JPH08202089A - Automatic document feeder and image forming device provided with the feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the jamming and the scattering of a document by preventing the opening action of an automatic document feeder in the midst of actuation. CONSTITUTION: In this automatic document feeder 1, one side part on an inner side is freely opened by a pivotally supporting means 3a; and the feeder 1 is provided with a locking mechanism 8A locking in an opened state where it abuts on a read position 906. In the midst of actuating the feeder 1, the locking mechanism 8A is actuated to prevent the opening of the feeder 1. Thus, the feeder 1 is prevented from being opened by misoperation in the midst of feeding the document, and the jamming of the document and the scattering of the document on the read position 906 are prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document, and more particularly to a document pressing operation (opening operation of the document automatic feeder) by the automatic document feeder.
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder for properly controlling the document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a manuscript image is read in a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, the manuscript is put on a manuscript table glass (reading position) provided on the upper part of the copying machine body as the image forming apparatus. This is done by setting and scanning with an optical system. The setting of originals on the platen glass is performed manually by a user, or when an automatic document feeder (DF) capable of automatically feeding a plurality of originals to the platen glass is used. There is.

This automatic document feeder is free to open in a crocodile shape (hinge type) centering on one side (the back side when viewed from the operating side) of the document, and at the same time, the document on the platen glass is opened. It also works as a pressing plate to hold down. Therefore, the automatic document feeder is capable of being opened by an erroneous operation even when the apparatus is operating.

[0004]

However, since the pivot portion of the automatic document feeder only functions to position the document on the platen glass, the automatic document feeder is not operated during operation. , If the user accidentally opens the automatic document feeder, the platen may become jammed inside the device, or the documents remaining on the platen glass may scatter when the automatic document feeder is opened. However, there is a drawback that the original is disturbed and the automatic document feeder is broken.

In addition to the above problems, when a paper jam in the copying machine body or a function stop due to the absence of paper occurs,
The function of the document feeder also stops, but at this time, if the document automatic feeder is accidentally opened, the document on the platen glass may remain in the device and cause a paper jam. However, there is a problem that the above-mentioned document is scattered.

According to the present invention, while the automatic document feeder is operating,
Even if the user accidentally tries to open the automatic document feeder,
A mechanism that locks the opening operation of the automatic document feeder to prevent the opening operation is performed, and the automatic document feeder that can prevent the automatic document feeder from malfunctioning or the original on the platen glass is disturbed The purpose is to provide a device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and as shown with reference to the drawings, a plurality of originals (D) are read by an image forming apparatus main body (7). An automatic document feeder (1) which can be sequentially fed to a position (906) and which can be opened with one side as a center of a pivotal support means (3a).
At the time of operation of the automatic document feeder (1),
The automatic document feeder (1) is characterized by having a lock mechanism (8A) for preventing the opening operation.

The lock mechanism (8A) is characterized in that it locks when the document (D) fed from the automatic document feeder (1) is detected.

Further, the lock mechanism (8A) is characterized in that it holds the lock operation when the sheet (S) is jammed in the image forming apparatus body (7) and releases it after the jam processing.

[0010]

According to the above structure, the document (D) fed from the automatic document feeder (1) is sent to the reading position (906) and read. During the operation of the automatic document feeder (1), the lock mechanism (8A) is operated to prevent the opening operation of the automatic document feeder (1).

This prevents the user from accidentally opening the automatic document feeder (1), and the original document (D) being fed is jammed in the automatic document feeder (1). Or, the problem that the document (D) on the reading position (906) is scattered due to the opening operation of the automatic document feeder 1 is prevented.

Further, when a paper jam (jam) occurs in a place other than the automatic document feeder (1), for example, a sheet (S) being conveyed in the image forming apparatus main body (7) causes a jam, The lock operation of the lock mechanism (8A) is held, and the lock operation of the lock mechanism (8A) is released after the jam processing is completed.

Thus, for example, when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus main body (7), the document (D) that is automatically stopped and stopped halfway is ejected in advance to the document ejecting section, and then the automatic document is ejected. By opening the feeding device (1), it is possible to prevent the document (D) from being jammed or scattered.

Further, if the lock mechanism (8A) is provided on the pivotal support means (3a) itself, a dedicated lock mechanism is not required, and the mechanism can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

The reference numerals in parentheses are shown for reference to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention in any way.

[0016]

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

First, an example of a general image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) to which the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to FIG.

The image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 900 includes an original table glass 906 serving as an original table and a light source 90.
7, lens system 908, paper feeding unit 909, image forming unit 902
Etc. are provided.

The paper feeding unit 909 accommodates recording sheets and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 900.
1 and deck 913 located in pedestal 912
have. The image forming unit 902 includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum (image forming unit) 914 and a developing unit 915 around the photosensitive drum.
Transfer charger 916, separation charger 917, cleaner 91
8, a primary charger 919 and the like are provided, respectively. A conveying device 920, a fixing device 904, a pair of discharge rollers 905, and the like are arranged on the downstream side of the image forming unit 902.

The operation of the image forming apparatus main body will be described.

When a paper feed signal is output from a control device (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body side 900, the cassette 9
The sheet S is fed from 10, 911 or the deck 913. On the other hand, the document D placed on the document table 206
In addition, the light reflected by the light source 907 is applied to the photosensitive drum 914 via the lens system 908. The photosensitive drum 914 is previously charged by the primary charging device 919, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating light, and then the developing device 915 develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. .

The sheet material S fed from the paper feeding unit 909
The skew is corrected by the registration roller 910, and the timing is adjusted to be sent to the image forming unit 902. In the image forming unit 902, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 914 is
The sheet S transferred to the sheet S by the transfer charger 916 and having the toner image transferred thereon is charged by the separation charger 917 to a polarity opposite to that of the transfer charger 916 and separated from the photosensitive drum 914. It

Then, the separated sheet S is conveyed to the fixing device 904 by the conveying device 920, and the fixing device 9
The transfer image is permanently fixed to the sheet S by 04. The sheet material S on which the image is fixed is discharged from the apparatus main body 900 by the discharge roller pair 905. Reference numeral 930 denotes a control device that controls the image forming apparatus main body 900 and the automatic document feeder 1.

In this way, an image is formed on the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding section 909 and is discharged.

Next, the essential parts of the automatic document feeder of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the automatic document feeder 1 according to the present invention can automatically feed the document D onto the platen glass 907 similarly to the automatic document feeder 1 shown in FIG. Read The mechanism for feeding the original D of the automatic original feeding apparatus 1 to the original platen glass 907 and returning the original D to the automatic original feeding apparatus 1 after reading the original image is the same as the known one. The description is omitted.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a copying machine main body (image forming apparatus main body) provided with a platen glass 907 according to the present invention,
The right side in the figure is the operating side. A plurality of support members 3 are provided on the back side (left side in FIG. 1) of the copying machine body 7, and the back side portions of the automatic document feeder 1 are provided on the support members 3. It is mounted so as to be freely opened by the pivotal support portion 3a. As a result, the automatic document feeder 1 can be opened in an alligator shape from the operation side, and the document D can be set and taken out from the document table glass 907. In the figure, 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes a rubber foot for cushioning when the automatic document feeder 1 is closed, and reference numeral 5 denotes a positioning member for positioning the document (D) on the platen glass 907.

A hook 2 is provided on the rear surface of the free end on the opening side of the automatic document feeder 1. In addition, the copying machine body 7
On the side, a lock member 8 engageable with the hook 2 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 9, and is biased in the arrow direction by a tension spring (not shown).

The hook 2 and the lock member 8 constitute a lock mechanism 8A. When the lock mechanism 8A is operating (locked), the automatic document feeder 1 is
It cannot be opened by the user.

Further, the lock member 8 is provided with a solenoid 10 for driving the lock member 8,
The solenoid 10 is controlled by the control device 930.

The operation of the lock mechanism 8A during the operation of the automatic document feeder 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the automatic document feeder 1 is operated to feed the document D, the document D is fed on the document table or in the middle of conveyance.
Is detected by detection means (not shown) (S1), and it is detected that the automatic document feeder 1 is in operation. As a result, the solenoid 10 is turned on to rotate the lock member 8 in the opposite arrow direction to lock the lock mechanism 8A.

As a result, during the operation of the automatic document feeder 1, the opening operation of the automatic document feeder 1 is blocked, the paper jam of the document D in the automatic document feeder 1 and the platen glass 907. The scattering of the document D already located above is prevented.

When the document is fed by the automatic document feeder 1, the image forming apparatus main body 7 makes a copy, and when the copying is completed without causing a jam (paper jam) (S4, S5), the solenoid 10 is turned on. When turned off, the lock of the lock mechanism 8A is released (S6). Thereby, the automatic document feeder 1 can be freely opened by the user.

In step S4, if a jam occurs and the apparatus stops (S7), if the location of the jam is the copying machine main body 7, the lock of the lock mechanism 8A remains held. The document D already fed is returned to the automatic document feeding device 1 or a discharge unit (not shown).

If the jammed portion is the automatic document feeder 1, the locking mechanism 8A releases the locking action. In this state, the automatic document feeder 1 is opened, and the document D jammed by the user is processed.

Thus, while the automatic document feeder 1 is in operation, the lock mechanism 8A is operated to prevent the opening operation of the automatic document feeder 1 to prevent the document D.
A phenomenon in which the automatic document feeder 1 is opened due to a malfunction during the feeding of the document, and the occurrence of a paper jam of the document D due to the phenomenon.
The document is prevented from being scattered due to the opening operation.

Further, when a paper jam occurs at a position outside the automatic document feeder 1 (for example, an image forming apparatus) and the operation of the apparatus is temporarily stopped, the lock operation of the lock mechanism 8A is held. The original document D that is being fed is ejected to the ejection portion in advance and is returned to the initial state, so that the original document D is prevented from jamming and scattering due to the opening of the automatic document feeder 1.

Although the lock mechanism 8A is shown in this embodiment as means for preventing the opening operation of the automatic document feeder 1, the lock mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, the automatic document feeder may be used. If the lock mechanism is provided in the pivotal support portion 3a which is the center of the opening operation of 1, the mechanism can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Further, as a cause for stopping the operation of the automatic document feeder 1 on the way, a jam in the image forming apparatus main body 7 is raised. In addition to this, for example, the sheets are classified in the image forming apparatus main body 7. In the case of a jam in the conveying device, the locking mechanism 8A may be held until the document D is discharged, as long as it has a sorting device.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the automatic document feeder is operating, the lock mechanism is operated to prevent the opening operation of the automatic document feeder, so that the automatic document feeder is opened due to a malfunction during document feeding. It is possible to prevent the phenomenon, paper jam of the document due to the phenomenon, and scattering of the document due to the opening operation.

Further, when a paper jam occurs at a location outside the automatic document feeder (for example, an image forming apparatus) and the operation of the apparatus is temporarily stopped, the lock operation of the lock mechanism is held and the sheet is fed. Since the document being fed is returned to the discharge unit in advance, it is possible to prevent the document from being jammed or scattered due to the opening of the automatic document feeder.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart related to operations of the automatic document feeder and the lock mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the automatic document feeder of the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D Document S Sheet 1 Automatic Document Feeder (DF) 2 Hook 3a Pivot Support (Pivot Support) 7 Copier Main Unit (Image Forming Device Main) 8 Lock Member 8A (2, 8) Lock Mechanism

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder capable of sequentially feeding a plurality of documents to a reading position on an image forming apparatus main body and having one side openable around a pivoting means, An automatic document feeder having a lock mechanism for preventing an opening operation of the automatic document feeder during operation of the automatic document feeder. 2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism locks when a document fed from the automatic document feeder is detected. 3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism holds a lock operation when a sheet is jammed in the main body of the image forming apparatus and releases the jam after the jam processing. apparatus. 4. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is provided in a pivoting means for pivotally supporting the automatic document feeder in the opening operation. 5. An automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and an image forming section for forming an image based on a document fed by the automatic document feeder. Image forming apparatus.