nip position T1 in the device width direction.

(4) In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the paper transport devices 48 and 62 are applied to the scanner 10 as an image reading device, but instead of this configuration, ink is ejected toward the paper. It may be applied to a recording device including a recording head as a "recording means", for example, an inkjet printer or the like.
(5) In each embodiment, two feed rollers 28 are provided, but instead of this configuration, one feed roller 28 may be provided, or three or more feed rollers 28 may be provided. Then, one or three or more separation rollers 30 may be provided according to the number of feed rollers 28.

To summarize the above description, the paper transport devices 48 and 62 include a feed roller 28 that feeds the paper P to the downstream side, and a separation roller 30 that separates the paper P by niping the paper P between the feed rollers 28. The paper P is pressed against the separation roller 30 side or the feed roller 28 side at a position deviated from the nip position T1 between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 in the medium width direction, which is the direction intersecting the medium transport direction, that is, in the device width direction. The pressing member 50 capable of changing the posture and the detecting means 52 and 60 for detecting the posture change of the pressing member 50 are provided.

According to the above configuration, the paper transport devices 48 and 62 are positioned at positions deviated from the nip position T1 between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 in the medium width direction, which is the direction intersecting the medium transport direction, that is, in the device width direction. Since the pressing member 50 whose posture can be changed is provided to press the paper P toward the separation roller 30 side or the feed roller 28 side, the rigidity of the paper P can be reduced by bending at least a part of the paper P by the pressing member 50. It can be improved and jamming (clogging) of the paper P can be suppressed.

Further, the detection means 52 and 60 for detecting the posture change of the pressing member 50 are provided, that is, the jam of the paper P is detected by using the pressing member 50, so that the jam of the paper P can be detected at an earlier timing. it can. In addition, by detecting the jam of the paper P by using the pressing member 50, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cost of the apparatus.

The pressing member 50 presses the paper P toward the feed roller 28. According to this configuration, an appropriate feed force is applied from the feed roller 28 to the medium.

The detecting means 52 and 60 detect a posture change larger than the posture change of the pressing member 50 when pressing the thickest paper P2 among the conveyed papers P. According to this configuration, it is possible to distinguish between the transfer of the thick paper P2 and the jam of the paper P.

The detecting means 52 includes a configuration for detecting a part of the pressing member 50, that is, a displacement of the detected portion 50c due to a change in the posture of the pressing member 50. According to this configuration, the detection means 52 can be configured at low cost.

The detection means 60 includes a configuration for detecting the amount of change in posture of the pressing member 50, for example, an encoder sensor 64 and a rotary scale 66. According to this configuration, jam can be detected with high accuracy.

When the detecting means 52 and 60 detect a change in posture of the pressing member 50 by a predetermined amount or more, the rotation of the feed roller 28 is stopped. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress damage to the paper P when it becomes a jam.

When the control unit 46 that controls the feed roller 28 detects a posture change of the pressing member 50 by a predetermined amount or more when the thickness of the obtained paper P is thicker than a predetermined thickness, the control unit 46 causes the feed roller 28 to feed the paper P for a predetermined time. continue.

When the thickness of the paper P is thicker than the predetermined thickness, the paper P is stiff, so that the jam is caused by the crushing of the tip of the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 near the nip position T1, for example, due to insufficient transport force. There is a high possibility of non-feed. Therefore, when the control unit 46 that controls the feed roller 28 detects a posture change of the pressing member 50 by a predetermined amount or more when the thickness of the paper P is thicker than the predetermined thickness, the control unit 46 does not immediately stop the rotation of the feed roller 28 and determines the predetermined thickness. The time feed operation is continued. As a result, erroneous detection can be suppressed and appropriate transportation can be performed.
The thickness of the paper P can be obtained from, for example, driver information, or if a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the paper P is provided, the thickness can be obtained from the thickness detecting means.

The scanner 10 includes an image reading unit 38 that reads a medium, and paper conveying devices 48 and 62 that convey the paper P to the side of the image reading unit 38.

The recording device includes a recording head that records on the paper P, and paper transport devices 48 and 62 that transport the medium to the side of the recording head.

The present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

10 ... Scanner, 12 ... Lower unit, 14 ... Upper unit, 14a ... 1st regulation part, 14b ... 2nd regulation part, 16 ... Cover part, 16a ... Paper mounting surface, 18 ... Paper output tray, 20 ... Feeding Port, 24 ... Discharge port, 26 ... Paper transport path, 28 ... Feed roller, 30 ... Separation roller, 32 ... Torque limiter, 34 ... Double feed detection sensor, 36 ... Transport roller pair, 36a ... Transport drive roller, 36b ... Transport Driven roller, 38 ... Image reader, 40 ... Upper reading unit, 42 ... Lower reading unit, 44 ... Discharge roller pair, 44a ... Discharge drive roller, 44b ... Discharge driven roller, 46 ... Control unit, 48, 62 ... Paper transport Device, 50 ... pressing member, 50a ... base end, 50b ... pressing, 50c ... detected, 50d ... regulated, 52, 60 ... detecting means, 52a ... light emitting, 52b ... light receiving, 54 ... driven Roller, 56 ... rocking shaft, 58 ... urging means, 64 ... encoder sensor, 66 ... rotary scale, G ... paper bundle, P, P1, P2 ... paper, T1 ... nip position

Claims (7)

A feed roller that sends the medium to the downstream side,
A separation roller that separates the medium by niping the medium between the feed roller and the
At a position deviated from the nip position of the feed roller and the separation roller in the medium width direction, which is a direction intersecting the medium transfer direction, and at a position at the nip position in the medium transfer direction, the medium transfer direction and the position. A posture-changeable pressing member that presses the medium toward the separation roller side or the feed roller side by contacting the medium from above in the height direction of the device intersecting the medium width direction.
A detection means for detecting a change in the posture of the pressing member larger than the change in the posture of the pressing member when the thickest medium among the conveyed media is pressed.
A medium transfer device equipped with. In the medium transport device according to claim 1, the pressing member presses the medium toward the feed roller side.
A medium transfer device characterized by the above. In the medium conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, the detecting means detects a change in the posture of the pressing member by detecting a displacement of a part of the pressing member.
A medium transfer device characterized by the above. In the medium transport device according to claim 1 or 2.
The pressing member is provided so as to be swingable with the medium width direction as an axial direction.
The detecting means detects a change in the posture of the pressing member by detecting the amount of swing of the pressing member.
A medium transfer device characterized by the above. In the medium transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, when the detecting means detects a posture change of the pressing member by a predetermined amount or more, the rotation of the feed roller is stopped.
A medium transfer device characterized by the above. A reading means to read the medium and
The medium transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which transports the medium to the side of the reading means.
An image reader equipped with. Recording means for recording on media and
The medium transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which transports the medium to the recording means side.
A recording device equipped with.

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