JP3997074B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds a sheet document to the apparatus and performs predetermined processing such as exposure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a sheet document feeder is used by being mounted on a platen glass (document glass) of an image exposure unit of an image forming apparatus or the like. In the image forming apparatus equipped with this sheet document conveying device, the sheet documents fed one by one by the sheet feeding means of the automatic document conveying device are fed from the sheet feeding port of the document placing table (stack unit) on which the sheet document is placed. The sheet is fed onto the platen glass by the conveyance belt, and after being exposed by the exposure means in the main body of the image forming apparatus, it is further carried out on the document discharge table. There is no device that only circulates and has a path for conveying a sheet document in the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an image forming apparatus with casters that can move on the floor, the height of the document placing table of the sheet document conveying device mounted on the platen glass is the highest level that can be operated most easily with a normal healthy person standing. In general, for example, when a person using a wheelchair assumes an operation of placing (setting) a document on a document placing table of the sheet document conveying device, the document placing table and the wheelchair Since the eye level of humans is almost the same, it is not possible to confirm whether the sheet document has been set correctly, so that important sheet documents can be damaged when placed or fed, or on the document table. In order to confirm the set condition of the car, there was a problem of forcing an action with the risk of falling, such as reaching out from the wheelchair.
[0004]
Similarly, when recovering a sheet document that has been read, the user has been forced to perform a dangerous act that cannot be recovered unless the hand is reached as the user stands up from the wheelchair.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to make it easy for a wheelchair operator to place and collect a sheet document, and to achieve the above-described conventional technique. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A sheet document feeder that is arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus, conveys the set sheet document to an image reading area, and discharges the sheet document after image reading;
In an image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit that transports a set sheet to an image forming area in the image forming apparatus;
A conveyance selection means for selectively switching a conveyance path of a sheet fed from the sheet feeding means;
A movable restricting means for preventing the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means from being conveyed to the image forming area and guiding it to another set conveying path;
Restriction drive means for moving the restriction means to a predetermined sheet restriction position;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet whose conveyance path has been switched by the regulating means to the image reading area;
Driving control means for controlling the driving of the sheet document feeding means in cooperation with the conveying means,
In conjunction with the end of the sheet image reading operation, the restriction means is released from the predetermined sheet restriction position,
The sheet after image reading is conveyed by the sheet document feeding means and the conveying means in a direction opposite to that before reading the image of the sheet, and is guided to the restriction means released from the predetermined sheet restriction position to be supplied to the sheet. The sheet is discharged to a position distinguished from the sheet set in the feeding means.
[0007]
It is preferable that the conveyance selection unit is provided with a visually observable display unit corresponding to the type of sheet set in the sheet feeding unit and the conveyance path.
[0008]
It is preferable that the transport selection unit is interlocked with the operations of the regulation drive unit and the drive control unit.
[0009]
When the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding means to be conveyed to the image forming region is prevented by the regulating means, the operation display unit of the apparatus main body sheet feeding from the sheet feeding means it is preferred that the display Gasa that it can not.
[0010]
It is preferable that a member for preventing mixing of the sheet set in the sheet feeding unit and the sheet after image reading discharged to the sheet feeding unit is provided .
[0014]
When the sheet transported from the sheet feeding unit is selected to be transported to the reading area, it is preferable that the control for preventing the sheet document feeding operation from the sheet document feeding unit is activated.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0016]
(First embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0017]
1 and 2 are a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus and a perspective view of a sheet feeding unit according to the first embodiment. The sheet feeding unit 2 provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of sheets. The sheet stacking table 3 for stacking the sheets S, the feeding roller 4 for feeding the sheets S, and the transport selection means 5 for selectively switching the path after feeding of the installed sheets S are movably provided. .
[0018]
That is, the conveyance selection unit 5 can select the position 5a (document and display) when conveying the sheet original P, and the position 5b (display with recording paper) when conveying the sheet S.
[0019]
On the downstream side of the feeding roller 4, the sheet original P conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 2 is prevented from being conveyed to the image forming area in the apparatus, and is guided in another set direction. A restricting means 6 that is movable to the restricting position is provided.
[0020]
Conveying rollers 8 and 9 for conveying the conveyed sheet original P to the image forming area 7 are provided on the downstream side of the regulating means 6.
[0021]
Above the regulating means 6, vertical conveyance rollers 10 and 11 as conveyance means for conveying the sheet original P, which is prevented from being conveyed to the image forming area, to the vicinity of the reading area on the platen glass 14, a vertical path. A guide plate 12 and a sensor 13 for detecting the sheet position are disposed.
[0022]
Further, a movable image reading unit 15 is disposed below the platen glass 14 which is a document placement and image reading region, and a sheet document feeding unit 16 is disposed above the platen glass 14.
[0023]
In the sheet document feeding means 16, a sheet document placing table 17 for placing the sheet document P, a document feeding roller 18 for separating and feeding the sheet documents one by one, a transport guide plate 19, and a sheet document. A transport belt 20 transported on the platen glass 14 and a discharge unit 22 for discharging the sheet original P by the transport belt 20 and the discharge roller 21 after the image reading on the platen glass 14 are provided.
[0024]
Next, the flow and operation of the sheet original P according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the sheet selecting means 5 is set on the sheet feeding means 2 and the conveyance selecting means 5 for selectively switching the post-feeding path is indicated by 5a indicating "original". When moved, the regulation driving means (not shown) moves the regulation means 6 from the broken line position 6a of the sheet conveyance position to a solid line position which is the sheet document conveyance position (regulation position) by a predetermined amount.
[0026]
When the movement is completed, the detection means (not shown) issues an instruction to the control means (not shown) of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and waits for conveying the sheet original P from the sheet feeding means 2 to the image reading area of the platen glass 14. It becomes a state.
[0027]
At the same time, in an operation display portion (not shown), a mark for warning that the sheet (recording paper) S from the sheet feeding means 2 cannot be conveyed to the image forming area is displayed.
[0028]
Next, when a copy operation is instructed from an operation unit (not shown), the sheet original P fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 is changed in the conveyance direction upward by the regulating unit 6 and the vertical conveyance rollers 10 and 11 are changed. , And the vertical path guide plate 12 reaches the vicinity of the image reading area of the platen glass 14.
[0029]
At this time, when the front end of the sheet original P activates the sensor 13 for detecting the sheet position, the conveying belt 20 in the sheet original feeding means 16 receives the signal and rotates in the clockwise direction so that the sheet original P is moved to the platen. When the sheet 13 is conveyed to the image reading area on the glass 14 and the rear end of the sheet document P operates the sensor 13, the conveyance belt 20 stops after rotating a predetermined amount, and the sheet document P is stopped in the image reading area. Stop in place.
[0030]
In response to the rotation stop of the conveying belt 20, when the image reading means 15 moves in the left-right direction and the reading operation is finished, the conveying belt 20 and the discharge roller 21 are rotated again according to a predetermined instruction, and the sheet original P is discharged from the discharge unit 22. To complete the series of operations.
[0031]
When the sheet document P is continuously conveyed, the rear end of the top sheet document P operates the sensor 13, and at the same time, the next sheet document P to be withdrawn is conveyed from the sheet feeding means 2 and the leading edge of the sheet is moved. The operation waits at a position where the sensor 13 is activated, and waits until the reading operation of the leading sheet original P is completed, and the feeding operation of the sheet feeding means 2 is also stopped.
[0032]
By the way, in the case where it is selected that the sheet (recording paper) S is transported from the sheet feeding unit 2, the transport selection unit 5 is switched to a position 5b where "recording paper" is displayed, contrary to the above procedure. As a result, the restricting means is released from the restricting position to the broken line position 6a and returned, and a normal copying operation can be started.
[0033]
However, when the transport selection unit 5 selects to transport the sheet S from the sheet feeding unit 2 while maintaining the “original” position 5a, the sheet (recording paper) S is formed on the operation display unit (not shown). When a mark for warning that the sheet cannot be conveyed to the area is lit up, conversely, when the conveyance selection unit 5 tries to convey the sheet original P from the sheet feeding unit 2 while maintaining the position 5b of “recording paper”. In the operation display section, a confirmation message is displayed as to whether or not the switching of the transport selection means 5 has been completed, and the copy operation is not started unless the confirmation OK button is pressed.
[0034]
Thus, the sheet document P can be prevented from being erroneously conveyed to the image forming area.
[0035]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the sheet document P can be fed from the cassette feeding means.
[0036]
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0037]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 23 and 24 denote cassette paper feeding means, reference numerals 25 and 26 denote feeding rollers, and reference numeral 27 denotes a sheet of the cassette paper feeding means 23. A conveyance guide 28 is a sheet conveyance guide of the cassette paper feeding unit 24.
[0038]
A second restricting means 29 is disposed above the sheet conveying guide 28 so as to be movable around a rotation center 29a, and conveys the sheet original P fed from the cassette paper feeding means 24 to the image forming area. To regulate.
[0039]
Further, inside the cassette paper feeding means 24, there is provided a transport selection means (not shown) that selectively switches the post-feed path, and the second restriction means 29 is moved to the position shown in FIG. And the sheet original P from the cassette paper feeding means 24 is conveyed in the direction of the image reading area, that is, in the direction of the vertical path guide plate 12 from the sheet conveyance guide 28.
[0040]
Normally, when the sheet S is conveyed, the second restricting means 29 moves counterclockwise about the rotation center 29a to a predetermined position, and the sheet S fed from the cassette sheet feeding means 24 is moved to the sheet conveying guide. 28 is conveyed to the image forming area via the second restricting means 29 and the sheet conveying guide 27.
[0041]
Note that a series of operations associated with the transport selection means (not shown) is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted here.
[0042]
(Third embodiment)
4 to 7 show a third embodiment. In the present embodiment, the sheet original P fed from the sheet feeding means 2 is read and then sent back to the sheet feeding means 2 for discharge.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a discharge cover is provided around the feeding roller 4 in order to separate the sheet document P after reading from the sheet document P before reading to the sheet feeding unit 2. 30 is provided.
[0044]
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0045]
Since the feeding operation of the sheet original P from the sheet feeding means 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.
[0046]
When the rotation of the conveyor belt 20 is stopped, the image reading means 15 moves in the left-right direction and the reading operation is completed. At the same time, a signal instruction (not shown) is received, and the reverse feed control means (not shown) feeds the sheet document P to the sheet. In order to carry back to the means 2, the conveying belt 20 and the vertical conveying rollers 10 and 11 are controlled to rotate reversely, and the regulating means 6 is controlled to move to the sheet conveying position.
[0047]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet document P is conveyed to the vertical path guide plate 12 as indicated by P1, and is placed on the sheet stacking table 3 of the sheet feeding means 2 by the regulating means 6 moved to the sheet conveying position. Discharged.
[0048]
At this time, the sheet cover 30 provided around the feeding roller 4 is divided so as to prevent the sheet document P already stacked on the sheet stacking table 3 from being mixed with the discharged sheet document P2. It has a configuration that can.
[0049]
Further, when the sheet document P is continuously conveyed, the sheet document P fed from the sheet feeding means 2 receives a signal instruction (not shown) at the same time as the image reading operation is completed as described above, as shown in FIG. The sheet document P that has been fed back in this manner is discharged onto the sheet stacking table 3 after a predetermined time, but at the same time, the regulating means 6 is controlled to move to the document transport position (regulated position), and the sheet document P to be withheld next. Is conveyed from the sheet feeding means 2 and continuous feeding is performed.
[0050]
When the sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding unit 2, the sheet S can be fed to the image forming area by the restriction unit 6 being positioned at the sheet conveying position as shown in FIG. 7.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet original can be set and conveyed also from the sheet feeding unit disposed at a relatively low position of the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with a simple switching operation. It became so. For this reason, even a person in a wheelchair has good visibility, can place a correct document at a height that is easy to operate, and can provide an image forming apparatus having a reliable and safe operability.
[0052]
In addition, various warnings regarding the setting status of the sheet feeding unit are displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus, so that there is an effect of preventing an erroneous operation by the operator.
[0053]
Further, the sheet original can be collected from the sheet feeding means disposed at a relatively low position of the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with a simple switching operation. For this reason, even a person in a wheelchair is able to provide an image forming apparatus having good visibility and capable of collecting a correct document at a height that is easy to operate, and having reliable and safe operability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a part of a sheet feeding unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a discharged state of a sheet document that has been reversely fed to a sheet feeding unit according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet document is continuously conveyed by a sheet feeding unit according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sheet conveyance state in a sheet feeding unit according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Sheet feeding means 3 Sheet stacking table 4 Feeding roller 5 Conveying selection means 6 Restricting means 7 Image forming areas 8 and 9 Conveying rollers 10 and 11 Vertical conveying roller 12 Vertical path guide plate 13 Sensor 14 Platen glass 15 Image reading means 16 Sheet document feeding means 20 Conveying belt 24 Cassette paper feeding means 27, 28 Sheet conveying guide 29 Second regulating means 30 Paper discharge cover

Claims (6)

A sheet document feeder that is arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus, conveys the set sheet document to an image reading area, and discharges the sheet document after image reading;
In an image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit that transports a set sheet to an image forming area in the image forming apparatus;
A conveyance selection means for selectively switching a conveyance path of a sheet fed from the sheet feeding means;
A movable restricting means for preventing the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means from being conveyed to the image forming area and guiding it to another set conveying path;
Restriction drive means for moving the restriction means to a predetermined sheet restriction position;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet whose conveyance path has been switched by the regulating means to the image reading area;
Driving control means for controlling the driving of the sheet document feeding means in cooperation with the conveying means,
In conjunction with the end of the sheet image reading operation, the restriction means is released from the predetermined sheet restriction position,
The sheet after image reading is conveyed by the sheet document feeding means and the conveying means in a direction opposite to that before reading the image of the sheet, and is guided to the restriction means released from the predetermined sheet restriction position to be supplied to the sheet. An image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet is discharged to a position distinguished from a sheet set in a feeding unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance selection unit is provided with a visually observable display unit corresponding to the type of the sheet set in the sheet feeding unit and the conveyance path. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport selection unit is interlocked with operations of the restriction driving unit and the drive control unit.   When the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit is prevented from being conveyed to the image forming area by the regulating unit, the sheet feeding unit from the sheet feeding unit is displayed on the operation display unit of the apparatus main body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating that the image cannot be displayed is displayed.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a member that prevents mixing of the sheet set in the sheet feeding unit and the sheet after image reading discharged to the sheet feeding unit. The image forming apparatus described in the item. When the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit is selected to be conveyed to the image reading area, a control for preventing a sheet document feeding operation from the sheet document feeding unit is activated. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5 .

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