JPH11106086A - Document carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the opening and closing of the document carrying path of an automatic document carrying device by constituting it, while combining an upper frame and a middle frame on a body frame, and adjusting them for unjamming of a document and the maintenance, etc.,of the body frame. SOLUTION: The automatic document carrying device is so configured that an upper frame 11 and a middle frame 13 are openably and closably installed through a shaft 12 on a body frame where a platen 3 for a reading device installed. The upper frame 11 and the middle frame 13 are connected together through a detention part, and if the upper frame 11 is swung, the middle frame 13 is opened so as to form a gap in the document carrying path, which can facilitate document drawing-out operation, and the upper frame 11 is opened at any angle and fixed through a lock lever.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening and closing mechanism for an upper cover in an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanism for holding an upper frame in such a state that the upper frame can be opened to the extent that the paper can be removed when a paper jam or the like occurs. And a device that can simultaneously open two frames via a common support shaft at the time of maintenance for a reading unit and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic document feeder for an image reading device such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine, a device for reading an image of a document is arranged in the middle of a document feed path connecting a document tray and a discharge tray. . Then, the documents set on the document tray are separated one by one using a document separating device provided at a position corresponding to the document tray, and while being transported at a constant speed in the document transport path, the image of the document is read by the reading unit. And means for transmitting the read image information to the image information processing section of the apparatus main body. The document feeder is provided with a means for releasing the nip of the roller device so that the document can be taken out when a document jam or the like occurs in the document feed path.

In the case where the document transport device is provided with a substantially U-shaped document transport path, means for opening an upper frame as a cover member provided on the upper portion of the document transport path to open the upper portion of the document transport path is provided. However, in many cases, the intermediate frame is slightly swung so that the lower portion of the document conveying path can be opened. Further, when performing maintenance on the image reading unit and the like, the upper frame of the reading unit is entirely swung so that a platen, a guide plate, and the like provided on the lower frame can be exposed.

[0004]

In a document feeder having the document feed path formed in a U-shape, the upper frame is set to a closed state via a lock lever in a normal use state, and the document is fed. To do. Also,
When a document jam occurs in the document transport path, the document is removed while the upper frame is open.
The upper frame does not need to be widely opened, but only needs to be opened to the extent that paper can be drawn out between the opposed rollers.
However, in the conventional apparatus, it is necessary to remove the jammed paper while the upper frame is widely opened, and it is necessary to open the intermediate frame when performing maintenance of the reading unit arranged at the lower part of the apparatus. There is a problem that the operator has to perform complicated opening and closing operations.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional apparatus, and provides a means for supporting two frames via a common shaft and providing a means for interlocking the two frames, thereby providing a paper transport path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can easily open the frame and can simultaneously open two frames widely at the time of maintenance of a reading unit or the like.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a document conveying path from a document tray to a discharge tray is formed in a U-shape, and a document is conveyed along the U-shaped document conveying path. And a device for reading an image of a document. The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that an intermediate frame provided with a guide inside the U-shaped document transport path and an upper frame provided with a guide above the document transport path are provided in one common support. It is characterized in that it is configured to be openable and closable via a shaft, and is provided with a means for interlocking the two frames with each other. Since the two frames can be opened and closed in conjunction with each other, the opening and closing operation of the document conveying path can be easily performed. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the locking means provided between the upper frame and the intermediate frame have a mutual play. Therefore, when processing jammed paper in the document transport path, the intermediate frame is opened while forming a gap by opening the upper frame. This can be easily performed, and the operation of the jam processing can be simplified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a pickup roller, a paper feed roller, and a pressing roller of a transport roller device are disposed on the upper frame that can be opened and closed, and a retard roller, a transport roller, and a discharge roller are disposed on the intermediate frame. One roller of the apparatus is disposed, and the upper frame is provided with a lock member for maintaining the frame closed. Then, one of the two roller members constituting the roller device for each of the frames is provided.
By arranging them one after another and swinging the frame, the nip by the roller device can be automatically opened. Furthermore, since the upper frame is provided only with the locking means for the apparatus main body, each roller device in the document conveying path is set to the operating state in a state in which the upper frame is closed. No need to do.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of a document feeder according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The opening / closing device for a document conveying path according to the present invention is applicable to an image reading device 1 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 1, and the image reading device can be provided in combination with a copying machine, a facsimile device, or the like. In the image reading device 1, the scanning device 2 is similar to a device used in a scanning device of a general copying machine, and a document such as a book is placed on an upper portion of its frame, and a flatbed scanner (FBS) is used. And a platen 3 disposed below the U-shaped document feed path 14 in correspondence with an automatic document feeder (ADF). The document cover member 15 is opened and the document is set on the platen 3a, and the document cover member is closed, whereby the pressing pad 16 presses the image surface of the document against the upper surface of the platen 3a, and the platen 3a is fixed to the fixed position. The set document is scanned. When scanning a document on a sheet using the document tray 18, A
While a document is being conveyed through the document conveyance path 14 for the DF, an image reading operation is performed using a scanning device arranged on the platen 3.

In the scanning device 2, the reading device disposed on the lower surface of the platen moves along the entire length of the platen 3a, and includes the full rate carriage 4 on which the lamp 4a and the mirror m1 are disposed and the two mirrors m2 and m3. And a half-rate carriage 5 that moves half the distance. In order to drive the two carriages, drive pulleys 6 and 6a whose diameters are set to 2: 1 are arranged coaxially, and a drive transmission member 7 such as a wire or a timing belt wound around each drive pulley. Drive via 7a. For the original set on the platen 3a, according to the detection information of a sensor (not shown),
The full-rate carriage 4 reciprocates by the length of the original in the scanning direction, the half-rate carriage 5 reads image information while moving at half the speed of the full-rate carriage, and connects light to the CCD 9 using the CCD lens 8. The CCD 9 outputs an image signal obtained by converting a light signal into an electric signal.

The image scanning mechanism using the ADF function is a sheet separating apparatus in which a pickup roller 21 is disposed with respect to a document tray 18 and a paper feed roller 22 and a retard roller 24 are provided downstream thereof. Place.
Documents separated and sent one by one from the sheet separating device are conveyed while being pressed by a plurality of pressing rollers 28 against a conveying roller 26 provided in a curved portion of the U-shaped document conveying path 14, The paper is discharged from the discharge roller device 29 to the discharge tray 17 through the scanning unit.
On the upper frame 11, a guide plate outside the document conveying path, a paper feed roller 22, and a pressing roller 28 are arranged.
The intermediate frame 13 is provided with a guide plate inside the document conveying path, a retard roller 24, a conveying roller 26, and one roller of a discharge roller device. Then, the document is transported in the document transport path 14 by the roller device,
While the document is being conveyed, an image of the document is read at the platen 3.

In the automatic document feeder 10, an upper frame 11 and an intermediate frame 13 which are swingable via a common support shaft 12 are provided for a fixed frame of the scanning device 2, and the upper frame In a state where 11 is widely opened, the state is greatly opened as shown by a chain line in the figure. When the interlocking means is provided between the upper frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13, the intermediate frame 13 is also opened by opening the upper frame 11 to expose the lower mechanism of the apparatus main body. Can be. In the automatic document feeder 10, when a jam occurs in the document feed path, in order to pull out the jammed paper, a gap is formed between the opposing rollers of each roller device to pull out the paper. In this case, it is possible to perform the operation of drawing out the sheet. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13 are fixed to each other so that the gap between the opposing rollers is increased as shown in FIG. 1
It is made to swing counterclockwise through 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, two frames 1
In a state where the first and the third are oscillated via the support shaft 12, the paper feed roller 2 of the transport roller devices arranged in the paper transport path.
2 is separated from the retard roller 24, and the pressing roller 28 is separated from the transport roller 26. Also, the discharge roller device 2
Since the two rollers 9 are also separated from each other, if either the leading end or the trailing end of the document stopped in the document feed path 14 is exposed at the end of the document feed path, By pulling the exposed portion, it can be easily taken out from the document conveying path.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a paper jam (jam) occurs in the document feed path, the nip of the roller device in the document feed path is opened to pull out the document. In the present invention, the upper frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13 are combined via the locking portion 50 as shown in the explanatory views of FIG. Further, the two frames 11 and 13 are provided so as to be swingable via a common support shaft 12 as shown in the assembly diagram of FIG. 3 and the exploded explanatory view of FIG. When the upper frame 11 is opened via 50, a gap 57 is formed between the upper frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13 such that the passage of the document is allowed. An arm member 51 is disposed on the side of the frame member 11 b of the upper frame 11 in the locking portion 50, and a locking member corresponding to the projecting member 53 provided on the arm member is provided on the side of the intermediate frame 13. A stop recess 56 is provided. Then, when the projecting member 53 is attached to the locking recess 56,
Since the projecting member 53 is formed to have a size having a gap 57 inside the locking recess 56, the upper frame 1
When the first frame 1 is swung in the opening direction via the support shaft 12, the intermediate frame 13 is swung with a play corresponding to the gap.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as described above, the upper frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13 are swingably provided via the support shaft 12 provided on the main body frame. A locking portion 50 is provided for opening and closing the intermediate frame 11 and the intermediate frame 13 in conjunction with each other.
The lock lever 4 disposed on the upper frame 11
Reference numeral 0 denotes a member disposed on a guide member formed on a side plate of the main body frame. Although not shown, the operation of fixing the upper frame 11 in a closed state and the function of fixing and holding the upper frame 11 in an open position are not illustrated. , Using the lock lever 40. The lock lever 40 swings via a support shaft 41 in conjunction with a lock handle 43 provided at the open end of the upper frame 11.
A lock pin 42 is disposed at the lower end of the main frame 0, and the lock pin 42 is moved along guide means provided on the main body frame of the apparatus, thereby fixing the upper frame and supporting the upper frame at the open position.

The locking portion 50 for interlocking the two frames 11 and 13 is configured as shown in FIG. 5, and the mounting portion 52 is provided from the side of the upper frame 11 to the lower portion. An arm member 51 made of an elastic plastic material is provided so as to protrude therethrough. A projecting member 53 is provided at a lower portion of the arm member 51 so as to project toward a side portion of the intermediate frame 13, and the projecting member is provided with a slope portion 55 inclined downward, and the projecting member is It is formed as a guide portion when inserted into the concave portion 56 of the locking portion 56a. The through hole 54 provided in the projecting member is intended to reduce the weight of the member and to cope with elastic deformation when the projecting member is attached to and detached from the locking recess. Depending on the nature of the plastic material, holes of any size can be provided.

The locking recess 56 has a protrusion 53
The height of the gap 57 is larger than the height of the
When the upper frame 11 is swung while the projecting member 53 is kept engaged with the locking concave portion 56, the intermediate frame 13 is opened with a gap only by the gap 57,
As shown in FIG. 2, the document is opened while maintaining the original document path open. Further, the upper frame 11
When the two frames are to be swung separately by disengaging the frame from the intermediate frame 13, the intermediate frame 1
3 is fixed, the upper frame 11 is moved away from the upper frame 11. In this case, a predetermined arc surface is formed on the upper part of the protruding member 53, and the arm member 51 is elastic. The member can be forcibly rocked and released from the engaged state.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the two frames 11 and 13 are opened by swinging with respect to the main body frame 30 of the automatic document feeder. By opening, the guide member of the document conveying path provided in the main body frame 30 can be exposed. A platen 3 is provided on the main body frame 30 and a reading device is fixedly arranged at a position corresponding to the platen to read an image of a document. A concave portion 31 for temporarily storing loose foreign matter or the like can be provided.
The concave portion 31 is capable of dropping and accommodating scraps of eraser, scraps of roller rubber, and other foreign matters which are separated from the original when the original is curved by the curved portion of the transport roller. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of dirt or the like in the image read by reading.

The members of the locking portion 50 for interlocking the two frames and the members such as the lock lever 40 for guiding the upper frame to the main frame are arranged on both sides of the apparatus frame. Thus, components having the same mechanism can be arranged. Further, a roller member as shown in FIG. 2 is arranged on each of the main body frame, the upper frame, and the intermediate frame. It is formed so that the nip can be opened.

[0019]

Since the document feeder of the present invention is constructed as described above, the means for interlocking the two frames is provided so that the two frames are linked. Can be easily opened / closed. Further, the locking means provided between the upper frame and the intermediate frame is configured to have play with each other, so that when processing jammed paper in the document conveyance path,
By opening the upper frame, the intermediate frame is also opened while forming a gap, so that it is possible to easily pull out the jam paper even in a state where it is not particularly wide open, and it is possible to simplify the jam processing operation. Become. further,
By arranging one of the two roller members constituting the roller device for each of the frames and swinging the frame, the nip by the roller device can be automatically opened. And only on the upper frame,
By providing the locking means for the apparatus main body, each roller device in the document conveying path is set to the operating state with the upper frame closed, so that it is not necessary to adjust the roller device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a state in which two frames of the apparatus of FIG. 1 are opened.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state where the two frames are combined.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of division of the two frames.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a fixing portion of the two frames.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state where the two frames are swung with respect to a main body frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 image reading device, 2 scanning device, 3 platen, 8 lens, 9 CCD, 10 automatic document feeder, 11 upper frame, 12 spindle, 13 intermediate frame, 14 document feed path,
18 original tray, 21 pickup roller,
22 paper feed roller, 26 transport roller, 30
Body frame, 31 groove, 40 lock lever, 41 fulcrum, 42 lock pin, 43
Lock handle, 50 locking part, 51 arm member, 52 mounting part, 53 projecting member, 54
Hole, 55 slope, 56 locking recess, 57
Gap.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus configured to form a document conveying path from a document tray to a discharge tray in a U-shape, and to read an image of the document while conveying the document along the document conveying path curved in the U-shape. , Wherein an intermediate frame provided with a guide inside the U-shaped document conveyance path and an upper frame provided with a guide above the document conveyance path can be opened and closed via one common support shaft. And a means for interlocking the two frames with each other. 2. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the locking means provided between the upper frame and the intermediate frame has a play with each other. 3. An openable and closable upper frame is provided with a pickup roller, a paper supply roller, and a pressing roller of a transport roller device, and the intermediate frame is one of a retard roller, a transport roller, and a discharge roller device. 3. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein a lock member for maintaining a closed state of the frame is provided on the upper frame. 4.