JP6133566B2 - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine.

  In general, an image reading apparatus receives reflected light reflected from a document by light irradiation from a light source in a scanning unit having a light source that irradiates the document through a transparent plate constituting a document reading reference surface. An image is read by a reading unit.

  For example, such an image reading apparatus scans an image of a document placed on a transparent plate in the main scanning direction while moving the scanning unit in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and reads the image through the transparent plate. The image of the document conveyed in the sub-scanning direction so as to pass on the transparent plate is scanned in the main scanning direction at a predetermined scanning position and is transparent In many cases, reading is performed by a reading unit via a plate.

  Further, as a conventional image reading apparatus, there is an image reading apparatus in which a housing that accommodates a scanning unit and a reading unit supports both ends of a transparent plate in the main scanning direction, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133260.

  However, in an image reading apparatus in which the housing that accommodates the scanning unit and the reading unit supports both ends of the transparent plate in the main scanning direction, an external force (for example, a book such as a book is concentrated on a part of the transparent plate). When the original is pressed against the transparent plate and the weight of the user is added, the transparent plate is easily bent in the direction in which pressure is applied along the main scanning direction. As described above, when the transparent plate is bent in the main scanning direction, if the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction, the transparent plate interferes with the scanning unit, so that the original cannot be read well. . For example, when the transparent plate interferes with the scanning unit, the drive motor of the driving unit that moves the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction may step out (the synchronization speed and the actual rotational speed do not match). Further, for example, from the viewpoint of miniaturization and thinning of the image reading apparatus, an equal magnification optical system type image reading apparatus using a contact image sensor (CIS: Contact Image Sensor) having a lens array with a relatively small depth of focus. Is used, the distance between the transparent plate and the lens array is smaller at the center than at both ends in the main scanning direction, and the resolution of the read image is lowered at the center.

  In the image reading apparatus, the scanning unit may unnecessarily move to one side or the other side in the sub-scanning direction for some reason. For example, when the transparent plate is bent in the main scanning direction, or when the scanning unit moving in the sub-scanning direction is stopped at the home position (stop position), the home position (stop position) is caused by an electrical malfunction such as noise. ) May unnecessarily move to one side or the other side in the sub-scanning direction and collide with other peripheral members (for example, a driving motor or a driving gear of a driving unit that drives the scanning unit). is there. This causes a disadvantage that other peripheral members are damaged.

  In this regard, Patent Document 2 discloses an image that prevents a transparent body (transparent plate) from being bent in the main scanning direction by providing a central portion positioning member at a substantially central portion in the main scanning direction of the holding member (scanning portion). Readers have been proposed.

JP 2000-22901 A JP-A-8-228266

  However, although the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 2 can prevent the transparent plate from bending in the main scanning direction, it is caused by collision with other peripheral members when the scanning unit moving in the sub-scanning direction stops. No consideration is given to preventing damage to other peripheral members.

  Therefore, the present invention can suppress the deflection of the transparent plate in the main scanning direction, and even if the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction for some reason, it collides with other peripheral members of the scanning unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can effectively prevent the above-described problem.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a transparent plate for placing a document, a scanning unit having a light source for irradiating the document with light through the transparent plate, and irradiating the document with light from the light source. A scanning unit that receives reflected reflected light and reads an image of the document; and a housing that houses the scanning unit and the scanning unit and supports both ends of the transparent plate in a main scanning direction. An image reading apparatus that reads an image of the document placed on the transparent plate while moving a portion in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and stands from a bottom surface of the housing in the main scanning direction. A support unit that supports the transparent plate, and a drive unit that is provided at one end or the other end in the sub-scanning direction in the housing and moves the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction And the support portion includes the auxiliary A between the scanning unit and the drive unit in査direction, to provide an image reading apparatus, characterized in that located within the width of the scanning unit in the main scanning direction. The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

In the present invention, it is possible to exemplify an aspect in which the support part has a restricting part that restricts movement of the scanning part in the sub-scanning direction.
In this invention, the said support part supports at least one among the edge part of the one side in the said subscanning direction of the said transparent plate, and the edge part of the other side, and the said control part is the one side in the said subscanning direction. And the aspect which controls the movement of the said scanning part to the side in which the said support part is supporting the said transparent plate among the other sides can be illustrated. That is, the restricting portion restricts the movement of the scanning portion to one side in the sub-scanning direction when the support portion supports one end of the transparent plate in the sub-scanning direction, When the support portion supports the other end of the transparent plate in the sub-scanning direction, the movement of the scanning portion to the other side in the sub-scanning direction is restricted.

  In the present invention, it is possible to exemplify a mode in which the support portion is provided with a predetermined distance between the support portion and the scanning portion that is in a home position (stop position).

In the present invention, the main one side of the scanning direction is the operating side, the support portion is integrally provided on the casing so as to extend in the operating side from the substantially central portion that put in the main scanning direction Can be illustrated.

  In the present invention, the reading unit is a contact type image sensor including a lens array, and the scanning unit constitutes a reading unit integrally provided with the reading unit which is the contact type image sensor. And a predetermined interval between the transparent plate and the lens array is present at both ends of the scanning unit in the main scanning direction when the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction. The aspect in which the sliding contact part which slidably contacts with the said transparent plate in the state can be illustrated.

  In the present invention, it is possible to exemplify an aspect in which the support portion is integrally supported by a wall along the main scanning direction of the housing.

  In the present invention, the support section is configured such that the height of the casing from a casing reference plane parallel to the transparent plate supports the both end portions of the transparent plate and the casing reference of the mounting portion in the casing. The aspect currently formed so that it may become lower than the height from a surface can be illustrated.

  In the present invention, the transparent plate is divided into a first transparent plate on which the document is placed on one side in the sub-scanning direction and a second transparent plate that reads the document on the other side in the sub-scanning direction. And the said support part can illustrate the aspect which supports at least one of a said 1st transparent plate and a said 2nd transparent plate.

  In the present invention, the first transparent plate has a long shape in which the width in the sub-scanning direction is larger than the width in the main scanning direction, and the second transparent plate has a width in the sub-scanning direction. The document fixed reading configuration is placed on the first transparent plate while moving the scanning unit to one side or the other side in the sub-scanning direction. The scanned image of the original is scanned in the main scanning direction and read by the reading unit via the first transparent plate, and the original moving reading configuration passes over the second transparent plate. As described above, the image of the original conveyed in the sub-scanning direction is scanned in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit located at the reading position and read by the reading unit through the second transparent plate. And the support portion is The manner of supporting only the second transparent plate of first transparent plate and the second transparent plate may be exemplified.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the bending of the transparent plate in the main scanning direction, and even if the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction for some reason, the other of the scanning unit A collision with the peripheral members can be effectively prevented.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from diagonally upward on the front right. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading device viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading device viewed from the right side. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing each component in the housing of the image reading apparatus with the document conveying device removed. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows typically the internal structure of the scanning part in an image reading apparatus. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the support part part in the image reading apparatus from diagonally upward left. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the support part part in the image reading apparatus from diagonally upward right. It is the schematic sectional drawing which looked at the support part part in an image reading device from the front. It is a figure which shows the other example of a support part typically, Comprising: (a) is the outline which looked at the state which the center part in the main scanning direction of the housing | casing bent to the transparent plate side rather than both ends from the right side surface. It is sectional drawing, (b) is the schematic sectional drawing which looked at the other example of the support part applied when the center part in a main scanning direction is bent to the transparent plate side rather than both ends from the right side surface It is.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 provided with an image reading apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally upward on the front right. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.

[Image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus 100 has a copying function for reading an image of a document G (see FIG. 3) and forming an image on a recording sheet P (see FIG. 3) such as recording paper. A reading device 200 and an image forming apparatus main body 300 that forms an image on a recording sheet P are provided.

  The image forming apparatus main body 300 includes a sheet supply unit 310, a sheet conveying unit 320 (see FIG. 3), an image forming unit 330, and a sheet discharge unit 340, and is installed horizontally. .

  The image data handled in the image forming unit 330 is data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or a single color (for example, black). This corresponds to the monochrome image used. For this reason, in the image forming unit 330, the photosensitive drum 11, the charger 12, the developing device 14, the intermediate transfer roller 152, and the drum cleaning device 16 are each four so as to form four types of images corresponding to the respective colors. There are four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, each corresponding to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and substantially between the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd. Members having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 300, when performing image formation, the photosensitive drum 11 is rotated while the intermediate transfer belt 151 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow C, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly set to a predetermined potential by the charger 12. The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is exposed to light by the optical scanning device 13 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is developed by the developing device 14 to be photosensitive. A toner image is formed on the surface of the body drum 11. As a result, a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 11. Thereafter, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is removed and collected by the drum cleaning device 16.

  Subsequently, the toner image of each color formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 11 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 151 by the intermediate transfer roller 152 to which a transfer bias is applied while the intermediate transfer belt 151 is moved in the direction of arrow C. Then, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 151. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151. Thereafter, residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151 is removed and collected by the belt cleaning device 153.

  On the other hand, in the sheet supply unit 310, the recording sheets P stacked on the sheet feed cassette 311 are pulled out from the sheet feed cassette 311 by the sheet supply roller unit 312 and conveyed to the image forming unit 330 through the sheet conveyance path 321 in the sheet conveyance unit 320. To do. The sheet conveyance path 321 is provided with a registration roller 322, each conveyance roller 324, and a discharge roller 325. The registration roller 322 temporarily stops the recording sheet P and aligns the leading end of the recording sheet P. Then, the conveyance of the recording sheet P is started in accordance with the transfer timing of the color toner image in the transfer nip area between the intermediate transfer belt 151 and the transfer roller 154a in the secondary transfer device 154.

  While the recording sheet P conveyed from the sheet supply unit 310 to the image forming unit 330 through the sheet conveyance path 321 in the sheet conveyance unit 320 is sandwiched and conveyed in the transfer nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 151 and the transfer roller 154a, The color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151 is transferred onto the recording sheet P by the transfer roller 154a to which the transfer bias is applied. Then, the recording sheet P is sandwiched between the heating roller 171 and the pressure roller 172 of the fixing device 17 and heated and pressed to fix the color toner image on the recording sheet P, and further toward the sheet discharge unit 340. And is discharged to a discharge tray 341 in the sheet discharge unit 340 via a discharge roller 325.

  Further, when image formation is performed not only on the front surface of the recording sheet P but also on the back surface, the recording sheet P having the toner image fixed on the front surface by the fixing device 17 is directed in the reverse direction toward the reverse path 323 by the discharge roller 325. Then, the recording sheet P is turned upside down by the reversing path 323, and the recording sheet P is guided again to the registration roller 322, and a toner image is formed on the back surface of the recording sheet P in the same manner as the front surface of the recording sheet P. After fixing, the recording sheet P is discharged to a discharge tray 341 in the sheet discharge unit 340.

  The image reading apparatus main body 210 and the document conveying apparatus 220 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the hinge part 230 and the opening / closing axis Q1 shown in FIG. 2 will be described later.

[Image reader]
Next, the image reading apparatus 200 mounted on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 300 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading apparatus 200 viewed from the front. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading apparatus 200 as viewed from the right side. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing each component in the housing 214 of the image reading apparatus 200 from which the document conveying device 220 is removed. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the scanning unit 212 in the image reading apparatus 200. Since the section of the document placing glass 211a and the section of the document reading glass 211b have substantially the same configuration, FIGS. 5 and 7 show them in one drawing. Further, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the original G placed on the original placement glass 211a is being read.

  The image reading apparatus 200 includes a document conveying device 220 (see FIGS. 1 to 4) that automatically conveys the document G and also serves as a document pressing device of the image reading device main body 210 (see FIGS. 1 to 3). . The document conveying device 220 is opposite to the operation side which is the other side X2 of the main scanning direction X so that the operation side (front side) which is one side X1 in the main scanning direction X can be opened and closed with respect to the image reading apparatus main body 210. (Back side) is pivotally supported by an opening / closing shaft Q1 (see FIGS. 2 and 6).

  In the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 further includes a hinge part 230 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) that functions as a rotation support part that supports the document conveying apparatus 220 so as to be opened and closed.

  The hinge unit 230 is a pair of ones provided on one side Y1 and the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and is provided on the opposite side (back side) from the operation side of the image reading apparatus main body 210, respectively. The first hinge member 231 and the second hinge that is provided on the side opposite to the operation side (back side) of the document conveying device 220 and rotates with respect to the first hinge member 231 in the opening / closing direction W (see FIG. 1). And a member 232.

  Specifically, the first hinge member 231 is fixed to the image reading apparatus main body 210 by a fixing member (not shown) such as a screw. The second hinge member 232 is pivotally supported by the first hinge member 231 so as to be rotatable by an opening / closing axis Q1 along the sub-scanning direction Y. The second hinge member 232 is fixed to the document feeder 220 by a fixing member (not shown) such as a screw.

  In the image reading apparatus 200 having such a configuration, the first hinge member 231 provided in the document conveying apparatus 220 rotates with respect to the second hinge member 232 provided in the image reading apparatus main body 210, thereby conveying the document. The apparatus 220 opens and closes with respect to the image reading apparatus main body 210 on the front side.

  The image reading apparatus 200 further includes an operation panel 240 (see FIG. 6) provided on the front side. The operation panel 240 includes a liquid crystal display device, a keyboard, and the like. Display information such as an illustration, a message, and a display button for supporting the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device. In addition, a transparent touch-sensitive touch panel is overlaid on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device. When the operator's fingers touch display information such as display buttons displayed on the display screen, the touch position of the touch panel is displayed. Thus, the position of display information such as a display button on the display screen is detected. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 issues various commands to the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the image reading apparatus 200 by an operation by the operator to display information such as a display button on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device. It comes to direct.

  In addition, the image reading apparatus 200 includes a scanning unit 212 (including a transparent plate 211 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) that constitutes a reading reference surface of the document G and a light source 212 a that irradiates the document G through the transparent plate 211. 4 to FIG. 7), a reading unit 213 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) that receives reflected light reflected from the original G by light irradiation from the light source 212a and reads an image of the original G, a scanning unit 212, and A housing 214 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that accommodates the reading unit 213 and supports both ends of the transparent plate 211 in the main scanning direction X is further provided. The transparent plate 211, the scanning unit 212, the reading unit 213, and the housing 214 are provided in the image reading apparatus main body 210.

  In the present embodiment, the transparent plate 211 is a document placing glass 211a that functions as a first transparent plate for placing the document G on one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y orthogonal to the main scanning direction X (FIGS. 4 and 5). 6) and an original reading glass 211b (see FIGS. 4 and 6) that acts as a second transparent plate for reading the original G on the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b have the same thickness. In the present embodiment, the transparent plate 211 is divided into the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b, but the single plate (the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b are integrated). It may be.

  Specifically, the document placement glass 211a has a rectangular shape in which the width Ly1 (see FIG. 6) in the sub-scanning direction Y is larger than the width Lx1 (see FIG. 6) in the main scanning direction X, and the document reading glass 211b The width Ly2 (see FIG. 6) in the sub-scanning direction Y is a rectangular shape smaller than the width Lx2 (see FIG. 6) in the main scanning direction X. Here, the document reading glass 211b has a rectangular shape whose width in the sub-scanning direction Y is 1/10 or less of the width in the sub-scanning direction Y of the document placement glass 211a and whose width is readable. In FIG. 6 showing the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b, this ratio is shown to be larger than 1/10, but in reality, it is 1/10 or less. Further, the width Lx1 of the document placing glass 211a in the main scanning direction X and the width Lx2 of the document reading glass 211b in the main scanning direction X are the same length.

  The image reading apparatus 200 has a document fixed reading configuration and a document movement reading configuration. That is, in the document fixed reading configuration, the image of the document G placed on the document placement glass 211a while moving the scanning unit 212 to one side Y1 or the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y (here, one side Y1). Are scanned in the main scanning direction X and read by the reading unit 213 through the document placement glass 211a. In the document moving reading configuration, an image of the document G conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y so as to pass over the document reading glass 211b is read at a reading position α (here, a home position) below the document reading glass 211b (FIG. 4 and 6), the scanning unit 212 scans in the main scanning direction X and reads it by the reading unit 213 through the document reading glass 211b. Here, the home position refers to an initial position where the scanning unit 212 is stopped as an initial position by a position sensor 219 described later. The reading position α is the home position here, but may be a position different from the home position (for example, a position on the one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the home position). That is, the home position may be located on the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the reading position α.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 includes, as the reading unit 213, a lens array 213a (see FIGS. 4 and 7) that functions as an equal-magnification lens, and a CMOS that functions as an equal-magnification photoelectric conversion element (see FIG. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor: A line image sensor 213b (see FIGS. 4 and 7) such as a sensor, and the reflected light from the document G is applied to the line image sensor 213b by the lens array 213a. It is of the same-magnification optical system type using a contact image sensor (CIS) that is formed and read as a double image.

  Specifically, the scanning unit 212 constitutes a reading unit that integrally includes a reading unit 213 that is a contact image sensor (CIS).

Lens array 213a, the line image sensor 213b and the light source 212a is formed on a long elongated shape in the main scanning direction X. The light source 212a has a rod-like shape along the main scanning direction X, and irradiates the document G with light through the document placement glass 211a or the document reading glass 211b. The light source 212a is provided in the vicinity of the lens array 213a in the sub-scanning direction Y. Here, the light source 212a is a pair. Of the pair of light sources 212a and 121a, one light source 212a is provided in the vicinity of one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the lens array 213a, and the other light source 212a is in the sub-scanning direction Y of the lens array 213a. It is provided in the vicinity of the other side Y2.

  The lens array 213a condenses the reflected light from the document G on the line image sensor 213b as an equal-magnification image. The line image sensor 213b photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the original G received through the lens array 213a by light irradiation from the light source 212a to the original G, and outputs an analog image signal.

  In the reading unit 213 having such a configuration, the original G on the original placement glass 211a or the original reading glass 211b is irradiated with light by the light source 212a, and reflected light from the original G is collected on the line image sensor 213b by the lens array 213a. The original G is scanned in the main scanning direction X and read by the line image sensor 213b.

  Specifically, in the document fixed reading configuration of the image reading apparatus 200, the image reading apparatus main body 210 emits light to the document G placed on the document placing glass 211a so that the scanning unit 212 is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y. The image light reflected from the original G while being moved is read by the reading unit 213 in the main scanning direction X. In the reading unit 213, the image light read through the lens array 213a is converted into an electric signal as image data by the line image sensor 213b.

  Further, in the document moving reading configuration of the image reading device 200, as shown in FIG. 4, the document G placed on the document tray 221 is transported from the document tray 221 by the document transport device 220 by the pickup roller 222, and the document is scanned. The original G conveyed from the tray 221 is supplied to the original conveying path 224 one by one by the separation member 223, and the original G is read at the reading position α in a state where the leading edge of the original G is aligned by the registration roller 226 through the upstream conveying roller 225. The image reading apparatus main body 210 reads the image of the original G with the reading unit 213 at the reading position α. In the reading unit 213, the image light read through the lens array 213a is converted into an electric signal as image data by the line image sensor 213b. Further, the original G conveyed from the reading unit 213 by the downstream conveying roller 227 is discharged to the original discharge tray 229 by the original discharge roller 228.

  In the present embodiment, the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement) is provided at both ends in the main scanning direction X of the scanning unit 212 constituting the reading unit when the scanning unit 212 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y. Slidable contact portions 212c and 212c (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 5) that are in slidable contact with the transparent plate 211 in a state where a predetermined distance d (see FIG. 7) is present between the placement glass 211a and the original reading glass 211b) and the lens array 213a. 6).

  Specifically, the scanning unit 212 includes a storage case 212d (see FIGS. 4 to 7) that is formed in a long shape in the main scanning direction X and stores the pair of light sources 212a and the reading unit 213. The portions 212c and 212c project upward from the upper surfaces of the side end portions in the main scanning direction X of the storage case 212d. The sliding contact portions 212c and 212c extend along the width direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the storage case 212d, and the upper end portions of the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b). It has a curved surface shape that is convex upward so as to be in line contact with the lower surface 211c (see FIG. 5). The sliding contact portions 212c and 212c are integrally formed with the storage case 212d.

  Further, the scanning unit 212 is detected by a position sensor 219 that projects to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y and detects the home position (stop position) (here, the reading position α) of the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y. A detected piece 212g (see FIGS. 4 to 6) is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the housing 214 has a hexahedral box shape having an opening 214a whose upper surface is open. The casing 214 is provided with a pair of placement portions 214b and 214c (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for placing both ends of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  The pair of placement portions 214b and 214c are erected upward from the bottom surface 214d and extend in the sub-scanning direction Y. Of the pair of placement portions 214b and 214c, one placement portion 214b places the end portion on one side Y1 (operation side) in the sub-scanning direction Y of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b. The other placement portion 214c is provided on one side Y1, and the other placement portion 214c has an end on the other side Y2 (on the opposite side to the operation side) in the sub-scanning direction Y of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b. It is provided on the other side Y2 so as to be placed. The pair of placement portions 214b and 214c have placement surfaces 214e and 214e (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that are formed along the horizontal direction and on which the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b are placed. Yes. The pair of placement portions 214b and 214c are integrally formed with the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214.

  The image reading apparatus 200 further includes an upper cover member 215 that covers the peripheral portions of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b and closes the opening 214a of the housing 214.

  The upper cover member 215 includes a first guide portion 215a, a second guide portion 215b, and a third guide portion 215c (see FIG. 4), a fourth guide portion 215d, a fifth guide portion 215e, a sixth guide portion 215f, and a 7 guide part 215g (refer FIG. 5) is provided.

  The first guide portion 215a is configured to restrict the movement of the document placement glass 211a in one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y and upward. The second guide portion 215b regulates the movement of the other side Y2 and the upper side in the sub-scanning direction Y of the document placement glass 211a, and regulates the movement of the one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the document reading glass 211b. It has become. The third guide portion 215c regulates the movement of the original reading glass 211b in the sub-scanning direction Y on the other side Y2 and above.

  The fourth guide portion 215d and the fifth guide portion 215e regulate the movement of the original placing glass 211a and the original reading glass 211b in the main scanning direction X on the one side X1 and above, respectively. The sixth guide portion 215f and the seventh guide portion 215g regulate movement of the other side X2 and the upper side in the main scanning direction X of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b, respectively.

  The first guide portion 215a, the second guide portion 215b, the third guide portion 215c, the fourth guide portion 215d, the fifth guide portion 215e, the sixth guide portion 215f, and the seventh guide portion 215g are integrally formed with the upper cover member 215. ing.

  The upper cover member 215 is fitted to the casing 214 by fitting with the upper peripheral edge of the casing 214.

  The document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b are arranged so that the lower surfaces 211c (see FIG. 4) are flush with each other. The second guide portion 215b functions as a document guide portion that regulates the movement of the document G placed on the document placement glass 211a to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the document placement glass 211a and the document reading It is sandwiched between the glass 211b. The second guide portion 215b has a lower surface 215h (see FIG. 4) of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b from the viewpoint of smoothly sliding the sliding contact portions 212c and 212c of the scanning unit 212. It is formed so as to be flush with the lower surface 211c.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 includes a moving mechanism 216 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that moves the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and a driving unit 217 that drives the moving mechanism 216 (see FIGS. 5 and 5). 6).

  The moving mechanism 216 includes a guide member 216a, a pair of pulleys 216b and 216c, and an endless drive belt 216d.

  The guide member 216a is erected upward from the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214 and extends in the sub-scanning direction Y. The guide member 216a has a sliding mounting surface 216a1 that slidably mounts the back surface 212e (see FIG. 5) of the scanning unit 212 that is long in the main scanning direction X while guiding the back surface 212e in the sub scanning direction Y.

  Of the pair of pulleys 216b and 216c, one pulley 216b is a rotary shaft Q2 disposed along the vertical direction Z on the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214 at the end of one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y (see FIG. 6). The other pulley 216c is rotatably supported at the end Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y on the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214 along the vertical direction Z (see FIG. 6). ) Is rotatably supported.

  The drive belt 216d is stretched over a pair of pulleys 216b and 126c (see FIG. 6). The drive belt 216d is connected and fixed to a connection piece 212f (see FIG. 5) that protrudes downward from the back surface 212e of the scanning unit 212. Accordingly, the scanning unit 212 can reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction Y by rotating the pair of pulleys 216b and 216c and rotating the driving belt 216d.

  The drive unit 217 includes a drive motor 217a and a drive transmission mechanism 218 that transmits a drive force from the drive motor 217a to the movement mechanism 216.

  The drive motor 217a is fixed to a bottom surface 214d of the casing 214 with a fixing member such as a screw (not shown) so that the rotation axis Q4 faces downward.

  The drive transmission mechanism 218 includes a motor side drive gear 218a provided fixed to the rotation shaft Q4 of the drive unit 217, a pulley side drive gear 218b provided fixed to the rotation shaft Q3 of the other pulley 216c, and a housing. An intermediate drive gear 218c that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft Q5 (see FIG. 6) disposed on the bottom surface 214d of the body 214 along the vertical direction Z and meshes with the motor side drive gear 218a and the pulley side drive gear 218b. It has. As a result, the rotation shaft Q4 of the drive motor 217a rotates, whereby the other pulley 216c can be rotated via the motor side drive gear 218a, the intermediate drive gear 218c, and the pulley side drive gear 218b.

  In the image reading apparatus 200 having such a configuration, when the drive belt 216d rotates by the drive unit 217 and the drive transmission mechanism 218, the connection piece 212f connected and fixed to the drive belt 216d moves in the sub-scanning direction Y, and scanning. The reading unit 213 in the unit 212 is guided by sliding in the sub-scanning direction Y on the guide member 216a, and moves in the sub-scanning direction Y along the lower surfaces of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b. At this time, the rotation direction and rotation angle of the rotation shaft Q4 of the drive motor 217a are controlled. Thereby, the moving direction and moving distance of the scanning unit 212 can be controlled.

  As the scanning unit 212 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y, the back surface 212e is guided by the guide member 216a in the scanning unit 212, and the sliding contact portions 212c and 212c slide on the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b. By being moved, the reading unit 213 in the scanning unit 212 is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y while being positioned in the vertical direction Z with respect to the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b. Accordingly, the scanning unit 212 is arranged in the sub-scanning direction Y in a state where there is a distance d between the lens array 213a of the reading unit 213 that is a contact image sensor (CIS), the document placement glass 211a, and the document reading glass 211b. You can travel.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 further includes a position sensor 219 provided on the bottom surface 214 d of the housing 214.

  The position sensor 219 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) detects the detected piece 212g of the scanning unit 212 that moves to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y, whereby the home position (initial position) of the scanning unit 212 (here) Then, the reading position α) is detected. Here, the position sensor 219 is a light transmission type photosensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are opposed to each other. A detection signal detected by the position sensor 219 is input to a control unit (not shown). The control unit controls the operation of the reading unit 213 and the driving unit 217 according to various commands from the operation panel 240, so that the driving unit 217 controls the scanning unit 212 based on the detection position of the home position of the scanning unit 212 by the position sensor 219. While moving in the sub-scanning direction Y, the document fixing reading mode for reading the document G placed on the document placement glass 211 a by the reading unit 213 and the detection position of the home position of the scanning unit 212 by the position sensor 219. The document G transported onto the document reading glass 211b by the reading unit 213 in a state where the scanning unit 212 is positioned and stopped at the reading position α (here, the home position) below the document reading glass 211b by the driving unit 217. The document movement reading mode to be read is executed.

  In the image reading apparatus 200 having such a configuration, when the power is turned on, the driving unit 217 moves the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y to detect a home position (stop position) (here, the reading position α). Then, the scanning unit 212 is stopped at the reading position α below the document reading glass 211b, and enters a standby state.

  When reading an image of the original G in the original fixed reading mode, in the standby state, the operator opens the operation side of the original conveying device 220 that also serves as the original pressing device, and the original G is placed on the original placement glass 211a. Place the top of the original G on the second guide portion 215b that acts as the original guide portion to restrict the movement of the original G to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the original conveying device 220. Is closed and the operation panel 240 is operated to instruct the start of image formation.

  In the control unit instructed to start image formation from the operation panel 240, the scanning unit 212 stopped at the reading position α is moved from the reading position α to the lower side of the document placing glass 211 a by the driving unit 217 from the front end of the document G. While moving in the sub-scanning direction Y at a constant speed by a distance corresponding to the document size, the document G placed on the document placing glass 211a is repeatedly scanned in the main scanning direction X by the reading unit 213, and one main scan is performed. The image of the original G is read by outputting an analog image signal for each line.

  On the other hand, when reading the image of the original G in the original moving reading mode, the operator places the original G on the original tray 221 of the original conveying device 220 and sets the original G in the standby state, and operates the operation panel 240. Instructs start of image formation.

  In the control unit instructed to start image formation from the operation panel 240, the document conveying device 220 starts conveying the document G while the scanning unit 212 is stopped at the reading position α below the document reading glass 211b. . That is, the document G on the document tray 221 is pulled out one by one by the separation member 223 by the pickup roller 222 and conveyed to the upper surface of the document reading glass 211b through the document conveyance path 224 while the document reading is performed by the reading unit 213. The document G passing over the glass 211b is repeatedly scanned in the main scanning direction X, and an analog image signal for each main scanning line is output to read the image of the document G. Thereafter, the document G is guided from the upper surface of the document reading glass 211b to the document transport path 224 by the second guide unit 215b acting as a document guide unit, and is discharged to the document discharge tray 229 by the document discharge roller 228.

[About this embodiment]
By the way, as in the present embodiment, the sliding contact portions 212c and 212c of the scanning unit 212 are smoothly slidably contacted with the lower surface 211c of the original reading glass 211b and the original placing glass 211a and the lower surface 215h of the second guide portion 215b. Therefore, the casing 214 that houses the scanning unit 212 and the reading unit 213 has both ends in the sub-scanning direction Y among the outer peripheral edge portions of the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b). In the image reading apparatus 200 in which the portion is not supported and only both ends in the main scanning direction X are supported, an external force (for example, a document G such as a book by a user) is concentrated on a part of the transparent plate 211. If the weight of the user is added to the transparent plate 211, the transparent plate 211 is easily bent in the main scanning direction X in the direction in which pressure is applied.

  In the image reading apparatus 200, the scanning unit 212 may unnecessarily move to one side Y1 or the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y for some reason. For example, when the scanning unit 212 moving in the sub-scanning direction Y stops, the home position (stop position) (here, the reading position α) is overrun due to an electrical malfunction such as noise, so that the sub-scanning direction Y , Unnecessary driving to one side Y1 or the other side Y2 (here, the other side Y2) and other peripheral members (here, the driving motor 217a of the driving unit 217 for driving the scanning unit 212, the motor side driving gear 218a, the pulley) Side drive gear 218b, intermediate drive gear 218c, etc.). This causes a disadvantage that other peripheral members are damaged.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 supports the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) standing from the bottom surface 214d at a substantially central portion in the main scanning direction X of the housing 214. A portion 250 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided. Here, as the substantially central portion of the housing 214 in the main scanning direction X, a central portion that is equally divided into three in the main scanning direction X in the region corresponding to the transparent plate 211 of the housing 214 can be exemplified.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the support portion 250 in the image reading apparatus 200 as viewed obliquely from the upper left. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the support portion 250 in the image reading apparatus 200 as viewed obliquely from the upper right. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the support portion 250 of the image reading apparatus 200 as viewed from the front. 9 and 10 show a state in which the scanning unit 212 is in contact with the support unit 250.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the support portion 250 (here, the center side support portion 251 and the operation side support portion 252) has a restriction portion 250 a that restricts the movement of the scanning portion 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y. ing.

  According to the image reading apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment, the support portion 250 is erected from the bottom surface 214d at a substantially central portion in the main scanning direction X of the casing 214, and the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b). The external force (for example, the user presses the document G such as a book against the transparent plate 211 and the weight of the user) is concentrated on a part of the transparent plate 211 (here, the document reading glass 211b). Even so, the support plate 250 can make it difficult for the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) to bend in the pressure direction in which the pressure is applied along the main scanning direction X, and accordingly, the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass). The bending of the glass 211b) in the main scanning direction X can be suppressed, so that even if the scanning unit 212 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y, the scanning unit 212 Transparent plate 211 can be eliminated to suppress or interference with (where glass 211b read document), thus reads the document G good (especially reduce the decrease in resolution of the read image) it becomes possible. For example, step-out of the drive motor 217a in the drive unit 217 that moves the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y can be effectively prevented. Further, in the configuration in which the central positioning member is provided at the substantially central portion in the main scanning direction of the scanning portion as described in Patent Document 2, the load due to the bending of the transparent plate in the main scanning direction is applied to the scanning portion. In this embodiment, since the support portion 250 is erected on the housing 214, the load due to the bending of the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) in the main scanning direction X with respect to the scanning portion 212 is suppressed. It can be lost.

  In addition, since the support unit 250 includes the regulating unit 250a that regulates the movement of the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the scanning unit 212 unnecessarily moves in the sub-scanning direction Y for some reason. In some cases, for example, when the scanning unit 212 moving in the sub-scanning direction Y is stopped at the home position (stop position), the home position (stop position) is overrun due to an electrical malfunction such as noise. Even if there is, the support unit 250 can surely prevent the scanning unit 212 from moving in the sub-scanning direction Y (here, the other side Y2 where the other peripheral members of the scanning unit 212 are present). It is possible to effectively prevent collision of the unit 212 with other peripheral members (here, the drive unit 217 that drives the scanning unit 212), thereby avoiding damage to other peripheral members. It is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the support portion 250 includes an end portion on one side Y1 and an end portion on the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b). At least one of them (here, the end of the other side Y2 of the document reading glass 211b) is supported. The restricting portion 250a scans one side Y1 and the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y to the side (here, the other side Y2) where the support portion 250 supports the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b). The movement of the part 212 is restricted.

  Specifically, the support unit 250 supports the end of the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) on the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Specifically, the support portion 250 is provided on the other side Y2 of the housing 214 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The restricting unit 250a restricts the movement of the scanning unit 212 to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Note that, instead of or in addition to this configuration, the support portion 250 supports the end portion of the one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a). It may be. Specifically, the support part 250 may be provided on one side Y1 of the housing 214 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The restricting unit 250a may restrict the movement of the scanning unit 212 to the one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  In this specific matter, at least one of the end on one side Y1 and the end on the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b) By supporting the reading glass 211b on the other end Y2), the scanning unit 212 can reliably perform the image reading operation of the document G without being interrupted by the support unit 250.

  In particular, when the transparent plate 211 is a single one (the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b are integrated), the support portion 250 has an end on one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the transparent plate 211 and the other. One of the end portions of the transparent plate 211 in the sub-scanning direction Y is supported by supporting at least one of the end portions of the side Y2 (for example, both the end portion of the one side Y1 and the end portion of the other side Y2). A space for moving the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y can be secured between the end portion on the side Y1 and the end portion on the other side Y2, whereby the image reading operation of the document G can be performed in the scanning unit 212. It becomes possible to make it sure.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 200 is provided at the end of one side Y1 or the end of the other side Y2 (here, the end of the other side Y2) in the sub-scanning direction Y in the housing 214 for scanning. A driving unit 217 that moves the unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y is provided. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing the scanning unit 212 from colliding with the driving unit 217, the support unit 250 is provided so that the regulating unit 250a is positioned between the driving unit 217 and the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y. It has been.

  In this specific matter, the support portion 250 is provided so that the restricting portion 250a is positioned between the drive portion 217 and the scanning portion 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y, so that other peripheral portions are provided as in the present embodiment. Even when the driving unit 217 is provided as a member, the driving unit 217 of the scanning unit 212 (specifically, the driving motor 217a or the motor) is controlled by the regulating unit 250a positioned between the driving unit 217 and the scanning unit 212 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Side drive gear 218a, pulley side drive gear 218b, intermediate drive gear 218c, etc.) can be effectively prevented, and damage to the drive unit 217 can be avoided.

  In the present embodiment, the support unit 250 is a predetermined distance m (see FIG. 6) between the scanning unit 212 in a state (see FIG. 6) located at the home position (stop position) (here, the reading position α). 6).

  In this specific matter, even if the support unit 250 is provided with a predetermined distance m between the support unit 250 and the scanning unit 212 in a state of being in a home position (stop position) (here, the reading position α), scanning is performed. Even if the unit 212 moves unnecessarily in the sub-scanning direction Y for some reason, for example, when the scanning unit 212 moving in the sub-scanning direction Y stops, the home position is caused by an electrical malfunction such as noise. Even if the (stop position) (here, the reading position α) may be overrun, a margin can be given by a predetermined distance m, and the probability that the scanning unit 212 collides with the support unit 250 is reduced accordingly. Can do.

  By the way, when the one side X1 in the main scanning direction X is the operation side as in the present embodiment, the user operates the transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b). External force (for example, the user's weight by pressing the original G such as a book against the transparent plate 211) is easily applied on the side.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the support portion 250 is provided integrally with the housing 214 so as to extend from the substantially central portion in the main scanning direction X to the operation side.

  In this specific matter, since the support portion 250 is provided in the casing 214 so as to extend from the substantially central portion in the main scanning direction X to the operation side, an external force that is easily applied on the operation side on the one side X1 in the main scanning direction X. Can be reliably supported. Furthermore, since the support part 250 is provided integrally with the housing 214, the strength of the support part 250 can be improved.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the reading unit 213 is a contact image sensor including a lens array 213a having a relatively small depth of focus, and constitutes a reading unit in which the reading unit 213 is integrally provided. At both ends of the scanning unit 212 in the main scanning direction X, a transparent plate 211 (specifically, the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b) and a lens when the scanning unit 212 moves in the sub-scanning direction Y. When the sliding contact portions 212c and 212c that are in sliding contact with the transparent plate 211 are provided with a predetermined distance d between the array 213a and the array 213a, the external force applied to the transparent plate 211 without the support portion 250 is provided. As a result, the distance d between the transparent plate 211 and the lens array 213a is smaller at the center than at both ends in the main scanning direction X, and the resolution of the read image tends to decrease at the center.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, since the support portion 250 is provided, even if an external force is concentrated on a part of the transparent plate 211, the transparent plate 211 and the lens array having a relatively small depth of focus. The distance d (see FIG. 7) with respect to 213a can be made uniform or substantially uniform in the main scanning direction X, so that a reduction in the resolution of the read image at the center in the main scanning direction X can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the support portion 250 is in contact with the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) in a state where no load is applied from the upper side due to external force. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the support portion 250 is slightly bent (for example, the transparent plate 211 is bent) with respect to the transparent plate 211 (here, the original reading glass 211b) in a state where no load is applied from the upper side by an external force. However, it may be in a non-contact state with a gap (which does not affect the resolution due to the depth of focus of the lens array 213a).

  In the present embodiment, the support portion 250 (here, the operation side support portion 252) is integrally supported by a wall 214f (see FIGS. 6, 8, and 9) along the main scanning direction X of the housing 214. ing. The wall 214f is erected vertically or substantially vertically upward from the bottom surface 214d of the casing 214, and here is an outer peripheral wall.

  In this specific matter, the support portion 250 (here, the operation-side support portion 252) is integrally supported by the wall 214f along the main scanning direction X of the housing 214, so that the support portion 250 in the sub-scanning direction Y is supported. The strength of (here, the operation side support portion 252) can be improved.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the transparent plate 211 includes a document placing glass 211a that acts as a first transparent plate for placing the document G on one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the other in the sub-scanning direction Y. When divided into the original reading glass 211b that acts as a second transparent plate that reads the original G on the side Y2, if there is no support portion 250, the divided original placement glass 211a and the divided original placement glass 211a The original reading glass 211b is easily bent in the pressure direction along the main scanning direction X as compared with the case where the original placing glass 211a and the original reading glass 211b are integrated.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the support unit 250 supports at least one of the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b (here, the document reading glass 211b), whereby the document placing glass 211a and the document reading glass. It becomes possible to make it difficult to bend the transparent plate (original reading glass 211b in this case) of 211b supported by the support portion 250 in the pressure direction.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the document placing glass 211a has a rectangular shape in which the width Ly1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is larger than the width Lx1 in the main scanning direction X, and the document reading glass 211b is sub-scanned. When the width Ly2 in the direction Y is a rectangular shape smaller than the width Lx2 in the main scanning direction X, there is the following inconvenience without the support portion 250.

  That is, the document placement glass 211a has a rectangular shape in which the width Ly1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is larger than the width Lx1 in the main scanning direction X, and thus an external force is concentrated on a part of the document placement glass 211a. However, while the width Ly1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is larger than the width Lx1 in the main scanning direction X, the original reading glass 211b is not easily bent in the pressure direction along the main scanning direction X. Since the width Ly2 has a rectangular shape smaller than the width Lx2 in the main scanning direction X, when an external force is concentrated on a part of the document reading glass 211b, the width Ly2 in the sub-scanning direction Y is in the main scanning direction X. It becomes easier to bend in the pressure direction along the main scanning direction X by an amount smaller than the width Lx2. This is particularly noticeable when the width of the document reading glass 211b in the sub-scanning direction Y is 1/10 or less of the width of the document placement glass 211a in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the support unit 250 supports only the document reading glass 211b of the document placement glass 211a and the document reading glass 211b, thereby simplifying the configuration of the support unit 250 and the sub-scanning direction Y. The document reading glass 211b that is easily bent in the pressure direction along the main scanning direction X by an amount smaller than the width Lx2 in the main scanning direction X can be reliably prevented from being bent in the pressure direction. This is particularly effective when the width of the document reading glass 211b in the sub-scanning direction Y is 1/10 or less of the width of the document placement glass 211a in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  This embodiment will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the housing 214 is provided on at least one of the one side Y1 and the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y (here, the other side Y2). A plurality of support portions 250 are provided along the main scanning direction X on the bottom surface 214 d of the housing 214. Specifically, the support part 250 has a center side support part 251 and an operation side support part 252.

  The center side support portion 251 is formed in an L shape in plan view. Specifically, the center side support portion 251 includes a first support plate 251a along the sub-scanning direction Y at the center portion in the main scanning direction X, and one end Y1 end portion of the first support plate 251a in the sub-scanning direction Y. The second support plate 251b is connected to the one side X1 in the main scanning direction X at right angles or substantially right angles. In this configuration, the first support plate 251a can improve the strength of the central support portion 251 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the second support plate 251b can improve the strength of the central support portion 251 in the main scanning direction X. Can be improved.

  Further, the center side support portion 251 has a lower end portion provided on the bottom surface 214d of the casing 214 so as to surround the drive portion 217 (here, the drive motor 217a) at the corner portions of the first support plate 251a and the second support plate 251b. It has been. The second support plate 251b is a restriction portion 250a, and the side surface 251b1 opposite to the drive portion 217 is opposed to the scanning portion 212. Specifically, the first support plate 251a and the second support plate 251b are integrally formed with the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214.

  The operation side support portion 252 is formed in a shape (U shape) composed of three sides forming two right angles or substantially right angles in a plan view. Specifically, the operation side support portion 252 includes a first support plate 252a and a first support plate 252a along the sub-scanning direction Y on one side X1 (operation side) in the main scanning direction X with respect to the center side support portion 251. A second support plate 252b connected to one end Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y and one end X1 in the main scanning direction X at right angles or substantially right angles, and one side X1 in the main scanning direction X of the second support plate 252b. An end portion and a third support plate 252c connected to the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y at right angles or substantially right angles. In such a configuration, the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c can improve the strength of the operation side support portion 252 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the second support plate 252b can operate in the main scanning direction X. The strength of the side support portion 252 can be improved.

  Further, the operation side support portion 252 has the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the wall 214f of the casing 214, and the second support plate 252b is the wall of the casing 214. The end of the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y of the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c is provided on the wall 214f of the housing 214 so as to be parallel to or substantially parallel to 214f, and the first support plate 252a. The lower end portions of the second support plate 252b and the third support plate 252c are provided on the bottom surface 214d of the casing 214. The second support plate 251b is a restricting portion 250a, and the side surface 252b1 opposite to the wall 214f is opposed to the scanning portion 212. Specifically, the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c are integrally formed with the wall 214f of the housing 214, and the first support plate 252a, the second support plate 252b, and the third support plate 252c are formed with the housing 214. Are integrally formed with the bottom surface 214d.

  The center side support portion 251 and the operation side support portion 252 are arranged side by side along the main scanning direction X so that the side surfaces 251b1 and 252b1 of the restriction portion 250a are aligned with the main scanning direction X.

  In addition, inclined surfaces 251d and 251f (see FIGS. 8 to 10) are formed on the central support portion 251 from the viewpoint of improving the maintainability of the drive portion 217 such as replacement and cleaning. Specifically, the first support plate 251a is left with a first support surface 251c that supports the transparent plate 211 on one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the other side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y from the first support surface 251c. An inclined surface 251d that gradually becomes lower toward is formed. Further, the second support plate 251b is left with a second support surface 251e that supports the transparent plate 211 on the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X, and one side X1 (operation side) in the main scanning direction X from the second support surface 251e. ), An inclined surface 251f gradually lowering is formed.

  It should be noted that the height h1 from the housing reference surface (here, the back surface 214g) of the first support surface 251c of the first support plate 251a and the second support surface 251e of the second support plate 251b in the central support portion 251 (FIG. 5) has the same height in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the height h1 (see FIG. 5) from the housing reference surface (here, the back surface 214g) of the first support plate 252a, the second support plate 252b, and the third support plate 252c in the operation side support portion 252 is the longitudinal direction. In the same height. The height h1 of the center side support portion 251 and the height h1 of the operation side support portion 252 are the same height. Note that the housing reference surface is a surface parallel to the transparent plate 211 of the housing 214, and here is the back surface 214 g of the housing 214.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a front (operation) below the image reading apparatus 200 in order to secure a space for discharging the recording sheet P in the sheet discharging unit 340. A space is provided on one side Y1 or the other side Y2 (here, the other side Y2: left side) in the sub-scanning direction Y. For this reason, the housing 214 of the image reading apparatus 200 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 300 is downward on the one side Y1 or the other side Y2 (here, the other side Y2: left side) of the front (operation side) in the sub-scanning direction Y. Tend to bend easily.

  From this point of view, the image reading apparatus 200 has a reinforcing plate that improves the strength in the main scanning direction X at the end of one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y or the end of the other side Y2 (here, the end of the other side Y2). 260 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 to 10).

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the reinforcing plate 260 has an end portion on one side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y on the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214 or an end portion on the other side Y2 (here, an end portion on the other side Y2: On the left). The reinforcing plate 260 extends over the entire main scanning direction X of the housing 214.

  Specifically, the reinforcing plate 260 is a bar-shaped metal plate formed of metal and extending in the main scanning direction X here. Both ends of the reinforcing plate 260 in the main scanning direction X are provided on the bottom surface 214 d of the housing 214.

Specifically, the reinforcing plate 260 is positioned between the drive unit 217 and the wall 214f of the housing 214 on the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c in the operation side support unit 252. Are provided with grooves 252d and 252d (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The reinforcing plate 260 is positioned between the drive unit 217 and the wall 214f of the housing 214, and the short side direction is the vertical direction Z in the grooves 252d and 252d of the first support plate 252a and the third support plate 252c. is found fitted manner along with the fixed member SC such as a screw through the fixing portion 261 to the bottom surface 214d of the housing 214, it is provided to be fixed by the SC.

  In the image reading apparatus 200 having such a configuration, the reinforcing plate 260 is provided in the casing 214, whereby one side Y1 or the other side Y2 (here, the other side) of the sub-scanning direction Y in front of the casing 214 (operation side). Y2: left side) can be effectively prevented from being bent.

[Other Embodiments]
By the way, the case 214 may be in a state where the central portion in the main scanning direction X is bent toward the transparent plate 211 rather than the both ends due to component variations or the like.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of the support portion 250. FIG. 11A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the central portion of the housing 214 in the main scanning direction X is bent toward the transparent plate 211 side from both ends as viewed from the right side. FIG. 11B is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example of the support portion 250 applied from the right side when the casing 214 is bent toward the transparent plate 211 with respect to the center in the main scanning direction X. FIG. In FIG. 11, the bending of the housing 214 is exaggerated.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, in the state where the central portion of the housing 214 in the main scanning direction X is bent toward the transparent plate 211 side than both ends, the housing reference surface ( Here, when the height h1 from the back surface 214g) is the same as the height h2 from the housing reference surface (here, the back surface 214g) of the mounting portions 214b and 214c of the transparent plate 211, the support portion 250 is placed in a pair. It protrudes to the upper side in the height direction (vertical direction Z) from the portions 214b and 214c, and this causes the inconvenience that the transparent plate 211 is pressed upward in the height direction (vertical direction Z) by the support portion 250. Invite.

  From this point of view, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the support part 250 has both end portions in the main scanning direction X of the transparent plate 211 whose height h 1 from the housing reference surface (here, the back surface 214 g) of the housing 214. Is formed so as to be lower than the height h2 from the housing reference surface (here, the back surface 214g) of the pair of mounting portions 214b and 214c in the housing 214 that supports the housing 214. Even when the central portion in the main scanning direction X is bent toward the transparent plate 211 side than both ends, the support portion 250 is positioned at the same position as the pair of mounting portions 214b and 214c in the height direction (vertical direction Z) or It can be located below the pair of mounting portions 214b and 214c, and thus it is possible to avoid the pressing of the support portion 250 to the transparent plate 211 in the height direction (vertical direction Z). It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, the reading unit 213 includes a lens array 213a that functions as an equal magnification type lens and a line image sensor 213b that functions as an equal magnification type photoelectric conversion element. Although an equal magnification optical system type image reading apparatus using a contact image sensor (CIS) that reads reflected light by forming an image with the lens array 213a on the line image sensor 213b as an equal magnification image is adopted. A plurality of mirrors, a condensing lens that acts as a reduction type lens, and a line image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) that acts as a reduction type light source conversion element; The reflected light is guided to a condensing lens by a mirror, and is imaged as a reduced image on the line image sensor by the condensing lens and read. A reduction optical system type image reading apparatus may be employed.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

11 Photosensitive drum 12 Charger 13 Optical scanning device 14 Developing device 15 Transfer device 16 Drum cleaning device 17 Fixing device 100 Image forming device 151 Intermediate transfer belt 152 Intermediate transfer roller 153 Belt cleaning device 154 Secondary transfer device 154a Transfer roller 171 Heating Roller 172 Pressure roller 200 Image reading device 210 Image reading device main body 211 Transparent plate 211a Document placement glass (an example of a first transparent plate)
211b Document reading glass (an example of a second transparent plate)
211c Lower surface 212 Scanning unit 212a Light source 212c Sliding contact portion 212d Storage case 212e Back surface 212f Connection piece 212g Detected piece 213 Reading unit 213a Lens array 213b Line image sensor 214 Housing 214a Opening 214b One mounting unit 214c The other mounting unit Portion 214d bottom surface 214e placement surface 214f wall 214g back surface 215 upper cover member 215a first guide portion 215b second guide portion 215c third guide portion 215d fourth guide portion 215e fifth guide portion 215f sixth guide portion 215g seventh guide portion 215h Lower surface 216 Moving mechanism 216a Guide member 216a1 Sliding mounting surface 216b One pulley 216c The other pulley 216d Driving belt 217 Driving unit 217a Driving motor 218 Driving transmission mechanism 218a Motor side driving gear 218 Pulley side drive gear 218c Intermediate drive gear 219 Position sensor 220 Document transport device 221 Document tray 222 Pickup roller 223 Separating member 224 Document transport path 225 Upstream transport roller 226 Registration roller 227 Downstream transport roller 228 Document discharge roller 229 Document discharge tray 230 Hinge portion 231 First hinge member 232 Second hinge member 240 Operation panel 250 Support portion 250a Restriction portion 251 Center side support portion 251a First support plate 251b Second support plate 251b1 Side surface 251c First support surface 251d Inclined surface 251e Second support Surface 251f Inclined surface 252 Operation side support portion 252a First support plate 252b Second support plate 252b1 Side surface 252c Third support plate 252d Groove 260 Reinforcement plate 300 Image forming apparatus main body 310 Sheet supply portion 311 Paper feed cassette 3 2 Sheet supply roller section 320 Sheet conveyance section 321 Sheet conveyance path 322 Registration roller 323 Reverse path 324 Conveyance roller 325 Discharge roller 330 Image forming section 340 Sheet discharge section 341 Discharge tray G Document P Recording sheets Pa to Pd Image station Q1 Open / close axis Q2 Rotating shaft Q3 Rotating shaft Q4 Rotating shaft Q5 Rotating shaft SC Fixed member W Opening / closing direction X Main scanning direction X1 One side X2 Other side Y Sub scanning direction Y1 One side Y2 Other side Z Vertical direction h1 Height h2 Height m Distance α Reading position

Claims (9)

A transparent plate on which the document is placed;
A scanning unit having a light source for irradiating the original with light through the transparent plate;
A reading unit that receives reflected light reflected from the document by light irradiation from the light source and reads an image of the document;
A housing that accommodates the scanning unit and the reading unit and supports both ends of the transparent plate in the main scanning direction,
An image reading apparatus that reads an image of the document placed on the transparent plate while moving the scanning unit in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
A support portion that stands from the bottom in the main scanning direction of the housing and supports the transparent plate;
A drive unit that is provided at one end or the other end in the sub-scanning direction in the housing and moves the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is located between the driving unit and the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction and is within a width of the scanning unit in the main scanning direction . The image reading apparatus according to claim 1,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support unit includes a regulating unit that regulates movement of the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The support portion supports at least one of an end portion on one side and an end portion on the other side in the sub-scanning direction of the transparent plate,
The image reading apparatus, wherein the restricting portion restricts movement of the scanning portion to one side and the other side in the sub-scanning direction to the side where the support portion supports the transparent plate. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is provided at a predetermined distance from the scanning unit in a state of being in a home position. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
The transparent plate is divided into a first transparent plate for placing the document on one side in the sub-scanning direction and a second transparent plate for reading the document on the other side in the sub-scanning direction,
The image reading apparatus, wherein the support part supports at least one of the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A fixing member for fixing the driving unit;
The image reading apparatus, wherein the fixing member is in contact with the support portion. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
One side of the main scanning direction is an operation side,
The supporting part includes an image reading apparatus characterized by being provided integrally with a substantially central portion that put in the main scanning direction in the housing so as to extend in the operating side. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The support portion has a height from a housing reference surface parallel to the transparent plate that is lower than a height of the mounting portion of the housing that supports the both end portions of the transparent plate from the housing reference surface. An image reading apparatus that is formed as described above. An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images