JP4229875B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a document conveying device.

  Currently, an image forming apparatus having a document reading function, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a scanner, or the like, which includes a document conveying device is widely used. The document transport device has many rollers in the document transport path, and the internal mechanism is complicated, such as the document transport path being curved, and the paper quality and state of the document are various. May be jammed in the document transport path. At that time, in order to take out the jammed document, it is necessary to expose the document conveyance path inside the document conveyance device.

  Further, in the case of a copying machine or the like that can read both sides of a document at the same time, a document reading unit is also provided inside the document conveying device, and the inside of the document conveying device needs to be exposed for cleaning the document reading unit. There is.

  As a means for exposing the document conveyance path, as in Patent Document 1, the exterior cover is removed to expose the inside from the upper surface, and the document conveyance device (automatic document conveyance device) is opened with respect to the transparent glass platen (contact glass). Then, after the pressure plate on the lower surface is exposed, an auxiliary frame is rotated from the upper surface to expose the document conveyance path from the lower surface.

  In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-228688, a document conveying device is opened with respect to a transparent glass platen (glass plate), and an auxiliary frame on the lower surface is opened to expose a document conveying path.

In general, a pressure sheet made of a synthetic resin lined with a soft material such as a sponge is attached to the lower surface of the document conveying device in order to bring the document placed on the transparent glass platen into close contact with the platen.
Japanese Patent No. 3464466 (4th page, FIG. 4) JP 2001-341864 A (6th page, FIG. 3)

  However, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-133260, the document transport path cannot be exposed unless the exterior cover is first removed, and it takes time and a place for leaving the removed exterior cover is required.

  Further, in the case of opening the auxiliary frame on the lower surface and exposing the document conveyance path as in Patent Document 2, when the pressure sheet (document pressing plate) is made of a soft material, the pressure sheet is broken. The document may not be sufficiently pressed against the transparent glass platen due to the folds, and the document may not be read cleanly.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in the document conveying device used in the image forming apparatus, the inside of the document conveying device can be exposed from the lower surface in one operation, and the pressure sheet is folded when the inside of the document conveying device is exposed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that does not include the image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a transparent glass platen and a document conveying device at an upper portion, and the document conveying device opens and closes in a vertical plane with one side as an opening and closing fulcrum, and opens and closes in the open / close axis direction A document conveying section is provided at one end, a first document reading device for reading a document is provided below the platen, and a document conveying path is automatically conveyed on the upper surface of the platen by the document conveying section. From the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the original, an automatic conveyance original reading section and a stationary original reading section for reading the automatically conveyed original and the original stationary on the platen by the first original reading device, respectively. In the set image forming apparatus, the lower surface of the document conveying device is stationary from the downstream side of the document conveying direction than the portion facing the automatic conveying document reading unit. One bottom plate covers the portion facing the document reading unit, and this bottom plate has a rotation axis perpendicular to the opening / closing axis at the end far from the automatic conveyance document reading unit as a rotation fulcrum. The document conveying device is supported to be openable and closable, and a lower surface thereof serves as a pressing surface for pressing the document placed on the stationary document reading unit from above, and the automatic conveyance document reading unit in the document conveyance path. A document transport path lower surface member constituting the lower surface of the document transport path is disposed further downstream than the document transport path lower surface member. The document transport path lower surface member is rotatably supported by the document transport apparatus main body with one end as a rotation center. The other end is slidably engaged with the rotating end of the bottom plate as a slide engaging portion, and the bottom plate rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the original conveying path lower surface member.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a second document reading device that reads a surface opposite to a surface read by the automatic transport document reading unit is provided in the document transport unit, and the second document is provided. The reading device is arranged at a position facing the lower surface member of the original conveying path.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the slide engaging portion has a groove formed on a side wall formed on the bottom plate so as to extend in parallel with a rotation direction of the bottom plate, and a bottom plate of the document conveying path lower surface member. It is comprised by the connecting pin provided in the edge of the side, and the said groove | channel shall incline so that it may become low toward the rotation end side of the said baseplate.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a handle is provided on the lower surface member of the original conveying path.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a locking means including a locking pin provided on the lower surface member of the original conveying path and a hook provided on the inner wall of the original conveying apparatus and engaged with the locking pin. The locking means holds the closed state of the bottom plate.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the document stationary on the platen is pressed near both ends of the rotation fulcrum of the bottom plate of the document conveying device and the engagement pin of the lower surface member of the document conveying path. It is assumed that urging means for urging the bottom plate in the direction is attached.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the bottom surface of the document conveying device has a single bottom plate extending from the downstream side in the document conveyance direction to the portion facing the stationary document reading unit rather than the portion facing the automatic conveyance document reading unit. The bottom plate is supported by the document feeder so as to be openable and closable. Since the pivoting end of the bottom plate and the document conveying apparatus main body are connected by a rotatable document conveying path lower surface member, the document conveying path lower surface member rotates simultaneously with opening the bottom plate with the document conveying device opened. The inside of the document conveying section can be exposed, and the bottom plate does not open more than necessary, so that the problem that the opened bottom plate hits the platen is eliminated. Further, since the bottom surface of the bottom plate serves as a pressure surface of the document, it does not fold like a pressure sheet made of a soft material.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the second document reading device for reading the surface opposite to the surface read by the automatic transport document reading unit is provided in the document transport unit, both surfaces of the automatically transported document are provided. Can be read at the same time.

  Further, according to the present invention, the slide engaging portion is constituted by the groove formed on the side wall formed on the bottom plate and the coupling pin provided at the bottom plate side end of the document conveying path lower surface member, and the document conveying device is horizontally In this state, the groove plate is inclined so as to be lowered toward the rotation end side of the bottom plate, so that when the bottom plate is opened, the bottom plate is rotated while the document conveyance path lower surface member is rotated. The phenomenon of switching from the opening operation to the closing operation can be sealed off.

  Further, according to the present invention, the bottom plate can be easily opened because the handle is provided on the lower surface member of the document conveying path.

  According to the present invention, since the locking means for holding the closed state of the bottom plate is provided between the document conveying device and the document conveying path lower surface member, the bottom plate can be opened carelessly when the document conveying device is opened. Disappear.

  Further, according to the present invention, the urging means for urging the bottom plate in the direction of pressing the document on the platen is attached to both ends of the rotation fulcrum of the bottom plate of the document conveying device and the vicinity of the connecting pin of the document conveying path lower surface member. As a result, the document is likely to adhere to the platen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The main body housing 1 includes an upper housing 11, a lower housing 13, and a connecting housing 12 positioned therebetween, and the document conveying device 2 is placed on the upper housing 11. The document conveying device 2 is attached to be openable and closable with the back side of the paper as the opening and closing fulcrum.

  The document conveyance device 2 includes a document conveyance device main body 21, a document placement unit 22, a document conveyance unit 23, a document discharge tray 24, and a bottom plate 25. The document discharge tray 24 is integrally formed as a part of the upper surface of the document feeder main body 21. The document placing portion 22 forms the upstream end of the document conveyance path d, and the document discharge tray 24 forms the downstream end of the document conveyance path d. The document transport path d in the document transport unit 23 is arranged in order from the upstream side in the document transport direction with a pickup roller 23a, a transport roller pair 23b, a registration roller pair 23c, a document transport path lower surface member 71 constituting the lower surface of the document transport path d, and A discharge roller pair 23d is provided. In the section of the document transport path d from the registration roller pair 23c to the document transport path lower surface member 71, an automatic transport document reading section 27a and an automatic transport document back surface reading section 28 are set. A document reading device 4 is arranged. The automatic conveyance document reading unit 27 a is set on the upper surface of the transparent glass platen 27 on the upper surface of the upper housing 11, and the automatic conveyance document back surface reading unit 28 is set on the upper surface of the document conveyance path lower surface member 71. The second document reading device 4 is provided inside the document transport unit 23 so as to face the document transport path lower surface member 71.

  When a copy start button (not shown) is pressed, a document (not shown) with images on both sides set on the document placement unit 22 is conveyed along the document conveyance path d by the rollers, and is automatically conveyed halfway. An image on one side is read by the first document reading device 3 in the document reading unit 27 a, and an image on the other side is read by the second document reading device 4 in the automatic conveyance document back side reading unit 28. The bottom plate 25 is formed on the lower surface of the document conveying device 2 from a portion immediately downstream of the automatic conveying document reading unit 27a in the document conveying path d to an end portion of the document conveying device main body 21 where the document conveying unit 23 is not provided. . The bottom surface of the bottom plate 25 serves as a pressure surface that presses the document placed on the platen 27 from above. Here, a base made of sponge or the like may be attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate 25, and a pressure sheet made of a soft material in which a sheet of vinyl or the like is attached to the side of the base that contacts the document.

  The first document reading device 3 is built in the upper housing 11. The first document reading device 3 includes an exposure lamp 31, a reflecting plate 32, a first mirror 33, a second mirror 34, a third mirror 35, a condenser lens 36, and an image sensor (for example, a line type CCD) 37. Is provided. The exposure lamp 31 and the first mirror 33 are mounted on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 34 and the third mirror 35 are mounted on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image by the so-called sheet-through method, the first carriage is moved directly below the automatic transport document reading unit 27a, and the light irradiation light from the exposure lamp 31 exposes the moving document. Irradiation light reaches the CCD 37 through the first mirror 33, the second mirror 34, the third mirror 35, and the condenser lens 36, and is read out as an electric signal through a photoelectric conversion process. On the other hand, when the original image is read by the original fixing method, the image of the original placed on the stationary original reading unit 27b set on the transparent glass platen 27 is shown below the platen 27 in FIG. By being read and scanned by the exposure lamp 31 and the first mirror 33 on the first carriage moving in the right direction, the image is reduced and formed on the CCD 37 and is read out as an electric signal through photoelectric conversion processing. .

  Also in the automatic conveyance original document reading unit 28, only in the case of the sheet-through method, as in the case of the automatic conveyance original reading unit 27a, the exposure device built in the second original reading device 4 reads the original image as an electric signal. It is done.

  A paper discharge tray 14 is provided in the connecting housing 12, and the paper P on which an image is formed is discharged.

  In the lower housing 13, a paper feeding unit 4, an image forming unit 5, and a fixing device 6 are incorporated. First, the paper feed unit 4 will be described. The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette 41, a paper feed roller 42, a paper feed tray 43, a paper feed roller 44, and a transport roller pair 45. A paper feed cassette 41 containing paper P is disposed below the lower housing 13, and the paper P is fed from here to the paper transport path 46 by the paper feed roller 42 and transported by the transport roller 45. . Further, an openable and closable paper feed tray 43 is provided at the lower left side of the lower housing 13, and the paper P is placed on the lower tray 13 so that the paper P is fed by a paper feed roller 44 as described above. One by one, it is sent out to the paper conveyance path 46 and conveyed by the conveyance roller 45.

  Next, the image forming unit 5 will be described. The image forming unit 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51 and a charger 52, an optical scanning unit 53, a developing device 54, a transfer roller 55, and a cleaning device 56 disposed around the photosensitive drum 51. The photosensitive drum 51 rotates clockwise. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is uniformly charged by the charger 52. Next, the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is irradiated with laser light from the optical scanning unit 53, and the charge corresponding to the portion of the image formed on the paper P or the portion other than the image is erased. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. Then, the developing device 54 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized.

  When the photosensitive drum 51 further rotates and the toner image comes to a position facing the transfer roller 55, the paper P is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 51 and the transfer roller 55 accordingly. At this time, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 51 is transferred onto the paper P by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner to the transfer roller 55. Residual toner that has not been transferred onto the photosensitive drum 51 is removed from the photosensitive drum 51 by the cleaning device 56. On the other hand, the paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 6 in which a fixing roller 61 and a pressure roller 62 are in pressure contact, and the toner image is heated and pressurized to be fixed on the paper. Thereafter, the paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 14 through the paper discharge path.

  In the present invention, as shown in an external perspective view of the upper part of the image forming apparatus with the document conveying device 2 shown in FIG. 2 open, the lower surface of the document conveying device 2 is more original than the portion facing the automatic conveying document reading unit 27a. The bottom plate 25 is formed from the downstream side in the conveying direction to the portion facing the stationary document reading unit 27b.

  When the document conveying device 2 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 25 can be opened as shown in the external perspective view and the schematic configuration diagram seen from the front of the document conveying device 2 shown in FIGS. The bottom plate 25 is supported by the document feeder main body 21 so that it can be opened and closed with a fulcrum 25a at the end far from the portion facing the automatic document feeder 27a. Further, the bottom plate 25 is provided with a groove 25c in a side wall 25b formed so as to extend in parallel with the opening and closing direction of the bottom plate 25. Here, the document conveyance path lower surface member 71 described above is supported by the document conveyance device 2 so as to be rotatable about one end, and a coupling pin 31a is provided at the other end, and the coupling pin 31a is slidably inserted into the groove 25c. Has been. The groove 25c is provided so as to be inclined toward the rotating end side of the bottom plate 25 when the document conveying device 2 is in a horizontal state.

  The state of opening the bottom plate 25 is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. The bottom plate 25 is opened by hand and the document conveyance path lower surface member 71 is turned, so that the coupling pin 71a provided on the document conveyance path lower surface member 71 slides in the groove 25c provided on the side wall 25b formed on the bottom plate 25. To do. Since the groove 25c is provided to be inclined so as to become lower toward the rotating end side of the bottom plate 25 when the document conveying device 2 is in a horizontal state, the coupling pin 71a is provided at the bottom shown in FIG. It can be seen that even if the original conveying path lower surface member 71 is turned after passing through the dead center, the bottom plate 25 continues the opening operation without turning to the closing operation.

  With this configuration, when the bottom plate 25 is opened while the document conveying device 2 is opened, the document conveying path lower surface member 71 rotates to expose the inside of the document conveying portion 23 from the lower surface of the document conveying device 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily remove the document jammed in the document transport unit 23 and clean the second document reading device 4. Further, since the bottom plate 25 does not open more than necessary with respect to the document conveying device 2 by the document conveying path lower surface member 71, problems such as the opened bottom plate 25 hitting the platen 27 are eliminated. Further, since the bottom plate 25 does not fold even if it is opened, the document is not sufficiently pressed against the platen 27 by a fold formed when it is opened and folded like a soft pressure sheet, so that the document cannot be read cleanly. .

  Further, since the groove 25c is provided so as to be lowered toward the rotation end side of the bottom plate 25, the bottom plate 25 is swung as in the case where the distance between the groove 25c and the bottom plate 25 is parallel. On the way, the bottom plate 25 does not shift to the closing operation, and the inside of the document conveying unit 23 can be sufficiently exposed. The document jammed in the document conveying unit 23 can be removed, the second document reading device 4 or the document can be removed. Cleaning of the conveyance path lower surface member 71 can be facilitated.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the front of the periphery of the document conveyance path lower surface member 71. A handle 71 b is provided on the document conveyance path lower surface member 71, and a lock unit 72 is provided between the document conveyance device 2 and the document conveyance path lower surface member 71.

  The handle 71b is provided at a position that is not hidden by the side wall 25b formed on the bottom plate 25 when the bottom plate 25 is closed. The locking unit 72 includes a hook 72 a and a locking pin 72 b provided on the document conveyance path lower surface member 71. The hook 72a has an upper end portion as a fulcrum 72c, and is rotatably provided inside the exterior of the document feeder 2. The hook 72a is urged clockwise by the urging means about the fulcrum 72c. When the bottom plate 25 is closed, the hook 72a is caught by the locking pin 72b. When the bottom plate 25 is opened, the hook 72a is moved counterclockwise around the fulcrum 72c to remove the hook 72a from the locking pin 72b.

  Thus, by providing the handle 71b on the document conveyance path lower surface member 71, the bottom plate 25 can be easily opened. Further, when there is no handle 71b, when the bottom plate 25 is opened, not only the bottom plate 25 but also the document conveying path lower surface member 71 may be opened by hand, but if there is a handle 71b, the sheet of the document conveying path lower surface member 71 is opened. Since it is not necessary to touch the conveyance surface or the surface of the bottom plate 25 that contacts the paper, problems such as contamination of these places can be avoided. Further, the lock means 72 prevents the bottom plate 25 from being opened carelessly when the document feeder 2 is opened.

  7 and 8 are schematic configuration diagrams around the fulcrum 25a of the bottom plate 25 and around the document conveyance path lower surface member 71. FIG. Near both ends of the fulcrum 25a and in the vicinity of the connecting pin 71a of the document conveying path lower surface member 71, a spring 81 and a spring 82 for urging the bottom plate 25 in a direction of pressing the document on the platen 27 are attached.

  The fulcrum 25a is provided on the floating member 83 as shown in FIG. The floating member 83 is housed in a pocket portion 21a formed in the document feeder main body 21, and can move by a fixed stroke in the vertical direction in the figure. The floating member 83 is urged by a spring 81 in a direction of being pushed out from the pocket portion 21a. When the floating member 83 is inserted into the pocket portion 21a, the hook 83a provided on the floating member 83 is bent at the opening of the pocket portion 21a. The floating member 83 cannot be removed from the pocket portion 21a.

  Similarly, the coupling pin 71a is also provided on the floating member 84 as shown in FIG. The floating member 84 is housed in a pocket portion 71d formed in the document conveyance path lower surface member 71, and can move by a fixed stroke in the vertical direction in the figure. The floating member 84 is urged by the spring 82 in the direction of being pushed out from the pocket portion 71d. When the floating member 84 is inserted into the pocket portion 71d, the hook 84a provided on the floating member 84 bends at the opening portion of the pocket portion 71d. The floating member 84 cannot be removed from the pocket portion 71d. FIG. 9 is an appearance of the portion shown in FIG. The coupling pin 71 a is exposed from a groove 71 e provided in the document conveying path lower surface member 71.

  The floating member 83 can move up and down in the figure with a certain stroke within the range in which the hook 83a moves within the pocket portion 21a. When the document conveying device 2 is closed, the floating member 83 is urged by the spring 81 to move to the back of the pocket portion 21a. Is pushed into. Similarly, the floating member 84 can be moved up and down in the figure with a certain stroke within a range in which the hook 84a moves in the pocket portion 71d. 8 and 9 both show the state when the document feeder 2 is closed. When the document feeder 2 is opened, the floating member 83 and the floating member 84 are pushed downward by the spring 81 and the spring 82 in the drawing.

  With this configuration, even if the document has a crease and floats when placed on the platen 27, the bottom plate 25 is biased by the spring 81 and the spring 82 by closing the document conveying device 2, and the document is The platen 27 comes into close contact with each other, and the image can be read clearly.

  In the present invention, the second document reading device 4 does not have to be provided. In this case, a document with an image on both sides is read on both sides by causing the automatic conveyance document reading unit 27a to separately read the front and back of the document. Can be read.

  The configuration of the document conveying device 2 according to the present invention is not limited to the image forming device, but can be used for a scanner or the like provided with a document reading device.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the upper part of the copying machine with the document feeder opened and the bottom plate closed. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view from below of the document feeder with the bottom plate opened. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a document conveying device in a state where a bottom plate is opened. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a document conveying device showing a state where a bottom plate is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the front of the periphery of a document conveyance path lower surface member in a state where a handle and a hook are provided. The schematic block diagram of the fulcrum vicinity of the baseplate which provided the urging means. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of a document conveying path lower surface member provided with an urging unit. FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the appearance of a document conveyance path lower surface member provided with an urging unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body housing 2 Document conveying apparatus 3 1st original reading apparatus 4 2nd image reading apparatus 21 Original conveying apparatus main body 25 Bottom plate 25a Support point 25b Side wall 25c Groove 27 Platen 27a Automatic conveyance original reading part 27b Static document reading part 28 Automatic conveying document back side reading unit 41 Spring 42 Spring 43 Floating member 44 Floating member 71 Document conveying path lower surface member 71a Coupling pin 71b Handle 72 Locking means 72a Hook 72b Locking pin

Claims (6)

A transparent glass platen and a document conveying device are provided at the top, the document conveying device opens and closes in a vertical plane with one side as an opening / closing fulcrum, and has a document conveying unit at one end in the opening / closing axis direction, A first document reading device that reads a document is provided below the platen, and the first document is provided on the upper surface of the platen from the upstream side in the transport direction of the document that is automatically transported through the document transport path by the document transport unit. In an image forming apparatus in which an automatically conveyed document reading unit and a stationary document reading unit for reading the automatically conveyed document and the document stationary on the platen are set by a reading device,
The bottom surface of the document conveying device covers a bottom plate from the portion facing the automatic document reading unit to the portion facing the stationary document reading unit from the downstream side of the document conveying direction to the stationary document reading unit. The bottom plate is supported by the document conveying device so as to be openable and closable around a rotation axis perpendicular to the opening and closing axis at the end far from the automatic conveyance document reading unit, and a lower surface thereof is supported by the static plate. A lower surface of the original conveying path that forms a lower surface of the original conveying path downstream of the automatic conveying original reading unit in the original conveying path. This document conveying path lower surface member is rotatably supported by the document conveying apparatus main body with one end as a rotation center portion, and can be slid to the rotation end of the bottom plate with the other end as a slide engagement portion. Person in charge Are, the image forming apparatus in which the bottom plate of the document conveying path underside member in conjunction with the rotating, characterized in that the pivot.   A second document reading device that reads a surface of a document that is automatically conveyed by the document conveyance unit on a side opposite to a surface that is read by the automatic conveyance document reading unit is provided inside the document conveyance unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original reading device is disposed at a position facing the lower surface member of the original conveying path.   The slide engagement portion is formed by a groove formed on a side wall formed on the bottom plate so as to extend in parallel with a rotation direction of the bottom plate, and an engagement pin provided at an end on the bottom plate side of the document conveyance path lower surface member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be inclined so as to become lower toward a rotating end side of the bottom plate.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided on the lower surface member of the document conveyance path.   Locking means comprising a locking pin provided on the lower surface member of the original conveying path and a hook that is provided inside the outer wall of the original conveying apparatus and engages with the locking pin is provided, and the locking means is in a closed state of the bottom plate The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus holds the image.   A biasing force that biases the bottom plate in a direction to press the document stationary on the platen near both ends of the pivot fulcrum of the bottom plate of the document conveying device and the engagement pin of the lower surface member of the document conveying path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are attached.

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