JP7124639B2 - reader and copier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reading device for reading a document and a copier equipped with the reading device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-200001 discloses a copier equipped with an image reading unit as an example of a reading device. The image reading unit has a scanner fixed above the image forming section and an automatic document feeder (ADF) as a sheet separating and conveying device supported by the scanner. An image reading unit having a scanner and an ADF fixed above an image forming section has a fixed reading section and a movable reading section.

The main body cover of the ADF holds a document table on which a document to be read is placed, a document transport section to transport the document, a document stacking table to stack the document after reading, and the like. The ADF is rotatably supported by a hinge mechanism fixed to the scanner, which is a pedestal. A platen glass is held on the upper surface of the scanner.

JP 2013-127524 A

However, in the image reading unit described in Patent Document 1, when the cover on which the ADF is mounted is opened, the weight of the ADF may deform the pedestal of the scanner or the ADF. For this reason, as the ADF is repeatedly opened and closed with respect to the scanner, the position of the glass frame held by the pedestal is displaced, and the position of the document set aligned with the glass frame is displaced. Further, as the ADF is repeatedly opened and closed with respect to the scanner, the ADF is deformed and the position of the document conveyed by the ADF is shifted. In such a reading apparatus having a document platen and a feeding section, there is a problem that a good read image of the document cannot be obtained.

A reading apparatus for solving the above problems includes a housing having a document table on which a document is placed, a cover that rotates via a hinge on the top of the housing, a feeding section mounted on the cover, and the a reading unit that reads a document placed on a document table and a document fed by the feeding unit; a first frame that constitutes the housing and supports the document table; and a hinge that constitutes the housing. and a fixed second frame.

A reading apparatus for solving the above problems includes a housing having a document table on which a document is placed, a cover that rotates via a hinge on the top of the housing, a feeding section mounted on the cover, and the a reading unit for reading the document placed on the platen and the document fed by the feeding unit, the hinge having a first member and a second member capable of relative rotation; A first member is fixed to the frame constituting the housing, and the second member supports the feeding section and the cover, and extends in a rotational radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member. A reinforcing frame is provided, and the frame of the feeding section is fixed to the reinforcing frame.

A copying apparatus for solving the above problems includes the above-described reading device, and a recording device having a recording unit for recording on a medium an image of a document read by the reading unit of the reading device. The recording device is arranged below the device.

1 is a perspective view of a multifunction device according to one embodiment; FIG. The perspective view which shows a reader. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the reader with the cover open. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the reading device; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the platen with the glass removed; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the frame structure of the platen; FIG. 2 is a side view showing the frame structure of the platen; FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the rear portion of the platen; FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the left rear portion of the platen; FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the right rear portion of the platen; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the ADF with the exterior cover removed; FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the ADF mounted on the cover; 4 is a perspective view showing the frame of the ADF; FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a scanner device in a modified example; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the scanner device in which the cover on which the ADF is mounted is in an open state;

An embodiment of the recording apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction machine 11 as an example of a copier is installed in a horizontal place of use, and has a housing 12 having predetermined lengths for height, depth, and width. It comprises a reader 13 arranged on the body 12 . The reading device 13 includes a document reading device 14 having a document platen 31 arranged on the housing 12 , a cover 15 provided to be openable and closable with respect to the document platen 31 , and a feeding unit mounted on the cover 15 . An automatic document feeder 16 (ADF (Auto Document Feeder)) is provided as an example.

The housing 12 has a document platen 31 on which the document D is placed when the cover 15 is opened. The cover 15 is rotatably provided on the top of the housing 12 via a pair of hinges 30 (see FIG. 3). The cover 15 also serves as a platen cover that can be opened and closed between an open position exposing the mounting surface of the platen 31 and a closed position shown in FIG. A document D set on the document platen 31 is read by a first reading section 41 (see FIG. 4) as an example of a reading section arranged in the document reading device 14 .

The automatic document feeder 16 includes a document tray 17 on which a plurality of documents D can be stacked and a discharge section 18 arranged below the document tray 17 . A plurality of documents D set in a stack on the document tray 17 are read by a first reading section 41 (see FIG. 4) arranged in the document reading device 14 in the process of being sequentially sent to the discharge section 18. be done.

In the multifunction device 11, a portion below the reading device 13 is a recording device 29 that records on paper P as an example of a medium. The multi-function device 11 has a reading device 13 and a recording device 29 having a recording unit 26 for recording the image of the document D read by the first reading unit 41 of the reading device 13 on the paper P in the housing 12 . there is A recording device 29 is arranged below the reading device 13 in the multifunction device 11 .

The front portion of the housing 12 is provided with a paper cassette 19 that is detachably attached to the attachment port 12A and an ejection port 20 for ejecting the printed paper P, in this order from the bottom side to the top. there is A discharge tray 21 for supporting the printed paper P discharged from the discharge port 20 is attached in an extensible manner to the discharge port 20 . An operation panel 22 for performing various operations is provided on the front portion of the document reading device 14 . Note that the front surface of the housing 12 and the front surface of the MFP 11 refer to sides having height and width and on which the user mainly operates the MFP 11 . In other words, the surface of the multifunction device 11 on which the operation panel 22 is arranged is the front surface, and the opposite surface is the back surface (rear surface).

The operation panel 22 has an operation section 23 including a plurality of buttons that are operated when the user gives instructions to the multifunction device 11 and a display section 24 . The operation unit 23 includes, for example, a power button for switching the power of the multifunction device 11 between on and off. The display unit 24 can display various information such as menus and messages of the MFP 11 . It should be noted that the display unit 24 may be configured as a touch panel, which also serves as a part of the operation unit 23 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feeding mechanism 25 for supporting and feeding paper P for so-called manual printing is provided at the upper rear portion of the housing 12 . The paper feeding mechanism 25 is configured to feed a plurality of papers P set on a paper feeding tray (not shown) slid and extended by the user into the housing 12 one by one. In this embodiment, the direction parallel to the direction from the front surface to the rear surface of the housing 12 is defined as the depth direction X, and the direction orthogonal to both the depth direction X and the vertical direction Z is defined as the width direction Y. The width direction Y and the depth direction X are substantially along the horizontal plane.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 contains an ink supply source (not shown) consisting of a tank containing ink or an ink cartridge, and ink supplied from the ink supply source is supplied from a paper cassette 19. A recording unit 26 for recording on the sheet of paper P is arranged. The recording unit 26 includes a recording head 27 that ejects ink supplied from an ink supply source through a tube (not shown), and a carriage 28 that supports the recording head 27 . Further, in the housing 12, there are provided a transport unit for transporting the paper P from the paper cassette 19 or the paper feeding mechanism 25, and a support base for supporting the transported paper P at a position facing the recording unit 26 (both shown in the figure). ) are arranged. In the process of moving the carriage 28 in the width direction of the paper P, the recording head 27 ejects ink to perform a recording operation for one operation on the paper P, and the transport unit transports the paper P to the next recording position. Recording is performed on the paper P by alternately performing the conveying operation. The printed paper P is discharged from the discharge port 20 onto the discharge tray 21 . The portion of the housing 12 that accommodates the recording unit 26 in this manner serves as a recording device 29 that performs recording, including copying, in which the image of the document D read by the reading device 13 is recorded on the paper P. FIG. Note that the recording unit 26 is not limited to the serial recording method, and may employ the line recording method. In the case of the line recording method, the recording head 27 is a long line head capable of recording a range covering the width of the paper P having the assumed maximum width at once, or a plurality of unit heads covering the width of the paper P. It consists of an array of multi-heads.

Next, the detailed configuration of the reading device 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the reading device 13 includes a document reading device 14 assembled on the top of the housing 12, a cover 15 functioning as a lid for the document reading device 14, and a cover 15 mounted on the top of the cover 15. It has an automatic document feeder 16 (hereinafter also referred to as "ADF 16"). The reading device 13 is configured by vertically overlapping a document reading device 14 and an ADF 16 . The document tray 17 includes a placement surface 17A on which the document D is set, and a pair of edge guides 17B that position the document D set on the placement surface 17A in the depth direction X. As shown in FIG. The ADF 16 also has an opening/closing cover 16A on its upper surface. The opening/closing cover 16A can be opened and closed between an open position where the transport mechanism inside the ADF 16 is exposed and a closed position shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cover 15 on which the ADF 16 is mounted is opened with respect to the document reading device 14. As shown in FIG. The cover 15 on which the ADF 16 is mounted is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document reading device 14 with the end on the back side of the reading device 13 as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 3, the document reading device 14 and the cover 15 on which the ADF 16 is mounted are rotatably connected via a hinge 30 .

The document platen 31 includes a square frame-shaped body housing 32 having an upper opening, a square frame-shaped frame 33 provided on the upper surface of the body housing, and between the opening of the body housing 32 and the frame 33 . A rectangular platen glass 34 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "glass 34") is provided. At a position next to the glass 34 on the platen 31 on one side in the width direction Y, which is the scanning direction of the first reading unit 41 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a A transparent plate 35 of glass is provided which is assembled with an elongated window extending therealong.

A surface (back surface) of the cover 15 facing the document platen 31 serves as a document pressing surface 36 that presses the document D on the document platen 31 from above. On the rear surface of the cover 15, an opening 37 is provided at the left end position of the document holding surface 36 in FIG. The document D set on the glass 34 is positioned by aligning its sides with the inner end face of the frame 33 . The document reading device 14 reads images such as characters and photographs recorded on the document D set on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 or the document D fed from the document tray 17 .

Next, a detailed configuration of the reading device 13 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 , the cover 15 also serves as a document platen cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the document platen 31 . The reading device 13 has a flatbed scanner function for reading the document D placed on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 exposed when the cover 15 is opened, and an ADF 16 for reading a plurality of documents D set on the document tray 17 . It also has a sheet feeder type scanner function that automatically feeds and reads one sheet at a time.

The document platen 31 includes a housing 38 that movably accommodates the first reading section 41 . In the flatbed scanner function, the first reading unit 41 scans in the width direction Y to read the document D placed on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 . The first reading unit 41 has a first sensor 44 for reading the image of the document D on the glass 34 and a carriage 45 on which the first sensor 44 is mounted. The carriage 45 is provided so as to be movable in the width direction Y in the region immediately below the glass 34 and the transparent plate 35 . The carriage 45 waits at the standby position, which is one end in the width direction Y, while waiting for the reception of a reading instruction from the user. The standby position is the home position of the first reading unit 41 . The first reading unit 41 reads the image of the document D set on the glass 34 by scanning in the width direction Y at a predetermined speed from the standby position.

In the sheet feeder type scanner function, the ADF 16 sequentially feeds the documents D stacked on the document tray 17 and causes the reading units 41 and 42 to read the images of the documents D in the middle of the transport path T. When reading the document D fed by the ADF 16, the first reading unit 41 is arranged at the reading position SP near one end in the width direction Y of the moving path. That is, the first reading unit 41 is arranged at the reading position SP shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ADF 16 includes a transport section 46 that transports the document D set on the document tray 17 along the transport path T. As shown in FIG. The transport path T extends in a U-shaped curve from the document tray 17 toward the discharge section 18 . The transport unit 46 transports the document D fed from the document tray 17 to the discharge unit 18 along a transport path T that is reversed and passes through the reading position on the way.

The conveying unit 46 is composed of a plurality of rollers. The rollers forming the transport unit 46 transport the document D by rotating. These rollers are arranged along the transport path T. As shown in FIG. A feed roller 50, a separate roller 51, a first guide roller 52, a second guide roller 53, and a third guide roller 54 are arranged in the transport path T of the transport unit 46 from the document tray 17 side toward the discharge unit 18 side in this order. , a feed roller 55 and a discharge roller 56 are arranged.

The feed roller 50 is arranged at a position where it can come into contact with the document D stacked on the document tray 17 from above. The feeding roller 50 feeds the document D from the document tray 17 to the transport path T by rotating while being in contact with the document D. As shown in FIG. When a plurality of originals D are stacked on the original tray 17, the feeding roller 50 sequentially feeds the originals D from the highest position.

When a plurality of documents D fed from the feeding roller 50 are overlapped, the separate roller 51 separates and conveys the plurality of documents D one by one. Therefore, a separation roller 51A for separating the document D is arranged at a position facing the separation roller 51 . The separation roller 51 and the separation roller 51A are arranged so as to sandwich the transport path T therebetween. When the separate roller 51 conveys the document D, the separation roller 51A applies a frictional force to separate the document D one by one.

The first guide roller 52 includes a first drive roller 52A and a first driven roller 52B, and rotates while nipping the document D separated by the separate roller 51 and the separation roller 51A. The first guide roller 52 conveys the document D toward the second guide roller 53 by applying a driving force to the document D being conveyed.

The second guide roller 53 includes a second drive roller 53A and a second driven roller 53B, and rotates while nipping the document D conveyed by the first guide roller 52 . The second guide roller 53 conveys the document D toward the third guide roller 54 by applying a driving force to the document D being conveyed.

The third guide roller 54 includes a third drive roller 54A and a third driven roller 54B, and rotates while nipping the document D conveyed by the second guide roller 53 . The third guide roller 54 conveys the document D toward the feed roller 55 by applying a driving force to the document D being conveyed.

The feed roller 55 includes a feed drive roller 55A and a feed driven roller 55B, and rotates while nipping the document D conveyed by the third guide rollers 54 . The feed roller 55 conveys the document D conveyed from the third guide roller 54 toward the discharge roller 56 by applying a driving force to the document D being conveyed.

The ejection roller 56 includes an ejection drive roller 56A and an ejection driven roller 56B, and rotates while nipping the document D conveyed by the feed roller 55 . The discharge roller 56 discharges the document D toward the discharge section 18 by applying a driving force to the document D being transported.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ADF 16 includes a second reading section 42 that reads the document D in the middle of the transport path T. As shown in FIG. The second reading unit 42 is arranged at a position between the feed roller 55 and the discharge roller 56 on the transport path T, and reads the image of the second surface of the document D transported on the transport path T. The second side of the document D is the side opposite to the first side of the document D read by the first reading unit 41 at the reading position SP. The second reading section 42 has a second sensor 57 for reading the image on the second surface of the document D. As shown in FIG. When receiving the double-sided reading command, the multifunction device 11 reads both the first side and the second side of the document D fed from the document tray 17 .

FIG. 5 shows the document reading device 14 from which the glass 34, the transparent plate 35 and the frame 33 are removed. As shown in FIG. 5, the document table 31 constituting the document reading device 14 has a square frame-shaped frame 60, and the sides of the frame 60 are surrounded by a square frame-shaped exterior cover 12B made of synthetic resin. covered. A bottom portion 61 of a housing 38 made of synthetic resin is arranged below the frame 60 , and the frame 60 and the bottom portion 61 form a storage chamber 62 opening upward in the housing 38 . A first reading unit 41 is provided in the housing chamber 62 so as to be reciprocally movable in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The first reading unit 41 includes a carriage 45 that is movably provided along a rail 63 that extends in the width direction Y in the housing chamber 62 , and a line-shaped first sensor 44 that is mounted on the carriage 45 . and a linear light source 47 mounted on a carriage 45 . The light source 47 irradiates the reading area of the document D set on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 with light. The carriage 45 is fixed to a portion of an endless conveying belt 64 stretched along rails 63 within the housing chamber 62 , and is driven by an electric motor (not shown) that is the power source of the carriage 45 to move the conveying belt 64 . rotates forward and backward, the carriage 45 reciprocates in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG.

By the way, when the reader 13 is used for business purposes, high-speed scanning is required. When the multi-function machine 11 is used for business purposes, high-speed copy printing is required. Since the reading device 13 supports high-speed scanning, it is necessary to reinforce the ADF 16 and increase the size of the motor that is the power source of the conveying unit 46 . Therefore, the weight of the ADF 16 is increased.

6 and 7 show a frame structure obtained by removing the synthetic resin members constituting the exterior of the housing 12 from the document reading device 14. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the document reading device 14 has a square frame-shaped frame 60 forming the document table 31 as one of the frame structures. The frame 60 has an elongated first frame 71 (rear frame) extending along the width direction Y at the rear side position where the pair of hinges 30 are arranged. A pair of hinges 30 are arranged in the depth direction X with an interval therebetween. The pair of hinges 30 is fixed to an elongated second frame 72 extending in the width direction Y at a position facing the first frame 71 of the frame 60 in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The second frame 72 is arranged parallel to the first frame 71 behind the first frame 71 .

Here, the reading device 13 has a first frame 71 that constitutes the housing 12 and supports the platen 31, and a second frame 72 that constitutes the housing 12 and to which the hinge 30 is fixed. Specifically, the frame 60 includes a first frame 71, a third frame 73 arranged parallel to the first frame 71 on the opposite side of the second frame 72 and facing the second frame 72, and It has a pair of fourth frames 74 fixed to both ends of each of the three frames 73 and extending in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the first frame 71 and the third frame 73 . Here, the first frame 71 is a rear frame forming the rear portion of the frame 60 , and the third frame 73 is a front frame forming the front portion of the frame 60 . Also, the pair of fourth frames 74 are a pair of side frames forming both sides of the frame 60 in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG.

The first frame 71 and the third frame 73 have a U-shaped cross section taken in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and are arranged so that the opening of the U-shaped portion faces inward. The first frame 71 is formed to have a U-shaped cross section by fastening a lower frame 71A having an L-shaped cross section on the lower side and an upper frame 71B having an L-shaped cross section on the upper side with screws 75. It is The third frame 73 has a U-shaped cross section by fastening a lower frame 73A having an L-shaped cross section on the lower side and an upper frame 73B having an L-shaped cross section on the upper side with screws 76. is formed in

As shown in FIG. 6, one or more column members 77 are interposed in the U-shaped portion of the first frame 71 . In the example shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of column members 77 are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction (width direction Y) of the first frame 71 . The column member 77 is precisely formed in the height dimension, which is the dimension in the vertical direction Z when arranged in the U-shaped portion. The relative position in the vertical direction Z between the lower frame 71A and the upper frame 71B that constitute the first frame 71 is adjusted so that the top and bottom surfaces of the column member 77 interposed therebetween are in contact with each other. , the height position of the upper end surface 71C of the first frame 71 is positioned. Therefore, the height position of the upper end surface 71C of the first frame 71 can be accurately positioned. The upper end surface 71</b>C of the first frame 71 is located slightly higher than the upper end surface of the fourth frame 74 .

As shown in FIG. 6, the third frame 73 is constructed similarly to the first frame 71. As shown in FIG. That is, one or more column members 78 are interposed in the U-shaped portion of the third frame 73 . In the example shown in FIG. 6 , a plurality of column members 78 are provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction (width direction Y) of the third frame 73 . The column member 78 is precisely formed in the height dimension, which is the dimension in the vertical direction Z when arranged in the U-shaped portion. After adjusting the relative position in the vertical direction Z between the lower frame 73A and the upper frame 73B that constitute the third frame 73 so that the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the column member 78 interposed therebetween are in contact with each other, the screws 76 are installed. , the height position of the upper end surface 73C of the third frame 73 is positioned. Therefore, the height position of the upper end surface 73C of the third frame 73 can be accurately positioned. An upper end surface 73</b>C of the third frame 73 is positioned slightly higher than the upper end surface of the fourth frame 74 . In this way, the pair of frames 71 and 73 has a U-shaped cross section crossing the longitudinal direction. Members 77 and 78 are interposed.

The height positions of the upper end surface 71C of the first frame 71 and the upper end surface 73C of the third frame 73 are the same, and the mounting height of the glass 34 is determined by the upper end surface 71C and the upper end surface 73C. The glass 34 and the transparent plate 35 are positioned in the vertical direction Z with high positional accuracy due to the accuracy of the height positions of the upper end surface 71C and the upper end surface 73C. Therefore, if the multi-function device 11 is horizontally arranged, the glass 34 and the transparent plate 35 are horizontally arranged. The glass 34 and the transparent plate 35 are positioned in the depth direction X and the width direction Y by two positioning pins 79 projecting upward from the upper end surface 71C.

6, the pair of fourth frames 74 are fixed to both ends of the first frame 71 and both ends of the third frame 73 by fastening a plurality of screws 66, respectively. In addition, the pair of fourth frames 74 extends rearward to the position beyond the first frame 71 where the hinges 30 are located, and their rear ends are fixed to both ends of the second frame 72 by fastening a plurality of screws 67. It is That is, in the present embodiment, the frame 60 of the platen 31 includes a pair of fourth frames as a pair of side frames which constitute the frame 60 together with the first frame 71 and extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the first frame 71 . 74. The second frame 72 is fixed to a pair of fourth frames 74 . Here, the fourth frame 74 that is long in the direction of the arm of the rotating torque applied to the hinge 30 has high rigidity against the rotating torque. The deformation of the first frame 71 is suppressed by fixing the second frame 72 to the fourth frame 74 having high rigidity against this rotational torque and separating it from the first frame 71 . The second frame 72 is fixed to the hinge 30 by fastening screws 68 .

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a gap G1 is formed between the first frame 71 and the second frame 72. As shown in FIGS. The second frame 72 is fixed to the frame 60 with a pair of fourth frames 74 . Here, the gap G1 is such that even if the second frame 72 is deformed to the maximum by the turning torque that the second frame 72 receives from the hinge 30 due to the weight of the ADF 16 when the cover 15 is opened, the second frame 72 is is set to a clearance dimension that does not contact the first frame 71 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bottom portion 61 of the housing 38 has positions facing the second frame 72 and the fourth frame 74 when the second frame 72 and the fourth frame 74 are deformed. Protrusions 61A and 61B are provided as an example of a contact portion. That is, on the bottom portion 61 located below the second frame 72 and the frame 60, the projection 61A is located at a position facing the second frame 72 and at a position facing the portion of the fourth frame 74 near the hinge 30. The protrusion 61B is positioned at The protrusions 61A and 61B are arranged below the lower surfaces of the second frame 72 and the fourth frame 74 with a gap therebetween. In this example, the protrusions 61A and 61B are ribs that protrude from the upper surface of the bottom portion 61 .

As shown in FIG. 9, a projecting portion 61B is arranged on the left rear end portion of the platen 31 at a position facing the second frame 72 with a gap therebetween. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a projecting portion 61B is arranged at the right rear end portion of the platen 31 at a position facing the second frame 72 with a gap therebetween. In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the protrusion 61A is arranged below the portion where the fourth frame 74 overlaps with the second frame 72, so that the fourth frame 74 overlaps with the second frame 72. A protrusion 61B is arranged at a position facing downward from the portion 74 with a gap therebetween. That is, a gap of a required size is provided between the portion of the fourth frame 74 that overlaps the second frame 72 and the protrusion 61B. In this respect, it can also be said that the projections 61A and 61B are positioned below the portion (rear portion) of the fourth frame 74 near the hinge 30 with a gap of the required size. As described above, in this example, a total of four protrusions 61A and 61B are provided below the portions of the pair of left and right fourth frames 74 near the hinge 30, two on each side.

When the ADF 16 is closed, there is a gap between the fourth frame 74 and the protrusions 61A and 61B. When 74 is deformed downward, each frame 72, 74 is received by projections 61A, 61B. The clearance is set to a dimension that prevents the fourth frame 74 from contacting the projections 61A and 61B in the closed state of the ADF 16 due to tolerances. This is because when the ADF 16 is in the closed state and the gap is not set, the frame 60 is deformed due to variations within the tolerance, and the position of the glass 34 held on the upper surface is shifted in the vertical direction Z. This is because the accuracy of the initial position of the glass 34 may deteriorate. In order to increase the accuracy of the initial position of the glass 34, a gap is provided between the portion of the fourth frame 74 near the hinge 30 and the protrusions 61A and 61B when the ADF 16 is closed. The fourth frame 74 does not overlap the lower side of the second frame 72 and the second frame 72 faces the protrusion 61A, or the portion of the second frame 72 where the protrusion 61A does not overlap the fourth frame 74. , the projecting portion 61A is arranged below the second frame 72 with a gap therebetween.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the outer cover of the ADF 16 is removed. As shown in FIG. 11 , the ADF 16 has a frame 80 that supports the transport section 46 . The frame 80 has a pair of side plate frames 81 facing each other with a predetermined interval in the rotation radial direction, and a plurality of support frames 82 supporting the pair of side plate frames 81 . A plurality of parts including a gear mechanism 83 , an electric motor (not shown) that serves as a drive source for the transport section 46 , and various sensors 84 are assembled to the outside of the side plate frame 81 . A plurality of holder members 85 are attached to the frame 80 to cover the transport section 46 and form the transport path T (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 12, the hinge 30 includes a first member 30A and a second member 30B that are connected so as to be relatively rotatable. A first member 30A is fixed to the second frame 72 . Also, the second member 30B supports the ADF 16 and the cover 15 . The ADF 16 includes a reinforcing frame 86 that extends in the rotational radial direction of the cover 15 while being fixed to the second member 30B. A frame 80 of the ADF 16 is fixed with a reinforcing frame 86 . In the closed state shown in FIG. 12 in which the cover 15 is closed, the radial direction of rotation coincides with the depth direction X. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the reinforcement frame 86 extends in the rotational radial direction to a position beyond the center of gravity position CG of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 . In this example, the front end of the reinforcement frame 86 is in contact with the side plate frame 81 on the hand side, which is the front end side in the rotation radial direction of the ADF 16, or extends to a position with a slight gap.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the frame 80 of the ADF 16 includes a support frame 82A that supports the pair of side plate frames 81 in addition to the support frame 82 shown in FIG. The support frame 82A is fixed to the side plate frame 81 at a position below the middle position in the height direction of the side plate frame 81, that is, in the tangential direction of the arc of rotation of the ADF 16. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the support frame 82A is fixed to the side plate frame 81 in the width direction Y at a position closer to the side opposite to the document tray 17 (see FIG. 11). The reinforcement frame 86 is positioned above the support frame 82A. The reinforcement frame 86 is fixed to the support frame 82A at two points on both ends in the rotation radial direction, and is separated from the support frame 82A by a gap G2 in at least a part of the range between the fixed points on both ends. are placed.

As shown in FIG. 12, the support frame 82A has a pair of protrusions 87 protruding toward the reinforcement frame 86 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In this example, the pair of protrusions 87 is formed by a truncated conical drawn portion provided by drawing the sheet metal of the support frame 82A. The reinforcement frame 86 is fixed to the support frame 82A by fastening screws 88 to the pair of protrusions 87 in a state of contact with the pair of protrusions 87 formed from the drawn portions of the support frame 82A. . Therefore, the reinforcement frame 86 and the support frame 82A form a gap G2 between the pair of protrusions 87. As shown in FIG. For example, when the ADF 16 is opened, even if the weight of the ADF 16 deforms the reinforcing frame 86 into a curved shape in which the central portion in the longitudinal direction swells upward, the supporting frame 82A receives an upward force due to the deformation of the reinforcing frame 86 and deforms. is suppressed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 13, the reinforcing frame 86 has a U-shaped cross section in the direction intersecting with the rotational radial direction. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the reinforcement frame 86 is fixed to the support frame 82A located below the reinforcement frame 86 by screws 88, which are an example of screw members, at the U-shaped bottom portion 86A. ing. The screw 88 is fastened so that the axial direction is the tangential direction at the bottom portion 86A of the arc of rotation of the ADF 16 . In other words, in the closed state of the ADF 16, the screw 88 is fastened with its axial direction aligned with the vertical direction Z to fix the reinforcing frame 86 and the support frame 82A.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the ADF 16, the second reading section 42 that reads the document D in the middle of the transport path T is arranged at a different position in the depth direction X from the first reading section 41 at the reading position SP. It is The reinforcement frame 86 is arranged within a range SA between the outer ends of the first reading section 41 and the second reading section 42 when they are at the reading position in the width direction Y that intersects with the rotational radial direction of the ADF 16 . It is Here, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the range SA is the first end portion of the first reading portion 41 at the reading position opposite to the document tray 17 side and the first end portion of the second reading portion 42 on the document tray 17 side. It ranges from a first end to a second end, inclusive of the two ends. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing frame 86 is entirely located within the range SA in the width direction Y. In the example shown in FIG. It should be noted that the position of the reinforcing frame 86 in the width direction Y need not be the entire reinforcing frame 86 within the range SA, and only a portion of the reinforcing frame 86 is within the range SA.

Next, the action of the multifunction device 11 will be described.
When receiving a reading command or a copying command by a user operating the operation unit 23 or operating a host device (not shown), the multifunction device 11 performs the instructed reading operation or copying operation. The user sets the document D on the upper surface of the glass 34 of the document platen 31 or sets one or more documents D on the document tray 17 in advance before the operation. When the user sets the document D on the document platen 31, the cover 15 is opened to expose the glass 34 of the document platen 31 as shown in FIG. Set in place.

In this manner, the user opens and closes the ADF 16 each time the document D is set on the document platen 31 and each time the document D is taken out from the document platen 31 . In this manner, the multi-function device 11 repeatedly opens and closes the ADF 16 . When the ADF 16 is open as shown in FIG. 3, the weight of the cover 15 and the ADF 16 is supported by the hinge 30 , so that the platen 31 receives the load via the hinge 30 .

In the reading device 13 of this embodiment, a first frame 71 that supports the platen 31 and a second frame 72 that fixes the hinge 30 are separated. Therefore, when the cover 15 on which the ADF 16 is mounted is opened and closed, the load of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 is less likely to be transmitted to the first frame 71 supporting the platen 31 via the hinge 30 . As a result, deformation of the first frame 71 due to this type of load is prevented, and displacement of the document platen 31 supported by the first frame 71 is suppressed. Therefore, positional deviation of the document D set on the document platen 31 is suppressed, and positional deviation of the first reading unit 41 within the document platen 31 is also suppressed.

The deformation of the document platen 31 causes, for example, positional deviation of the document D which is set in a predetermined position on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 in alignment with the sides of the frame 33 . In this case, the first reading unit 41 reads the misaligned area of the document D, and the obtained read image is misaligned. Further, the deformation of the document platen 31 causes, for example, a difference in height position between both ends of the first reading unit 41 in the depth direction X within the document platen 31, and the parallelism between the first reading unit 41 and the glass 34 is increased. decreases. In this case, a difference occurs in the distance from the first reading unit 41 to the document D set at a predetermined position on the glass 34 at two different locations on the first reading unit 41, and the position of the document D partially changes the focal length. There is a risk of slipping. Especially when the first reading unit 41 is a CIS with a shallower depth of field than a CCD, the document D on the glass 34 or the portion of the document D that is fed and exposed from the opening 37 is the first reading unit 41 . , the read image of the document D is partially blurred. However, in the present embodiment, since the deformation of the platen 31 is suppressed, the parallelism between the first reading unit 41 and the glass 34 is maintained, and the distance between the first reading unit 41 and the glass 34 is predetermined. kept within a certain range. Therefore, both the document D set on the document platen 31 and the document D conveyed by the ADF 16 can be read with good quality when these documents D are read.

Further, since there is a gap G1 between the first frame 71 and the second frame 72, when the ADF 16 and the cover 15 are opened and closed, even if the second frame 72 is deformed due to their loads, the deformed second frame The frame 72 does not contact the first frame 71. Therefore, deformation of the first frame 71 due to contact of the deformed second frame 72 with the first frame 71 can be avoided. From this point, the displacement of the document platen 31 fixed to the first frame 71 is effectively suppressed. As a result, misalignment of the read image and degradation of image quality due to misalignment of the platen 31 can be more reliably suppressed.

Further, in the reading device 13, the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 via the hinge 30 becomes the longitudinal direction when the cover 15 is closed with respect to the document table 31, and a pair of pair of scanners extending in the direction strong against the torque when the cover is rotated. The fourth frame 74 (side frame) and the second frame 72 are fixed. Therefore, even if the cover 15 is repeatedly opened and closed, the load transmitted through the hinge 30 is received by the fourth frame 74, which has high rigidity against the rotational torque.

In addition, since the frame 80 of the ADF 16 is fixed to the reinforcing frame 86 extending in the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 while being fixed to the second member 30B constituting the hinge 30, the ADF 16 and the cover 15 can be opened and closed. Even if this is repeated, deformation of the ADF 16 is suppressed. Therefore, when the ADF 16 feeds the document D onto the document platen 31, the difference in the distance between the document D and the first reading unit 41 at both ends in the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 is suppressed. Therefore, when the first reading unit 41 reads the document D, the entire document D is read as a high-quality image without blurring.

Therefore, even if the weight of the ADF 16 increases due to the demand for high-speed scanning or copying, when the user instructs the reading operation, a high-quality read image of the document D can be obtained at high speed. In this case, a high-quality copy of the document D can be obtained at high speed.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The reading device 13 includes a housing 12 having a document table 31 on which a document D is placed, a cover 15 that rotates on the top of the housing 12 via a hinge 30, and an ADF 16 mounted on the cover 15. , and a first reading unit 41 for reading the document D placed on the document platen 31 and the document D fed by the ADF 16 . Further, the reading device 13 has a first frame 71 that constitutes the housing 12 and supports the platen 31, and a second frame 72 that constitutes the housing 12 and to which the hinge 30 is fixed. Therefore, in the reading device 13, the first frame 71 that supports the platen 31 is separated from the second frame 72 that fixes the hinge 30, so that when the cover 15 on which the ADF 16 is mounted is opened and closed, the ADF 16 and the cover 15 are separated. is less likely to be transmitted to the first frame 71 supporting the platen 31 via the hinges 30 . As a result, deformation of the first frame 71 due to this type of load is suppressed, and displacement of the document platen 31 supported by the first frame 71 is suppressed. Therefore, positional deviation of the document D set on the document platen 31 can be suppressed. Therefore, a high-quality read image of the document D can be obtained in the reading device 13 having the document table 31 and the ADF 16 .

(2) The reading device 13 has a gap G1 between the first frame 71 and the second frame 72 . Therefore, when the ADF 16 and the cover 15 are opened and closed, even if the second frame 72 is deformed due to their loads, the deformed second frame 72 is less likely to come into contact with the first frame 71 . Therefore, deformation of the first frame 71 due to contact of the deformed second frame 72 with the first frame 71 can be avoided. As a result, positional displacement of the document platen 31 supported by the first frame 71 is suppressed. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress deterioration in the image quality of the read image due to the positional deviation of the platen 31 .

(3) The reading device 13 includes a pair of side frames that constitute the housing 12 , constitute the frame 60 of the document platen 31 together with the first frame 71 , and extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the first frame 71 . The second frame 72 is fixed to a pair of side frames. Therefore, in the reading device 13, when the cover 15 is closed with respect to the document table 31, the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 via the hinge 30 becomes the longitudinal direction, and the pair of scanning electrodes extending in the direction strong against the torque when the cover 15 rotates. Since the cover 15 is fixed to the side frame, deformation or misalignment of the document platen 31 due to repeated opening and closing of the cover 15 can be suppressed.

(4) The document platen 31 includes a housing 38 that movably accommodates the first reading section 41 . On the bottom portion 61 of the housing 38, projections as an example of abutting portions are provided at positions facing both the second frame 72 and a fourth frame 74, which is an example of a side frame, each of which hits when they are deformed downward. Portions 61A and 61B are provided. Therefore, even if one or both of the second frame 72 and the fourth frame 74 are deformed downward due to the rotation torque transmitted through the hinge 30 by the weight of the ADF 16 when the cover 15 is opened, the respective protrusions are By contacting 61A and 61B, the amount of deformation of the second frame 72 and the fourth frame 74 is suppressed to a predetermined amount or less. As a result, misalignment of the platen 31 is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively suppress deterioration in the image quality of the read image of the document D due to the positional deviation of the document platen 31 .

(5) The platen 31 includes a pair of frames 71 and 73 including a first frame 71 and a third frame arranged parallel to the first frame 71 at a position opposite to the second frame 72. have. The pair of frames 71 and 73 has a U-shaped cross section that intersects the longitudinal direction. Column members 77 and 78 are interposed in the U-shaped portions of one or both of the pair of frames 71 and 73 . Therefore, in one or both of the pair of front and rear frames 71 and 73 forming the document table 31, column members 77 and 78 are interposed in the U-shaped portions. Therefore, even if a load is applied from above to the frames 71 and 73 with the column members 77 and 78 interposed therebetween, the frames 71 and 73 are less likely to deform. For example, when the column member 77 is interposed in the first frame 71 , even if the load of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 is applied to the first frame 71 via the hinge 30 , it is interposed in the U-shaped portion of the first frame 71 . Deformation of the first frame 71 can be suppressed by the column member 77 . Further, for example, when the column member 78 is interposed in the third frame 73 , even if the user presses down the portion (front portion) of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 opposite to the hinge 30 , the U of the third frame 73 is Deformation of the third frame 73 can be suppressed by the column member 78 interposed in the character-shaped portion.

(6) The hinge 30 has a first member 30A and a second member 30B that are connected so as to be relatively rotatable. The first member 30A is fixed to the second frame 72, and the second member 30B supports the ADF 16 and the cover 15. As shown in FIG. The reading device 13 includes a reinforcing frame 86 that extends in the rotational radial direction of the cover 15 while being fixed to the second member 30B. A frame 80 of the ADF 16 is fixed with a reinforcing frame 86 . Therefore, since the frame 80 of the ADF 16 is fixed to the reinforcing frame 86 extending in the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 while being fixed to the second member 30B that constitutes the hinge 30, the ADF 16 and the cover 15 can be opened and closed. Even if it is repeated, deformation of the ADF 16 can be suppressed. As a result, when the ADF 16 feeds the document D onto the document platen 31, the difference in the distance between the document D and the first reading unit 41 at both ends in the rotation radial direction of the cover 15 is reduced. Therefore, since the entire document D in the radial direction of cover rotation is within the depth of field of the first reading unit 41, the entire document D can be read as a high-quality image with little blurring. Therefore, a high-quality read image of the document D can be obtained in the reading device 13 having the document table 31 and the ADF 16 .

(7) The reinforcement frame 86 extends to a position beyond the center of gravity of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 in the rotation radial direction. Therefore, since the reinforcing frame 86 receives the load applied to the center of gravity of the ADF 16 and the cover 15, deformation due to repeated opening and closing of the ADF 16 and the cover 15 can be suppressed more effectively. Therefore, the difference in the distance from the first reading unit 41 at both ends in the cover rotation radial direction of the document D fed to the reading position by the ADF 16 is suppressed. As a result, the entire document D can be read as a high-quality image with less blurring.

(8) A first reading unit 41 movably accommodated in the document platen 31 and a second reading unit 42 for reading the document D in the middle of the transport path T in the ADF 16 are provided. The reinforcement frame 86 is provided at the outer end of each of the first reading section 41 and the second reading section 42 at the reading position for reading the document D conveyed by the ADF 16 in the width direction that intersects the rotational radial direction of the ADF 16 . located in the range between Therefore, the reinforcing frame 86 is arranged in the range between the outer ends of the first reading section 41 and the second reading section 42 at the reading position in the width direction of the ADF 16 . Therefore, deformation of the peripheral portions of the first reading section 41 and the second reading section 42 is suppressed by the reinforcing frame 86 . Therefore, even when the first reading unit 41 reads, for example, the first surface of the document D conveyed by the ADF 16 at the reading position, the second surface, for example, of the document D conveyed by the ADF 16 is read by the second reading unit in the middle of the conveying path T. 42 can also read the document D with high reading accuracy.

(9) The frame 80 of the ADF 16 has a pair of side plate frames 81 arranged on both sides in the rotation radial direction, and a support frame 82A that supports the pair of side plate frames 81 . The reinforcement frame 86 is positioned above the support frame 82A, fixed to the support frame 82A at both ends in the rotation radial direction, and has a gap between the support frame 82A and the support frame 82A in at least a part of the range between the fixing points at both ends. They are arranged across G2. Therefore, even if the supporting frame 82A is reinforced by the reinforcing frame 86 and the supporting frame 82A is deformed and the portion between the both ends of the supporting frame 82A is displaced in the direction toward the reinforcing frame 86, the gap G2 is maintained. prevents the support frame 82A from contacting and pushing against the reinforcing frame 86. As a result, deformation of the ADF 16 due to contact of the deformed portion of the support frame 82A with the reinforcing frame 86 can be suppressed.

(10) The reinforcing frame 86 has a U-shaped cross-section in a direction intersecting with the rotational radial direction, and the support frame 82A located below the reinforcing frame 86 is positioned at the bottom of the U-shape. are fixed by a screw 88, which is an example of a screw member whose axis is tangential to the turning radius. Therefore, even if the reinforcement frame 86 bends when the cover 15 rotates via the hinge 30, the fixing position of the reinforcement frame 86 and the support frame 82A by the screws 88 is unlikely to shift. Positioning of the fixed points of the reinforcing frame 86 and the support frame 82A by fastening the screws 88 is performed by friction between surfaces at the fastening points, and the direction in which the reinforcing frame 86 bends and displaces is parallel to the friction surface. If it is in the wrong direction, the fixing position will shift. However, since the direction in which the reinforcement frame 86 is curved and displaced is not in the direction parallel to the friction surface due to fastening of the screw 88, but in the axial direction of the screw 88, the fixed position is less likely to shift. When the opening angle of the cover 15 is small, the reinforcing frame 86 tends to bend due to the moment, and even when the cover 15 is closed, the reinforcing frame 86 tends to bend when the user presses the rotating tip of the cover 15 .

(11) The multi-function machine 11, which is an example of a copier, has the reading device 13 and the recording unit 26 for recording the image of the document D read by the first reading unit 41 of the reading device 13 on a medium in the housing 12. and a recording device 29 . A recording device 29 is arranged below the reading device 13 . Therefore, since the reading device 13 reads the document D with high accuracy and the recording unit records the image on the medium, misalignment of the document D and deterioration of the image quality of the document D by the multifunction machine 11, which is an example of a copying apparatus, are suppressed. It can be reproduced with precision.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment can be modified into a form such as the modified example shown below. Furthermore, a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and the modified examples described below, or a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the modified examples described below.

The configuration of the reading device 13 is not limited to that provided in the multifunction machine 11, which is an example of a copier. The reading device may be, for example, a scanner device 100 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. The scanner device 100 is an example of a housing 12 having a document table 31, a cover 15 that rotates on the top of the housing 12 via a hinge 30 (see FIG. 15), and a feeding unit mounted on the cover 15. ADF 16 of The ADF 16 has a flatbed scanner function to read a document D placed on the glass 34 of the document platen 31 exposed when the cover 15 is opened, and a plurality of documents D set on the document tray 17 by the ADF 16 . It also has a sheet feeder type scanner function that automatically feeds the document D sheet by sheet and reads the document D while it is being transported. The scanner device 100 has a first frame 71 (see FIG. 6) that constitutes the housing 12 and supports the platen 31, and a second frame 72 that constitutes the housing 12 and to which the hinge 30 is fixed. That is, the platen 31 has a frame 60 including a first frame 71, a third frame 73, and a pair of fourth frames 74, and hinges 30, as shown in FIG. and a second frame 72 . The first frame 71 and the second frame 72 face each other in the depth direction X via a gap G1 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). As described above, the scanner device 100 has the same structure as the reading device 13 of the multifunction machine 11 of the above embodiment. In addition, the ADF 16 also has the same structure as the ADF 16 provided in the reading device 13 of the multifunction machine 11, such as having a reinforcing frame 86. FIG. Note that the document reading device 14 is provided with an operation unit 101 that is operated when a user instructs a reading operation or the like.

- A projecting portion 61A may be provided only below a portion of the fourth frame 74 corresponding to the first frame 71 with a space therebetween. Also, the projecting portion 61B may be provided at a space only below the portion of the fourth frame 74 corresponding to the second frame. Also, a projection 61B may be provided below a portion of the second frame 72 that does not overlap the fourth frame 74 . Furthermore, a protrusion may be arranged below the portion of the first frame 71 that does not overlap with the fourth frame 74 with a gap therebetween.

・The arrangement position of the protrusions 61A and 61B is not limited to the rear portion of the platen 31, and may be the front portion. For example, a protrusion may be provided below the third frame 73 . That is, a protrusion may be provided below the portion of the fourth frame 74 corresponding to the third frame 73 with a space therebetween. Further, a protrusion may be provided below the portion of the third frame 73 that does not overlap with the fourth frame with a space therebetween. According to this configuration, even when the user applies a load by pressing the front portion of the ADF 16, which is the hand side of the ADF 16, with a hand during scanning or copying, the load can be received by the protrusion. Therefore, the frame 60 that holds the platen 31 is less likely to be deformed, and displacement of the first reading unit 41 and the glass 34 due to deformation of the platen 31 can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the user presses the front portion of the ADF 16, which is the hand side, a good quality read image can be obtained.

- The protrusions 61A and 61B may be formed by fixing a separate member from the housing 38 to the bottom portion 61 .
- It is good also as a structure which the pillar member 77 or 78 intervenes in the U-shaped part of only one of the pair of frames 71 and 73. As shown in FIG. For example, of the pair of frames 71 and 73, only the first frame 71 has a U-shaped portion in which the column member 77 is interposed. Further, for example, the column member 78 is interposed in the U-shaped portion of only the third frame 73 of the pair of frames 71 and 73 .

- The reinforcing frame 86 may be extended so that its tip passes through a hole opening in the side plate frame 81 on the handle side.
- The reinforcement frame 86 and the support frame 82A may be in contact with each other without a gap G2 if they are not fixed between the fixing points at both ends.

- The reinforcement frame 86 may be arranged below the support frame 82A, and may be fixed to the support frame 82A with a gap G2 between the fixing points at both ends. Also, the reinforcement frame 86 may be fixed to another support frame 82 .

The reinforcing frame 86 may have a U-shaped cross section by fixing two L-shaped frames that intersect the longitudinal direction.
・The screw member may be a bolt instead of the screw 88 .

In the configuration in which the ADF 16 is provided with the reinforcing frame 86, the first frame 71 of the frame 60 and the second frame 72 to which the hinge 30 is fixed are fixed, or the first frame 71 of the frame 60 is fixed to the hinge 30. You may With these configurations as well, deformation of the ADF 16 is suppressed by the reinforcing frame 86, and the document D conveyed by the ADF 16 can be accurately read.

Technical ideas understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples are described below together with their effects.
The reading device includes a housing having a document table on which a document is placed, a cover that rotates on the top of the housing via a hinge, a feeding section mounted on the cover, and a document placed on the document table. a reading unit for reading the document fed by the feeding unit and the document fed by the feeding unit; a first frame that constitutes the housing and supports the document table; and a second frame that constitutes the housing and to which the hinge is fixed. a frame;

According to this configuration, in the reading device, the first frame that supports the platen is separated from the second frame that fixes the hinge. The load of the cover is less likely to be transmitted to the first frame supporting the platen via the hinge. As a result, deformation of the first frame due to this type of load is suppressed, and displacement of the document table supported by the first frame is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress misalignment of the document set on the document platen. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-quality read image of the document in the reading device having the document platen and the feeding section.

In the reading device, a gap may be formed between the first frame and the second frame.
According to this configuration, even if the second frame is deformed due to the load of the feeding section and the cover when the feeding section and the cover are opened and closed, the deformed second frame is unlikely to come into contact with the first frame. Therefore, deformation of the first frame due to contact of the deformed second frame with the first frame can be avoided. As a result, misalignment of the platen supported by the first frame is suppressed. It is possible to more reliably suppress degradation in image quality of a read image due to positional deviation of the platen.

The above-described reading device comprises a pair of side frames that constitute the housing, constitute a frame of the document table together with the first frame, and extend in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the first frame, wherein the second frame is , may be fixed to the pair of side frames.

According to this configuration, in the reading device, when the cover is closed with respect to the document platen, the rotation radial direction of the cover via the hinge becomes the longitudinal direction, and the pair of side plates extending in the direction strong against the torque when the cover rotates. Since the frame and the second frame are fixed, deformation or misalignment of the platen due to repeated opening and closing of the cover can be suppressed.

In the reading device, the document platen includes a housing that movably accommodates the reading section, and a bottom portion of the housing has, at a position facing one or both of the second frame and the side frame, a An abutment may be provided that hits when one or both are deformed downward.

According to this configuration, even if one or both of the second frame and the side frames are deformed downward due to the torque transmitted through the hinge by the weight of the feeding section when the cover is opened, they will not hit the contact section. Therefore, the amount of deformation of one or both of the second frame and the side frames is suppressed to a predetermined amount or less. Therefore, misalignment of the platen is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress deterioration in the image quality of the read image of the document caused by the positional deviation of the document platen.

In the reading device, the document platen includes a pair of frames including the first frame and a third frame arranged in parallel at a position opposite to the second frame with respect to the first frame. The pair of frames has a U-shaped cross section crossing the longitudinal direction, and a column member is interposed in one or both of the U-shaped portions of the pair of frames. may

According to this configuration, the column member is interposed in the U-shaped portion of one or both of the pair of front and rear frames that constitute the platen. Therefore, even if a load is applied from above to the frame with the column members interposed therebetween, the frame is less likely to deform. For example, when a column member is interposed in the first frame, even if the load of the feeding section and the cover is applied to the first frame through the hinge, the column member interposed in the U-shaped portion of the first frame , deformation of the first frame is suppressed. Further, for example, when a column member is interposed in the third frame, even if the user presses the feeding section and the cover on the third frame from above in order to prevent the document from floating up on the document table, the third frame does not move. Deformation of the third frame is suppressed by the column member interposed in the U-shaped portion of .

In the above reading device, the hinge includes a first member and a second member that are connected so as to be able to rotate relative to each other, the first member is fixed to the second frame, and the second member is connected to the feeding section. and a reinforcing frame that supports the cover and extends in a rotational radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member, and the frame of the feeding section may be fixed to the reinforcing frame.

According to this configuration, the frame of the feeding section is fixed to the reinforcing frame extending in the rotation radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member constituting the hinge. Even if opening and closing are repeated, the deformation of the feeding portion can be suppressed. As a result, when the feeding section feeds the document onto the document table, the difference in the distance between the document and the reading section at both ends in the rotation radial direction of the cover is suppressed to be small. Therefore, since the entire document in the radial direction of cover rotation is within the depth of field of the reading unit, the entire document can be read as a high-quality image with little blurring.

The reading device includes a housing having a document table on which a document is placed, a cover that rotates on the top of the housing via a hinge, a feeding section mounted on the cover, and a document placed on the document table. a reading unit for reading the document fed by the feeding unit and the document fed by the feeding unit, the hinge having a first member and a second member capable of relative rotation, the first member being the housing; a reinforcing frame fixed to a frame constituting a body, the second member supporting the feeding section and the cover, and extending in a rotational radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member, The frame of the feeding section may be fixed to the reinforcing frame.

According to this configuration, since the frame of the feeding section is fixed to the reinforcing frame extending in the rotation radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member constituting the hinge, the feeding section can be mounted. Even if the cover is repeatedly opened and closed, deformation of the feeding section can be suppressed. As a result, when the feeding unit feeds the document onto the document platen, the difference in the distance between the document and the reading unit at both ends in the radial direction of cover rotation can be reduced. Therefore, since the entire document in the radial direction of cover rotation is within the depth of field of the reading unit, the entire document can be read as a high-quality image with little blurring. Therefore, in the reading apparatus having the document platen and the feeding section, it is possible to obtain a high-quality read image of the document.

In the reading device described above, the reinforcing frame may extend in the radial direction of rotation to a position beyond the center of gravity of the feeding section and the cover.
According to this configuration, since the reinforcing frame receives the load applied to the center of gravity of the feeding section and the cover, deformation due to repeated opening and closing of the feeding section and the cover can be suppressed more effectively. Therefore, the difference in the distance between the document and the reading section at both ends in the cover rotation radial direction of the document fed to the reading position by the feeding section is suppressed to be small. As a result, the entire document can be read as a high-quality image with less blurring.

The reading device includes a first reading unit as the reading unit movably accommodated on the document platen, and a second reading unit for reading the document in the middle of the conveying path in the feeding unit, and the reinforcing frame. outside the first reading section and the second reading section located at a reading position for reading a document conveyed by the feeding section in a width direction intersecting with the rotational radial direction of the feeding section; It may be arranged in the area between the ends.

According to this configuration, the reinforcing frame is arranged in the range between the outer ends of the first reading section and the second reading section located at the reading position in the width direction of the feeding section. Therefore, the deformation of the peripheral portion between the first reading section and the second reading section is suppressed by the reinforcing frame. Therefore, even when the first reading section reads, for example, the first side of the document conveyed by the feeding section, when the second reading section reads, for example, the second side of the document conveyed by the feeding section in the middle of the conveyance path. Also, the document can be read with high reading accuracy.

In the reading device, the frame of the feeding section has a pair of side plate frames arranged on both sides in the rotation radial direction, and a support frame supporting the pair of side plate frames, and the reinforcing frame is located above or below the support frame, is fixed to the support frame at both ends in the rotation radial direction, and is at least part of the range between the fixing points at the both ends and is connected to the support frame. They may be arranged with a gap.

According to this configuration, the reinforcement frame is fixed to the support frame at both ends in the rotation radial direction, and a gap is provided between the reinforcement frame and the support frame in at least a part of the range between the fixing points at the both ends. . Therefore, even if the supporting frame is reinforced by the reinforcing frame, and if the supporting frame is deformed and the portion between the two end portions of the supporting frame is displaced in the direction to approach the reinforcing frame, the presence of the gap will prevent the supporting frame from being deformed. contacting and pushing against the reinforcing frame. As a result, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the feeding section caused by the deformed portion of the supporting frame coming into contact with the reinforcing frame.

In the reading device, the reinforcing frame has a U-shaped cross section in a direction intersecting with the rotational radial direction, and the support frame located below the reinforcing frame has the U-shaped support frame. At the bottom of the shape, it may be fixed by a screw member whose axial direction is the tangential direction of the rotation radius.

According to this configuration, even if the reinforcement frame bends when the cover rotates through the hinge, the fixing position of the reinforcement frame and the support frame by the screw member is less likely to shift. Positioning of the reinforcing frame and the support frame at the fixing point by fastening the screw member is performed by friction between the surfaces at the fastening point, and the direction in which the reinforcing frame is curved and displaced is parallel to the friction surface. If so, the fixing position will be shifted. However, since the direction in which the reinforcing frame bends and is displaced is not in the direction parallel to the friction surface due to fastening of the screw member, but in the axial direction of the screw member, the fixing position is less likely to shift. When the opening angle of the cover is small, the reinforcing frame tends to bend due to the moment, and even when the cover is closed, the reinforcing frame tends to bend when the user presses the rotating tip of the cover.

A copying apparatus includes the reading device and a recording device having a recording unit in the housing for recording an image of a document read by the reading unit of the reading device on a medium. A recording device is in place.

According to this configuration, the image read by the reading device with high accuracy is recorded on the medium by the recording unit, so that the copying device can copy the original with high accuracy while suppressing misalignment and deterioration of image quality. can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... MFP as an example of a copying apparatus, 12... Housing, 13... Reader, 14... Document reader, 15... Cover, 16... Automatic document feeder (ADF) as an example of a feeding unit, 17... Document tray 26 Recording unit 27 Recording head 28 Carriage 29 Recording device 30 Hinge 30A First member 30B Second member 31 Document stand 32 Main body housing 33 Frame body 34 Glass 35 Transparent plate 36 Document holding surface 37 Opening 38 Housing 41 First reading unit as an example of reading unit 42 Second reading unit 44 First reading unit Sensor 45 Carriage 46 Transport unit 50 Feed roller 51 Separate roller 52 First guide roller 53 Second guide roller 54 Third guide roller 55 Feed roller 56 Ejection roller 60 Frame 61 Bottom 61A, 61B Protrusions as examples of contact portions 66 Screw 67 Screw 68 Screw 71 First frame 71A Lower frame 71B... Upper frame, 72... Second frame, 73... Third frame, 73A... Lower frame, 73B... Upper frame, 74... Fourth frame which is an example of side frame, 75..., 76..., 77... Column member, 78... Column member, 79... Positioning pin, 80... Frame, 81... Side plate frame, 82... Support frame, 82A... Support frame, 86... Reinforcing frame, 86A... Bottom part, 87... Protrusion, 88... Examples of screw member screw, 100... scanner device as an example of a reading device, D... manuscript, P... paper as an example of a medium, T... transport path, G1... gap, G2... gap, CG... center of gravity, SP... reading position, SA ... range, X ... depth direction, Y ... width direction, Z ... vertical direction.

Claims (9)

a housing having a platen on which a manuscript is placed;
a cover that rotates on an upper portion of the housing via a hinge having a first member and a second member that are coupled so as to be able to rotate relative to each other ;
a feeding unit mounted on the cover;
a reading unit that reads the document placed on the platen and the document fed by the feeding unit;
a reinforcing frame that extends in a rotational radial direction of the cover while being fixed to the second member ;
The housing is
a first frame as a frame that constitutes the platen;
a second frame provided with a gap so as not to contact the first frame and to which the hinge is fixed;
the first member is fixed to the second frame;
the second member supports the feeding section and the cover;
The frame of the feeding unit is fixed to the reinforcing frame,
A reading device characterized by: a pair of side frames constituting the housing and constituting a frame of the document platen together with the first frame and extending in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the first frame;
2. The reading device according to claim 1 , wherein said second frame is fixed to said pair of side frames. the document platen includes a housing that movably accommodates the reading unit;
A bottom portion of the housing is provided at a position facing one or both of the second frame and the side frame with a contact portion that contacts when one or both of the second frame and the side frame are deformed downward. 3. A reader according to claim 2 . the document platen has a pair of frames including the first frame and a third frame arranged in parallel at a position opposite to the second frame with respect to the first frame, and
The pair of frames has a U-shaped cross section that intersects the longitudinal direction,
4. The reader according to claim 1 , wherein a column member is interposed in said U-shaped portion of one or both of said pair of frames. 5. The reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing frame extends in the rotational radial direction to a position beyond the center of gravity of the feeding section and the cover. Device. a first reading unit as the reading unit movably accommodated on the document platen;
The reinforcing frame is positioned between the first reading section and the second reading section at a reading position for reading a document conveyed by the feeding section in a width direction that intersects the rotational radial direction of the feeding section. 6. A reading device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that it is arranged in an area between respective outer ends. The frame of the feeding section,
a pair of side plate frames arranged on both sides in the rotation radial direction;
a support frame that supports the pair of side plate frames;
has
The reinforcement frame is positioned above the support frame, is fixed to the support frame at both ends in the rotation radial direction, and is supported in at least a part of the range between fixed points at the both ends. 7. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the reading device is arranged with a gap from the frame. The reinforcing frame has a U-shaped cross section in a direction that intersects with the rotational radial direction, and the support frame located below the reinforcing frame is positioned at the bottom of the U-shape. 8. The reading device according to claim 7 , wherein the reading device is fixed by a screw member whose axis is tangential to said turning radius. a reader according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ;
a recording device having a recording unit in the housing for recording an image of a document read by the reading unit of the reading device on a medium;
has
The recording device is arranged below the reading device,
A copier characterized by:

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