JP3487976B2 - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly, an automatic document feeder capable of feeding originals placed on different document mounts. Concerning a carrier device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various automatic document feeders having a plurality of document trays have been developed. In this type of automatic document feeder, a document bundle is placed on a plurality of document trays. By sequentially feeding the sheets, the number of documents set per job can be increased or made unlimited, which is very convenient and is often used (for example, as an automatic document feeder of this type, JP-A-63-10
No. 1234, No. 2-79336, No. 3-264434, No. 3-203751, No. 3-163467, No. 6-192.
49, etc.).

[0003]

However, in such a conventional automatic document feeder, a plurality of document trays are provided with a contact glass interposed therebetween, or the document trays are vertically arranged. Since a plurality of layers of the automatic document feeder are stacked, the automatic document feeder becomes large in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small automatic document feeder capable of continuously feeding a plurality of originals by devising a method of feeding originals. I am trying. In particular, the inventions according to claims 9 to 11 provide an automatic document feeder which can prevent a conveyance failure or a deterioration in conveyance accuracy when the widths of the originals placed on the original placing table are different. For the purpose of providing the invention, the inventions according to claims 12 to 16 can easily handle the discharged originals by separating the discharged originals according to the respective copy modes when the copy modes are different. An object is to provide an automatic document feeder.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a document is separated from a document stack made up of a plurality of documents to be placed on a document table by a separating / feeding unit and is fed into one sheet, and then is conveyed to a reading position by a conveying unit. Then, in the automatic document feeder configured to discharge the document whose image has been read at the reading position to the document discharging unit by the discharging unit, the document is placed on the document table in the automatic document feeder mounted in the image forming apparatus. A partition position that is provided and partitions the original placing table into two original placing tables, that is, a first original placing table and a second original placing table, which are arranged in series, and a position where the original placing table is communicated to form one original placing table. Can be moved to take
Functioning partitioning means, and is provided so as to be movable between the rear portion of the second original placing table and the rear portion of the first original placing table, and abuts on the rear end portion of the original placed on the second original placing table. It is characterized by having a possible back fence.

In this case, the document placing table is partitioned by the partitioning means into the first document placing table and the second document placing table which are arranged in series, and a small-sized document (for example, a small size) which is frequently used is used.
When a document whose length in the transport direction when setting a document is equal to or shorter than the widthwise direction of an A4 size document (this document is defined as a small size document thereafter), it is possible to process twice the document stack. In addition, the automatic document feeder does not become long in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the automatic document feeder can be downsized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 is the same as the invention according to claim 1, wherein a first document detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a document on the first document placing table, and a second document detecting means.
A second document detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a document on the document table. In that case, the presence / absence of a bundle of documents placed on the two document placing tables can be reliably detected.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 3 has an operation means for moving the partition means to a communication position by a predetermined key input operation in the invention according to claim 1 or 2. It has a feature. In that case, when processing a document of a size larger than that of a small size, the partition means is easily moved to the communicating position, and the first document mounting table and the second document mounting table are combined into one document mounting table. By using it, a large-sized document can be easily fed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
It is characterized in that it has position detection means for detecting that the partition means is at the partition position and the communication position. In that case, the current position of the partition means can be easily grasped. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the image forming apparatus performs copying in the same copying mode, the position detecting means, Based on the detection information from the first document detection unit and the second document detection unit, the partition unit is at the partition position, and
When an original is placed on the first original placing table and the second original placing table, the original placed on the first original placing table is fed by the separating / feeding means, and the first original placing table is fed. When there is no more originals, the partition means is moved to the communicating position, and the back fence is moved to the rear end of the first original placing table to move the original stack on the second original placing table to the first original placing table. It is characterized by having a control means for controlling so as to move it.

In this case, when there are no more originals placed on the first original placing table, the originals placed on the second original placing table are successively processed, and the number of processed originals is doubled. . Further, in the case of an automatic document feeder which feeds pages from the topmost document with the image surface of the document facing upward, the subsequent document (documents with continuous pages) is placed on the second document table. It can be processed further.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to the fifth aspect, the control means sets the document bundle based on the detection information from the first and second document detection means. The partition means is moved to the partition position when the document is moved from the second document placing table to the first document placing table, and at the same time the second bundle is fed while the document bundle moved to the first document placing table is being fed.
When the originals are placed on the original placing table and the feeding of the originals placed on the first original placing table is completed, the original stack placed on the second original placing table is returned to the first original placing table. It is characterized by performing movement control.

In this case, if the originals are no longer on the first original placing table, the second original is placed on the second original placing table.
The document stack placed on the document table is processed continuously,
An unlimited number of manuscripts can be processed. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, based on the detection information from the first and second document detecting means, on the first document table. When the copy start switch is operated when there is no document bundle on the second document placement table and there is a document bundle on the second document placing table, the first alarm means is provided.

In this case, it is possible to easily inform the operator that the document is placed by mistake. According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the control means sets the first original document based on the detection information from the first and second original document detecting means. When the copy start switch is operated when there is no document stack on the setting table and there is a document set on the second document setting table, the document set placed on the second document setting table is moved to the first document setting table. The feature is to let.

In this case, the original placed on the second original placing table is automatically moved to the first original placing table and smoothly fed. According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a first document for detecting a width of a document stack placed on the first document table. It is characterized by having a width detecting means and a second original width detecting means for detecting the width of the original placed on the second original placing table.

In this case, the widths of the originals placed on the first and second original placing tables can be easily grasped. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to the ninth aspect, the width direction of the originals provided on the first and second original placing tables is set. Based on the detection information from the first and second side fences aligned and the detection information from the first and second document width detection means, an alarm is issued when the widths of the document stacks placed on the first and second document mounting tables are different. It is characterized in that it has a second alarm means to be generated.

In this case, there is no possibility that the document will be conveyed poorly and the conveying accuracy will not deteriorate. That is, when a small-sized original is placed on the first original placing table and a large-sized original is placed on the second original placing table, the first side fence placed on the first original placing table is If the position is adjusted to the width of the small-sized document, the document stack on the second document table cannot be moved to the first document table.

According to the present invention, the warning is issued when the widths of the originals are different, so that when the feeding of the originals placed on the first original placing table is completed, the operator sets the first side fence to the second originals. It is possible to prevent the conveyance failure from occurring by adjusting to the bundle of documents placed on the placing table. On the other hand, a large-sized original is placed on the first original placing table, and the second original is placed on the second original.
When a small-sized original is placed on the original table, the first
When the first side fence placed on the document placing table is located at a position corresponding to the width of the large-sized document, the first side fence causes the first side fence to move when the document bundle of the second document placing table is moved to the first document placing table. Since the document cannot be conveyed while being guided, the conveyance accuracy is deteriorated and the document cannot be conveyed to a desired reading position.

In the present invention, a warning is issued when the widths of the originals are different, so that when the feeding of the originals placed on the first original placing table is completed, the operator sets the first side fence to the second originals. By adjusting the width to the original stack placed on the mounting table, it is possible to convey the document to a desired reading position without deteriorating the conveyance accuracy. Further, by carrying the image to the desired carrying position in this manner, it is not necessary to perform image processing for improving the reading accuracy on the image forming apparatus side.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 11 is, in the invention according to claim 9, provided on the first and second document placing tables, and the documents placed on the respective document placing tables are placed. First and second side fences that align the width direction, moving means that moves the first side fence provided on the first document placing table in the width direction of the document, and first and second
Based on the detection information from the document width detection means, when the widths of the document stacks placed on the first and second document mounting tables are different,
Side fence control means for driving the moving means so that the first side fence is located at the same position as the positioning position of the width of the document stack placed on the second document placing table.

In this case, the first side fence is automatically moved according to the width of the document placed on the second document placing table instead of issuing the warning as in the invention according to claim 10, It is possible to prevent the poor conveyance of the document from being deteriorated, and to prevent the conveyance accuracy from being deteriorated and to convey the document to a desired reading position. According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first aspect of the invention, the originals placed on the first original placing table and the second original placing table are copied in different copy modes. A command means for commanding the image forming apparatus, and a command is issued by the command means, and when the feeding of the bundle of documents placed on the first document placing table is completed, it is placed on the second document placing table. And a conveyance control unit that conveys the original in a conveyance mode corresponding to different copy modes.

In this case, when a document is copied in a different copy mode, the copy mode is instructed by the instructing means while the document placed on the first document placing table is being fed.
There is no need to wait until the feeding of a stack of originals placed on the original table is completed, the originals can be fed continuously, and by changing the transport mode, the originals of different copy modes can be Can be divided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides a sheet discharge path for discharging a document, the reading of which has been completed at the reading position, onto the second document table in the invention of the twelfth aspect. It is characterized by having. In that case, by using the second document placing table as the document discharging unit in addition to the document discharging unit,
It is possible to increase the number of document discharge units.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the conveyance control means, when an instruction is issued by the instruction means, It is characterized in that the original placed on the second original placing table is ejected to the original ejecting section, and the original placed on the second original placing table is ejected onto the second original placing table.

In this case, a bundle of originals conveyed in different copy modes can be sorted and the discharged originals can be handled well. According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to the twelfth aspect, the original document discharging unit has a discharged original document partitioning unit for partitioning a document discharged to the original document discharging unit. It is characterized by that.

In this case, one document output section is substantially two.
It can be used as a single document discharge unit, and it is not necessary to newly provide a document discharge path or a document discharge mechanism, and the structure of the automatic document feeder can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. The invention according to claim 16 is to solve the above problems, in the invention according to claim 12 or 15, the transport control means, when a command is issued by the command means,
The original placed on the first original placing table is ejected to the original ejecting section, and the ejected original partitioning means is moved onto the original ejected to the original ejecting section to eject the original onto the original. The present invention is characterized in that the original on the second original placing table is controlled to be ejected through the partitioning means.

In this case, a bundle of originals conveyed in different copy modes can be sorted and the discharged originals can be handled well.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are views showing a first embodiment of an automatic document feeder according to the present invention and correspond to the inventions described in claims 1 to 8. First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an automatic document feeder, and the automatic document feeder 1 is provided above an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire automatic document feeder 1.

Reference numerals 2 and 3 denote a first original tray (first original placing table) and a second original tray (second original placing table), respectively. These first original tray 2 and second original tray 3 are shown.
Are provided in series along the document feeding direction. A partitioning means 4 is provided between the first document tray 2 and the third document tray. As shown in FIG. 2, the partitioning means 4 is provided with a stepping motor 5, a pinion 6 attached to a rotating shaft of the motor 5, a tooth groove meshing with the pinion 6, and the pinion 6 rotates normally. 2 and the first link 7 and the second link 8 which move in different outward directions in FIG. 2 and move in different directions in FIG. 2 as the pinion 6 reverses. Attached to the second link 8, the first and second links 7, 8
Are movable so that they open when they move outward, and the first and second arms 9 and 10 that move so that the first and second links 7 and 8 close when they move inward, and a detection unit 7 provided on the second link 7.
The arm detection sensor 11 detects a.

The arm detection sensor 11 outputs a signal to the control unit 12 as the control means when the detection portion 7a is detected, as shown in FIG.
The detection information of this detection sensor 11 is used for drive control of the motor 5. Specifically, the control unit 12 normally rotates the pinion 6 from the home position via the drive motor 5 to move the first links 7 and 8 outward,
When the detection section 7a is detected by the arm detection sensor 11, the control unit 12 stops the motor 5. At this time, the first and second arms 9 and 10 are opened to communicate the first document tray 2 and the third document tray 3 (this position is referred to as a communication position). When the first and second arms 9 and 10 are closed, the control unit 12 drives the drive motor 5
When the drive motor 5 is driven by a predetermined number of steps until the drive motor 5 returns to the home position by rotating the pinion 6 in the reverse direction via the pinion 6, the control unit 12 stops the motor 5. To do. At this time, the first and second arms 9 and 10 are closed to partition the first document tray 2 and the third document tray 3 (this position is referred to as a partition position).

A back fence 13 is provided on the second original tray 3, and the back fence 13 is the second fence.
It is adapted to come into contact with the rear end portion of the document placed on the document tray 3. Further, the back fence 13 is adapted to move between the rear portion of the second original tray 3 and the rear portion of the first original tray 2, and the original placed on the second original tray 3 is transferred to the first original tray 2. It is designed to be moved to.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the back fence 13 is designed to move along a rail 14, which is located between the rear portion of the second original tray 3 and the first original tray 2. It extends between the rear. Further, the back fence 13 is connected to the transfer motor 16 via a loop-shaped timing belt 15, and the transfer motor 16 composed of this stepping motor is driven on the rail 14 via the timing belt 15 when the transfer motor 16 rotates in the forward and reverse directions. It has become so.

The home position of the back fence 13 is detected by the back fence detection sensor 17, and when the sensor 17 detects the back fence 13, this detection information is output to the control unit 12. . Based on this detection information, the control unit 12 moves the back fence 13 from the rear position of the second original tray 3 which is the home position to the rear position of the first original tray 2 as shown in FIG. From the rear of the second document tray 3 to the first document tray 2
When the back fence 13 is moved to the rear part, the transfer motor 16 is driven by the number of steps corresponding to the distance between the home position and the rear position of the first document tray 2 to move the back fence 13 in the opposite direction. When doing so, the transfer motor 16 is driven from the rear position of the first document tray 2 until the back fence 13 is detected by the back fence detection sensor 17. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 is a side fence for positioning the original placed on the first original tray 2 in the width direction, and 21 is a side fence for positioning the original placed on the second original tray 3 in the width direction. And is fixed on each tray 2, 3. Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 22 is a side fence provided on the second document tray 3 and is adapted to move along the right side of the width of the document. Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 is the fixed side fence of FIG.

The first original tray 2 is provided with a photo interrupter type first original set sensor (first original detecting means) 18, and the second original tray 3 is also provided with a photo interrupter type first original. A two-document setting sensor (second document detecting means) 19 is provided, and this sensor 18,
Reference numeral 19 is adapted to detect the presence or absence of documents on the first and second document trays 2 and 3 and output detection information to the control unit 12.

A bottom plate 23 is provided on the first document tray 2, and the bottom plate 23 is adapted to rotate in the vertical direction about a fulcrum 23a. The bottom plate 23 is configured to move in the vertical direction from a motor, a gear, or the like via a rotation mechanism 24 in response to a command from the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 is pressed when a copy start switch (not shown) is pressed, The bottom plate 23 is rotated upward, and the bottom plate 23 is moved downward when there is no document on the first document tray 2 and there is a document on the second document tray 3 as described later.

A paper feed belt 25 and a separation prevention roller 26 are provided on the downstream side of the first original tray 2 in the original conveying direction. The paper feed belt 25 is driven by a paper feed belt drive roller 27.
Is a signal from the control unit 12 in FIG.
The bundle of originals placed on the bottom plate 23 that has been moved upward is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction. Also,
The separation preventing roller 26 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 so as to separate and feed only the uppermost original from the original stack placed on the first original tray 2.

This separated original is a pull-out roller pair 28
Also, the sheet is conveyed on the curved conveying path 29 by the pair of conveying rollers 31 so as to be inverted and conveyed toward the contact glass (reading position) 30. A conveyance belt 32 is provided on the contact glass 30, and the original conveyed toward the contact glass 30 by the pull-out roller pair 28 and the conveyance roller pair 31 is conveyed by the conveyance belt 32 to the reading position on the contact glass 30. Will be stopped. The separation preventing roller 26, the sheet feeding belt driving roller 27, the pull-out roller pair 28, and the conveying roller pair 31 are driven by a driving force transmitted from a sheet feeding motor (not shown) via a gear mechanism.

Below the contact glass 30, there is provided a reading device (not shown) including a known light source, a mirror, a lens, a CCD and the like.
The document stopped above 30 is read by this reading device. The original that has passed over the contact glass 30 is nipped by the reverse driving roller 33 and the first driven roller 34 and conveyed toward the paper discharging roller pair 35, and is discharged by the paper discharging roller pair 35 to the paper discharging tray (original paper discharging section) 36. It is ejected on top.

Further, a first switching claw 37 is provided on the downstream side of the reverse driving roller 33 and the first driven roller 34 in the sheet discharge direction of the original, and the switching claw 37 has a tip end portion in the single-sided mode. Figure 1
In the middle, it moves to the upper side which is the first switching position and the reverse drive roller 3
3. The original is discharged to the discharge tray 36 by the first driven roller 34 and the discharge roller pair 35. Further, in the double-sided mode, the leading end of the first switching claw 37 moves downward, which is the second switching position in FIG. 1, to convey the document, which has been exposed on the contact glass 30, to the document guide member 38. ing.

A second switching claw 39 and a third switching claw 40 are provided in the vicinity of the document guide member 38, and the document is conveyed to the document guide member 38 by the first switching claw 37 in the second switching position and the document is 1, the tip end portion is guided by the second switching claw 39 which is rotated upward and the third switching claw 40 which is rotated upward in FIG.
33 and contact glass 30 by the second driven roller 33a
It is returned so that the back surface becomes the exposed surface.

The original whose exposure on the back side has been completed is the first switching claw.
By setting 37 as the lower side, the second switching claw 39 as the upper side and the third switching claw 40 as the lower side, the reversing drive roller 33 and the first driven roller 34 convey the document to the switchback path 42. The document conveyed to the switchback path 42 is sandwiched and conveyed by the feedback roller pair 43, and when the rear end of the document is clamped by the roller pair 43, the roller pair 43 reverses. . At this time, the second and third switching claws 3
Documents 9 and 40 are output from the switchback passage 42 to the output tray 36.
Is switched to a position for transporting. That is, the third switching claw 40
Is switched to the lower side and the second switching claw 39 is switched to the upper side, so that the document is discharged to the discharge tray 36 by the discharge roller pair 35. Further, since the originals are once conveyed to the switchback passage 43 when the double-sided originals are discharged, the originals discharged to the discharge tray 36 are arranged in page order.

On the other hand, the control unit 12 includes the first,
When there is no original on the first original tray 2 based on the detection information of the two original set sensors 18 and 19 and an original is placed on the second original tray 3, the first and second arms 9 and 9
While moving 10 to the communication position, back fence 13
Is moved to the rear end of the first original tray 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the automatic document feeder 1 is provided with an output device (first alarm means) 46 for issuing an alarm visually or as a sound by its operation panel or buzzer. Based on the detection information of the first and second document set sensors 18 and 19, the output device 46 detects that there is no document on the first document tray 2 and the second document document tray 3
When a document is placed on the sheet, and when a copy start switch (not shown) is operated, a message or sound is output by the display panel or buzzer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the automatic document feeder 1 is provided with an operation section (operation means) 45, and this operation section 45 is composed of keys provided on the operation panel. When you operate this operation unit 45, the control unit
When a signal is output to the control unit 12, the control unit 12 drives the stepping motor 5 to move the first and second arms 9 and 10 to the communicating position. The operation unit 45 may be provided on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 47 is the first original tray 2
It is a fence that aligns and positions the leading ends of documents placed on. Further, in this embodiment, the feeding belt 25, the separation preventing roller 26, the feeding belt driving roller 27, the pullout roller pair 2
8. The pair of conveying rollers 31 constitutes the separating / feeding means, the conveying belt 32 constitutes the conveying means, and the reversing drive roller 33 and the pair of discharging rollers 35 constitute the discharging means.

Next, the operation of the automatic document feeder 1 of this embodiment will be described for each document feeding process. The original is placed only on the first original tray 2 and the carrying process is performed.
In the case, first, when a document bundle G1 composed of a plurality of documents is placed on the first document tray 2 and the front end thereof is abutted against the fence 47,
The document set sensor 18 detects a document. Then, when the copy start switch is pressed, the control unit 12 moves the bottom plate 23 upward by the rotating mechanism 24 based on the detection information of the sensor 18 and the operation information of the copy start switch, and further, the paper feed belt drive roller. 27 is driven in the clockwise direction in the forward direction to drive the paper feed belt 25, and the separation preventing roller 26 is driven in the reverse direction in the clockwise direction to separate the uppermost document from the document stack G1.

This separated original is a pull-out roller pair 28
Further, after being reversely transported on the transport path 29 by the transport roller pair 31 and transported to the contact glass 30, it is stopped at a predetermined position and read on the contact glass 30 by the reading device. When the reading is completed, the original is carried out from the contact glass 30 by driving the conveyor belt 32 again, and then the document is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 36 by the reversing drive roller 33 and the paper discharge roller pair 35.

Small size originals are placed on the first original trays 2 and 3.
When placed and carrying processing in the same copy mode First, a document bundle G1 composed of a plurality of documents with their image surfaces facing up
Is placed on the first original tray 2 and is abutted against the fence 47 with its front end aligned, and similarly, the original bundle G2 with the image surface facing upward is placed on the second original tray 3 and its rear end is attached to the back fence. When the sheets are aligned and abutted on 13, the first and second document set sensors 18 and 19 detect the document.

At this time, since the first and second arms 9 and 10 are located at the partitioning position, the document bundles G1 and G2 are partitioned by the first and second arms 9 and 10. Next, when the copy start switch key is pressed, the control unit 12 moves the bottom plate 23 upward by the rotating mechanism 24 based on the detection information of the sensors 18 and 19 and the operation information of the start switch, and further, the paper feed belt. By driving the driving roller 27 in the clockwise direction in the forward direction to drive the paper feed belt 25 and driving the separation preventing roller 26 in the clockwise direction in the reverse direction, the originals on the first original tray 2 are transferred as described above. Feed the paper.

Next, when the control unit 12 judges that there is no original on the first original tray 2 based on the detection information from the first original set sensor 18, it controls the rotating mechanism 24 to lower the bottom plate 23. After that, the motor 5 is normally driven to move the first and second arms 9 and 10 to the communicating position, and the transfer motor 16 is driven to move the back fence 13 from the rear portion of the second document tray 3 to the first document. By moving the original stack G2 to the first original tray 2 by moving it to the rear of the tray 2.
(See FIG. 5).

Next, the back fence 13 is the first tray 2
When it moves to the rear part, the back fence 13 is returned to the home position again. Then, the control unit 12 drives the rotating mechanism 24 to raise the bottom plate 23 again, and moves the original stack G2 moved to the first original tray 2 as described above.
To feed. At this time, the control unit 12 drives the motor 5 in the reverse direction to move the first and second arms 9 and 10 to the partition position again. Next, when the original stack is placed on the empty second original tray 3 while the original stack G2 placed on the first original tray 2 is being fed, the control unit 12 causes 1 A bundle of documents G placed on the document tray 2
After feeding the second sheet, the first and second document set sensors 18, 1
As described above, the first and second arms 9 and 10 are moved to the communicating position based on the detection information of 9 and the back fence 13 is moved to the rear part of the first document tray 2 to move the second document tray 3 to the second document tray 3. The placed document stack is moved to the first document tray 2 and the document stack is subsequently fed.

Large size originals (for example, A4 size
The length of the document in the carrying direction is longer than the length in the lateral direction of the document.
When the manuscript is turned on) on the first and second trays 2 and 3, in this case, when the operation section 45 of the automatic document feeder 1 is operated, the control unit 12 operates the motor 5 based on the operation information. The arm members 9 and 10 are rotatably driven to move to the communicating position, and a large-sized document is placed on the first and second document trays 2 and 3.

Next, the control unit 12 is a sensor.
Based on the detection information of 18 and the operation information of the start switch, the bottom plate 23 is moved upward by the rotating mechanism 24, and the paper feeding belt driving roller 27 is driven in the clockwise direction to drive the paper feeding belt 25. And prevent separation
By driving 26 in the clockwise direction in the reverse direction, the document is fed as described above. Then, based on the detection information from the first document detection sensor 18, the control unit 12
When it is determined that there is no original on the first and second original trays 2 and 3, the motor 5 is reversely driven to perform the first and second originals.
The arms 9 and 10 are moved to the partition position to divide the first and second document trays 2 and 3 into a copy standby state.

No original is placed on the first original tray 2.
With the original placed on the second original tray 3
When the pee start switch is operated In this case, the control unit 12
Based on the output information of 18 and 19, it is determined that the original is not placed on the first original tray 2, the original is placed on the second original tray 3, and the operation information of the start switch is input. Then, a signal is output to the output device 46 and an alarm is issued by a message or sound. As described above, in this embodiment, the document trays are divided into two document trays, that is, the first document tray 2 and the second document tray 3, which are arranged in series. Between the positions of the originals placed on the second original tray 3 and the partitioning means 4 movable between the positions of the second original tray 3 and the rear portion of the second original tray 3 and the rear portion of the first original tray 2. Since the back fence 13 that can come into contact with the end portion is provided, the partition tray 4 partitions the document tray into the first document tray 2 and the second document tray 3 arranged in series, so that the frequency of use is high. In the case of a small-sized original, it is possible to process a doubled original bundle, and it is possible to prevent the automatic original feeding device 1 from becoming long in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. To reduce the size of the device 1 Can.

The first original set sensor 18 for detecting the presence or absence of the original on the first original tray 2 and the second original tray 3
A second document set sensor 19 for detecting the presence or absence of the document above,
Since the above is provided, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of a bundle of documents placed on the two document trays 2 and 3. Further, an operation section for moving the partitioning means 4 to the communication position by operating a key.
Since it has 45, when processing a document of a size larger than that of a small size, the partitioning means 4 is easily moved to the communicating position so that the first document tray 2 and the second document tray 3 are separated from each other. It can be used as one original tray, and a large-sized original can be easily fed.

Further, since the arm detecting sensor 11 detects that the partitioning means 4 is at the partitioning position and the communicating position, the current position of the partitioning means 4 can be easily grasped. Further, when the image forming apparatus makes a copy in the same copy mode, the partition means 4 is at the partition position based on the detection information from the arm detection sensor 11 and the first and second document set sensors 18 and 19. When the originals are placed on the first and second original trays 2 and 3, the originals placed on the first original tray 2 are fed, and when the originals on the first original tray 2 are exhausted, a partition means is provided. 4 is moved to the communicating position, and the back fence 13 is moved to the rear end portion of the first document tray 2 to control the document stack on the second document tray 3 to the first document tray 2. 12
Since the document stack placed on the first document tray 2 is used up, the stack of documents stacked on the second document tray 3 can be continuously processed when the documents stacked on the first document tray 2 are exhausted.
Can be doubled.

Further, in the automatic document feeder 1 in which the image surface of the original document is upward and the uppermost original is fed in the page-sequential manner as in the present embodiment, the succeeding original document (original of continuous pages) is first. 2 Can be placed on the document tray 3 and processed subsequently. Further, the control unit 12 sets the partition means 4 to the partition position when the document stack moves from the second document tray 3 to the first document tray 2 based on the detection information from the first and second document set sensors 18 and 19. Move and first
When the originals are placed on the second original tray 3 while the original stack moved to the original tray 2 is being fed, when the feeding of the originals placed on the first original tray 2 is completed, the second originals are fed again. Since the original stack placed on the tray 3 is controlled to move to the first original tray 2, if the originals are placed on the second original tray 3, the original stack placed on the second original tray 3 will be removed. Subsequent processing is possible and the document stack can be processed indefinitely.

Furthermore, the first and second document set sensors 18, 19
When the copy start switch is operated when there is no original bundle on the first original tray 2 and there is an original bundle on the second original tray 3 based on the detection information from the output device 45, a message or sound alarm is issued. Is issued, it is possible to easily inform the operator that the document is erroneously placed.

In this embodiment, an alarm is issued when a document is erroneously placed on the second document tray 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first and second document set sensors are not limited to this.
When the copy start switch is operated when there is no original bundle on the first original tray 2 and there is an original bundle on the second original tray 3 based on the detection information from the sensors 18 and 19, these sensors 18, 19 and If the control unit 12 controls the document stack placed on the second document tray 3 to move to the first document tray 2 based on the information from the copy start switch, the document is placed on the second document tray 3. The original can be automatically moved to the first original tray 2 and smoothly fed.

6 to 10 are views showing a second embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention and correspond to the inventions described in claims 9 to 11. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the first document tray 2 is provided with document width detection sensors 50a to 50c spaced apart in the width direction, and the second document tray 3 is provided with document width detection sensors 51a to 51c in the width direction. The sensors 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c are separated from each other by the actuators protruding from the upper surfaces of the trays 2 and 3 being moved downward when the originals are placed, so that the trays 2 and 3 are separated.
The original is detected by blocking a photo sensor provided on the lower surface of the document.

Further, side fences 52 fixed to the trays 2 and 3 are provided over the first and second document trays 2 and 3, and the documents placed on the trays 2 and 3 have side fences 52. By aligning the end faces, the sheets are fed on the basis of the end faces. And each of the above sensors 50a
.About.50c and 51a to 51c, the control unit 12 displays the detection information of the original when the original is placed on each of the trays 2 and 3.
It is designed to output to the control unit 12
Is adapted to determine the length of the document in the width direction based on the detection information of the sensors 50a-50c and 51a-51c.

That is, when a document whose width is short is placed on each of the trays 2 and 3, the sensor 50c on the back side in FIG.
Since only 51c detects the original and outputs a signal to the control unit 12, the control unit 12 determines that the original is short in the width direction based on the detection information. On the other hand, when a document having a long width is placed on each of the trays 2 and 3, all the sensors 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c detect the document and output a signal to the control unit 12. Based on the detection information, it is determined that the original is long in the width direction.

An opening 53a is formed between the first and second trays 2 and 3, and a guide member 53 is provided below the opening 53a. Further, on the original tray surface excluding the opening 53, the first side on one side forming the partition means 54 is formed.
An arm 55 is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, the partition means 54 includes a stepping motor 56 fixed to the guide member 53 and a pinion attached to the rotary shaft of the motor 56.
57 and a tooth groove that meshes with the pinion 57 are formed.The pinion 57 moves outward in the width direction of the document as the pinion 57 rotates in the normal direction, and moves in the width direction of the document as the pinion 57 rotates in the reverse direction. And a link 58 that moves toward one side, and this link 58 is connected to the first arm 55.

Further, the link 58 is provided with a detecting portion 58a, and this detecting portion 58a is detected by the arm detecting sensor 59. The arm detection sensor 59 outputs a signal to the control unit 12 when the detection unit 58a is detected, and the detection information of the detection sensor 59 is used for drive control of the motor 56. On the other hand, on the side fence 52 side, a second arm 60 on the other side that constitutes the partitioning means 54 is provided, and this second arm 60 is connected to the first link 61 as shown in FIG. The first link 61 is connected to a second link 62 having a tooth groove, and the tooth groove of the second link 62 meshes with a pinion 64 attached to a stepping motor 63 driven by the control unit 12. ing. A slit 62a is formed in the second link 62, and a pair of pins 65 are inserted in this slit 62a. Therefore, the pinion 64
When the pin rotates normally, the second link 62 moves outward in the width direction of the document with the pin 65 as a fulcrum, and moves inward in the width direction of the document as the pinion 64 rotates in the reverse direction.

Then, the control unit 12 causes the pinions 57 and 64 to rotate in the forward direction from the home position via the motors 56 and 63 to move the links 58 and 62 outward in the width direction of the document. When 58a is detected, the control unit 12 stops the motors 56 and 63. At this time, the first and second arms 55, 60 are opened and the first
The document tray 2 and the second document tray 3 are communicated with each other (this position is referred to as a communication position). When the first and second arms 55 and 60 are closed, the control unit 12 reverses the pinions 57 and 64 via the drive motors 56 and 63 to link 58,
When 62 is moved inward in the width direction of the document and the motors 56 and 63 are driven by a predetermined number of steps until returning to the home position, the control unit 12 stops the motors 56 and 63. At this time, the first and second arms 55, 60 are closed and the first
The document tray 2 and the second document tray 3 are partitioned (this position is called a partition position). In addition, as described above, the motor 5
6 and 63 are designed to be driven synchronously by the control unit 12.

A side fence 66 (first side fence) and a side fence (second side fence) 67 are provided on the first, second trays 2 and 3, respectively, and these side fences 66 and 67 are originals. It is designed to move in the width direction. Side fence 67 is second manually
It is movable on the document tray 3 and moves on the second document tray 3 according to the size of the document to move the side fence.
The edge of the document is abutted against 52 to guide the document together with the side fence 52.

The side fence 66 is fixed to the guide member 53 as shown in FIG. 10, and the side fence 66 is connected to the stepping motor 69 controlled by the control unit 12 via the timing belt 68. There is. Therefore, when the motor 69 is driven, the side fence 66 and the guide member 53 move in the width direction of the document via the timing belt 68, and the side fence 52 is brought into contact with the end portion of the document to cause the side fence 52 and the document together. The first arm 55 moves to the partitioning position according to the position of the side fence 66 while guiding. The timing belt 68 and the stepping motor 69 constitute a moving means.

On the other hand, the control unit 12 includes the first,
2 Based on the detection information from the document set sensors 18 and 19,
When the width of the document stack placed on the first and second document trays 2 and 3 is different, the side fence 66 on the first document tray 2 is located at the same position as the position of the width of the document stack on the second document tray 3. The motor 69 is driven so as to be in the position, and constitutes side fence control means.

Next, the operation of the automatic document feeder 1 of this embodiment will be described for each document feeding process. Place small size originals of the same width on the first original trays 2 and 3.
And carrying out the conveyance processing in the same copy mode First, a document bundle G1 composed of a plurality of documents with the image surface facing upward
Is placed on the first original tray 2 and is abutted against the fence 47 with its front end aligned, and similarly, the original bundle G2 with the image surface facing upward is placed on the second original tray 3 and its rear end is attached to the back fence. Align with 13 and hit. At this time, the first tray 2
Since the width of the upper document is detected by the sensors 50a to 50c, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the motor 69 to move the side fence 66 by an amount corresponding to the width direction of the document, and the side fence 52 and the side fence. The document bundle G1 is guided by the fence 66. Further, the operator manually moves the side fence 67 by an amount corresponding to the width of the document and guides the bundle of documents G2 by the side fence 52 and the side fence 67.

At this time, since the first arm 55 is moved to the optimum position according to the width direction of the document together with the guide member 53, the first arm 55 is positioned at the partition position together with the second arm 60 and the first and second trays. It divides a few manuscripts above. Then
When the copy start switch key is pressed, the control unit 12 moves the bottom plate 23 upward by the rotating mechanism 24 based on the detection information of the sensors 18 and 19 and the operation information of the start switch, and further, the paper feed belt drive roller. 27
Is rotated clockwise in the clockwise direction to drive the paper feed belt 25, and the separation prevention roller 26 is driven in the clockwise direction in the reverse direction to feed the originals on the first original tray 2 as described above. To do.

Next, when the control unit 12 judges that there is no original on the first original tray 2 based on the detection information from the first original set sensor 18, it controls the rotating mechanism 24 to lower the bottom plate 23. After that, the motor 5 is normally driven to move the first and second arms 9 and 10 to the communicating position, and the transfer motor 16 is driven to move the back fence 13 from the rear portion of the second document tray 3 to the first document. By moving the original stack G2 to the first original tray 2 by moving it to the rear of the tray 2.
(See FIG. 9).

Next, the back fence 13 is the first tray 2
When it moves to the rear part, the back fence 13 is returned to the home position again. Then, the control unit 12 drives the rotating mechanism 24 to raise the bottom plate 23 again, and moves the original stack G2 moved to the first original tray 2 as described above.
To feed. At this time, the control unit 12 drives the motor 5 in the reverse direction to move the first and second arms 9 and 10 to the partition position again. Next, when the original stack is placed on the empty second original tray 3 while the original stack G2 placed on the first original tray 2 is being fed, the control unit 12 causes 1 A bundle of documents G placed on the document tray 2
After feeding the second sheet, the first and second document set sensors 18, 1
As described above, the first and second arms 9 and 10 are moved to the communicating position based on the detection information of 9 and the back fence 13 is moved to the rear part of the first document tray 2 to move the second document tray 3 to the second document tray 3. The placed document stack is moved to the first document tray 2 and the document stack is subsequently fed.

The width of the original placed on the second original tray 3 is
If the width of the original placed on the first tray 2 is larger than that of the original placed on the first and second original trays 2 and 3, it is detected by the original set sensors 18 and 19 and the width of the original is detected. Are original width detection sensors 50a-50c and 51a-
It is detected by 51c.

Then, as described above, first the first tray 2
When the first document set sensor 18 detects that there is no document on the first document tray 2 after the feeding of the upper document stack is completed,
The control unit 12 controls the rotation mechanism 24 to control the bottom plate 23.
After lowering, drive the motor 69 and
Is moved by an amount corresponding to the width of the original bundle G2 placed on the second original tray 3.

Next, the motors 56 and 63 are driven in the forward direction to move the first and second arms 55 and 60 to the communicating positions, and
By driving the transfer motor 16 to move the back fence 13 from the rear portion of the second original tray 3 to the rear portion of the first original tray 2, the original stack G2 is moved to the first original tray 2. Next, when the back fence 13 moves to the rear part of the first tray 2, the back fence 13 is returned to the home position again.

Next, the control unit 12 detects the sensor.
Document bundles G1 and G2 detected by 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c
And the side fence 66 is moved by the number of pulses corresponding to the difference to drive the side fence 66 to the front side in FIG.
Move to the optimum position according to the width of the side fence 52,
The above-described conveyance processing is performed while guiding both widthwise end portions of the document by 66.

The width of the original placed on the second original tray 3 is
When the width of the original placed on the first tray 2 is smaller than that of the original placed on the first and second original trays 2 and 3, the original set sensors 18 and 19 detect the width of the original. Are original width detection sensors 50a-50c and 51a-
It is detected by 51c.

Then, as described above, first the first tray 2
When the first document set sensor 18 detects that there is no document on the first document tray 2 after the feeding of the upper document stack is completed,
The control unit 12 controls the rotation mechanism 24 to control the bottom plate 23.
After lowering the
Hold 66 in place. Then the motor 56,
63 is driven in the normal direction to move the first and second arms 55, 60 to the communicating position, and the transfer motor 16 is driven to move the back fence 13 from the rear part of the second document tray 3 to the first document tray 2
The original stack G2 is moved to the first original tray 2 by moving it to the rear portion. Next, when the back fence 13 moves to the rear part of the first tray 2, the back fence 13
To return to the home position again.

Next, the control unit 12 detects the sensor.
Document bundles G1 and G2 detected by 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c
The width difference between the side fence 66 and the side fence 66 is determined by driving the motor 69 so as to move the side fence 66 inward in FIG. 6 by the number of pulses corresponding to the difference. Move to the optimum position according to the side fence 52, 66
The above-described conveyance process is performed while guiding both ends of the document in the width direction.

As described above, in this embodiment, the document width detection sensors 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c for detecting the width of the document stack placed on the first and second document trays 2 and 3 are provided. 2 It is possible to easily grasp the width of the originals placed on the original trays 2 and 3. Further, a timing belt 68 for moving the side fence 66 provided on the first document tray 2 in the width direction of the document and a stepping motor 69 are provided,
The control unit 12 uses the document width detection sensors 50a-50
1st and 2nd based on the detection information from c and 51a to 51c.
When the widths of the document stacks placed on the document trays 2 and 3 are different, the motor 69 is set so that the side fence 66 is positioned at the same position as the position of the width of the document stacks placed on the second document tray 3. Since the driving is performed, it is possible to prevent the conveyance failure of the document and the deterioration of the conveyance accuracy.

That is, as described above, when a small-sized original is placed on the first original tray 2 and a large-sized original is placed on the second original tray 3, the original is placed on the first original tray 2. If the placed side fence 66 is located at a position that matches the width of a small-sized document, the document stack on the second document tray 3 cannot be moved to the first document tray 2.

In this embodiment, when the original widths are different,
When the originals on the first tray 2 are completely fed, the side fences 66 are automatically moved so as to have the same width as the originals placed on the second original tray 3 to prevent the conveyance failure. It can be prevented from occurring. On the other hand, as described above, when a large size original is placed on the first original tray 2 and a small original is placed on the second original tray 3,
If the side fence 66 is located at a position corresponding to the width of a large-sized document, the document bundle on the second document tray 3 cannot be conveyed while being guided by the side fence 66 when moved to the first document tray 2. However, the conveyance accuracy is deteriorated and the document cannot be conveyed to a desired reading position.

In this embodiment, when the original widths are different,
When the feeding of the originals on the first original tray 2 is completed, the side fence 66 is automatically moved so as to have the same width as the width of the originals placed on the second original tray 3, so that the conveyance accuracy is improved. Can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the sheet can be conveyed to a desired reading position. Further, by carrying the image to the desired carrying position in this manner, it is not necessary to perform image processing for improving the reading accuracy on the image forming apparatus side.

Although the side fence 66 is moved by the motor 69 in this embodiment, the side fence 66 may be manually moved. In this case, when the widths of the document stacks placed on the first and second document trays 2 and 3 differ based on the detection information from the document width detection sensors 50a to 50c and 51a to 51c, a message or a buzzer on the display panel is displayed. It suffices to provide an output unit (second alarm unit) (not shown) for issuing an alarm based on the above. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the conveyance failure or the deterioration of the conveyance accuracy as described above.

11 and 12 are views showing the third embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention, and correspond to the invention described in claims 12-14. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
Since the side fence 13 and its driving means have the same structure as in the first embodiment, this portion will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, reference numeral 71 is a calling roller, and the calling roller 71 feeds the original placed on the first original tray 2. A pressing member 72 is provided above the calling roller 71, and the pressing member 72 is rotated by a solenoid 70 together with a rotating shaft 74 so as to come into contact with and separate from the original. Further, a stop claw 73 is provided on the rotary shaft 74, and the stop claw 73 is rotated together with the rotary shaft 74 by the solenoid 70 so that the stop claw 73 is located between a position where the leading edge of the document abuts and a position where it separates from the leading edge. To move.

The pressing member 72 and the stop claw 73 are moved in one direction together with the rotary shaft 74 by the solenoid 70 in the standby state where the original is set on the first tray 2, so that the stop claw 73 is moved. The pressing member 72 is designed to be separated from the original document while the original document 73 is prevented from coming into contact with the leading edge of the original document and entering the paper feeding unit. Also,
When the document is fed, it is moved in the other direction by the solenoid 70 together with the rotary shaft 74, so that the stop claw 73 is separated from the leading end of the document to allow the document to enter the feeding unit, and the pressing member 72 is also provided. Presses against the document and presses it, and at this time, the document is fed by the calling roller 71.

The original thus fed is fed by a feeding belt driving roller 77 which is rotated clockwise and a feeding belt 75 which is slidably contacted with the feeding belt 75 and rotated by a separation preventing roller which is rotated clockwise. After the uppermost original is separated by 76, it is conveyed and stopped by the contact glass 30 by the conveying roller pair 78 and the conveying belt 32, and is read by the reading device.

A paper discharge means 79 having two paper discharge paths is provided on the downstream side of the original transport of the contact glass 30, and the paper discharge means 79 includes a paper discharge driving roller 80 and a paper discharge reverse roller.
81, a pair of paper discharge rollers 82 and 83, and first and second switching claws 84 and 85. The switching claws 84, 85 are driven by the first and second solenoids 86, 87, respectively, and the solenoids 86, 87 are driven by the output signal from the control unit 12.

The paper discharge driving roller 80 is in sliding contact with the driven roller 80a and the driven roller 80b, and the original carried out from the contact glass 30 is nipped by the paper discharge driving roller 80 and the driven roller 80a to be on the paper discharging path 88. It is designed to be transported. The control unit 12 outputs a signal to the first solenoid 86 so that the first switching pawl 84 moves the original conveyed on the paper discharge path 88 to the discharge roller pair 82 side or the discharge roller pair 83 side. Is switched to the first discharge tray (original paper discharge portion) 89 provided below the first and second trays 2 and 3, or the extended discharge path 88a extending upward from the discharge path 88. 2 The document is discharged onto one of the two document trays 2.

The second switching claw 85 is used when the double-sided original whose one side has been read is returned to the contact glass 30 again. That is, when a double-sided document whose one side has been read is unloaded from the contact glass 30, a signal is output from the control unit 12 to the first solenoid 86 and the second solenoid 87, and the first switching claw 84 ejects the sheet from the transport path. By switching to the roller pair 82 side and switching the transport path to the return path 90 side by the second switching claw 85, the document sandwiched by the discharge driving roller 80 and the driven roller 80a is discharged from the discharge path 88 and the return path 90. It is returned to the contact glass 30 via.

When the document whose both sides have been read by the contact glass 30 is carried out from the contact glass 30, the control unit 12 stops outputting a signal to the first solenoid 86, and the second solenoid 87 is released.
And a signal is output to the first switching claw 84 and the discharge path is set to the discharge roller pair.
By switching to 82 or discharge roller pair 83,
Documents are discharged onto a discharge tray (document discharge unit) 89 provided below the second trays 2 and 3 or the second tray 3.

The switching of the first and second switching claws 84 and 85 is performed by the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 performs this switching based on the transport mode. That is, an operation panel (not shown) of the automatic document feeder 1 is provided with an operation key (command means) 91 for instructing the copying machine to copy a document in different copying modes. When the operation keys 91 are used to instruct copying in different modes, the first and second switching claws 84 are provided so that the originals placed on the first original tray 2 are discharged to the discharge tray 89. When the switch 85 is switched, the first and second switching claws are provided so that the document placed on the second document tray 3 is discharged onto the second document tray 3.
It is designed to switch between 84 and 85. In this embodiment, the control unit 12, the first and second solenoids 86,
The 87 and the first and second switching claws 84 and 85 form a conveyance control means. In addition, the calling roller 71, the paper feed belt 75, the separation prevention roller 76, the paper feed belt drive roller 77, and the transport roller pair 78 are separated.
It constitutes the paper feeding means.

Next, the operation of the automatic document feeder 1 of this embodiment will be described for each document feeding process. When small-sized originals are placed only on the first tray 2, first, when the original bundle G1 composed of a plurality of originals is placed on the first original tray 2 and the front end thereof is abutted against the stop claw 73, the first originals are placed. The set sensor 18 detects the document. Next, when the copy start switch is pressed, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the solenoid 70 based on the detection information of the sensor 18 and the operation information of the copy start switch. Therefore, the stop claw 73 is separated from the leading end of the document stack G1 to allow the document to enter the sheet feeding unit, and the pressing member 72 abuts and presses the document.

Next, the paper feeding motor is driven to call the calling roller.
The feeding of the original bundle G1 is started by 71, the paper feeding belt driving roller 77 is driven in the clockwise direction in the forward direction to drive the paper feeding belt 75, and the separation prevention roller 76 is driven in the clockwise direction in the reverse direction. Thus, the uppermost original is separated from the original bundle G1. This separated original is
After being transported to the contact glass 30 by the 78 and the transport belt 32, the contact glass is stopped at a predetermined position, and the contact glass is stopped.
Read by reader on 30. When the reading is completed, the original is carried out from the contact glass 30 by driving the conveyor belt 32 again.

Also, at the time of carrying out the control unit
When the signal is output to the first solenoid 86 by 12, the first switching claw 84 is switched to the conveyance path communicating with the pair of paper ejection rollers 82, and therefore the paper is nipped and conveyed by the paper ejection drive roller 80 and the driven roller 80a. Document is ejected onto the output tray 89. Place small-sized originals on the first original trays 2 and 3
In the case of carrying the conveying process in the copy mode, first, a document bundle G1 made up of a plurality of documents is placed on the first document tray 2 and the stop claw 73 is abutted with its front end aligned. 2 Place it on the document tray 3 and align the rear edge with the back fence 13
The first and second document set sensors 18 and 19 detect the document.

At this time, since the first and second arms 9 and 10 are located at the partitioning position, the document bundles G1 and G2 are partitioned by the first and second arms 9 and 10. Then, when the copy start switch key is pressed, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the solenoid 70 based on the detection information of the sensors 18 and 19 and the operation information of the start switch to cause the stop claw 73 to move the leading end of the document stack G1. Separated from original G1
Is allowed to enter the paper feeding section, and the pressing member 72 abuts and presses the original.

Next, the paper feeding motor is driven to call the calling roller.
The feeding of the original bundle G1 is started by 71, and the separated originals are conveyed to the contact glass 30 as described above, and the discharge tray 89
Discharge on top. At the time of feeding a document on the first document tray 2, the copy mode of the document, which will be described later, can be set on the operation panel. Next, when the control unit 12 determines that there is no original on the first original tray 2 based on the detection information from the first original set sensor 18, it stops outputting the signal to the solenoid 70,
The stop claw 73 is lowered and the pressing member 72 is moved to the first position.
Separate from the tray 2 side.

Next, the motor 5 is driven in the normal direction to drive the first and second motors.
The arms 9 and 10 are moved to the communicating position and the transfer motor 16 is driven to move the back fence 13 to the second original tray 3
The original stack G2 is moved to the first original tray 2 by moving it from the rear portion to the rear portion of the first original tray 2 (see FIG. 5). Next, when the back fence 13 moves to the rear part of the first tray 2, the back fence 13 is returned to the home position again. Next, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the solenoid 70 based on the detection information of the document set sensor 18 to separate the stop claw 73 from the leading end of the document stack G2 so that the document stack G2 can enter the paper feed section. At the same time, the pressing member 72 abuts against the original to apply pressure. By the time the operation key 91 is pressed, the document stack G
If a different copy mode is not set for 1,
The original bundle G2 is conveyed in the same copy mode as the original bundle G1 and is conveyed onto the paper discharge tray 89.

On the other hand, when different copy modes are set by the operation keys 91, the paper feed motor is driven to start feeding the original stack G2 by the calling roller 71 and separate the contact glass 30 as described above. Transport the original. Then, on the contact glass 30, a document bundle G1 is produced by a copying machine.
The exposure operation is performed in a different copy mode. Further, in the control unit 12, the preceding document bundle G1 has a pair of discharge rollers 83.
At the time point when the sheet has passed through, the output of the signal to the first solenoid 86 is stopped, and the first switching claw 84 switches to the conveyance path communicating with the pair of paper discharge rollers 83. For this reason, documents that have been read on the contact glass 30 will not be ejected by the paper ejection drive roller 80 and driven roller.
Documents that are nipped and conveyed by the 80a are extended in the discharge path 88.
The sheet is discharged onto the second tray 3 through a.

As described above, this embodiment has the operation keys 91 for instructing the image forming apparatus to copy the originals placed on the first original tray 2 and the second original tray 3 in different copy modes. When a command is issued by this operation key 91 and the feeding of the original bundle G1 placed on the first original tray 2 is completed, the original bundle G2 placed on the second original tray 3 is fed as it is. The control unit 12 for conveying a document in a conveyance mode corresponding to different copy modes, first and second solenoids 86 and 87, and conveyance control means including the first and second switching claws 84 and 85 are provided. When copying an original in the copy mode,
By instructing the copy mode with the operation keys 91 while the document placed on the document tray 2 is being fed, the first document tray 2
There is no need to wait until the feeding of the stack of documents placed on the tray is completed, and the documents can be fed continuously, and the documents in different copy modes can be sorted by changing the transport mode. be able to.

Further, since the extended paper discharge path 88a is provided as a conveyance path for discharging the original document, which has been read on the contact glass 30, to the second original document tray 3, the original document discharge portion can be increased. In addition, the control unit 12
When a command is issued to carry in a different carrying mode by the operation keys 91, the manuscript placed on the first manuscript tray 2 is discharged to the manuscript tray 89, and placed on the second manuscript tray 3. Since the discharged originals are controlled to be discharged to the second original tray 3, a bundle of originals conveyed in different copy modes can be sorted and the discharged originals can be handled properly. it can.

13 to 16 are views showing an automatic document feeder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and correspond to claims 15 and 16. In this embodiment, instead of discharging the discharged original onto the second original tray as in the third embodiment, a discharged original partitioning means is provided in the discharge tray to divide the discharged original. The same components as those in the third embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, reference numeral 100 denotes a sheet discharge means, and this sheet discharge means 100 is a sheet discharge driving roller 101 and a sheet discharge reverse roller.
It is composed of a switching claw 102, a switching claw 103, a solenoid 105, and a pair of discharge rollers 104. The paper ejection drive roller 101 is configured to sandwich the document conveyed from the contact glass 30 by the conveyor belt 32 together with the driven roller 101a and convey it on the paper ejection path 106. The switching claw 103 is configured to be switched by a solenoid 105 controlled by the control unit 12, and this solenoid 105 is used when the signal from the control unit 102 is not input, the pair of paper discharge rollers 104.
The discharge path is switched to, and when the signal is output from the control unit 12 when the other side of the double-sided document whose one side has been read is read, the transport path can be switched to the return route 107. There is. In addition, the paper ejection reverse roller
The document 102 is adapted to be conveyed to either one of the pair of discharged rollers 104 or the return path 107.

On the other hand, a partition member 108 is provided on the paper discharge tray 89, and is driven by a motor 109 as shown in FIGS. The motor 109 is driven based on a signal from the control unit 12, and a gear 110a is meshed with a gear 109a provided on the drive shaft of the motor 109. This gear 110 is a crankshaft 111
Of the rotary shaft 111, and the other end of the rotary shaft 111 is slidably inserted into the slit 108a of the partition member 108.

A fixed shaft 112 fixed to the paper discharge tray 89 is slidably inserted into the other slit 108b of the partition member 108, and the partition member 108 is biased clockwise by a spring 113. . A partition claw 108c is provided at the end of the partition member 108, and the partition claw 108c projects through the opening 89a of the paper discharge tray 89 onto the document discharge surface of the document tray 89.

The partitioning member 108 having such a configuration operates on the basis of the signal from the control unit 12 to the motor 109.
When the gear 109a is driven in the clockwise direction by the, the crankshaft 111 rotates counterclockwise via the gear 110 and the slit 1
Move along 08a. At this time, the slit 108b of the partition member 108 rotates counterclockwise along the fixed shaft 112, and the partition claw 108c comes out of the opening 89a of the paper discharge tray 89.

When the motor 109 further rotates,
The partition member 108 rotates clockwise and the partition claw 108c moves upward and is inserted into the opening 89a (this state is shown in FIG. 16).
Shown in. In addition, in the figure, it operates along the arrow direction). Further, the detection unit 1 is provided at a predetermined position on the crankshaft 111.
11a is provided, and this detection unit is detected by the partition claw position detection sensor 114. The detection information of the detection sensor 114 is output to the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 controls the motor 109 based on this detection information.

In this embodiment, the partition member 108, the motor 109,
The gear 110, the crankshaft 111, the fixed shaft 112, the spring 113, and the detection sensor 114 form a discharged document partitioning unit. Next, a case will be described in which small-sized originals are placed on the first original trays 2 and 3 and are conveyed in different copy modes.

A document bundle G1 composed of a plurality of documents is placed on the first document tray 2 and abutted on the stop claw 73 with its front end aligned, and similarly, the document bundle G2 is arranged on the second document tray 3 as well.
When the sheet is placed on the back side of the back fence 13 with its rear end aligned, the first and second document set sensors 18 and 19 detect the document. At this time, since the first and second arms 9 and 10 are located at the partitioning position, the document bundles G1 and G2 are placed in the first and second arms 9 and 10.
It is partitioned by.

Then, when the copy start switch key is pressed, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the solenoid 70 based on the detection information of the sensors 18 and 19 and the operation information of the start switch to cause the stop claw 73 to move the original stack G.
The original G1 draft is allowed to enter the paper feed section while being separated from the leading end of the sheet No. 1, and the pressing member 72 abuts the original to apply pressure.

Next, the paper feeding motor is driven to call the calling roller.
The feeding of the original bundle G1 is started by 71, and the separated originals are conveyed to the contact glass 30 as described above, and the discharge tray 89
Discharge on top. At the time of feeding a document on the first document tray 2, the copy mode of the document, which will be described later, can be set on the operation panel. Next, when the control unit 12 determines that there is no original on the first original tray 2 based on the detection information from the first original set sensor 18, it stops outputting the signal to the solenoid 70,
The stop claw 73 is lowered and the pressing member 72 is moved to the first position.
Separate from the tray 2 side.

Next, the motor 5 is driven in the normal direction to drive the first and second motors.
The arms 9 and 10 are moved to the communicating position and the transfer motor 16 is driven to move the back fence 13 to the second original tray 3
The original stack G2 is moved to the first original tray 2 by moving it from the rear portion to the rear portion of the first original tray 2. Next, when the back fence 13 moves to the rear part of the first tray 2, the back fence 13 is returned to the home position again. Next, the control unit 12 outputs a signal to the solenoid 70 based on the detection information of the document set sensor 18 to separate the stop claw 73 from the leading end of the document stack G2 so that the document stack G2 can enter the paper feed section. With
The pressure member 72 abuts against the document to apply pressure. If a different copy mode is not set for the original bundle G1 by the operation keys 91 by the end of this operation, the original bundle G2 is conveyed in the same copy mode as the original bundle G1 and is delivered to the discharge tray 89.
Transported on. At this time, the control unit 12 does not drive the motor 109, but keeps the partition claw 108c inserted into the discharge tray 89 through the opening 89a. Therefore, the stack of originals G that have been discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 89a
The ends of 1 and G2 are placed on the partition claw 108c.

On the other hand, when different copy modes are set by the operation keys 91, the paper feeding motor is driven to start feeding the original bundle G2 by the calling roller 71 and separate the contact glass 30 as described above. Transport the original. Then, on the contact glass 30, a document bundle G1 is produced by a copying machine.
The exposure operation is performed in a different copy mode. The control unit 12 also takes time T1 required for conveying, reading and discharging the last page of the original bundle G1 placed on the first tray 2 and the first page of the original bundle G2 moved to the first tray 2. During time T2 required for separating, feeding, conveying, reading, and discharging the original document, the motor 109 drives the gear 109a clockwise to drive the partition member 108 as shown in FIG. The partition claw 108c is located on the upper surface of the end portion of the original bundle G1 discharged to the discharge tray 89 first. The control unit 12 is operated by stopping the motor 109 to stop the rotation of the partition member 108 when the sensor 114 detects the detection unit 111a. The detection position of the detection unit 111a is the first position.
By setting the position of the document stack placed on the document tray 2 to the maximum amount, the partition claw 108c is prevented from being mistakenly inserted between the preceding document stack G1 and the document stack G1 is surely secured. It is preferable that the document stack G2 is divided.

As described above, in this embodiment, the originals discharged to the discharge tray 89 are used for the partition claw 1 of the partition member 108.
Since it is partitioned by 08c, one paper output tray 89 can be used substantially as two paper output trays, and it is not necessary to provide a new paper output path or a new paper output mechanism. The structure of the document feeder 1 can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

When the control unit 12 is instructed by the operation keys 91 to carry in different carrying modes, the control unit 12 discharges the originals placed on the first original tray 2 to the discharge tray 89. , The partition claw 108c is moved onto the document stack G1 discharged to the discharge tray 89, and the document stack G2 placed on the second document tray 3 is discharged onto the document stack G1 via the partition claw 108c. Since it is controlled so that the bundle of originals conveyed in different copying modes can be sorted, the discharged originals can be handled well.

[0116]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the document placing table is partitioned by the partitioning means into the first document placing table and the second document placing table which are arranged in series, so that the small size is used frequently. In the case of the original document, it is possible to process twice the original document bundle, and it is possible to reduce the size of the automatic document feeder by preventing the automatic document feeder from becoming long in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to reliably detect the presence / absence of a bundle of documents placed on the two document placing tables. According to the invention described in claim 3, when processing a document of a size larger than that of a small size,
By moving the partitioning means to the communicating position easily and using the first original placing table and the second original placing table as one original placing table, a large-sized original can be easily fed.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the current position of the partition means can be easily grasped. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when there are no more originals placed on the first original placing table, the bundle of originals placed on the second original placing table is successively processed to obtain the number of processed originals. Can be doubled. Further, in the case of an automatic document feeder which feeds pages from the topmost document with the image surface of the document facing upward, the subsequent document (documents with continuous pages) is placed on the second document table. It can be processed further.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the original stack is no longer present on the first original placing table, the original placed on the second original placing table can be placed by placing the original on the second original placing table. The stack can be processed subsequently and the document stack can be processed indefinitely. According to the invention described in claim 7, it is possible to easily inform the operator that the document is placed by mistake.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the original placed on the second original placing table can be automatically moved to the first original placing table and smoothly fed. According to the invention described in claim 9, the width of the document placed on the first and second document placing tables can be easily grasped. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the warning is generated when the widths of the originals are different, so that when the feeding of the originals placed on the first original placing table is completed, the operator sets the first side fence By matching the original stack placed on the second original placing table, it is possible to prevent the conveyance failure from occurring.

Further, by issuing a warning when the widths of the originals are different, the operator sets the first side fence to the second side fence when the feeding of the originals placed on the first original placing table is completed.
By matching the original stack placed on the original table, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of conveyance from deteriorating, and it is possible to convey the original to a desired reading position. Further, by carrying the image to the desired carrying position in this manner, it is not necessary to perform image processing for improving the reading accuracy on the image forming apparatus side.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, instead of issuing the warning as in the tenth aspect of the invention, the first side fence is automatically adjusted according to the width of the original placed on the second original placing table. By manually moving the document, it is possible to prevent the poor conveyance of the document from being deteriorated, and it is possible to prevent the conveyance accuracy from being deteriorated and to convey the document to a desired reading position.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, when a document is copied in a different copy mode, the copy mode is instructed by the commanding means while the document placed on the first document placing table is being fed. , It is not necessary to wait until the feeding of the document stack placed on the first document placing table is completed,
Documents can be continuously fed, and documents in different copy modes can be sorted by changing the transport mode.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, since the second document placing table is used as the document discharging section in addition to the document discharging section, the number of document discharging sections can be increased. According to the invention set forth in claim 14, the bundle of originals conveyed in different copy modes can be divided, and the discharged originals can be handled well. According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, one original document ejecting section can be used substantially as two original document ejecting sections, and it is not necessary to newly provide an original document ejecting path or a ejecting mechanism. Thus, the structure of the automatic document feeder can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to sort the bundle of originals conveyed in different copy modes, and it is possible to improve the handling of the discharged originals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an automatic document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a partition means of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of means for driving the back fence of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where a bundle of documents is moved to a first document tray by the back fence of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part of the upper surface of a second embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system of a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a part of partitioning means of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a bundle of documents is moved to a first document tray by the back fence of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a side fence control unit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control system of a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a document discharge switching unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an operating state of a document discharge switching unit of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic Document Feeder 2 First Document Tray (First Document Placement Table) 3 Second Document Tray (Second Document Placement Table) 4, 54 Partition Means 11, 59 Arm Detection Sensor (Position Detection Means) 12 Control Unit (Control) Means, side fence control means, conveyance control means,) 13 back fence 18 first original set sensor (first original detection means) 19 second original set sensor (second original detection means) 25, 75 paper feed belt (separation Paper feed means) 26,76 Separation prevention rollers (separation / paper feed means) 27,77 Paper feeding belt drive rollers (separation / paper feed means) 28 Pullout roller pairs (separation / paper feed means) 31,78 Transport roller pairs ( Separation / Paper feeding means 32 Conveying belt (Conveying means) 33 Reverse drive roller (Paper ejection means) 35 Paper ejection roller pair (Paper ejection means) 36, 89 Paper ejection tray (Original paper ejection section) 45 Operation section (Operation section) ) 46 Output device (first alarm means) 50a to 50c Original Width detection sensor (first document width detection means) 51a to 51c Document width detection sensor (second document width detection means) 66 Side fence (first side fence) 67 Side fence (second side fence) 71 Calling roller (separation / Paper feeding means) 84 First switching pawl (transport control means) 85 Second switching pawl (transport control means) 86 First solenoid (transport control means) 87 Second solenoid (transport control means) 88a Extended paper ejection path (extension path) ) 91 Operation keys (command means) 100 Paper discharge means 108 Partition member (paper discharge document partition means) 109 Motor (paper discharge document partition means) 110 Gear (paper discharge document partition means) 111 Crank (paper discharge document partition means) 112 Fixed axis (paper ejection document partitioning means) 113 Spring (paper ejection document partitioning means) 114 Detection sensor (paper ejection document partitioning means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-5-204207 (JP, A) JP-A-5-323725 (JP, A) JP-A-5-333621 (JP, A) JP-A-6- 19249 (JP, A) JP-A-8-317122 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06B 27/58-27/64 B05H 1/00-3/68 G03G 13/04-13/056 G03G 15 / 00,15 / 04-15/056

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An original stack consisting of a plurality of originals placed on an original placing table is separated by a separating / feeding means into one sheet and fed, and then conveyed by a conveying means to a reading position.
An automatic document feeder, which is configured to discharge a document whose image has been read at the reading position to a document discharging unit by a discharging unit, is provided on the document table in the automatic document feeder mounted in the image forming apparatus. , A partition position for partitioning the document placing table into two document placing tables, that is, a first document placing table and a second document placing table arranged in series, and a position for communicating so as to form one document placing table Moveable like
Shifting and switching means, between the rear of the rear and first document table of the second document platen
An automatic document feeder, comprising: a back fence that is movably provided and that can come into contact with a rear end portion of a document placed on a second document placing table. 2. A first original detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of an original on the first original placing table, and a second original detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of an original on the second original placing table. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1. 3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising operation means for moving the partition means to a communicating position by a predetermined key input operation. 4. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising position detection means for detecting that the partition means is at a partition position and a communication position. 5. When the image forming apparatus makes a copy in the same copy mode, the partition means is at the partition position based on the detection information from the position detection means, the first document detection means and the second document detection means. Together with the first original placing table and the second
When an original is placed on the original placing table, the original placed on the first original placing table is fed by the separating / feeding means, and the original on the first original placing table is no longer present. A control for moving the partitioning means to the communicating position and moving the back fence to the rear end of the first document placing table to move the document stack on the second document placing table to the first document placing table. An automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising means. 6. The control means divides the partition means when the original stack is moved from the second original placing table to the first original placing table based on the detection information from the first and second original detecting means. When the original is placed on the second original placing table while the original bundle is moved to the first position and moved to the first original placing table, the original placed on the first original placing table is fed. After finishing, the stack of originals placed on the second original placing table is returned to the first original again.
6. The automatic document feeder according to claim 5, wherein the automatic document feeder is controlled to move to the document table. 7. A copy start switch is operated based on the detection information from the first and second document detecting means when there is no document bundle on the first document placing table and there is a document bundle on the second document placing table. The automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a first alarm means for issuing an alarm when the document is turned on. 8. The control means, based on the detection information from the first and second document detecting means, when there is no document bundle on the first document placing table and there is a document bundle on the second document placing table. 7. The automatic document feeder according to claim 5, wherein when the copy start switch is operated, the document stack placed on the second document table is moved to the first document table. 9. A first original width detecting means for detecting a width of an original stack placed on the first original placing table, and a second original detecting a width of an original placed on a second original placing table. Width detection means,
The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: 10. First and second side fences, which are provided on the first and second document placing tables and which align the width directions of the documents placed on the respective document placing tables, and first and second document width detecting means. 10. The automatic device according to claim 9, further comprising a second alarm means for issuing an alarm when the widths of the document stacks placed on the first and second document placement tables are different based on the detection information from the device. Document feeder. 11. First and second side fences, which are provided on the first and second document placing tables and which align the width directions of the documents placed on the respective document placing tables, and the first document placing table, respectively. Based on the moving means for moving the first side fence in the width direction of the document and the detection information from the first and second document width detecting means, the widths of the document stacks placed on the first and second document mounting tables are determined. When different, put the first side fence into the second
10. The automatic document feeder according to claim 9, further comprising: a side fence control unit that drives the moving unit so as to be positioned at the same position as the positioning position of the width of the document stack placed on the document table. 12. An instruction unit for instructing an image forming apparatus to copy an original document placed on a first original document placing table and a second original document placing table in different copying modes, and the instruction is given by the instruction unit. , When the feeding of the original stack placed on the first original placing table is finished, the original placed on the second original placing table is fed as it is and the originals are conveyed in a conveying mode corresponding to a different copy mode. 2. An automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: a feeding control unit for performing. 13. The automatic document feeder according to claim 12, further comprising a paper discharge path for discharging the document, which has been read at the reading position, onto the second document placing table. 14. The conveyance control means, when instructed by the instruction means, ejects the original placed on the first original placing table to the original delivery section and places the original on the second original placing table. 14. The automatic document feeder according to claim 12, wherein the placed document is controlled to be discharged onto the second document placing table. 15. The automatic document feeder according to claim 12, wherein the document discharging unit has a discharged document partitioning unit for partitioning the document discharged to the document discharging unit. 16. The conveyance control means, when a command is given by the command means, ejects a document placed on a first document placing table to a document delivery section and causes a delivery document partitioning means to deliver the document. 13. The control is performed such that the document is moved to a document discharged to a paper discharge section, and the document on the second document placing table is discharged onto the document via the discharged document partitioning means. Or the automatic document feeder described in 15.