JPH11263499A - Document reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a document under switchback from being exposed by providing a cover covering at least part of the document under switchback on a switchback path. SOLUTION: A switchback path 65 where a document is temporarily carried-in at the time of switchback of the document is provided above a pair of inversion rollers 61, 62. The switchback path 65 is formed in the nearly horizontal direction toward the upper position of a document tray 10 from a document carrying-in position set between the inversion rollers 61, 62. A cover 67 is provided above the switchback path 65 to cover the upper face of the document carried into the switchback path 65. The cover 67 is opened outward at the end upper position of a paper separating/feeding section 20 on the opposite end side to the document carrying-in position. The switchback path 65 serves as an opening section 66 where the end section of the cover 67 faces the upper position of the document tray 10 on the outside of a device main body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus for reading image information formed on both sides of a document in a copier, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a document reading apparatus for automatically reading image information formed on both sides of a document, generally, a document placing section on which a plurality of documents are placed as a document bundle, and image reading information are read. A document reading unit, a document discharge unit from which the read document is discharged, and a switch for temporarily carrying in the document being switched back in order to reverse the front and back sides of the document by switching back the document conveyance direction. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a back path and a transport path for transporting a document in a predetermined order therebetween.

The arrangement of the document placement unit, document discharge unit, switchback path, and the like, which are components of such a document reading apparatus, is determined by the arrangement of the conveyance paths in the apparatus and the setting of the document conveyance order. Therefore, a configuration in which the switchback path is disposed at the uppermost position of the apparatus main body may be adopted.

[0004] Considering the case where the switchback path is arranged at the uppermost position of the apparatus main body, the rear end of the document being switched back is usually provided with a switchback for applying a conveying force to the document for the switchback operation. Since the sheet is nipped by the roller / roller pair or the like, the switchback roller / roller pair or the like is configured to temporarily discharge the document being switched back to the upper portion of the apparatus main body. Space can be used as a switchback path.

[0005]

However, as described above,
If the switchback path is arranged at the top of the apparatus main body and the space above the apparatus main body is used as the switchback path, the document being switched back is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body.

For this reason, the user may touch the document being switched back, or a book placed on the upper part of the apparatus may become an obstacle, thereby hindering the switchback operation of the document. Normal switchback operation cannot be performed. For example, a document being switched back becomes skewed, and this document may be jammed when the document is returned to the transport path in the apparatus body again. Can occur.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a stable switchback operation can be performed even when the switchback path is disposed at the uppermost position of the main body of the apparatus. It is an object to provide a document reading device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method of temporarily transporting a document having image information formed on both sides to a switchback path provided at the uppermost side of the apparatus main body. In a document reading apparatus that performs a reversing operation of the front and back surfaces of the document by switching back the conveyance direction, and conveys the document to a document reading unit, the switchback path covers at least a part of the document being switched back. A cover is provided (claim 1).

In this document reading apparatus, the switchback path is disposed at the uppermost position of the main body of the apparatus. However, since the switchback path is provided with a cover for covering at least a part of the document being switched back. Further, it is possible to prevent the switchback operation from being hindered due to the fact that the document being switched back is exposed outside the apparatus main body and touched by the user.

In particular, if the cover is configured to cover the entire surface of the document being switched back, the document being switched back is completely prevented from being exposed (claim 2).

On the other hand, if the cover is configured such that the end opposite to the original carrying position of the switchback path is opened outward, the leading end of the original during the switchback is moved outward from this opening. This is desirable because the switchback operation can be performed even for a document that is long in the transport direction, regardless of the size of the cover. Since the exposure of a part of the document covered by the cover is prevented, the user can be prevented from touching the document, and the above-described effect can be obtained (claim 3).

Further, in the case where the end of the cover is opened outward as described above, the cover is completely used for a frequently used size document, for example, an A4 size document. If it is configured to be able to cover, at the time of normal reading of a frequently used A4 size document, for example, the entire upper surface of the document during switchback is completely covered with the cover, so that the above problem can be completely solved, and It is desirable that a switchback operation can be performed as described above even for a document of a size, for example, a document of A3 size.

As a document reading apparatus in which such a switchback path is disposed at the uppermost position of the apparatus main body, specifically, a document placing section capable of placing a plurality of documents having image information on both sides, A separation sheet feeding unit that separates and feeds a plurality of documents placed on the document mounting unit one by one; a document reading unit that reads image information of the document; and a document that has been read is discharged. A document discharge unit disposed below the document placement unit, and a first guide that guides the document separated and fed from the document placement unit by the separation feeding unit to the document discharge unit via the document reading unit. A document conveyed from the separation paper feed unit side to the document reading unit in the conveyance path and the first conveyance path is drawn into a switchback path disposed above the document placement unit, and the document is conveyed. Switch the direction back to the first A document reversing unit that reverses the front and back surfaces of the document on the first transport path by returning to the path, and a document that is transported from the document reading unit to the document discharge unit side in the first transport path, And a fourth conveyance path that guides the document reversing section to the first conveyance path on the side of the separation sheet feeding section. In such a document reading apparatus, a switch is provided in the switchback path. By providing a cover that covers at least a part of the document being backed, and by configuring the terminal end of the cover to open toward the position above the document placement unit, as described above, the document being switched back can be used. This prevents the switchback operation from being hindered due to exposure, and for documents that are long in the transport direction, temporarily ejects the leading edge of the document being switched back out of this opening to the switch. It can be back operation (claim 4).

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure,
Configurations that perform the same functions as conventional document reading devices include:
The same reference numerals are given. Although this embodiment is an example in which it is mounted on the upper part of the copying machine 100, it can be applied to a scanner device, a facsimile device, and the like with the same configuration.

The document reading apparatus includes a document tray 10 on which a document is placed, and a switchback path through which the document is temporarily loaded when the direction of transport of the document placed above the document tray 10 is switched back. 65, a document reading section 70 for reading image information of the document, a discharge tray 80 disposed below the document tray 10 for discharging the read document, and the like. It is configured to read image information of a document by being conveyed in a predetermined order on a plurality of conveying paths shown.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration inside the document reading apparatus. Hereinafter, the configuration of the document reading apparatus and the procedure for transporting the document will be described with reference to FIG.

The document tray 10 is a document placing portion configured to be able to place documents having image information on both sides or one side thereof in a stacked manner. At the bottom of the document tray 10, a set sensor 11 for detecting whether a document is placed on the document tray 10 is attached.

On the exit side of the original tray 10, a separation paper feeder 20 is arranged, which separates a bundle of originals placed on the original tray 10 one by one and feeds the bundle to the first transport path 31. Paper is fed. That is, a forward feed roller 23 is provided above the document tray 10, and is driven to rotate so as to feed the document on the document tray 10 toward the paper feed roller 21 and the separation roller 22. Paper feed roller 21
Is rotatably driven so as to send out the document on the document tray 10 to the first transport path 31, while the separation roller 22 is disposed so as to slidably contact the paper feed roller 21.
The paper feed roller 21 is driven to rotate while generating a rotational resistance according to the pressure from the side. Therefore, one sheet at the uppermost position of the document bundle placed on the document tray 10 is separated from the document bundle by the paper feed roller 21 and the separation roller 22 and fed to the first transport path 31. You.

The first transport path 31 is connected to the separation sheet feeding section 2.
0 to a discharge tray (document discharge unit) 80 through a document reading unit 70 for reading image information of the document.
A document reversing unit 60 for reversing the front and back of the document is provided between the separation sheet feeding unit 20 and the document reading unit 70.
0 and a discharge tray 80, a fourth conveyance path 3
A first branch position 41 where the branch 4 is provided is provided.

Hereinafter, the structure of each part will be described in the first transport path 31.
Will be described in order from the separation sheet feeding unit 20 side to the discharge tray 80 side. For convenience of explanation, the side of the separation sheet feeding unit 20 of the first conveyance path 31 is referred to as an upstream side, and the side of the discharge tray 80 is referred to as a downstream side.

A feed sensor 24 is provided at the entrance of the first transport path 31, that is, at a position near the separation sheet feeding section 20. The feed sensor 24 detects a leading end and a trailing end of a document fed from the separation sheet feeding unit 20 to the first transport path 31.

On the downstream side of the feed sensor 24, there are provided a registration roller 51 and a registration roller 52 which is slidably contacted with and driven by the registration roller 51. This registration roller 51
The document is conveyed at a lower speed than the paper feed roller 21. Therefore, the original conveyed by the paper feed roller 21 is bent before the pair of registration rollers 51 and registration rollers 52. Then, in this state, the paper feed roller 21 stops rotating and the registration roller 51 starts to convey the document, so that the leading edge of the document is aligned.
The first transport path 31 is transported further downstream.

On the downstream side of the registration roller 51, a document reversing unit 60 for reversing the front and back of the document is provided. The document reversing unit 60 converts the document conveyed through the first conveyance path 31 into a second upward direction from the second branch position 42.
The document is drawn into the transport path 32 and its transport direction is switched back by a reversing roller 61 that is driven to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions.
3 to the first transport path 31, the first document
The reverse of the front and back surfaces on the transport path 31 is performed.

The reversing operation of the front and back sides of the document in the document reversing section 60 is performed only for a double-sided document. Therefore, the document is conveyed to the second branch position 42 where the second conveyance path 32 branches. A reversing branch lever 421 for switching the document conveyance path according to the incoming document is provided. That is, the reversing branch lever 421 is connected to the second branch position 4.
When the original conveyed to the original 2 is a single-sided original, the original is set at the solid line position in FIG. 2 so that the original is not guided to the second transport path 32, that is, the original is turned over. Instead, the original is guided to the downstream side of the first transport path 31 as it is, and when the original to be transported is a double-sided original, the original is guided to the second transport path 32 by being set at the broken line position in FIG. The above-described front / back inversion operation is performed.

The second branch position 42 is provided with a branch position sensor 4 for detecting the leading and trailing ends of the conveyed document.
When the reversing branch lever 421 is set at the solid line position in FIG. 2 by the branch position sensor 422, the document is transported to the downstream side of the second branch position 42 of the first transport path 31. What has been done is the reversal branch lever 4
When the document 21 is set at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the document has been carried into the second conveyance path 32.

At the exit position of the second transport path 32, a reversing roller 61 for switching back the above-described document transport direction and a reversing roller 62 facing the reversing roller 61 are arranged. The reversing roller 62 includes a reversing roller 61
And a pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 nip the document between the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 to form a document. It is possible to switch between a nip-possible state capable of providing a conveying force and a separated state separated from each other.

Therefore, the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 pair are in a state where the nip is possible.
1. The document located between the reversing rollers 62 is
And can be held in a nip state by stopping the rotation of the reversing roller 61. On the other hand, in the separated state, the pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 forms a gap between the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62, so that the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 are Even if it is located between the two originals, it is possible to form a state in which the two originals can freely move in opposite directions without giving conveyance resistance to the two originals.

A switchback path 65 is provided above the pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 to temporarily carry in the original when the original is switched back. The switchback path 65 is connected to the reverse roller 6
A document carrying position is set between the first and reverse rollers 62 and is formed in a substantially horizontal direction from here to an upper position of the document tray 10.
A cover 67 is provided so as to cover the upper surface of the document to be carried into the document. The cover 67 has an upper end position of the separation sheet feeding unit 20 as an end opposite to the original loading position.
The switchback path 65 is configured such that an end of the cover 67 is an opening 66 that is directed to a position above the document tray 10 outside the apparatus main body.

The original conveyed into the switchback path 65 is held with its rear end sandwiched between the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62. The switchback path 65 is located behind the original. The length from the end to the opening 66 is set to be the length of the frequently used A4 size document. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the original P _a frequently used A4-size, when carried into the switchback path 65, it will be covered the entire upper surface cover 67. Therefore, the user, or touch the document P _a in the switch-back, without interfering with the obstacle such as a book placed on the apparatus main body,
The switchback operation is not hindered.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), larger than the A4 size, if the manuscript P _b of example A3 size, held its rear end sandwiched between the reversing roller 61, reverse roller 62 The tip of the cover 67 is temporarily discharged from the opening 66 to the outside of the main body of the apparatus, so that the switchback operation can be performed regardless of the size of the cover 67. Sometimes, most of them are covered by the cover 67, so that troubles such as touching by the user can be reduced. Thus the tip end of the original P _b is discharged to the outside from the opening 66 when the switch-back is the drooping on the original tray 10, the document P _c on the original tray 10 ...
During document transport, because it is holding the top before feeding roller 23, it never ends up falling from the document tray 10 is pushed by the document P _b in the switchback.

Further, since the cover 67 covers not the entire upper surface of the switchback path 65 but only a part thereof, as shown in FIG. 1, most of the upper surface of the document tray 10 is opened upward. In addition, the cover 67 of the switchback path 65 does not hinder the operation of placing a document on the document tray 10.

The lower side between the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 is a third branch position 43 where the above-described second transport path 32 and third transport path 33 branch. This third branch position 4
3, the document conveyed upward through the second conveyance path 32 is guided to the switchback path 65, and the document conveyed downward from the switchback path 65 is guided to the third conveyance path 33. In addition, a transport path regulating guide 431 having an extended lower wall surface of the third transport path 33 so as to narrow the upper exit of the second transport path 32 is provided.

In the third transport path 33, the exit on the lower end side joins the first transport path 31, and the document whose transport direction has been switched back is turned upside down. It returns to the first transport path 31.

On the downstream side of the document reversing section 60 configured as described above, an upper transport roller 53 that is driven to rotate, an upper transport roller 54 that slides and follows the upper transport roller 53, and a lower transport roller 55 that is driven to rotate Lower conveying roller 5 that slides on and follows
6 are provided. When a double-sided document that has undergone a switchback operation is conveyed by the document reversing unit 60, the upper conveyance roller 53 stops bending when the document reaches the upper conveyance roller 53, so that the original is bent. By starting rotation from this state, the leading edge of the document can be aligned.

An original reading section 70 for reading image information of the original to be transported is provided downstream of the lower transport roller 55. The original reading section 70 is positioned at a reading position 7 on a contact glass 73 provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body.
In accordance with the timing at which the leading and trailing edges of the document are detected by the timing sensor 72 provided immediately before the reading position 71, image information on the lower surface of the document conveyed at the reading position 71 is read. I have.
That is, an image reading mechanism (not shown) is provided below the contact glass 73, and the image reading mechanism irradiates the lower surface of the original on the contact glass 73 with light from an exposure lamp or the like. Lens system for reflected light,
Light is guided to a CCD array or the like via a reflection mirror or the like, and image information on the lower surface of the document is read.

On the downstream side of the document reading section 70, there are provided an intermediate roller 57 which is driven to rotate, and an intermediate roller 58 which is driven in sliding contact with the intermediate roller 57.

At the downstream side of the intermediate roller 57, there is provided a first branch position 41 where the fourth transport path 34 branches. The fourth transport path 34 is a transport for returning the double-sided document to the upstream side of the document reversing section 60 of the first transport path 31 in order to read image information of the remaining side of the double-sided document after reading one side. Road. Therefore, at the first branch position 41, the discharge branch lever 411 that switches the document conveyance direction so as to guide the document to the fourth conveyance path 34 only when the double-sided document whose one side has been read has been conveyed.
Is provided. That is, this discharge branch lever 41
When a two-sided original having been scanned on one side is conveyed, the original is guided to the fourth conveyance path 34 by being set at a broken line position in FIG. When the finished single-sided original is conveyed, the original is guided to a further downstream side of the first conveying path 31 by being set at a solid line position in FIG.

On the downstream side of the first branch position 41, a discharge tray (document discharge unit) from which the read original is discharged is provided.
An outlet of the first transport path 31 reaching the outlet 80 is provided. In the vicinity of the outlet, a discharge roller 81 which is driven to rotate to surely discharge the original onto the discharge tray 80 is slidably contacted with the discharge roller 81. A discharge roller 82 is provided which is driven by the discharge roller 82.

Next, a control system of the document reading apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the control system of the document reading apparatus is configured such that the controller 90 transmits an instruction from a user transmitted through an input unit 97, a set sensor 11, a feed sensor 24, a branch position sensor 422, and a timing. Upon receiving a detection signal from each sensor of the sensor 72, each drive portion of the paper feed motor 91, the paper feed clutch 92, the transport motor 93, the reversing coro solenoid 94, the discharge branch solenoid 95, and the reverse branch solenoid 96 is driven. It is configured.

The paper feeding motor 91 includes a reversing roller 61, a registration roller 51, a paper feeding roller 21 and a forward feed roller 2.
The paper feed roller 91 and the forward feed roller 23 are driven via a paper feed clutch 92, and the paper feed clutch 92 is disengaged. Only the registration roller 61 and the registration roller 51 can be driven to rotate. Note that the paper feed motor 91 is
Is configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions.

On the other hand, the transport motor 93 is
3. The lower transport roller 55, the intermediate roller 57, and the discharge roller 81 are configured to be rotationally driven.

The reversing roller solenoid 94 is connected to the reversing roller 6.
A reversing roller moving means 63 for moving the reversing roller 62 with respect to the roller 1 comprises a reversing roller 61 and a reversing roller 62.
The pair is switched between a nipable state and a separated state.

The discharge branch solenoid 95 and the reversing branch solenoid 96 are respectively provided with a discharge branch lever 411,
By driving the reverse branch lever 421, the first branch position 41,
The document transport path at the second branch position 42 is switched.

Next, a description will be given of the procedure of transporting a document in the document reading apparatus for a single-sided document and a double-sided document.

First, the procedure for conveying a one-sided document is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5, P ₁ to P ₃ is a single-sided document, for convenience the following description, the document surface image information is formed to be read of the document P ₁ to P ₃ are denoted by the projection of the triangle represents , And the page numbers are indicated by the numbers in the triangle projections. The triangular protrusions and the numbers in the protrusions are used for the same purpose in FIGS. 6 and 7 described later.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the user places the single-sided originals P _{1 to} P ₃ on the original tray 10 in order from the top with the originals facing upward, and selects the single-sided original mode. , The controller 90 is instructed to start reading by input means 97 such as a start key.

When the set sensor 11 detects that a document is placed on the document tray 10, the controller 90 starts reading a one-sided document. At this time, since the controller 90 uses only the first transport path 31 as the original transport path when reading one-sided originals, the controller 90 uses the reverse branch lever 421 and the discharge branch lever 41.
1 are set at the solid line position in FIG. 1 and the reversing operation of the original is not performed. Therefore, the reversing roller 62 is set to the solid line position in FIG. In a separated state.

Documents P _{1 to} P ₃ on document tray 10 are fed to sheet feed roller 21 and separation roller 22 forming
The document P ₁ at the uppermost position is separated and fed to the first transport path 31.

If the feed sensor 24 detects that the leading end of the document P ₁ has been fed to the first transport path 31,
Controller 90 reaches the distal end to the registration roller 51 stops the rotation of the sheet feeding motor 91 after a predetermined time deflection original P ₁ is formed, followed by the second document P _2, 3 sheet of the document P ₃ is prevented from being fed to the first conveyance path 31.

Subsequently, the controller 90 disengages the paper feed clutch 92 to release the paper feed roller 21 and the forward feed roller 2.
3 is not driven to rotate, and the sheet feeding motor 91 is rotated.
Is driven again, and the registration roller 51 is rotationally driven.
Thus, by being conveyed by the registration rollers 51 from the original P ₁ is deflection in front of the registration roller 51 is formed, the tip are aligned, further the first conveying path 31 downstream by the registration roller 51 Conveyed toward the side.

Further, the controller 90 controls the feed motor 9
Along with the re-drive of 1, the transport motor 93 is driven to rotate the upper transport roller 53, the lower transport roller 55, the intermediate roller 57, and the discharge roller 81. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (b), the document P ₁ whose leading ends are aligned by the registration rollers 51 is conveyed toward the reading position 71 on the first conveyance path 31 by the conveyance force of these rollers.

If the timing sensor 72 detects the leading edge of the document P ₁ immediately before the reading position 71, the controller 9
0, the document reading unit 70, after a predetermined time to reach the position 71 the leading edge of the original P ₁ is read, to start reading of the document P _1. Incidentally, the original P ₁ is conveyed to the reading position 71, the document surface is facing downward.

The document P _{1 from} which image information has been read in this way
Is transported further downstream on the first transport path 31 and reaches the discharge roller 81, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 80 with the document surface facing down as shown in FIG. 5C.

[0054] Also, the timing sensor 72, if it is detected the trailing edge of the document P _1, the controller 90, the document P ₁ to a predetermined time period after passing through the rear end reading position 71 of the document P ₁ to the document reading section 70 Stop reading.

The reading of the image information of the _first document P1 is completed as described above. Similarly, image information is read from the _second and _third originals P ₂ and P ₃ , and the originals P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ are read as shown in FIG.
With the original face down, in this order from the bottom,
Each of the originals P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ is a bundle of originals,
The page is discharged onto the discharge tray 80 without changing the page order in a state where the page is upside down.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show the procedure for transporting a double-sided document. 6 and 7, P _{11 to} P ₁₃
Is double-sided document, this document P ₁₁ to P ₁₃ original surface triangle projections, representing the page number by number in this projection. That, P ₁₁ is a first document, the first page to the surface, back surface and the image information of the second page is formed, likewise P ₁₂ the third page in the second document , image information of the fourth page, P ₁₃ the fifth page in the third original image information of the sixth page is formed.

[0057] The user, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), upwardly sided document P ₁₁ to P _13, i.e., in the top first original P _11, such that the first page is the upper side Are placed on the document tray 10 in a state where they are arranged in the page order. Then, the user selects the double-sided original mode, and instructs the controller 90 to start reading using input means 97 such as a start key.

When the set sensor 11 detects that a document is placed on the document tray 10, the controller 90 starts reading a double-sided document. At this time, in reading the double-sided document, the controller 90 guides the document reaching the second branch position 42 to the document reversing unit 60 to perform a reversing operation of the front and back surfaces of the document. Is set to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG.
In order to guide the original 1 to the fourth transport path 34 and read the remaining surface, the discharge branch lever 411 at the first branch position 41 is set to the broken line position in FIG. At the start of document conveyance, the reversing roller 62 is set to the solid line position in FIG. 2 by the reversing roller moving means 63, and the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 are separated.

The originals P _{11 to} P ₁₃ on the original tray 10 are separated by the separation sheet feeding section 20 in the same manner as in the case of the single-sided original, and the uppermost original P ₁₁ is fed to the first transport path 31. The registration roller 51 is reached.

[0060] Thus if the original P ₁₁ is Itare the registration roller, as in the case of one-sided document, the controller 90 re-drives the feed motor 91 to turn off the paper feed clutch 92, when the two-sided original, Further, the reverse roller moving means 6
3 sets the pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 into a nipable state.

Therefore, the original P ₁₁ is
In the second branch position 42 in a state where the leading ends are aligned by the first transport path 3, the second transport path 3
6, and further, as shown in FIG. 6B, by a pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62, is carried into the switchback path 65.

The trailing end of the document conveyed to the switchback path 65 is connected to the branch position sensor 4 at the second branch position 42.
22 is detected, the controller 90 proceeds to FIG.
As shown in the trailing edge of the document P ₁₁ is reversing roller 61,
After a predetermined reaching the third branching position 43 of the reversing rollers 62 versus immediately preceding time, reversing the trailing edge of the original P ₁₁ roller 61, reverse roller 62
In a state of being held between the pair, the sheet feeding motor 91 is stopped to stop the rotation of the reversing roller 61.

[0063] At this time, the switch-back path 65 of the apparatus, since the cover 67 for covering the entire upper surface of the following document A4 size as described above is provided, if the document P ₁₁ is equal to or less than A4 size, As shown in FIG. 3A, the upper surface is completely hidden by the cover 67. On the other hand, even if the size exceeds A4 size, FIG.
As shown in (b), the tip can be discharged from the opening 66 of the switchback path 65, so that a switchback operation can be performed.

[0064] Thus, after the original P ₁₁ is stopped once the switch back path 65, the controller 90, the feed motor 91 so reverse driven, by rotating the reversing roller 61 in the reverse direction, the original P ₁₁ the conveying direction of is switched back, thus the switch back path 65 document P ₁₁ taken out from the third transport is guided to the conveying path guide 431 at the third branching position 43 of the reversing rollers 61, reversing roller 62 versus lower It is carried into the road 33. And this manuscript P
₁₁ is returned to the first transport path 31 when the third transport path 33 joins the first transport path 31, but the leading and trailing ends are switched by switching back the transport direction, and The front and back surfaces on the first transport path 31 are reversed.

[0065] document P ₁₁ returned to the first conveying path 31 is reaches the upper conveying rollers 53, are stopped on the transport roller 53 at this time, and therefore the document P ₁₁ deflection is formed. Subsequently, the controller 90 drives the conveying motor 93, the document P ₁₁ by the upper conveying roller 53 is driven to rotate are aligned its tip again, reading position 71 by the upper conveyor roller 53, further lower conveying roller 55
Transported to

Then, as shown in FIG.
₁₁If the timing sensor 72 detects the tip of
The roller 90 has a predetermined leading end to the reading position 71.
After a period of time, the document P₁₁Read image information
Let it be removed. However, the original P ₁₁Indicates that the front and back are
Therefore, this reading is performed from the second page on the back side.
You.

When the leading edge of the document P ₁₁ is detected by the timing sensor 72, the controller 90 moves the reversing roller 62 by the reversing roller moving means 63 simultaneously with the reading of the document, and the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 6.
Two pairs are separated. This is because, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), since when the leading edge of the document P ₁₁ reaches the reading position 71, the document P ₁₁ is the upper conveying roller 53, conveying force is applied by the lower conveying roller 55 or the like, reversed This is because the transporting force by the roller 61 is not necessarily required. Further, the controller 90 includes a sheet feeding motor 91.
Is switched to the forward rotation drive, and the registration roller 51 is rotationally driven in the forward direction for transporting the document from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first transport path 31. This is because the original whose one side has been read is transported into the original reversing unit 60 again.

The document P ₁₁ from which one-sided image information has been read by the document reading section 70 is conveyed through the first conveyance path 31 by the intermediate roller 57 to reach the first branch position 41, and is guided to the discharge branch lever 411. It is carried into the fourth transport path 34.

The document P ₁₁ returned to the upstream side of the registration rollers 51 of the first conveyance path 31 by the fourth conveyance path 34 is further conveyed to the registration rollers 51, and is inverted at the second branch position 42. The document P ₁₁ is guided by the lever 421 and is carried into the second conveyance path 32.
It is carried into the switchback path 65 from between the pair of reversing rollers 61 and reversing rollers 62.

In this way, the tip is the switchback path 6
In the case where the document P ₁₁ carried into the document 5 is long,
As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the trailing edge of the document P ₁₁ is still will be remaining between the reversing rollers 61, reversing roller 62 pair,
Therefore, between the reversing rollers 61, reversing roller 62, the leading end and the trailing end of the original P ₁₁ is conveyed in the opposite directions, but the overlapping state, at this time, the reverse roller 61, reverse roller 6
2 pairs, since a separated state, while unloading the trailing edge of the original P _11, it is possible to carry the leading edge of the document P _11.

Then, as shown in FIG.
_If the rear end of the document ₁₁ is detected by the timing sensor 72, the controller 90 causes the document reading unit 70 to stop reading after a predetermined time when the rear end of the document P11 passes the reading position 71.

[0072] Further, if it is detected at the rear end timing sensor 72 of the document P _11, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the original P
_Since the rear end of the roller ₁₁ has already been carried out between the pair of the reversing rollers 61 and the reversing rollers 62, the controller 90 moves the reversing rollers 62 by the reversing roller moving means 63 simultaneously with the stop of the document reading. 61 and the pair of reversing rollers 62 are brought into a nip-enabled state. Accordingly, the conveying force is applied to the document P ₁₁ between reversing rollers 61, reversing roller 62 pair, the original P ₁₁ by the driving rotation of the reversing roller 61 is conveyed to the switch back path 65.

[0073] Then, the trailing edge of the document P ₁₁ is the second branching position 4
Reaches up to 2, if it is detected in the branch position sensor 422, the controller 90, the trailing edge of the document P ₁₁ is a third branch position 43
After a predetermined time, the driving of the sheet feeding motor 91 is stopped, and the rotation of the reversing roller 61 is stopped. At this time, the original P
₁₁ is again in the state shown in FIG. 3 (a) or (b).
The controller 90 further moves the reversing roller 6 from this state.
The conveying direction of the document P ₁₁ by the rotational drive in the reverse direction is switched back to 1. At this time, the controller 90 sets the discharge branch lever at the first branch position 41 to the solid line position in FIG.

Document P thus switched back
₁₁ is again aligned at the leading end by the upper transport roller 53 and transported toward the reading position 71. At this time, the original P
_11, a first page side has a downward, according to the timing at which the document P ₁₁ is detected in the timing sensor 72, in turn, the image information of the first page side is read.

[0075] Further, if the leading end of the original P ₁₁ is detected by the timing sensor 72, the document P ₁₁ can be conveyed by the conveying force of the upper conveying roller 53 and lower conveying rollers 55, by always reversing rollers 61, reversing roller 62 pairs Since no conveying force is required, the controller 90 moves the reversing roller 61 by means of the reversing roller moving means 63 so that the pair of the reversing roller 61 and the reversing roller 62 is separated.

[0076] Thus the original P ₁₁ the image information of both sides has been read, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), reading position 7
From the first transport path 31 further downstream from the first transport path
At the branch position 41, the sheet is guided by the discharge branch lever 411 to the discharge roller 81, from which the first page is downwardly discharged to the discharge tray 80.

[0077] As described above, both surfaces (first, second page) of the first document P ₁₁ reads the image information ends. Similarly, image information is read from the second and third originals P ₁₂ and P _{13. As} shown in FIG. 7D, the originals P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ and P ₁₃ are The pages are discharged in this order from the bottom, with the first, third, and fifth pages being on the lower side. That is, the originals P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ , and P ₁₃ are discharged as a bundle of originals onto the discharge tray 80 without changing the page order with the document tray 10 turned upside down.

As described above, when reading a double-sided document, the document is carried into the switchback path 65 disposed at the uppermost position of the apparatus main body in order to reverse the front and back sides. Is provided with a cover 67 that covers the upper surface of the document being switched back, so that the cover 67 prevents the document of A4 size or smaller from being exposed to the outside of the apparatus body during switchback and touched by the user. Thus, the switchback operation is prevented from being disturbed, and a stable switchback operation can be performed.

On the other hand, even for a document exceeding A4 size, the switchback operation can be performed by discharging the leading edge of the document during switchback to the outside of the apparatus main body from the opening 66, and during switchback, By covering most of this with the cover 67, the above-mentioned certain effect can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be configured as follows.

(1) In the above embodiment, the switchback path 65, the document tray (document placement section) 10, and the discharge tray (document discharge section) 80 are all on the same side with respect to the reading position 71, Although the document reading apparatus having the configuration arranged in this order from the top is described as an example, the present invention is not limited to the document reading apparatus having such a configuration, and the switchback path 65 is located at the uppermost position of the main body of the apparatus. The present invention can be applied to any placed document reader. Therefore, for example, a configuration in which the document tray 10 and the discharge tray 80 are shared, a configuration in which the switchback path 65 and the discharge tray 80 are shared, or a configuration in which these are arranged on different sides with respect to the reading position 71 Even if it is, it can be applied.

(2) In the above embodiment, the switchback path 65 is provided with the cover 67 having a size capable of covering an A4 size document. However, the cover is not necessarily required to have this size. . However, it is desirable to use a cover that can cover a document of a frequently used size.

(3) In the above embodiment, by providing the opening 66 in the switchback path 65, the cover 6
Regardless of the size of the document 7, a large-sized document can be carried into the switchback path 65 to perform the switchback operation. However, it is not always necessary to provide such an opening 66.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a document reading apparatus in which the switchback path is disposed at the uppermost position of the apparatus main body, at least a part of the document being switched back is placed in the switchback path. Since the cover is provided, it is possible to prevent the switchback operation from being disturbed by the document being switched back being exposed to the outside of the apparatus body and touching by the user, and to perform a stable switchback operation.

In particular, if the cover is configured to cover the entire surface of the document being switched back, the document being switched back is completely prevented from being exposed, and a more stable switchback operation can be performed. .

If the cover is configured such that the end opposite to the original carrying position of the switchback path is opened outward, the leading end of the original during the switchback is moved outward from this opening. , The switchback operation can be performed even if the document is long in the transport direction regardless of the size of the cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a transport path of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a document is carried into a switchback path 65;

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a control system of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conveyance order of a one-sided original in the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the order of conveying double-sided originals in the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the order of conveying double-sided originals in the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Document tray (document placement unit) 20 Separation feeding unit 31 to 34 First to fourth conveyance paths 41 to 43 First to third branch positions 60 Document reversing unit 65 Switchback path 66 Opening 67 Cover 70 Document reading Unit 71 Reading position 80 Output tray (document output unit)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kobayashi 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shield Kusakabe 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaki Exit 1-2-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An original having image information formed on both sides thereof is temporarily carried into a switchback path provided at an uppermost portion of the apparatus main body, and the conveyance direction is switched back to thereby allow the original to be printed on the front and back sides of the original. A document reading apparatus for conveying a document to a document reading unit after performing a reversing operation, wherein a cover for covering at least a part of the document being switched back is provided in the switchback path. 2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to cover the entire surface of the document being switched back. 3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured such that an end of the switchback path on the side opposite to the document carrying position opens outward. 4. A document placement unit on which a plurality of documents having image information on both sides can be placed, and a separate feeding unit which separates and feeds the plurality of documents placed on the document placement unit one by one. A paper section, a document reading section for reading image information of the document, a document discharge section disposed below the document placing section to which the read document has been discharged, and a separate feeding section from the document placing section. A first conveyance path for guiding the document separated and fed by the paper unit to the document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and conveying the first conveyance path from the separation sheet feeding unit side to the document reading unit The original to be drawn is drawn into a switchback path arranged above the original placing section, and the original is switched back in the conveying direction and returned to the first conveying path. A document reversing unit for reversing the front and back surfaces; And a fourth conveyance path for guiding the document conveyed from the document reading section toward the document discharge section on the one conveyance path to the first conveyance path on the separation sheet feeding section side from the document reversing section. An original reading apparatus, wherein a cover is provided in the switchback path to cover at least a part of the original being switched back, and a terminal end of the cover opens toward an upper position of the original placing portion. An original reading device, characterized in that the original is read.