JPH11327221A - Image input device equipped with document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input device capable of lightly performing operation for opening/closing only a document cover simultaneously with miniaturizing a bed by making the document cover and an ADF(automatic document feeder) have interlocking relation. SOLUTION: A document feeder 3 is superposed on one end side of a document cover 2 arranged on a bed 1 and they are connected freely turnably with respect to a hinge shaft 4. Then, an attaching/detaching mechanism by which the cover 2 and the device 3 can be integrated when they are superposed and they can be separated when they are detached is interposed between the cover 2 and the device 3. Furthermore, a link rod 8 for performing turning operation up to an upper dead point and turning operation at a locking position is connected between the bed 1 and the device 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat bed type image input apparatus which reads image information from an original sheet or the like and digitizes the same, and more particularly to an original feeder which can automatically feed an original sheet and continuously process the original sheet. To an image input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a scanner for reading image information from paper or other recording media, a flat bed type scanner which can be used relatively easily is widely used. The basic configuration of this flat bed type scanner is that a scanning module using an optical system is provided inside the bed, and a document table and a cover are provided facing the scanning module. An automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as "ADF") for automatically feeding a large number of sheets one by one instead of manually placing the sheets one by one on the document table is attached. Things have already been developed.

FIG. 11 is a side view schematically showing a flatbed type scanner provided with a conventional ADF.

In FIG. 1A, a document table 51a is provided on the upper surface of a bed 51 containing a scanning module of an optical system, an ADF 52 is arranged on the upper surface on one end of the bed 51, and a document is provided separately from the ADF 52. This is an example in which a document cover 53 that covers the table 51a is opened and closed in the vertical direction. FIG. 3B shows an ADF 55 a and a document cover 55 on a bed 54 on which a document table 54 a is arranged on the upper surface.
and a sheet feeding unit cover 55 in which b is integrated so as to be openable and closable up and down.

In the scanner having the ADFs 52 and 55a, there is a scanner which scans a document on the document tables 51a and 54a by a scanning module built in the beds 51 and 54 and a scanner which also has a scanning system in the ADFs 52a and 55a. General. When reading images from both sides of the document automatically fed from the ADFs 52a and 55a, the scanning system and the scanning modules in the beds 51 and 54 cooperate with each other, so that the image can be read simultaneously with the automatic feeding. .

[0006]

However, FIG.
, The document cover 53 is not connected to the ADF 52, so that the document cover 53 can be opened and closed easily.
Arranging the F51 is one design limitation. That is, the platen 51a is shaped so as to occupy a plane area corresponding to a prescribed size of A-size paper, for example, and therefore, it is necessary to provide the ADF 52 at a position off the platen 51a. Therefore, the bed 51 is
a and the size including the total plane area of the ADF 52,
Poor compatibility with miniaturization of equipment.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG.
If the scanning module in the bed 54 can be positioned to the lower part of the bed 5a, not only the scanning of the original on the original table 54a but also the original automatically fed from the ADF 55a can be read. Even if the ADF 55a is arranged to overlap the end of the document table 54a,
Scanning of the original on 4a is possible. Therefore, a part of the ADF 55a can be arranged so as to be superimposed on the document table 54a, and compared with the configuration of FIG.
Is compacted as a whole.

As described above, regarding the downsizing of the bed,
It is preferable that the ADF 55a and the document cover 55b are integrated into the sheet feeding unit cover 55.

However, the work of opening and closing the original cover 55b in the operation of inserting and extracting originals one by one on the original platen 54a increases. This is the original cover 55
This is because the ADF 55a is integrated with the base end of the b, so that the weight of the ADF 55a is added. And AD
The F55a is equipped with a motor for feeding manuscript paper and a large number of roll rows, so the overall weight is large, and it is quite necessary to open and close the paper feed unit cover 55 many times to read a large number of manuscripts. With the burden of

As described above, the document cover 53 and the ADF 5
In the case where the bed 2 is a separate body, the opening and closing operation of the document cover 53 is easy, but it is difficult to reduce the size of the bed 51. And A
Conversely, when the DF 55a and the document cover 55b are integrated, the size reduction is promoted, but the manual feeding using the document table 54a is not convenient.

The problem to be solved in the present invention is to provide an image input apparatus in which an interlocking relationship is provided between the document cover and the ADF so that the bed can be downsized and only the document cover can be easily opened and closed. .

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image input apparatus provided with a document feeder, which is capable of moving an image between an entire area of a document table provided on an upper surface and an area deviated from the document table in a scanning direction thereof. A bed having a built-in reading unit, a document cover connected to the bed so as to be openable and closable with a rotation fulcrum in an area deviating from the document table, and covering the entire area of the document table; and a rotation fulcrum side of the document cover. And a document feeder that automatically feeds the paper as a path along the image reading means, and the document feeder is connected to the bed so as to be openable and closable in the same direction as the document cover,
When the document cover and the document feeder are opened, the document cover and the document feeder are pivoted together. When the document cover is closed, the document feeder is left open and only the document cover can be opened and closed. It is characterized by the following.

According to this configuration, the document feeder can be arranged on the document cover so as to overlap the document cover, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size. When handling paper manually, only the document cover is opened and closed while the document feeder is standing up. Work load can be reduced.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a bed having a built-in image reading means movable between an entire area of an original table provided on an upper surface and an area outside the original table in a scanning direction thereof. A document cover connected to the bed so as to be openable and closable with a rotation fulcrum in a region deviating from the document table, and covering the entire area of the document table; A document feeder that automatically feeds the document as a path along the image reading means, and the document feeder is connected to the bed so as to be openable and closable in the same direction as the document cover. In the meantime, when the two are opened, they rotate together and when closed, the document feeder is left in the open position so that only the document cover can be opened and closed. Together can be miniaturized in location, with the effect that it is sufficient to open and close only the document cover when the manual feed operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the original cover and the original feeder are connected to each other between the upper surface of the original cover and the lower surface of the original feeder which overlaps the original cover by overlapping each other. An image input device comprising the document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment / detachment mechanism capable of performing a separation operation by pulling the document cover in a direction to close the document cover. Since the connection and the separation can be performed, the attachment / detachment mechanism also fits in the bulk of the apparatus, and has an effect of contributing to downsizing of the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the detachment mechanism includes a stator provided on the document cover side and having an engagement head protruding toward a lower surface of the document feeder; 3. An image input device comprising a document feeder according to claim 2, comprising a receiver provided with a clamper provided to elastically allow the engagement head to enter and disengage.
For example, if the structure is such that the clamper opens and closes elastically, it has an effect that the tolerance of the positional relationship for the immersion of the engagement head can be increased.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the document feeder and the bed are connected by a link mechanism that moves up and down in conjunction with opening and closing of the document feeder around the pivot. The link mechanism has an operation including a top dead center that raises the document feeder to its maximum opening, and a lock point that restricts the document feeder to an upright posture at an opening smaller than the top dead center. An image input device comprising the document feeder according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein when the document feeder is rotated from a locked position where the document feeder is erected to a top dead center, the lock is released and the document feeder is closed. It has the effect of being able to.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the respective base ends of the document cover and the document feeder are independently and rotatably connected by a common hinge shaft.
An image input device provided with the document feeder described in any one of (1) to (4), wherein the area occupied by the rotation cover of the document cover and the document feeder can be reduced by using a common hinge shaft, contributing to the miniaturization of the device. It has the effect of doing.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an image input apparatus provided with the automatic document feeder of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an image input device includes a bed 1 having a built-in optical scanning module movably in a scanning direction, a document cover 2 placed on an upper surface thereof, and a document feeder 3 for feeding paper. It is composed of The document feeder 3 has a function of automatically supplying sheets one by one to the image reading unit as described in the section of the related art.
DF.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a document table 1b is arranged on the upper surface of the bed 1 from a portion slightly overlapping the end of the document feeder 3 to an end of the front operation panel 1a. The scanning module 1c includes the entire area of the document table 1b and moves toward the lower portion of the document feeder 3 (see FIG. 2).
Is incorporated. The scanning module 1c is a well-known one used in a conventional image input device, and has an optical image reading function. Then, the image signal of the document read by the scanning module 1c is processed by an image processing unit or the like and stored in a memory.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the original cover 2 and the original feeder 3 are connected to one end of the bed 1 so that they can be opened and closed as one unit. The entire platform 1b is opened. When the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 are opened and set to the upright posture, the document feeder 3 is restricted to the upright posture, and the document cover 2 can be freely opened and closed. In addition,
FIG. 1B shows a state in which the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 are rotated to the maximum angle.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a main part showing a paper supply system and an image reading system of the document feeder 3.

In the state shown in the figure, the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 are both in a closed posture, and at this time, the scanning module 1c inside the bed 1 is separated from the document table 1b and is located immediately below the document feeder 3. Have moved to. In the document feeder 3, a group of rollers 3b for projecting a tray 3a for placing a sheet to the front and passing the sheet inside is arranged. In order to simultaneously read the images on both sides of the document sheet, a contact sensor 3c for reading an image may be provided at a position opposite to the scanning module 1c across the sheet path.

FIG. 3 shows the state of FIG.
And the document feeder 3 are both left side views when in a closed posture.

When the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 are closed, as shown in FIG.
Moves from the original table 1b to the position directly below the original feeder 3 and stops. Then, the document feeder 3 pulls the sheets from the tray 3a one by one in the direction of the arrow by the roller group 3b, and the scanning module 1c continuously reads the image while the drawn paper moves. The paper is discharged onto the upper surface of the document cover 2. Further, the image on the back side of the sheet is read at the same time by the contact sensor 3c.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the document feeder 3 is held upright and the document cover 2 can be freely opened and closed. At this time, the scanning module 1c in the bed 1 is returned to a state where it can scan while moving the document table 1a. After the document cover 2 is opened and the document is manually set on the document table 1b, the document cover 2 is closed and the switch on the operation panel 1a is operated, whereby the image of the document is read by the scanning module 1c.

According to the present invention, when reading an image by manual feed shown in FIG. 4, only the original cover 2 is opened and closed up and down, and the original document feeder 3 is kept upright to reduce the work load due to its weight. It is an attempt to reduce it. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a main part of a mechanism for enabling the operation of the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 as described above.

In FIG. 4, one end of the bed 1 is provided with a hinge shaft 4 for connecting the original cover 2 and the base end of the original feeder 3 independently and rotatably. That is, the document cover 2 is connected with its base end inserted around the hinge shaft 4, and the document feeder 3 has a pair of metal frames 5 arranged on the left and right as viewed from the front thereof, and rotated by a similar structure. Connected as possible. An attachment / detachment mechanism is provided between the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 so as to rotate the document cover 2 integrally and to open and close the document cover 2 only.

This attachment / detachment mechanism is a combination of a stator 6 attached to the document cover 2 and a receptor 7 arranged on the frame 5 of the document feeder 3.
And the pair of frames 5 of the document feeder 3 are connected via the stator 6 and the receiver 7. The stator 6 includes an engagement head 6a having a diamond-shaped profile toward the receiver 7, and the receiver 7 includes the engagement head 6a.
This is provided with two clampers 7a sandwiching the a.
These clampers 7a are capable of sandwiching and restraining the engagement head 6a by a spring (not shown) provided on the receiver 7. FIG. 10 shows details of the stator 6 and the receiving piece 7.

Further, between the document feeder 3 and the bed 1, there is provided a link rod 8 for locking only the document feeder 3 in the upright posture when the document feeder 3 is raised integrally with the document cover 2. Connect. When the frame 5 and the document cover 2 are viewed from the front, a pair of the link rods 8 are arranged on one of the right and left sides or on the left and right sides.
6 shows a main part of a connecting structure using the link rod 8 arranged on the right side, and FIG. 6 shows details of the link rod 8 arranged on the right side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the link rod 8 has a substantially J-shape with its lower end gently bent, and has a lower end provided with a pivot for pivotally connecting to the bed 1. 8
a is provided and a slit 8b is cut in the upper end side. A protruding stopper 8c is provided at a portion that is on the tip end side of the slit 8b and is deviated leftward, and guide ribs 8d and 8e having different lengths are raised on both sides of a portion along the slit 8b. The link rod arranged on the left side has a support shaft with the posture shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to make each of a stopper and a guide rib protrude to the opposite side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the link rod 8 has a flange 1e raised from a beam 1d provided on the bed 1.
Is connected to the bed 1 via the auxiliary link 1f. That is, the auxiliary link 1f is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the flange 1e.
And the distal end thereof is rotatably connected to a support shaft 8a, and when the document feeder 3 is in a closed posture, the link rod 8 assumes a substantially horizontal posture.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, a link rod 8 is inserted through a screw 9 passing through a slit 8b and a locking rotor 10 rotatably inserted around the screw 9.
Is connected to the frame 5 side. The rotor 10 is a rectangular block having a short side that can be inserted between the guide ribs 8d and 8e of the link rod 8, and has a substantially V-shaped engaging part on the opposite short side as shown in FIG. Mating grooves 10a, 10
b is formed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the rotor 10 with respect to the link rod 8 when the document feeder 3 is being erected.

As the document feeder 3 is raised, the link rod 8 changes its posture around its support shaft 8a, and at the same time, the rotor 8 comes off the guide ribs 8d and 8d and reaches the stopper 8c ( (A) and (b) of FIG.
Since the stopper 8c is located on the left side with respect to the engagement groove 10b, when the rotor 10 hits the stopper 8c and reaches the top dead center, the engagement groove 10b is moved to the stopper 8c.
The posture is changed as shown in FIG. At this time, the frame 5 reaches the stroke end with respect to the link rod 8, and the document feeder 3 rotates to its maximum rotation angle, that is, the top dead center. Then, when the acting force in the direction of erecting the document feeder 3 is eliminated, the document feeder 3 rotates in the closing direction by its own weight. As a result, the engagement groove 10a is caught on the upper end of the guide rib 8d as shown in FIG.
Therefore, the frame 5 is locked by being engaged with the link rod 8 via the rotor 10, and the document feeder 3 is held at the upright position shown in FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the rotor 10 with respect to the link rod 8 when the document feeder 3 is tilted from the standing posture.

When the document feeder 3 is tilted, the document feeder 3 is unlocked in the state shown in FIG.
Open to the top dead center side. As a result, the rotor 10 moves upward as shown in FIG. 8A, and the outer surface of the engagement groove 10b abuts against the stopper 8c. Accordingly, when the rotator 10 changes its posture as shown in FIG. 7B and the original feeder 3 is tilted down in this state, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the outer surface of the engagement groove 10a abuts on the tip of the guide rib 8d. Therefore, the rotor 10 further rotates, and the initial state of FIG.
b is reversed and quickly enters the guide ribs 8d and 8e, and the position of the continuous contact point of the screw 9 with respect to the link rod 8 can be changed.

In the above configuration, in the case of image input by automatic paper feeding by the document feeder 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 are used.
And are defeated together. Thus, in FIG. 2, the sheet is pulled in from the tray 3a by the roller group 3b, and the image is read simultaneously by the scanning module 1c and the contact sensor 3c in the case of double-side reading.

When the operation is performed by placing the sheets one by one on the document table 1b, the document cover 2 is lifted and pulled up together with the document feeder 9. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7C, the angle at which the document cover 2 can be lifted is an angle at which the engagement groove 10b of the rotor 10 abuts against the stopper 8c and does not move. That is, since the document reading device 3 also rotates together with the document cover 2, the screw 9 fixed to the frame 5 moves in the slit 8b of the link rod 8, and the link rod 8 From the posture, the user gradually stands up to the posture of FIG. Then, after the engagement groove 10b hits the stopper 8c,
If the lifting force of the document cover 2 is eliminated, the document cover 2
And the document feeder 3 is rotated in the closing direction by its own weight, whereby the locked state shown in FIG. 7D is set.

FIG. 9 shows the posture of the document cover 2 and the document feeder 3 in the locked state. The document is moved by the engagement of the stator 6 and the receiver 7 with respect to the locked document feeder 3. The cover 2 is integrated with the document feeder 3. In this position, when the leading end side of the document cover 2 is pulled down, the engaging head 6a moves downward while opening the clamper 7a, and the engagement between the two is released. Accordingly, the document cover 2 is not connected to the document feeder 3, and only the document cover 2 can be opened and closed as shown in FIG.

In this manner, the operation of opening the original cover 2 only by once raising the original feeder 3 to the locked position and making the original cover 2 have no connection with the original cover 2 performs the operation of replacing the paper by opening and closing the original cover 2 only. be able to. Therefore,
The work of opening and closing the document cover 2 including the heavy document feeder 3 becomes unnecessary, and the burden on the operator is reduced even when a large number of sheets are replaced to read an image.

When returning to the case where the original reading device 3 is used, the original cover 2 is erected, integrated with the original feeding device 3 by the stator 6 and the receiver 7, and then raised to the rotation angle of FIG. Thus, the rotator 10 changes its posture from the state shown in FIG. 7D to the state shown in FIG. 8A, and when the document cover 2 is pulled down, the rotator 10
8e and returns to the closed posture of FIGS.

Even if the document cover 2 is not integrated with the document reading device 3, only the document reading device 3 is raised up to the angle shown in FIG. 9 to release the lock between the rotor 10 and the tip of the guide rib 8d. You may.

[0045]

According to the present invention, since the document feeder is provided so as to be superimposed on one end of the document cover, the planar bulk occupied by the document cover and the document feeder can be reduced, and the entire apparatus including the bed can be downsized. it can. Further, when handling paper manually, if the document cover is pulled up together with the document feeder and the document feeder is locked in the upright position, work can be performed only by opening and closing the document cover, so that the work load is greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image input apparatus including an automatic document feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the position of a paper conveyance system of a document feeder and a scanning module of a bed.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway left side view of the image input apparatus in an automatic document feed state.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway left side view of the image input device showing a state in which the document feeder can be raised and the document cover can be opened and closed.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of a main part showing a connecting structure of a link rod to a bed.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view and a plan view showing details of a link rod.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram sequentially showing the behavior of the rotor with respect to the link rod until the document feeder is raised and locked.

FIG. 8 is a diagram sequentially illustrating the behavior of the rotor with respect to the link rod when the document feeder is released from the lock position and tilted down.

FIG. 9 is a left side view of the image input device when the document cover is pulled up to raise the document feeder to a locked state;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a main part of a stator and a receiver.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bed 1a Operation panel 1b Document table 1c Scanning module 1f Auxiliary link 2 Document cover 3 Document feeder 3a Tray 3b Roller group 3c Adhesion sensor 4 Hinge shaft 5 Frame 6 Stator 6a Engagement head 7 Receptor 7a Clamper 8 Link rod 8a Support shaft 8b Slit 8c Stopper 8d, 8e Guide rib 9 Screw 10 Rotor 10a, 10b Engagement groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] A bed having built-in image reading means movable between an entire area of an original table provided on an upper surface and an area deviated from the original table in a scanning direction thereof; A document cover which is openably and closably connected to the bed with a moving fulcrum and covers the entire area of the document table; and a paper feeder which is arranged on the rotation fulcrum side of the document cover and which feeds paper as a path along the image reading means. A document feeder for feeding paper, the document feeder is connected to the bed so as to be openable and closable in the same direction as the document cover, and is integrally rotated between the document cover and the document feeder when both are opened. An image input device including a document feeder having a relationship in which only the document cover can be opened and closed while leaving the document feeder in an open position when closed. 2. An original document cover and an original feeder which are connected to each other between an upper surface of the original cover and a lower surface of the original feeder which overlaps the original cover, and which are connected in a direction to close the original cover. 2. An image input apparatus comprising the document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable mechanism capable of performing a separating operation by pulling apart. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the attaching / detaching mechanism includes a stator provided on the document cover and protruding an engagement head toward a lower surface of the document feeder. 3. An image input device comprising a document feeder according to claim 2, further comprising a receptor having a clamper for elastically allowing immersion and detachment. 4. The document feeder and the bed are connected by a link mechanism that moves up and down in conjunction with opening and closing of the document feeder around the fulcrum.
4. An operation including a top dead center that raises the document feeder to its maximum opening and a lock point that restricts the document feeder to an upright posture with an opening smaller than the top dead center. An image input device comprising the document feeder according to any one of the above. 5. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the respective base ends of the document cover and the document feeder are independently and rotatably connected by a common hinge shaft. Image input device provided.