JP5343636B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that is easy for a wheelchair user to operate.

An image forming apparatus used for an office or the like generally includes an image reading unit that reads an original image, an image forming unit that prints an image based on the read original image, a paper cassette that stocks the printing paper, And an operation panel for instructing image reading and printing.
An operation panel (operation unit) on which the user operates the image forming apparatus is normally disposed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Therefore, when a user uses a wheelchair such as a physically handicapped person, for example, there is a problem that it is difficult to check various operation keys and a display unit of the operation panel because the viewpoint is lower than that of a normal person.

  In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, when a wheelchair user uses the image forming apparatus, the position of the operation panel is changed so that the wheelchair user can easily operate. Proposals have been made.

However, in the above prior art, it is difficult for the wheelchair user to use the operation panel, but it is difficult to set the manuscript paper in the image reading unit, and the wheelchair user is difficult to use the entire image forming apparatus. .
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems. The purpose of the present invention is to use a normal person (ordinary user) in a conventional manner, and to provide an image reading unit to a wheelchair user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily use the above.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading unit (scanner 2 in FIG. 1) for reading an image of a document, an image forming unit (printer 5) disposed below the image reading unit with a space therebetween, and In an image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus GK) including an in-cylinder paper discharge unit (in-cylinder paper discharge unit DH) provided in a space,
The image reading unit has a top contact glass (first scanner contact glass 11 in FIG. 4) on which a document is placed, and a bottom contact glass (second scanner contact glass 12) on the in-body discharge unit side. And
A document sheet table (8) for bringing a document into close contact with the bottom contact glass is disposed in the space of the in-cylinder paper discharge unit (in-cylinder paper discharge unit DH) ,
The image reading unit is an image forming apparatus that reads two originals on the upper surface and the lower surface at the same time (in FIG. 4, the two originals on the upper surface and the lower surface are read simultaneously) (see FIG. 4). ).
According to the second aspect of the present invention, an image reading unit (scanner 2 in FIG. 1) that reads an image of a document, an image forming unit (printer 5) disposed below the image reading unit with a space therebetween, and In an image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus GK) including an in-cylinder paper discharge unit (in-cylinder paper discharge unit DH) provided in a space,
The image reading unit has a top contact glass (first scanner contact glass 11 in FIG. 4) on which a document is placed, and a bottom contact glass (second scanner contact glass 12) on the in-body discharge unit side. And
A document sheet table (8) for bringing a document into close contact with the bottom contact glass is disposed in the space of the in-cylinder paper discharge unit (in-cylinder paper discharge unit DH),
The image reading unit includes one light source and two reading optical systems for the upper surface and the lower surface (scanner light source unit 16, first and second lenses 17, 18 and first and second scanner sensors in FIG. 4). 19 and 20) (see FIG. 4).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the manuscript paper base is in a state in which the manuscript is in close contact with the lower surface contact glass, and the manuscript is placed on the manuscript paper base. Therefore, it has an elevating mechanism (elevating mechanism 7 in FIG. 4) for setting a state in which the close contact state is released with respect to the lower surface contact glass.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the document sheet base has a structure that rotates around one end and is biased toward the lower contact glass side. (Refer to FIG. 6).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the document sheet table includes a concave portion or a convex portion for notifying a user of a reference position of the document. (Paper alignment protrusion 35 in FIG. 5).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the upper surface contact glass and the lower contact glass are used for detecting whether or not there is a document on the upper surface contact glass. Detection means (not shown) for the lower surface;
The image forming apparatus further includes reading selection means (not shown) that automatically selects the reading direction of the upper surface and the lower surface by the detection means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image reading function is mounted on the in-cylinder sheet discharge portion disposed in the center of the image forming apparatus, so that the wheelchair user can sit on the wheelchair while the document is placed on the image forming apparatus. Can be set. Further, since the image reading can be switched from the upper side of the apparatus or from the in-cylinder sheet discharge unit arranged in the center of the apparatus, the normal user (healthy person) is not different from the conventional use method.
In addition, since two originals on the upper surface and the lower surface can be read simultaneously, the copy speed can be almost doubled compared to the conventional method (reading only on the upper surface).
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image reading unit includes one light source and two reading optical systems for the upper surface and the lower surface, the light source can be configured as one, and the image forming apparatus Cost reduction.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , by providing the elevating mechanism, a state in which the original is brought into close contact with the lower surface contact glass and a state in which the original is brought into contact with the lower surface contact glass in order to place the original on the original paper table are provided. Canceled state can be set.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the original sheet table can be brought into close contact with the lower surface contact glass by another structure (use of a spring as an example) different from the lifting mechanism.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the concave portion or the convex portion for notifying the user of the reference position of the document is provided, the user can accurately place the document paper even in the in-body discharge portion where the visibility is not good. Can be set in alignment .

Also, according to the invention described in claim 6, is provided with the selecting means reading the document detecting unit, without requiring the user document instructs the selection of either the upper or lower surface, automatically reading direction ( the reading position above also can select the lower side).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a front view. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an outline of the configuration and operation of the main part of the image forming apparatus, in which (A) shows a document sheet table, a lifting mechanism, etc., (B) shows a document sheet placed on the document sheet table, (C) is a diagram in which the document sheet table is raised. FIG. 5A is a side view of a case where a conventional image forming apparatus is used and a case where the present embodiment is used in comparison, and FIG. FIG. 6 is another conventional example, and illustrates that it is difficult to set the manuscript paper on the image reading unit (scanner) although the operation panel is easy to use, and FIG. 6C is a usage example of this embodiment. FIG. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the embodiment. It is a side view which shows the modification of the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.
The outline of the present embodiment is as follows. That is, by mounting the scanner on the in-cylinder sheet discharge unit disposed in the center of the image forming apparatus, it is possible for a wheelchair user to set a document on the image forming apparatus while sitting on the wheelchair (described later). (See FIG. 3C).
Since the scanner on the upper side of the apparatus can also be used, it is the same as the conventional usage method for a healthy person (normal user).

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an image forming apparatus GK according to the present embodiment includes an ADF 1 that sends a document (not shown) positioned above in the drawing to a scanner unit, a scanner 2 that reads a document to be copied, and The printer 5 includes a printer 5 that outputs a copied image (not visible in the external view because it is built in the main body), a paper tray 6, an operation panel 3, a paper discharge tray 4, and the like. Reference numeral DH denotes an in-body discharge section described below.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the document sheet table 8 is disposed in the in-body sheet discharge portion DH disposed in the center of the image forming apparatus GK (see FIG. 2A). . The lower side of the original paper 10 (the surface not to be read) is arranged on the original paper base 8 (see FIG. 2B), and the original paper base 8 is moved upward by the lifting mechanism 7 (FIG. 2 ( C)).
A second scanner contact glass 12 is installed on the upper side of the in-body discharge unit DH (lower side of the scanner 2) (see FIG. 4), and reads an image of the original paper 10 placed on the original paper table (see FIG. 4). Scanner).

Next, how the wheelchair user uses the conventional example and the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when a wheelchair user uses the image forming apparatus of the conventional example, the scanner 2 and the operation panel 3 as well as the ADF 1 are often out of reach (indicated by x).

In another conventional example, as shown in FIG. 3B, in recent years, a tilt mechanism or the like is attached to the operation panel 3 so that a wheelchair user can read and operate information displayed on the operation panel 3. It has become to. However, since the ADF 1 and the scanner 2 cannot be operated and the original paper cannot be set, it is difficult for a wheelchair user to copy the original paper.
However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, image reading (scanner) is performed by setting a document sheet (indicated by a circle) on the in-cylinder sheet discharge portion DH that can be reached by a wheelchair user. Is possible.

Next, the main part of this embodiment is demonstrated, referring FIG. 4 and FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ADF 1, the scanner 2, and the in-body discharge unit DH are arranged in order from the top of the image forming apparatus.
In the in-body discharge unit DH, a document sheet table 8 and an elevating mechanism 7 described below are arranged.

Two table fixing nuts 23 are fitted into the right end portion of the document sheet table 8, and a female screw into which the movable screw shaft 22 is inserted is screwed on the inner surface of the table fixing nut 23. The upper ends of the two movable screw shafts 22 are pivotally attached to the ceiling of the wall surface of the in-body discharge unit DH, and the lower ends of the two movable screw shafts 22 are two lifting mechanisms arranged. It is attached to each of the motors 24 for use. The rotation of the two lifting mechanism motors 24 is controlled by the motor control unit 25 so that the document sheet table 8 is raised or lowered.
Further, when the original paper is set in the in-body paper discharge unit DH, it is difficult to set because the visibility is not good for the user. Therefore, an L-shaped sheet alignment projection 35 for positioning the corner of the document sheet is arranged at the left front corner of the document sheet table 8 to facilitate the user's setting operation.

On the upper side of the scanner 2 is arranged a first scanner contact glass 11 on which the upper side / original paper 9 is placed, and on the lower side, a second scanner contact glass 12 described below is arranged.
Inside the scanner 2, a scanner light source unit 16 movable in the left and right sub-scanning directions is disposed, and on the right side surface side, a combination of a first lens 17 and a first scanner sensor 19 up and down, A combination of two lenses 18 and a second scanner sensor 20 is arranged.
Inside the scanner light source unit 16, the scanner light source 15, the first scanner mirror 13 that reflects light from the reading surface of the upper side / original paper 9, and the light from the lower side / reading surface of the original paper 10. A second scanner mirror 14 for reflection is disposed.

The light reflected by the first scanner mirror 13 is read by the first scanner sensor 19 through the first lens 17 as the first scanner light source line L1.
Similarly, the light reflected by the second scanner mirror 14 is read by the second scanner sensor 20 via the second lens 18 as the second scanner light source line L2.
A scanner control unit 21 controls reading light from the first and second scanner sensors 19 and 20.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When performing a normal scanner operation (scanner operation in the case of a healthy person), inside the scanner, an upper document sheet 9 is arranged between the ADF 1 (including the scanner reflection plate) and the first scanner contact glass 11. The scanner light source unit 16 moves in the first sub-scanning direction L1. The light emitted from the scanner light source 15 passes through the first scanner contact glass 11, is reflected by the upper side / original paper 9 or ADF 1 (including the scanner reflection plate), passes through the first scanner mirror 13, It proceeds in the same direction as the first sub-scanning direction L1. Then, the first scanner sensor 19 converts the light into an electrical signal via the first lens 17, which is converted into data and sent to the scanner control unit 21.

  Similarly to the above, the scanner operation (operation in the case of a physically handicapped person) when placed on the document sheet table 8 passes through the second scanner contact glass 12 as described above. The lower side is reflected by the original paper 10 or the original paper base 8 (including the scanner reflection plate) and travels in the same direction as the second sub-scanning direction L2 via the second scanner mirror 14. Then, in the second sub-scanning direction L 2, the light passes through the second lens 18, becomes an electrical signal from light by the second scanner sensor 20, is converted into data, and is sent to the scanner control unit 21.

However, when reading the original paper on the original paper table, it is necessary to bring the lower original paper 10 into close contact with the second scanner contact glass 12. Therefore, the elevating mechanism 7 operates and the document sheet table 8 is raised until it comes into close contact with the second scanner contact glass 12. Thus, when the user sets the lower side / original sheet 10 on the original sheet table 8, the elevating mechanism 7 places the original sheet table 8 on the lower side (the state shown in FIG. 2B). At the time of scanning, the lifting / lowering mechanism 7 causes the document sheet table 8 to be further on the upper side (a state where the document sheet table in FIG. 4 is indicated by a dotted line).
Further, at this time, the original paper table 8 is in close contact with the second scanner contact glass 12 so that the light emitted from the light source 15 for the scanner at the time of scanning can be prevented from being shown to the user.

Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, illustration of the scanner light source 15 and the like inside the scanner is omitted.
This modification is a case where the document sheet table 8 is brought into close contact with and urged against the second scanner contact glass 12 by using a torsion spring (double torsion spring) instead of the elevating mechanism 7 (see FIG. 4).
As shown in FIG. 6, a shaft 35 is fixed to the upper right corner of the in-body sheet discharge portion DH in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and a torsion spring 34 is loosely fitted to the shaft 35. One end of the torsion spring 35 is fixed to the apparatus main body, and the other end is fixed to the document sheet base 8.
An inverted L-shaped lock mechanism / opening / closing sensor 33 is provided at the left end portion of the document sheet base 8, and the front end portion thereof is hooked on the left end portion of the second scanner contact glass 12.

When not in operation, the original paper table 8 is pushed up in the clockwise direction by the action of the torsion spring 34 in the opening direction, and is in close contact with the second scanner contact glass 12. At the time of this close contact, the locking mechanism / opening / closing sensor 33 is hooked to the left end portion of the second scanner contact glass 12 so that it does not fall suddenly due to the weight of the original paper table 8.
When the user sets the lower side / original paper 10 on the original paper base 8, the locking mechanism / opening / closing sensor 33 is released and the original paper base 8 is rotated counterclockwise. Then, the document sheet table 8 is opened (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 6), and the user sets the copy sheet of the document sheet 10 on the lower side so as to be aligned with the sheet alignment projection 35. After setting, the manuscript paper base 8 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the lock mechanism / opening / closing sensor 33 is hooked on the second scanner contact glass 12, and the lower manuscript paper 10 is firmly attached to the second scanner contact glass. 12 is closely attached. With the above operation, the lower side / original sheet 10 can be copied (see FIG. 3C).

Next, the configuration of the control system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the configuration of the control system is large and is divided into an operation panel 3, a scanner 2, an elevating mechanism 7, an image forming apparatus main body control unit 26, and a storage unit 27.
The operation panel 3 controls a display unit 28 including an LCD and an LED for notifying the user of information, an input unit 29 that can be input from the user such as a touch panel input and a hard key, and controls the image forming apparatus main body. The operation panel control unit 30 communicates with the unit 26.

The scanner 2 includes a scanner sensor 19 that converts printing surface information of the upper (ADF side) original paper into data, a paper size detection sensor 31 that detects the paper size of the original paper, and a lower (in-body discharge side). A scanner sensor 20 that converts the printing surface information of the original paper into data, a paper size detection sensor 32 that detects the paper size of the original paper, a light source unit 16 that illuminates the original paper, and for controlling the inside of the scanner And a scanner control unit 21.
The elevating mechanism 7 includes an elevating mechanism motor 24 and a motor control unit 25 for moving the document sheet table 8 up and down.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the user issues a selection instruction to be used by the upper (ADF side) scanner or the lower (in-body discharge side) scanner from the input unit 29 of the operation panel 3 (step S1).
In the case of a normal user who operates standing up (the upper side (ADF side) scanner is often used), data indicating that the upper side (ADF side) scanner is used is input from the input unit 29 via the operation panel control unit 30. The control unit 26 is notified, and the information is sent to the scanner control unit 21. At that time, the operation panel control unit 30 displays on the display unit 28 that the upper (ADF side) scanner is to be used, and notifies the user (step S2).

  Then, the presence / absence of the original paper is confirmed by the paper size detection sensor 31. If it is recognized that the original paper is present (step S3), the scanner control unit 21 notifies the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26 of the information, and the image forming apparatus. The main body control unit 26 sends information to the operation panel control unit 30. The operation panel control unit 30 notifies the user of the recognition of the paper and the paper size from the display unit 28 (steps S4 and S5).

  After that, if the user gives an instruction to execute the scanner from the input unit 29 (step S6), the information goes to the operation panel control unit 30 → the main body control unit 26 → the scanner control unit 21, and the scanner control unit 21 reads the scanner light source. The unit 16 is operated, data is read from the scanner sensor 19, the information is sent to the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26, and the data is stored in the storage unit 27 (step S7).

Further, in the case of a wheelchair user (the lower side (in-body discharge side) scanner is often used), the operation panel 3 may be tilted as shown in FIGS.
As in the case of “a normal user who operates standing up”, the operation panel control unit 30 notifies the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26 of data indicating that the lower side (in-body discharge side) scanner is used. The information is sent to the scanner control unit 21.
At that time, the operation panel control unit 30 displays on the display unit 28 that the lower (in-body discharge side) scanner is to be used and notifies the user (step S8).

When the paper size detection sensor 32 confirms the presence or absence of original paper and recognizes that there is original paper (step S9), the scanner control unit 21 notifies the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26 of the presence of original paper, and the image. The forming apparatus main body control unit 26 instructs the motor control unit 25 to operate the lifting mechanism upward. The lifting mechanism motor 24 is moved to bring the original paper into close contact with the scanner contact glass 12.
Then, the paper size detection sensor 32 is made to recognize the original paper size again, the scanner control unit 21 notifies the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26 of the information, and the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26 notifies the operation panel control unit 30. Send information. The operation panel control unit 30 notifies the user of the recognition of the sheet and the sheet size from the display unit 28 (step S10).

  After that, when the user gives an instruction to execute the scanner from the input unit 29 (step S11), the information goes to the operation panel control unit 30 → the main body control unit 26 → the scanner control unit 21, and the scanner control unit 21 reads the scanner light source. The unit 16 is operated, the data is read from the scanner sensor 19, the information is sent to the image forming apparatus main body control unit 26, and the data is stored in the storage unit 27 (step S12).

In this embodiment, the case of reading either the upper side / original paper or the lower side / original paper alone has been described. However, the upper side / original paper and the lower side / original paper can be read simultaneously. It is also possible to do.
In addition, in order to detect whether or not there is a document on the upper surface contact glass (first scanner contact glass 9) and the lower surface contact glass (second scanner contact glass 12), upper surface and lower surface document detection means are provided. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a reading selection means for automatically selecting the reading direction of the upper surface and the lower surface by the document detection means.

GK: Image forming apparatus DH: In-body sheet discharge unit 1: ADF
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Scanner 3 ... Operation panel 7 ... Elevating mechanism 8 ... Original paper stand 9 ... Upper side, original paper 10 ... Lower side, original paper 11 ... 1st scanner contact glass 12 ... 2nd scanner contact glass

JP 2007-127847 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-084086 JP 2007-098752 A

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image of a document; an image forming unit that is disposed below the image reading unit with a space; and an in-body discharge unit that is provided in the space.
The image reading unit has an upper surface contact glass for placing a document, and a lower surface contact glass on the in-body discharge unit side,
A document sheet table for bringing a document into close contact with the bottom contact glass is disposed in the space of the in-body discharge unit ,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image reading unit reads two documents on an upper surface and a lower surface at the same time . An image forming apparatus comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image of a document; an image forming unit that is disposed below the image reading unit with a space; and an in-body discharge unit that is provided in the space.
The image reading unit has an upper surface contact glass for placing a document, and a lower surface contact glass on the in-body discharge unit side,
A document sheet table for bringing a document into close contact with the bottom contact glass is disposed in the space of the in-body discharge unit,
The image reading unit includes an image forming apparatus including one light source and two reading optical systems for an upper surface and a lower surface. The document sheet table is a lifting mechanism for setting a state in which the document is brought into close contact with the lower surface contact glass and a state in which the contact state is released with respect to the lower surface contact glass in order to place the document on the document sheet table the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the having. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document sheet table has a structure that rotates around one end portion and is biased toward the lower contact glass side. The original paper tray to an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a recess or protrusion for informing the reference position of the document to the user. Detecting means for the upper surface and the lower surface to detect whether or not there is a document on the upper surface contact glass and the lower surface contact glass;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a reading selection means for automatically selecting the reading direction of the upper surface and the lower surface by said detecting means.

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