JPH0511562Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field This invention relates to an automatic document feeding device for a copying machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, an automatic document feeder separates a document set on a table for placing a document into sheets one by one using a separating means and feeds the sheets to an exposure section of a main body of a copying machine. Here, in order to make the copying machine more compact, such an automatic document feeder is built into a part of the copying machine body, for example, above the paper feed section, in an exposed state, and the document table is made to protrude outward. There is.
At this time, if the document table remains protruding outward in a substantially horizontal state, it is inconvenient to operate the paper feed section provided at the bottom of the automatic document feeder. In addition, the protruding table becomes a hindrance during transportation. For this reason, the document table is rotatably provided, and the document table is placed in the first position for feeding the document in a substantially horizontal state and protrudes out of the copying machine main body, and the document table is folded in a substantially vertical state and inserted into the copying machine main body. It is conceivable that the second position be located in close proximity to the second position.
In such a structure, a locking mechanism is installed to maintain the original table in a vertical position, but when attempting to return it from the second position to the first position, the locking mechanism There is a problem in that when the lock is released, the document table suddenly falls over, which is dangerous.

Purpose This invention was developed in view of the above points, and was developed to provide a lock to maintain the table unit vertically in an automatic document feeder equipped with a table unit that can be placed vertically for compact storage. The purpose is to improve safety by eliminating the risk of sudden collapse when the mechanism is released.

Configuration This invention is based on an automatic document feeder that is built into a part of the copying machine body in an exposed state, and the table unit for placing the document can be rotated around a fulcrum and held in a substantially horizontal position outside the copying machine body. The table unit is arranged such that it is located at a first position for feeding the document protruding from the main body of the copying machine and a second position where it is folded in a substantially vertical state and retracted close to the main body of the copying machine. A lock mechanism that fixes the table unit in the second position even if an external force is applied in the direction of movement; a release means that releases the fixation by the lock mechanism; The table unit is provided with a semi-fixing mechanism that fixes the table unit in a rotating semi-fixed state when an external force is applied thereto. Therefore, even if the locking mechanism is released and the copying machine is folded into a substantially vertical position and is fixed in the second position, which is retracted close to the main body of the copying machine, the semi-fixing mechanism still functions effectively. , the table unit does not fall down suddenly, and furthermore, the table unit is rotated by applying an external force of more than a predetermined value to release the lock of the semi-fixed mechanism by conscious operation. This system is designed to increase safety since it involves operating the vehicle in a state where the vehicle is not in use.

Embodiment An embodiment of this invention will be described based on the drawings. First, FIG. 1 schematically shows an automatic document feeding apparatus 1, which can be roughly divided into an apparatus main body 2 and a table unit 3 attached thereto. The device main body 2 includes side plates 5, 5' on both sides of a base plate 4, which are covered with exterior covers 6, 6', respectively. A paper separation section is provided between the side plates 5 and 5'. first,
two half-moon rollers 7 having a flat part and an arcuate part;
Belt 9 stretched between 8 and this half-moon roller 7 and 8
An intermittent feed member is provided. A cutout window 12 is formed in the guide plate 11 for these purposes. Here, when the half-moon rollers 7 and 8 stop one rotation, their flat portions are at the top as shown in FIG. The upper surface of the belt 9 is set to project upward through the cutout window 12 and come into contact with the lowest sheet of the original as the circular arc portion faces the original. Further, a pressure sheet 13 is provided above the belt 9 and is in contact with the upper surface of the document.
This is because the amount of documents placed on the belt 9 is small and the pressure of its own weight alone may not be sufficient for pressing force, so the document is pressed onto the belt 9 by the stiffness of the pressure sheet 13. A separating section including a separating roller 14 and a separating blade 15 is provided at the rear stage of such an intermittent feeding member, and the function of separating several sheets of originals fed by the belt 9 into only the lowest sheet is ensured. . This separation blade 15 is a support piece 1 that is rotatable around a fulcrum 16.
7 and is pressurized by a spring 18. A pull-out roller 1 is installed after the separation section.
9 and 20, and ejection rollers 21 and 22 are provided to feed the separated original document to the exposure section.

Here, the pressure sheet 13 and the separation blade 15 are attached to a unit board 24 as an upper unit 23 of the separation paper feed section. This unit board 24
is covered with a cover 25, and the side plates 5,
5', and is rotatable to open and close by means of a fulcrum 26.

On the other hand, the table unit 3 has side plates 5, 5'
Connecting support plates 31, 31' are provided on both sides so as to be rotatable around fulcrums 30, 30' provided in the
is fixed. This table unit 3 is formed into a box shape by a document placement plate 32, a cover 33, etc., which are continuous with the guide plate 11.
Side guides 34, 34' for lateral positioning of the original are slidably provided on the original placing plate 32. Further, a document receiving rail 35 is slidably provided at the front end of the table unit 3. The document receiving rail 35 is intended to enable use of documents even if they are long in the longitudinal direction, and can be fixed at any position in the direction of the arrow.

In this embodiment, such an automatic document feeder 1 has a main body 4 of a copying machine as shown in FIG.
0, for example, the transfer paper feeding section 41, 42, 43
It is installed in an exposed state in a recess formed by the document transport section 44 and the document transport section 44 . In this figure 3,
The automatic document feeder 3 is in a substantially horizontal state as shown by 3 _A , and 3 _B
It can take three positions: a nearly vertical position shown by , and a stored position shown by _3C .

Therefore, the structure around the fulcrums 30 and 30' will be explained with reference to FIG. 5 and the like. The fulcrums 30, 30' are brackets 50, 5 attached to the side plates 5, 5', respectively.
0'. Also, in these brackets 50, 50', positioning pins 52, 52' urged toward the support plates 31, 31' by springs 51, 51' form holes 53, 53' formed in the side plates 5, 5'.
53' so as to be freely slidable.
On the other hand, holes 54, 54' for vertical positioning are formed at predetermined positions of the support plates 31, 31'.
The holes 54, 54' are located at the center of the fulcrums 30, 30' and on the same circumference as the tips of the pins 52, 52'.
Here, pins 52, 52', holes 53, 53', hole 5
4 have approximately the same diameter, but the hole 54' is a small diameter long hole. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the dimension D ₁ is φ6, the diameter D ₂ of the hole 54' is φ5
It is set as follows, and the elongated hole shape is φ5×10.

In such a configuration, the automatic document feeder 1
When using the copying machine, the table unit 3 is placed in a substantially horizontal position as shown by _3A (solid line) in FIG. 3, and is projected outside the copying machine main body 40. This is the first position of the table unit 3 for document feeding. At this time, the table unit 3 is stopped and fixed in position with force being applied to the front surface of the base plate 4 around the fulcrums 30 and 30' due to its own weight (2 to 5 kg). Figures 4 and 5 show the fulcrums 30 and 3 at this time.
This shows a state near 0'. By setting the table unit 3 in this first position, it is possible to set the original on the original placing plate 32 and automatically separate and feed the original. Here, the document placement plate 32 is wide, and even a wide document can be set thereon. Furthermore, by pulling out the document receiving rail 35, even documents that are long in the longitudinal direction (feeding direction) can be used.

Next, when performing operations such as replacing the cassette for the transfer paper feed sections 41, 42, 43, etc., lift the table unit 3 upward by hand and move it to 3 _B as shown in Fig. 3.
It is folded into a substantially vertical state as shown by the dashed line (dotted chain line) and retracted close to the main body 40 of the copying machine. This is the second position of the table unit 3. At this time,
When the table unit 3 is lifted by hand, the holes 54, 54' of the support plates 31, 31' reach the position of the positioning pins 52, 52' as shown in FIGS. 'is the spring 51,5
1', it enters the holes 54, 54', and the table unit 3 is fixed in the second position. Looking at this fixed state in more detail, the pin 52 enters the hole 54 and becomes the normal fixed state, but since the hole 54' is an elongated hole with a smaller diameter than the pin 52', the pin 52' side is shown in FIG. It will be semi-fixed in the clicked state shown.

That is, the pin 52, the hole 54, and the spring 51 form a locking mechanism that maintains the locked state even if an external force is applied to the table unit 3, and the pin 52'
A semi-fixing mechanism is formed by the hole 54' and the spring 51'. This semi-fixed mechanism fixes the table unit 3 in a semi-fixed state in which it rotates when an external force in the rotation direction of a predetermined value or more is applied to the table unit 3.

Next, when transporting the copying machine main body 40,
The table unit 3 is further folded down from the second position to the approximately 180° folded state shown by 3 _C (two-dot chain line) in FIG. This is the third storage position where the table unit 3 is located above the upper unit 23 of the main body 2. As a result, table unit 3
The table unit 3 is built into the copying machine main body 40 and is compact, so that the table unit 3 does not get in the way when the copying machine main body 40 is being transported. To change from the second position to the third position, lightly move the lock release knob 56, which is fixed to the positioning pin 52 via the bracket 55 and protrudes outside, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. By removing the pin 52 from the hole 54, the table unit 3 is made rotatable. Therefore, this table unit 3 is pushed down by hand from the front to bring it down to the third position. This also applies when returning from the second position to the first position.

In other words, the lock of the pin 52 to the hole 54 is not released by operating the lock release knob 56, and a semi-fixed part remains in a clicked state between the other pin 52' and the hole 54', so the table unit 3 is lightly pressed by hand. This allows it to rotate. Conversely, since the pin 52' and the hole 54' ensure a semi-fixed state in the second vertical position, the lock release knob 5 may be accidentally removed due to mischief.
Even if the pin 52 is unlocked by operating the table unit 6, unless force is applied to the table unit 3, it will not fall backward or forward, ensuring safety.

Effects As mentioned above, this invention enables the table unit for placing documents to be freely rotated around a fulcrum in an automatic document feeder that is built into a part of the copying machine body in an exposed state and placed in a substantially horizontal position. A first position for feeding a document protruding outside the copying machine body and a second position folded in a substantially vertical state and retracted close to the copying machine body; A locking mechanism that locks the table unit in the second position even if an external force in the rotational direction is applied to the table unit; a release means that releases the locking by the lock mechanism; Since the table unit is provided with a semi-fixing mechanism that fixes the table unit in a semi-fixed state where it rotates when an external force is applied in the rotating direction of Even if the table unit is released from being fixed in the second position, the semi-fixing mechanism still works effectively, so the table unit will not fall down suddenly. Since the table unit is rotated by applying an external force of more than a predetermined value to release the lock caused by the mechanism, it has the effect of increasing safety because it requires conscious operation. It is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows one embodiment of this invention.
The figure is a vertical sectional side view, Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view, Figure 3 is a schematic side view showing the relationship with the main body of the copying machine, Figure 4 is a side view of the vicinity of the fulcrum in the first position, and Figure 5 is the fourth 6 is a side view of the vicinity of the fulcrum in the second position; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a side view of the vicinity of the fulcrum on the semi-fixed side, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing the semi-fixed state. 2...Device body, 3...Table unit, 3
0 to 30'... fulcrum, 40... copying machine body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an automatic document feeder that is built into a part of the copying machine in an exposed state, the table unit for placing the document is rotatable around a fulcrum and protrudes out of the copying machine in a substantially horizontal state. and a second position in which the table unit is folded in a substantially vertical state and retracted close to the main body of the copying machine, and applies an external force in the rotational direction to the table unit located in the second position. When an external force in the rotational direction of a predetermined value or more is applied to the locking mechanism that fixes the table unit in the second position, the release means that releases the fixation by this locking mechanism, and the table unit located in the second position, An automatic document feeder comprising: a semi-fixing mechanism for fixing the table unit in a rotating semi-fixed state.