JP6713557B2 - Document reading apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a document reading device that conveys documents one by one from a document stack placed on a document tray and automatically reads the conveyed documents, and an image forming apparatus including the document reading device.

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as copiers, multifunction machines, and facsimile machines are equipped with a document reading device that reads an image of a document. In a normal document reading device, documents are conveyed one by one from a document stack placed on a document tray, and the conveyed documents can be automatically read (for example, Patent Document 1).

Such a document reading device includes a document reading unit and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) arranged on the upper surface of the document reading unit. The document reading device has a manual reading mode in which an image of a document placed on the platen glass of the document reading unit is read while scanning a scanning unit including a light source and a reflection mirror, and the document reading device is placed on an ADF document tray. It has an automatic reading mode in which originals are conveyed one by one from a bundle of originals and an image of the conveyed originals is read.

In the automatic reading mode, the document conveyed from the document tray is sent to the document reading area from the conveyance path, and the document image is read by the imaging lens and CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
The document from which the image has been read is further conveyed and discharged onto the paper discharge tray.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the document reading area in the conventional document reading device. In the document reading area, contact glass 501 is arranged on the upper surface of the document reading unit. A scanning unit (not shown) including a light source and a reflection mirror is located below the contact glass 501, and the original conveyed from the upstream conveying path 511 of the ADF to the original reading area is contact glass 501. The image is read as it passes over.

On the upper surface of the document reading unit, an inclined surface 502 is provided on the downstream side of the contact glass 501. The original that has passed over the contact glass 501 is directed upward by the inclined surface 502, and is guided from the downstream-side transport path 512 of the ADF to a discharge tray (not shown). Further, the ADF is provided with a mylar (flexible member) 513 for surely guiding the document after passing through the inclined surface 502 to the downstream side transport path 512.

JP, 2008-5360, A

In the conventional document reading apparatus, the document after the image is read is guided by the inclined surface 502 to the downstream conveyance path 512 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray. In such a configuration, there is a problem in that the conveyance speed changes due to the impact when the leading edge of the document collides with the inclined surface 502, and the read image is blurred.

The image blur can also be suppressed by making the inclination of the inclined surface 502 gentle and reducing the impact when the leading edge of the document collides with the inclined surface 502. However, in this case, there is a problem that the width of the inclined surface 502 in the document conveying direction becomes large and the document reading device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an original reading device capable of suppressing image blur of a read image without increasing the size of the device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an original reading device of the present invention includes an original reading unit and an original conveying unit arranged above the original reading unit, and the original conveying unit conveys the original to an original reading area. An original reading device for reading an original by the original reading unit, wherein a transparent reading plate is provided above the original reading unit in the original reading area, and an original passing through the original reading area is transferred by the original feeding unit. In addition, a flexible member for guiding to a downstream-side document transport unit provided on the downstream side of the reading plate in the document transport direction is provided, and the flexible member is provided from the downstream-side document transport unit. A downstream end portion of the flexible member is attached to the downstream-side document conveying unit so as to extend to the upstream side, and the flexible member, the downstream-side document conveying unit, and the reading plate are connected to each other. A space is provided between the flexible member and an upstream end of the flexible member, which is located below the upper surface of the reading plate, and which is located in the original transport direction. It is characterized in that it has a gap between it and the downstream side surface of the reading plate.

According to the above configuration, the original that has passed through the original reading area is guided to the downstream original conveying section by coming into contact with the flexible member. Since the upstream end of the flexible member is located below the upper surface of the reading plate, the flexible member brought close to the reading plate can guide the original document, and the original reading device is large. It can be avoided.

Further, in the above document reading apparatus, the upstream end of the flexible member may be a free end.

Further, the document reading device may be configured such that an inclined surface is formed on the member, and the space is provided between the flexible member and the inclined surface.

Further, in the above-mentioned document reading apparatus, the member is provided below the flexible member, and is provided upright from the horizontal portion and a horizontal portion and a downstream side of the horizontal portion. And an upstream end of the flexible member is located between the downstream side surface of the reading plate and the upright portion.

Further, in the document reading device, a document placement position or a document size placed on a transparent document placement plate is provided on a downstream side of the reading plate and covered by the flexible member. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which an index indicating is formed.

According to the above configuration, the index is formed in the region immediately on the downstream side of the transparent reading plate, and the size between the transparent document placing plate and the transparent reading plate is reduced. Therefore, the document reading device can be downsized.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including the above-mentioned document reading apparatus.

In the document reading apparatus of the present invention, the document that has passed through the document reading area is guided to the downstream document transport unit by contacting the flexible member. Since the upstream end of the flexible member is located below the upper surface of the reading plate, the flexible member brought close to the reading plate can guide the original document, and the original reading device is large. There is an effect that it is possible to avoid the change.

1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a document reading device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper surface of a document reading unit in the document reading device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a document reading area in the document reading device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the first embodiment and is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a document reading area in the document reading device. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a document reading area in the document reading device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a document reading area in the document reading device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a document reading area in a conventional document reading device.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side refer to the upstream side and the downstream side in the document conveying direction.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the document reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. The document reading device is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a multi-function peripheral, or a facsimile device, and reads an image of a document when copying a document or transmitting a fax.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document reading device includes a document reading unit 100 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 110 arranged on the upper surface thereof. The ADF 110 is pivotally supported on the back side of the document reading section 100 by a hinge (not shown), and is opened and closed by raising and lowering the front side thereof. When the ADF 110 is opened, the platen glass 101 of the document reading unit 100 is opened, and the document is placed on the platen glass (transparent document placing plate) 101. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the document reading unit 100 with the ADF 110 removed.

The document reading device has a manual reading mode in which an image of a document placed on the platen glass 101 of the document reading unit 100 is read while scanning the first scanning unit (light source unit) 102 and the second scanning unit 103. It has an automatic reading mode in which originals are conveyed one by one from a bundle of originals placed on the original tray 111 of the ADF 110 to the original reading area and read.

In the automatic reading mode, the document conveyed from the document tray 111 is sent from the conveyance path to the document reading area, and the first scanning unit 102, the second scanning unit 103, the image forming lens 104, and the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 105. The original image is read by. The document from which the image has been read is further conveyed and discharged onto the discharge tray 112.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the document reading area in the document reading device according to the first embodiment. In the document reading apparatus of the first embodiment, contact glass (transparent reading plate) 106 is arranged on the upper surface of document reading unit 100 in the document reading area. The first scanning unit 102 is located below the contact glass 106, and an image of a document conveyed from the upstream side conveyance path 113 of the ADF 110 to the document reading area is read when passing through the contact glass 106. ..

A recess 107 is provided on the upper surface of the document reading unit 100 on the downstream side of the contact glass 106. Further, in the downstream transport path 114 of the ADF 110, a mylar (flexible member) 115 is provided at the upstream end of the lower guide material 114A.

The mylar 115 has its downstream end affixed to the document guide surface of the lower guide material 114A, and is arranged so as to incline upward from the upstream side to the downstream side in the document conveying direction. Further, with the ADF 110 closed, the mylar 115 is arranged at a position that covers the upper surface 107A of the recess 107, and the upstream end of the mylar 115 is located below the upper surface of the contact glass 106. Further, a predetermined space is provided between the mylar 115 and the upper surface 107A, and this space allows the mylar 115 to bend toward the upper surface 107A side. With the above configuration, when the document is conveyed in the automatic reading mode, the document that has passed over the contact glass 106 is directed to the downstream side conveyance path 114 of the ADF 110 by being brought into contact with the mylar 115 so that the conveyance direction is directed upward.

Further, since a predetermined space is provided between the mylar 115 and the upper surface 107A of the concave portion 107, when the leading edge of the document collides with the mylar 115, the mylar 115 bends and absorbs the impact. As a result, it is possible to prevent the conveyance speed from changing due to the impact when the leading edge of the document collides with the mylar 115, and prevent image blurring in the read image. Further, since the mylar 115 is bent and absorbs the impact at the time of a document collision, the inclination of the mylar 115 is not made more moderate than necessary, and the document reading device can be prevented from becoming large.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface 107A of the recess 107 is an inclined surface substantially parallel to the Mylar 115, but the present invention is not limited to this. The recess 107 is provided so that the upstream end of the mylar 115 is located below the upper surface of the contact glass 106, and the shape thereof is not particularly limited.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the member 108 between the contact glass 106 and the platen glass 101 may be stepped, and the bottom surface 107B of the recess 107 may be horizontal. In this case, the mylar 115 may be in contact with the member 108 except for the upstream end. That is, it is sufficient that the upstream end (lower end) of the mylar 115 is a free end so that at least a portion of the mylar 115 that collides with the conveyed document is bent.

[Embodiment 2]
In the document reading apparatus according to the first embodiment, mylar 115 is attached to ADF 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the second embodiment, a configuration in which a mylar is attached to the document reading unit 100 instead of the mylar 115 of the first embodiment will be described. Since the configuration other than Mylar is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing an example of the vicinity of the document reading area in the document reading device according to the second embodiment. In the document reading device shown in FIG. 5, a mylar 116 is provided on the contact glass 106. Mylar 116 has a bent shape with a V-shaped cross section, and one surface 116A thereof is arranged so as to cover the upper surface of contact glass 106. The other surface 116B of the mylar 116 is inclined upward from the downstream end of the contact glass 106. It should be noted that the surface 116</b>A is not directly bonded to the upper surface of the contact glass 106, but it is preferable to provide a bonding area around the contact glass 106. The mylar 116 is provided as a transparent member.

A predetermined space is provided between the surface 116B of the Mylar 116 and the upper surface 107A of the recess 107, and the space allows the surface 116B to bend toward the upper surface 107A. The Mylar 116 can bend because the downstream end (upper end) of the surface 116B is a free end. When the document is conveyed in the automatic reading mode, the document that has passed on the contact glass 106 is directed to the downstream side conveyance path 114 of the ADF 110 by contacting the surface 116B so that the conveyance direction is directed upward.

When the leading edge of the document collides with the surface 116B, the surface 116B bends and absorbs the impact. As a result, it is possible to prevent the conveyance speed from changing due to an impact when the leading edge of the document collides with the surface 116B, and prevent image blurring in the read image. Further, it is possible to prevent the document reading device from becoming large in size without making the inclination of the surface 116B excessively gentle.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing another example near the document reading area in the document reading device of the third embodiment, which is a modification of the document reading device of the second embodiment. In the document reading apparatus shown in FIG. 6, a mylar 117 is provided in the document reading unit 100 on the side of the contact glass 106. The mylar 117 has a bent shape with a V-shaped cross section, and one surface 117A thereof is bonded to the downstream side surface of the contact glass 106. The other surface 117B of the mylar 117 is inclined upward from the downstream end of the contact glass 106.

A predetermined space is provided between the surface 117B of the mylar 117 and the upper surface 107A of the recess 107, and the space allows the surface 117B to bend toward the upper surface 107A. The Mylar 117 can be bent because the downstream end (upper end) of the surface 117B is a free end. When the original document is conveyed in the automatic reading mode, the original document that has passed over the contact glass 106 is directed to the downstream conveyance path 114 of the ADF 110 by being brought into contact with the surface 117B so that the conveyance direction is directed upward.

When the leading edge of the document collides with the surface 117B, the surface 117B bends and absorbs the impact. As a result, it is possible to prevent the conveyance speed from changing due to an impact when the leading edge of the document collides with the surface 117B, and prevent image blurring in the read image. Further, the inclination of the surface 117B is not made gentler than necessary, and the document reading device can be prevented from becoming large.

[Embodiment 4]
In the document reading device according to the fourth embodiment, a configuration that contributes to further downsizing of the document reading device will be described. In the manual reading mode of the document reading device, a document is placed on the platen glass 101 of the document reading unit 100, and a document image is read while scanning the first scanning unit (light source unit) 102 and the second scanning unit 103. ..

Further, the document reading device is provided with an index for making it possible to confirm either or both of the placement position of the document on the platen glass 101 and the document size. A part of the index is provided on the left side of the platen glass 101, that is, in the region between the platen glass 101 and the contact glass 106.

In the conventional document reading apparatus, the index is formed on a surface 503 different from the inclined surface 502 shown in FIG. Therefore, the inclined surface 502 and the surface 503 forming the index are arranged side by side between the platen glass 101 and the contact glass 106, which is an obstacle to downsizing of the document reading apparatus.

It is also possible to form an index on the inclined surface 502 to reduce the width dimension of the surface 503 to reduce the size of the document reading apparatus, but in this case, there are the following problems.
When the index is provided by printing or the like, the document guided by the inclined surface 502 rubs the index, and the print is peeled off due to long-term use and the index becomes difficult to read.
When the index is provided by engraved characters or the like, the document guided by the inclined surface 502 may be caught by the unevenness of the engraved characters, which may hinder the document transportation.

In the document reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the index is formed on the top surface 107A shown in FIG. 3, 5 or 6 or the bottom surface 107B shown in FIG. That is, the index is formed in a region immediately on the downstream side of the contact glass 106.

In the document reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, these surfaces are covered by mylar in the automatic reading mode, and the document is not brought into contact with these surfaces and conveyed. Therefore, the document does not rub the index forming surface and the print is not peeled off, and the document is not caught by the unevenness of the engraved characters.

By forming an index in a region immediately on the downstream side of the contact glass 106, the size between the platen glass 101 and the contact glass 106 can be reduced, and the original reading device can be downsized. Is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

100 original reading unit 101 platen glass (transparent original placing plate)
106 contact glass (transparent reading plate)
107 concave portion 110 ADF (original document transport section)
113 upstream transport path 114 downstream transport path (downstream document transport section)
115-117 Mylar (flexible member)

Claims (6)

A document reading device comprising a document reading unit and a document feeding unit disposed above the document reading unit, wherein the document reading unit reads a document fed to a document reading area by the document feeding unit,
A transparent reading plate is provided above the document reading unit in the document reading area,
The document passing through the document reading area, the guides Previous Symbol reading downstream document transport portion provided on the downstream side of the document conveying direction from the plate, the flexible member forming a part of the document conveying unit is provided Has been
The flexible member has a downstream side end portion of the flexible member attached to the downstream side document conveying section so as to extend from the downstream side document conveying section to the upstream side.
A space is provided between the flexible member and a member provided between the downstream-side document conveying unit and the reading plate,
The upstream end of the flexible member is located below the upper surface of the reading plate and has a gap between it and the downstream side surface of the reading plate in the document conveying direction. Characteristic document reading device. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The original reading device, wherein the upstream end of the flexible member is a free end. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
An original reading apparatus, wherein an inclined surface is formed on the member, and the space is provided between the flexible member and the inclined surface. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The member is provided below the flexible member, and is formed in a step shape so as to have a concave portion whose bottom surface is a horizontal plane,
The document reading device, wherein the upstream end of the flexible member is located between the downstream side surface of the reading plate and a step formed on the downstream side of the recess . The document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
On the downstream side of the reading plate and on the surface covered with the flexible member, a placement position of a document placed on a transparent document placement plate or an index indicating a document size is formed. A document reading device characterized by the above. An image forming apparatus comprising the document reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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