JPH05139598A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the installation space and to prevent hindrance to walking, by forming a paper feed port and a paper discharge port in the upper surface part of a image reader, by feeding a script to the upper part, and by discharging the script after image-reading. CONSTITUTION:An image reader body 1 is formed in its upper surface part 1A with a paper feed port 2, and a paper discharge port 3 for discharging a script from the inside of the body 1 after image-reading, the ports 2, 3 being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The paper feed port 2 and the paper discharge port 3 are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the body 1, and a paper feed tray 4 and a paper discharge tray 5 are arranged at the paper feed port 2 and the paper discharge port 3, respectively. Pairs of feed part comprising a paper feed roller 6 and a separation roller 7 and a paper discharge part comprising a pair of discharge rollers are provided in the body 1, and a script conveying guide plate 12 is provided downstream of the paper feed part, so as to be swingable about a support shaft 13. The guide plate 12 is moved to a nip of discharge rollers after image- reading, and accordingly, the scrip is switched back so as to be discharged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device for reading an image formed on a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of image reading apparatus, when an original is conveyed through a document conveying path connecting a paper feed port and a paper ejecting port provided in the main body of the image reading apparatus, it is arranged on the document conveying path. The image reading unit (reader) is configured to read an image formed on a document.

In the image reading section, the photoelectric conversion element sequentially reads the document being conveyed, converts it into image information (image signal), and sends it to the memory section or the like.

Generally, the document feeding path of this type of image reading apparatus is formed substantially horizontally with respect to the main body of the image reading apparatus. Therefore, the paper feed port for feeding the document and the paper ejection port for ejecting the document after the image reading are provided on opposite side surfaces (front and rear surfaces or left and right surfaces) of the main body of the image reading apparatus. It is provided in.

The paper feed port and the paper discharge port are provided with a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray for stacking documents. The paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray are foldably attached to the main body of the image reading apparatus.

[0006]

However, when the above-mentioned conventional image reading apparatus is used, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray are projected on both side surfaces of the image reading apparatus main body, so that the conventional image reading apparatus has a corresponding amount. Installation space is required. Not only that, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray protruding from the main body of the image reading apparatus are liable to obstruct walking, and there is a possibility that the pedestrian may be damaged or the pedestrian may be damaged.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image reading apparatus capable of enlarging an installation space or eliminating an overhanging portion which obstructs walking from the image reading apparatus main body. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a paper feed port and a paper ejection port on an upper surface of an image reading apparatus main body. The original is fed from the upper surface of the main body, and the original after image formation is discharged onto the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body.

An image reading apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention is
In order to achieve the above object, a V-shaped document transport path for switching back a document fed from the paper feed port and discharging the document from the paper discharge port is provided, and the document transport path is electrostatically charged. It is characterized by being formed by a suction plate.

[0010]

In the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding port having the sheet feeding tray and the sheet discharging port having the sheet discharging tray are arranged on the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body.

As a result, the side surface of the image reading apparatus main body has no overhanging portion, so that the image reading apparatus can be installed in a small space, and walking obstacles are eliminated.

In the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the document fed from the paper feed port is discharged from the paper discharge port by switchback after the image is read. At this time, the original document is electrostatically attracted to the electrostatic attraction plate and maintains a predetermined conveyance posture.

As a result, the substantial path length of the document transport path can be set to the minimum, and the throughput (the number of sheets processed per unit time) is significantly improved as compared with the case where the document transport path is formed in a U shape. To do.

Further, since the original can be read while being electrostatically attracted to the electrostatic attraction plate, the image reading performance is improved.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing the internal structure of the image reading apparatus.

In this image reading apparatus, a paper feed port 2 for feeding a document into the image reading apparatus body 1 is provided on the upper surface 1A of the image reading apparatus body 1, and a document after image reading is read by the image reading apparatus. A paper discharge port 3 for discharging paper from the main body 1 is arranged at a predetermined interval.

The paper feed port 2 and the paper discharge port 3 are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the image reading apparatus main body 1 at a predetermined angle (see FIG. 2).

The paper feed port 2 is provided with a paper feed tray 4 for stacking a plurality of documents to be fed, and the paper discharge port 3 is provided with a paper discharge tray 5 for stacking discharged documents. It is equipped.

The paper feed tray 4 and the paper discharge tray 5
Are fixed to the image reading apparatus main body 1.

In the paper feeding section of the image reading apparatus main body 1, there are feeding rollers 6 which rotate counterclockwise for feeding the originals stacked in the paper feeding tray 4 sequentially from the lowermost paper. A separation roller pair 7 for separating and conveying the documents fed by the feeding roller 6 one by one is installed. The separation roller pair 7 is a feed roller 7 that rotates counterclockwise.
It consists of A and a retard roller 7B.

A paper discharge roller pair 8 for discharging the image-read original onto the paper discharge tray 5 is installed in the paper discharge section in the image reading apparatus main body 1. The paper discharge roller pair 8 includes a fixed roller 8A and a movable roller 8B.

The movable roller 8B of the paper discharge roller pair 8 is attached to the image reading apparatus main body 1 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 11. The movable roller 8 is driven by an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) to come into contact with and separate from the fixed roller 8A.

FIG. 2 shows the movable roller 8B in the initial position apart from the fixed roller 8A. When the actuator operates in this state, the movable roller 8B is moved.
Rotates in the counterclockwise direction about the spindle 11 and rotates to the fixed roller 8
Fixed roller 8 that contacts A with a predetermined pressure and rotates clockwise
It rotates following A.

Downstream of the paper feed unit in the image reading apparatus main body 1,
A document conveyance guide plate 12 arranged on an extension line of the paper feed tray 4 is installed.

The original conveying guide plate 12 is attached to the image reading apparatus main body 1 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 13 at the lower end. Then, the original conveyance guide plate 1
2 is driven by an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) connected via a guide arm 14.

FIG. 2 shows the case where the document transport guide plate 12 is at the initial position. The upper surface of the document conveyance guide plate 12 in this state is substantially at the same position as the nip of the separation roller pair 7, and also faces the fixed side guide plate 15 fixed to the image reading apparatus main body 1 in parallel. ..

The original transport guide plate 12 in this initial position
Is rotated in the clockwise direction by the actuator and moved to a position where the upper surface thereof is substantially at the same position as the nip of the paper discharge roller pair 8. At this time, the movable roller 8B of the paper discharge roller pair 8 is separated from the fixed roller 8A, and when the movement of the document conveyance guide plate 12 is completed, the movable roller 8B rotates as described above and comes into contact with the fixed roller 8A.

In this way, the document transport guide plate 12 moving between the nip of the separation roller pair 7 and the nip of the paper discharge roller pair 8 forms a V-shaped document transport path in the image reading apparatus main body 1. It

By moving the document conveying guide plate 12 from the nip of the separation roller pair 7 to the nip of the paper discharge roller pair 8, the document after image reading can be switched back and discharged. Become.

The original conveying guide plate 12 and the fixed side guide plate 15 are formed by electrostatic attraction plates. The stability of the original document placed on the original document conveyance guide plate 12 is maintained by making the original document conveyance guide plate 12 electrostatic at the time of switchback. Further, by making the stationary guide plate 15 electrostatic during the paper feeding operation, the original reading performance is improved.

A document detection sensor 16 for detecting a document that has passed through the separation roller pair 7 is installed immediately downstream of the separation roller pair 7 in the paper feeding section. Document reading unit (reader) 17 for reading
Is installed.

A display unit 18 and a power switch 19 are installed on one side surface (front surface) of the image reading apparatus main body 1.
The display unit 18 is a touch panel capable of inputting information.

A communication control unit 2 is provided in the image reading apparatus main body 1.
0, the control board 21, the reading control unit 31, and the paper feeding drive unit 3
2, electrostatic drive unit 33, and optical disc drive unit 34
A paper discharge drive unit 35 and a power supply unit 36 are installed.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the image reading apparatus.

A central processing unit (CPU) 37 for controlling the entire image reading apparatus has a RAM 38, a ROM 39, a communication control section 20, a control board 21, a reading control section 31, a paper feed drive section 32, an electrostatic drive section 33, Optical disk drive unit 34,
Paper ejection drive unit 35, power supply unit 36, guide plate drive unit 40, movable roller drive unit 41, document detection sensor 16, display unit 1
8. The input section 42 is electrically connected.

Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagrams shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and the flow charts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 4A shows a state before the image reading apparatus starts the reading operation. At this time, the document conveyance guide plate 12 and the movable roller 8B of the paper discharge roller pair 8 are at the initial position.

First, the power switch 19 is turned on, and a predetermined document is stacked on the paper feed tray 4 before starting the reading operation. After that, the touch panel (display unit 18) is pressed to start (start) the reading operation.

The CPU 37 first waits for the power to be turned on (step S1), and when the power is turned on, displays a start on the display unit (touch panel) 18 (step S).
2).

Then, the process waits for the document to be set on the paper feed tray 4 (step S3), and when the document is set, the start switch (input section 42 of the touch panel) is turned on. Wait (step S4).

When the start switch is turned on,
The paper feed drive unit 32 and the electrostatic drive unit 33 are driven (step S5). As a result, the feeding roller 6 and the separation roller pair 7 rotate, and the originals on the paper feed tray 4 are separated and fed one by one. In addition, the stationary guide plate 15 is charged with static electricity, and the document can be electrostatically adsorbed.

Next, waiting for the document sensor 16 to turn on (step S6), when the document sensor 16 turns on,
The reading control unit 31 is operated to start reading by the image reading unit 17 (step S7).

At this time, the document moves on the document transport guide plate 12 while being electrostatically attracted to the fixed side guide plate 15.

Subsequently, waiting for the original detection sensor 16 to be turned off (step S8), when the original detection sensor 16 is turned off, the reading control unit 31 is stopped and the image reading unit 17 is stopped.
The reading by is finished (step S9).

Next, the electrostatic drive unit 33 is switched to remove the static electricity from the fixed side guide plate 15 to charge the document conveyance guide plate 12 with the static electricity (step S10). As a result, the document is electrostatically adsorbed on the document transport guide plate 12.

Subsequently, the guide plate drive unit 40 and the movable roller drive unit 41 are driven to move the document conveying guide plate 12 to the paper discharge roller pair 8 side, and the movable roller 8B of the paper discharge roller pair 8 is moved. This is brought into contact with the fixed roller 8A (step S11). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the document is ready to be switched back to the paper discharge section.

Subsequently, the electrostatic drive unit 33 is stopped to remove static electricity from the document conveyance guide plate 12, and the paper discharge drive unit 35 is driven to rotate the paper discharge roller pair 8 (step S12).

As a result, the original after the image is read on the original conveying guide plate 12 is discharged onto the discharge tray 5 (step S13).

Next, it waits until all the originals set on the paper feed tray 4 are discharged (step S14), and when all the originals are discharged, wait for the power to be turned off next ( In step S15), when the power is turned off, this sequence ends.

When it is determined in step S14 that the discharge of all the originals has not been completed, the process returns to step S6 and waits for the original detection sensor 16 to be turned on again.

If it is determined in step S15 that the power is not turned off, step S3
Feedback to wait for the original to be set again.

[0053]

As described above, according to the image reading device of the first aspect, since the paper feed port and the paper ejection port are provided on the upper surface of the image reading device main body, the image reading device main body The overhanging part can be eliminated from the side part.

Therefore, the image reading apparatus can be installed in a smaller space, and the walking is not disturbed.

Further, according to the image reading apparatus of the second aspect, since the document after the image is read is switched back and discharged, the document feeding path can be set to the minimum and the throughput can be improved. improves. Further, since the document to be read is conveyed while being electrostatically attracted to the document conveyance path, the image reading performance is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing an internal configuration of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a sequence of a CPU of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a sequence of a CPU of the image reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Reading Device Main Body 1A Upper Surface Part 2 Paper Feed Port 3 Paper Ejection Port 12 Document Conveying Guide Plate (Electrostatic Adsorption Plate) 15 Fixed Side Guide Plate (Electrostatic Adsorption Plate)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed port and a paper ejection port are provided on an upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body to feed a document from the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body, and an image is formed on the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body. An image reading apparatus in which a document after reading is discharged. 2. A V-shaped document conveying path for switching back a document fed from the sheet feeding port and discharging the document from the sheet discharging port, wherein the document conveying route is an electrostatic attraction plate. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is formed by.