JP5042893B2 - Image reading apparatus, automatic document feeder, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus that improves workability during attachment/detachment of an image reading member. <P>SOLUTION: The image reading apparatus is provided with: a second reading part 25 which is freely attachably/detachably provided at a mounting position in a side plate 340 so as to read images of an original manuscript; a guide groove 305a formed in a frame 305 of the side plate 340; and a guide member 306 that is provided on the depth side in the mounting direction of the second reading part 25 so as to guide the attachment/detachment of the second reading part 25 to/from the mounting position in the side plate 340 while sliding inside the guide groove 305a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an automatic document conveying apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus, an automatic document conveying apparatus, and an image forming apparatus in which a reading member is detachably provided.

Conventionally, in this type of image reading apparatus, when a predetermined member in the apparatus is moved and the inside of the apparatus is opened, the reading member can be attached and detached. In this state, the reading member can be removed by removing a screw or the like. What was made is known (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2002-262038 A

  However, in the conventional image reading apparatus as described above, since other parts are provided densely around the reading member, positioning work when the reading member is mounted takes time, There is a problem that workability at the time of attaching / detaching the reading member is poor because it is necessary to attach / detach the reading member with care so that the reading member is not damaged by contact with the parts.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and provides an image reading apparatus, an automatic document feeder, and an image forming apparatus capable of improving workability when a reading member is attached / detached. With the goal.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention is detachably provided at a mounting position in a housing, and reads a reading member for reading an image of a document, a guide groove formed in a frame of the housing, and slides in the guide groove. And a guide member provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member so as to guide the attachment and detachment of the reading member to the mounting position in the housing.

  With this configuration, a guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, and a guide member that slides in the guide groove and guides attachment / detachment of the reading member to the mounting position is provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member. When the guide member is slid in the guide groove, the reading member is guided to the mounting position, so that the reading member can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position of the housing. Therefore, workability at the time of attaching / detaching the reading member can be improved. In addition, since the guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the width of the guide groove is larger than the width of the guide member on the inlet side in the mounting direction of the reading member, and the width of the guide member on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member. It is characterized by being substantially equal.

  With this configuration, since the width of the guide groove is larger than the width of the guide member on the inlet side of the reading member in the mounting direction, the guide member is allowed to be displaced with respect to the guide groove on the inlet side of the guide groove so that the guide member can be easily moved. Since the width of the guide groove is substantially equal to the width of the guide member on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member, the back side of the reading member is accurately positioned at the mounting position in the housing on the back side of the guide groove. be able to.

  The image reading device according to the present invention is characterized in that the guide members are provided on the left and right sides of the reading member in the mounting direction.

  With this configuration, since the guide members are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the reading member in the mounting direction, it is possible to prevent the reading member from being inclined to the left and right in the mounting direction. On the other hand, it can be attached and detached more easily.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that three or more of the guide members are provided including the left and right of the reading member in the mounting direction.

  With this configuration, since the guide member is provided in the front and rear in the mounting direction in addition to the right and left in the mounting direction of the reading member, the reading member can be prevented from tilting in the front and rear in the mounting direction. It can be more easily attached to and detached from the mounting position in the housing.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the guide member and the frame are made of a conductor, and the reading member is electrically connected to the frame via the guide member.

  With this configuration, since the reading unit is electrically connected to the frame, it is possible to eliminate an electrical defect of the reading unit such as noise mixed in the read image.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is arranged to face the reading member, the reading guide member urged by the reading member in a state of keeping a small distance from the reading member, and the reading member is the And an urging release means for releasing the urging of the reading guide member to the reading member when the reading guide member is not disposed at the mounting position in the housing.

  With this configuration, when the reading member is not arranged at the mounting position in the housing, the bias of the reading guide member to the reading portion is released, so that the reading member contacts the reading guide member when the reading member is attached or detached. The reading member can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position of the housing.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a first fitting portion provided on the back side and the entrance side of the reading member in the housing, and a back side and an entrance side of the reading member in the mounting direction. A second fitting portion that is provided respectively, and that the reading member is arranged at the mounting position in the housing, and is fitted to the first fitting portion; the first fitting portion; and the second fitting portion. And a first fastening means for fastening the reading member to a mounting position in the housing. It is characterized by having.

  With this configuration, since the reading member is detachably attached to the mounting position in the housing by fitting and locking, a screw that requires a tool for fastening is unnecessary, and the reading member is placed in the mounting position of the housing. It can be easily attached and detached.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a first fitting portion provided on the back side and the entrance side of the reading member in the housing, and a back side and an entrance side of the reading member in the mounting direction. A second fitting portion that is provided with each of the reading members and is disposed at a mounting position in the housing, and an exterior that is openable and closable with respect to the housing. And the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other, and the reading portion is held at the mounting position in the casing by the closed exterior member. Accordingly, there is provided a second fastening means for fastening the reading member to a mounting position in the housing.

  With this configuration, the reading member is mounted at the mounting position in the housing, and the reading member is mounted in the housing by closing the exterior member in a state where the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted. Since it is fixed at the position, a screw or the like that requires a tool for fastening becomes unnecessary, and the reading member can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position of the housing.

  In addition, an automatic document feeder according to the present invention includes the above-described image reading device.

  With this configuration, a guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, and a guide member that slides in the guide groove and guides attachment / detachment of the reading member to the mounting position is provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member. When the guide member is slid in the guide groove, the reading member is guided to the mounting position, so that the reading member can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position of the housing. Therefore, workability at the time of attaching / detaching the reading member can be improved. In addition, since the guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described image reading apparatus.

  With this configuration, a guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, and a guide member that slides in the guide groove and guides attachment / detachment of the reading member to the mounting position is provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member. When the guide member is slid in the guide groove, the reading member is guided to the mounting position, so that the reading member can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position of the housing. Therefore, workability at the time of attaching / detaching the reading member can be improved. In addition, since the guide groove is formed in the frame of the housing, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus, an automatic document feeder, and an image forming apparatus that can improve workability when the reading member is attached / detached.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic document feeder and an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an automatic document feeder provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of an automatic document feeder provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus can be applied to a copying machine equipped with an image reading apparatus such as a scanner apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a multifunction machine having a copying function and a facsimile function, and the like. Now, the case where the image forming apparatus is a copying machine will be described as an example. In addition, since the automatic document feeder 50 according to the present embodiment is configured to read an image by including a reading unit, it is also configured as an image reading device. This will be described as a document conveying device.

  First, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an image forming apparatus 70 includes an automatic document conveying device 50 that conveys a document and reads a back surface, and an image forming apparatus main body that reads the surface of the document and forms an image on a transfer sheet. 60. The automatic document feeder 50 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 60 via a hinge mechanism (not shown).

  An image reading unit 81 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 60, and image information read by the image reading unit 81 is applied to the photosensitive drum 83 by the writing unit 82.

  The image reading unit 81 includes a light source 81a that illuminates a document on the contact glass 22 or the slit glass 21, a first mirror 81b, a second mirror 81c, a third mirror 81d that reflect light reflected from the document, and a first mirror 81d. A lens 81e that forms an image of the light reflected from the three mirrors 81d on the CCD image sensor 81f and a CCD image sensor 81f that converts the light imaged by the lens 81e into an electrical signal are provided.

  The light source 81a and the first mirror 81b are attached to a first traveling body (not shown), and the second mirror 81c and the third mirror 81d are attached to the second traveling body, and the first traveling body and the second traveling body. The body moves along the contact glass 22 and the slit glass 21.

  When the first traveling body and the second traveling body read a document placed on the contact glass 22, the first traveling body and the second traveling body are moved in the left-right direction in FIG. When reading, it is stopped below the slit glass 21.

  The writing unit 82 irradiates a laser beam light-modulated according to the image information read by the image reading unit 81, and exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 83 with the laser beam.

  Around the photosensitive drum 83, a developing device 86, a transfer belt 87, a cleaning device 88, a charging device and a static eliminating device (not shown) that form an image forming unit together with the photosensitive drum 83 are provided. The charging device controls the corona discharge with a positive charge in the dark by a grid to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum to a constant potential.

  The writing unit 82 irradiates a laser diode containing image information onto the photosensitive drum 83 charged at this constant potential to remove negative charges on the photosensitive drum 83 to form an electrostatic latent image.

  The developing device 86 forms a visible image by attaching a negatively charged toner to the electrically removed portion on the photosensitive drum 83. A positive bias is applied to the transfer belt 87, and the transfer belt 87 transfers a negatively charged visible image onto a transfer sheet (paper) as a recording medium for conveyance.

  The cleaning device 88 is provided with a cleaning blade, and scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 83. The static eliminator turns on the internal LED to remove the residual charge on the photosensitive drum 83 and prepares to form a new image on the next transfer sheet.

  The transfer paper on which an image has been formed by the above process is conveyed to the fixing device 90 and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 90.

  The image forming apparatus main body 60 is provided with storage cassettes 91 to 95 in which transfer papers of different sizes are stored, and the transfer paper stored in the storage cassettes 91 to 95 is called by calling rollers 91a to 95a. After being fed by the paper feed rollers 91b to 95b and the paper feed rollers 91b to 95b rotating in the transport direction and separated by the reverse rollers 91c to 95c rotating in the separation direction, the relay roller pair 96, The sheet is conveyed to a registration roller pair 98 through 97, and is timed by the registration roller pair 98 to be conveyed to a conveyance path between the photosensitive drum 83 and the transfer belt 87.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the automatic document feeder 50 includes a document table 2 on which a document bundle 1 composed of a plurality of documents is placed with the document surface facing upward, and a document bundle placed on the document table 2. 1. Pickup roller 7 that transports the topmost document from 1; paper feed belt 9 and reverse roller 10 that separates the document transported by the pickup roller 7; A pull-out roller 12, an intermediate roller 14, and a reading entrance roller 16 that conveys to the vicinity of the slit glass 21, a reading roller 19 that conveys the original conveyed to the vicinity of the slit glass 21 while making contact with the slit glass 21, and the slit glass A reading exit roller 23 that further conveys a document that has been read at a reading position 20 of 21, and a reading exit roller 23 Ri and discharge rollers 28 for discharging the conveyed original, and a discharge tray 29 ejected documents is placed.

  The document placed on the document table 2 passes through each part of the transport path before being discharged to the discharge tray 29. The conveyance path includes a document setting unit A on which the document bundle 1 is placed, a separation feeding unit B that separates and feeds one document from the placed document bundle 1, and a feeding document. A registration unit C that draws and conveys a document after alignment, a turn unit D that turns the conveyed document and conveys the document surface downward, and a surface of the document. A first reading and conveying unit E that reads from below the slit glass 21, a second reading and conveying unit F that reads the back side of the document, a paper discharge unit G that discharges the document whose front and back have been read to the outside, and And a stack portion H on which a document is placed. Here, the front surface of the document refers to a surface that faces upward on the document table 2 and is read by the first reading / conveying section E, and the back surface of the document faces downward on the document table 2 and corresponds to the second reading / conveying section F. This is the surface where reading is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic document feeder 50 includes a controller 100 that controls the entire automatic document feeder 50. The automatic document feeder 50 also includes a registration sensor 17, a document set sensor 5, a paper discharge sensor 24, an abutment sensor 11, a document width sensor 13, a reading entrance sensor 15, a sensor for inputting a signal to the controller 100. A paper proper position sensor 8 and a home position sensor 6 are provided. The automatic document feeder 50 also includes a second reading unit 25, a pickup motor 101, a paper feed motor 102, a reading motor 103, a paper discharge motor 104, a bottom plate lift, and the like as an actuator that controls driving by outputting a signal from the controller 100. A motor 105 is provided.

  The image forming apparatus main body 60 includes a main body control unit 111 that controls the image forming apparatus main body 60 and an operation unit 108 that performs various input operations and operation instructions. The controller 100 and the main body control unit 111 are connected via the I / F 107, and data such as a control signal is exchanged between them.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second reading unit 25 includes a light source unit 200 that irradiates light on a document based on a lighting signal from the controller 100, a plurality of sensor chips 201 that receive reflected light from the document, A plurality of amplifying units 202 that amplify signals output from the sensor chip 201, an A / D 203 that converts the amplified signals from analog signals to digital signals, and an image processing unit 204 that performs image processing on the digitally converted signals. A frame memory 205 that stores the image-processed signal, an output control circuit 206 that controls output of the signal stored in the frame memory 205 based on a timing signal from the controller 100, and a signal from the output control circuit 206 Is provided to the main body control unit 111. The second reading unit 25 is supplied with power from the controller 100.

  Here, the detailed configuration of the automatic document feeder 50 will be described according to the order in which the documents placed on the document table 2 are discharged to the discharge tray 29.

  First, a document bundle 1 composed of a plurality of documents is placed on a document table 2 including a movable document table 3 with the surface facing upward. Next, the position in the width direction of the document bundle 1, that is, the position in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is positioned by a side guide (not shown). The placement of the document on the document table 2 is detected by the set filler 4 and the document set sensor 5, and a detection signal is output to the main body control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 60 via the I / F 107.

  An outline of the length of the document in the conveyance direction is detected by document length detection sensors 30 and 31 provided on the surface of the document table 2. As the document length detection sensors 30 and 31, a reflection type sensor that detects without contact with the document by optical means or a contact type actuator that can detect even when there is only one document can be used. . The document length detection sensors 30 and 31 are arranged so that it can be determined whether the document is placed vertically or horizontally.

  The movable document table 3 is configured to move up and down in the directions of arrows a and b in FIG. When it is detected by the set filler 4 and the document set sensor 5 that the document is placed on the document table 2, the controller 100 rotates the bottom plate raising motor 105 in the normal direction so that the uppermost document in the document bundle 1. The movable document table 3 is raised so as to come into contact with the pickup roller 7. Hereinafter, the position where the uppermost document of the document bundle 1 contacts the pickup roller 7 is referred to as an appropriate feeding position.

  The pickup roller 7 is operated by the pickup motor 101 in the directions of arrows c and d in FIG. 2 via the cam mechanism, and is pushed by the document on the raised movable document table 3 and lifted in the direction of arrow c. An upper limit of movement is detected by the position sensor 8. The proper paper feed position sensor 8 is a sensor for detecting that the movable original table 3 is raised and the uppermost original of the original bundle 1 is maintained at an appropriate height.

  When the operation unit 108 is operated to specify either the double-side mode or the single-side mode, the print key is pressed, and a document feed signal is output from the main body control unit 111 to the controller 100 via the I / F 107. The controller 100 rotates the pickup roller 7 by rotating the paper feed motor 102 forward. The pick-up roller 7 that has started rotating picks up the uppermost document on the document table 2 or several documents including the uppermost document.

  Next, when the paper feeding motor 9 is rotated forward by driving the paper feeding belt 9 and the reverse roller 10 clockwise, the paper feeding belt 9 guides the original in the paper feeding direction, and the reverse roller 10 sets the original in the paper feeding direction. Since the document is pushed out in the opposite direction, the uppermost document in the document bundle 1 and the document below it are separated, and only the uppermost document is fed.

  Specifically, the reverse roller 10 is in contact with the paper feed belt 9 at a predetermined pressure, and in the state of being in direct contact with the paper feed belt 9 or in the state of being in contact with one original, the paper feed belt 9. 9 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction different from the original driving direction by the action of a torque limiter (not shown). Further, when two or more documents enter between the paper feed belt 9 and the reverse roller 10, the reverse roller 10 does not rotate with the paper feed belt 9, but rotates in the clockwise direction, which is the original driving direction. It works to push back excess originals and prevent double feeding.

  The original separated by the action of the paper feeding belt 9 and the reverse roller 10 is sent by the paper feeding belt 9, and then the leading edge of the original is detected by the abutting sensor 11, and further conveyed and stopped. The pull-out roller 12 is in contact with the pull-out roller 12. Next, when the original fed by a predetermined distance from the position detected by the abutting sensor 11 is pressed against the pull-out roller 12 with a predetermined amount of deflection, the paper feed motor 102 is stopped and the paper feed belt 9 is stopped. The drive stops. At this time, the pickup motor 101 is rotated to retract the pickup roller 7 from the upper surface of the document, and the document is fed only by the conveying force of the paper feed belt 9, whereby the leading edge of the document is sandwiched between the pull-out rollers 12 and Matching, so-called skew correction is performed. The pull-out roller 12 has a skew correction function and is used to convey the skew-corrected document after separation to the intermediate roller 14 and is driven by the reverse rotation of the paper feed motor 102. When the paper feed motor 102 rotates in the reverse direction, the pull-out roller 12 and the intermediate roller 14 are driven, but the pickup roller 7 and the paper feed belt 9 are not driven.

  The document width sensor 13 is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as a contact image sensor called CIS arranged in a direction perpendicular to the document transport direction, and is not shown in the figure disposed at the opposite portion of the transport path. The light reception level of the direct light emitted from the irradiation light source is output. When the document passes the position of the document width sensor 13, the controller 100 detects a level difference between a portion shielded by the document and a portion not shielded by the document width sensor 13, and is conveyed by the pull-out roller 12. The size of the document in the width direction is determined and notified to the main body control unit 111. The length of the document in the conveyance direction is detected from the motor pulse by reading the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document with the butting sensor 11. When the document is transported from the resist section C to the turn section D by driving the pull-out roller 12 and the intermediate roller 14, the transport speed at the resist section C is set higher than the transport speed at the first reading transport section E. Thus, the processing time for sending the document to the first reading conveyance unit E is shortened.

  When the leading edge of the document is detected by the reading entrance sensor 15, the controller 100 decelerates the conveying speed of the document in order to make the document conveying speed equal to the reading conveying speed before the leading edge of the document enters the reading inlet roller 16. At the same time, the reading motor 103 is driven forward to drive the reading inlet roller 16, the reading outlet roller 23, and the CIS outlet roller 27. When the leading edge of the document is detected by the registration sensor 17, the controller 100 reduces the document conveyance speed over a predetermined conveyance distance, temporarily stops the document before the reading position 20 (resist stops), and I A registration stop signal is output to the main body control unit 111 via / F107. When a reading start signal is received from the main body control unit 111, the controller 100 increases the speed of the document that has been resist-regulated so as to rise to a predetermined transport speed before the leading edge reaches the reading position 20. It is supposed to be. The controller 100 also outputs a gate signal indicating an effective image area in the sub-scanning direction on the front surface to the main body control unit 111 at a timing when the leading edge of the document detected by the pulse count of the reading motor 103 reaches the reading position 20. It is supposed to be. The gate signal is continuously output until the trailing edge of the document passes through the first reading conveyance unit E.

  When the operation mode is the single-sided mode, the controller 100 conveys the document that has passed through the first reading conveyance unit E to the paper discharge unit G via the second reading unit 25. At this time, when the leading edge of the document is detected by the paper discharge sensor 24, the controller 100 drives the paper discharge motor 104 to rotate forward to rotate the paper discharge roller 28 counterclockwise. The controller 100 counts the pulses of the paper discharge motor 104 after the paper discharge sensor 24 detects the leading edge of the original, and the paper discharge motor 104 immediately before the trailing edge of the original comes out of the nip area of the paper discharge roller 28. The driving speed is reduced so that the document discharged onto the paper discharge tray 29 does not jump out.

  When the operation mode is the duplex mode, the controller 100 counts the pulses of the reading motor 103 after the leading edge of the document is detected by the paper discharge sensor 24, and the leading edge of the document reaches the second reading unit 25. At timing, a gate signal indicating an effective image area in the sub-scanning direction is output to the second reading unit 25. As a result, the back side of the document is read by the second reading unit 25. The gate signal is continuously output from the second reading unit 25 until the trailing edge of the document comes out.

  The surface of the second reading unit 25 is subjected to an antifouling coating process in order to prevent transfer of foreign matters on the glue attached to the document. The second reading roller 26 is disposed so as to face the second reading unit 25, and presses the passing document toward the second reading unit 25 to suppress the floating of the document in the second reading unit 25, and at the same time, performs the second reading. This also serves as a reference white part for acquiring shading data in the unit 25 and performing shading correction. That is, the second reading roller 26 also serves as a white shading member.

  FIG. 5A is a side view showing a state when the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted at the mounting position, and FIG. It is a front view which shows a state when the 2nd reading part of the image reader which concerns on one embodiment of invention is mounted | worn in a mounting position. FIG. 6A is a side view showing a state when the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is detached from the mounting position, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state when the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is detached from the mounting position. FIG. 7 is a top view showing the structure of the frame and guide grooves of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the frame and guide groove on the back side in the reading member mounting direction of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the reading member mounting direction entrance side of the flame | frame and guide groove of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the frame 305 of the automatic document feeder 50 is disposed above the second reading unit 25, and the automatic document feeder 50 is located near both ends of the second reading unit 25. Side plates 340 are provided.

  The side plate 340 constitutes a part of the casing of the automatic document feeder 50, and supports and accommodates each member of the automatic document feeder 50. The frame 305 constitutes a part of the housing together with the side plate 340, and supports each member in the automatic document feeder 50, for example, the rotation shaft of the reverse roller 10. The frame 305 is made of a conductor such as metal.

  The second reading unit 25 is composed of an image sensor such as a CIS, and reads an image of a passing document. The second reading unit 25 is detachably attached to the automatic document feeder 50. The second reading unit 25 constitutes a reading member in the present invention.

  A guide groove 305a is formed in the frame 305, and a guide member 306 that slides in the guide groove 305a and guides the attachment / detachment of the second reading unit 25 in the second reading unit 25 is located on the back side in the mounting direction. Is provided. Here, the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is the back direction in FIGS. 5A and 6A and the left direction in FIGS. 5B and 6B.

  The guide member 306 includes a sliding portion 306a extending in the horizontal direction sliding with the inside of the guide groove 305a. That is, the guide groove 305 a and the guide member 306 guide the mounting path and the separation path when the second reading unit 25 is attached and detached, and the second reading unit 25 is hung on the guide groove 305 a by the guide member 306. Thus, it is guided to the mounting position in the side plate 340. Here, the mounting position is a position where the second reading unit 25 that has been mounted is disposed, as shown in FIG. A restriction member 304 for restricting the upward movement of the guide member 306 is provided in the frame 305 by means such as welding on the upper portion of the guide groove 305a.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the width of the guide groove 305a is larger than the width of the guide member 306 on the inlet side (downward in FIG. 7) of the second reading unit 25 and the second reading unit 25 is mounted. It is substantially equal to the width of the guide member 306 on the back side in the direction (upward direction in FIG. 7).

  The guide members 306 are provided on the left and right sides of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, respectively. The guide member 306 is made of a conductor such as metal, and the second reading unit 25 is electrically connected to the frame 305 via the guide member 306.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, the second reading unit 25 is kept at a small distance at a position facing the second reading unit 25 below the second reading unit 25. A second reading roller 26 biased by a compression spring 303 is provided on the second reading unit 25. The second reading roller 26 constitutes a reading guide member in the present invention.

  The compression spring 303 is interposed between the rotation shaft 26a of the second reading roller 26 and the one end portion 310a of the rotation member 310. The compression spring 303 of the rotation member 310 rotates about the rotation shaft 310c. The rotary shaft 26 a of the second reading roller 26 is urged toward the second reading unit 25 by being supported by the one end portion 310 a.

  A gripping portion 320 is provided on the entrance side of the second reading portion 25 in the mounting direction. The gripping portion 320 has the other end of the rotating member 310 when the second reading portion 25 is mounted at the mounting position. A pressing member 321 for pressing down the portion 310 b, a fitting pin 323 that fits into the fitting hole 342 of the side plate 340, and a fitting pin 323 that is fitted in the fitting hole 342. A concave snap fit 324 that engages with the convex snap fit 341 is provided. A fitting pin 25 a that fits into the fitting hole 342 of the side plate 340 is provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25. The fitting hole 342 of the side plate 340 constitutes the first fitting portion in the present invention, and the fitting pin 25a of the second reading portion 25 and the fitting pin 323 of the grip portion 320 are the second fitting portion in the present invention. Is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), when the second reading portion 25 is disposed at the mounting position and the other end portion 310b is lowered by the intrusion of the push-down member 321 provided in the grip portion 320, the one end portion is lowered. The portion 310a is raised, the compression spring 303 is compressed by the raised one end portion 310a, and the second reading roller 26 is urged toward the second reading portion 25.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the second reading portion 25 is detached from the mounting position, and the other end portion 310b is lifted by the retreat of the pressing member 321 provided in the grip portion 320. Then, the one end portion 310a is lowered, and the urging of the second reading roller 26 to the second reading portion 25 by the compression spring 303 is released.

  As described above, when the second reading unit 25 is not disposed at the mounting position, the bias of the second reading roller 26 to the second reading unit 25 is released, and the rotating member 310, The holding part 320 and the pressing member 321 constitute the bias release means in the present invention.

  FIG. 9 is a top view showing another example of the guide member of the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, one guide member 306 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25, and the third guide member 306 is provided on the back side of the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25. It may be provided on either the left or right side (right side in FIG. 9). Further, more guide members 306 may be provided on either the left or right side of the mounting side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction. In other words, three or more guide members 306 may be provided including the left and right sides of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction.

  FIG. 10A to FIG. 10D are top views showing the fixing structure of the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, various means can be used for the fastening structure for fastening the second reading unit 25 to the mounting position, and the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 can be used. The fitting pin 323 and the fitting hole 342 are fitted on the inlet side, and the fitting pin 25a (see FIG. 7) and the fitting hole 342 are fitted on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25. The second reading is performed by fastening the screw (FIG. 10A), locking by the snap ring (FIG. 10B) or the above-described snap fit (FIG. 10C), and pressing the closed exterior member 350. The part 25 can be fastened.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, when the screw 326 is used, the second reading unit 25 can be firmly fixed by fastening the holding part 320 to the side plate 340 by fastening the screw 326. However, a tool is generally required to fasten the screw 326, and the working time is often long.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10B, a method using a C-shaped snap ring 325 is preferable, and the snap ring 325 is locked to a locking portion 327 protruding from the grip portion 320. The second reading unit 25 can be fixed at the mounting position, and the second reading unit 25 can be easily attached / detached by attaching / detaching the snap ring 325.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, a method using a snap fit is also suitable, and the convex snap fit 341 provided on the side plate 340 is locked to the concave snap fit 324 provided on the grip portion 320. Thus, the second reading unit 25 can be fixed to the mounting position, and by pulling the gripping unit 320 from the side plate 340, the locking can be released and the second reading unit 25 can be easily detached. .

  As shown in FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C, the fitting pins 25a and 323 and the fitting hole 342 for engaging, the snap ring 325 for engaging, the engaging portion 327, the convex The side snap fit 341 and the concave side snap fit 324 fix the second reading unit 25 at the mounting position, and constitute the first fixing means in the present invention.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10D, the fitting pins 25a and 323, the fitting holes 342, and the exterior member 350 for holding the fitting are fixed at the mounting position. It constitutes the second fastening means in the present invention.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  When the second reading unit 25 is detached from the mounting position, the convex snap fit 341 is detached from the concave snap fit 324 and the fitting pin 25a is pulled by pulling the grip portion 320 in the separation direction (downward in FIG. 7). 323 is disengaged from the fitting hole 342. In this state, the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is hung from the lower part of the guide groove 305a of the frame 305 via the guide member 306, and the gripping unit 320 is further pulled in the detaching direction. The back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is guided by the guide groove 305a of the frame 305 through the guide member 306 along the separation path defined by the guide groove 305a until the separation is completed.

  On the other hand, when the second reading unit 25 is mounted at the mounting position, the guide member 306 on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is inserted into the guide groove 305 a of the frame 305. In this state, the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is hung from the lower part of the guide groove 305a of the frame 305 via the guide member 306, and by pushing the gripping part 320 in the mounting direction, The back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is guided by the guide groove 305a of the frame 305 through the guide member 306 along the mounting path defined by the guide groove 305a until the mounting is completed.

  As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is detachably provided at the mounting position in the side plate 340, and is formed on the second reading unit 25 that reads an image of a document and the frame 305 of the side plate 340. A guide groove 305a and a guide member 306 provided on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 so as to guide the detachment of the second reading unit 25 to the mounting position in the side plate 340 by sliding in the guide groove 305a. Since the second reading unit 25 is guided to the mounting position when the guide member 306 is slid in the guide groove 305a, the second reading unit 25 is easily attached to and detached from the mounting position in the side plate 340. be able to. Therefore, workability at the time of attaching / detaching the second reading unit 25 can be improved. In addition, since the guide groove 305a is formed in the frame 305, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove 305a, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, the width of the guide groove 305a is larger than the width of the guide member 306 on the entrance side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, and on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25. Since the width of the guide groove 305a is larger than the width of the guide member 306 on the inlet side in the mounting direction of the second reading portion 25, the width of the guide member 306 is substantially equal to the width of the guide member 306. The guide member 306 can be easily inserted into the guide groove 305a, and the width of the guide groove 305a is substantially equal to the width of the guide member 306 on the back side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25. On the back side of the groove 305 a, the back side of the second reading unit 25 can be accurately placed at the mounting position in the side plate 340.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the guide members 306 are provided on the left and right sides of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, the second reading unit 25 is inclined left and right in the mounting direction. This can be prevented, and the second reading unit 25 can be more easily attached to and detached from the mounting position in the side plate 340.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, since three or more guide members 306 are provided including the left and right sides of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, the right side in the mounting direction of the second reading unit 25 is provided. In addition to the left side, guide members are also provided before and after the mounting direction, so that the second reading unit 25 can be prevented from tilting back and forth in the mounting direction. It can be more easily attached to and detached from the mounting position.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, the guide member 306 and the frame 305 are made of a conductor, and the second reading unit 25 is electrically connected to the frame 305 via the guide member 306. It is possible to eliminate an electrical failure of the second reading unit 25 such as noise mixed in the captured image.

  In addition, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is disposed opposite to the second reading unit 25, and the second reading unit 25 is urged by the second reading unit 25 while maintaining a minute distance from the second reading unit 25. When the reading roller 26 is provided and the second reading unit 25 is not disposed at the mounting position in the side plate 340, the pressing member 321 of the gripping unit 320 is retracted and the rotating member 310 is rotated to rotate the second reading roller. Since the urging of the second reading unit 25 to the second reading unit 25 is released, the second reading unit 25 can be prevented from coming into contact with the second reading roller 26 when the second reading unit 25 is attached or detached. It can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position in the side plate 340.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a fitting hole 342 provided on the side plate 340 on the back side and the entrance side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, and the back side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction. And fitting pins 25a and 323 which are respectively provided on the inlet side and are fitted in the fitting holes 342 in a state where the second reading portion 25 is disposed at the mounting position in the side plate 340, and the fitting pins in the fitting holes 342 25a and 323 are fitted into the second reading portion 25 by the snap ring 352 and the locking portion 327 that lock the second reading portion 25 in the side plate 340, and the convex snap fit 341 and the concave snap fit 324. 25 is fixed to the mounting position in the side plate 340, so that the second reading unit 25 is detachably mounted in the mounting position in the side plate 340 by fitting and locking. Tool screws becomes unnecessary necessary binding, a second reading unit 25 can be easily detachable from the mounting position in the side plate 340.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a fitting hole 342 provided on the side plate 340 on the back side and the entrance side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction, and the back side of the second reading unit 25 in the mounting direction. And fitting pins 25a and 323 that are fitted to the fitting holes 342 in a state where the second reading unit 25 is disposed at the mounting position in the side plate 340, and the side plate 340 is openable and closable. The second reading portion 25 is held at the mounting position in the side plate 340 by the closed exterior member 350 in a state where the fitting pins 25a and 323 are fitted in the fitting holes 342. By doing so, the second reading unit 25 is fixed to the mounting position in the side plate 340, so that the second reading unit 25 is arranged in the mounting position in the side plate 340 and fitted into the fitting hole 342. Pin 25a, When the exterior member 350 is closed in a state where 23 is fitted, the second reading unit 25 is fixed at the mounting position in the side plate 340, so that a screw or the like that requires a tool for fastening becomes unnecessary, and the second reading unit 25 can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting position in the side plate 340.

  In addition, since the automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment is equipped with the image reading device, it is possible to improve workability when the second reading unit 25 is attached / detached. In addition, since the guide groove 305a is formed in the frame 305, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove 305a, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is equipped with the image reading apparatus, it is possible to improve workability when the second reading unit 25 is attached / detached. In addition, since the guide groove 305a is formed in the frame 305, it is not necessary to add a new member for the guide groove 305a, and an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced.

  As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention has an effect of improving workability when the reading member is attached / detached, and the image reading apparatus in which the reading member is provided detachably, automatic document conveyance It is useful as an apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic document feeder and an image forming apparatus including an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic document feeder provided with an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of an automatic document feeder having an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a side view which shows a state when the 2nd reading part of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is mounted | worn in a mounting position. Moreover, (b) is a front view showing a state when the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted at the mounting position. (A) is a side view which shows a state when the 2nd reading part of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention has remove | deviated from the mounting position. Moreover, (b) is a front view showing a state when the second reading unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is detached from the mounting position. It is a top view which shows the structure of the flame | frame and guide groove of the image reader which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the reading member mounting direction back side of the flame | frame and guide groove of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the frame and guide groove on the reading member mounting direction entrance side of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the guide member of the 2nd reading part of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. (A)-(d) is a top view which shows the fixation structure of the 2nd reading part of the image reading apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

25 Second reading unit (reading member)
25a Fitting pin (second fitting portion, first fastening means, second fastening means)
26 Second reading roller (reading guide member)
26a Rotating shaft 303 Compression spring 304 Restriction member 305 Frame 305a Guide groove 306 Guide member 306a Sliding part 310 Rotating member (biasing release means)
310a One end portion 310b The other end portion 310c Rotating shaft 320 Gripping portion (biasing release means)
321 Push-down member (biasing release means)
323 fitting pin (second fitting portion, first fastening means second fastening means)
324 Concave snap fit (locking part, first fastening means)
325 snap ring (locking part, first fastening means)
326 screw 327 locking part (locking part, first fastening means)
340 Side plate 341 Convex side snap fit 342 Fitting hole (first fitting portion, first fastening means, second fastening means)
350 Exterior member (second fastening means)

Claims (10)

A reading member that is detachably provided at a mounting position within the housing, and reads an image of a document;
A guide groove formed in the frame of the housing;
A sliding part extending in the horizontal direction sliding in the guide groove, and a connection for connecting the sliding part and the reading member so as to extend vertically from the sliding part and hang the reading member And a guide member provided only on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member so as to guide the attachment and detachment of the reading member to the mounting position in the housing,
A first fitting portion provided at each of the reading member mounting direction back end portion and the inlet side end portion of the housing;
A second fitting portion is provided at each of the reading member mounting direction rear end portion and the inlet side end portion, and is fitted to the first fitting portion in a state where the reading member is disposed at the mounting position in the housing. An image reading apparatus comprising: a fitting portion.   The width of the guide groove is larger than the width of the guide member on the inlet side in the mounting direction of the reading member, and is substantially equal to the width of the guide member on the back side in the mounting direction of the reading member. The document reading device described.   3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide members are provided on the left and right sides of the reading member in the mounting direction.   4. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three or more guide members are provided including a left side and a right side of the reading member in a mounting direction. 5.   The said guide member and the said flame | frame are comprised from an electroconductive body, The said reading member is electrically connected with the said flame | frame via the said guide member, The Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image reader. A reading guide member disposed opposite to the reading member and biased by the reading member in a state of keeping a small distance from the reading member;
2. An urging release means for releasing the urging of the reading guide member to the reading member when the reading member is not disposed at the mounting position in the housing. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5. Has a locking portion for locking the reading member in the housing in a state in which said first fitting part and the second fitting portion fitted,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first fixing unit that fixes the reading member to a mounting position in the housing. Has an exterior member which openably provided to said housing,
In a state where the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted, the reading member is held at the mounting position in the housing by the closed exterior member, thereby the reading member. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second fastening unit that fastens the camera to a mounting position in the housing.   9. An automatic document feeder comprising the image reading device according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading device according to claim 1.

Images