JPH08234506A - Image forming device provided with original feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a simple original feeding device whose constitution is simple, whose scale is small, whose cost is low, which can surely feed an original in the case where the original feeding device is used, and which corrects the wrinkle and wave on the original in the original feeding device suitable for being attached to an image forming device. CONSTITUTION: A carrying roller 34 carrying the original between an original platen and an operating panel is arranged on the upper part of a copying device main body, and an original stocker turnably provided with respect to an original cover 3 on the original platen turns, so that the operating panel is covered. When an original detecting lever arranged on this side of the roller 34 is operated, the roller 34 is rotated. a rotating cam 345 provided on a carrying roller shaft 340 is rotated interlocking with the rotation of the roller 34, the protruding part 345b of the cam 345 abuts on an outer package on the upper part of the copying device main body so as to make the cover 3 float from the original platen, and the carried original is guided to a gap between the cover 3 and the original platen. After the original is carried, the roller 34 is reversely rotated for a specified time, the float of the cover 3 is released, and the cover 3 is brought into close-contact with the original platen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document feeder suitable for mounting on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and automatically carries in an original inserted from the outside to an image forming position of the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a document conveying device that automatically discharges the image processing apparatus again after executing a predetermined process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a copy document is placed on a transparent document table, the document cover is closed, and a copy switch is operated to copy the placed document. The image is formed on a sheet that is appropriately conveyed.

In this case, in particular, if the copy original is in the form of a sheet, the work of manually placing it on the original table is troublesome, so the sheet original is placed on the placing tray and the placed sheet original is placed. A document feeder for automatically feeding a sheet using a sheet feeding unit is provided on the document table. This document transporting device sequentially feeds documents on the document placing tray from the top or the bottom to the document exposing section one by one in accordance with a sheet feeding command from the copying apparatus main body, and after the exposure is completed, the document is transferred. Is configured to be discharged to the paper discharge tray, which makes the device very large-scale and the cost is very high.

Therefore, if the automatic document feeder is mounted on the main body of the copying machine, the cost is naturally high. Further, when the number of originals to be copied is about one or several, if the automatic document feeder is used, the setting of the originals on the tray and the synchronization with the copying apparatus cause the first original to be copied. The copying time becomes rather long, and even if a document is manually placed, there is no difference in the copying time.

Therefore, for the purpose of cost reduction and the like, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to a document table which is an exposure unit for placing a document on which an image is formed, there is proposed a document transporting device that transports sheet documents by inserting them one by one to other exposure positions. This automatic document feeder is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-67497. In the figure, the document feeder 102 is mounted on a document cover 126 which is supported to be openable and closable about a shaft 125. The document tray 130 using the upper surface of the document cover 126, and the document tray 13 are provided.
A guide roller 133 that feeds the original D from 0, a paper feed roller 132, and a guide plate 133 that guides the original D to the exposure unit A on one side of the exposure glass 120. A discharge roller 136 that conveys the original D on the exposure unit A. And so on.

In this structure, when the document feeding device 102 is operated, the document D is fed from the document tray 130, and the document D is fed while being caught by the platen roller 134 and the driven roller 137, and the sheet ejection roller. 1
The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 135 via 36. At this time,
The optical system 121 includes a copy lamp 122 and a platen roller 1
The original document D is moved to a position right below the reference numeral 34 and the optical system 121 is fixed, and the original D is copied while passing through the exposure area A of the exposure glass 120.

A transparent platen 120 for image exposure is used.
The original D is placed on the exposure glass 12 with the optical system 121.
In a normal copying process in which scanning is performed along 0 to perform copying, the copy lamp 122 or the like is moved to a position to be exposed by a copy start signal, and the exposure area B is scanned from left to right in the drawing to perform copying. To do.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The document feeder described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 497 uses the document cover on the exposure glass, which is the document table, to sequentially transport the documents to the exposure position, so that the cost can be reduced to some extent.

However, since the exposure area B different from the normal exposure area A is provided and the exposure area B is used for exposure, the optical system is moved to the exposure position each time the original is conveyed. It is necessary to control the movement by distinguishing it from the exposure position to be placed on the document table 120, and the structure is complicated and the size is large like the conventional automatic document feeder. Therefore, the original is conveyed from the original tray to the discharge tray, which is no different from the conventional automatic original conveying device, and there is a disadvantage that the cost is increased accordingly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a document feeder which has a simple structure, a small scale, a low cost, and good operability. The present invention is particularly convenient when copying one or several sheet originals, and further provides an original conveying apparatus for manually conveying an original to an exposure unit on which the original is placed. The purpose is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for raising an original cover for bringing the original into close contact with the original table when the original is conveyed to an exposure position, and at the same time, the original can be conveyed. An object of the present invention is to provide an original document feeding device capable of surely feeding an original document and feeding the original document to the original document table and then bringing the original document into close contact with the original document table.

It is a further object of the present invention to connect the driving force from the drive source on the image forming apparatus main body side to the document cover side conveying means in the drive connection to the means for conveying the original document. To do.

Another object of the present invention is to ensure that the document is guided to the gap between the document cover and the document table.

[0014]

A document feeder provided in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image with a document cover when a document cover (3) is closed on a document table (2) as shown in FIG. 1, for example. At the original insertion portion (32) formed between the upper plate surface (1a) of the apparatus, a conveying roller (34) which is a conveying means for conveying the original to the original table is provided. By the operation of the document detection lever (33) arranged in front, the drive control is performed in the document transport direction (forward rotation direction) in response to the detection of the document. A levitation mechanism that interlocks with this drive to float the document cover upward so that a gap (d) is formed between the document cover and the document table so that the document can be carried therein. For example, as shown in FIG. In addition, the upper plate surface of the image forming apparatus main body is brought into contact with the rotating cam (345) that rotates in association with the rotation of the rotation shaft (340) of the conveying roller, and thereby the original cover is lifted upward. To do.

For driving the conveying roller (34) which is the above-mentioned conveying means, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an original stocker (35) which is a rotating member mounted on an original cover (3) is rotatably provided. , The original inserted by opening the original stocker is used as an original guide for guiding the conveying means, and at the time of this rotation, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 350) and a driven gear (341) fixed to the shaft (340) of the conveying roller are connected.

In the floating mechanism, in order to correct the wrinkles and waviness of the document, the rotary cam (345) is driven when the transport roller for transporting the document is driven in the reverse direction of the forward rotation.
Similarly, the reverse rotation is performed to release the state in which the document cover is raised above the document table, and the document cover is pressed against the document table.

Further, in order to reliably convey the document conveyed in the gap (d) formed between the document cover 3 and the document table 2, the document conveyance side of the document cover 3 is set to a position higher than that of the document table 2. It is characterized in that it is formed in an inclined shape so as to be spaced.

[0018]

In the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, the manuscript cover (3) is manually opened and closed with respect to the manuscript table (2),
In addition to placing a document on the document table to form an image, the document can be automatically transported to the document table using a document feeder. In other words, with the document cover closed on the platen,
The original is inserted into the original insertion portion (32) where the conveying roller (34) is arranged, which is the original detection lever (3
3) is operated to detect the inserted document. In response to this detection, the document transport roller starts to rotate in the forward direction and transports the document to the document table. At this time, the document cover is in close contact with the document table by its own weight, but the levitation mechanism operates in conjunction with the rotation of the transport roller to lift the document cover above the document table by a gap (d). This is because the rotary cam (345) provided on the shaft of the conveying roller is interlocked to rotate, and a part of the rotary cam abuts the upper plate surface (1a) of the image forming apparatus main body to lift the document cover. As a result, the document cover 3 is separated from the document table (2) by the gap d, and the document is carried into the document table by driving the conveying roller. At this time, the document cover 3 side is used as a guide and is gradually conveyed to the document table.

At this time, when the document stocker (35), which is a rotary member, is opened, the document stocker can be used as a document guide for the rotational driving of the conveying roller (34). In association with this opening operation, the drive unit (350) on the image forming apparatus main body side is connected to the conveyance roller. That is,
When the document stocker is closed and the document feeder is not used, the feed roller is not driven even if the detection lever operates. Therefore, even if the transport roller is provided on the document cover side, it can be operated safely, and at the same time, it is not necessary to provide a drive source of the transport roller on the document cover side.

After the original is conveyed by the conveying roller (34), the conveying roller is rotated in the opposite direction,
By this rotation, the floating mechanism releases the floating state of the document cover. That is, the rotating cam (345) that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveying roller to float the document cover (3).
Rotates in the opposite direction, so that a part of the rotating cam comes out of contact with the upper plate surface (1a) of the image forming apparatus main body, and the original cover is lifted. Therefore, the original cover comes into close contact with the original table (2) by its own weight. Therefore, even if some wrinkles or undulations are formed on the conveyed sheet-like document, the creases or undulations are pushed and stretched, and the creases and undulations are corrected and adhere to the document table. Therefore, an image of a shadow due to wrinkles or waviness of the document is not formed.

Further, the document carrying-in side of the document cover (3) is preliminarily formed with a space from the surface of the document table (2).
Since it is formed in an inclined shape, even if the gap (d) formed by the levitation mechanism is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the document, the leading edge of the document is caught by the document cover and the conveyance is hindered. Disappears. That is, the leading edge of the conveyed document is not caught and jammed when passing through the gap (d), and is smoothly guided to the gap (d).

[0022]

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which a document feeder according to the present invention is used. 3 and 4 show an image forming apparatus equipped with the document feeder of the present invention,
In particular, it is a cross-sectional view showing the outline of the internal structure of the copying apparatus and a perspective view showing the appearance.

First, in FIGS. 3 and 4, an original table 2 made of transparent glass for image exposure is provided on the upper portion of the copying apparatus main body 1, and above the original table 2 is the inner side in the figure. An original cover 3 is arranged such that one side thereof is pivotally supported and can be opened and closed. An optical system 4 is arranged inside the copying apparatus main body 1 below the original table 2. The manuscript cover 3 is for pressing the manuscript placed on the manuscript table glass 2 against the manuscript table surface. The manuscript cover 3 faces the manuscript table inside the exterior 3a which is made of a relatively hard plastic resin and constitutes the manuscript cover. An original pressing mat 3b formed of a relatively soft member is attached to the surface to be pressed.

The optical system 4 includes a light source lamp 4a for optically scanning an original placed on the original table glass 2, mirrors 4b, 4c and 4d for guiding reflected light from the original, and mirrors 4b to 4d. A lens 4e that collects the reflected light that has passed through
A mirror 4f that guides the condensed reflected light to an exposure point on the surface of the drum-shaped photoconductor 5 installed in the center of the main body,
It consists of 4g and 4h. Particularly, the exposure lamp 4a and the reflection mirror 4b are supported on the first moving member, and the mirror 4
c and 4d are supported by a second moving member, and both of them are moved in the left-right direction in the figure in parallel with the document table 2. In particular, the speed of the second moving member is driven at 1/2 the speed of the first moving member. As a result, the image of the original document on the original table 2 can be formed on the photoconductor 5 at a desired magnification to form a light image.

The photoconductor 5 is for forming an image of a document placed on the document table 2. Around the photoconductor, a charger 6 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor, and exposure. A developing device 7 for developing a subsequent electrostatic latent image with colored toner, a transfer device 8 for transferring a toner image formed on a sheet of paper that is appropriately conveyed, and a cleaning device 9 for removing toner remaining after transfer. A charge eliminating lamp 10 for uniformizing the potential on the surface of the photoconductor in order to repeatedly use the photoconductor is arranged in the order described above. The above is the image process system for image formation.

In addition to the above-mentioned image processing system for image formation, the paper is conveyed to the transfer position of the toner image of the transfer device 9, and after the image is transferred, the paper is peeled off and the main body of the copying machine. A paper transport system for discharging the paper is provided in the copying machine. The carrying system includes a paper feeding unit for feeding paper, a carrying unit for carrying the fed paper to the above-mentioned transfer position, and a carrying-out unit for carrying out the paper after transfer to the outside of the copying apparatus main body. Equipped with.

The paper feed unit is a paper storage unit (paper feed cassette) detachably provided at the bottom of the copying machine main body 1.
11 and a paper feed tray 12 for manual insertion, which is projected from the copying apparatus main body 1 to the outside.

A sheet feeding roller 13 having a substantially half-moon shape is arranged at the upper front end (right side in the figure) of the sheet storing section 11, and the sheet feeding roller 13 is a copy stored in the sheet storing section 11. The sheets P are fed one by one from the top. In particular, the paper storage unit 11 includes a rotating member 11a for mounting the paper P on its upper surface.
Is rotatably provided, and a spring (not shown) is pushed up by an urging force to position the uppermost sheet stored at a certain height by a separating claw 11b that enables sheet feeding.

Further, the paper feed tray 12 also includes a paper feed roller 14 that calls in one or a plurality of loaded papers, and a feed roller 15 and a separating member 16 to prevent the feeding of two called papers. The sheet feeding means is provided for sequentially feeding the sheets one by one in accordance with the sheet feeding command.

The transport unit for transporting the paper fed through the paper feed unit having the above-described configuration to the transfer position next has a pair of transport rollers 17 and 18. A paper top plate 19 is provided on the downstream side of the carrying roller 17 in the paper carrying direction.
The sheet conveyed through 7 is temporarily stopped. The paper top plate 19 attaches the tip of the image formed on the photoconductor 5 to
This is for starting the conveyance in conformity with the leading edge of the conveyed sheet, and is driven so as to open the conveyance path according to the rotation position of the photoconductor 5, and thus is arranged immediately before the conveyance roller 17 and the transfer position. The sheet is conveyed to the transfer position by the conveying roller 18. By these means, a paper transport unit that transports the copy paper P to the transfer position facing the photoconductor 5 is configured.

Then, the sheet P passing through the transfer position, after being peeled off from the surface of the photoconductor 5, passes through the heating and fixing device 20 disposed in the middle of the path for carrying it out to the outside of the copying apparatus. The heating and fixing device 20 is composed of a pair of rollers, one of which is a heat roller and the other of which is a pressure roller which presses against the heat roller. The paper P is conveyed while being pressed, and unfixed on the paper by heat. The toner image is heated and fixed. The sheet of paper passing through the heat fixing device 20 is discharged to a discharge tray 21 which is detachably provided in correspondence with the discharge opening formed in the copying machine main body 1. The above is the unloading section for the sheet after the transfer.

In the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the image of the original placed on the original table 2 on the photoconductor 5 is projected by the optical system 4 so that the image is uniformly charged in advance by the charger 6. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 5, and the electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by the developing device 7. This toner image is electrostatically transferred to the copy paper P, which is appropriately conveyed by the paper conveyance system as described above, by the action of the transfer device 8, and is further conveyed by the heat fixing device 20 and at the same time on the paper. Is fixed in. The copy paper P is finally carried out to the discharge tray 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, an operation panel 22 is arranged below the original cover 3 of the copying apparatus main body 1 constructed as described above and above the front surface of the copying apparatus main body. The operation panel 22, as shown in detail in FIG.
A copy button 23, a clear key 24, a copy number setting key 25, a copy number display section 26, an exposure amount adjustment key 27 for adjusting the brightness of the copy, and the like are arranged.

On the other hand, the document feeder according to the present invention includes the document cover 3, a part of the document cover, and the operation panel 22.
And a document cover 3 arranged between the document cover 3 and the document cover 3. For example, the document feeding device 30 feeds a document insertion port 32 into which a document is inserted, a document detection lever 33 that is pushed up by the inserted document and turns on the document detection switch, and the inserted document on the document table 2. The transport roller 34 and the like are provided.

The original insertion port 32 is located between the flat portion of the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body 1 for providing the original table 2 of the copying apparatus main body 1 on the upper side and the handle portion 31 of the original cover 3. There is. Then, the transport roller 34 is arranged at the position of the plane portion of the above-described upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body 1 between the document table 2 and the operation panel 22. The transport roller 34
Is, for example, the lower roller 34b and the upper drive roller 34
It is rotatably provided on the free end side of a leaf spring whose one end is fixed to the upper frame of the main body of the copying machine provided under the exterior 1a so as to be pressed against a. The lower roller 34b may be provided on the copying machine main body side so as to press the drive roller 34a side against it by providing a spring or the like that biases the shaft of the lower roller 34b upward without being supported by the leaf spring.

A driving roller 34a of the conveying roller 34
The rotary shaft is rotatably supported on the document cover 3 side, and the rotational force is transmitted from a drive motor (not shown) arranged in a part of the document cover 3.

Further, the detection switch and the detection lever 33 for detecting the insertion of the original into the conveyance area to the conveyance rollers 34 are similarly arranged on the original cover 3 side. When the document cover 3 is closed (pressed) on the document table 2, the detection lever 33 enters a recess (not shown) formed in the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body,
The document to be inserted is raised above the outer casing 1a. As a result, the document detection switch is operated (ON) to detect the document. In particular, if the lower roller 34b is also arranged on the side of the document cover 3, even in a copying machine that does not include the document transport device, the document transport device can be easily provided by replacing the document cover 3.

The transport roller 34, in particular, the drive roller 34a is arranged on the original cover 3 side, but the lower roller 3
Similarly to 4b, it is provided on the main body side of the copying machine, and the upper part thereof is covered with a separately formed cover member so as not to disturb the manual operation of placing the original on the original table 2 by opening and closing the original cover 3. A configuration may be employed in which an opening into which a document is inserted is formed on the document insertion port side of the member. By forming in this way, although the front part of the document table 2 slightly protrudes upward by the cover member, the transport roller 34 is disposed inside, and the document can be placed safely.
With this configuration, the switch for detecting the document and the detection lever 33 are also arranged inside the cover member, and the configuration of the document cover 3 can be simplified.

On the other hand, the original cover 3 is usually the original table 2
An original pressing mat 3b made of a soft member such as a sponge is in close contact with the surface due to its own weight, for example. Therefore, even if the inserted original is conveyed by the conveying rollers 34, the conveyance is blocked without being conveyed between the original pressing mat 3b and the original table 2, and an original conveyance jam occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to float the document cover 3 and form a gap between the document table 2 and the document pressing mat 3b to allow the document to pass therethrough.

As an example of the structure of the levitation mechanism of the present invention for levitating the document cover 3, the levitation mechanism is designed to operate in conjunction with the driving of the transport roller 34, and the transport roller 34 moves the document to the document table. Document cover 3 when transporting
Is moved above the document table 2 and the document is conveyed, and then the conveyance roller 34 is reversely driven for a certain period of time to be stopped.
Release the floating of the original cover 3, and then attach the original cover 3 to the original table 2.
It is configured to be closely attached to.

Before explaining the levitating mechanism according to the present invention,
A configuration will be described in which the document stocker 35, which is a rotating member provided on the document cover 3, is used as a guide during document transportation. The document stocker 35 is rotatably provided on a shaft portion 36a formed on a shaft support portion 36 provided at the handle 31 on the front surface of the exterior of the document cover 3. Therefore, the document stocker 35 is
A bent portion 35a is formed between the upper surface of the manuscript cover 3 and the upper surface of the manuscript cover 3 to form a space for accommodating a manuscript or the like, and an opening 35c for inserting the manuscript or the like into the upper surface of the manuscript cover 3 is formed from the front surface portion. Has been formed. On the front surface of the bent portion 35a of the original stocker 35, an oval-shaped shaft hole 35b is formed to allow the original stocker 35 to rotate so that the shaft portion 36a is inserted therethrough.
The shaft portion 36a of the shaft support portion 36 provided on the front surface of the exterior 3a of the document cover 3 corresponding to the shaft hole 35b is provided with the shaft hole 35b.
It is fitted into. In particular, if the exterior of the original cover 3 is formed of an elastic member such as resin, the original cover 3 is deformed by utilizing the elastic deformation, and the shaft hole 3 is inserted between the shaft portions 36a of the shaft support portions 36.
When the two are aligned so that the distance between the 5b is shortened and the two are matched, and the deformed state is released in that state, the shaft portion 36a fits into the shaft hole 35b, and the document stocker 35 rotates with respect to the document cover 2. It is movably provided.

With the above-described structure, the document stocker 35 is pivotally supported, and in a state where it is maintained so as to be placed on the document cover 3, a space is formed between the upper surface of the document cover 3 and the document stocker 35 at the bent portion 35a. Then, necessary items such as a manuscript can be stored inside. The original stocker 35 is large enough to accommodate the maximum size original that can be copied.
In particular, it is configured to have a width capable of being stored in FIG.

As described above, the document stocker 35 is also used as a document placement guide when copying is performed using the document feeding device 30, and is rotated to the upper surface position of the exterior 1a on the copying device main body side. And is maintained in a tilted state. Therefore, a locking member 37 is provided at a position corresponding to the shaft hole 35b as shown in FIG. The locking member 37 slightly protrudes toward the operation panel 22 side, and a lower portion thereof has a curved portion 37a formed in a slightly curved shape.

Corresponding to the locking member 37, an engaging portion 35d that engages with the locking member 37 is formed on the document stocker 35 side. The engagement portion 35d is provided on the original stocker 3
5 is formed in the front end portion of the opening 35c, particularly in the vicinity of the shaft portion 35b, and has a convex shape that fits into the curved portion 37a of the locking member 37. The locking member 37 and the engaging portion 35d constitute a locking mechanism when the document stocker 35 is used as a document guide.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the original stocker 35 placed on the original cover 3 is
It is rotated to the front, and the operation panel 2 is moved on the original stocker 35.
When the document stocker 35 is rotated to a position so as to cover it, one end of the document stocker 35 is supported on the flat surface of the exterior 1a, and further rotation is restricted. As a result, the above-mentioned locking member 37
The convex portion of the engaging portion 35c of the document stocker 35 engages with the.
At this time, since the document cover 3 is inserted into the oval shaft hole 35b of the document stocker 35, the shaft portion 36a of the document cover 3 slides by its own weight, so that the document cover 3 remains in close contact with the surface of the document table 2. Become. That is, even if the document stocker 35 is rotated, the document cover 3 is always kept in close contact with the document table 2 by its own weight.

Next, a mechanism for allowing the document cover 3 to float above the document table 2 in the state where the document stocker 35 is rotated to the position for guiding the inserted document will be described below.

FIG. 6 shows the levitation mechanism and is a perspective view showing a state in which the hard outer casing 3a forming the document cover 3 is removed. Therefore, the shaft 340 of the transport roller 34
Is provided with a plurality of transport rollers 34, and is rotatably provided on the side wall of the exterior 3a of the document cover 3 (not shown) via a bearing 341.

The shaft 340 has a conveying roller 3 at one end thereof.
A driven gear 342 for rotating 4 is fixed, and a rotational force is transmitted via a transmission gear 343 that meshes with the driven gear 342. The transmission gear 343 is for transmitting rotation from a drive motor (not shown), and
A connecting lever 34 for driving connection that is rotated around 3a
4 is rotatably provided, for example, this connecting lever 344
However, it is configured to mesh with a drive gear connected to a drive motor (not shown) by being lowered in the downward direction.

A rotary cam 345 for floating the document cover 3 is provided on the shaft 340 so as to be rotatable near both ends thereof. This rotating cam 345
As shown in FIG. 7, a coil spring 348 is interposed between a friction member 346 fixed to a shaft 340 by a pin or the like and a stopper 347 prevented from coming off by an E ring.
It is pressed in. Therefore, although the rotary cam 345 is rotated according to the rotation of the transport roller 34, if the frictional force between the rotary cam 345 and the friction member 346 becomes smaller than the constraint force of the rotary cam due to the biasing force of the coil spring 348, the rotation cam 345 rotates. Even if 340 rotates, it does not rotate and stops at that position.

Therefore, the rotary cam 345 has a recess 345a formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface thereof facing the exterior 3a of the original cover 3, and a protrusion 3c is formed on the lower surface of the exterior 3a corresponding to the recess 345a. Has been formed. The concave portion 354a of the rotary cam 345 is inserted into the protrusion 3c and is provided so as to be locked. In particular, the rotary cam 34 is configured such that each edge of the recess 345a abuts the protrusion 3c.
The rotation of the shaft 5 is restricted, and the shaft 5 idles around the shaft 340. Further, a levitation convex portion 345b for levitation of the document cover 3 is formed in a portion of the rotary cam 345 corresponding to the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body.

With the above structure, when the transport roller 34 is rotated, the rotary cam 345 provided on the shaft 340 of the transport roller 34 is also coupled by the frictional force with the friction member 346 and similarly rotated. When one edge of the concave portion 35a of the rotary cam 345 is locked to the convex portion 3c of the original cover 3 as shown in FIG. 8, the rotation is stopped and only the conveying roller 34 is rotated. At this time, the floating protrusion 345b of the rotary cam 345 becomes
As shown in the actual battle of FIG. 8, the original cover 3 is brought into contact with the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus and the original cover 3 is pushed upward from the original table 2. In this case, the manuscript cover 3 can move upward because the shaft portion 36a on the manuscript cover 3 side moves in the oval region of the shaft hole 35b with respect to the shaft hole 35b of the manuscript stocker 35. In this way, the document cover 3 floats above the document table 2 and the gap d is formed.

On the other hand, when the transport roller 34 rotates in the opposite direction, the rotation cam 345 also rotates in the same direction without being restricted. Then, the concave portion 3 of the rotary cam 345
The rotation is stopped in a state (the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 8) in which the other edge of 45a is in contact with the protrusion 3c. As a result, the floating convex portion 345b of the rotary cam 345 is disengaged from the upper exterior 1a as shown by the broken line in FIG. 8 and the original cover 3 is not lifted, but the floating state is released, and the original cover 3 is released. It comes down to and adheres due to its own weight.

Next, the operations of the document feeder 30 and the copying apparatus main body of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Therefore, the document cover 3 is closed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the document stocker 35 in the state shown in the figure is rotated to the front side and opened. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the curved portion 37a of the locking member 37 and the engaging portion 35c are engaged with each other, so that the document stocker 35 is maintained in the inclined state and the document to be inserted is conveyed. It acts as a guide for guiding the roller 34 side. In this case, the manuscript cover 3 has the manuscript holding mat 3b attached to the manuscript table 2 due to its own weight.
Closely adhered to. This state is as shown in FIG.

In the above state, when the document (D) is inserted from the document insertion port 32 along the upper surface of the document stocker 35, the detection lever 33 is pushed up by the document D and the document detection switch is turned on (step S1).

When the document is inserted, for example, if the left end of the document table 1 in FIG. 3 is the reference position for placing the document, the left side of the bent portion 35a of the document stocker 35 is made to coincide with the reference position. The bent portion 35a can be used as a guide for the leading edge of the document. With this structure, the leading edge of the document can be conveyed along the reference position of the document table 2.

Next, in the original to be inserted, the detection lever 3
When the document detection switch is turned on by the operation of 3, the transport roller 34 rotates in the forward direction, that is, the direction in which the document is transported (see FIG. 1).
Starts to rotate clockwise (step S2),
The document D is placed between the document glass base 2 and the document holding mat 3a.
Will be delivered. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the rotation of the transport roller 34 causes the rotation cam 345 to rotate in the same manner. Therefore, the flying protrusion 345b of the rotary cam 345 contacts the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus, and lifts the document cover 3 upward (step S3).

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
A gap d is formed between the pressing mat 3b of the platen and the document table 2, and the document conveyed by the conveyance roller 34 is
Is transported to. In this case, the original pressing mat 3a
The surface facing the document table 2 serves as a document guide. The gap d is preferably 0.1 mm or more in consideration of the fact that a normal sheet has a thickness of about 0.08 mm. This gap d can be easily adjusted by specifying the shape of the flying protrusion 345b of the rotary cam 345.

The rotation of the rotating cam 345 is controlled by the recess 34.
5a is stopped by engaging with the protrusion 3c of the document cover 3, and the forward rotation of the transport roller 34 is continued (S3).

Thereafter, when the trailing edge of the document D passes through the detection lever 33 and the document detection switch is turned off (step S
4), the rotation of the transport roller 34 is stopped (step S
5) The rear end of the document D is maintained in a state of being sandwiched by the transport rollers 34.

When the automatic loading of the document D onto the document table 2 is completed in this way, the document cover 3 is brought into close contact with the document table 2 in order to remove wrinkles and waviness of the document. Therefore, the rotation of the transport roller 34 is reversely rotated for a certain period of time. This time is the time for which the concave portion 345a of the rotary cam 345 is locked to the projecting portion 3c of the original cover 3, and the floating convex portion 345 is used.
b is the rotation angle away from the exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body. As a result of this rotation, the rotary cam 345 and the recess 345 are also moved.
When a is rotated by the protrusion 3c, it is rotated in the opposite direction, and the flying convex 345b is separated from the upper exterior 1a, so that the driving of the conveyance roller 34 is stopped and the original cover 2 is moved by the original weight of the original cover 2. The pressing mat 3b comes into close contact with the document and presses the document against the document table 2 (S7).

After the above operation, when the copy button 23 is pressed, the copying apparatus main body starts the same copying operation, and performs copying processing from exposure to copy paper discharge (step S9). In this case, the trailing edge of the document D is the conveyance roller 34.
Since the copying process is executed in the state of being sandwiched between the two, the difference in the document placing position of, for example, about 10 mm occurs as shown in FIG. This is the distance between the end of the document and the one end serving as the reference of the document table 2 since the rear end of the document is nipped by the conveyance rollers 34. To eliminate this,
In this embodiment, the position of the lens 4e of the optical system is shifted from the reference position so that the center of the document D and the center of the paper coincide.

Specifically, when the document detection switch is turned on, the copying apparatus is configured to perform the same processing as when the copy button 10a is operated. Therefore, the copy operation is started when the document detection switch is turned on when the document is inserted without operating the copy button 10a. Before this, the lens 4e is moved by about 5 mm by a lens moving solenoid or a motor (not shown), and the image of the end portion of the sandwiched document D is shifted by 10 mm to form an image on the photoconductor 5. As a result, it is possible to match the transport reference position of the copy sheet that is being properly transported (step S8). Therefore, the lens 4e is provided so as to be movable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis (the front-rear direction in FIG. 1), and when copying is performed by conveying a document, the front side in FIG. 3 and the front side in FIGS. Move it to the right by about 5 mm and wait.

In this case, it is desirable that the back surface that supports the document table 2, particularly the irradiation surface of the optical system in the region where the document is sandwiched, is a white surface because an image is formed on the photoconductor 5. this is,
This is because the toner adheres when it is dark and is transferred to the paper, so that black streaks are formed with a width of about 10 mm.

In this state, the copying process of step S9 is performed, and when this process is completed, the conveyance roller 34 is reversely rotated by the reverse driving of the drive motor (step S10), and the document D is carried out to the document insertion port 32. To do. For this carry-out, the rotation time of the carry roller 34 at the time of inserting the document D is stored, and is shorter than the stored time (for example, the carry distance is 10
The passage of a predetermined time set to about (mm) is detected (step S11), and the reverse rotation of the transport roller 34 is stopped (step S12).

Therefore, the document D is stopped in a state where it is slightly nipped by the transport roller 34. Therefore, when another copy is desired, the copy button is pressed within a predetermined time (for example, within 2 seconds) after the transport roller is stopped. If it is confirmed that is pressed (S13), the transport roller 34 rotates forward (S2),
The state of the copying operation described above is entered again, and the operation described above is repeated.

This makes it possible to make a plurality of copies. When a predetermined time or more has elapsed (S14), the transport roller 34 rotates again in the reverse direction (S15), and after a predetermined time, the drive of the transport roller 34 is stopped (S16), whereby the document D
Is discharged to the document stocker 35. If the number of copies of the original is set in advance, the required number can be easily obtained by one operation.

As described above, the copying of one original is performed by using the original conveying device 30, but when the copying of two or more originals is performed, the copied originals are copied. A desired copy can be made in the same manner by placing it on a flat surface on the cover 3 and inserting the next sheet-like document from the document insertion port 32 in the same manner.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the original is conveyed in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the paper and placed on the original table 2. Therefore, since one end of the original is sandwiched for copying, the center of the paper does not coincide with the center of the original. Therefore, the imaging lens is moved in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction to move the center of the original and the paper. Trying to match.

However, the original may be conveyed in the same direction as the paper feeding direction. For example, in FIG. 3, the right side of the document cover 3 is rotatably provided so as to be pivotally supported, and an insertion port is provided so as to insert a document from the side opposite to the pivotally supported portion.
After that, the configuration described above may be applied as it is. In this case, when the rear end of the document is sandwiched by, for example, about 10 mm and the image of the document is exposed, the front end of the conveyed sheet and the front end of the image formed on the photoconductor are displaced by 10 mm. In order to eliminate this misalignment, drive control is performed so that the paper conveyance timing is advanced by 10 mm.

As described above, in the case where the original is image-exposed on the photosensitive member as it is, the center deviation between the original and the paper and the leading end deviation between the paper and the formed image occur. However, in the image forming apparatus that digitally reads the placed document and writes it on the photoconductor with the laser, as described above, the center misalignment between the document and the paper and the misalignment between the paper and the formed image are It can be repaired during laser irradiation. In other words, the image of the original that is not placed on the original table 2 is processed as plain, that is, read, and the laser irradiation may be performed including this plain. In order to read an image digitally, for example, an image sensor such as a CCD is arranged behind the imaging lens 4e, the image of the document is A / D converted and stored, and based on the stored digital image data. By controlling the modulation of the laser, it is possible to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 5 corresponding to the image of the document by dots.

As described above, the document feeder 30
Is composed of simple means and can greatly contribute to cost reduction. In this case, since the levitation mechanism for forming the gap d between the document cover 3 and the document table 3 is interlocked using the rotation of the transport roller 34 for transporting the document, a special drive source is used. Does not even need. In particular, since the document cover 3 is separated from the document table 2 by a predetermined gap d at the time of feeding the document to be inserted, no special means is required for the timing of lifting the document cover 3, and the document is reliably fed. Can be conveyed to the document table 2.

Further, since the document cover 3 can be brought into close contact with the document table 2 after the document has been conveyed, and the document can be pressed against the document table 2 so as to eliminate wrinkles and waviness of the sheet-shaped document, and thus No shadows are formed.

Here, when the original document is carried out, the mat 3b of the original document cover 3 is pressed against the original document table 2 by the weight of the original document cover 3, but one end of the original document is clamped by the transport roller 34. If the carrying force of the carrying roller 34 is larger than the pressing force, the original can be easily carried out even in the pressed state.

Note that the draft stocker 35 has been described as an example in which it is formed so as to store a document or the like, but it may be formed by a simple rotating member in addition to the document stocker 35. . In particular, by using the document stocker 35, this part is useful in that it can be used as a storage section when the document conveying device is not used.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the document stocker 35 is rotated to be used as a document guide, but provision of such a document stocker 35 is not an essential constituent feature of the present invention. That is, the document stocker 35
Is provided for the purpose of simplifying the insertion of the original,
If a guide for regulating one side edge of the original is provided on the surface of the upper exterior 1a according to the reference position of the original table 2 and the guide is inserted into the conveying roller 34 so as to be placed on the surface of the upper exterior 1a, the original stocker 35 will be formed. Even without the document, the document can be easily inserted along the reference position.

On the other hand, in order to drive the conveying roller 34, the rotation of the driving gear via the transmission gear 343 causes the driven gear 342 to rotate. In this case, the configuration has been described in which the motor serving as a drive source is provided on the document cover 3 side and the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the transmission gear 343. However, if a drive source is provided on the document cover 3 side, the document cover 3
The weight of itself becomes very large, and a large force is required for the opening / closing operation.

Further, when carrying out the operation of carrying out the original, if the weight of the original cover 3 is large, it is necessary to increase the carrying output at the time of carrying out, and it is also necessary to increase the driving force thereof. Moreover, since it is necessary to pull in the power source for driving the drive source from the main body of the copying apparatus, it is necessary to provide the power source line and the like on the original cover 3 for opening and closing, and it is very difficult to have electrical insulation and durability due to opening and closing. There is a problem of trouble.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the motor as a drive source is not provided on the original cover 3 side,
It is important to transmit from the copying machine body side. The drive connecting portion will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

As described above, the coupling lever 344, which rotates about the shaft 340 of the conveying roller 34, has one end via the spring 349 and the hard outer casing 3 of the original cover 3.
It is connected to the lower surface of a. That is, the spring 349
The connecting lever 344 is always urged to rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure by the urging force of. The connecting lever 344 is provided on the document cover 3 regardless of the document transport area as shown in FIG.
Is arranged at one side end.

The transmission gear 3 is rotatably engaged with the driven gear 342 on the connecting lever 344.
Reference numeral 43 denotes a drive gear 350 provided on the copying apparatus main body side in a state where the original cover 3 is closed on the original table 2 side.
It is facing so that it can mesh with. The drive gear 350
The rotation from a drive motor (not shown) on the body side of the copying machine is transmitted through a clutch or the like, corresponds to the transmission gear 343, and is positioned below the plane of the upper exterior 1a. To place. This drive gear 35
The exterior 1a portion facing 0 is opened 1b. The transmission gear 342 is provided so as to be capable of meshing with the drive gear 350 via the opening portion 1b.

The connecting lever 344 has a spring 34.
The transmission gear 342 is not coupled even if the document cover 3 is closed on the document table 2 because it is urged to rotate upward by 9 in the upward direction. That is, the drive gear 350 and the transmission gear 342 are maintained in a separated state (state of FIG. 11).

The means for connecting the transmission gear 342 to the drive gear 350 is the original stocker 3 described above.
5, the document stocker 35 is used as a document guide to connect the two. Therefore, the connecting lever 344 is provided on the side opposite to the spring 349 so that the protrusion 34
4a, and the engaging portion 35e provided on the bent piece 35a on the document stocker 35 side is provided in an engageable relationship.

Particularly, while the document stocker 35 is being rotated onto the exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body, the engaging portion 35e engages so as to lift the protruding portion 344a of the connecting lever 344 from the lower portion. Therefore, the connecting lever 344 is rotated about the shaft 340 of the transport roller 34 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure against the biasing force of the spring 349. As a result, the transmission gear 342 rotatably provided on the connecting lever 344 is lowered to the drive gear 350 side of the copying apparatus main body side, and they are connected so as to mesh with each other. Therefore, the drive gear 350 applies the rotational force of the drive motor to
When it is rotated via a rotation control means such as a clutch, it is transmitted to the transport roller 34, and the transport roller 34 is rotated.

The rotation of the transport roller 34 causes the rotation cam 345 to rotate, whereby the document cover 3 is separated from the document table 2 by the gap d. The drive gear 350 is
The rotation direction is controlled and driven in the direction in which the transport roller 34 is rotationally driven in the normal rotation direction and in the direction in which it is driven in the reverse rotation direction through the means such as the above-described various clutches.

Therefore, when a sheet-like original is automatically conveyed to the original table 2 by using the original conveying device 30 for copying, the original stocker 35 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. As a result, the driven gear 342 that drives the conveying roller 34 is connected to the drive gear 350 on the copying apparatus main body side via the transmission gear 343, and thus rotational drive is possible according to the rotation of the drive gear 350. . Therefore, when the document detection switch by the detection lever 33 detects (ON) that the document is inserted, the detection signal is sent to the copying apparatus main body side. As a result, the rotation is transmitted to the driving gear 350, the driven gear 341 is rotated, and the transport roller 34 can be rotationally driven. Further, when the document is conveyed to the document table 2, the rotation of the drive gear 350 is stopped.

When the document feeder 30 is not used, the document stocker 35 is rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 11 and set in the state shown in FIG.
The driven gear 341 of No. 4 is separated from the driving gear 350, and cannot rotate.

With the above configuration, the transport roller 3
It is not necessary to provide a drive motor for driving the drive unit 4 on the original cover 3 side, and the drive motor on the copying apparatus main body side can be used. Therefore, the number of components of the document feeder 30 provided on the document cover 3 side is reduced, and the load on the document cover 3 itself can be reduced. This is done manually by opening and closing the original cover 3.
The operation of placing the original on the original table 2 can be simplified. Further, when used as the document feeder 30, the load on the document cover 3 is reduced when the document is carried out. Therefore, even when the document output is reduced, the document cover 3 is pressed against the document table 2 and the document cover 3 is pressed. Can be fully carried out.

When the document is conveyed to the document table 2 side, even if the pressing mat 3b of the document cover 3 is separated from the document table 2 by the gap d, the leading end of the document is guided to the gap d. There is a risk of being caught and jammed at the entrance when being used. In other words, when the gap d is very small, the probability of jamming is very strong, and on the other hand, the original mat 3b to be conveyed is used as a guide for good conveyance. That is, the original can be carried into the original table 2 while correcting wrinkles and waviness. On the other hand, if the distance of the gap d is wide, the probability of jamming is very small, but the conveyed document is violent and is conveyed in a wavy or wrinkled state, and the document cover 3 is pressed as it is to eliminate the wrinkle or wavy. Instead, shadows are very likely to be formed.

In order to solve the above problems, therefore, in FIG. 12, the white sheet 3d attached to the original mat 3b on the original loading side is extended to the side of the conveying roller 34, and the original sheet 2 is formed. A large slanted interval e is formed therebetween. This interval e is provided so as to correspond to one reference end 2a for restricting the once of the document, so that there is no problem when the document is pressed against the document table 2. That is, the image on the reference end 2a is not formed, and the image is formed on the basis of the reference end 2a. Further, even if the slanted space e is provided in this region, the original is not pressed from the upper portion, so that there is no problem such as floating of the original.

Therefore, even if the gap d is small, the leading edge of the original document conveyed through the conveying roller 34 has the pressing mat 3b.
The white sheet 3d is surely guided to the gap d and conveyed to the document table 2. Therefore, when the document is carried into the document table, the leading end thereof is not caught, which is useful for preventing jamming and the like. Here, FIG. 13 shows the pressing mat 3b.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a white sheet 3d attached to a sheet and a conveyance roller 34. That is, the white sheet 3
The region d between the transport rollers 34 extends to the shaft 340 of the transport rollers.

[0091]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the conveying means for conveying the original between the closed original cover and the original table is arranged at one edge of the original table to read the original. Since a simple document feeder that constitutes a means for feeding the document is provided, the cost can be reduced if the document feeder is provided.

In this case, when the original is conveyed to the original table by using the conveying device, the original cover is separated from the original table in association with the rotation of the conveying means. A space can be formed between the document table and a special timing means for separating the document cover from the document table is not required, so that the document is reliably transported. Also,
It is not necessary to provide a special drive means for separating the document cover from the document table on the document cover or the like.

Further, by driving the conveying means in reverse, the original cover can be brought into close contact with the original table, and the role of the original cover can be utilized as it is to correct the wrinkles and waviness of the original before copying. As a result, wrinkles and wavy shadows are not formed on the image.

When the rotating member for guiding the original is set after the original cover is closed, the original can be driven to the conveying means. Therefore, the conveying means rotates during the copying operation by the manual operation of the original cover. There is no danger of being driven and you can use it safely. Also, since the drive source is eliminated on the document cover side and the load on the entire document cover is reduced,
Even if the document cover presses the document against the document table, the document is reliably delivered.

Furthermore, by providing an inclined surface at a distance between the document cover and one end portion of the document table side when the document is conveyed,
It is possible to prevent the leading edge of the conveyed document from being caught and prevent a conveyance jam or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a document feeder provided in an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism and a state in which a document cover for allowing the document to be conveyed is lifted from a document table in the document conveying device provided in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus equipped with a document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external fitting of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus equipped with a document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of an operation panel in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing details of a mechanism for floating a document cover according to the present invention, in which a part of the document cover is removed and the document cover is floated in conjunction with a document conveying unit.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a rotating cam and a document cam related to a document cover floating mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 relates to a floating mechanism of a document cam according to the present invention,
Sectional drawing which shows the mechanism which interlocks with a conveyance means and floats a document cover from a document table.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation control of the document feeder of the present invention and the control operation relating to image formation.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a mechanism for transmitting a rotational force to a conveying unit that constitutes the document conveying apparatus according to the present invention, showing a connected state.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an unconnected state, which is an example of a function of transmitting a rotational force to a conveying unit that constitutes the document conveying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an example for reliably carrying in a document in the document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an example for surely carrying in a document in the document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a conventional document feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copying Machine Main Body 2 Original Plate Glass 3 Original Cover 3b Original Press Mat 3c Protrusion 3d Pressing Sheet 5 Photoreceptor 30 Original Feeder 32 Original Feeder 33 Original Detection Lever 34 Transport Roller 340 Rotation Shaft 341 Driven Gear 342 Transmission Gear 344 Connection lever 344a Projection part 345 Rotating cam 345a Recessed part 345b Floating projection part 350 Drive gear 35 Original stocker 35e Connection part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A document table on which a document is placed and the image of the document is exposed, and a document cover which is pivotally supported at one end and is openably and closably mounted on the document table to press the document against the document table. An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance unit arranged at a document insertion portion formed between the document cover and the plate surface when the document cover is closed and configured to convey the inserted document to a document table side. A detection unit arranged in front of the conveying unit for detecting an inserted document, and a control for driving and controlling the conveying unit in response to the detection of the detecting unit to control loading and discharging of the inserted document. An image forming apparatus comprising: a document feeding device including a document feeding device, and a floating mechanism that interlocks with the rotation of the transporting device and floats the document cover above the document table to form a gap. 2. The document cover is rotatably provided with respect to the document cover, and is rotatably provided between the document cover and a plate surface on the main body of the image forming apparatus provided with the document table. The present invention is characterized in that a rotating member is provided for guiding an original to the conveying means, and a connecting mechanism is provided which connects the conveying means and a drive unit of the image forming apparatus main body at an original guide position of the rotating member. An image forming apparatus comprising the document feeding device according to claim 1. 3. The levitation mechanism raises the document cover above the document table when the conveying means rotates in the forward rotation direction for feeding the document, and releases the levitation state by driving the conveying means in the reverse direction to release the document cover. An image forming apparatus comprising the document feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming device is configured to be pressed against a table. 4. An inclined gap is formed on a side of the document cover where a document is conveyed, so that a gap is formed between the document cover and the document table. An image forming apparatus equipped with a document feeder.