JPH01186057A - Original reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read a large original without folding it by adopting the constitution such that an original retainer covering the upper part of an original platen is formed separately and the original platen is formed to constitute the uppermost face of the equipment main body when the original retainer is removed. CONSTITUTION:The original retainer 4 covering the upper part of the original platen 3 is easily removed and attached by a planer fasner 130. When the original retainer 4 is removed, the original platen 3 forms the uppermost face of the equipment main body 2. In the case of using all original D larger than the original platen 3, with the original retainer 4 removed, it is possible to use a picture forming device 1 with turn-over. In this case, the original platen 3 remains in close contact onto the original face and the equipment main body 2 is to be moved. Thus, the original D is copied without folding it.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an optical system that irradiates light onto a document placed on a document tray and guides the reflected light to a reading sensor. The present invention relates to an improvement in a document reading device which is equipped to read image information of the document.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there are many devices that are equipped with a document placement table and are configured to read image information of a document placed on the document placement table.

Further, in this type of reading device, a document presser is usually rotatably provided in a state where it can overlap on the document table, so that the document can be brought into close contact with the document table.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, conventionally, in this type of reading device, when reading a part of a document larger than the size of the document mounting table, it is difficult to read the document without folding it. It is not possible to reliably set the document in the specified position on the document table, which is not only extremely troublesome, but also damages the document or impairs the tightness between the document and the document table, making it difficult to read the document properly. There were some inconveniences such as being unable to do so in some cases.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a simple structure that can be used not only in the normal usage of placing a manuscript on a manuscript table. To provide a document reading device capable of reading necessary parts of a large document without folding it.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical system that irradiates light onto a document placed on a document mounting table and guides the reflected light to a reading sensor. A document reading device for reading image information of the document, wherein the document holding body covering the document placing table is separable, and when the document holding body is separated, the document placing table is located at the top of the device main body. This song has a +7.7 composition, and can be used in reverse if necessary.

(Function) In other words, the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, so that the original holding body covering the top of the original placing table can be separated, and when this original holding body is separated, the top surface of the original holding table or the top surface of the apparatus body can be separated. Because it has a double structure, it can not only be used normally by placing the original on the original table, but also can be used inverted as necessary, allowing the reader to read the necessary parts without folding large originals. When the apparatus is reversed, the original table is placed at the bottom of the apparatus body, so that the document and the document table are brought close to each other, and good reading is possible.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the external appearance of an image forming apparatus (scanner printer) 1 to which the original reading device of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 2 is the main body of the apparatus, and on its upper surface is a document mounting table made of a transparent acrylic plate. The original table (original table) 3 and the original holding member (platen cover) 4 are in a state where they are sequentially superposed. Furthermore, on the front side there is a copy button 51 and a number setting button 6.
．． A display section 7 consisting of seven segments is provided, and a power switch 8 is provided on the left side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the document presser 3 is openable and closable so that it can be retracted from the document table 3 via a hinge portion 9 formed of a thin portion formed along its rear edge. .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the image forming apparatus 1 also includes a scanner unit section 10 as a reading device for reading image information of a document placed on a document table 3; The printer unit 11 serves as a recording device that records and outputs the image information read on recording paper P as a visible image on recording paper P.

The scanner unit section 10 includes a xenon lamp 15 as a light source that illuminates the document tray, a mirror 16 that horizontally reflects the light reflected from the document tray, and a mirror 16 that receives the reflected light reflected by the mirror 16. It has an optical system 19 including a lens 18 that focuses light onto a CCD sensor 17 as a reduction type reading sensor. Also,
The optical system 19 is housed in an optical system accommodating portion 21 formed within a substantially fan-shaped partition frame 20 formed within one body 2a of the apparatus main body 2. The upper surface side of the optical system housing section 21 is closed by a cover 2b of the apparatus main body 2, and the lower surface side is closed by a light shielding plate 22. Light is prevented from entering from places other than the slit 23.

Further, in the scanner unit section 10, short components such as the main control board 26 are placed in a short cavity 25 formed on the lower surface side of the optical system housing section 21. In the tall cavity 27 shifted from the position of 21,
Battery 28. Tall parts such as the motor 29 are housed therein. In addition, 30 shown in FIG. 4 (indicated by a two-dot chain line)
indicates a device area for 16 child parts (not shown) mounted in the king control unit 26.

Further, the printer unit 11 is attached to and dismounted from the printer unit accommodating portion 40 formed on the G end side of the apparatus main body 2 (1:, sold as 1), and the size of the recording paper P (for example, from 83 to A6) It is possible to replace it with one equipped with a matching ink ribbon 41 as appropriate.

The printer unit 11 is placed in a printer unit housing section 40.
When housed in the printer unit accommodating section 40, it is mechanically held in a predetermined position by positioning guide means formed in the printer unit accommodating section 40, and the printer side connector (male connector) 42 protruding from one end thereof is connected to the scanner side connector. (Female connector) By fitting into the connector 43, it becomes electrically connected to the scanner unit section 10:
It has become.

The printer unit section 11 also includes the connector 42.
A print head (thermal head) 45 is arranged which is connected to the scanner unit 10 side via the print head 45, and a platen feed which serves as both a platen roller and a feed roller is arranged opposite to the heat generating part 45a of this print head 45 (not for foreign films). A roller 46 is provided.

Furthermore, an ink ribbon supply means 47 that tensions the ink ribbon 41 with a middle part interposed between the heat generating part 45a of the print head 45 and the platen feed roller 46.
It is already installed. The ink ribbon 41
is fed out from a feeding-side core 48 installed parallel to the platen feed roller 46, and wound around four winding-side cores. Further, a guide shaft 50 is installed between the platen feed roller 46 and the winding-side core 49, and the ink ribbon 41 is wound around the platen feed roller 46 at a constant rate of 2, and the ink ribbon 41 is folded back. recording paper P
The ink ribbon 41 can be easily separated from the ink ribbon 41.

In addition, the platen feed roller 46 and the feeding side core 48
A paper insertion port 55 is formed at a position corresponding to the recording paper insertion port 55, and the recording paper P inserted through the recording paper insertion port 55 is guided by a paper guide 56 between the ink ribbon 41 and the circumferential surface of the platen feed roller 46. The ink ribbon 41 is guided into a V-shaped space formed by the ink ribbon 41 and is conveyed while being held between the ink ribbon 41 and the platen feed roller 46 as the platen feed roller 46 rotates. Further, the recording paper P that has passed through the heat generating section 45a is separated from the ink ribbon 41 at the guide shaft 50 which also serves as a separating means, and then guided to a paper discharge port 59 by a paper guide 58 and discharged. ing.

Further, a drive mechanism section 60 is incorporated in the apparatus main body 2, which uses the motor 29 as a drive source to reciprocate the document table 3, and drives the platen feed roller 46 and the four take-up side cores. It becomes.

That is, the scanner unit section 10 includes a first timing pulley (drive pulley) 65 attached to the drive shaft 29a of the motor 29, as shown in FIGS.
The first gear 67 is interlocked with the timing heald 66 and serves as a driving gear.
A timing pulley (driven pulley) 68 is rotatably provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first drive force transmission system 69 for driving the original platen and a second drive force transmission system for driving the platen feed roller are connected to each other using the first gear 67 as a drive source. A system 70 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the first driving force transmission system 69 includes a second gear 71 that meshes with the first gear 67, and a third gear 72 that is integral with the second gear 71. And this third
A fourth float 73 as a pinion meshing with the gear 72 of
H, and the fourth gear 73 is in mesh with a rack 76 attached to a rear movable frame 75 connected to the original table 3 via a connecting means 74.

Therefore, when the first gear 67 serving as a driving gear rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow due to the rotation of the motor 29 in the forward direction (the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 5), the 2 gear 71. Third float 72. The fourth floats 73 serving as pinions each rotate in the direction of the solid line arrow to move the rack 76 in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG.

As a result, the rear opening moving frame 75, which is reciprocably attached to the main body rear frame 78 via the slide rail 77, and the document mounting table 3, which is connected to this via the connecting means 74, are moved. Become.

Furthermore, when the first gear 67 serving as the driving gear rotates in the direction of the broken line arrow due to rotation of the motor 29 in the opposite direction (the direction of the dashed line arrow in FIG. 5), the second gear 67 constituting the six first driving force transmission systems rotates. gear 71. Third gear 72. The fourth gears 73 as pinions rotate in the direction of the dashed arrow, and the rack 7
6 in the direction of the dashed arrow in FIG.

As a result, the rear movable frame 75, which is reciprocatably attached to the rear frame 78 of the main body via the slide rail 77, and the document mounting table 3, which is connected to the rear movable frame 75 via the connecting means 74, move back.

Further, the second driving force transmission system 70 for driving the platen feed roller includes a fifth gear 80 that meshes with the first gear 67 as the driving gear, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. , a third timing pulley 82 that interlocks with this fifth gear 80 via a ratchet type one-way clutch 81, and a fourth timing pulley 82 that interlocks with this third timing pulley 82 via a second timing belt 83. A timing pulley 84, a first helical gear 85 integral with the fourth timing pulley 84, a second helical gear 86 meshing with the first helical gear 85, and a second helical gear 86 that meshes with the first helical gear 85. Fifth timing pulley 87 integrated with pusher gear 86
, a sixth timing pulley 89 interlocked with this fifth timing pulley 87 and a third timing belt 88 , and a seventh timing pulley 89 integrated with this sixth timing pulley 89 .
The seventh timing pulley 90 and the fourth timing belt 91 interlock with each other, and the drive shaft 46 of the platen feed roller 46
The eighth timing pulley 92 is fitted into the timing pulley 92a.

When the first gear 67 serving as a driving gear rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow due to the rotation of the motor 29 in the forward direction (the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 5), the fifth gear 80 meshing with the first gear 67 rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow.
rotates in the direction of the solid line arrow, and this rotational force is transmitted to the third timing pulley 82 via the one-way clutch 81. Further, the timing belt 84 of the second timing belt 83, m4. First helical gear gear 85. Second
Helical gear gear 86, fifth timing pulley 87. Third timing belt 88, sixth timing pulley 89. The signal is transmitted to the eighth timing pulley 92 via the seventh timing pulley 90 and the fourth timing belt 91 in this order.

This causes the platen feed roller 46 to move in a predetermined direction (
It will rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the document placing table 3 is in the forward movement process of scanning the document tray via the first driving force transmission system 69 described above.

In addition, the motor 29 is moved in the opposite direction (
When the first gear 67 as a motive float rotates in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. The movement of the directional clutch 81 is not transmitted to the third timing pulley 82, so that the platen feed roller 46 and the winding-side core 49 do not rotate in the opposite direction.

Further, the fifth gear 80 is a gear biasing means 1 which will be described later.
00, the first gear 67 as a driving gear is elastically engaged with the first gear 67 as a driving gear, and the driving force can be effectively transmitted to the printer unit section 11 which is detachable from the apparatus main body 2. It looks like this. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the printer unit section 11 is provided with an arm 102 that is rotatable about a pivot shaft 101, and the fifth arm is attached to one end of this arm 102. The i'tj 80 is installed coaxially with the one-way clutch 81, the third timing pulley 82, and the like. Further, the first helical gear 85, the fourth timing pulley 84, etc. are coaxially provided on the pivot shaft 101.

On the pivot end side of the arm 102, one end is connected to a spring receiving member 1.
03 is connected to the other end of the tension spring 104, and the fifth gear 80 is connected to the housing 1 of the printer unit section 11.
It is in a state where it is constantly biased in the direction of protruding outward from the opening (not shown) formed in 05 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9).

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a seventh timing pulley 90 is connected to the winding-side core 49 for winding the ink ribbon 41 via a third driving force transmission system 110 for the winding-side core.
rotational force is transmitted.

The third driving force transmission system 110 has the following configuration. That is, a disk 113 having a felt 112 is rotatably provided on a shaft 111 that rotatably supports the sixth and seventh timing pulleys 89, 90. This disk 113 and the end of the seventh timing pulley 90 are connected via a truncated conical compression spring 114, and the seventh timing pulley 90
The rotational force is applied to the disk 113 via this compression spring 114.
At the same time, the felt 112 is constantly biased so as to come into pressure contact with the disk 115 press-fitted into one end of the winding-side core 49.

Thus, the rotational force of the seventh timing pulley 90 is applied to the compression spring 114. The force is transmitted to the disk 113 provided with the felt 112, and is further transmitted to the disk 115 due to the frictional force between the felt 112 and the disk 115.
The winding side core 49, which is integral with the winding core 15, is rotated at the same time.

The rotational speed of the winding-side core 49 at this time is set to be faster than that of the platen feed roller 46, and even when the winding amount of the ink ribbon 41 of the winding-side core 49 is small and the peripheral speed is slow. The ink ribbon 41 can be wound up without loosening.

At this time, when a predetermined tension is applied to the ink ribbon 41, slippage occurs between the felt 112 and the disk 115, so that rotational force is not transmitted to the winding-side core 49. In FIG. 10, 116 is a support member, 117 is an ink ribbon holder, and 118 is a stopper for preventing the disc 113 from coming off.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the lens 18 of the optical system 19 of the scanner unit section 10 is
It is accommodated in a U-shaped lens storage recess 121 surrounded by ribs 120 protruding from the 0 etc. screws 122, 1.
The pressing is fixed by a leaf spring 123 attached by 22.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the document presser 4 that covers the document placing table 3 has a first fastener 13 formed of a loop-shaped portion.
0a and a second fastener 130b consisting of a hook-shaped portion
It can be explained very easily by the back surface fastener consisting of so-called Velcro tape (velcro tape) 130.

When the document holding plate 4 is removed, it is configured to function as the uppermost part of the document mounting table 3 or the apparatus main body 2. In the case of a document tray larger than the document table 3, the image forming apparatus 1 can be used by inverting the image forming apparatus 1 with the document presser 4 removed, as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the rear end frame portion of the upper member 135 of the document placement table 3 is connected to the rear movable frame 75 via the hinge 136, and this The table 3 is rotatable as shown in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used upside down, it is possible to align the document placement table 3 to a predetermined position on the document tray while visually observing the document tray. Further, a scale 137 is provided around the document mounting table 3, so that alignment with a document matching the size of the recording paper P can be performed extremely easily.

Further, the front edge side (free end side) of the document placement table 3 is slidably supported on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 via a support means 138, and the pivot end side is on the side of the document placement table 3. The magnetic body 139 and the rear movable frame 75 provided in
The flatness with respect to the apparatus main body 2 is maintained by suction means 141 consisting of a magnet 140 attached to the horizontal piece of the apparatus.

Next, the handling and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be explained.

First, if the document tray is of a size (A3 to A6 size) that can be placed on the document tray 3, the document tray 3 is placed in the normal usage state with the document tray 3 on top as shown in FIG. The document placed on top is held down by the document presser 4, and the recording paper P is set in the printer unit section 11.

After setting the number of copies using the number setting button 6, the user presses the copy button 5. As a result, first, the drive mechanism section 6
0 motor 29 once rotates in the reverse direction (rotates in the direction of the dashed arrow in FIG. 5), and the rotational force is transmitted to the six first power transmission systems for the original table (see FIGS. 5 and 7). This action is converted into a backward motion of the document placement table 3, and the document placement table 3 moves to the start position.

Next, the xenon lamp 15 of the optical system 19 of the scanner unit 10 is turned on, and the motor 29 of the drive mechanism section 60 rotates in the forward direction (in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 5), and its rotational force is applied to the first Due to the action of the power transmission system 69, the document placing table 3 is converted into a forward movement, and the document placing table 3 starts to move forward. As a result, the image surface of the document is scanned, and the reflected light is sent to the CCD sensor 17.
The image signal is photoelectrically converted and sent to the printer unit section 11.

On the other hand, in the printer unit section 11, the drive mechanism section 6
Second driving force transmission system 7 for platen feed roller 0
0 (see FIGS. 5 and 8), the platen feed roller 46 rotates, and the recording paper P and the ink ribbon 41 are rotated.
is sent at a predetermined speed, a group of heating elements (not shown) of the heating section 45a of the print head 45 selectively generates heat, and recording corresponding to the image information on the recording paper P, that is, copying is performed. It turns out.

Note that the recording paper P and the ink ribbon 41 are separated by a guide shaft 50 serving as a separating means, and the recording paper P
is discharged from the paper outlet 59, and the ink ribbon 41 is wound onto the rotating take-up core 49 via the third power transmission system 110 for the take-up core (see FIGS. 5 and 10). taken.

When copying of the original is completed in this way, the xenon lamp 15 is turned off, the motor 29 of the drive mechanism section 60 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the original placing table 3 is moved back so that it overlaps the main body 2 of the apparatus. He will return to his position.

In addition, if the document tray is thick such as a book, the document presser 4 should be left open as shown in FIG. 3, or the document presser 4 should be kept open as shown in FIG. It will be used with 4 removed.

In addition, when reading a part of a document plate larger than the size of the document table 3, first remove the document presser 4 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the original is placed on the original plate, and in this state, the original plate is copied.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the document placement table 3 remains in close contact with the document surface, and the apparatus main body 2 side is moved. Therefore, copying can be performed without folding the document sheet.

Therefore, compared to the conventional method of folding and setting a document tray, this work is extremely easy, and it also prevents damage to the document tray and poor reading due to loss of adhesion between the document tray and the document table 3. It is possible to prevent such things as inviting.

In addition, in such a state of use, alignment with the document tray can be easily performed by visually observing from the back side of the document placement table 3 as shown in FIG. This facilitates alignment corresponding to the size of the recording paper P.

Although the reading device of the present invention has been described as being integrated with a printer unit as a recording device, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it may be used alone.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist.

[Efficacy of invention! ,! :] As explained above, according to the present invention, the document holding body that covers the top of the document placing table can be separated, and when the document holding body is separated, the document placing table forms the uppermost surface of the apparatus main body. Because of this structure, it can be used not only in the normal way, in which the original is placed on the original table, but also inverted when necessary.
It is possible to read the necessary parts of a large document without folding it, and when the device is turned over, the document table is at the bottom of the main body of the device, so the document and the document table are in close contact with each other. This has the effect of enabling accurate reading.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention is applied, showing a state in which a document holder is separated from the main body of the apparatus; FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the document holder in an open state, Figure 4 is a schematic front view showing the internal mechanism, Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of the internal mechanism, and Figure 6 is a drive. A diagram showing the structure of the drive source side of the mechanism section as seen from the rear side, FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the drive force transmission system for the document table of the drive mechanism section, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the platen feed of the drive mechanism section. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a driving force transmission system for the roller; FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a gear biasing means of the driving force transmission system for the platen feed roller; FIG. 10 is a diagram for the winding core. FIG. 11 is a side view showing how the lens is attached, FIG. 12 is a side view showing the image forming apparatus in reverse use, FIG. 13 and FIG. Figure 14 is a schematic side view showing the mounting state of the document placement table;
The figure is a perspective view showing the alignment state with the original when using inversion,
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the operating state during reversal use. 2... Apparatus main body, 3... Document placement table, 4... Document presser, 10... Reading device (scanner unit),
17...Reading sensor, 19...Optical system, D...Document. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 9 Figure 1o Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] A document reading device that includes an optical system that irradiates light onto a document placed on a document placement table and guides the reflected light to a reading sensor, and reads image information of the document, the document covering the document placement table. A document reader characterized in that the presser body is separable, and when the document presser body is separated, the document mounting table forms the uppermost surface of the apparatus main body, so that it can be used inverted as necessary. Device.