JP4986795B2 - Document conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an original conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus provided with a stamp mechanism for imprinting a scanned impression on an original whose image has been read by a reading unit.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, and other various apparatuses, an original on which an image is read is automatically conveyed to an original support member (original platen glass) of a reading unit and the original is supported on the reading unit. 2. Description of the Related Art Document conveying apparatuses having a configuration for automatically discharging a document sent from a member are widely used. In many cases, a stamp mechanism is provided on the document discharge side of such a document transport device for imprinting a scanned image on a document whose image has been read by a reading unit.

  The stamp mechanism has a structure in which, for example, a stamp stamping portion mounted on an output portion of a solenoid is projected by an output action of the solenoid toward a document passing through a conveyance path. Is provided with a function for imprinting a scanned impression. Then, when the reading operation of the document is completed in the reading unit or the facsimile transmission is completed, the completion of each operation is notified to the user by imprinting the scanned imprint on the document. It has become.

  Such a stamp mechanism for imprinting a scanned impression is arranged in the middle of a conveyance path provided inside the document conveyance device, and is shown in FIG. 5 showing the contents of Patent Document 1 below, for example. In the apparatus, a stamp mechanism 2 is provided so as to be partially exposed in a discharge conveyance path 1 for discharging a document read by a reading unit 3. As described above, in the conventional document conveying apparatus, the stamp mechanism 2 is usually disposed in the vicinity of the discharge roller 4 of the discharge conveyance path 1 extending from the reading unit 3.

However, in the configuration in which the stamp mechanism 2 is arranged in the discharge conveyance path 1 for discharging the document after reading as in the conventional apparatus described above, a space for arranging the stamp mechanism in the discharge conveyance path 1 is required. In some cases, the length of the discharge conveyance path 1 becomes long, which may be an obstacle to downsizing the entire apparatus. In order to reduce the size of the entire apparatus, a stamp mechanism may be arranged in the vicinity of the reading unit. However, since a curved conveyance path is usually disposed in the vicinity of the reading unit, the stamp mechanism is disposed along a curved surface or an inclined surface. As a result, there is a high possibility that the stamping accuracy by the stamp mechanism is lowered, such as the imprinting being not satisfactorily performed.
JP 2006-0992727 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document feeder and an image forming apparatus capable of greatly reducing the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration.

In the present invention for achieving the above object, read-image of the first surface of the document is conveyed to the reading unit through the introduction reading transport path the document document feed tray, after the reading of the first side Reversing conveyance for conveying a document from the reading section to a document discharge tray through a reading discharge conveyance path, or for branching the original after reading the first surface from the reading discharge conveyance path to join the reading introduction conveyance path be one by inverting conveying configured so that reading an image of a second surface of the document by the reading unit through the road, stamp inked indicia shadows to document read image by said reading unit mechanism, structure disposed in said reversing transport path is employed.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, a stamp mechanism for imprinting a scanned impression on a document whose image has been read by the reading unit is not disposed in the discharge-side transfer path, and the discharge-side transfer is performed. It is possible to shorten the route length of the road. The original conveying apparatus can be greatly reduced in size by the shortening of the length of the conveying path. Further, the stamp mechanism is efficiently arranged using the reverse conveyance path.

  Further, in the present invention, the reading unit is configured by a flow reading method in which an image is read while conveying the original, and the stamp mechanism includes an original supporting member that supports the original carried into the reading unit. It is possible to employ a configuration arranged at an upper position.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, since the stamp mechanism is not disposed at all on the discharge-side conveyance path, the path length of the discharge-side conveyance path can be shortened more reliably and greatly. It becomes.

In the present invention also, there is provided with a document conveying control means for controlling the conveyance of the document, the document conveyance control means, in the case of reading an image of a first side of the document, with respect to the original indicia when not inked shadows and discharges the document by forward conveyance of the discharging means for discharging the document after reading the document after reading has been forward conveyed by the paper discharge means when inked indicia shadow with respect to the original the temporarily reverse conveyance after stopping, to adopt a configuration in which to resume again forward transport in after inked indicia shadow is stopped when it reaches to a position directly above the stamp mechanism to perform the discharge of the document It is possible.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible to smoothly switch whether to imprint a scanned impression on a document after scanning.

  In the present invention, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the stamp mechanism is disposed in a conveyance path extending in a substantially planar shape in the document conveyance direction.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the stamp mechanism can be disposed in a normal flat surface without being curved or inclined with respect to the reading surface of the document. Good marking accuracy is maintained.

  In the present invention, it is possible to employ a configuration in which an ink receiving member is interposed between the stamp mechanism and the reading unit.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, even if ink leakage occurs from the stamp mechanism, the leaked ink is received by the lower ink receiving member, and the reading unit is stained with ink. Things are well avoided.

As described above, in the document conveying device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the stamp mechanism for imprinting a scanned impression on the document whose image has been read by the reading unit is disposed in the reverse conveying path, and the conveying on the discharge side. Since the stamp mechanism is configured not to be disposed on the path, the path length of the transport path on the discharge side can be easily shortened, and the document transport apparatus can be reliably downsized with a simple configuration. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a document conveying device according to the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine as an image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, a document conveying device 21 according to the present invention is mounted on the uppermost part of the image recording main body 11, and a cut sheet is placed on the lowermost part of the image recording main body 11. A universal cassette device 12 and a manual sheet feeding device 13 are disposed that constitute a sheet feeding device that accommodates a sheet-like recording medium such as a sheet feeding medium and feeds the sheet-like recording medium. Further, an image forming unit 14 for transferring and forming an image on a sheet-like recording medium fed from the paper feeding devices 12 and 13 is disposed above the paper feeding devices 12 and 13. Further, a fixing unit 15 for fixing the toner image formed on the sheet-like recording medium by the image forming unit 14 is disposed above the image forming unit 14, and above the fixing unit 15. At the position, a sheet recording medium discharge unit 16 on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 15 is disposed.

  Each of the units 12 to 16 involved in such image formation generally executes the following image forming process according to a command from an operation control unit (not shown). That is, first, when the surface photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 14a constituting the image forming unit 14 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 14b, the image information read by the document conveying device 21 or an external computer is described. The laser light modulated based on the image information input through the laser beam is emitted from the laser optical unit 14c and irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 14a, and the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is applied to the surface photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 14a. An image is formed. Next, the developing sleeve provided in the developing device 14d supplies toner having the same polarity as the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 14a to the photosensitive drum 14a, and is irradiated with laser light as described above. The developed portion is developed (reversed development) to form a toner image as a visible image. The visible toner image is sent to a transfer position formed at a position where the photosensitive drum 14a and the transfer roller 14e face each other, and the universal cassette device 12 serving as the above-described paper feeding device and the manual feed in accordance with the timing. A sheet-like recording medium is supplied from one of the paper devices 13, and a toner image is transferred onto the sheet-like recording medium. The sheet-like recording medium to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 15 to be fixed.

  Here, the universal cassette device 12 as the above-described paper feeding device has a cassette tray 121 constituting a box-shaped paper feeding housing, and a medium stacking plate (medium plate) 122 is provided inside the cassette tray 121. Is arranged. The medium stacking plate 122 is configured such that an appropriate sheet-like recording medium such as a cut sheet is stacked on the upper surface portion of the medium stacking plate 122, and the front end side of the cassette tray 121 ( A separation claw 125 is arranged on the left end side in the drawing, and a sheet feeding operation of a sheet-like recording medium placed in a stacked manner on the medium stacking plate 122 is performed above the separation claw 125. A paper feed roller 126 is disposed. The paper feed roller 126 is constituted by a rotating body having a part of a cylindrical shape having a substantially half-moon cross section. When the paper feed roller 126 is driven to rotate, the sheet-like recording medium P is moved to the front side. At the same time as being urged to move toward the left side in the drawing, the sheet feeding operation is performed while the sheet-like recording media are separated one by one by applying the above-described separating action of the separation claw 125. Is called.

  The fixing unit 15 includes a fixing film unit 15a having a built-in heater, and a pressure roller 15b pressed against the fixing film unit 15a. The fixing film unit 15a, the pressure roller 15b, The sheet-like recording medium to which the toner image is transferred is fed into the fixing nip portion where the toner image is pressed, and the toner image is fixed by heating and pressurizing processing. In the case of single-sided image formation in which image formation is performed on only one side of the sheet-like recording medium, the sheet-like recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed as described above is conveyed in the transport path of the discharge unit 16. The recording medium is disposed at the uppermost position of the image recording main body 11 by the nipping and conveying force between the sheet discharge roller 16a and the sheet discharge roller 16b disposed at the exit portion. The fixed sheet-shaped recording medium is discharged toward the tray 16c and stacked in a stacked manner.

  On the other hand, residue such as residual toner adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 14a after the transfer is completed, and these residues are removed by the cleaning unit 14f constituting the image forming unit 14. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the charging process again, and the same image forming process is repeated. The above process is the outline of the image forming process for one side (front side) of the sheet-like recording medium.

  On the other hand, in the case of double-sided image formation in which image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet-like recording medium, the paper discharge roller 16a provided in the discharge unit 16 transports the sheet-like recording medium to the rear end. Thereafter, the sheet-like recording medium after the image is formed on one side is sent to the reverse conveying mechanism 17 connected to the discharge unit 16 by a switchback operation that is temporarily stopped and then rotated in the reverse direction. It is conveyed to the apparatus lower side through the reverse conveying mechanism 17. Thus, the sheet-like recording medium whose front and back sides are reversed is sent again to the image forming unit 14 described above, and in the image forming unit 14 the first side described above with respect to the second surface (back side surface) of the sheet-like recording medium. The toner image is transferred in the same manner as the image forming operation on the front side (front side).

  The sheet-like recording medium having the toner image transferred to the second surface (back side surface) in this way is sent to the fixing unit 15 and the toner image is fixed, and then the discharge roller of the discharge unit 16 described above. 16a and the discharge roller 16b are transported to the recording medium discharge tray 16c.

  On the other hand, the document transport device 21 described above is configured to control document transport so that the document is transported to the reading unit and an image of the document is read based on a command from a document transport control unit (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an automatic document conveying unit 211 extending in a narrow shape along the document width direction is provided. A document feed tray (document placement table) 212 on which documents to be read are placed in a stacked manner is positioned above the end face side (the right end face side in FIG. 3) in a cantilevered manner and protrudes substantially horizontally. It is attached to do.

  On the document placement surface formed on the upper surface of the document feed tray 212, a pair of document guides 212a and 212a are erected so as to face each other in the document width direction. As is well known, the pair of document guides 212a and 212a is attached so as to be able to reciprocate so as to maintain a symmetrical position with respect to the center position in the document width direction. The document bundle on the document feed tray 212 is moved so as to come into contact with both sides of the stack of document stacks placed on the document feed tray 212 on the stack. Are aligned in the correct position and direction with respect to the center position in the document width direction.

  A document discharge tray 213 for receiving a document whose image has been read by a reading unit 211g described later is disposed below the document feed tray 212. The document discharge tray 213 protrudes substantially horizontally from the lower position on one end surface side (the right end surface side in FIG. 3) of the automatic document transport section 211 in a cantilever shape similar to the document feed tray 212. The discharged originals are placed in a stacked manner on the upper surface side of the original paper discharge tray 213.

  The document feed tray 212 and the document discharge tray 213 are arranged so as to face up and down at an appropriate interval in the up and down direction, and have a superposed arrangement relationship substantially overlapping in plan view. The document feed tray 212 and the document discharge tray 213 are disposed above the recording medium discharge tray 16c of the image recording main body 11, and are disposed below the document feed tray 212. The original document discharge tray 213 is disposed at an appropriate interval with respect to the recording medium discharge tray 16c.

  Operational concavities 212b and 213a are provided at the front edge portions of the document feed tray 212 and the document discharge tray 213, respectively, so as to cut out part of the front edge side of the edge portions. It has been. Further, by forming such a notch opening by the operation recesses 212b and 213a, on the recording medium discharge tray 16c of the image recording main body 11 disposed below the document discharge tray 213. The sheet-like recording medium is visually recognized well, and the discharged document sent out on the document discharge tray 213 is easily gripped, so that the discharged document can be taken out smoothly. It has become.

  On the other hand, a plurality of document bundles placed in a stacked manner on the document feed tray 212 are first arranged in a plurality of document conveyance paths in the automatic document conveyance unit 211 as shown in FIG. It is configured to be fed inward of the single-sided conveyance path 211a constituting one. The single-sided conveyance path 211a is used when reading the first side (front side) of the document. The original is driven by the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 211b that is lowered to the single-sided conveyance path 211a at a predetermined timing. Is being transported. While the original conveyed to the separation roller 211c is separated one by one while being prevented from being double-fed by a frictional force between the separation roller 211c and a separation member 211d spring-biased to the lower side of the separation roller 211c, The inside of the conveyance path 211a is conveyed so as to be bent downward in the figure.

  The end portion on the outlet side of the one-sided conveyance path 211a is disposed so as to open toward the lower side in the figure, and faces the nip portion of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e constituting the skew feeding correcting means from above. Are arranged as follows. As is well known, the registration roller pair 211e, 211e as the skew feeding correction unit is configured to stop or start the rotation drive at an appropriate timing by a conveyance control unit (not shown). As described above, the leading edge of the document conveyed in the single-sided conveyance path 211a is brought into contact with the nip portion of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e and close to the entrance side portion of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e. Subsequent transport operations are performed at an appropriate timing starting from when the leading edge of the document is detected by the arranged registration sensor 211m.

  Further, on the exit side (lower side in the figure) of the nip portion of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e, the inlet side end portion of the reading introduction conveyance path 211f is arranged so as to face from the lower side. The reading introduction conveyance path 211f is provided so as to extend obliquely downward toward the reading unit 211g of the original, and as described above, the original conveyed by the rotational drive of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e, It is configured to be carried into the reading section 211g through the reading introduction conveyance path 211f at a constant speed.

  At this time, the reading unit 211g includes, for example, a document supporting glass plate 211g1 as a document supporting member that supports a document carried into the reading unit 211g, and an image disposed below the document supporting glass plate 211g1. A configuration including a reading sensor 211g2 is employed. In particular, the reading unit 211g in the present embodiment is configured by a “flow-reading method” that reads an image while conveying a document.

  Further, the original after the reading of the image by the reading unit 211g is sent out into the reading discharge conveyance path 211h extending obliquely upward from the reading unit 211g. At this time, when an image on one side (first side) of the original is read, if the read imprint as described later is not imprinted on the original, the original after reading is provided in the reading discharge conveyance path 211h. The discharge-side transport roller pairs 211i and 211i and the paper discharge roller pairs 211j and 211j that constitute the discharge means for discharging the paper are normally driven. By the normal conveyance performed by the normal rotation driving of the discharge-side conveyance roller pairs 211i and 211i and the discharge roller pairs 211j and 211j, the read originals are stacked on the placement surface of the original discharge tray 213 described above. It is configured to be discharged.

  On the other hand, when performing both-side reading of a document printed on both the front and back sides, the document on which the image on the first side (front side) has been read as described above is the reverse position (switch) in the reading discharge conveyance path 211h. When the paper discharge roller pair 211j, 211j is driven to rotate in reverse and then switched back, the inside of the reverse conveyance path 211k provided to form a part of the original conveyance path is temporarily stopped. It is transported in the reverse direction. In this way, the reverse conveyance path 211k used when reading the second side (back side) of the original that has been turned upside down after reading the first side (front side) of the original is from the discharge roller pair 211j, 211j. It is provided so as to extend substantially horizontally, and the end portion on the extension side (left side in FIG. 3) is provided as the above-described skew correction means by being curved toward the lower side in the drawing. The registration roller pair 211e, 211e is disposed so as to face the nip portion from above.

  Here, the reverse conveyance path 211k is integrated with the one-side conveyance path 211a on the entrance side of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e described above, and the two conveyance paths 211k, 211a merge together. A reading introduction conveyance path 211f extends from the exit side of the pair of registration rollers 211e and 211e to the reading unit 211g. As described above, the leading edge of the reverse document sent from the reverse conveyance path 211k is again gripped by the nip portion of the registration roller pair 211e, 211e and sent to the reading introduction conveyance path 211f. The image on the second side (back side) of the document is read by being sent to the reading unit 211g through the path 211f.

  On the other hand, the single-sided conveyance path 211a described above is formed of a pair of upper and lower guide plates formed by a thin plate-like member, and a single-sided upper guide plate 211a1 disposed so as to form the upper surface of the single-sided conveyance path 211a; It is formed so as to form a passage between the lower guide plate 211a2 and the single-sided lower guide plate arranged to form the lower surface. Of these, the upper one-side upper guide plate 211a1 is attached to the open / close cover unit 211A, which is a functional unit forming the outer surface of the automatic document feeder 211, so as to form the lower surface (inner surface) thereof. It has been.

  The opening / closing cover unit 211A is configured to have a substantially inverted L shape when viewed from the side, and has a rotation shaft 211q disposed at a lower corner portion (lower left end in the drawing) of the automatic document feeder 211. It is supported so that it can rotate as a center. As a result, the entire opening / closing cover unit 211A is opened upward. In the opening / closing cover unit 211A configured to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 211q as described above, the paper feed roller 211b and the separation roller 211c described above are partially provided downward from the single-side upper guide plate 211a1. It is attached to be exposed.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation lever 211A1 provided on the outer surface of the opening / closing cover unit 211A is arranged so that the upper surface of the release lever 211A2 is exposed. One end edge portion of the release lever 211A2 is attached to the frame (not shown) of the opening / closing cover unit 211A so as to be rotatable via a substantially horizontal support shaft 211A3, and the release lever 211A2 The end portion on the rotating side is rotated by being pulled up by the user.

  The release lever 211A2 is provided with a convex portion (not shown) in the vicinity of the support shaft 211A3, and one end portion of a release link member 211A4 made of an elongated plate member is rotatably attached to the convex portion. In addition, a long hole 211A5 is formed in the other end portion of the release link member 211A4. Then, the above-described lifting operation of the release lever 211A2 by the user is transmitted as turning force to the release shaft 211A6 having a rotation pin (not shown) inserted in the elongated hole 211A5 in a loosely fitted state. It is like that.

  The release shaft 211A6 is disposed inside the open / close cover unit 211A so as to extend in the document width direction, and is provided at both end portions of the release shaft 211A6 in the axial direction in accordance with the rotation operation of the release lever 211A2. The paired release hooks 211A7 are configured to be rotated. That is, when the above-described release lever 211A2 is pulled upward from the normal state of FIG. 2, the release hook 211A7 is released from a hook locking portion (not shown) provided in a later-described paper discharge guide unit 211D. Thus, the entire opening / closing cover unit 211A is shifted to an openable state upward.

  On the other hand, as particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the lower side of the opening / closing cover unit 211A provided as a functional unit, a separation guide unit 211B also provided as a functional unit is provided with the single-sided conveyance path. Overlapping is arranged from the lower side through 211a. A single-sided lower guide plate 211a2 constituting the lower surface of the single-sided conveyance path 211a described above is attached to the upper surface side of the separation guide unit 211B. When the above-described opening / closing cover unit 211A is opened upward, the opening gap S1 is formed between the opening / closing cover unit 211A and the separation guide unit 211B arranged on the lower side thereof. Is formed, and the opening operation of the single-sided conveyance path 211a between the two functional units is performed.

  The separation guide unit 211B is formed of an elongated plate-like member extending along the document width direction, and one end side portion (left end side portion in FIG. 3) in the document transport direction (left direction in FIG. 3) is It is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 211r provided on a side end plate 211C1 of a conveyance guide unit 211C described later. Further, a link locking pin 211B1 constituting an appropriate link mechanism related to the opening operation is erected on an end surface on the front side in the operation direction of the separation guide unit 211B, and the link locking pin 211B1 is also a link. It is connected to the above-described opening / closing cover unit 211A by link coupling via a link member 211L made of an elongated plate member constituting the mechanism.

  That is, the upper end side portion of the link member 211L is pivotally attached to the front end surface of the above-described opening / closing cover unit 211A, and is attached so as to hang down in a rotatable state from the opening / closing cover unit 211A. In addition, a long hole 211L1 is formed in the lower portion of the link member 211L, and the link is provided upright on the one end surface (the front end surface in the operation direction) of the separation guide unit 211B described above in the long hole 211L1. The locking pin 211B1 is inserted in a loosely fitted state.

  When the opening / closing cover unit 211A is opened up to a certain angle toward the upper side, the substantially semicircular opening edge constituting the lower end side portion of the long hole 211L1 of the link member 211L described above Is brought into contact with the above-described link locking pin 211B1 on the separation guide unit 211B side. From that time, the separation guide unit 211B is integrated with the opening / closing cover unit 211A via a link member 211L, and the opening / closing operation to the opening / closing cover unit 211A as an integrated functional unit is performed. Accordingly, the separation guide unit 211B as another functional unit is pulled up by the opening / closing cover unit 211A.

  In this way, the two units 211A and 211B are configured to be opened as a unit, and in the opened state, the separation guide unit 211B and a transport guide unit, which will be described later, are superposed on the lower side. An appropriate opening gap S2 is formed between the two functional units with 211C (see FIG. 4), and the above-described reverse conveyance path 211k is opened. The size of the open gap S2 formed at that time corresponds to the length of the long hole 211L1 provided in the link member 211L.

  Further, the separation member 211d described above is attached to the upper surface side of the separation guide unit 211B, and the thin plate constituting the upper surface of the reversing conveyance path 211k described above on the lower surface side of the separation guide unit 211B. An inverted upper guide plate 211k1 made of a member is attached. Further, on the lower side of the separation guide unit 211B provided as the functional unit, a conveyance guide unit 211C also provided as a functional unit is overlapped so as to overlap with an appropriate interval forming the reverse conveyance path 211k. Is arranged.

  A reverse lower guide plate 211k2 made of a thin plate member is attached to the upper surface side of the transport guide unit 211C. The reverse lower guide plate 211k2 and both reverse upper guide plates 211k1 attached to the separation guide unit 211B. The reversal conveyance path 211k described above is formed between the two.

  On the lower surface side of the transport guide unit 211C, a reading introduction upper guide plate 211f1 and a reading discharge upper guide plate 211h1, which are also made of a thin plate member, are respectively attached to both side portions sandwiching the reading portion 211g. On the other hand, a paper feed guide unit 211D and a paper discharge guide unit 211E are provided in a fixed state on both sides of the reading unit 211g on the apparatus main body side. A reading introduction lower guide plate 211f2 and a reading discharge lower guide plate 211h2 made of a thin plate member are respectively attached so as to constitute the upper surface of the guide unit 211E. Between the reading introduction lower guide plate 211f2 and the reading discharge lower guide plate 211h2, and the reading introduction upper guide plate 211f1 and the reading discharge upper guide plate 211h1, the above-described reading introduction conveyance path 211f and the reading discharge conveyance path 211h. Are formed respectively.

  Further, the above-described rotation shaft 211q is provided on both side end plates 211C1 integrally formed at both end positions in the document width direction of the transport guide unit 211C. The conveyance guide unit 211C is supported so as to be rotatable coaxially with the opening / closing cover unit 211A around the rotation shaft 211q, and is thereby opened upward. . Further, the transport guide unit 211C is linked to the opening / closing cover unit 211A via a link member 211L that hangs freely from one end surface (end surface on the front side in the operation direction) of the opening / closing cover unit 211A. Has been made.

  That is, the lower end portion of the link member 211L is formed with a hook engaging piece 211L3 that is bent at a substantially right angle toward the outer side of the apparatus in the document width direction as shown in FIG. Yes. On the other hand, on the inner wall surface side of the side end plate 211C1 arranged on the front side of the both side end plates of the transport guide unit 211C, the hook is placed at a position where it can engage with the hook engaging piece 211L3 on the link member 211L side. The locking piece 211L4 is formed to be convex toward the inner side of the apparatus.

  When the opening / closing cover unit 211A is opened up to a certain angle toward the upper side together with the separation unit 211B, the hook engaging piece 211L3 on the link member 211L side is hooked on the conveyance guide unit 211C side. It is engaged with the piece 211L4. As a result, the transport guide unit 211C is integrated with the opening / closing cover unit 211A via the link member 211L, and the opening / closing cover unit 211A is further opened so that the transport guide unit 211C is separated as described above. The guide unit 211B is opened by being pulled up by the opening / closing cover unit 211A. Further, if the conveyance guide unit 211C is independently rotated in the opening direction, it is fully opened.

  The conveyance guide unit 211C having the above-described configuration is provided with a pair of registration rollers 211e and 211e that constitute the skew feeding correcting means, and an upper side of the pair of discharge-side conveyance rollers 211i and 211i. A roller is installed. Further, an upper reflecting plate (white plate) 211g3 constituting the above-described reading unit 211g is attached to the lowermost end portion of the conveyance guide unit 211C.

  Here, a stamp mechanism 211C2 having a well-known structure is provided at a substantially central portion in the document width direction of the conveyance guide unit 211C described above so as to be exposed upward. The stamp mechanism 211C2 has a configuration for imprinting a scanned impression on a document whose image has been read by the reading unit 211g, and is erected inside the conveyance guide unit 211C. A stamp stamping portion is attached to the upper end output portion of the main body solenoid attached to the main body solenoid.

  The structure of such a solenoid type stamp mechanism 211C2 is well known and will not be described in detail. However, the stamp mechanism 211C2 in this embodiment is disposed above the reading unit 211g. . More specifically, the stamp mechanism 211C2 is disposed at an upper position with respect to a document supporting glass plate (document supporting member) 211g1 constituting the reading unit 211g. The stamp stamping portion provided at the upper end position of the main body solenoid constituting the stamp mechanism 211C2 is connected to the reverse conveying path from the opening of the reverse lower guide plate 211k2 forming the lower surface of the reverse conveying path 211k. It arrange | positions so that it may be exposed in 211k. As described above, the stamp mechanism 211C2 according to the present embodiment is disposed on the reverse conveyance path 211k provided as a conveyance path extending in a substantially planar shape in the document conveyance direction.

  In addition, an ink receiving member 211C3 formed in a shallow dish shape is interposed below the stamp mechanism 211C2, that is, between the stamp mechanism 211C2 and the reading unit 211g. Yes. With such a configuration, even if an ink leak occurs from the stamp mechanism 211C2, the ink is received by the ink receiving member 211C3, and the leaked ink does not fall any further. The situation of being contaminated with ink is avoided.

  Then, the main body solenoid of the stamp mechanism 211C2 is energized at an appropriate timing so that the stamp stamping portion attached to the upper end portion of the main body solenoid projects toward the inner side of the reverse conveyance path 211k. At this time, the stamp imprinting portion is pressed against the original in the reverse conveying path 211k, so that the read imprint is imprinted on the original.

  Such a stamping operation by the stamp mechanism 211C2 is executed based on the above-described command from the document conveyance control unit, and is issued from the sheet discharge sensor 211n that detects the trailing edge of the document after the reading by the reading unit 211g. Based on the detected signal. That is, in the above-described reading discharge conveyance path 211h, a detection flag that contacts a document conveyed in the reading discharge conveyance path 211h at a portion between the discharge side conveyance roller pair 211i and the discharge roller pair 211j, 211j. A paper discharge sensor 211n including a non-contact optical sensor or the like is disposed.

  First, when reading only the image on one side (first side) of the document, the paper discharge sensor 211n detects the trailing edge of the document after the reading unit 211g has finished reading the image. After the elapse of a predetermined set time, the document after reading that has been normally conveyed by the pair of discharge rollers 211j and 211j as the discharge means is temporarily stopped. The stop position of the original at this time is the same position as the reverse position (switchback point) at the time of double-side reading described above. Thereafter, the pair of paper discharge rollers 211j and 211j are driven to rotate in the reverse direction, whereby the document is switched back, and the document is reversed and conveyed in the reverse direction in the reverse conveyance path 211k for a preset time. The Then, when the leading edge of the document reversely conveyed by the switchback reaches the position directly above the stamp mechanism 211C2, that is, the stamp position, the reverse feeding of the document is stopped, and the stamp stamping portion of the stamp mechanism 211C2 is stopped there. By performing the protrusion operation, the scanned imprint is imprinted on the front side surface (first surface) of the document. In this way, the original after the image imprint on one side (first side) has been imprinted is resumed by the normal conveyance of the paper discharge roller pair 211j, 211j, and the above-mentioned original paper discharge. The tray 213 is configured to be discharged in a stacked manner on the mounting surface.

  On the other hand, when both sides (first side and second side) of the original are read, the same operation is performed until the imprint of the read image is printed on the original after reading one side (first side) described above. Then, the above-described reverse conveyance of the document is resumed, and the reading unit 211g reads the second surface (back side surface) of the document. Next, after the second end (back side) of the document has been read, the document discharge sensor 211n detects the trailing edge of the document, and then the document is conveyed to the reversing position (switchback point) of the duplex reading. Is performed, and the discharging and conveying operation is temporarily stopped. Next, when the pair of paper discharge rollers 211j and 211j are driven to rotate in reverse and the original is switched back, the reverse conveyance of the original stops when the leading edge of the original reaches the stamp position immediately above the stamp mechanism 211C2. Then, the stamping operation of the stamp imprinted by the stamp mechanism 211C2 is executed on the back side (second side) of the document.

  In this manner, the document after the image imprinted on both sides (the first side and the second side) has been imprinted is resumed by reversing driving of the paper discharge roller pair 211j and 211j. After passing through 211g again, the paper discharge rollers 211j and 211j, which are driven forward, are discharged in a stacked manner onto the placement surface of the document discharge tray 213 described above.

  The stamp mechanism 211C2 described above has a structure in which optional components such as ink are replenished or replaced after use for a predetermined period.

  In the present embodiment having such a configuration, a stamp mechanism 211C2 for imprinting a scanned impression on a document whose image has been read by the reading unit 211g is disposed above the reading unit 211g. Unlike the case in which the stamp mechanism is arranged on the conveyance path on the document discharge side as described above, the conveyance path length of the conveyance path on the discharge side can be shortened. Has been greatly improved.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, when the stamp mechanism 211C2 is provided in the conveyance guide unit 211C that covers the position directly above the reading unit 211g, when the stamping operation by the stamp mechanism 211C2 is performed or when maintenance is performed. Since the reading unit 211g is covered with the transport guide unit 211C, it is possible to prevent the ink leaking from the stamp mechanism 211C2 from contaminating the reading unit 211g. Further, since the reading unit 211g is opened only when the transport guide unit 211C is opened, the stamp mechanism 211C2 is operated by opening the transport guide unit 211C when the reading unit 211g is opened. The position is moved away from the position just above 211g. Accordingly, even in that case, contamination of the reading unit 211g due to ink leaked from the stamp mechanism 211C2 is avoided.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the stamp mechanism 211C2 is disposed so as to be exposed in the reverse conveyance path 211k provided for reading the double-sided image, the stamp mechanism 211C2 is utilized using the reverse conveyance path 211k. Are arranged efficiently.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the stamp mechanism 211C2 is disposed so as to face the original supporting glass plate 211g1 that supports the original carried in the so-called flow reading type reading unit 211g from above. Since the stamp mechanism is not disposed at all on the discharge-side transport path, the path length of the discharge-side transport path can be shortened more reliably and greatly.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to smoothly switch whether or not to print the imprint that has been read on the document after reading in accordance with a command from the document conveyance control means.

  In the present embodiment, the stamp mechanism 211C2 is disposed on the reverse conveyance path 211k, which is a conveyance path extending in a substantially planar shape in the document conveyance direction, and therefore the stamp mechanism 211C2 with respect to the surface to be read of the document. Is arranged in a state of facing a normal substantially flat shape without being curved or inclined, so that the stamping accuracy by the stamp mechanism 211C2 is maintained well.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the ink receiving member 211C3 is disposed between the stamp mechanism 211C2 and the reading unit 211g, even if ink leakage occurs from the stamp mechanism 211C2, the leakage is detected. Ink is received by the lower ink receiving member 211C3, and the situation where the reading unit 211g is soiled with ink can be favorably avoided.

  Although the embodiments of the invention made by the present inventor have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Nor.

  For example, although the above-described embodiment is an application of the present invention to a facsimile machine, the present invention can be similarly applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be widely applied to a wide variety of image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles and copying machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory view schematically showing the overall structure of a facsimile machine as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view showing the appearance of a document conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of an automatic document feeder of the document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view illustrating a unit open state in the document conveying device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, with an outer cover removed from a side end plate. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory view schematically showing the internal structure of an automatic document feeder in a general document feeder.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image recording main-body part 12,13 Paper feeder 14 Image forming part 16 Ejection part 16c Recording medium discharge tray 21 Document conveyance apparatus 211 Automatic document conveyance part 211a Single-sided conveyance path 211b Paper feed roller 211c Separation roller 211d Separation member 211e Registration roller (Skewing correction means)
211f Reading introduction conveyance path 211g Reading section 211g1 Document supporting glass plate (document supporting member)
211g2 Image reading sensor 211h Reading discharge conveyance path 211i Discharge-side conveyance roller pair 211j Paper discharge roller pair 211k Reverse conveyance path 211k1 Reverse upper guide plate 211k2 Reverse lower guide plate 211n Paper discharge sensor 211A Opening / closing cover unit (functional unit)
211B Separation guide unit (functional unit)
211C Transport guide unit (functional unit)
211C2 Stamp mechanism 211C3 Ink receiving member 211D Paper feed guide unit 211E Paper discharge guide unit 212 Document feed tray 212a Document guide 213 Document discharge tray

Claims (6)

Read-image of the first surface of the document is conveyed to the reading unit through the introduction reading transport path originals document feed tray, through the discharge conveyance path reading the document after reading the first side from the reading unit The document is transported to a document discharge tray, or the document after reading the first surface is reversed and conveyed through a reversing conveyance path that branches from the reading discharge conveyance path and joins the reading introduction conveyance path, and is read by the reading unit. be those that are configured so that reading an image of a second side of the document,
The stamp mechanism for impressing indicia shadows to document read an image reading unit, document feeder, characterized in that arranged on the reverse conveying path. The reading unit is configured by a flow reading method that reads an image while conveying the document,
2. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stamp mechanism is disposed above a document supporting member that supports a document carried into the reading unit. Comprising a document conveyance control means for performing conveyance control of the document,
The document conveyance control means, in the case of reading an image of a first side of the document, when not inked indicia shadow relative to the original is discharged document by forward conveyance of the discharging means for discharging the document after reading the the temporarily reversing transport after stopping the document after reading has been forward conveyed by the discharge means, mark the shadow is stopped when it reaches to a position directly above the stamp mechanism when inked indicia shadows to original the resumed again forward transport in after being inked document feeder according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it is configured to perform the discharge of the document. The stamp mechanism, document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged in the conveying path extending in substantially flat in the conveying direction of the document. The document conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an ink receiving member is disposed between the stamp mechanism and the reading unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by being configured to image forming to claim 1 to a suitable recording medium the image information read using the document feeder according to any of claims 5.

Images