JP5009772B2 - Sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that sequentially feeds sheets one by one from a sheet bundle, and more particularly to a device that regulates a sheet placement position by pressing an end of the sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus provided in a copying machine, a fax, or the like is provided with a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet such as a document to an image reading unit. As an example of such a sheet feeding device, an ADF (automatic document feeding device) that feeds the document to an image reading unit is known.

Such an ADF is provided with a restriction plate for restricting the placement position of a sheet such as an original and preventing skew feeding on the sheet placement table. When feeding a sheet, the user sets the interval between the restriction plates of the sheet. Adjust according to the width and set the sheet on the sheet mounting table.

In the conventional image reading apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of regulation for regulating the document edge so that the center position of the document is aligned with the center position in the document width direction orthogonal to the document conveyance direction of the sheet mounting table. A plate 21 is provided. The mechanism for interlocking the pair of restriction plates 21 in FIG. 4 is composed of a rack 41 and a pinion gear 42 provided on the restriction plate 21 respectively. Thus, the pair of restricting plates 21 are configured to move in opposite directions in the document width direction in conjunction with each other, so that the interval can be adjusted according to the document width.

However, it is also conceivable to read a bundle of documents in which originals of different sizes are mixedly loaded. Further, when such a bundle of documents is bound with a binder or the like, each document is aligned at a specific document edge even if the sizes are different.

When feeding such a mixed original bundle, both ends cannot be restricted for all the originals, so that the restriction can be made only with the aligned original ends. However, there is a higher possibility of skewing when one end is restricted than when both ends are restricted by a restriction plate.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the restriction plate 21 placed at the restriction position and the pickup roller 11, which is the first roller that touches the document D, can be brought as close as possible so that the skew prevention performance is improved when only one end is restricted. Required.

However, when it is desired to bring the restriction plate closer to the pickup roller in this way, the pair of restriction plates are interlocked so as to move in opposite directions as shown in FIG. The regulation plate also moves closer to the pickup roller. As a result, the area where the original can be placed becomes small, and a large-size original cannot be placed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism that moves the position of the pinion so that the restriction plate can be switched from the interlocking state to the non-interlocking state as described above. However, in the mechanism provided with the switching unit that moves the position of the pinion in the center of the sheet mounting table as described above, all documents on the sheet mounting table must be removed when switching.

Further, when the document bundle is regulated on the basis of the end portion by touching only one regulation plate, the force for skewing the document is applied to the regulation plate more than when both ends are regulated. However, since the restriction plate is not fixed in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the restriction plate may move little by little during conveyance.
JP 2006-069682 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to switch between a regulating plate position adjusting method in which two regulating plates are interlocked and a non-interlocking position adjusting method as needed, without complicating the apparatus and increasing costs. It is possible to easily switch between a center reference regulation that aligns the center position of the document bundle with the sheet placement table while regulating both ends of the document and an end reference regulation that regulates the position of one end of the document bundle as a reference, and different size documents. Even when reading a bundle of originals loaded on the sheet, it is possible to effectively prevent the skew of the read original by making it possible to securely fix the reference restriction plate at the optimum position of the sheet placing table.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pair of regulating plates that are movable in the width direction of a sheet for regulating the loading position in the width direction of the sheet placed on the sheet placing table, A flexible annular member that is coupled to the restriction plate and rotatably held so that the pair of restriction plates move in the width direction of the sheet; and at least one of the pair of restriction plates The interlocking state in which the restriction plate is interlocked with the annular member and the fixed state in which the restriction plate and the annular member are uncoupled and the restriction plate is fixed to the sheet mounting table are switched. It has a switching part.

According to the present invention, the central reference regulation for regulating the center position of the document in the document width direction with the center of the sheet mounting table as a reference without causing complexity and cost increase of the apparatus, and one side of the document Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that can regulate and feed the document position by selecting the edge reference restriction that regulates the edge position of the sheet as a reference, and an image reading apparatus including the sheet feeding apparatus.

A sheet feeding apparatus and an image reading apparatus including the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the image reading apparatus will be described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to an apparatus that feeds a sheet bundle while regulating a sheet bundle such as a copying machine or a fax machine.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus provided with a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus is a sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet placing table 2 and a pickup roller 11, a separation roller 12, a feeding roller 13, a conveyance roller pair 14, an image reading unit 16, and a paper discharge roller pair 15. , A paper discharge tray 3 is provided. The image reading apparatus is connected to a computer (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet placing table 2 of the sheet feeding apparatus. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the internal structure showing the internal structure of the sheet mounting table 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet placing table 2 is provided with a pair of regulating plates 21 that are provided so that the interval in the width direction of the document D can be adjusted and that regulate the position of the document D in the width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a timing belt 23 that is an annular member that interlocks the pair of regulating plates 21 and an adjustment position that is arranged near the outermost adjustable positions of the pair of regulating plates 21, respectively. When the regulation plate is coupled with a pair of pulleys 24 that extend substantially parallel to the width direction and parallel to the stretched portion of the pair of pulleys 24 and the timing belt 23 that are rotatably supported, The control board holding member 25 which is a means to hold | maintain is provided. Further, instead of providing the regulating plate holding member 25 separately, it is also possible to integrate the sheet placing table 2 and the regulating plate holding member by forming a portion having the same shape on the sheet placing table 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each regulating plate 21 is provided with a switching unit 22 that switches between an interlocking state interlocked with the timing belt 23 and a fixed state fixed to the sheet placing table 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the switching unit 22 includes a rotating operation unit 22a, a rotation transmission unit 22b that transmits the movement of the operation unit 22a, a timing belt 23, and a holding unit 22d that is coupled to the restriction plate holding member 25. It consists of the coupling member 22c which has. The holding portion 22d, which is a part of the coupling member 22c, has two tooth-shaped portions. When the rotation transmitting portion 22b rotates, the arm-shaped portion of the coupling member 22c is elastically deformed, and the first coupling is performed. One of the tooth-shaped portions that is the portion moves to the first position and is coupled to the timing belt 23, or the other one of the tooth-shaped portions that are the second coupling portion moves to the second position and is regulated. Coupled to the holding member 25. Two or more holding units may be provided in one switching unit. In that case, a tooth-shaped portion coupled to the timing belt 23 may be formed in one holding portion, and a tooth-shaped portion coupled to the restriction plate holding member 25 may be formed in another holding portion. Further, the arm shape portion may be supported so as to be rotatable, instead of being elastically deformable. Moreover, you may change into the structure of supporting the coupling member which formed the tooth-shaped part slidably instead of providing an arm-shaped part.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the holding unit 22 d of the switching unit 22 is coupled to the timing belt 23, the regulation plate 21 is released from the coupling with the regulation plate holding member 25 and interlocked with the timing belt 23. It is in a movable interlocking state. Therefore, if both of the pair of restricting plates 21 are brought into this interlocking state, the pair of restricting plates 21 can move in conjunction with each other via the timing belt 23. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the holding portion 22 d of the switching portion 22 is coupled and fixed to the regulating plate holding member 25, the coupling of the regulating plate 21 with the timing belt 23 is released.

When both the pair of restricting plates 21 are coupled to the restricting plate holding member 25 as described above, both the pair of restricting plates 21 are fixed to the sheet placing table 2. When only one restriction plate 21 is coupled to the regulation plate holding member 25, only the regulation plate 21 coupled to the regulation plate holding member 25 is fixed to the sheet placing table 2. The state fixed to the sheet mounting table 2 in this way is referred to as a fixed state. The position of the other restricting plate 21 can be adjusted independently. Further, as described above, the left and right restricting plates 21 are symmetric with respect to the center of the sheet placing table 2 even if the operation portion 22a of the switching portion 22 provided on the left or right restricting plate 21 is operated. Can be switched between an adjustment method for adjusting the position in conjunction with each other and an adjustment method for individually adjusting the position of each regulating plate 21 to a position suitable for regulating the edge of the document D. After the operation portion 22a is operated to adjust the individual position of the restriction plate 21, the restriction plate 21 fixed to the sheet placing table 2 is moved to the position serving as the reference for the end reference restriction. It becomes a regulation board to hit.

Here, the position of the restriction plate 21 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the right and left restriction plates 21 so as to be symmetric with respect to the center of the sheet placing table 2 to feed the document while restricting the document. A case where reading is performed will be described. In this way, the restriction of the center reference for aligning the center of the document bundle with the center of the sheet placing table 2 is performed when feeding the document bundle on which the same size document is stacked while regulating both side edges. First, after placing the document D on the sheet placing table 2, the two regulating plates 21 are simultaneously moved in accordance with the width of the document bundle, and the interval between them is adjusted. Then, an image reading is instructed from a computer (not shown) connected to the image reading device, and the pickup roller 11 and the feeding roller 13 sequentially start from the uppermost document D of the document placed on the sheet placing table 2. Feed inside. Here, when a plurality of documents D have been fed, the documents D are separated and fed one by one by the separation roller 12. The fed document D is transported to the image reading unit 16 by the transport roller pair 14 and is read by the transport roller pair 14, and then transported by the transport roller pair 14, and is discharged to the paper output tray 3 of the image reading apparatus by the paper discharge roller pair 15. Is done.

Next, a case where the document D is regulated by the regulation plate so that the left end portion of the document D comes to the reference position, and feeding and reading will be described. The edge reference restriction of the document D is performed when the paper is fed while restricting one of the side edges of a bundle of documents of different sizes as shown in FIG. First, before placing the document D on the sheet placing table 2, when the left restricting plate 21 is moved to a reference position and then the operation unit 22 a of the switching unit 22 is operated, the tooth shape of the holding unit 22 d of the switching unit 22 is formed. The part is separated from the timing belt 23 and the coupling is released. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 22d is engaged with and coupled with the tooth-shaped portion of the restriction plate holding member 25, so that the right restriction plate 21 can move independently. After the original bundle D is placed on the sheet placing table 2 by aligning the end of the side where the original bundle D is aligned with the left restriction plate 21 fixed in this state, the right restriction plate 21 is moved to move the original bundle. The position of the document bundle D is regulated according to the width of D. Then, as in the case of reading the image of the document D on the basis of the center, an instruction to read the image is given from a computer (not shown), and the document bundle D is fed by the feeding roller 13 to read the image. A document having a small size does not come into contact with the right regulation plate 21 but is fed without being skewed while being regulated by the left regulation plate 21.

On the other hand, when the document is regulated based on the right end portion reference of the document bundle D, the operation unit 22a of the switching unit 22 of the right regulation plate 21 is operated to move the right regulation plate 21 to a reference position. The right restricting plate 21 is fixed by operating the operating portion 22a of the switching portion 22. The same operation is performed by placing the original bundle D on the sheet placing table 2 by aligning the end portion of the original bundle D with the fixed right regulation plate.

In order to enable the regulation plate 21 to be adjusted again based on the center reference in the document width direction, the two switching units 22 are operated while operating the operation units 22a so that the distance between the pair of regulation plates 21 is minimized or maximized. The restricting plate 21 is moved, and the operation unit 22a is operated and switched so that the state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained again. In this embodiment, the rotating operation unit is illustrated, but the operation unit may be pressed or slid.

As described above, the restricting means including the pair of restricting plates 21 capable of adjusting the interval for restricting the placement position of the sheet D in the width direction is provided, and the restricting means positions the restricting plate 21 at the center of the sheet D. It is possible to switch between a state in which the position can be adjusted to a symmetrical position as a reference and a state in which the position of the restriction plate 21 can be adjusted to the end reference restriction position of the sheet D. As a result, the document can be fed while being regulated based on the center reference or the side edge reference in the document width direction without increasing the complexity and cost of the apparatus. Further, not only the same-size original bundle but also the different-size mixed original bundle can regulate the original effectively, so that the skew of the original can be prevented.

In this embodiment, a timing belt is used as a flexible annular member. However, a flat belt, a round belt, or a square belt may be used, and a metal belt, a wire material, or the like is formed into an endless belt shape and can be rotated. You may make it stretch in parallel so that. The switching unit 22 may be provided on either one of the regulation plates 21. The tooth shape portion of the switching portion 22 may be changed to various other mesh shape portions. Moreover, you may provide the frictional coupling part couple | bonded with an annular member using friction instead of a tooth-shaped part.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, it can also be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the above embodiments should be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the above to the above embodiment.

The perspective view inside the sheet | seat mounting base which is one Example of this invention Side sectional view of the entire image reader The perspective view of the sheet mounting base which is one Example of this invention A perspective view of the inside of a sheet mounting table having a conventional restriction plate Perspective view of the sheet mounting table when the end reference restriction is implemented The perspective view of the mounting table in a state where the document is mounted when the edge reference restriction is performed Diagram showing the structure of the switching unit Mechanism diagram of the timing belt and tooth-shaped part connected Mechanism diagram of the state where the restriction plate holding member and the tooth-shaped part are coupled

Explanation of symbols

D: Document, document bundle 2 ... Sheet placing table 3 ... Paper discharge tray 11 ... Pickup roller 12 ... Separation roller 13 ... Feeding roller 14 ... Conveying roller pair 15 ······································································································· Restricting Plate 22 ··· Switching Unit 22a 23 ... Timing belt 24 ... Pulley 25 ... Restriction plate holding member 41 ... Rack 42 ... Pinion 43 ... Torque limiter

Claims (6)

A pair of regulating plates that are movable in the width direction of the sheet for regulating the loading position in the width direction of the sheet placed on the sheet placing table;
A flexible annular member that is coupled to the pair of restricting plates and is rotatably held so that the pair of restricting plates are interlocked to move in the width direction of the sheet;
Provided on at least one of the pair of regulation plates, the interlocking state in which the regulation plate is interlocked with the annular member, the coupling between the regulation plate and the annular member is released, and the regulation plate is A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a switching unit that switches between a fixed state and a fixed state that is fixed to a sheet placing table. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the annular member is a timing belt. The switching unit is
An operation unit operated to switch between the interlocking state and the fixed state;
The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first coupling portion coupled to the annular member and a second coupling portion coupled to the sheet placing table. A coupling member having the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion;
At least a part of the coupling member is operated by operating the operation unit, whereby a first position where the first coupling unit is coupled to the annular member and a second position where the second coupling unit is coupled to the sheet mounting table. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet feeding device is supported so as to be movable. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the coupling member is supported by an elastically deformable arm and is movable. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the coupling member is supported by a pivotable arm and is movable.

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