JP4771104B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of an image reading apparatus having a reading unit capable of reading an image of a conveyed document at a reading position and capable of reading an image of a fixed (still) document.

Generally, in an image reading apparatus that can read not only the image recording surface of a document stationary and fixed on a transparent glass plate but also the image recording surface of a document to be conveyed, A second transparent plate (transmission member) having a small area as a conveyance reading unit for reading a document to be conveyed is disposed adjacent to a first transparent plate (transmission member) having a large area which is a fixed reading unit. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

As shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the second transparent plate has a short dimension in the scanning direction of the image scanner (image reading means), and a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction is parallel to the extending direction of the image scanner. Has long dimensions. Then, an image scanner (image reading means) such as a CIS sensor that scans and moves along the lower surface of a first transparent plate (also referred to as FB (Flat Bed) glass), which is a fixed reading unit, is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body. The image recording surface of a stationary document that is being held by a possible document holding cover is read. On the other hand, when reading a document to be transported, a plurality of documents deposited on the paper feed tray are separated one by one by an automatic document transport device provided on one side of the upper surface of the document pressing cover. The sheet discharge tray formed on the upper surface of the document pressing cover body after being conveyed onto the second transparent plate and reading the image recording surface of the document by the image reading means stationary below the document transparent plate. It is comprised so that it may discharge to a part.

In that case, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the document that has passed on the second transparent plate is scooped up toward the pair of discharge rollers provided on the upstream side of the discharge from the discharge tray portion, and is smoothly conveyed and guided. Therefore, a scooping guide (guide) member is disposed at the boundary between the second transparent plate and the first transparent plate which are arranged in parallel with each other.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-259209 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8) JP 2008-167233 A (see FIG. 15)

By the way, in order to guide the original that has passed the transport downstream end of the second transparent plate so as to scoop up, the side cross section of the scooping guide member has a second end position of the transport upstream end . It is usually formed in a substantially triangular shape having an upper surface that is slightly lower than the position of the upper surface of the transparent plate and is inclined upward toward the downstream side of conveyance (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

And according to composition of patent documents 1 and 2, it constitutes as a scooping guide member as another member different from the 1st and 2nd transparent plates, and it conveys upstream of a scooping guide member to the conveyance downstream side end face of the 2nd transparent plate. It fixes to the 1st transparent plate side so that a side end surface may contact.

Therefore, a gap is formed in the abutting contact portion between the conveyance downstream end surface of the second transparent plate and the conveyance upstream end surface of the scooping guide member, and the paper dust and dust of the conveyed document are lowered from the clearance. Drop and adhere to the reading surface of the image scanner. Then, there is a possibility that troubles called black stripes and white stripes may occur in the image read by the image scanner.

Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the deflection of the first transparent plate having a large area is suppressed, the distance between the image scanner and the original on the first transparent plate is constant, and the read image is In order to prevent the quality from deteriorating, a metal plate for rigidity reinforcement is arranged inside the scooping guide member. As a result, since the upward inclination of the scooping guide member is formed to be a steep angle, the transported document that has passed over the second transparent plate moves to the transport downstream side at a steep angle, and the transport downstream side since the attempt to raise the transport document by discharge roller pair, the upward force acting on the pressing plate for causing intimate contact with the upper surface of the second transparent plate presses the upper document passing on the second transparent plate As a result, the document is lifted from the upper surface of the second transparent plate , resulting in a problem that the reading quality is deteriorated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that solves such problems and prevents at least paper dust and dust from falling below a transparent plate (transmission member).

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixed reading unit having a plate-like first transmission member having an upper surface on which a document is placed, and a document automatically in a predetermined conveyance direction. An automatic document conveying device that conveys and discharges the document from the discharge unit; a conveyance reading unit having a plate-like second transmission member having an upper surface that is in sliding contact with the document conveyed by the automatic document conveying device; and the fixed reading the section reads the image of the top surface to a document placed in the first transmitting member while moving the lower side of the first transparent member, wherein the feeding and reading section and the stationary lower surface side of the second transmission member An image reading apparatus comprising: an original reading unit that reads an image of an original conveyed by an automatic original conveying apparatus , wherein adjacent one end portions of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member are arranged between the two transmissive members. Overlapping arranged in the thickness direction The provided on the overlapping portion is to scoop guide member for guiding the discharge side of said automatic document feeder the document to be conveyed is interposed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the overlap portion is provided with a movement guide for guiding the document reading means that moves between the fixed reading portion and the transport reading portion. Means are provided .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the movement guide means is formed integrally with the scooping guide member .

According to a fourth to sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the document reading unit is fixed to the lower surface of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member in the case. And a carriage that supports the case extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading means and moves along the moving direction, the carriage being the case Is configured to rotate around an axis that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading unit and extends in parallel with the two transmissive member surfaces, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the two transmissive member surfaces . It said moving guide means comprises a pair of inclined surfaces for guiding the pair of slide members disposed at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and the moving direction provided in the case It consists guide member having, when the pair of inclined surfaces for guiding the pair of slide members, the pair of inclined surfaces are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and the moving direction .
In the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the above configuration, the lower surface of the guide member having an inclined surface farther from the first transmitting member at the lower position of the pair of inclined surfaces is at the lower position. The first position of the lower transmitting position extends to a position extending beyond the portion corresponding to the lower surface side corner of the first transmitting member toward the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position by an appropriate dimension in parallel with the lower surface. The far inclined surface is formed so as to be flush with the lower surface of the transmissive member and subsequently in contact with the lower surface of the upper second transmissive member .
Further, in the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the above configuration, the inclined surface farther from the first transmitting member at the lower position of the pair of inclined surfaces has a start end portion at the lower position of the first transmitting member. Starting from the upstream side in the moving direction of the document reading unit with respect to the lower surface side corner at one end of the one transmissive member, to the appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface side corner of the first transmissive member at the lower position, It is formed in a convex curve downward from the lower surface of the first transmitting member at the lower position, and then the far inclined surface is formed so as to contact the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position. .
On the other hand, in the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the above-described configuration, of the pair of inclined surfaces, the inclined surface far from the first transmitting member at the upper position has a start end portion that overlaps both transmitting members. Starting from the upstream side of the moving direction of the document reading unit from the upper part and projecting downward from both lower surfaces of the two transmissive members to the appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface side corner of one end of the second transmissive member at the lower position. It is formed in a curved shape.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the pair of sliding members are provided at both ends of the case in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction. The guide member is provided corresponding to the arrangement position of the pair of sliding members .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the second transmissive member is disposed above the upper surface of the first transmissive member in the overlapping portion, and The transmission members are arranged in parallel to each other .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed reading unit having the plate-shaped first transmission member having the upper surface on which the document is placed, and the document are automatically conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction from the discharge unit. An automatic document feeder for discharging, a conveyance reading unit having a plate-like second transmission member having an upper surface that comes into sliding contact with a document conveyed by the automatic document conveyance device, and the first reading unit in the fixed reading unit reading the image of the document placed on the upper surface of the lower surface of the first transmitting member while moving the member, the at feeding and reading section at rest on the lower surface side of the second transmitting member conveyed by the automatic document feeder An image reading apparatus for reading an image of a document to be read, wherein adjacent end portions of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member are overlapped in the thickness direction of both transmissive members. Provided overlapped portion, the overlapped portion Is to scoop guide member for guiding the discharge side of said automatic document feeder the document to be conveyed is interposed.

Therefore, as a result of arranging the one end portions of the two transmissive members with no gap and overlapping the one end portions, the bending deformation of the one end portions of the two transmissive members is reduced, and the reading quality is not deteriorated. In addition, since paper dust and dust do not fall downward on the lower surfaces of these two transmissive members, there is a remarkable effect that the reading surface of the original reading means is not soiled and the reading quality is not deteriorated.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a scooping guide member for guiding the conveyed document to the sheet discharge unit side of the automatic document feeder is inserted in the overlap portion. is there. Therefore, there is an effect that the bending deformation of the one end portions of both transmission members is further reduced by the interposition of the scooping guide member, and the reading quality is not deteriorated. Further, the height of the scooping guide member, which is the transport path to the paper discharge unit, can be moderated. As a result, the height dimension of the scooping guide member can be shortened, and the entire image reading apparatus with an automatic document transporting device can be reduced. The effect that height can be formed compactly can be produced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the overlap portion is provided with a movement guide means for guiding the document reading means that moves between the fixed reading portion and the transport reading portion. .

If comprised in this way, even if there exists a level | step difference in the plate | board thickness direction of both permeation | transmission members in the said overlap part, an original reading means will be able to move so that an overlap part may be crossed along a movement guide means, and the level | step difference in an overlap part The upper surface of the document reading means does not collide with this portion. As a result, the image reading unit of the document reading unit is not damaged and the reading quality is not deteriorated.

According to the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, the document reading unit includes a contact type image sensor including an image reading sensor that is fixed to the lower surface of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member. A carriage that supports the case extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading unit and moves along the moving direction, and the carriage supports the case. The movement guide means is provided in the case, and is configured to rotate about an axis that is orthogonal to the direction and extends in parallel with the surfaces of both transmission members, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of both transmission members. consists guide member having a pair of inclined surfaces for guiding the pair of slide members disposed at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and the moving direction, the pair of inclined surfaces When guiding the serial pair of sliding members, the pair of inclined surfaces are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and the moving direction.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the lower surface of the guide member having the inclined surface farther from the first transmitting member at the lower position of the pair of inclined surfaces is the first transmitting member at the lower position. The lower surface of the first transmitting member at the lower position is extended to the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position beyond a position corresponding to the corner on the lower surface side of one end of the first end until a position extending by an appropriate dimension in parallel with the lower surface. Are formed in the same plane, and the far inclined surface is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position .
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, of the pair of inclined surfaces, an inclined surface far from the lower first transmitting member has a start end portion of one end of the lower first transmitting member. Starting from the upstream side in the direction of movement of the document reading unit with respect to the lower surface side corner, the first transmission at the lower position extends to the appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface corner at one end of the first transmission member at the lower position. It is formed in a convex curved shape below the lower surface of the member, and then the far inclined surface is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, of the pair of inclined surfaces, the inclined surface farther from the first transmitting member at the upper position has a starting end portion than the overlapping portion of both transmitting members, and the document reading means. Starting from the upstream side in the direction of movement of the second transmissive member at the lower position and extending to the appropriate downstream side beyond the corner on the lower surface of one end of the second transmissive member. It is what.

Therefore, while one sliding member passes through the lower surface and the guide inclined surface of the other transmitting member in advance beyond one end portion of one transmitting member, the other sliding member is in contact with the one transmitting member. since in the state in which the sliding contact with a bottom surface, the document reading upper surface of the document reading means is disposed between the two sliding members so as not to collide with the lower surface side corner portion of the end of the first transmission member of the lower position Means can pass. As a result, the image reading unit of the document reading unit is not damaged and the reading quality is not deteriorated.

According to the invention of claim 7 , the pair of sliding members are provided at both ends of the case in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and the guide member is disposed at the position of the pair of sliding members. Therefore, the image reading range of the document reading means is not narrowed by the presence of the guide member. In other words, even if the case has guide members at both end portions in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, there is a remarkable effect that it does not interfere with the movement of the case.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the overlapping portion, the second transmission member is disposed above the upper surface of the first transmission member, and both the transmission members are disposed in parallel to each other. It is. Therefore, in the conveyance reading unit, the second transmissive member is at the upper position than the case where both the transmissive members are arranged on the same plane, and the upward inclined surface of the scooping guide member for guiding the document to the paper discharge side. The inclination angle can be made gentle. As a result, the action of pulling up the document passing through the reading unit is reduced, and as a result, the document is not lifted from the upper surface of the second transmission member, and the reading quality is stabilized.

1 is a perspective view of a multi-function device including an automatic document feeder and an image reading device according to the present invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows a conveyance reading part and a fixed reading part. 2 is a side sectional view of an automatic document feeder and an image reading apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the overlap part of the 1st permeation | transmission member and 2nd permeation | transmission member of 1st Example, and the side surface of a 1st inclination guide surface and a 2nd inclination guide surface. It is a principal part expansion perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of a pair of rotating roller in one side of a case, and a 1st guide member and a 2nd guide member. It is a figure which shows the side part of the overlap part of the 1st permeation | transmission member and 2nd permeation | transmission member of 2nd Example, and a 1st inclination guide surface and a 2nd inclination guide surface. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of a pair of rotating roller and a 1st guide member, and a 2nd guide member. It is a figure which shows the overlap part of the 1st permeation | transmission member and 2nd permeation | transmission member of 3rd Example, and the side surface of a 1st inclination guide surface and a 2nd inclination guide surface.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The embodiment of the present invention is applied to an image reading apparatus 2 in a multi-function apparatus 1 having a facsimile function, a scanner function, a copying function, and a printer function.

[Basic structure of multi-function device 1]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the upper surface of the housing 4 of the multi-function device 1, a numeric keypad for performing a facsimile function, a scanner function, and a copying function and various operations are instructed on the front side thereof. An operation panel unit 5 including a button key, a liquid crystal panel for displaying command contents, error display, and the like is disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 4a is opened on the front side (front side in FIG. 1) of the housing 4 in the multi-function device 1, and a sheet as a sheet (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) is formed in the opening 4a. The upper and lower two-stage sheet feeding cassettes 7a and 7b are mounted so as to be detachable along the X-axis direction. A paper discharge tray 7c is mounted on the upper surface of the upper sheet cassette 7a. The paper selectively fed from each of the paper feed cassettes 7a and 7b is sent to an ink jet type image recording unit (not shown) provided in the housing 4 to record an image, and then the paper is The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 7c.

[Image reading apparatus and automatic document feeder]
Arranged behind the operation panel 5 is an image reading device 2 for executing a scanner function and an automatic document feeder 3 mounted thereon. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the upper surface side of the main body case 2a in the image reading apparatus 2, as will be described in detail later, a first transmission member 31 for placing a document in a fixed reading unit, and a conveyance A second transmissive member 32 for slidingly contacting the original in the reading unit is disposed adjacently via a scooping guide member 33. Moreover, the adjacent one end parts of the two transmissive members 31 and 32 are arranged in a stepped manner in the thickness direction of the two transmissive members (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The aspect of the overlapping portion will be described in detail later.

  The main body case 2a in the image reading apparatus 2 is vertically moved around a pivot (not shown) horizontally provided on the housing 4 at one end (in the embodiment, one side rearward from the panel cover 5). It is mounted so that it can rotate.

An automatic document feeder 3 (also referred to as ADF (Auto Document Feeder)) that conveys a document to the image reading device 2 includes an upper cover body 10 that covers substantially the entire upper portion of the main body case 2a, and an upper surface of the upper cover body 10. A paper discharge tray section 13 formed on the paper discharge tray 13 and a paper feed tray section 14 disposed above the paper discharge tray section 13. A cover body 14a is foldably provided in the paper feed tray section 14. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cover body 14 a is folded on the paper feed tray unit 14. When a large document is placed on the paper feed tray unit 14, the rear part of the document is placed on the back side of the spread cover body 14a. A pressing plate 10a is attached to the lower surface of the upper cover body 10 (see FIG. 3) . The pressing plate 10a presses a fixed document placed with the image recording surface in contact with the first transmission member 31. Therefore, the first transmission member 31 becomes a fixed reading unit.

  The upper cover body 10 made of synthetic resin (the document pressing cover body in the claims) is attached to the main body case 2a via a pair of hinge means 11a and 11b (see FIG. 2) at the rear end (opposite side to the operation panel section 5). On the other hand, it is mounted so as to be movable in the vertical direction and to be capable of opening / closing and turning. The reason why the pair of hinge means 11a and 11b is configured to be movable in the vertical direction is that the document placed on the first transmission member 31 is a thick document such as a book. This is because it can be pressed parallel to the surface.

  The automatic document feeder 3 includes a first transport direction in which a document is transported to a reading position Re located at one side (one end in the Y direction) of the paper feed tray section 14, and a discharge tray section 13 from the reading position Re. A reverse conveyance path 18 having a substantially U-turn shape including a second conveyance direction for conveying the original is provided.

  The paper feed tray section 14 is provided with a pair of document guides 14b. Then, when one document guide 14b is moved manually by a known interlocking mechanism 14c, the other document guide 14b is simultaneously moved in the X direction so that the width can be adjusted according to the width dimension of the document in the X direction. It is configured.

  The automatic document feeder 3 sucks a plurality of documents placed in a stacked state on the paper feed tray section 14 and separates one document from the suction section to separate the first document in the first transport direction (reading position Re). And a reverse conveyance path 18 for reversing the conveyed document from the reading position Re to the second conveyance direction and conveying it to the paper discharge tray unit 13. ing. The suction part is a pair of suction rollers 15, and a separation roller 16 and a separation pad 17 as a separation part are arranged on the downstream side of the conveyance. As shown in FIG. 3, these components are arranged below a lid cover body 19 that covers the upper side of the left end portion of the automatic document feeder 3.

A feeding roller portion including a first drive roller 20a and a first pinch roller 20b is disposed on the downstream side of the separation portion and at the upper end portion of the reverse conveyance path body 18. A second drive roller 21 is disposed at the lower end of the reverse conveyance path body 18 on the upstream side from the reading position Re. Further, a discharge roller portion including a third drive roller 23 and a third pinch roller 24 is disposed at the upper end (downstream end portion) of the discharge path body 22 that is inclined upward on the downstream side from the reading position Re. Rotational power from one ADF motor (not shown) is transmitted to the suction roller 15, the separation roller 16, and the first to third drive rollers 20a, 21, and 23 through a gear mechanism (not shown).

[Configuration of Document Reading Unit]
The line-type document reading means 8 for reading the image recording surface of the document is placed on a linear guide member 25 extending along the Y-axis direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, and can be reciprocated. The means 8 is linearly long in the X-axis direction of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a scooping guide member 33 long in the X-axis direction bonded to the upper surface of the first transmission member 31 is sandwiched at the left end portion of the first transmission member 31 as a fixed reading unit. The left region is formed to be the second transmission member 32 as a transported document reading unit. In the embodiment, the first transmission member 31 and the second transmission member 32 are made of a glass plate that is transparent, smooth on both upper and lower surfaces, and has a parallel surface, but may be a transparent material made of synthetic resin.

  As will be described later, the document reading unit 8 is configured such that the image recording surface of the document conveyed in the first conveyance direction faces downward, the document slides on the upper surface of the second transmission member 32, and is stationary on the lower surface of the second transmission member 32. Use to scan the original image. A position above the detection position of the document reading unit 8 is a reading position Re (see FIG. 2) of the conveyed document. A document retainer 34 for slidingly contacting the document on the upper surface of the second transmitting member 32 is disposed by being biased downward by a spring 34a (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

In the embodiment, the document reading unit 8 is mounted on a round shaft-shaped guide member 25 and has a carriage 35 held at a constant posture, a case 36 disposed inside the upwardly-open carriage 35, and An image reading sensor 37 fixed in the case 36 is provided. In the embodiment, the image reading sensor 37 is a contact image sensor: CIS (Contact Image Sensor). The case 36 is arranged so as to be movable up and down and rotatable with respect to the carriage 35. More specifically, a pair of support shafts 38 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) at both ends of the case 36 are fitted in guide grooves 39 formed at both ends of the carriage 35 so as to be movable up and down and rotatable ( Only one is shown in FIG.

  When the image reading sensor 37 is a contact image sensor, since the depth of focus is shallow, it is necessary to hold the position of the surface of the image reading sensor 37 close to the lower surface of each transmission member 31, 32. Therefore, a pair of first rotating roller 44 and second rotating roller 45 as an example of a sliding member are arranged on the upper surfaces of both end portions in the X-axis direction of the case 36 (shown by one end portion in FIG. 5). ). The first rotating roller 44 and the second rotating roller 45 are appropriately spaced apart from each other in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (see FIGS. 4 to 7). Further, the case 36 is biased upward by biasing means such as a coil spring 40 disposed between the bottom plate of the carriage 35 and the lower surface of the case 36. Note that both ends of the carriage 35 slide on guide members (not shown) extending in the Y-axis direction on the lower surfaces of the portions supporting the side ends of the first transmission member 31 and the second transmission member 32 in the main body case 2a. You may comprise so that it may support.

  A belt 41 such as a timing belt connected to the carriage 35 is wound around a driving pulley 42 and a driven pulley 43 arranged at both ends in the Y-axis direction in the main body case 2a, and is driven by a driving motor shown in the drawing. (See FIG. 2).

  One end portion of the second transmission member 32 in the conveyance reading unit is arranged in an overlapped manner in the thickness direction of both transmission members 31 and 32 on one end portion of the first transmission member 31 in the fixed reading unit. In that case, the second transmission member 32 is arranged with the scooping guide member 33 sandwiched (inserted) from the first transmission member 31.

The two transmissive members 31 and 32 are stacked such that the thickness portions of the transmissive members 31 and 32 are parallel to each other, and the first transmissive member 31 is in the lower position and the second transmissive member. As shown in FIG. 8 , the first transmission member 31 is in the upper position and the second transmission member 32 is in the lower position, as shown in FIG. The dimension H1 of the overlapping portion is arbitrary. Even if it is an overlap part of any of these aspects, as a result of the one end part of both the permeable members 31 and 32 being arrange | positioned without gap and one end part overlapping, there is also little bending deformation of the one end part of both the transmissive members 31 and 32. In addition, since paper dust and dust do not fall downward on the lower surfaces of these transmission members 31 and 32, the reading surface of the original reading unit 8 is not soiled and the reading quality is not deteriorated. In addition, since the position holding and intensity | strength of both the permeable members 31 and 32 are further strengthened by fixing the contact part of each transmissive member 31 and 32 with respect to the scooping guide member 33 with an adhesive agent, it is preferable.

  In order to guide the document transported downstream through the second transmission member 32 to the paper discharge unit side of the automatic document transport device 3, the scooping guide member 33 in the stacking unit is provided on the second transmission member 32. An upward inclined surface is provided from the contact portion of the downstream end portion.

  When the carriage 35 moves across the lower surface of the overlapping portion of the first transmission member 31 and the second transmission member 32, the upper surface of the image reading sensor 37 biased upward is at one end of the lower transmission member. A movement guide means 46 is provided so as not to collide with the lower surface side corner.

  4 and 5 show a first embodiment of the movement guide means 46 when the first transmitting member 31 is in the lower position. That is, in order to guide the pair of rotating rollers 44 and 45 to a portion that crosses the overlapping portion of the one end portion of the first transmitting member 31 and the one end portion of the second transmitting member 32 along the direction in which the carriage 35 moves. Guide members 48 and 49 having a pair of guide inclined surfaces 48a and 49a are provided. In that case, since the pair of the first rotating roller 44 and the second rotating roller 45 is provided in the case 36 at the outer portions at both ends in the X-axis direction of the image reading sensor 37, the pair of guide members 48 and 49 are also It is provided at a location corresponding to both rotating rollers 44 and 45, and is not provided at a location corresponding to the surface (upper surface) of the image reading sensor 37.

  The first rotating roller 44 and the second rotating roller 45 are spaced apart by a distance (Lx1) in the X-axis direction and spaced by a distance (Ly1) in the Y-axis direction. The corresponding first guide inclined surface 48a of the first guide member 48 and the second guide inclined surface 49a of the second guide member 49 corresponding to the second rotating roller 45 are appropriately separated in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. (See FIGS. 4 and 5).

Further, for example, when the carriage 35 moves from the first transmission member 31 side, which is the lower position, to the second transmission member 32, the lower surface of the first guide member 48 is the first transmission member in a side projection view. The lower surface of the first transmissive member 31 extends to a position extending beyond the portion corresponding to the lower surface side corner portion 31a of one end of the 31 toward the lower surface side of the second transmissive member 32 by an appropriate dimension in parallel with the lower surface. They are formed in the same plane. Subsequently, the first guide inclined surface 48a is formed so as to contact the lower surface of the second transmission member 32 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4). On the other hand, in the second guide member 49, also in the side projection view, the position on the downstream side closest to the position of the lower surface side corner portion 31a at one end of the first transmission member 31 or the position corresponding to the lower surface side corner portion 31a. Thus, the second guide inclined surface 49 a is linearly formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmission member 32. Here, the downstream side means the downstream side in the moving direction of the carriage 35 when the carriage 35 moves in the direction of moving from the first transmitting member 31 side to the second transmitting member 32, and the same applies hereinafter. In the first embodiment, the first guide inclined surface 48a and the second guide inclined surface 49a are formed in a straight line and in parallel.

With this configuration, the first rotating roller 44 precedes the one end portion of the first transmission member 31 and the first lower surface of the first guide member 48 having the same plane as the lower surface of the first transmission member 31 and the first following it. Since the second rotating roller 45 is in sliding contact with the lower surface of the first transmitting member 31 while passing through the guide inclined surface 48a, the image reading disposed between the rotating rollers 44, 45 is performed. The carriage 35 can pass so that the upper surface of the sensor 37 does not collide with the lower surface side corner portion 31a at one end of the first transmission member 31 at the lower position (see the two-dot chain line and the solid line state in FIG. 4). Similarly, when the carriage 35 positioned on the lower surface side of the second transmission member 32 is moved toward the lower surface side of the first transmission member 31, the upper surface of the image reading sensor 37 is also one end of the first transmission member 31 in the lower position. It does not collide with the lower surface side corner 31a. As a result, the reading unit which is the upper surface of the image reading sensor 37 is not damaged and the reading quality is not deteriorated.

  When the carriage 35 moves until both the rotating rollers 44 and 45 are in sliding contact with the lower surface of the second transmission member 32, the upper surface of the image reading sensor 37 is close to the lower surface of the second transmission member 32 and becomes parallel. .

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in the side projection view, the first guide inclined surface 48 a on the lower surface of the first guide member 48 has a starting end portion lower than the lower surface side corner portion 31 a at one end of the first transmission member 31. Starting from the upstream side in the moving direction of the carriage 35, the first transmission member 31 is formed in a convex curve downward from the lower surface of the first transmission member 31 up to the appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface corner 31a at one end. Is done. Subsequently, a first guide inclined surface 48a is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmission member 32 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). On the other hand, in the second guide member 49, also in the side projection view, the position on the downstream side closest to the position of the lower surface side corner portion 31a at one end of the first transmission member 31 or the position corresponding to the lower surface side corner portion 31a. Thus, the second guide inclined surface 49 a is linearly formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmission member 32.

  Also in the second embodiment, even when the carriage 35 reciprocates in the Y-axis direction across the lower surface of the overlapping portion of the first transmission member 31 and the second transmission member 32, the image reading sensor is biased upward. The upper surface of 37 does not collide with the lower surface side corner portion 31a at one end of the first transmitting member 31 at the lower position.

  In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the second transmission member 32 is partially overlapped and arranged below the lower surface of the first transmission member 31 in parallel. In that case, in the side projection view, the first guide inclined surface 48a of the first guide member 48 corresponding to the first rotating roller 44 has a starting end portion that is more than the overlapping portion of the first and second transmission members 31 and 32. Starting from the upstream side in the moving direction of the carriage 35, the second transmitting member 32 is convexly curved downward from both lower surfaces of the transmitting members 31 and 32 to an appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface side corner 32a of one end. (See the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8). On the other hand, in the second guide member 49, the second guide inclined surface 49 a corresponding to the second rotating roller 45 is a lower surface side angle of one end of the second transmission member 32 from the lower surface of the first transmission member 31 in the side projection view. It is formed in a downward straight line toward the portion 32a (see the solid line state in FIG. 8).

  Also in the third embodiment, when the carriage 35 reciprocates along the Y-axis direction across the lower surface of the first transmissive member 31 and the lower surface of the second transmissive member 32, the image that is biased upward is also used. The upper surface of the reading sensor 37 does not collide with the lower surface side corner portion 32a at one end of the second transmitting member 32 at the lower position. Thus, in any of the embodiments, the upper surface of the image reading sensor 37 is not rubbed and damaged by the adjacent transmitting member, and the reading quality is not deteriorated.

  When the second transmissive member 32 is stacked above the upper surface of the first transmissive member 31, the conveyance reading unit is more conventional than the conventional case (when the first and second transmissive members 31, 32 are on the same plane). In addition, the second transmission member 32 is at the upper position, and the inclination angle of the upward inclined surface in the scooping guide member 33 for guiding the document to the discharge path body 22 can be made gentle. As a result, the action of pulling up the document passing through the reading unit Re is reduced, and as a result, the document is not lifted from the upper surface of the second transmissive member 32, and the reading quality is stabilized.

When the second transmissive member 32 is overlapped below the lower surface of the first transmissive member 31, the reading portion Re of the conveyed document in the second transmissive member 32 can be brought closer to one end of the first transmissive member 31. Thus, the size of the image reading device 2 in the Y-axis direction can be shortened.

  The first guide member 48 and the second guide member 49 may be formed integrally with the scooping guide member 33 adjacent to both ends of the scooping guide member 33 in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 7). As another embodiment, the first guide member 48 and the second guide member 49 are arranged on the upper plate side of the main body case 2a, and the lower surface of the support portion at the side edge of the first transmission member 31 and the second transmission member 32. The first guide member 48 and the second guide member 49 formed separately may be integrally formed on the lower side of the upper plate of the main body case 2a with an adhesive such as a double-sided tape. It may be fixed.

  Instead of the rotating rollers 44 and 45, the pair of sliding members may be formed of a portion having a convex curved surface that does not rotate with a member having a small friction coefficient.

  When the image reading sensor 37 has a large depth of focus like a CCD image sensor, the image reading sensor 37 placed on the carriage 35 needs to be pressed toward the lower surfaces of the first and second transmissive members 31 and 32 to approach each other. There is no. Accordingly, the image reading sensor 37 can be moved in parallel at a position below the lower surface of the first transmission member 31 or the second transmission member 32 on the lower side, and the sliding members 44 and 45 as described above. And the guide members 48 and 49 are unnecessary.

  As described above, one end of the second transmissive member 32 in the transport reading unit is arranged in an overlapped manner in the thickness direction of the two transmissive members 31 and 32 on one end of the first transmissive member 31 in the fixed reading unit. As a result, paper dust and dust are prevented from falling below the transmission member, and a gap communicating with the transmission member in the thickness direction of the transmission member does not occur between the fixed reading unit and the conveyance reading unit. Or static electricity generated above the transmissive member does not reach the lower side of the transmissive member, so that countermeasures against static electricity of the CIS can be achieved, and the support strength of the transmissive member can be improved. Miniaturization can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunctional apparatus 2 Image reading apparatus 2a Main body case 3 Automatic document conveying apparatus 4 Housing 8 Document reading means 10 Upper cover body 18 as a document pressing cover body Reverse conveying path body 31 First transmission member 32 Second transmission member 33 Scooping up Guide member 34 Document presser 35 Carriage 36 Case 37 Image reading sensor 38 Support shaft 40 Coil spring 44 First rotating roller 45 as an example of sliding member Similarly second rotating roller 46 Movement guide means
48 1st guide member
48a first guide slope
49 2nd guide member
49a Second guide slope

Claims (8)

A fixed reading unit having a plate-like first transmission member having an upper surface on which a document is placed, an automatic document conveying device that automatically conveys a document in a predetermined conveyance direction and discharges the document from the discharge unit, and the automatic document A transport reading unit having a plate-like second transmission member having an upper surface that comes into sliding contact with a document transported by the transport device, and the fixed reading unit moves the first surface while moving the lower surface side of the first transmission member . It reads an image of the upper surface to a document placed in the transparent member, wherein the feeding and reading portion and a document reading means for reading an image of the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder at rest on the lower surface side of the second transmission member An image reading apparatus comprising:
Providing an overlapping portion in which the adjacent one end portions of the first transmitting member and the second transmitting member are arranged in the thickness direction of both transmitting members;
An image reading apparatus characterized in that a scooping guide member for guiding the conveyed document to the discharge section side of the automatic document feeder is inserted in the overlapping section.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the superimposing unit is provided with a movement guide unit that guides the document reading unit that moves between the fixed reading unit and the conveyance reading unit. .   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement guide unit is formed integrally with the scooping guide member. The document reading means includes a close contact type image sensor including an image reading sensor that is fixed to a lower surface of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member, and a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the document reading means. A carriage that supports the case extending in the direction and moves along the moving direction,
The configuration in which the carriage supports the case rotates around an axis that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading unit and extends in parallel with the two transmissive member surfaces, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the two transmissive member surfaces. Is a configuration to
The movement guide means includes a guide member provided on the case and having a pair of inclined surfaces for guiding a pair of sliding members arranged at predetermined intervals in the movement direction and in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction. ,
When the pair of inclined surfaces guide the pair of sliding members, the pair of inclined surfaces are arranged at a predetermined interval in the moving direction and in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction,
The lower surface of the guide member having an inclined surface farther from the first transmitting member at the lower position of the pair of inclined surfaces corresponds to a lower surface side corner of one end of the first transmitting member at the lower position. To the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position and to a position extending by an appropriate dimension in parallel with the lower surface, is formed in the same plane as the lower surface of the first transmitting member at the lower position,
4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the far inclined surface is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmitting member at the upper position . The document reading means includes a close contact type image sensor including an image reading sensor that is fixed to a lower surface of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member, and a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the document reading means. A carriage that supports the case extending in the direction and moves along the moving direction,
The configuration in which the carriage supports the case rotates around an axis that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading unit and extends in parallel with the two transmissive member surfaces, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the two transmissive member surfaces. Is a configuration to
The movement guide means includes a guide member provided on the case and having a pair of inclined surfaces for guiding a pair of sliding members arranged at predetermined intervals in the movement direction and in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction. ,
When the pair of inclined surfaces guide the pair of sliding members, the pair of inclined surfaces are arranged at a predetermined interval in the moving direction and in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction,
In addition, of the pair of inclined surfaces, the inclined surface farther from the lower first transmitting member has a starting end portion that is lower than the lower surface side corner portion of one end of the lower first transmitting member. Starting from the upstream side in the moving direction, and projecting downward from the lower surface of the first transmitting member at the lower position to the appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface side corner of the first transmitting member at the lower position. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the far inclined surface is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the second transmitting member at an upper position. The document reading means includes a close contact type image sensor including an image reading sensor that is fixed to a lower surface of the first transmissive member and the second transmissive member, and a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the document reading means. A carriage that supports the case extending in the direction and moves along the moving direction,
The configuration in which the carriage supports the case rotates around an axis that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the document reading unit and extends in parallel with the two transmissive member surfaces, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the two transmissive member surfaces. Is a configuration to
The movement guide means includes a guide member provided on the case and having a pair of inclined surfaces for guiding a pair of sliding members arranged at predetermined intervals in the movement direction and in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction. ,
When the pair of inclined surfaces guide the pair of sliding members, the pair of inclined surfaces are arranged at a predetermined interval in the moving direction and in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction,
In addition, among the pair of inclined surfaces, the inclined surface far from the first transmitting member at the upper position has its starting end portion starting from the upstream side in the moving direction of the document reading means with respect to the overlapping portion of both transmitting members, 3. The second transmitting member at a lower position is formed in a convex curved shape below the lower surfaces of both transmitting members to an appropriate downstream side beyond the lower surface side corner of one end portion. Or the image reading device according to 3. The pair of sliding members are provided at both ends of the case in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide member is provided corresponding to an arrangement position of the pair of sliding members. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the overlapping portion, the second transmission member is disposed above the upper surface of the first transmission member, and the both transmission members are disposed in parallel to each other. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

Images