JPH08297382A - Image forming device provided with original transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make the scale an original transforming device small with a simple structure at a low cost, and to provide an excellent transporting property, in regard to the original transporting device suitable for attaching to an image forming device such as copying machine. CONSTITUTION: The original transporting device 30 is constituted that a transporting roller 34 for transporting an sheet original D is arranged on a front edge of the original platform 2 provided in an upper part of a copying machine main body, the sheet original is sent through the transporting roller 34 into a gap (d), and the original cover 3 is arranged in a state of floating by the gap (d) from the original platform 2. The sheet original D is bent while built up in a curved state at a part on a position of the transporting roller 34. Thereby, stiffness of the sheet original D is substantially improved, the transporting property is improved, and therefore the sheet original D can be surely transported onto the original platform 2 even if the gap (d) is very narrow.

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, after a copy document is placed on a transparent document table, the document cover is closed and a copy switch is operated to remove the placed document. The copied 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 that automatically feeds sheets using a sheet feeding unit is provided on the document table. In this document feeder, the documents on the document tray are sequentially transferred from the top or the bottom to the document exposure section in accordance with a sheet feeding command from the copying apparatus main body.
It is configured to feed the sheets one by one and to discharge the original document to a sheet discharge tray after the exposure is completed. Therefore, the apparatus becomes 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. When the number of originals to be copied is about one or several, if the automatic document feeder is used, both of them are set on the tray for placing the originals and both are ready for synchronization with the copying apparatus. Since the operation is started after waiting, the copy time of the first original becomes rather long, and even if the original is manually placed, the copy time may not be different.

Therefore, for the purpose of cost reduction and the like, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to a document table which is an exposure unit for placing a document on which an image is formed, a document transporting device has been proposed 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 also exposed, the optical system is changed to the exposure position by the original conveyance each time. 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.

Therefore, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 06-250.
No. 950 proposed a simple document feeder for feeding a document to an exposure area, that is, a document table and discharging the document table. As a result, the above-mentioned inconvenience can be eliminated and a simple document feeder can be provided.

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 conveying originals to an exposure unit on which the originals are placed. ,
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which improves the transportability of a document and more reliably transports a sheet document.

[0012]

A document feeder provided in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a document cover 3 in a state where the document cover 3 is closed at a position facing the document table 2 as shown in FIG. A floating mechanism is provided in which a gap d is formed so that a sheet document can be conveyed from the document table 2.
When the document cover 3 is closed, the document is transported to the document insertion portion 32 formed between the document cover 3 and the exterior 1a on the upper surface of the copying apparatus main body 1, particularly to the front edge of the document table 2. Means, in particular, the conveyance roller 34 is arranged, and the sheet document D inserted by the conveyance roller 34 is inserted into the gap d.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sheet is conveyed to, a curved forming means is provided to form a curved bulge on a part of the sheet document D.

As shown in an example in FIG. 6, the curving means is rotatable between the pair of rollers 34a and 34b between the rollers 34 and is rotatable on one roller shaft 34-2 side, and is larger than the diameter of the roller 34. It is configured by providing an idle roller 34c.

Further, one roller 3 which constitutes the conveying means.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the contact portions of both rollers 34 have a higher value than the surface of the document table 2, and the axes of the shafts 34-1 and 34-2 of both rollers 34 are on the document table 2 side. It is arranged to incline to.

[0015]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, which is equipped with the document feeder as described above, when the document cover 3 is closed at a position facing the document table 2, the sheet document D is used by the document feeder. Then, it can be automatically conveyed to the document table 2. Then, when a document is inserted, the conveyance roller 34, which is a conveyance unit, starts to be driven. At this time, since a gap d for transporting the document is formed between the document table 2 and the document cover 3, the transport rollers 34 are arranged along the gap d.
The sheet document D is conveyed via the.

Here, the conveyed sheet original D is formed with a bulge in which a part thereof is curved along the conveying direction. Therefore, the sheet document D is conveyed into the gap d in a state where the rigidity of the sheet is substantially enhanced, and the conveyance property is improved. In particular, by increasing the waist of the sheet document, it is possible to reliably convey even a very small gap d in which the leading edge of the sheet is obstructed without jamming.

In particular, the sheet original D is formed with a curved bulge while being conveyed by the conveying roller 34 as a conveying means. Therefore, the sheets are simultaneously conveyed in a state where the rigidity of the sheet is strengthened in cooperation with the conveying rollers 34, so that the conveyability is further improved and the sheet original can be conveyed more reliably.

Moreover, when the leading edge of the sheet document D is fed into the gap d, the sheet document D first comes into contact with the document table 2, so that the curved sheet document D is transferred to the document table 2 in order to improve the transportability. The sheets are conveyed along the original table 2 in a state of being in close contact with each other.
As a result, the sheet original 2 is more reliably conveyed to the gap d, and the sheet original D is conveyed in a state where the sheet original D is in close contact with the original table 2. Further, the sheet document D after the close contact is flattened in a curved shape by the contact of the original table 2 and is brought into close contact with the original table 2 in a flat state. In particular, since the document is brought into close contact with the conveying roller 34 while being pressed from above, the closeness of contact is enhanced, and the document is floated above the document table 2, and the image distortion and the image shadow at the floating portion are eliminated.

[0019]

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 part 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 a document placed on the document table glass 2, mirrors 4b, 4c, 4d for guiding reflected light from the document, and mirrors 4b-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 a first moving member (not shown),
The mirrors 4c and 4d are supported by a second moving member (not shown), both of which are moved in parallel to the document table 2 in the left-right direction in the drawing. 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 image processing system for image formation, the paper is conveyed to the toner image transfer position of the transfer device 9, and after the image is transferred, the paper is peeled off and the copying machine main body is removed. 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 feeding unit is a paper storage unit (paper feeding 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 for invoking one or more sheets of paper placed thereon, and a feed roller 15 and a separating member 16 for preventing two invoked papers from being fed. The sheet feeding means is provided for sequentially feeding the sheets one by one in accordance with the sheet feeding command.

The transport unit that transports the sheet fed through the sheet feeding 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 arranged 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 configured 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 formed 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 and the handle portion 31 of the original cover 3. There is. Then, the transport roller 34 is arranged on the plane portion of the above-described upper exterior 1 a of the copying apparatus main body 1 between the document table 2 and the operation panel 21. The transport roller 34 is
For example, the lower roller 34b is rotated to the free end side of the leaf spring 28, one end of which is fixed to the upper frame of the main body of the copying apparatus provided in the lower portion of the exterior 1a so that the lower roller 34b is pressed against the upper driving roller 34a. It is possible. The lower roller 34b is provided with a spring or the like for urging its shaft upward without being supported by the tip of the leaf spring 28,
It may be provided on the main body side of the copying apparatus so that the drive roller 34a side is brought into pressure contact.

A driving roller 34a for 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 thereof, which constitute a detection means for detecting the insertion of the original into the conveying area of the conveying roller 34, are similarly arranged on the original cover 3 side. When the document cover 3 is closed (pressed) on the document table 2 by the detection lever 33,
It enters into a recess (not shown) formed in the upper exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body and is raised above the exterior 1a by the inserted document. This activates the document detection switch (O
N) and document detection is performed.

In particular, if the lower roller 34b is also arranged on the side of the original cover 3, the original cover 3 is replaced with the one having the original conveying function, even in a copying machine having no original conveying device. As a result, the document feeder can be easily provided.

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.

In order to more reliably convey the original document by the conveying roller 34, in the present invention, the rigidity of the sheet to be conveyed is strengthened to improve the conveying property. An example thereof is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, a plurality of drive rollers 34a are fixed to the roller shaft 34-1 at a predetermined interval, and the pressure roller 34b pressed against the drive roller 34a is the roller shaft 34. -2, like the drive roller 34a, a plurality of them are fixed at predetermined intervals. The pair of upper and lower rollers are pressed against each other, and when the drive roller 34a rotates, the pressure bonding roller 34b also rotates and conveys the sandwiched sheet document D.

The axial gap between the upper and lower rollers 34a, 34b (the portion where the rollers are not located)
The idle roller 3 is rotatably attached to the roller shaft 34-2.
4c is provided. This idle roller 34c
It is a large-diameter roller formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the pressure roller 34b. The idle roller 34c is rotatably supported by the roller shaft 34-2 by a member such as an E-ring so as not to move in the axial direction so as to be held at a fixed position.

Therefore, by the rotation of the transport roller 34, the leading edge of the sheet document D guided by the document stocker 35 as the document tray is first clamped, and the transport is started.
At this time, a part of the sheet document D rises (raises) in a curved shape by the idle roller 34c arranged in the roller interval portion. Therefore, the waist of the sheet document D is much stronger than that of the sheet document D conveyed flatly.
The probability of obstructing the transport of the tip is greatly reduced.

The idle roller 34c is rotatably supported by the roller shaft 34-2 on the pressure contact roller 34b side, but may be rotatably supported by the roller shaft 34-1 on the drive roller 34a side. Also, as shown in FIG.
The pressing roller 3 is provided without providing the idle roller 34c.
4b is fixed to the roller shaft 34-2 as one roller,
The roller 34b corresponds to the space of the drive roller 34a.
The projection roller 34d having a large diameter larger than the diameter is provided. Also in this pressure contact roller 34b, as in the case of FIG. 6, a curved bulge can be formed in a part of the sheet document D at the position of the projection roller 34d while the sheet document D is being sandwiched, and the waist of the sheet document is reduced. Can be carried in the state of being enhanced.

On the other hand, the document cover 3 is usually the document table 2
The original pressing mat 3b 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 original pressing mat 3b is pressed.
The sheet is not conveyed between the document table 2 and the document table 2 and is prevented from being conveyed, causing a document jam. 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 a structure for levitating the original cover 3, the original stocker 35, which is a rotating member provided on the original cover 3, is provided on a shaft support portion of the handle 31 on the front surface of the exterior of the original cover 3. 36 is rotatably provided. The document stocker 35 has bent portions 35a formed on both sides and the inner side thereof for forming a space between the document cover 3 and the upper surface of the document cover 3. An opening 35c is formed for insertion into the upper surface of the document cover 3.

The bent portion 35a of the original stocker 35
A shaft portion 35b for allowing the document stocker 35 to rotate is formed on the front surface of the. The shaft support portion 3 provided on the front surface of the exterior 3a of the original cover 3 corresponding to the shaft portion 35b.
The shaft portion 35b is fitted in the concave portion 36a of No. 6.
In particular, if the exterior of the document cover 3 is formed of an elastic member such as resin, the original cover 3 is deformed by utilizing the elastic deformation, and is bent so that the distance of the shaft portion 35b is shorter than the distance between the two shaft support portions 36. When the two are matched in the state and the deformed state is released in that state, the shaft portion 35b is fitted into the recess 36a, and the document stocker 35 is rotatably provided with respect to the document cover 2.

With the above-described structure, the document stocker 35 is pivotally supported, and when the document stocker 35 is kept mounted 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.

Then, in the document stocker 35, the document cover 3 is floated to form a gap between the document pressing mat 3b and the document table 2, so that the exterior 1a of the copying machine main body side is formed.
As shown in FIG. 2, a floating member 37 is provided on the upper portion at a position corresponding to the shaft portion 35b. This floating member 37
Has a curved portion 37a that slightly protrudes toward the operation panel 22 and that has a protruding end that is curved downward to some extent.

Corresponding to the floating member 37, an engaging portion 35d that engages with the floating member 37 is formed on the original 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 levitation member 37. The levitation member 37 and the engaging portion 35d constitute a levitation mechanism.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the original stocker 35 placed on the original cover 3 is
The original stocker 35 is rotated to the front so that the operation panel 22
If you rotate it to a position that covers it, the document stocker 3
One end of 5 is supported on the plane of the exterior 1a, and further rotation is restricted. As a result, the convex portion of the engaging portion 35d of the document stocker 35 engages with the curved portion 37a of the floating member 37 described above.

At this time, one end of the peripheral edge forming the opening 35c of the document stocker 35 is supported on the exterior 1a of the copying apparatus main body 1, and the curved portion 37a of the floating member 37 and the engaging portion 35 are supported.
Due to the engagement with d, the document cover 3 is lifted upward via the shaft portion 35b. That is, since the handle portion 31 on the opposite side of the rotatable shaft support portion on the inner side of the document cover 3 is raised by the rotation of the document stocker 35, particularly the shaft portion 35b is raised.
The document cover 3 is a pivotal support portion of the document cover 3 (not shown in FIG.
And the inner side of the copying apparatus in FIG. 4) is rotated and lifted up. Therefore, a gap d is formed between the document table 2 and the document pressing mat 3b.

From the above, the sheet original is inserted along the upper surface of the rotated original stocker 35, and the conveying roller 3
When the original is inserted into the original table 2 by the drive of 5,
Then, the document can be conveyed to the document table 2 by being guided by the document mat 3b.

Here, the gap d is the distance between the engaging portion between the levitation member 37 and the engaging portion 35c and the shaft portion 35b, and the angle (the straight line between the shaft portion 35b and the engaging portion and the document table). 3 and the horizontal plane), and the necessary gap d can be formed by appropriately setting these.

Further, the bent portion 35 of the document stocker 35
One side surface of a acts as a guide for guiding one side edge of the document to be inserted. That is, one end of the document has the other reference end orthogonal to the above-mentioned reference end 2a of the document table 2, and one side surface of the bent portion 35a of the document stocker 35 is formed so as to coincide with the reference end. Has been done. The side surface facing the bent portion 35a that coincides with the reference end is formed with a space large enough to accommodate the largest document.

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 flow chart 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 floating member 37 and the engaging portion 35c are engaged with each other, so that the original cover 3 is lifted upward and the original pressing mat 3b is placed on the original table. 2 and the gap d.

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

At the time of inserting the original, for example, if the left end of the original table 1 in FIG. 1 is the reference position for placing the original, the left side of the bent portion 35a of the original stocker 35 is made to coincide with the reference position, and 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, when the original detection switch is turned on for the original to be inserted, the conveying roller 34 starts to rotate in the forward direction, that is, the original starts to rotate in the direction of conveying the original (clockwise in FIG. 1) (step S2). The document D is inserted in the gap d between the document glass table 2 and the document pressing mat 3a, and the surface of the document pressing mat 3a facing the document table 2 functions as a document guide. This gap is 0.08mm for normal paper
Considering that the thickness is about 0.1 mm, 0.1 mm or more is desirable. This gap d can be easily adjusted as described above.

At this time, when the leading edge of the sheet original D is nipped by the feeding rollers 34 and is fed, as shown in FIG. The waist is strengthened. Therefore, in the sheet document D, the conveying force of the conveying roller 34 is transmitted as it is, so that a thick sheet is conveyed, and the sheet is not folded.
The transportation is surely continued. Further, the sheet document D is fed so that the leading end thereof comes into contact with the surface of the document table 2 so that the contacted sheet D is conveyed as if pushed from above, and is formed at the nipping position of the conveyance rollers 34. It is possible to feed the document so that the image surface of the document comes into close contact with the document table 2 without the curving up of the curved shape.

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
3) The transport roller 34 stops (step S4), and the trailing edge of the sheet document D is stopped while being sandwiched by the transport roller 34.

Thus, when the sheet document D is automatically carried onto the document table 2, when the copy button 10a is pressed, the copying apparatus body starts a similar copying operation, and performs a copying process from exposure to discharge of copy paper. Do (Step S
6). In this case, the trailing edge of the sheet document D is the conveyance roller 23.
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 sheet original D and the center of the sheet P coincide with each other.

Specifically, when the document detection switch is turned on, the copying machine 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 conveyance standard of the copy sheet which is conveyed normally (step S5). 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 performing copying by conveying the document, in FIG.
Further, in FIG. 2, it is moved to the right side by about 5 mm and made to stand by. In this case, the back surface supporting the document table 2, particularly the irradiation surface of the optical system in the region where the document is sandwiched, is preferably a white surface because an image is formed on the photoconductor 5. This is because the toner adheres to the paper when it is dark and is transferred to the paper, so that black streaks of about 10 mm are formed.

In this state, the copying process of step S6 is performed, and when this process is completed, the conveyance roller 34 is reversely rotated by the reverse rotation of the drive motor (step S7), and the document D
To the document insertion port 32. For this carry-out, the rotation time of the carry roller 34 when the document D is inserted is stored, and is shorter than the stored time (for example, the carry distance is 10 m.
The elapse of a predetermined time set to about m) is detected (step S8), and the reverse rotation of the transport roller 23 is stopped (step S9).

Therefore, the document D is stopped in a state where it is slightly nipped by the conveyance roller 34, and therefore when another copy is desired again, the copy button is pressed within a fixed time (for example, within 2 seconds) after the conveyance roller is stopped. If you press, the transport roller 34
However, it rotates normally and enters the copy state again.

This makes it possible to make a plurality of copies. When a certain time or more has elapsed, the transport roller 23 rotates in the reverse direction again and the document D is discharged to the document stocker 24. 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 can 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. That is, when the stop plate 19 shown in FIG.
It can be easily implemented by accelerating the time corresponding to m minutes.

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 document not placed on the original table 2 is processed as a plain image (reading), and the photoconductor 5 including the plain region may be irradiated with laser light. 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 modulating and controlling the laser, the photoconductor 5
It is possible to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original by dots.

As described above, the document feeder 30
Is composed of simple means and can greatly contribute to cost reduction. In this case, a document stocker 35 for forming a gap d between the document cover 3 and the document table 3.
In the above description, a document formed so as to store a document or the like has been described as an example, 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. When used as a document feeder, the document stocker 35 not only serves as a lower surface guide for inserting a document, but also serves as a discharge tray when discharging a document.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the document stocker 35 is rotated and used as a document guide, a levitation mechanism is provided to float the document cover 3 above the document table 2. However, this is not the case. The same can be applied to a configuration in which the document cover 3 is floated when the sheet document D is inserted.

FIG. 9 shows an example thereof, in which an operating piece 40 for floating the original cover 3 is provided in an area outside the maximum width in which the sheet original D is inserted and conveyed.
A solenoid 41 for activating is disposed between the grip portion of the document cover 3 and the exterior upper surface 1a of the copying apparatus main body. The floating actuating piece 40 is rotatably supported by the exterior 1a portion, its opposite position is in contact with the grip portion of the original cover 3, and the central portion is connected to the solenoid 41.

Therefore, when the solenoid 41 is not excited, that is, not energized, the operating piece 40 is at a position rotated slightly counterclockwise, and a gap d is formed between the document table 2 and the document mat 3b. The original mat 3b is not formed and is in close contact with the original table 2. When the solenoid 41 is energized and excited, the operating piece 40 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 9 and the original cover 3 is floated. as a result,
As shown in FIG. 9, the original mat 3b floats above the original table 2 and a gap d is formed.

With the above configuration, when the document stocker 35 is rotated and used as a document guide, the sheet document D
When is inserted, the detection lever 33 of the detection switch operates. Thus, by energizing the solenoid 41 described above, the operating piece 40 is rotated and the document cover 3 can be floated. In this state, by starting the driving of the conveyance roller 34, the sheet document D can be conveyed to the document table 2.

This will be described according to the control flowchart of FIG. 8 described above.
Is detected, the solenoid 41 is energized based on this. As a result, the original cover 3 is placed in the state of FIG.
The gap d is raised more. Then, the processing from step S2 is executed, and the transport roller 34 is processed in step S4.
Drive stops. At this time, as described above, the document D
A partially curved swell is formed by the idle roller 34c of the transport roller 34. Therefore, the sheet document D to be conveyed is
It is conveyed so as to be in close contact with the document table 2, the conveyance property thereof is improved, and the occurrence of jams or the like that obstruct the leading edge is prevented.

Then, as described above, the conveyance of the original is stopped,
That is, in a state where the transportation by the transportation roller 34 is stopped, the energization to the solenoid 41 is released at the same time as the movement of the lens in step S5. As a result, the sheet document D is pressed against the document table 2 by the document cover 3 that is lowered by its own weight, with the trailing edge of the sheet document D being sandwiched by the transport rollers 34. At this time, a part of the sheet document D is slightly curved by the transport roller 34, so that even if the sheet document D is in contact with the document 2 in a wavy state, the waviness is eliminated and the entire surface of the document is in contact with the document table 2. It

When the copying operation is completed in step S6 and the copying operation is completed, the conveying roller 34 is reversely driven in step S7 in order to discharge the sheet document D. Before the reverse rotation of the transport roller 34,
The solenoid 41 is energized and the original mat 3b is moved to the original table 2
Separate more. Then, by performing the above-described discharging operation and sequentially repeating it thereafter, the required number of sheet originals can be copied using the original conveying device.

In order to substantially increase the stiffness of the sheet document D, a part of the sheet document is curved at the position of the transport roller 34. The curve forming means is constituted by the transport roller 34. It is not limited to this. For example, a roller or roller that is rotatably provided so that the sheet document is pressed downward from above the sheet document D may be provided between the transport roller 34 and the document table 2. These rollers and rollers are provided corresponding to both end portions of the sheet document D, and a downward curve is formed so that both ends of the document D are lower than the central portion, and the rigidity of the sheet document D can be enhanced. .

Further, a rotatable roller or roller is provided in the vicinity of the central portion of the conveyed sheet original, and the central portion of the sheet original is lowered to form a curve in the upper direction.
The waist can be improved substantially.

Further, rotatable rollers and rollers corresponding to both ends of the sheet original are provided so as to be pressed down, and rotatable so that the sheet original is pushed up from the lower at the central portion. It is also possible to form a curved portion to substantially enhance the waist of the sheet document.

Here, as shown in FIG.
When the document is guided by 5 and the sheet document is transported to the document table 2 by the transport roller 34, the sheet document is transported in parallel with the gap d. Therefore, the sheet document D is not guided and conveyed along the document table 2.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure roller 3 is adjusted so that the contact portion between the pressure roller 34b of the transport roller 34 and the drive roller 34a has a higher value than that of the surface of the document table 2.
4b is arranged, and the drive roller 34a is arranged so that the tangent line of the contact portion of the pair of rollers 34 intersects the surface of the document table 2. That is, the drive roller 34a is attached to the pressure roller 34b so that the axis line (the straight line orthogonal to the tangent line) connecting the centers of the rollers 34-1 and 34-2 of the rollers 34a and 34b is inclined upward to the left in the figure. It is provided so as to abut.

Therefore, the sheet document D guided along the document stocker 35 is conveyed so that the leading edge of the sheet document D first comes into contact with the document table 2 by the driving of the conveyance roller 34, and thereafter, the sheet document D is brought into close contact with the surface of the document table 2. it can. Further, since the sheet original D is partially curved by the conveying roller 34, the sheet original D is conveyed while being in close contact with the original table 2 in a state where its conveying property is improved.

An example is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 so that the sheet original D can be partially curved by the conveying roller 34. Particularly in FIG. 6, the upper and lower rollers 3
The sheet document is nipped and conveyed by 4a and 34b. In this case, the pressure roller 34b is rotated so as to follow the drive roller 34a, and a large-diameter idle roller 34c arranged at an interval in the axial direction of the roller 34 is rotatably provided on the roller shaft 34-2. Therefore, the conveyance speed becomes the same at the upper and lower positions of the sheet document D, the conveyance force by the idle roller 34c does not act on the back surface of the sheet document D, and is orthogonal to the curve along the conveyance direction of the sheet document D described above. Wrinkles in the direction do not occur.

Therefore, stable conveyance is possible.

In this respect, in the structure of the conveying roller 34 shown in FIG. 7, the sheet document D is moved by the large-diameter roller 34d corresponding to the roller interval of the driving roller 34a of the pressure roller 34b.
A conveying force is applied to the back surface of the. Therefore, it is conceivable that a part of the large-diameter roller 34 will be wrinkled in a direction orthogonal to the curved portion of the sheet document D.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the pressure roller 34b, which is in pressure contact with the drive roller 34a, is attached to the roller shaft 34-2.
A roller 34e that is rotatably provided and that forms a curved bulge having the same diameter as the drive roller 34a in correspondence with the axial distance of the drive roller 34a is fixed to the roller shaft 340-2. At this time, the pressure roller 34b is formed so that its diameter is smaller than that of the roller 34e.

With the configuration of FIG. 11, the conveyance speed of the sheet original D by the front and back sides follows the drive roller 34a.
Since the driven gear 43b of the same diameter that meshes with the drive gear 42a of the roller shaft 34-1 of the drive roller 34 is fixed to the roller shaft 34-2, the rotation speed of the roller 34e is the rotation speed of the drive roller 34a. By matching
The problem can be solved by FIG.

According to the configuration of the conveying roller 34 shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 11 described above, a curved bulge can be formed on a part of the sheet original D, and the sheet original D of the sheet original D can be formed. The waist can be increased, and the transportability of the sheet document D can be improved. Therefore, when the document cover 3 is floated above the document table 2 to form the gap d and the document is conveyed to the gap d, it acts more effectively, and the leading edge of the sheet document D is obstructed, causing a jam. It can be said that it is extremely excellent in that it can remove In particular, the curve forming means is used as the conveying roller 3.
As described above, when a curve is formed in the course of being conveyed to the original table 2 by the conveying roller 34 instead of at the position 4, the conveying force is separately formed, and therefore, when passing through that position, , There is a strong tendency to restore the original flat shape due to the waist of the seat, and the effect is halved.

Finally, FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In order to form a storage portion for originals and the like, a concave portion 3c is formed in the original document cover 3, and the rotary portion rotates corresponding to the concave portion 3c. The member 350 may be provided. In this case, if the rotating member 350 is positioned in the concave portion 3c of the document cover 3,
Since the surface of the document cover 3 does not project, a document or the like can be placed on the top thereof. Also, the rotating member 350
In this case, a guide piece 351 may be formed at least on the side corresponding to the reference position of the document table 3.
It is also possible to have a structure in which the is accommodated in the recess 3c.

[0090]

As described above, according to the document feeding device provided in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the feeding roller for feeding the document between the closed document cover and the document table is provided at one edge of the document table. Since a simple document feeder that is arranged and configured to convey a document is provided, the cost can be reduced as the document feeder is provided.

In particular, when a sheet document is transported with a gap formed between the document table and the document cover, a part of the sheet document is raised in a curved shape, so that the transportability can be improved and the document can be improved. Can be reliably transported to the above gap.

Further, since the curved bulge is formed at the position where the sheet original is conveyed, the sheet original can be conveyed in an improved state in which the conveyability is improved, so that the conveyance becomes more reliable and the leading edge portion of the sheet is conveyed. It is possible to eliminate jams etc.

Moreover, since the leading edge of the conveyed sheet document is conveyed toward the document table, the adhesion to the document table can be improved together with the improvement of the transportability, and the sheet document can be directly conveyed along the document table. Since the sheet can be conveyed, the sheet original can be conveyed accurately and reliably. In this case, since the adhesion can be improved,
Floating of the document from the document table is prevented, which effectively works in image formation.

[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 is lifted from a document table in order to enable document transportation in a document transportation 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 outer appearance 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 of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of a curve forming means at the position of the conveying means of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing another example of the curve forming means at the position of the conveying means of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation control of the document feeder of the present invention and the control operation relating to image formation.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an example of another floating mechanism for floating the document cover according to the present invention from the document table.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the conveying means of the original conveying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing another example of the curve forming means at the position of the conveying means of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus provided with the document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus including a conventional document feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier main body 2 Platen glass 3 Document cover 30 Document transport device 32 Document insertion port 33 Document detection lever 34 Transport roller 34a Drive roller 34b Pressure roller 34-1 Drive roller shaft 34-2 Pressure roller shaft 34c Idle roller ( Curvature forming member) 34d Large-diameter roller (curve forming member) 34e Protrusion roller (curve forming member) 35 Original stocker 37 Floating member 40 Floating mechanism operating piece 41 Solenoid D sheet original

Claims (3)

[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. In an image forming apparatus including: a document cover formed when the document cover is closed so as to face the document table, the document cover is disposed and inserted in a document insertion portion at a leading edge of the document table formed between the document cover and the document cover. Conveying means for conveying the original to the original table side, a levitation mechanism for raising the original cover above the original table with the original cover closed, and a levitation mechanism for the original table and original document via the conveying means. A document transporting device, comprising: a curve forming unit configured to form a curved ridge on a part of the sheet document while the sheet document is transported to a gap formed between the cover and the cover. Image form with device Apparatus. 2. The bending means comprises a pair of upper and lower rollers, and a roller having a diameter larger than the roller is rotatably provided on the shaft of one roller. An image forming apparatus comprising the document conveying apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The pair of upper and lower rollers of the conveying means are arranged such that the contact portions of both rollers are located above the document table and the axis between the rollers is inclined toward the document table. An image forming apparatus provided with the document feeder according to claim 2.