JPH0453782B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a device for conveying a document to a reading position in a copying machine, facsimile machine, or other device for reading and processing documents.

[Conventional technology and problems]

BACKGROUND ART In recent years, various document reading and processing devices have become popular for transmitting information, and are now widely used even in small businesses. In order to streamline and automate the work of such processing devices as much as possible, various devices for automatically transporting documents to the document reading position of the processing devices have been developed and put into practical use.

The information to be transmitted may be a thin sheet document or a thick document, such as a book document. There is a need for a document reading and processing device that can be used for both of these types of documents, and is also required to be compact, simple in handling operations, inspection and maintenance, and low cost.

The biggest problem in meeting the above-mentioned requirements lies in the switching of the conveyance of sheet (thin) originals and book (thick) originals to the reading section.

[Purpose, structure, and effect of the invention]

The present invention was developed with the aim of obtaining something that does not have such problems, and includes a main body device 1 for reading documents, and a platen glass that reciprocates to convey the documents to the reading position 8. Table 3 and the sheet original O(S) facing the document table 3.
(Fig. 2) consists of three parts: a document feeding device 2 that feeds a document (see FIG. 2); It also includes switching means 38, 43, and 44 for switching between sheet document processing and book document processing, and in the case of sheet document processing, the sheet document feeder 2 is connected to the main device 1.
The sheet original O(S) is fed from the sheet original feeding device 2 toward the original table 3 which is reciprocating.

In the case of a book document, the sheet document feeder 2 is switched to reciprocate together with the document table 3, and the sheet document feeder 2 moves the book document O(B) (FIG. 7) placed on the document table 3 to the sheet document feeder 2. It is constructed so that it can be conveyed by holding it down with 2.

By configuring as described above, a document conveyance device that can be used in both sheet mode and book mode can be constructed in a simple and compact manner. And mode switching lever 3
8, mechanical conversion between sheet document conveyance and book document conveyance is performed, and reversible switching between book and sheet can be performed immediately, resulting in simple operation and low cost.

The present invention also includes a mode switching sensor that detects whether the switching means has been switched to the thin original feeding side or the thick original feeding side, and the switching means has been switched to the thin original feeding side or the thick original feeding side. The document platen can be driven to move only when it is detected that the document table has been moved.

In other words, under the conditions other than the above, that is, when the document feeder is not engaged with either the main unit or the document table, operation is kept in a prohibited state, thereby strictly preventing malfunction of the device. It can be prevented.

Although the present invention is applied to various document reading devices, it is particularly applicable to electronic copying machines and is extremely suitable for miniaturizing the same.

〔Example〕

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic copying machine will be described below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the external appearance, and Figure 2 is a vertical front view. 1 is a copying machine with a movable document table (hereinafter referred to as a copy machine), 2 is a document feeder, and 3 is a transparent document table that is interlocked with cables. Alternatively, by interlocking the pinion and rack, the copying machine main body is set at the position shown by the solid line in Figures 1 and 2 as the home position, and is reciprocated to the left in the figure as shown by the two-dot chain line a, and the reciprocating end point is When it reaches , it is driven back to the initial home position. The reciprocating drive mechanism is omitted from the figure because a well-known mechanism can be used as appropriate.

When copying a sheet document (hereinafter referred to as sheet mode), the document feeding device 2 is fixed to the copying machine main body 1 side by switching means 38 and 43, which will be described later. The upper surface of the document feeder 2 is used as a paper feed tray 4 and a paper feed port 5
The sheet original O(S) (FIG. 2) inserted into the original sheet is guided to the original platen 3 which reciprocates to the left, is subjected to slit exposure, and is sent to the original tray 6 when the original platen moves back.

In the case of copying a book or other thick original (hereinafter referred to as book mode), the switching means 38 and 44 fix the original feeding device 2 to the original table 3 side. As shown in FIG.
Rotate around the center and fold it onto the paper feed tray 4. Place the document on the document table 3 with the document feeder 2 temporarily raised from the document table 3 around the shaft 45 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, and place the document O(B). (7th
(Figure) The device 2 is placed on top as a document holder, and the document feeder 2 is also caused to reciprocate together with the document table 3.

A document processing mechanism is housed in the copying machine main body 1 as shown in the second figure. This example shows an example of an electronic copying mechanism, which includes a slit exposure section 8, original illumination lamps 8a, 8a, reflecting mirrors ₉₁ to ₉₄ , an imaging lens 10, a photosensitive drum 11, chargers 12 and 13, and a developing device. section 14, transfer section 15, cleaning section 16, transfer paper feeding section 17, transfer paper guides 18, 19, fixing device 2
0, and tray 21.

3 and 5 are cross-sectional side views of the - line and - line portions of FIG. 1, respectively. One side of the document table 3 (the opposite side in FIG. 1) is supported by a receiving plate 23 in the main body 1 via an acrylic rail 22 arranged in the reciprocating direction of the document table 3. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 to 7, the side edges are fitted into and supported by guide rails 24 disposed in the main body 1 in the direction of reciprocating movement of the document table 3, and are guided along the rails. 25 is manuscript table 3
It is a frame plate attached to one side of the frame and extended laterally.
Further, an acrylic rail 27 is fixed to the frame plate 25, and a bottom plate 39 of the document feeder 2 is fixedly supported on this rail.

The document table 3 can slide along the rails 22 and 24 in the forward movement direction a and the backward movement direction b, but is immovable in a direction perpendicular to the directions a and b. Similarly, the document feeder 2 can also slide along the rail 27 in the directions a and b.
It is immobile in the direction perpendicular to the a and b directions.
In other words, the document table 3 and the document feeder 2 can each independently slide relative to the copying machine main body 1 in directions a and b, but remain immovable in a direction perpendicular to the directions a and b.

26 (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7) is the document feeder 2
A pair of positioning rollers are provided on the left and right sides of the front side. Further, 28 is a pair of cams extending from the bottom plate 39, and one pair is provided on the left and right sides. Reference numeral 29 denotes a pair of guides formed in a part of the document feeding device 2, and a pair of guides are formed on the left and right sides of the rear side of the position facing the cam 28.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet mode/book mode switching shaft, which is connected to a pair of left and right cut pieces 39a, 39a (eighth
As shown in FIG. 3, the document table 3 is rotatably supported by a bearing with its axis parallel to the direction of reciprocating movement of the document table 3. 39b, 39
b is a bearing attached to the cut and raised pieces 39a, 39a.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a mode switching lever that is fixed approximately at the center of the mode switching shaft 7, and the shaft 7 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by this lever.
A total of four opening/closing swing plates 42 (Fig. 8), two on each end of the left and right sides of this shaft 7, are fixed, and each of the two opening/closing swing plates 42 on the left and right sides has a One end side of the link 40 is connected via a shaft 41. The other ends of the left and right links 40 are connected to the document feeder 2 via a shaft 45.

A state in which the document table 3 and the document feeder 2 are positioned at the home position shown by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 (when the document table 3 and the document feeder 2 are deviated from the home position for some reason) moves them by hand to position them at their respective home positions.When the document table 3 is located at the home position, it is detected by the home position sensor (sensor 101 of the control circuit in FIG. 16). In the
When the mode switching lever 38 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 about the shaft 7 and switched to the seat mode S position as shown by the solid line, the switching lever 38
The protrusion 38A fits into the recess 43A (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the main body side fixing member 43 fixed to the main body 1 side. As a result, the document feeder 2 is transferred to the copying machine main body 1.
It is immovably locked to the side. Also, due to this switching, the protrusion 38C of the switching lever 38 is connected to the bottom plate 39.
The seat mode detection micro switch 46S attached to the seat mode is turned on, it is detected that the seat mode has been switched to, and the control circuit 100 (Fig. 16) is activated.
is input to.

On the other hand, as the switching lever 38 is rotated to switch to the seat mode S position, the shaft 7 and the opening/closing rocking plate 42 fixed to the shaft rotate clockwise. As a result, the opening/closing swing plate 42 is placed in an upward standing position as shown in FIG. The positioning roller 26 that has been drawn toward the shaft 7 is placed on the guide rail 24, and the guide 2
By placing the document feeder 9 on the cam 28, the document feeder 2 is positioned with respect to the platen glass 3 in the height direction. In this state, there is a gap 31 between the pressure bonding sheet 30 provided in the document feeder 2 and the document table 3.
occurs.

Conversely, move the mode switching lever 38 to the third position around the shaft 7.
When the lever 38 is rotated counterclockwise and switched to the book mode B position as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, the protrusion 38A of the lever 38 comes out of the recess 43A of the fixing member 43 on the copying machine main body 1 side. However, another projection 38B of the lever 38 fits into the recess 44A of the document table fixing member 44 fixed to the document table 3.
As a result, the document feeder 2 is released from the copying machine main body 1 side, and conversely becomes locked to the document table 3 side. Also, as a result of this switching, the protrusion 38D of the switching lever 38 turns on the book mode detection micro switch 46B attached to the bottom plate 39, and the switching to the book mode is detected and inputted to the control circuit 100.

On the other hand, as the switching lever 38 is switched to the book mode B position, the shaft 7 and the opening/closing swing plate 42 are rotated.
rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the opening/closing swing plate 42 changes from the upward standing position shown in FIG. 5 to the sideways falling position shown in FIG. 2 on the document table 3 side is entirely pushed and moved in the direction away from the shaft 7 side, and the positioning roller 2
6 comes off from the top of the guide rail 24 and falls down, and the guide 29 comes off from the top of the cam 28 and falls down. As a result, the device 42 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state in which the pressure bonding sheet 30 is in contact with the surface of the document table 3 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, horizontal pins 42a are installed on the outer surfaces of the left and right ends of the opening/closing rocking plate 42 fixed to the mode switching shaft 7, and each of the pins and the bottom plate 3
A toggle spring 42b is stretched between 9 and 9. This toggle spring stably maintains the switching state of the switching lever 38 between the seat mode S position and the book mode B position.

In other words, when in sheet mode S, the document feeder 2 is locked to the copying machine main body 1 side and reciprocated only about the document table 3, and in this case, the sheet document is transferred between the document table 3 and the pressure-bonded sheet 30 of the document feeder 2. The document feeder 2 is installed with a gap 31 between the document table 3 and the pressure bonding sheet 30 so that the document feeder 2 can pass smoothly between the document table 3 and the pressure bonding sheet 30, and in order to prevent contact sliding load between the document table 3 and the pressure bonding sheet 30 during reciprocating movement of the document table 3. Displace it so that it occurs. When in book mode B, the document feeder 2 is locked to the document table 3 side and reciprocated together with the document table 3. In this case, in order to bring the book document into close contact with the document table 3, the document feeder 2 is Crimp sheet 30
It is configured to be displaced in the direction in which the surface touches the surface of the document table 3.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the document conveyance/discharge roller mechanism of the document feeder 2, and FIG.
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the line section XI-XI, Figure 10 is Figure XII
A sectional view taken along the line -XII, and FIG. 13 is a rear view of the drive system.

In FIG. 11, 51 and 52 are the document feeder 2.
, and a front arm support shaft 53 ₁ and a rear arm support shaft 53 ₂ are fixedly provided, respectively. Further, each arm support shaft 53 ₁ and rear arm support shaft 53 ₂ are fixedly provided. In addition, each of the arm support shafts 53 ₁ and 53 ₂ has a conveyor roller arm 5.
4 ₁ and 54 ₂ are swingably supported. The conveyance roller 56 is fixed to the conveyance roller shaft 55.
The conveyor roller 55 is a conveyor roller arm 54 ₁ , 54 ₂
It is rotatably supported. The conveyance roller arms 54 ₁ and 54 ₂ each have a conveyance roller spring 57.
(FIG. 10) is applied to press the transport roller 56 against the surface of the document table 3.

On the rear arm support shaft 53 ₂ is the paper ejection drive arm 5.
8 and an idler gear 59 (FIGS. 11 and 13) are supported. A paper ejection drive shaft 60 is fixed on the paper ejection drive arm 58, and a paper ejection drive roller 61, which is integrated with a gear 61a meshing with an idler gear 59, rotates on the shaft 60. freely supported. A friction plate 62 is attached on the frame plate 25 in the direction of reciprocating movement of the document table 3.
The paper ejection drive roller 61 is in contact with the friction plate 62 and is rotationally driven by the reciprocating motion of the document table 3.

Reference numeral 63 denotes a paper ejection roller shaft, which includes a paper ejection roller 64 and a paper ejection gear 65 made of an elastic material such as sponge.
is permanently installed. The paper ejection gear 65 meshes with the idler gear 59, and the rotation of the paper ejection drive roller 61 with the reciprocation of the document table 3 is controlled by the gear 61.
a. Transmitted to the paper ejection roller 64 via the idler gear 59, paper ejection gear 65, and shaft 63;
rotates.

Reference numeral 66 (Figs. 10, 12, and 13) is a paper feed roller shaft, on which a paper feed roller 67 and a paper feed gear 68 are fixedly installed, and is rotatably supported by a bearing between the front side plate 51 and the rear side plate 52. be. A document holding arm 69 is rotatably engaged with the paper feed roller shaft 66, and the document holding arm 69 is connected to the document holding roller 70.
It rotatably supports a document holding roller shaft 71 having a fixedly attached document holding roller shaft 71 . Further, a document presser spring 72 (FIG. 10) is hung on the document presser arm 69, and presses the document presser roller 70 against the surface of the document table 3.

A paper feed drive shaft 74 is fixed on a paper feed drive arm 73 (FIGS. 12 and 13) rotatably supported on the paper feed roller shaft 66, and a paper feed gear is connected to this shaft 74. A gear 75a meshed with the gear 68 and a paper feed drive roller 75 integrated with the gear 75a are rotatably supported. Paper feed drive roller 7
5 is in contact with the upper surface of the friction plate 62 like the paper discharge drive roller 61 described above, and is driven to rotate with the reciprocating movement of the document table 3, and its rotation is caused by the paper feed roller 6.
7 via gear 75a, gear 68, and shaft 66, and the roller 67 is rotationally driven.

In other words, as will be described later, in the sheet mode, the transport roller 5 that presses the sheet original onto the 3 sides of the original table
6. The document holding roller 70 simply rolls and rotates the surface of the document table 3 as the document table 3 reciprocates to press the document onto the document table surface, and the paper ejection roller 64 and paper feed roller 67
are rotatably driven by receiving power from drive rollers 61 and 75, which are provided separately from the conveying roller 56 and the document holding roller 70, respectively, and which convert the forward motion of the document table 3 into rotational motion. With this configuration, the document is conveyed to the document table 3 without sliding on the document table surface.

Reference numeral 76 (FIG. 10) is a paper feed swing shaft, and a plate spring 78 supporting a paper feed roller 77 and a registration shutter 79 are integrally provided on the shaft. Further, a paper feed swing arm 80 is mounted on the paper feed swing shaft 76.
(Fig. 13) is fixedly installed. This paper feed swing arm is engaged with a paper feed plunger link 82 that is engaged with a paper feed plunger 81, and is swung around a shaft 76 as the paper feed plunger 81 is turned on and off. When the paper feed plunger 81 is off, the leaf spring 78 and the registration shutter 79 are held in the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, and when it is on, they are held in the second position shown by the two-dot chain line. . In the first position, the paper feed roller 77 is lifted upward from the paper feed roller 67 and held, and the tip of the registration shutter 79 is connected to the paper feed sheet path 5a from the paper feed port 5 to the document table 3. It is located at the seat exit section and the seat exit section is closed. In the second position, the paper feed roller 77 descends relative to the paper feed roller 67 and is held in contact with the paper feed roller, and the tip of the registration shutter 79 is moved from the sheet exit portion of the paper feed sheet path 5a. The sheet exit portion is held open by the escape movement.

Reference numeral 83 (FIG. 10) denotes, for example, a reflective optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document, which is disposed in the paper feed sheet path 5a.

84 is a sheet original scooping shaft, and a sheet original scooping sheet 85 is attached and supported on the shaft. As will be described later, this scooping sheet 85 serves to separate the read-processed sheet original from the original table 3 in the sheet mode. 86 (FIG. 13) is a scooping swing arm fixedly attached to the scooping shaft 84. This arm 86 is engaged with a scooping plunger link 88 that is engaged with a scooping plunger 87, and when the scooping plunger 87 is turned on and off, the shaft 8
It swings around 4. When the plunger 87 is off, the tip of the scooping sheet 85 is held in the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. The tip is held in a second position in which it is in contact with the surface of the document table 3. The scooping sheet 85 is made of an elastic sheet-like material such as a Mylar sheet (polyethylene terephthalate sheet) so that it contacts the surface of the document table 3 uniformly over its entire width.

In this way, the sheet original scooping means is constructed of the elastic sheet-like body 85, so that the original platen 3
It is possible to reliably and smoothly peel off the sheet original that is in close contact with the original without damaging the original.

Regarding this sheet document scooping sheet 85, if the tangent line of the sheet to the document table 3 is perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the document table 3, the edge end surface of the full width of the sheet document will be at the tip of the document document table 85. It is conceivable that the entire width of the document may hit the edge surface at once, causing a shock to the document and damaging the edge of the document or causing the document to shift.
Therefore, in this example, as shown in FIG.
A certain angle θ is attached to . That is, the angle θ is set so that the original O(S) and the scooping sheet 85 smoothly collide and scoop the original. In particular, a larger angle θ' is provided at the corner portion 304 where the first contact occurs.

In this way, by attaching the scooping means at an angle to the edge line of the document so that the document and the scooping device do not collide with the full width at once, the document is always scooped smoothly from the document table. .

Further, regarding the positional relationship in the depth direction between the scooping sheet 85 and the document, the back wall on the paper feed tray is configured such that the back edge of the document is always located at the steeply angled portion 304 of the scooping sheet. .

The platen glass 3, which is a document table, has a first platen on its surface.
As shown by reference numeral 3a in FIG.
A transparent material layer (friction sheet layer) is formed of a material such that the coefficient of friction between the original and the original platen is larger than the coefficient of friction between the original and the original holding roller 70. This layer 3a is formed by laminating, for example, Mylar sheets that are thin and transparent so as not to affect the image. Alternatively, the surface of the document table 3 may be directly coated with a material having a high friction coefficient. For example, it is coated with something like ITO (indium oxide salt) film.

By forming such a layer 3a, even if the device vibrates and the document holding means vibrates against the document table, the document does not stick to the document table side due to the frictional force with the above-mentioned material layer. No misalignment will occur.

The transparent document table is not limited to glass, and any material that can be used as a document table, such as transparent plastic, can be used.

A Sheet document processing (sheet mode) (1) Rotate the paper output tray 6 to the left side of the document feeder 2 around the hinge part 6a (Figure 1) as shown by the solid line in Figures 1, 2, and 10. . With the document table 3 and document feeder 2 located at the home position, the mode switching lever 38 is set to the sheet mode S position. As a result, the document feeder 2 is immovably locked to the copying machine main body 1 as described above (FIG. 3). Micro switch 46S
The fact that the switch is turned on and switched to the seat mode is input to the control circuit 100. The paper feed plunger 81 is in the off state, so the leaf spring 78 and the registration shutter 79 are in the first position shown by the solid line in FIG.
The paper feed roller 77 is kept in the same position as the paper feed roller 6
The sheet exit portion of the paper feed sheet path 5a is held upward from the registration shutter 79.
It is in a closed state. The scooping plunger 87 is in the OFF state, and therefore the scooping sheet 85 is held in the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, with its leading end separated from the surface of the document table 3.

(2) Place the sheet original O(S) (Fig. 2) to be copied on the paper feed tray 4 of the document feeder 2 with the image surface facing downward, and insert the leading edge of the original into the paper feed tray 4 from the paper feed port 5. The document is inserted into the path 5a until the leading edge of the document hits the registration shutter 79. This document insertion is detected by sensor 83, and a document presence signal is input to control circuit 100.

(3) Set the number of copies, paper size, copy magnification, copy image density, and other copy conditions using the operation panel 93 of the copying machine main body 1. These setting conditions are input to the control circuit 100. Next, turn on the copy start button 93a.

(4) The reciprocating drive a of the document table 3 is started. At the same time, the paper feed plunger 81 is turned on, the paper feed roller 77 pinches the leading edge of the document inserted into the paper feed sheet path 5a and is pressed against the paper feed roller 67, and the registration shutter 79 is opened. (Second posture state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10) - Paper feed drive roller 7 accompanying the reciprocating drive a of the document table 3
5 rolls on the friction plate 62, and its rotational force is transmitted to the paper feed roller 67, which begins to rotate in the document drawing direction. This paper feed roller 6
7, the original is synchronously conveyed from the paper feed sheet path 5a to the surface of the document table 3 at the same speed as the forward movement speed of the document table 3. The document is conveyed in the forward movement direction of the document table 3 without any slippage between it and the table surface. The conveyed document then passes through the slit exposure section 8 together with the forward document table 3, and is then further conveyed by a conveyance roller 56 while being pressed against the surface of the document table 3. In this way, as the original passes through the slit exposure section 8 together with the forwarding document table 3, the downward image surface of the original is sequentially subjected to slit exposure processing from the leading edge of the original to the trailing edge, and the copying process of the original image is performed. This is executed by the copying mechanism within the copying machine main body 1.

As the document progresses with the forward movement a of the document table 3, when the trailing edge of the document passes the sensor 83 position, the sensor 83 detects the passage, and the signal is sent to the control circuit 100. is input. The timer circuit is then started from that signal point in time. The timer circuit is supplied with the document as it is conveyed as the document table 3 continues to move forward from the time of the above-mentioned signal. The required conveyance time until reaching the position (FIG. 10, the position where the sheet does not completely pass through the conveyance roller 56) is set in advance as a timer time. When the predetermined timer period elapses after the sensor 83 detects that the trailing edge of the document has passed the sensor 83 position, the forward movement a of the document table 3 is stopped. Therefore, from the start of the forward movement of the document table 3 until the forward movement is stopped as described above, the original passes sequentially through the slit exposure section 8 positions from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and the entire document is scanned. Exposure processing is performed on the surface.

In other words, the length (size) in the feeding direction of the document fed from the document feeder 2 to the document table 3 is detected by the document detection sensor 83 and timer, and the forward movement length of the document table 3 is controlled to be large or small accordingly. be done. In other words, the forward movement of the document table 3 is controlled by the necessary forward movement distance depending on the size of the document. Therefore, there is no wasted operation or wasted operation time of the document table 3, and the time for one document processing cycle is shortened.

The document table 3 whose forward movement a has been stopped is then switched to the backward movement b, and the exposed original document is also conveyed in the backward movement together with the backward movement document table 3 while being pressed by the conveying roller 56.

If the preset number of copies is one (single copy), the scooping plunger 87 is turned on at the same time as the document table 3 starts to drive backward, and the scooping sheet 85 is placed so that its leading edge faces the document table 3. The second point indicated by the two-dotted chain line in FIG.
The posture is changed and held. As a result, the exposed original is deflected and guided by the scooping sheet 85 from the surface of the document table 3 into the discharge sheet path 89, and as the document table 3 moves backward a, the sheet path 89
Go inside. The paper ejection roller 64 is rotated in the paper ejection direction by the rolling movement of the paper ejection drive roller 61 on the friction plate 62 as described above in conjunction with the backward movement of the document table 3, and the ejection sheet path 89 is The exposed original that has entered the interior is further conveyed by the rotating paper ejection roller 64, and is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 6 with the image side facing upward until the document table 3 has returned to its initial home position. be done. After returning to the home position, the document table 3 enters a standby state until the next document is set and the copy start button 93a is pressed.

In addition, on the copying machine main body 1 side, one copying cycle has been completed by the time the original is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 6 as described above, and the copy tray 21
The copy will be ejected with the image side facing up. That is, both the original document and its copy are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 6 and the copy tray 21, respectively, with the image surface facing upward.

Further, when the preset number of copies is a plurality of copies (multi-copy), the scooping plunger 87 is kept off even if the backward drive b of the document table 3 is started. That is, scooping sheet 85
However, the leading end continues to be held in the first attitude, with the leading end separated from the document table 3. Therefore, in this case, when the document table 3 moves back, the document on the upper surface of the document table 3 is also conveyed to the gap 31 between the document table 3 and the pressure bonding sheet 30 of the document feeder 2, and the document holding roller 70 is conveyed along the way. The document is pressed against the surface of the document table 3 and further conveyed together with the reciprocating document table 3. The document table 3 moves back to the initial home position and is stopped. Subsequently, the drive is again switched to forward drive a. Note that the distance between the conveyance roller 56 and the document holding roller 70 is shorter than the minimum length of the original document on the document table 3, so during the backward movement process of the document table 3, at least one roller is always pressed against the document table 3. Even when the document table 3 returns to the home position, the leading edge of the document is at position R in FIG. Therefore, the sliding position of the original with respect to the three surfaces of the original platen 3 does not occur.

Then, as the document table 3 is driven forward again a, the document on top of it is also conveyed in the document forward direction together with the document table 3 and sequentially passes through the slit exposure section 8 to undergo a second exposure process. A second copy process is executed on the copying machine main body 1 side. Document table 3-2
For the forward movement after the first copy, the forward movement length during the first copying process is stored in the control circuit 100, and the forward movement is performed by the forward movement length. Thereafter, by repeatedly reciprocating the original platen 3 for the set number of copies, the slit exposure of the original is repeated, and the set number of copies are sequentially ejected onto the copy tray 21 with the image surface facing upward. Ru.

Then, the final forward movement a of the manuscript table 3 is completed,
Next, when the document table 3 is shifted to backward movement b, the scooping plunger 87 is turned on at the same time, and thereafter, the document is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 6 with the image side facing upward in the same operation as in the case of the single copy described above. Ru. The document table 3, which has finally returned to the home position, enters a standby state until the next document is set and the copy start button 93a is pressed. Also, the leaf spring 78 and the resist shutter 7
9, by turning off the paper feed plunger 81, the scooping sheet 85 is also scooped out by the scooping plunger 87.
By turning off, each of them returns to its initial first posture and is maintained.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a circuit for performing the above-mentioned operation, and is mainly composed of a well-known one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as MCOM) 100 with built-in ROM, RAM, etc. The ports P ₀ to _{P 4} include the aforementioned copy start button 93a, a home position sensor 101 that detects whether the document table 3 of the copying machine is in a predetermined position, the sheet/thick document switching micro switch 46S,
46B, a signal from the document detection sensor 83 in the document feeder 2 is input.

Further, from the output ports _F0 to _F3 , a forward drive mechanism 102 and a backward drive mechanism 10 drive the document table 3, which is a load, via drivers _D0 to _D3 , respectively.
3. An output signal is output that turns on and off the scooping plunger 87 and paper feed plunger 81 in the document feeder.

Reading of these input signals or turning on/off the load is controlled according to a program stored in the ROM within the MCOM 100. That is, when the switching lever 38 is set to seat mode S, the switch 46S is turned on (step 1 in FIG. 17A).
05). When the sheet original O(S) is inserted along the tray 4 from the paper feed port 5 until the leading edge hits the shutter 79, the optical sensor 83 detects the presence of paper (step 106). Sheet mode copying operation starts by turning on the start button 93a (step 10).
7), the forward drive of the document table 3 is turned on, the paper feed plunger 81 is turned on (the shutter 79 is opened) (the 17th
Figure B step 200).

Step 201 = [Forward timer] → Start/end, document platen forward drive off.

Step 202 = [Setting number of copies] - 1≠0
If so, the scooping plunger 87 is off and the document platen return drive is on.

Step 203 = Home position detection, backward drive off.

Step 204 = [Setting number of copies] - 1 = 0
If so, turn off the scooping plunger 87,
The copy operation ends (END).

When copying multiple sheets, the scooping plunger 87 is deactivated (remains off) in step 202.
If the number of copies in step 204 is ≠ 0, proceed to step 2.
The number returns to 00 and the operation is repeated until the number of sheets becomes 0.

B. Thick original processing (book mode) (1) The paper output tray 6 is folded onto the paper feed tray 4 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Mode switching lever 38
to book mode B position. As a result, as described above, the document feeder 2 is locked to the document table 3 side, and the document table 3 and the document feeder 2 become integrally capable of forward and backward movement. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the original pressing sheet 30 of the original feeding device 2 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the original table 3. The fact that the micro switch 46B has been turned on and the book mode has been switched is input to the control circuit 100. Feed plunger 81 and scoop plunger 87 are always kept off in this mode.

(2) Open and raise the document feeder 2 from the top surface of the document table 3 centering on the shaft 45 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
A thick original O(B) to be copied is placed on a predetermined position on the original platen 3 with the image side to be copied facing downward, and the opened device 2 is used as a document presser from above as shown in FIG. Fold it over like this.

(3) Set various predetermined copying conditions using the operation panel 93 of the copying machine main body 1, and then turn on the copy start button 93a.

(4) Then, the document table 3 will be placed on top of the thick document O.
(B) and the document feeder are mounted, and forward movement a is started. Due to the forward movement a of the document table 3, the downward image surface of the thick document set thereon sequentially passes through the slit exposure section 8 from the leading edge to the trailing edge and is exposed to light, and the image of the document is copied. This is executed by the copying mechanism within the copying machine main body 1.

For example, the document table 3 moves forward by a distance a corresponding to the copy paper size used and then returns to the initial home position.In the case of single copying, the document table 3 then enters the standby state, and in the case of multicopying, the set number of copies is After the reciprocating drive is repeated a number of times corresponding to , the device enters a standby state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an external perspective view, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view including the main body of the copying machine, FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional view of the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of Figure 1, Figure 6 is the same view when the book mode has been converted, and Figure 7 is the state where a thick original is set. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mode switching lever mechanism section, FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the toggle spring section, FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the sheet document conveyance/ejection roller mechanism section, and FIG. 11 is the 10th
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the line section XI-XI, Figure 10 is Figure XII
-XII line section, FIG. 13 is a rear view of the drive system, FIG. 14 is a plan view of the document scooping sheet, FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the same, and FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the control circuit. Figures 17A and 17B are flowcharts. 1 is a main unit, 2 is a document feeder, 3 is a reciprocating document table, 8 is a document reading position, and 38 is a sheet/book document feed switching lever.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A main unit that reads and processes documents, a document table that is placed on top of the main device and moves back and forth to convey documents to the reading position, and a document feeder that feeds thin originals toward the document table. The apparatus includes a means for switching between feeding thin originals and feeding thick originals, and in the case of feeding thin originals, a sheet original feeder is fixedly coupled to the main unit, and only the original platen is reciprocated; By cooperating with an auxiliary means provided in the sheet document feeder, the documents fed from the sheet document feeder are moved back and forth as one, and in the case of thick document feeding, the sheet document feeder is moved to the document table. The device is configured to be fixedly coupled and switched to perform a pressing action on the document placed on the document table to cause the document to reciprocate, and the switching means is configured to perform a switching operation on the thin document feeding side or the thick document feeding side. The mode switching sensor detects whether the mode is switched to the thin document feeding side or the thick document feeding side, and the document table can be driven to move only when the switching means detects that the mode has been switched to the thin document feeding side or the thick document feeding side. A document conveying device characterized by: