JP4958646B2 - Sheet regulating device, and sheet feeding device and image reading device including the device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet regulating apparatus that regulates sheets of different sizes, and a sheet feeding apparatus and an image reading apparatus including the apparatus, and in particular, magnetic printing characters formed on the sheet correctly pass through the installation position of the magnetic head. Even if the center position in the width direction of the sheet to be fed and stacked by regulating the sheet stacking position is different, the sheets to be discharged are aligned by properly regulating the sheets. About things.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus provided in a copying machine, a fax machine or the like includes a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to an image reading unit. As an example of such a sheet feeding apparatus, there is an ADF (automatic document feeding apparatus) that transports a document as a sheet to an image reading unit. In such an ADF (automatic document feeder), a pair of regulating plates whose positions can be adjusted are provided on the document placing table in order to regulate the document setting position and prevent skew feeding. The user adjusts the interval of the restriction plate according to the width of the document to be set.

  As shown in FIG. 6, rack gears 40 a and 41 a provided on each of the pair of regulation plates 40 and 41 are usually connected by a pinion gear 42 so that the position of the regulation plate is regulated based on the document width center reference. Has been. Therefore, the pair of restriction plates 40 and 41 are configured to move in the opposite directions to the document width direction in conjunction with each other and adjust the interval according to the document width.

  In recent years, with the increasing functionality of image reading devices, a MICR character (magnetic ink character) reading magnetic head is provided, and MICR characters printed on documents (checks, bills, etc.) can be read simultaneously with image reading. An image reading apparatus has been commercialized. In addition, an image reading apparatus that includes a printer and is capable of performing a time stamp for printing the date and time before reading the image has been commercialized.

  The print position of the MICR character is determined by the JIS standard or the like. As shown in FIG. 7, even if the size of the original 30 is different, the print position from the end of the original 30 is the same (for example, from the end). (Position of distance a).

  When an original document 30 (check or bill) printed with MICR characters is fed by an ADF having a regulating plate interlocking with each other as described above, and the MICR characters are read, the positions of the originals 30 are regulated to interlock with each other. The plates 40 and 41 restrict the center position of the document in the width direction so as not to change. For this reason, if the size in the width direction of the document 30 is different, the position from the center in the width direction of the document to the MICR character is changed. On the other hand, since the position of the magnetic head is fixed, if the position of the MICR character changes from the center in the width direction of the document, the MICR character does not pass through the position of the magnetic head, and the MICR character cannot be read.

  Further, in an image reading apparatus having a function of printing a time stamp for printing date and time before image reading, the position of the original 30 is restricted by the restriction plates 40 and 41 so that the center position in the width direction of the original is not changed. As a result, it is not possible to print the document 30 having a different width size at a predetermined distance from the document edge.

  Therefore, in the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the interlocking state in which the position of the pair of regulation plates can be adjusted without changing the center position of the sheet and the regulation plate are moved independently, It can be used by switching the non-interlocking state in which the position can be adjusted without changing the document end position.

  As an example, a pair of restricting plates, rack gears provided on each restricting plate, and a pinion gear that meshes with the rack gears are provided, and when one restricting plate is moved by hand, one rack gear rotates the pinion gear. There is a structure in which the other rack gear to which the force is transmitted from the pinion gear moves the other restricting plate. Further, a switching button is provided, and by pushing the button, the pinion gear is retracted from the position engaged with the rack gear to the position where it does not come into contact, and the regulation plate can be adjusted independently.

As a result, regardless of the size of the document, the regulation plate can be adjusted so that the document edge is at a desired position, and the MICR characters printed at a predetermined position from the document edge can be read. Further, a date, time stamp, etc. can be printed at a predetermined position from the document edge.
JP 2006-069682 A

  However, in order to switch between the above two adjustment methods, the user needs to press a switching button, which is troublesome. Further, when a document is loaded on the document table, an operation such as pressing a switching button after removing the document must be performed.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an interlocking state in which the positions of the pair of restricting plates can be adjusted in conjunction with each other without performing an operation such as pressing a switching button, and a non-interlocking in which the restricting plates can be adjusted independently. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet regulating device that can be used properly immediately and can be used properly even when a document is stacked on a document table, and a sheet feeding device and an image reading device including the sheet regulating device. To do. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus in which a restriction plate similar to the above is provided on a discharged document stacking table on which discharged documents are stacked.

To achieve the above object, the sheet regulating device according to the invention, the adjustable sheet regulating device the loading position in the width direction of the sheet that will be stacked, to regulate the loading position in the width direction of the sheet, the installation position Adjustable first and second regulating members, a first rack gear that moves the first regulating member, a second rack gear that moves the second regulating member, and the first A first pinion gear that meshes with a rack gear; a second pinion gear that meshes with the second rack gear; and an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear with frictional force or viscous force. a, the interlocking mechanism, by adjusting the position of one of the regulating member of the first regulating member and the second regulating member, wherein the first regulating member and the second regulating portion When the other restricting member is not fixed, the other restricting member is moved in conjunction with the movement of the one restricting member, and the interlocking mechanism is configured such that the one restricting member is fixed. Is characterized in that the other regulating member is moved independently with respect to the one regulating member .

The sheet regulating apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet regulating apparatus capable of adjusting a stacking position in the width direction of sheets to be stacked. A member, a second restricting member, a first rack gear for moving the first restricting member, a second rack gear for moving the second restricting member, and a first pinion meshing with the first rack gear A gear, a second pinion gear meshing with the second rack gear, and an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear, and the first pinion gear via the interlocking mechanism. pinion gear and said second pinion gear are possible rotate independently, the interlocking mechanism includes inclined surfaces provided on both of the first pinion gear side and the second pinion gear side Rannahli has teeth that mesh with each other, wherein at least one of the first pinion gear and said second pinion gear is biased in a direction to move to the other side.

Furthermore, the sheet restricting device according to the present invention includes an elastic portion that makes at least one of the first restricting member and the second restricting member stationary by using a frictional force in any of the above-described sheet restricting devices. It is characterized by that.

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above sheet regulating apparatuses.

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above sheet regulating apparatuses.
An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document placement table on which a document is placed, an image reading unit that reads a document image, a transport roller that transports the document on the document placement table, and a document that is discharged. And any one of the above sheet regulating devices is provided on the document table.
Furthermore, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document placing table on which a document is placed, an image reading unit that reads an image of the document, a transport roller that transports the document on the document placing table, and a document is discharged. And any one of the sheet regulating devices described above is provided in the paper discharge tray.

  The image reading apparatus to which the present invention is applied has a special operation between an interlocking state in which the position of the pair of restricting plates can be adjusted with the center reference of the document and a non-interlocking state in which the position of the pair of restricting plates can be adjusted with the document end reference. Can be used immediately without performing. Further, even when a document is stacked on the document placement table and the paper discharge tray, or even when a document bundle is placed on the document placement table, the above two states can be used immediately, so that the user can easily operate.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an image reading apparatus provided with a sheet feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an image reading apparatus including a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 10 includes a document placing table 1 and a pickup roller 2 configured as a sheet feeding device, a separation roller pair 3, conveyance roller pairs 4 a to 4 d, a reading unit 5, and A paper discharge tray 6 and regulating plates 12 and 13 are provided. A pair of regulating plates 12 and 13 are provided on the document table 1 and the paper discharge tray 6 respectively. The restricting plates 12 and 13 constitute a sheet restricting device described later. Further, the image reading apparatus 10 is configured such that the MICR character (magnetic ink character) reading unit 20 and the imprinter 33 can be attached as options.

  The MICR character reading unit 20 is installed at the discharge port of the image reading apparatus 10 and includes a pair of conveyance rollers 21 a and 21 b and a magnetic head 22. Further, as an option, an imprinter 33 for performing stamping or the like is provided in front of the reading unit 5.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the document placing table 1 of the sheet feeding apparatus in FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the sheet regulating device provided in the sheet feeding device in FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the sheet regulating device, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the mounting table 1, and FIG. 3C is a partial cross-sectional view of the sheet regulating device. Note that the magnetic head 22 has a bill or check that is conveyed while the movement of the restriction plate 13 in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction is restricted by the restriction plate 13 when the restriction plate 13 is moved to match the MICR position of the mark 11. Are attached at positions where the MICR characters printed on them can be read.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3a to 3c, the document placing table 1 interlocks the pair of restriction plates 12, 13 constituting the sheet restriction device, the pinion gears 35, 36, the pinion gear 35, and the pinion gear 36. A torque limiter 37 as an interlocking mechanism and a shaft 53 are included. The regulation plates 12 and 13 are provided with rack gears 12a and 13a and resin springs 12b and 13b in the lower part thereof. The rack gears 12a and 13a and the resin springs 12b and 13b may be formed integrally with the restriction plates 12 and 13, or may be attached as separate members. The rack gear 12a and the pinion gear 35, and the rack gear 13a and the pinion gear 36 are meshed with each other. The pinion gears 35 and 36 rotate around a shaft 53 in conjunction with each other via a torque limiter 37. The resin springs 12b and 13b are pressed against a sliding contact portion 54 provided on the document table 1, and the regulating plates 12 and 13 are stopped by a frictional force. For this reason, when a document skewed during feeding exerts a force to spread the restricting plates 12 and 13, a frictional force is generated by contact with the sliding contact portion 54, and the restricting plates 12 and 13 are stopped without being spread. Keep state. Even if one of the resin springs 12b and 13b is not provided, both the restricting plates can be stationary via the interlocking mechanism. Further, not only a resin spring but also a metal spring or the like may be used.

  When adjusting based on the center reference so that the position of the restriction plates 12 and 13 and the center position of the document are fixed, the user moves the restriction plate 12 or 13 to make the adjustment. The torque at which the torque limiter 37 starts idling is generated when one of the manual restriction plates 12 and 13 is manually moved and the other is moved in conjunction with the torque (pressed by the resin springs 12b and 13b). It is set to a larger value than that generated by static frictional force and mechanical system load such as rack gear and pinion gear. Therefore, even if one of the restricting plates 12 or 13 is moved by hand to adjust the position, the torque limiter does not slip and the restricting plates 12 and 13 are interlocked so that the position can be easily adjusted.

  When reading MICR characters, position adjustment is made so that the restriction plate 13 is aligned with the position of MICR written on the mark 11 so that the MICR characters printed on bills, checks, etc. pass through the installation position of the magnetic head. To do. After that, when the restriction plate 13 is fixed with one hand and the restriction plate 12 is moved with a force of a predetermined level or more with the other hand, the torque limiter 37 rotates idly, so that the restriction plate 12 is independent of the restriction plate 13. And move. By this operation, the document can be regulated by aligning the inner end surface of the regulation plate 12 with the document edge. The regulation plate 12 is adjusted by adjusting it to the document edge, but may be adjusted by providing a mark for the regulation plate 12. The discharge tray 6 is also provided with restriction plates 12 and 13 having the same configuration, and the restriction plates 12 and 13 are adjusted in the same manner as described above.

  Here, a description will be given of a case where the document 30 is regulated by the regulation plates 12 and 13 with the center reference that does not change the center of the document in the width direction, and feeding and reading are performed. Such central reference regulation is performed when the MICR character reading unit 20 is not used to read MICR characters but the image reading apparatus 10 reads only an image of a document. As shown in FIG. 2, when placing the document 30 on the document placing table 1, after placing the document 30, the interval between the regulation plates 12 and 13 is adjusted according to the document 30.

  Then, reading of an image is instructed from a computer (not shown) connected to the image reading device 10, and the document is fed from the uppermost document of the document 30 placed on the document table 1 to the inside of the device by the pickup roller 2. To do. Here, when a plurality of documents are sent, they are separated one by one by the separation roller pair 3 and fed. The fed original 30 is conveyed to the image reading unit 5 by the conveying roller pair 4a and an image is read. Further, it is transported by transport roller pairs 4b to 4d and delivered to the optional MICR character reading unit 20. The MICR character reading unit 20 transports the document 30 by the pair of transport rollers 21 a and 21 b and discharges the document to the sheet discharge tray 6 of the image reading device 10.

  Next, a description will be given of a case where the document is regulated by the regulating plates 12 and 13 on the basis of the end surface so that the end surface position of the document bundle is fixed, and feeding and reading are performed. Such regulation based on the end face is performed when the optional unit 20 reads MICR characters printed on a document such as a check or bill.

  Then, as in the case of reading the image of the document 30 regulated by the above-described central reference, when an image reading is instructed from a computer (not shown), the image reading device removes the check that is the document 30 by the pickup roller 2 or the like. Feed and read the image. Further, the check 30 from which the image has been read is conveyed into the option unit 20 by the conveying roller pair 4d. The option unit 20 that has received the check 30 transports the check 30 with the transport roller pair 21 a and discharges it to the paper discharge tray 6 with the transport roller pair 21 b while reading the MICR characters with the magnetic head 22.

  After that, in order to make it possible to adjust the restriction plates 12 and 13 again based on the center reference in the document width direction, the restriction plates 12 and 13 are applied by hand with a predetermined force or more so that the distance between the restriction plates 12 and 13 is minimized. Move both to the innermost position. If one of the restriction plates 12 and 13 is moved outward from this state by hand, the other restriction plate moves in conjunction with it, so that the interval between the restriction plates 12 and 13 can be adjusted again based on the center reference in the document width direction. Become.

  As described above, the sheet restricting device including the pair of restricting plates 12 and 13 for restricting the placement position of the sheet of the document or the like in the width direction is provided. The interlocking state that can be adjusted based on the reference and the non-interlocking state in which the positions of the regulation plates 12 and 13 can be adjusted based on the end surface of the sheet can be used separately without performing any special operation.

  This makes it easy to selectively use the center reference and the end face reference in the document width direction without preparing an adapter, which is a special position restricting member, or increasing the complexity and cost of the device. Sheets such as manuscripts can be fed.

  Then, it is possible to read a MICR character whose printing position is determined from the end of a check or the like according to JIS standards.

  In addition, when printing is performed by a printer, a time stamp or the like can be printed at a predetermined distance from the end of a sheet such as a document by regulating the document based on the end surface according to the above configuration.

  Next, a sheet regulating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment, a torque limiter is provided as the interlocking mechanism. In the second embodiment, a friction pad is provided as the interlocking mechanism.

  4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the sheet regulating device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the sheet regulating device, and FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view of the sheet regulating device. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, friction pads 38 and 39 are attached to the pinion gears 35 and 36, respectively, and the pinion gear 35 is pressed toward the pinion gear 36 by the compression spring 40. With this configuration, torque exceeding the static frictional force between one friction pad and the other friction pad is not transmitted, and thus acts as a torque limiter. Instead of using the compression spring, the pinion gear may be molded with resin, and the resin spring portion may be molded integrally therewith. Moreover, you may integrally mold the resin spring part to another resin member.

  Next, a sheet regulating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the sheet regulating device in the present embodiment, FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view of the sheet regulating device, and FIG. 5 (b) is a partial sectional view of the sheet regulating device. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), teeth 51 a, 52 a are provided on the pinion gears 51, 52, and the teeth 52 a of the pinion gear 52 are replaced with the teeth 51 a of the pinion gear 51 by the compression spring 40. Pressing. The tooth portions 51a and 52a and the compression spring 40 constitute a torque limiter. For example, when the pinion gear 51 is fixed and torque is applied to the other pinion gear 52, the pinion gear 52 is placed on the inclined surface of the tooth portion. By being pushed and moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the displacement of the tooth portion increases. When a torque of a certain value or more is applied, the tooth portion gets over the other tooth portion, so that the torque transmitted from one pinion gear to the other pinion gear is limited to the above constant value and becomes a torque limiter. When reading MICR characters, after adjusting the position of the restricting plate 13 to the position of the mark 11 so that the MICR characters printed on a bill or check can be read, the restricting plate 13 can be read with one hand. The pinion gear 51 is fixed and fixed, and the other hand applies a force of a predetermined value or more so as to move the regulating plate 12. The pinion gear 52 can move and rotate in the direction of the arrow shown. Thus, the restriction plates 12 and 13 can move independently.

  Also in this embodiment, the pinion gear may be molded with resin without using the compression spring, and the resin spring portion may be molded integrally therewith. Moreover, you may integrally mold the resin spring part to another resin member.

  In both the second and third embodiments, it is sufficient to provide a spring that presses at least one of the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear against the other. A spring may be provided so as to press both the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear.

  Further, in both the second embodiment and the third embodiment, both of the resin springs 12b and 13b can be provided via the interlocking mechanism without providing one of the resin springs 12b and 13b as in the first embodiment. It is possible to make the regulation plate stationary.

  Further, as another embodiment, a tooth interlocking portion capable of transmitting torque to each other via high-viscosity grease or the like is provided instead of providing a tooth portion that meshes between the pinion gears 51 and 52. Also good. Such a viscous interlocking unit can be realized using the same principle as that of the viscous damper. In order to obtain such a viscous force, in addition to using the grease as described above, a gas or a liquid may be used.

  In addition, since a viscous force does not generate | occur | produce in principle between the objects which are relatively still, in such a structure, the capability to make a control board stand still may be insufficient. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an elastic part such as the resin spring 12b for stopping the restricting plate 12, and an elastic part such as the resin spring 13b for stopping the restricting plate 13.

  In each of the above embodiments, the elastic portions such as the resin springs 12b and 13b are provided on the regulation plate side, but may be provided on the document placing table side.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an image reading apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document placement table of the sheet feeding device in FIG. 1. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a sheet regulating device included in the sheet feeding device in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the sheet regulating device, and FIG. c) is a partial cross-sectional view of the sheet regulating device. It is a figure for demonstrating the sheet | seat control apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view of a sheet | seat control apparatus, (b) is a fragmentary sectional view of a sheet | seat control apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the sheet | seat control apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view of a sheet | seat control apparatus, (b) is a fragmentary sectional view of a sheet | seat control apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional restriction | limiting board. It is a figure for demonstrating the original document on which the MICR character was printed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document mounting base 2 Pickup roller 6 Paper discharge tray 12, 13 Restriction plates 12a, 13a Rack gears 12a, 13a Resin springs 35, 36, 51, 52 Pinion gear 37 Torque limiters 38, 39 Friction pads 51a, 52a

Claims (7)

In adjustable sheet regulating device the loading position in the width direction of the stacked Ru sheet,
A first restricting member and a second restricting member, which restrict the stacking position in the width direction of the sheet, and the installation position is adjustable;
A first rack gear for moving the first regulating member;
A second rack gear for moving the second restricting member;
A first pinion gear meshing with the first rack gear;
A second pinion gear meshing with the second rack gear;
An interlocking mechanism for interlocking the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear by frictional force or viscous force ;
When the interlock mechanism adjusts the position of one of the first restricting member and the second restricting member, the other restricting member of the first restricting member and the second restricting member If not fixed, move the other restricting member in conjunction with the movement of the one restricting member,
The interlocking mechanism, when the one restricting member is fixed, moves the other restricting member independently with respect to the one restricting member . In the sheet regulating device that can adjust the stacking position of the stacked sheets in the width direction,
A first restricting member and a second restricting member that regulate the stacking position in the width direction of the sheet and that can adjust the installation position;
A first rack gear for moving the first regulating member;
A second rack gear for moving the second restricting member;
A first pinion gear meshing with the first rack gear;
A second pinion gear meshing with the second rack gear;
An interlocking mechanism for interlocking the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear;
The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear can rotate independently through the interlocking mechanism,
The interlocking mechanism includes a teeth interdigitated consists inclined surface provided on both of said first pinion gear side and the second pinion gear side,
The seat regulating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear is urged so as to move to the other side. Sheet restricting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an elastic part of at least one, is still using the frictional force of the first regulating member and the second regulating member. Sheet feeding apparatus comprising the sheet regulating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Image reading apparatus characterized by comprising a sheet regulating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An original table on which an original is placed;
An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
A transport roller for transporting a document on the document table;
And a paper output tray for paper output.
An image reading apparatus, wherein the sheet regulating apparatus according to claim 1 is provided on the document placing table. An original table on which an original is placed;
An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
A transport roller for transporting a document on the document table;
And a paper output tray for paper output.
An image reading apparatus, wherein the sheet regulating apparatus according to claim 1 is provided on the sheet discharge tray.

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