JP5234338B2 - Document conveying device, document reading device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The invention concerning the document feeder, the document reading apparatus, the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus applied to a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a scanner apparatus, etc., in order to read an image described on a document by separating the documents one by one from a document bundle and transporting them to a reading position, A plurality of pairs of conveyance units that convey a document placed on a document table toward a reading position, the conveyance units face each other across a document conveyance path, and convey documents in the document conveyance direction. An original conveying apparatus having means is used.

  Such a document transport device is provided with a shutter for setting the position of the document. Various types of shutters have been proposed as these shutters.

In Patent Document 1, a shutter suspended in a freely swinging manner on an ADF cover on the upstream side of a paper feed roller and a pickup arm are provided, and when the pickup arm is in a standby state, the shutter is a document tray. A stopper for stopping the swinging of the shutter so as to regulate the front end position of the document placed on the document, and for releasing the shutter restraint by operating the pickup arm in a direction in contact with the document. There is a description that includes a shutter release mechanism that moves a pickup arm in a direction in contact with a document .

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a shutter that regulates the position of the leading edge of the document is provided between the pickup roller and the separation unit, and the sheet passing path is blocked by this shutter so that the pickup roller can be moved to the feeding position. The one in which the shutter moves to the avoidance position in conjunction with it is described.

Further, Patent Document 3 has a pick-up arm for holding the pickup roller and the pickup roller Komu feeding the document, the document type information, so that the original feeding force of the pickup arm is size suitable, the rotational speed of the motor What is controlled is described.

Japanese Patent No. 3744518 JP 2004-115164 A JP 2007-254146 A

  Conventionally, various mechanisms have been adopted for performing a function for regulating the position of the original bundle when the original bundle of the original conveying apparatus is set on the original tray. At present, it is provided as a dedicated member. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of parts, such shutter parts are also required to be shared with other parts.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a document conveying device, a document reading device, and an image forming device that can reduce the number of components and reduce the cost by making it possible to use the shutter member constituting the shutter also as another component. The purpose is to provide.

The invention of claim 1
A pickup unit that is driven to be in a pickup state in which a document is picked up one by one from a bundle of documents set on the document table, or a non-pickup state in which the pickup operation is not performed; A document detecting device including a filler member that swingably hangs down and is pressed by a document set on the document table, and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document bundle by the swing of the filler member. In the document feeder,
While supporting the base of the filler member coaxially with the rotational axis of the pickup roller,
A fixing member that prohibits or allows swinging of the filler member depending on the position of the filler member that moves with the driving of the pickup unit;
The fixing member is
When the pickup unit is in a non-pickup state, the filler member is prohibited from swinging over a certain angle, the presence or absence of a document bundle is detected by swinging the filler member within a certain angle, and the document bundle is set. in contact with the set document stack to regulate the insertion position of the document stack when the,
The document transport device is characterized in that when the pickup unit is in the pickup state, the filler member is allowed to swing, and the pickup document can pass through.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the document conveying device according to the first aspect, in the pickup state, the pickup unit is disposed at a lowered position, is in contact with the upper side of the document bundle, is disposed at the uppermost position, and picks up the document. A pickup roller disposed in an upper position in a pickup state and in a non-contact state with the original bundle; and a drive unit that drives the pickup roller to the upper position and the lower position.

The invention according to claim 3, in document feeder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor is a transmissive type and a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, a light shielding portion formed in the lower portion of the filler member, wherein and detecting the presence of a document by the light blocking portion by the swinging of the filler member blocks the light path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the document conveying device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the filler member is disposed at two locations that are substantially line targets in the width direction with respect to the center line in the width direction of the document. It is characterized by.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the document feeder according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the filler member is arranged in three or more in the width direction of the document.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document reading device comprising the document conveying device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the document conveying device according to the sixth aspect.

According to the document conveying apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce Runode have disposed off filler member to the shaft coaxially with the pickup roller and the cost is not necessary to provide a special member for the filler member mounting.

  Embodiments as the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view conceptually showing an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or printer according to an embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment mainly includes a reading unit 111 that reads a document, an image forming unit 112 that forms an image, a document conveying device 300, and a document that stacks documents sent from the document conveying device 300. A paper discharge tray 114, a paper supply unit 119 including paper supply cassettes 115 to 118, and a paper discharge unit (discharge tray 120) for stacking recording paper are configured.

When the document bundle S is set on the document table 121 of the document conveying device 300 and an operation on an operation unit (not shown), for example, a press operation of the print key is performed, the uppermost document S1 is rotated by the rotation of the pickup roller 210. The paper is fed in the B1 direction, and is fed onto the contact glass 124 fixed to the reading unit 111 by the rotation of the document conveying belt 123, and stops there. An image of a document placed on the contact glass 124 is read by a reading device 125 positioned between the image forming unit 112 and the contact glass 124. The reading device 125 includes a light source 126 that illuminates an original on the contact glass 124, an optical system 127 that forms an image of the original, a photoelectric conversion element 128 that includes a CCD that forms an image of the original, and the like. After the image reading is completed, the original is conveyed in the direction of arrow B2 by the rotation of the original conveying belt 123 and discharged onto the original discharge tray 114. In this way, the originals are fed one by one onto the contact glass 124 and the original image is read by the image reading unit 111.

On the other hand, inside the image forming unit 112, a photoreceptor 130 as an image carrier is disposed. The photoconductor 130 is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing, and the charging device 131 charges the surface to a predetermined potential. Further, the writing unit 132 emits laser light L that is light-modulated in accordance with image information read by the reading device 125, and the surface of the charged photosensitive member 130 is exposed with the laser light L, whereby the photosensitive member is exposed. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface 130. When the electrostatic latent image passes through the developing device 133, the electrostatic latent image is transferred to the recording medium P fed between the photosensitive member 130 and the transfer device 134 by the opposing transfer device 134. The surface of the photoreceptor 130 after the toner image transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 135.

A plurality of paper feed cassettes 115 to 118 disposed below the image forming unit 112 contain recording media P such as paper, and the recording media P is fed from any of the paper feed cassettes 115 to 118 in the direction of arrow B3. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 130 as described above is transferred onto the surface of the recording medium P. Next, the recording medium P is passed through the fixing device 136 in the image forming unit 112 as indicated by an arrow B4, and the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium P by the action of heat and pressure is fixed. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing device 136 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 137, discharged to the discharge tray 120 as shown by an arrow B5, and stacked.

  Next, the document conveying device 300 will be described. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the document conveying device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main portion of the document conveying device, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of the document conveying device. In the document conveying device 300, the document bundle S composed of a plurality of documents stacked on the sheet feeding tray 310 is sequentially fed into the conveying path 320 formed in the cover member 290 by the sheet feeding unit 200 and conveyed. The paper is transported downstream by transport rollers 330 appropriately disposed along the path 320, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 350 by discharge rollers 340 disposed at the most downstream end of the transport path 320.

  Here, the paper feeding unit 200 is driven to rotate and picks up the uppermost original S1 from the original bundle S stacked in a bundle, and sends the original S1 from the pickup roller 210 to the transport path 320. A feed roller 220 that supports the pickup roller 210 in a swingable manner around the rotation axis of the feed roller 220, and is opposed to the pickup arm 230 that is driven by driving means (not shown). A reverse roller 240 provided in a slidable manner and a filler member for detecting the state of a document that is suspended from a shaft portion of the feed roller 220 and is tilted toward the downstream side by being pushed by the document S1 drawn by the pickup roller 210. 250 and the filler section disposed at the bottom of the document table 270. When the light is blocked by the sensor member 260, a sensor member 260 that detects the presence or absence of the document table 270 and a fixing member that protrudes downward from the document table 270 and prevents the filler member 250 from swinging. And a filler stopper 280.

  The pickup roller 210 and the feed roller 220 are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) under the control of the host device. The pickup roller 210 forms a pickup unit together with the pickup arm 230. The pickup arm 230 is disposed so as to be swingable coaxially with the feed roller 220 and supports the pickup roller 210. The pick-up arm 230 drives the pick-up roller 210 and is positioned above and the pick-up roller 210 is not in contact with the document bundle S. Is driven so as to be in a pickup state in which a pickup operation for taking in the original S1 is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the filler members 250 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the paper width of the document bundle S to be picked up at two places with the pickup roller 210 interposed therebetween. The filler member 250 has a base portion 251 that is supported coaxially with the shaft 211 of the pickup roller 210 and is suspended so as to swing downward.

  Further, the lower part of each filler member 250 is inserted as a light shielding part 252 downward from the notch part 271 of the document table 270, and a sensor member 260 that detects the front end part of the filler member 250 below the document table 270. Is arranged. In this example, the sensor member 260 is a transmissive optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and the light shielding portion 252 of the filler member 250 detects the interruption of the optical path of the sensor member 260 and the document bundle S is detected. To detect.

  When the pickup unit is in the non-pickup state and the document bundle S is not set on the document table 270, the filler member 250 hangs down and the light shielding portion 252 blocks the optical path of the sensor member 260, so the document bundle S. Is not set. On the other hand, when the document bundle S is set on the document table 270, the filler member 250 is pushed and tilted by the document bundle S, the light shielding portion 252 of the filler member 250 is removed from the optical path of the sensor member 260, and the document bundle S is set. Suppose that

Further, the filler member 250 includes a locking portion 253 that contacts the filler stopper 280. This locking portion 253 is formed between the base portion 251 and the light shielding portion 252, and is in a non-pickup state where the pickup roller 210 is positioned above, and comes into contact with the filler stopper 280 when the pickup roller 210 swings more than a predetermined angle. When the pickup roller 210 is in a pickup state where the pickup roller 210 is in contact with the document bundle S, the locking portion 253 is formed so as not to contact the filler stopper 280.

  The filler stopper 280 is disposed on the swing path of the filler member 250. The filler stopper 280 is in contact with the filler member 250 when the pickup unit is in a non-pickup state and prohibits the filler member 250 from swinging more than a predetermined angle.

  Further, the filler stopper 280 allows the filler member 250 to swing without contacting the locking portion 253 of the filler member 250 when the pickup unit is in the pickup state.

  Next, the operation of the document feeder 300 will be described. 5 to 7 are side views showing the operation of the document conveying device. First, the case where the pickup unit is in the non-pickup state will be described. In a state where the document bundle S is not arranged on the document table 270, the filler member 250 hangs down by obedience, the light shielding portion 252 blocks the optical path of the sensor member 260, and the document bundle S is not set by the sensor member 260. Is detected (see FIG. 4).

On the other hand, when the document bundle S is arranged, as shown in FIG. 6, the filler member 250 is pushed and tilted by the document bundle S , and the end portion of the document bundle S comes into contact with the filler member 250 and the filler member 250. Tilts. Then, the locking portion 253 of the filler member 250 shields the optical path of the sensor member 260 and the sensor member 260 detects that the document bundle S is set. Further, the filler member 2 5 0 is swinging the filler member 250 locking portion 253 when the predetermined angle tilt is in contact with the filler stopper 280 is inhibited, the position of the document bundle S is regulated by the filler member 250, the document bundle S Can no longer be pushed in. Therefore, in this state, the filler member 250 functions as a shutter member that regulates the position of the document bundle S.

  Next, the case where the pickup unit is in the pickup state will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, in the pickup state, the locking portion 253 of the filler member 250 is positioned below the filler stopper 280, and the locking portion 253 contacts the filler stopper 280 even if the filler member 250 tilts. do not do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the filler member 250 is pushed by the document S1 taken in by the pickup roller 210 and rotates. Then, the document S1 is further fed to the back side through the feed roller 220 and the reverse roller 240.

  In the above example, two filler members and sensor members are arranged in a substantially line symmetrical position with respect to the center in the paper width direction of the document to be conveyed. However, there are three filler member and sensor member pairs. More than one set can be placed along the paper width. In this case, the width dimension of the document can be estimated based on which sensor member detects the document set.

  As described above, according to the document conveying apparatus according to this example, the filler member functions as a shutter member for preventing the document member from being pushed into the back side by a predetermined amount or more. As a result, cost reduction can be achieved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the filler member is rotatably supported by the pickup unit, the filler portion can be set as a stopper member or canceled by changing the pickup unit in the non-pickup state and the pickup state. Further, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for driving the filler member, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the filler member is arranged coaxially with the axis of the pickup roller, it is not necessary to provide a special member for attaching the filler member, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the filler member suspended from the pickup unit is detected by the sensor member below the document table, accurate document detection can be performed without being affected by the state of the document transport path.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the filler member is provided at two substantially line targets with respect to the center of the width of the document to be passed, when the document is set, a force biased to the document is applied. Without working, it is possible to prompt a reliable document set.

  If three or more filler members are provided, the size of the document in the width direction can be estimated based on the detection result of the sensor member, and a large document can be received by a large number of filler members, so that stress such as bending of the document can be caused. Can be reduced.

1 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a document conveying device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the document conveying device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the document conveying device. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the document feeder. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the document feeder. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the document feeder.

Explanation of symbols

111 Reading Unit 112 Image Forming Unit 114 Document Discharge Tray 115-118 Paper Feed Cassette 119 Paper Feed Unit 120 Paper Discharge Tray 121 Document Stand 123 Document Conveying Belt 124 Contact Glass 125 Device 126 Light Source 127 Optical System 128 Photoelectric Conversion Element 130 Photoconductor 131 Charging device 132 Unit 133 Developing device 134 Transfer device 135 Cleaning device 136 Fixing device 137 Discharge roller pair 200 Paper feed unit 210 Pickup roller (pickup unit)
211 Axis 220 Feed roller 230 Pickup arm (Pickup unit)
240 Reverse roller 250 Filler member 251 Base portion 252 Light shielding portion 253 Locking portion 260 Sensor member 270 Document table 271 Cut portion 280 Filler stopper (fixing member)
290 Cover member 300 Document transport device 310 Paper feed tray 320 Transport path 330 Transport roller 340 Discharge roller 350 Discharge tray

Claims (7)

A pickup unit that is driven to be in a pickup state in which a document is picked up one by one from a bundle of documents set on the document table, or a non-pickup state in which the pickup operation is not performed; A document detecting device including a filler member that swingably hangs down and is pressed by a document set on the document table, and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document bundle by the swing of the filler member. In the document feeder,
While supporting the base of the filler member coaxially with the rotational axis of the pickup roller,
A fixing member that prohibits or allows swinging of the filler member depending on the position of the filler member that moves with the driving of the pickup unit;
The fixing member is
When the pickup unit is in a non-pickup state, the filler member is prohibited from swinging over a certain angle, the presence or absence of a document bundle is detected by swinging the filler member within a certain angle, and the document bundle is set. in contact with the set document stack to regulate the insertion position of the document stack when the,
An original conveying apparatus characterized in that when the pickup unit is in a pickup state, the filler member is allowed to oscillate so that a pickup original can pass through. The pickup unit is disposed at the lowered position in the pickup state and contacts the upper side of the document bundle to be placed at the uppermost position to pick up the document. In the non-pickup state, the pickup unit is disposed at the upper position and is not in contact with the document bundle. A pickup roller;
A drive unit for driving the pickup roller to the upper position and the lower position;
The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: The sensor is a transmission type having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and a light shielding part is formed below the filler member, and the light shielding part is located between the light emitting part and the light receiving part by swinging the filler member. document feeder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that you detect the presence of a document by blocking the light path. The filler member is provided with a document conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein that you have been placed at two positions substantially line symmetrical with respect to the width direction of the center line of the document in the width direction. The filler member is provided with a document conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is arranged in three or more in the width direction of the document. Document reading apparatus comprising: a document feeder according to any one of 請 Motomeko 1 to 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the document conveying device according to claim 6 .