JP6314606B2 - Sheet transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus.

  In an image reading apparatus equipped with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as ADF), a configuration is proposed in which when the upper cover is opened, the cover is used as both a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In the case of the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the upper surface of the apparatus is configured by three covers (hereinafter referred to as a left cover, a center cover, and a right cover) arranged in the left-right direction in the drawing. Of these three covers, the center cover is configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction in the vicinity of the left end of the center cover. When the center cover is closed, the document supply port and the document discharge port are covered by the center cover, and the left cover, the center cover, and the right cover constitute a flat exterior surface on the upper surface of the apparatus. When the center cover is opened, the center cover can support the document on a support surface on the side opposite to the exterior surface, and serves as both a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray.

JP 2012-126530 A

  By the way, it is preferable that the above-mentioned center cover can be opened and closed smoothly. Therefore, some play may be secured on the support shaft and the bearing that rotatably support the center cover. In this case, the center cover can be slightly displaced in the front-rear direction within a tolerance range.

  However, if the center cover is displaced in the front-rear direction when the center cover is closed, the front end of the left cover may be displaced from the front end of the center cover, resulting in a problem of poor appearance. In particular, when the left cover is also configured to be rotatable, if the left cover is configured to be slightly displaceable in the front-rear direction within a tolerance range, one of the left cover and the center cover is the most. When the lens is displaced forward and the other is displaced most rearward, the above-described deviation increases and the influence on the appearance also increases.

  Further, in addition to the above-described front-rear direction shift, there is a possibility that a vertical shift occurs between the right end of the left cover and the left end of the center cover. For this reason, when such a vertical shift occurs, there is a problem that the appearance is further deteriorated.

  In view of the above circumstances, a sheet conveying apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of misalignment that impairs the appearance even when some play is secured in the support shaft and the bearing when the cover that can be opened and closed is configured is provided. It is desirable.

A sheet conveying apparatus described below includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet along a predetermined conveying path, and a support unit that supports a sheet supplied to the conveying unit or a sheet discharged from the conveying unit, Having a first exterior surface and a first support surface opposite to the first exterior surface, and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a predetermined first axis, In the closed position, a part of the exterior is configured with the first exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus, and in the open position, the first support surface functions as a first support that supports the sheet, and a part of the support portion A first cover that constitutes the first cover, and a second exterior surface, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the first cover on the opposite side of the first axis across the center position of the first cover, The second cover that constitutes a part of the exterior with the second exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus In the second cover, an edge portion that is recessed toward the inside of the apparatus from the second exterior surface and forms a step with the second exterior surface is formed at the end portion on the first cover side. When the first cover is in the closed position, the edge of the first cover is overlapped with the outer side of the device at the edge, and the first support surface side of the first cover And a positioning mechanism including a projecting portion protruding in a direction away from the first support surface and a hole or notch formed in the edge portion, and the first cover is in the closed position In this case, the first cover and the second cover are relatively positioned in a direction parallel to the first axis line when the protruding portion enters the hole or notch.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, when the first cover is in the closed position, the protruding portion enters the hole or the notch in the positioning mechanism as described above. At this time, the inner wall surface defining the hole or the notch and the projecting portion mutually restrict displacement in a direction parallel to the first axis, whereby the first cover and the second cover are connected to the first axis. Positioned relatively in parallel directions. Therefore, in order to smoothly rotate the first cover, even if the first cover is supported in a state that can be displaced somewhat in the direction parallel to the first axis, when the first cover is displaced to the closed position, The first cover and the second cover are properly positioned. Therefore, the appearance of the first cover and the second cover can be improved.

  Further, since the edge portion and the first cover in the closed position overlap, the first cover and the second cover are also positioned in the vertical direction. Therefore, unlike the case where such an edge is not provided, the first cover and the second cover can be prevented from shifting in the vertical direction, and the appearance of the first cover and the second cover can be improved. it can. In addition, the edge supports the end of the first cover from the inside of the apparatus. Therefore, even if the first cover is pressed from the first exterior surface side, the pressing force can be supported by the edge portion. Therefore, the strength of the first cover can be improved.

The sheet conveying apparatus as described above may further include the following configuration.
First, in the above-described sheet conveying apparatus, the protruding portion is configured to function as a stopper that suppresses the sheet from dropping off from the first support surface when the first cover is in the open position. May be.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the first cover and the second cover can be positioned at the portion that functions as the stopper as described above when the first cover is in the open position. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide the positioning projecting portion and the stopper separately, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

Further, the above-described sheet conveying apparatus has a second support surface, and when the first cover is in the closed position, the second support surface is covered with the first cover, and the first cover is When in the open position, the second support surface that exposes the second support surface and supports the sheet with the second support surface, thereby configuring the support portion together with the first support surface; and A pair of contact surfaces capable of contacting each of both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet supported by the second support surface, and sliding between the pair of contact surfaces by sliding in the width direction; A side guide configured to be able to change the interval, and when the first cover is in the closed position, the projecting portion extends to the position where the interval between the pair of contact surfaces is minimized. The projecting portions are in contact with the pair of contacts even when the It may be provided in a position to fit in between the surfaces.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the protruding portion is fitted between the pair of contact surfaces regardless of the position of the side guide, and the side guide and the protruding portion interfere with each other. Can be suppressed.

  The sheet conveying device includes a pair of extending portions extending from the pair of side guides to the side between the pair of contact surfaces with a space between the second support surface. And one of the sheet supplied to the transport unit and the sheet discharged from the transport unit is supported by the second support surface and the other is supported by the extension unit, The pair of extension portions is a first interval in which the distance between the pair of extension portions is a first interval in a state where the side guide is slid to a position where the interval between the pair of extension portions is minimized. And a second range that is a second interval larger than the first interval, and the protruding portion is between the pair of extending portions when the first cover is in the closed position. The side guide was slid to the position where the interval of Even in state, the projecting portion in the second range may be configured to provided in a position to fit between the pair of extending portions.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the protruding portion is accommodated between the pair of extending portions regardless of the position of the side guide. Therefore, it can suppress that an extension part and a projecting part interfere. In the first range, the distance between the pair of extending portions is smaller than that in the second range. Therefore, even when the width direction dimension of the sheet is small, the sheet can be firmly supported in a larger area in the first range where the distance between the extending portions is small. Also, unlike the case where the same distance as the second range is secured in the first range, when the side guide is slid to a position where the distance between the pair of extending portions is maximized, It can suppress that the space | interval between the extension parts expands excessively. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the sheet from being bent so as to enter such an interval as compared with the case where the interval between the extending portions is excessive.

  In the first cover, the above-described sheet conveying device applies a fingertip to the end portion on the second cover side when the first cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position. A notch-shaped handle that can be formed may be formed.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the first cover can be displaced from the closed position by hooking the fingertip on the handle portion. Therefore, the operability when opening the first cover can be improved compared to the case where the similar handle portion is not provided.

  Further, in the above-described sheet conveying apparatus, the protruding portion is provided at a position on both sides in the width direction with the handle portion interposed therebetween, and a pair of protrusions protruding in a direction away from the first support surface at the position. The distance in the width direction between the pair of protrusions is greater than the width dimension of the handle portion between the base ends, and the distance between the base ends to the tip is between the base ends. You may be comprised so that it may expand toward the side.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the distance between the pair of protrusions is increased toward the tip side. Therefore, when the handle portion is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first exterior surface of the first cover, the pair of protrusions are hidden behind the first cover. Therefore, each protrusion is difficult to see from the outside, and the appearance is improved.

Next, a sheet conveyance device described below includes a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path, and a support unit that supports a sheet supplied to the conveyance unit or a sheet discharged from the conveyance unit. And having a first exterior surface and a first support surface opposite to the first exterior surface, and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a predetermined first axis. In the closed position, a part of the exterior is configured with the first exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus, and in the open position, the support portion functions as a first support that supports the sheet on the first support surface. A first cover that constitutes a part of the first cover, and a second exterior surface, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the first cover on the opposite side of the first axis across the center position of the first cover. A second part of the exterior is configured with the second exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus at the position. A cover, and at the end on the first cover side, an edge that is recessed toward the inside of the apparatus than the second exterior surface and forms a step with the second exterior surface is formed. When the first cover is in the closed position, the first support surface of the first cover is configured such that an end portion of the first cover is overlapped with an outer side of the device at the edge portion. Provided on the side and projecting in a direction away from the first support surface, and a second projecting provided on the edge and projecting from the edge in a direction approaching the first axis. A positioning mechanism including a first projection portion and the second projection portion, and one of the projection portions and the other projection portion includes a pair of projections. And when the first cover is in the closed position, the other protrusion is inserted between the pair of protrusions. By writing, for the first direction parallel to the axis, the second cover and the first cover is configured to be relatively positioned.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, when the first cover is in the closed position, the other protruding portion enters between the pair of protrusions in the positioning mechanism as described above. At this time, the pair of projections and the other projecting portion restrict displacement in a direction parallel to the first axis, whereby the first cover and the second cover are relatively relative to each other in the direction parallel to the first axis. Is positioned. Therefore, in order to smoothly rotate the first cover, even if the first cover is supported in a state that can be displaced somewhat in the direction parallel to the first axis, when the first cover is displaced to the closed position, The first cover and the second cover are properly positioned. Therefore, the appearance of the first cover and the second cover can be improved.

  Further, since the edge portion and the first cover in the closed position overlap, the first cover and the second cover are also positioned in the upper limit direction. Therefore, unlike the case where such an edge is not provided, the first cover and the second cover can be prevented from shifting in the vertical direction, and the appearance of the first cover and the second cover can be improved. it can. In addition, the edge supports the end of the first cover from the inside of the apparatus. Therefore, even if the first cover is pressed from the first exterior surface side, the pressing force can be supported by the edge portion. Therefore, the strength of the first cover can be improved.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus as described above, the first projecting portion functions as a stopper that suppresses the sheet from dropping off from the first support surface when the first cover is in the open position. It may be configured.

  According to the sheet conveying apparatus configured as described above, the first cover and the second cover can be positioned at the portion that functions as the stopper as described above when the first cover is in the open position. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the positioning first projecting portion and the stopper separately, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the reading unit in a state where the center cover is in the closed position. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the reading unit with the center cover in the open position. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the ADF unit with the center cover in the closed position. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the reading unit with the center cover in the open position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the positional relationship of a center cover and a right cover. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the left cover. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the center cover. It is sectional drawing of the ADF unit in the cut location shown by the VI-VI line in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the VII part shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the positional relationship of a side guide and a protrusion part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating embodiment with which the positioning mechanism containing a 1st protrusion part and a 2nd protrusion part was provided instead of the positioning mechanism containing a notch and a protrusion part.

Next, an exemplary embodiment of the above-described sheet conveying apparatus will be described.
[Configuration of MFP]
A multifunction machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration corresponding to an example of the above-described sheet conveying apparatus. In the following description, in order to briefly explain the relative positional relationship between the respective parts constituting the multi-function device 1, the vertical and horizontal directions are also shown in the figure (FIGS. 2 to 9). The explanation will be made using each direction. Among these directions, the up and down direction is the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane when the multifunction device 1 is installed on the horizontal plane, the front is the direction in which the operation panel 14 described later is directed, the rear is the opposite direction of the front, and the left and right directions are the above This is the left-right direction when the multifunction device 1 is viewed from the front. In addition, since the direction of the movable part or the like can be changed, the direction shown in the drawing is not always maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a main body unit 2 and a reading unit 3. An opening (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of the main unit 2. The reading unit 3 is attached to the upper part of the main unit 2 and is configured to be displaceable between a closed position and an open position. When the reading unit 3 is in the closed position, the opening of the main unit 2 is closed by the reading unit 3. When the reading unit 3 is in the open position, the opening of the main unit 2 is opened. In addition, it is comprised through this opening part so that maintenance of the component accommodated in the main body unit 2 etc. can be implemented. The reading unit 3 includes an FB unit 5 and an ADF unit 6 (corresponding to an example of a sheet conveying device in this specification). The structures of the FB unit 5 and the ADF unit 6 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main unit 2 is provided with a control unit 11. The control unit 11 includes a known CPU 11A, ROM 11B, RAM 11C, NVRAM 11D, interface unit 11E, and the like. The CPU 11A executes a predetermined process according to a control program stored in the ROM 11B or the RAM 11C, and thereby controls each part of the multifunction device 1.

  As an object to be controlled by the control unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a LAN communication unit 13, an operation panel 14, an image sensor 15, a motor 16, a motor 17, a sheet detection sensor 18, and the like are provided. Among these, the image forming unit 12, the LAN communication unit 13, and the operation panel 14 are provided in the main unit 2. The image sensor 15 and the motor 16 are provided in the FB unit 5. The motor 17 and the sheet detection sensor 18 are provided in the ADF unit 6.

  The image forming unit 12 is configured to be able to form an image by an inkjet method on a recording medium such as cut paper. More specifically, the image forming unit 12 includes a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium, a recording head for ejecting ink, a drive mechanism for reciprocating the recording head, and the like. However, since these are well-known configurations, further explanation and illustration are omitted. Note that the image forming unit 12 may be configured to be able to form an image by electrophotography.

  The LAN communication unit 13 includes a communication interface device compatible with a wireless LAN and a communication interface device compatible with a wired LAN. The operation panel 14 is an input device (for example, a touch panel, various buttons, and switches) that is operated when the user gives various commands to the multifunction device 1, and an operation state of the multifunction device 1. Output device (for example, a liquid crystal display device and various lamps).

  The image sensor 15 is a one-dimensional image sensor including a plurality of reading elements arranged in one direction. In the case of this embodiment, a contact image sensor (CIS) is adopted. The motor 16 is a power source for moving the image sensor 15 in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction with the arrangement direction of the reading elements of the image sensor 15 as the main scanning direction. The motor 17 is a power source for conveying the sheet in the ADF unit 6. The sheet detection sensor 18 is a sensor that detects that the leading end and the trailing end in the transport direction of the sheet transported by the ADF unit 6 have passed a predetermined detection position.

  As the sheet detection sensor 18, in the case of the present embodiment, a contact type sensor that switches on and off depending on whether or not the sheet being conveyed is in contact is employed. However, whether or not to use a contact type sensor is arbitrary, and a sensor that can detect in a non-contact manner that the leading end or the trailing end in the transport direction of the sheet has passed a predetermined detection position may be used. For example, an optical sensor capable of detecting whether the sheet being conveyed is in a state of blocking the optical path, an optical sensor capable of detecting whether light is reflected by the sheet being conveyed, or the like can be used. .

[Details of reading unit]
Next, the structure of the reading unit 3 will be described in more detail. In the reading unit 3, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ADF unit 6 includes a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path (refer to a path indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2B). The conveyance part 20 which conveys is provided. The transport unit 20 includes a suction roller 21, a separation roller 22A, a separation piece 22B, a relay roller 23A, a relay pinch roller 23B, a reverse roller 24A, a first reverse pinch roller 24B, a second reverse pinch roller 24C, and the like. .

  On the upper surface of the ADF unit 6, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2 B, 3 A, and 3 B, a central cover 26 (the first cover referred to in this specification) The left cover 27 (corresponding to an example of the second cover in this specification) and the right cover 28 are provided. Among these, the center cover 26 is rotatably supported by a shaft support portion 26A near the right end of the center cover 26 in FIG. 2A (the center of rotation by the shaft support portion 26A is referred to as the first in this specification). Equivalent to an example of a single axis.) Thus, the center cover 26 is configured to be displaceable between the closed position shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A and the open position shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B. ing. Any one of the support shaft and the bearing constituting the shaft support portion 26 </ b> A may be provided on the center cover 26 and the other provided on the housing 6 </ b> A of the ADF unit 6. When the central cover 26 is in the closed position, the central cover 26 constitutes a part of the exterior of the upper surface of the apparatus with the exterior surface 26B (corresponding to an example of the first exterior surface in this specification) facing the outside of the apparatus. A fingertip can be applied to the end of the center cover 26 on the left cover 27 side (the left side in FIG. 2A) when the center cover 26 is rotated from the closed position to the open position. A notch-shaped handle portion 29 is formed. When the center cover 26 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the fingertip can be hooked on the handle portion 29 to perform an opening / closing operation.

The left cover 27 is disposed at a position adjacent to the center cover 26 on the opposite side (right side in FIG. 2A) to the shaft support 26A across the center position of the center cover 26. The left cover 27 is rotatably supported by a shaft support portion 27A located near the left end of the left cover 27 in FIG. Any one of the support shaft and the bearing constituting the shaft support portion 27 </ b> A may be provided on the left cover 27 and the other provided on the housing 6 </ b> A of the ADF unit 6. 2A and 3A show a state where the left cover 27 is in the closed position. When the left cover 27 is in the closed position, the left cover 27 faces the exterior surface 27B (corresponding to an example of a second exterior surface in this specification) toward the outside of the apparatus, and the upper surface of the apparatus together with the exterior surface 26B of the center cover 26. Part of the exterior. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, if the left cover 27 is rotated to an open position, the conveyance part 20 will be exposed. When a sheet is jammed in the conveyance unit 20, the left cover 27 can be rotated to the open position to remove the jammed sheet.

  The right cover 28 is rotatably supported by a shaft support 28A near the right end of the right cover 28 in FIG. Accordingly, the right cover 28 is configured to be displaceable between a first position shown in FIG. 2A and a second position shown in FIG. Any one of the support shaft and the bearing constituting the shaft support portion 28 </ b> A may be provided on the right cover 28 and the other provided on the housing 6 </ b> A of the ADF unit 6. When the right cover 28 is in the first position, the right cover 28 faces the exterior surface 28B to the outside of the apparatus, and the exterior surface 26B of the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 cover a part of the exterior of the upper surface of the apparatus together with the exterior surface 27B. Configure. When the right cover 28 is in the second position, the right cover 28 is rotated around the shaft support portion 28A and the end portion on the center cover 26 side (the end portion on the left end side in FIG. 2B) is lowered. Thus, interference with the center cover 26 that is displaced to the open position is avoided.

  Of the periphery of the center cover 26, an edge portion 26C is formed at the end portion on the shaft support portion 26A side (the right side in FIG. 2A). The edge 26C is shaped to be recessed toward the inside of the apparatus from the exterior surface 26B when the central cover 26 is in the closed position (see FIG. 2A), and forms a step between the exterior surface 26B. It is configured. When the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the right cover 28 is in the first position, and the end of the right cover 28 (the left end in FIG. 2A) is located outside the device at the edge 26C. It is in a state of being overlaid. The thickness of the end portion of the right cover 28 and the thickness of the step between the edge portion 26C and the exterior surface 26B are approximately the same. Thereby, the exterior surface 26B of the center cover 26 and the exterior surface 28B of the right cover 28 are arranged flush with each other, and the two exterior surfaces 26B and 28B constitute a flat surface without a step between them.

  The right cover 28 has a center of gravity on the left side in FIG. 2 (A) rather than the shaft support portion 28A on the right end side in FIG. 2 (A). Therefore, the right cover 28 is always biased in the direction in which the left end side descends due to its own weight, but the right cover 28 is held in the first position as long as the center cover 26 is in the closed position. On the other hand, when an operation from the user is received, the center cover 26 is displaced from the closed position P0 to the open position P3 through the intermediate positions P1 and P2, as shown in FIG. When the center cover 26 moves from the closed position P0 to an intermediate position P1, the right cover 28 rotates by its own weight, follows the center cover 26, and maintains contact with the center cover 26 while maintaining the second position. (Position shown in FIG. 4). Thereafter, when the central cover 26 moves from the midway position P1 to the open position P3 via the midway position P2, the right cover 28 is maintained in the second position, and the central cover 26 is separated from the right cover 28. To do. When the center cover 26 is displaced from the open position P3 to the closed position P0, the edge portion 26C of the center cover 26 abuts on the right cover 28 at the intermediate position P1. Thereafter, while the center cover 26 is displaced from the intermediate position P1 to the closed position P0, the center cover 26 is displaced to the closed position P0 while maintaining the contact between the center cover 26 and the right cover 28. The right cover 28 receives the force acting from the center cover 26 and is displaced to the first position.

When the center cover 26 is in the open position, the center cover 26 constitutes a part of the support unit 30 that supports the sheet supplied to the transport unit 20 and the sheet discharged from the transport unit 20. More specifically, the central cover 26 functions as the first support 31 that supports the sheet with the first support surface 31A on the back side of the exterior surface 26B when in the open position (hereinafter, the center cover 26 is The cover 26 is also referred to as a first support 31). In the state where the center cover 26 is in the closed position, a second support body 32 having a second support surface 32A is disposed at a position below the center cover 26. The first support body 31 and the second support body 32 constitute the support section 30 described above.

  Side guides 33 and 34 are provided on the second support 32. The side guides 33 and 34 have a pair of abutment surfaces 33A and 34A that can abut on both ends in the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet supported by the second support surface 32A. The side guides 33 and 34 are configured to be able to change the interval between the pair of contact surfaces 33A and 34A by sliding in the width direction of the seat (the front-rear direction in FIG. 3B). Yes. More specifically, the side guides 33 and 34 are configured to slide in the opposite direction to the other in conjunction with one. Therefore, when changing the distance between the pair of side guides 33 and 34, the user can slide the two side guides 33 and 34 in the direction in which both sides approach each other or in the direction in which both sides move away from each other.

  The side guides 33 and 34 are provided with extending portions 35 and 36 that extend substantially horizontally from the upper ends of the side guides 33 and 34 in directions opposite to each other. A sheet to be conveyed is set below the extending portions 35 and 36. In this state, the contact surfaces 33A and 34A are brought into contact with the end surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the sheet, thereby restricting the sheet setting position and the sheet conveyance direction on the second support surface 32A. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of skew in the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 20. The sheet set below the extending portions 35 and 36 is conveyed along a conveyance path indicated by a broken line in FIG. At that time, the sheets fed from the second support 32 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the suction roller 21 are separated one by one by the separation roller 22A and the separation piece 22B. The separated sheet is sent out downstream in the conveying direction by the relay roller 23A. The leading edge position and the trailing edge position of the sheet sent out by the relay roller 23 </ b> A are detected with the contact with the sheet detection sensor 18. The sheet that has passed through the contact point with the sheet detection sensor 18 is further conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the reverse roller 24A. As a result, the sheet passes through the upper portions of the extension portions 35 and 36 and is discharged onto the support portion 30 constituted by the second support body 32 or the first support body 31.

  The FB unit 5 is provided with a platen 39, a guide rail 41, a carriage 43, and the like. The platen 39 is a transparent glass plate that constitutes a support surface that supports the reading object on the upper surface of the FB unit 5. The guide rail 41 is integrally formed on the bottom inner surface of the housing 5A of the FB unit 5, and extends in the left-right direction in FIG. 2B in a state parallel to the lower surface of the platen 39. . The carriage 43 is attached to the upper side of the guide rail 41 so as to be supported so as to be capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction along the guide rail 41. The carriage 43 is connected to an endless toothed belt (not shown). When the toothed belt is circulated and driven by the motor 16 (see FIG. 1), the carriage 43 follows the toothed belt. Is configured to reciprocate in the left-right direction.

In the image sensor 15, the main scanning direction is the front-rear direction in FIG. 2A (that is, the direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the up-down direction shown in FIG. 2A), and The reading element is mounted on the carriage 43 in a state of being directed upward. As a result, when the carriage 43 reciprocates in the left-right direction, the image sensor 15 moves in the sub-scanning direction together with the carriage 43. When reading the image of the sheet placed on the upper surface of the platen 39, the image sensor 15 reads the image while moving together with the carriage 43. Further, when reading the image of the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit 20, the sheet passes while contacting the upper surface of the platen 39 at a position between the relay roller 23 </ b> A and the reverse roller 24 </ b> A. Below the contact point, the image sensor 15 stands still and reads an image of the sheet through the platen 39.

[Center cover and left cover positioning mechanism]
Next, the positioning mechanism for the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 will be described. In the left cover 27 described above, an edge portion 27C is formed at the end of the central cover 26 side (the right side in FIG. 2A) as shown in FIG. The edge portion 27C is shaped to be recessed toward the inside of the apparatus from the exterior surface 27B, and is configured to form a step between the exterior surface 26B. When the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the end portion of the center cover 26 (the left end portion in FIG. 2A) is in a state of being superimposed on the outer side of the apparatus at the edge portion 27C. The thickness of the end portion of the central cover 26 and the thickness of the step between the edge portion 27C and the exterior surface 27B are approximately the same. Thereby, the exterior surface 26B of the center cover 26 and the exterior surface 27B of the left cover 27 are disposed flush with each other, and the two exterior surfaces 26B and 27B constitute a flat surface without a step between them. That is, when the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the exterior surface 26B forms a flat surface without a step with respect to both the exterior surfaces 27B and 28B of the left cover 27 and the right cover 28 on both sides.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, a protruding portion 53 having a pair of protrusions 53A and 53B protruding in a direction away from the first support surface 31A is provided on the first support surface 31A side of the center cover 26. ing. As shown in FIG. 2B, the protruding portion 53 functions as a stopper that suppresses the sheet from dropping off from the first support surface 31A when the center cover 26 is in the open position. A notch 55 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction of the edge portion 27C of the left cover 27 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the notch 55 constitutes a positioning mechanism 57 together with the protruding portion 53 described above when the center cover 26 is in the closed position. In FIG. 6, the ADF unit 6 is illustrated, and the illustration of the FB unit 5 is omitted. The positioning mechanism 57 is a mechanism for positioning the relative position of the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 in the front-rear direction by the protruding portion 53 entering the inside of the notch 55.

  Projections 61 and 62 are formed on the front side of the projection 53A and the rear side of the projection 53B, respectively. The notch 55 has a shape defined by inner wall surfaces 551, 552, and 553 on the front side, the rear side, and the left side of the notch 55, respectively, and the right side of the notch 55 is open. When the central cover 26 is in the closed position, the protrusion 61 contacts the front inner wall surface 551 of the notch 55, and the protrusion 62 contacts the rear inner wall surface 552 of the notch 55. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner wall surfaces 551 and 552 have inclined guide surfaces 551A and 552A and positioning surfaces 551B and 552B, respectively. Further, the ridges 61 and 62 have inclined guide surfaces 61A and 62A and positioning surfaces 61B and 62B, respectively.

  Even if the relative position between the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 is somewhat displaced in the front-rear direction when the protruding portion 53 enters the inside of the notch 55, in that case, the inclined guide surface 551A The inclined guide surface 61A abuts, or the inclined guide surface 552A and the inclined guide surface 62A abut. As a result, when the projecting portion 53 is further pushed into the inside of the notch 55, the two slide smoothly along the inclined guide surfaces that are in contact with each other, and the relative position of each other is corrected in the front-rear direction. The As a result, the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 are guided to an appropriate relative position, and finally the position where the positioning surface 551B and the positioning surface 61B face each other, and the position where the positioning surface 552B and the positioning surface 62B face each other. Fits in. Each of these positioning surfaces 551B, 552B, 61B, and 62B is a surface in which the normal direction faces the direction parallel to the axis that is the rotation center of the central cover 26 (the front-rear direction in FIG. 7). Therefore, the positioning surfaces 551B, 552B, 61B, and 62B face each other as described above, so that the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 are positioned at the positions as designed in the front-rear direction.

  The pair of protrusions 53A and 53B constituting the protruding portion 53 are provided at positions on both sides of the width direction of the sheet (the front-rear direction in FIG. 5B) with the handle portion 29 interposed therebetween. It protrudes in a direction away from the first support surface 31A. The distance in the width direction between the pair of protrusions 53A and 53B is equal to or greater than the width W1 of the handle portion 29 between the base ends of the protrusions 53A and 53B (between the upper ends in FIG. 7) (same as the dimension W1 in FIG. 7). Dimension.) Between the distal ends of the projections 53A and 53B (between the lower ends in FIG. 7), the dimension W2 is equal to or larger than the dimension W1, and the widthwise spacing between the projections 53A and 53B increases from the proximal end to the distal end. It is configured. If the inclination as described above is provided between the inner surfaces of the protrusions 53A and 53B, even when the center cover 26 is in the closed position, even if the inside of the handle portion 29 is looked down from directly above the notch-shaped handle portion 29, the protrusion Since 53A and 53B are hidden in a position where they cannot be seen, the appearance can be improved. Further, since the protrusions 61 and 62 are outside the protrusions 53A and 53B and the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the protrusions 61 and 62 are completely hidden inside, so that the appearance can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the side guides 33 and 34 slide between a position where the distance between the pair of contact surfaces 33A and 34A is the minimum width W3 and a position where the maximum width W4 is reached. Even when the side guides 33 and 34 are slid to the position where the distance between the pair of contact surfaces 33A and 34A is the minimum width W3, when the central cover 26 is in the closed position, the protruding portion 53 is a pair. Between the contact surfaces 33A and 34A.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, a pair of extension parts 35 and 36 have 1st range A1 and 2nd range A2. In the first range A1, the distance between the pair of extending portions 35, 36 is the maximum when the side guides 33, 34 are slid to the position where the distance between the pair of extending portions 35, 36 is the minimum width W5. This is a range that becomes the small width W5. The second range A2 is a range that is larger than the minimum width W5 when the side guides 33 and 34 are slid to a position where the distance between the pair of extending portions 35 and 36 is the minimum width W5. Even when the side guides 33 and 34 are slid to the position where the distance between the pair of extending portions 35 and 36 is the minimum width W5, when the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the protruding portion 53 is The accommodation spaces S1 and S2 secured in the two ranges A2 fit between the pair of extending portions 35 and 36.

  Therefore, no matter what position the side guides 33 and 34 are slid, the protruding portion 53 is surely fit between the pair of contact surfaces 33A and 34A and between the pair of extending portions 35 and 36. Also fits in. Therefore, it can suppress that the protrusion part 53 interferes with the side guides 33 and 34 and the extension parts 35 and 36. FIG. Moreover, about the extension parts 35 and 36, the space | interval between the extension parts 35 and 36 can fully be made small in 1st range A1. Therefore, even when the width direction dimension of the sheet discharged from the conveyance unit 20 is small, it is possible to suppress the sheet from dropping into the gap between the extending portions 35 and 36. Further, even when the width direction dimension of the sheet discharged from the conveying unit 20 is large, it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in the interval between the extending portions 35 and 36, so that the sheet enters between the extending portions 35 and 36. It is possible to suppress the bending of the sheet.

[effect]
According to the multifunction machine 1 described above, when the center cover 26 is in the closed position, the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 become the rotation center by the shaft support portion 26A by the positioning mechanism 57 as described above. It is relatively positioned in a direction parallel to the axis. Therefore, in order to smoothly rotate the center cover 26, even if the center cover 26 is supported in a state in which it can be displaced somewhat in a direction parallel to the center of rotation by the shaft support portion 26A, the center cover 26 is brought into the closed position. When displaced, the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 are properly positioned. Therefore, the appearance of the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 can be improved.

Further, since the edge 27C and the central cover 26 in the closed position overlap, the central cover 26 and the left cover 27 are also positioned in the vertical direction. Therefore, unlike the case where such an edge portion 27C is not provided, the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 can be prevented from shifting in the vertical direction, and the appearance of the center cover 26 and the left cover 27 can be improved. Can do. Moreover, the edge portion 27C supports the end of the central cover 26 from the inside of the apparatus. Therefore, even if the center cover 26 is pressed from the exterior surface 26B side, the pressing force can be supported by the edge portion 27C. Therefore, the strength of the outer cover of the center cover 26 can be improved.

  Further, when the center cover 26 is in the open position, the protruding portion 53 functions as a stopper as described above, so that it is not necessary to provide the positioning protruding portion 53 and the stopper separately. The structure can be simplified.

[Other Embodiments]
As described above, the sheet conveying apparatus has been described with an exemplary configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various forms are possible without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. Can be implemented.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the positioning mechanism 57 is configured by the protruding portion 53 and the notch 55. However, instead of the notch 55, a hole into which the protruding portion 53 can enter is provided. Good. That is, in the case of the notch 55, the front side, the rear side, and the left side are delimited by the inner wall surfaces 551, 552, and 553, and the right side of the notch 55 is open. It may be in the shape.

  Further, instead of the cutout 55 and the hole, a protruding portion is provided on the left cover 27 side, and a positioning mechanism is configured by the protruding portions on both the left cover 27 side and the central cover 26 side. Also good. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the center cover 26 is provided with first projecting portions 71 (projections 71 </ b> A and 71 </ b> B) that are substantially the same as the projecting portions 53 shown in the above-described embodiment. Moreover, the 2nd protrusion part 72 which protrudes toward the right further from the right end of the left cover 27 is provided in the location where the notch 55 was provided in embodiment described previously. The length of the second projecting portion 72 in the front-rear direction in FIG. 9 is such that the first projecting portion 71 fits on both the front and rear sides of the second projecting portion 72 when the center cover 26 is in the closed position. It is made such a length. Even if such a second projecting portion 72 is provided instead of the notch 55, when the center cover 26 is displaced to the closed position, the protrusions 71A and 71B are disposed in the above-described accommodation spaces S1 and S2. At this time, the projections 71A and 71B are in contact with the front and rear ends of the second projecting portion 72 between the insides thereof, and thereby the left cover 27 and the central cover 26 can be positioned at the designed positions in the front and rear direction. it can.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the left cover 27 is provided with a front projecting portion 73 and a rear projecting portion 74 that project in the same direction as the second projecting portion 72. The second projecting portion 72, the front projecting portion 73, and the rear projecting portion 74 function as a configuration corresponding to the edge portion 27C. Therefore, even when the second projecting portion 72 is provided in place of the notch 55, the function equivalent to the edge portion 27C can be ensured, whereby the left cover 27 and the central cover 26 are positioned at the designed positions in the vertical direction. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ADF unit 6 included in the multifunction device 1 is illustrated as an example of the sheet conveying device. However, whether or not the multifunction device 1 is configured is arbitrary, and a single-function image reading device or copier is used. The above-described configuration may be employed in a facsimile machine or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... MFP, 2 ... Main body unit, 3 ... Reading unit, 5 ... FB unit, 5A ... Housing, 6 ... ADF unit, 11 ... Control part, 11A ... CPU, 11B ... ROM, 11C ... RAM, 11D ... NVRAM, 11E: Interface unit, 12: Image forming unit, 13 ...
LAN communication unit, 14 ... operation panel, 15 ... image sensor, 16 ... motor, 17 ... motor, 18 ... sheet detection sensor, 20 ... transport unit, 21 ... suction roller, 22A ... separation roller, 22B ... separation piece, 23A ... Relay roller, 23B ... Relay pinch roller, 24A ... Reverse roller, 24B ... First reverse pinch roller, 24C ... Second reverse pinch roller, 26 ... Center cover, 26A ... Shaft support, 26B ... Exterior surface, 26C ... Edge, 27 ... Left cover, 27A ... Shaft support, 27B ... Exterior surface, 27C ... Edge, 28 ... Right cover, 28A ... Shaft support, 28B ... Exterior surface, 29 ... Hand handle, 30 ... Support, 31 ... First support Body, 31A ... first support surface, 32 ... second support, 32A ... second support surface, 33, 34 ... side guide, 33A, 34A ... contact surface, 35, 36 ... extension, 39 ... platen, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Guide rail, 43 ... Carriage, 53 ... Projection part, 53A, 53B ... Projection, 55 ... Notch, 551, 552, 553 ... Inner wall surface, 57 ... Positioning mechanism, 61, 62 ... Projection, 71 ... First One projecting portion, 72 ... second projecting portion, 73 ... front projecting portion, 74 ... rear projecting portion.

Claims (9)

A transport unit that transports a sheet along a predetermined transport path;
A support unit for supporting a sheet supplied to the transport unit or a sheet discharged from the transport unit,
Having a first exterior surface and a first support surface opposite to the first exterior surface, and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a predetermined first axis, In the closed position, a part of the exterior is configured with the first exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus, and in the open position, the first support surface functions as a first support that supports the sheet, and a part of the support portion A first cover comprising:
A second exterior surface is disposed at a position adjacent to the first cover on the opposite side of the first axis across the center position of the first cover, and the second exterior surface is disposed at the position. A second cover that forms part of the exterior facing outward, and
In the second cover, at the end on the first cover side, an edge is formed that is recessed toward the inside of the apparatus from the second exterior surface and forms a step between the second exterior surface, When the first cover is in the closed position, the edge of the first cover is stacked on the outer side of the device at the edge,
A positioning mechanism provided on the first support surface side of the first cover and including a projecting portion protruding in a direction away from the first support surface and a hole or a notch formed in the edge portion; When the first cover is in the closed position, the projecting portion enters the hole or notch so that the first cover and the second cover are relatively relative to each other in a direction parallel to the first axis. A sheet conveying device configured to be positioned on a sheet. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first cover is in the open position, the protruding portion functions as a stopper that suppresses the sheet from dropping off from the first support surface.   In the first cover, an end portion on the second cover side has a notch-shaped handle portion on which a fingertip can be applied when the first cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position. Is formed
  The sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2. When having a second support surface and the first cover is in the closed position, the second support surface is covered by the first cover, and when the first cover is in the open position, The second support surface that exposes the second support surface and supports the sheet with the second support surface, thereby configuring the support portion together with the first support surface;
A pair of contact surfaces that can contact both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet supported by the second support surface, and sliding between the pair of contact surfaces by sliding in the width direction; And a side guide configured to be able to change the interval of
When the first cover is in the closed position, the protruding portion is configured so that, even when the side guide is slid to a position where the distance between the pair of contact surfaces is minimized, The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying device is provided between the pair of contact surfaces. A pair of extending portions extending from each of the pair of side guides to the side between the pair of contact surfaces with a space between the second support surface and
One of the sheet supplied to the transport unit and the sheet discharged from the transport unit is supported by the second support surface, and the other is supported by the extension unit.
In the state where the side guide is slid to a position where the distance between the pair of extension parts is minimized, the pair of extension parts is a first distance between the pair of extension parts. One range and a second range that is a second interval greater than the first interval;
When the first cover is in the closed position, the protruding portion may be in the second range even when the side guide is slid to a position where the distance between the pair of extending portions is minimized. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the projecting portion is provided at a position that fits between the pair of extending portions. In the first cover, an end portion on the second cover side has a notch-shaped handle portion on which a fingertip can be applied when the first cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 . The protruding portion is provided at a position on both sides of the width direction across the handle portion with respect to the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet supported by the second support surface, Including a pair of protrusions protruding in a direction away from the support surface;
The pair of protrusions has the end portion at a position connected to the first cover as a base end, and the end portion at a position spaced from the first cover in the protruding direction of each protrusion as a tip, and the pair of protrusions between the pair of protrusions. The interval in the width direction is equal to or larger than the width direction dimension of the handle portion between the proximal ends, and is configured to increase from the proximal end to the distal end toward the distal end side. Item 7. The sheet conveying apparatus according to Item 6 . A transport unit that transports a sheet along a predetermined transport path;
A support unit for supporting a sheet supplied to the transport unit or a sheet discharged from the transport unit,
Having a first exterior surface and a first support surface opposite to the first exterior surface, and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a predetermined first axis, In the closed position, a part of the exterior is configured with the first exterior surface facing the outside of the apparatus, and in the open position, the first support surface functions as a first support that supports the sheet, and a part of the support portion A first cover comprising:
A second exterior surface is disposed at a position adjacent to the first cover on the opposite side of the first axis across the center position of the first cover, and the second exterior surface is disposed at the position. A second cover that forms part of the exterior facing outward, and
In the second cover, at the end on the first cover side, an edge is formed that is recessed toward the inside of the apparatus from the second exterior surface and forms a step between the second exterior surface, When the first cover is in the closed position, the edge of the first cover is stacked on the outer side of the device at the edge,
A first projecting portion provided on the first support surface side of the first cover and projecting in a direction away from the first support surface; and provided on the edge portion, from the edge portion to the first axis. A positioning mechanism including a second projecting portion projecting in the approaching direction, the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion, and one of the projecting portions and the other projecting portion, One projecting portion includes a pair of projections, and when the first cover is in the closed position, the other projecting portion enters between the pair of projections, thereby causing a direction parallel to the first axis. The sheet conveying device is configured such that the first cover and the second cover are relatively positioned. The sheet conveying device according to claim 8 , wherein the first projecting portion functions as a stopper that suppresses the sheet from dropping off from the first support surface when the first cover is in the open position.

Images