JPH043730A - Document cassette feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly feed a document cassette even when a trouble occurs on a document cassette feeder by mounting the document cassette on a mount bed at the uppermost stage section of a cassette holding means via a guide port, and moving the holding means so that the mount bed corresponds to the communication port of an image reader. CONSTITUTION:When a trouble occurs on a cassette feeder 10, the second cover section 52 of the cassette feeder 10 is opened. A cassette 14 is mounted on a mount bed 69 at the uppermost section of a cassette holding means 16. The holding means 16 is lowered by a handle action so that the mount bed 69 coincides with the communication port 34 of an image reader 20. The cassette 14 mounted on the mount bed 69 is fed to the image reader 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a document cassette supply device that supplies a document cassette holding a document to be read to an image reading device.

[Prior Art] In the fields of printing and plate making, image scanning reading and reproducing systems that electrically process image information recorded on manuscripts to create film master plates have been developed for the purpose of streamlining work processes and improving image quality. It is used.

In this case, the image reading device that constitutes the system
Two-dimensional reading of image information is performed by main-scanning a read document positioned and stored in a document cassette while conveying it to a reading section.

It is desirable that such an image reading device be connected to a ladle for handling a large number of documents to be read, and an automatic feeding device capable of automatically feeding a plurality of document cassettes.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when the automatic feeding device is connected to an image reading device, if a failure occurs in the automatic feeding device and it becomes inoperable, the document cannot be transferred to the image reading device. It becomes impossible to supply cassettes. Also,
Even when the automatic feeding device is operating normally, if the number of document cassettes handled is large, it becomes impossible to feed desired document cassettes to the image reading device in a short time.

The present invention has been made to solve such inconveniences, and provides a document cassette supply device that can reliably supply document cassettes to an image reading device in a short time even when a failure occurs. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a document cassette supply device that supplies a document cassette holding a document to be read to an image reading device, the document cassette supplying device including a device for storing the document cassette. cassette holding means movable in the stacking direction of the step portions; a moving means for moving the cassette holding means to a position corresponding to a communication port that communicates the image reading device and the document cassette supply device; and a cassette introduction port for supplying the document cassette to the placing table. It is characterized by comprising the following.

[Function] As described above, in the document cassette feeding device of the present invention, the document cassette holding the document to be read is placed on the mounting table provided at the top of the step of the cassette holding means through the cassette inlet. do.

Next, the document cassette is supplied to the image reading apparatus after moving the cassette holding means using a moving means so that the placing table is at a position corresponding to the communication port in the image reading apparatus.

[Embodiments] A document cassette feeding device according to the present invention will be described in detail below by way of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a document cassette supply device 10 of this embodiment. The document cassette supply device 10 is surrounded by a casing 12, and includes a cassette holding means 16 for storing a document cassette 14, which will be described later, and a cassette insertion port 5 for supplying the document cassette 14 to the cassette holding means 16.
6.66, a cassette introduction port 67, and a cassette supply means 22 for supplying the document cassette 14 stored in the cassette holding means 16 to the image reading device 20 to which the document cassette supply device 1o is connected.

Here, the document cassette 14 supplied to the document cassette supply device 10 and the image reading device 20 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the document cassette 14 holds a transmission-type read document 28 between two supporting glass plates 26 surrounded by a frame 24 having a substantially rectangular shape, and has a transmission type document 28 on both sides (in the transport direction (direction of arrow X)). V-shaped grooves 30a and 30b extending along the conveyance direction are formed. Furthermore, a cassette identification section 29 for identifying the document cassette 14 and the read document 28 held in the document cassette 14 is provided on the top surface of the leading end of the frame 24 in the conveyance direction. The cassette identification section 29 is configured by combining a plurality of light-transmitting sections 31a and light-shielding sections 31b according to the document cassette 14 and the read document 28 held in the document cassette 14.

In FIG. 3, the image reading device 2.0 includes a casing 3.
an insertion detection means 36 such as a photointerrupter disposed near the communication port 34 formed in the cassette identification means 3;
8, a conveying means 40 for conveying the document cassette 14 within the image reading apparatus 20, and an image reading section 42.

The insertion detection means 36 detects that the document cassette 14 is detected by the image reading device 2.
Detects that it is inserted into 0. Further, the cassette identifying means 38 identifies the original cassette 14 and the read original 28 held in the original cassette 14, and is configured, for example, by a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and light receiving elements. The conveyance means 40 conveys the document cassette 14 from the communication port 34 to the image reading section 42, and includes a guide roller 44 that engages with grooves 30a and 30b on the sides of the document cassette 14.
has. The image reading unit 42 includes a light source 46 and a light receiving element 48 such as a CCD, and reads the image by receiving the light from the light source 46 that has passed through the document cassette 14 conveyed to the image reading unit 42. conduct.

Next, the configuration of the document cassette supply device 10 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4, the casing 12 has a first lid part 50 and a second lid part 52 whose front and upper parts can be opened and closed. A cassette insertion stand 54 and a cassette insertion opening 56 are provided at predetermined positions outside the first lid portion 50 . Inside the first lid part 50, at a portion corresponding to the cassette insertion opening 56, an insertion detection means 58 such as a photo interrupter for detecting insertion of the original cassette 14 and a pair of carry-in rollers 60 are provided. . The carry-in roller 60 is rotationally driven by a motor 62, so that the document cassette 14 is
is carried into the document cassette supply device 10. Further, a cassette insertion port 66 that is normally closed by a door 64 is provided above the cassette insertion port 56, and inside the first lid portion 50 corresponding to this cassette insertion port 66,
As in the case described above, an insertion detection means 68 for detecting insertion of the document cassette 14 and a carry-in roller 72 driven by a motor 70 are provided.

In this case, not only can the document cassettes 14 be supplied one by one to the document cassette supply device 10 through the cassette insertion opening 56 or 66, but also a plurality of document cassettes 14 can be supplied by opening the first lid portion 50. Can be supplied at the same time. This makes it possible to shorten the time required to supply the document cassette 14.

Further, the upper part of the casing 12 usually has a second lid part 5.
A cassette introduction port 67 which is closed by 2 is provided, and the document cassette 14 can be supplied to the mounting table 69 at the top of the cassette holding means 16 through this cassette introduction port 67.

The cassette holding means 16 includes a cage 76 supported by four guide bars 74 a to 74 d erected within the casing 12 . The cage 76, as shown in FIG.
Worm gear 82 connected to drive shaft 80 of motor 78
It is movable in the vertical direction (Z direction) by a chain 84 via. Note that the drive shaft 80 is provided with a handle member 85 as a moving means that can manually move the worm gear 82.

The cage 7 has a plurality of steps 86 into which document cassettes 14 are loaded, and between each step 86, the document cassette 1 is loaded.
A plurality of guide rollers 88 that engage with the grooves 30a, 30'b provided on the sides of the rollers 4 are disposed with predetermined gaps.

A cassette transport mechanism 90A is provided in the side of the cage 76 at a portion corresponding to the carry-in roller 60 provided at the lower part of the first lid 850. The cassette transport mechanism 9t3A is
As shown in FIG. 6, it has a motor 94A and a solenoid 96A fixed to a support plate 92A, and a drive plate 98A rotatably supported by the support plate 92A. The drive plate 98A has an abbreviated shape, a bent portion thereof is pivotally supported by the support plate 92A, and is connected to the solenoid 96A via a connecting portion 100A provided upright at one end. Further, the other end of the drive plate 98A has a comb-like shape, and a guide roller 102A is provided at the tip of each comb-like shape. in this case,
Each guide roller 102A can be rotated by a motor 94A via a wire 104A, and can be inserted between guide rollers 88 between steps 86 in the cage 76 under the driving action of a solenoid 96A.

On the other hand, a pair of nip rollers 106 and a cassette [11 means 18] are provided at a portion of the first lid portion 50 facing the cassette insertion opening 56, with the cage 76 in between. In this case, the cassette identifying means 18 includes a plurality of light emitting elements 10
8 and a plurality of light receiving elements 110 are arranged facing each other.
Read the data set to 9.

As shown in FIG. 7, a cassette conveyance mechanism 90B is provided in the side portion of the cage 76 at a portion corresponding to the carry-in roller 72 provided at the top of the first lid portion 50. In this case, the cassette transport mechanism 90B is the cassette transport mechanism 90B.
Since it has the same configuration as 0A, the same reference numerals are given B and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Two sets of nip rollers 11 are provided in a portion of the first lid portion 50 facing the cassette insertion opening 66 in the vicinity of the image reading device 20.
2a, 112b and 114a, 114b are provided. In this case, the nip rollers 112a, 112b
and 114a, 114b are driven by a motor 118 fixed to the support plate 116.

Here, nip rollers 112a, 112b and 114
a, 114b are supported in the state shown in FIG. That is, nip rollers 112a, 112b and 114a
, 114b, each of the supporting shafts 120a, 120b and 122a.
, 122b are each pivotally supported by an upright portion of the support plate 116. In this case, the support shafts 120a, 1 of the nip rollers 112a, 114a located at the upper part of the casing 12
22a are inserted into elongated holes 124 and 126 provided in the upright portion of the support plate 116.

On the other hand, a displacement plate 128 bent into an L-shape is arranged in parallel to the upright portion of the support plate 116 .

This displacement plate 128 is supported by the support plate 116 by a pin member 130 in such a manner that it can be displaced in the two directions of the arrows.

The displacement plate 128 is urged toward the suppression bin 138 by a coil spring 136 stretched between pin members 130 and 134 implanted in the support plate 116 and the displacement plate 128. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, suppression bins 138 and 140 are in contact with the upper surface of the displacement plate 128. The pressing pins 138 and 140 are supported by guide plates 142 and 144, and when the second lid part 52 is in the closed state, the pressing pins 138 and 140 move the nip rollers 112a, 112b and 114a and 114b by pressing the displacement plate 128. Keep in close proximity.

The document cassette supply device 10 of this embodiment and the image reading device 20 to which this document cassette supply device 10 is connected are as follows:
Basically, it is configured as above, and then,
Its operation will be explained.

First, a case will be described in which the original cassette 14 holding the original 28 to be read as shown in FIG.
(see figure).

The document cassette supply device 10 detects that the document cassette 14 has been inserted by the insertion detection means 58, rotates the carry-in roller 60 under the driving action of the motor 62, and moves the document cassette 14 into the cage 76 in the cassette holding means 16.
is loaded into a predetermined stepped portion 86 of. It is assumed that the cage 76 has the step portion 86 in an empty state arranged near the carry-in roller 60. In the document cassette 14, the guide roller 88 is connected to the groove portions 30a, 3 at the stepped portion 86.
It is held by engaging with 0b.

When the document cassette 14 is carried to a predetermined position on the stepped portion 86, the cassette transport mechanism 90A is driven (see FIG. 6). That is, when the solenoid 96A is energized, the drive plate 98A rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow via the connecting portion 100A, and the guide roller 102A provided at the tip of the drive plate 98A comes to face between the stepped portions 86. the document cassette 14, and engages with the grooves 30a and 30b of the document cassette 14. Next, the motor 94A is driven and the guide roller 10 is connected to the guide roller 10 through the wire 104A.
2A rotates, and as a result, the leading end of the document sensor 14 enters between the light emitting element 108 and the light receiving element 110 constituting the cassette identifying means 18 via the nip roller 106 (see FIG. 1).

In this case, the front end of the original cassette 14 is provided with a plurality of light-transmitting parts 831a and a plurality of light-blocking parts 31b to indicate the type of the original cassette 14 and the read original 28 held in the original cassette 14.
A cassette identification section 29 is provided with an identification symbol set therein. Therefore, the document cassette supplying device 10 receives the light output from the light emitting element 108 via the cassette identification section 29 and the light receiving element 110, so that the stepped portion 8
Information on the document cassette 14 loaded in the document cassette 6 can be read and recorded.

When the information from the document cassette 14 is read, the document cassette 14 is returned to a predetermined position on the stepped portion 86 under the driving action of the cassette transport mechanism 90A, and then the solenoid 9
6A, the drive plate 98A rotates in the direction of arrow B and retreats from the cage 76.

Next, the cage 76 is moved in the direction of arrow Z via the worm gear 82 and the chain 84 under the driving action of the motor 78, and the original cassette 14 is moved in the direction of the cassette transport mechanism 90B.
It stops when it moves to the position corresponding to . Therefore,
The cassette transport mechanism 90B is driven in the same manner as the cassette transport mechanism 90A, and the document cassette 14 is transported toward the cassette supply means 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 7). The cassette supply means 22 drives the motor 118 to rotate the nip rollers 112 and 114, and supplies the document cassette 14 to the image reading device 20 through the communication port 34.

The image reading device 20 drives the conveyance means 40 by detecting the document cassette 14 by the insertion detection means 36, and conveys the document cassette 14 to the image reading section 42. In this case, the cassette identifying means 38 reads information on the document cassette 14. In the image reading unit 42, the light output from the light source 46 is applied to the read original 2 held in the original cassette 14.
The light is received by the light receiving element 48 via the light receiving element 8, and the image is read.

By the way, this document cassette supply device 10 can automatically supply the document cassette 14 to the image reading device 20, but if a failure such as a machine failure occurs, the document will not be delivered from the cassette insertion slot 56 or 66. It becomes impossible to supply the cassette 14. In response to such a situation, in this embodiment, the document cassette 14 can be manually supplied to the image reading device 20 through the cassette introduction port 67.

When the above situation occurs, the operator first opens the second lid part 52 and inserts the document cassette 1 from the cassette inlet 67.
4 is placed on the mounting table 69 of the cassette holding means 16.

In this case, the nip roller 112a constitutes the cassette supply means 22.

114a is separated from the second and seventh propellers 112b and 114b (see FIG. 9). That is, when the second lid part 52 is in the closed state, one of the nip rollers 112a and 114a is located on the other nip roller 112bS 114b side via the displacement plate 128 by the pressing pins 138 and 140.
When the second lid part 52 is opened, the pressing pin 138.1
40 is released, the displacement plate 128 moves in the direction of arrow Z.
direction, thereby nip rollers 112a, 1
14a becomes separated from nip rollers 112b and 114b.

Next, after placing the original cassette 14 on the uppermost mounting table 69 of the cassette supply means 16 through the cassette introduction port 67, the handle member 85 is rotated to lower the cassette supply means 16 in the direction of arrow Z. (Fig. 5, 9)
(see figure).

Note that the handle member 85 can be operated by opening the first lid portion 50. Next, nip rollers 112a and 112 are placed a predetermined distance apart from the document cassette 14.
b and 114a.

114b to the image reading device 20. In this case, the image reading device 20 detects the document cassette 14 by the insertion detection means 36, and then inserts it into the image reading section 4.
2, and the image information is read.

In this way, the document cassette 14 can be supplied to the image reading device 20 through the cassette introduction port 67, so even if a failure such as a machine failure occurs in the document cassette supply device 10, the The document cassette 14 can be quickly supplied to the image reading device 20. It is also possible to perform interrupt work using the cassette introduction port 67.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the document cassette feeding device according to the present invention provides the following effects.

That is, in the document cassette feeding device of the present invention, the document cassette is placed on the topmost mounting table of the cassette holding means having a plurality of steps for storing the document cassette through the cassette inlet, and the document cassette is placed in the image reading device. It is configured so that it can be supplied to In this case, even when a failure occurs in the document cassette supply device, the document cassette can be promptly supplied to the image reading device. In addition, interrupt work can be performed not only when a failure occurs, but also through the cassette inlet. As a result, even when handling a large number of document cassettes, for example, it is possible to insert a desired document cassette midway through the process.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a document cassette supply device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a document cassette loaded in the document cassette supply device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structure of the document cassette supply device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the document cassette supply device shown in FIG. 6 and 7 are plan explanatory views of the cassette transport mechanism in the document cassette supply device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the document cassette supply device shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the main part configuration of the cassette supplying means in the supplying device, and is a state diagram illustrating the state of the document cassette supplying device shown in FIG. 1 when the document cassette is manually supplied to the image reading device. ... Original to be read... Cassette identification section, 52... First and second lid sections... Placement table... Cage... Step portions A, 90B... Cassette transport mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A document cassette supply device that supplies a document cassette holding a document to be read to an image reading device, the device having a plurality of steps for storing the document cassettes, and having a plurality of step portions for storing the document cassettes, and a document cassette provided at the top of the step portion. cassette holding means having a mounting table on which a cassette is mounted and movable in the stacking direction of the step part; and the mounting table corresponds to a communication port that communicates the image reading device and the document cassette supply device. A document cassette feeding device comprising: a moving device for moving the cassette holding device so that the document cassette is in a fixed position; and a cassette introduction port for feeding the document cassette to the placement table.