JPS60122647A - Original feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a miniaturized and lightweight original feeding device in a moving original exposure type copying machine by rotating an original feeding roll with the utilization of reciprocal movement of an original table. CONSTITUTION:An original inserted into an original receiving tray 7 is allowed to drop down by gravity along the tray 7, so that the lower end of the original reaches the contact point between an original feeding roll 5 and a press roll 12. In this state, an original table 2 on a cabinet, which has been positioned near one end of the cabinet, is moved toward the other end along with the copying operation, whereby the original feeding roll 5 in contact with a glass plate 3 is rotated. The press roll 12 is also rotated with the rotation of the roll 5, so that the original is fed along a feeding guide 26 into between the original feeding roll 5 and the glass plate 3. The original is then sent out along the glass plate 3, while being exposed, by the rotation of the original feeding roll 5, and taken out onto an auxiliary tray 8.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field> The present invention relates to a document feeding device attached to a copying machine with a movable document table, and particularly to a document feeder that utilizes the reciprocating movement of the document table so that multiple copies can be made from a single document. The present invention relates to a document feeding device that conveys a copy document.

<Prior Art> In order to automatically set a document in a copying machine with a movable document table, a document feeding device is used that automatically conveys the copy document to the glass plate of the document table. However, since conventional devices have a structure in which a drive motor specific to the device is driven to transport the copied document, an interface, etc. for electrical connection with the copying machine body is required, and a This has the disadvantage of complicating the work. Moreover, the conventional apparatus has the disadvantage that it is large and heavy due to its structure including a built-in drive motor, which places an excessive burden on the copying machine. Furthermore, in the past, in order to simplify drive control, the document transport direction was limited to one direction, and one sheet of the original was always ejected during one copy operation. When making multiple copies from an original, it is necessary to reinsert the original each time a copy is made, which poses a problem in that continuous copying takes time and effort.

<Object of the Invention> The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to transport the original so that continuous copying can be performed by rotating the original feed roller using the reciprocating movement of the original table. An object of the present invention is to provide a document feeding device that is small and lightweight, and can be easily attached to a copying machine with a movable document table. By utilizing the reciprocating motion of It is equipped with a document feed roller that rotates according to the movement of the table, and a document tray provided on the entrance side of the roller.
When the document table is moved in the forward direction, the document feed roller is rotated to bring the document from the document tray into close contact between the roller and the glass plate. By moving in the backward direction, the document feed roller is reversed, and the document is conveyed to the document tray in the opposite direction to the direction in which the document was conveyed to the exit side of the roller.

<Embodiment> FIGS. 1 and 2 are an external view and a plan view, respectively, of the upper part of a copying machine showing a state in which the document feeder of the present invention is attached to a copying machine with a movable document table. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a section of the copying machine showing the general structure of the document feeding device and the positional relationship between the device and the document table.

The copying machine 1 is a well-known copying machine with a movable document table that can place an original directly on the glass plate 3 of the document table 2 and make a copy, and exposes the document by moving the document table 2. The document table 2 reciprocates above the cabinet of the copying machine 1 during one copying operation. In other words, before copying starts, the center of document table 2 is near one edge of the upper part of the cabinet, and when copy starts, document table 2 moves toward the other edge and reaches that end. After that, return and return to the copy start position. A document table cover (not shown) is removably attached to the document table 2 to hold the document against the glass surface when copying without using the document feeder 4. remove the document platen cover. The document feeder 4 is used to automatically transport one document at a time when multiple sheets are being copied, and as described later, the document feeder 4 transfers the document from the document tray 7 to the auxiliary tray 8 by moving the document table 2 in the forward direction. is conveyed, and the document is returned from the auxiliary tray 8 to the document tray 7 by movement in the backward direction. The main body 6 of the document feeder 4 includes a document feed mechanism such as a document feed roller 5 . A pair of fixing plates Fj and 9 are formed at the bottom of the apparatus main body 6 at a distance slightly wider than the width of the document table 2, and each fixing plate is provided with a hole for positioning and a hole for inserting a screw. There is. On the other hand, at the front and rear of the upper part of the cabinet, which is located across the document table 2, there are provided a positioning protrusion 10 and a fixing screw hole corresponding to the positioning hole and screw insertion hole. There is. When fixing the device main body 6 to the upper part of the cabinet, fit the protrusions 10 into the positioning holes of each fixing plate, place the fixing plate 9 on the front and rear upper surface of the upper part of the cabinet, and insert the screws 11 through the screw insertion holes. Insert and screw the device main body 6 into the upper part of the cabinet. Device body 6
is fixed to the upper part of the cabinet, the document feed roller 5 contacts the glass surface of the document table 2, but other components of the main body 6 do not contact the document table 2, and the document feed roller 5 contacts the glass surface of the document table 2.
does not obstruct the round-trip movement. As mentioned above, the document feeder 4 is configured to be removably attached to the copying machine 1 using the positioning protrusion 10 and screws 11, etc. When the document feeder 4 is not in use, the document can be easily removed by simply removing the screws 11. The feeding device 4 can be removed from the copying machine l.

Next, the document feeding mechanism of the document feeding device 4 and its document feeding operation will be explained with reference to FIG.

The document tray 7 is a tray for inserting the original f^, and is also a tray to which the document conveyed to the auxiliary l/sheet 8 side is returned again, and is fixed obliquely to the entrance side of the document feed roller 5. ing. Auxiliary tray 8, document feed roller 5
This is a tray that receives a document sent out through the document tray 7, and is obliquely fixed to the exit side of the document feed roller 5 below the document tray 7. Inside the apparatus main body 6, there are the document feed roller 5 and the pressing roller 12 for taking the document from the document tray 7 to the glass plate 3 side, and the document feed roller 5 for discharging the document taken by the document feed roller 5 to the auxiliary tray 8 side. Paper output rollers 13, 14, 15316 are provided, each of which is configured to operate in conjunction with one another via gears or chains. The document feed roller 5, the pressure roller 12, the paper output rollers 13, 14, and the paper output rollers 15, 16 are arranged to face each other, and the rotation axis of each roller is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the document table 2. A portion of the document feed roller 5 protrudes downward from an opening formed at the bottom of the apparatus main body 6, and is in contact with the upper surface of the glass plate 3 as described above.

With the device main body 6 mounted on the upper part of the cabinet of the copying machine 1, the document feed roller 5 is connected to the photosensitive drum 29 inside the copying machine 1.
The position of this roller is determined depending on the arrangement of the optical system etc. provided in the copying machine 1. Furthermore, feed guides 26 and 27 are provided close to each of the entrance and exit of the document feed roller 5 so as to form a document conveyance path from the pressing roller 12 to the paper output rollers 15 and 16.
A feed guide 28 is provided between the monthly paper delivery rollers 13 and 14 and the paper delivery rollers 15 and 16.

Pressing roller 12, document feed roller 5, paper output roller 13,
At each end of 14, 15, and 16 there is a gear 17 coaxially with the roller.
, 18.20', 21, 22.23 are attached. When the document table 2 moves and the document feed roller 5 in contact with the glass plate 3 rotates, the gear 1 meshes with the gear 18.
7 to transmit rotational force to the pressing roller 12. Further, the rotational force of the document feed roller 5 is transmitted to the gear 20 via the transmission gear 19 meshed between the gears 18 and 20.

Furthermore, gear 20 is engaged with gear 21 and gear 18 .
The rotational force of the document feed roller 5 is transferred to the gear 20.2 via the gear 19.
1 to rotate paper output rollers 13 and 14. In this way, the rotational force is transmitted through the single transmission gear 19, and when the document table 2 moves in the forward direction, the output rollers 13 and 14 rotate in a direction to convey the document from the feed guide 27 to the feed guide 28 side. do. The rotational force of the paper output roller 13 is controlled by the chain 24.
．． It is transmitted to the paper output roller 15 via 25.

When the paper output roller 15 is rotated by this chain drive, rotational force is transmitted to the paper output roller 16 via the gear 23 that meshes with the gear 22. Due to the rotational force transmission system described above, when the document table 2 moves in the forward direction, the paper output rollers 15 and 16 rotate in a direction to feed the document from the feed guide 28 to the auxiliary tray 8. Although the document feeding mechanism has the above configuration, the contact speed of the contact portion between the document feed roller 5 and the pressure roller I2, and the contact speed of the contact portions of the paper output rollers 13 and 14 and the paper output rollers 15 and 16 are different. The diameter of each roller, the pinch of each gear, the pinch of the sprocket (not shown) of the chain drive device, etc. are selected so that the diameter of each roller is equal, and the pinch of the sprocket (not shown) of the chain drive device is selected so that the original can be transferred between the original tray 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 without causing a paper jam. I try to make sure things run smoothly between them. Furthermore, when the forward movement of the document table 2 is completed, the trailing edge of the document is located in the conveyance path between the contact point between the document feed roller 5 and the glass plate 3 and the contact point of the paper output rollers 15 and 16. The length of the document conveyance path is set in advance so that when the document table 2 begins to move in the backward direction, the conveyance force in the opposite direction by the output rollers 15 and 16 is transmitted to the document. I have to. As a result, the original can be returned to the original tray 7 side by moving the original table 2 in the backward direction as described later. In this document feeder 4, since the document 1 general feed path is formed as described above, when the document table 2 finishes moving in the forward direction, the document feed roller 5
The maximum document that can be copied is the one whose trailing edge comes into contact with the glass plate 3 and the document whose length reaches the contact point of the output roller 15, 16. This will be the minimum manuscript.

Next, a description will be given of the document feeding operation when a plurality of copies are made from one document using the document feeding device 4 described above.

Before starting copying, insert a desired original into the original tray 7. The inserted original falls along the original tray 7 due to its own weight, and its lower end touches the original feeding roller 5 and the pressing roller 1.
The second contact point is reached. As mentioned above, before copying starts, the center of the document table 2 is located close to one end of the cabinet loading section, and at the start of the -th copy operation, the center moves toward the other end of the document table. 2 moves. Original table 2
When the document feed roller 5 starts to move, the document feed roller 5 in contact with the glass plate 3 rotates, and along with the rotation, the pressure roller 12 also rotates to feed the document from the document tray 7 to the guide 2.
6 between the document feed roller 5 and the glass plate 3. Furthermore, as the document table 2 moves in the same direction, the document feed roller 5 rotates, bringing the document taken in from the document tray 7 into close contact with the glass plate 3 while moving the document to the feed guide 2.
Send it to the 7 side. The exposure process of the copying machine 1 starts when the front end of the document starts to come into close contact with the glass plate 3, and ends when the document passes through the document feed roller 5 while being in close contact with the glass plate 3.

The leading edge of the document that has passed through the document feed roller 5 is placed on the output roller 1.
When the document reaches the contact point between 3 and 14, the document is conveyed toward the feed guide 28 by the conveyance action of these paper output rollers. If the original is long enough, before the trailing edge of the original passes through the contact area between the original feed roller 5 and the pressure roller 12, the front edge of the original is held between the output rollers 13 and 14 and moved toward the feed guide 28. However, as described above, since the contact speed on the paper output rollers 13, 14 side and the contact speed on the press roller 12 side are equal, the document can be transported without causing a paper jam. After the document ↓ is conveyed to the feed guide 28 side, it is further conveyed to the auxiliary sheet 8 side by paper output rollers 15 and 16. In this case as well, paper output trays 13 and 14 and paper output l.
Since the contact speeds of the respective contact portions of the trays 15 and 16 are equal, the document can be conveyed to the auxiliary tray 8 side without causing a paper jam on the exit side of the document feed roller 5. By moving the document table 2 in the forward direction as described above, the document is transferred to the glass plate 3.
The exposure process is completed by passing the document through the document feed roller 5 while keeping it in close contact with the document table 2.
move in the same direction to rotate the document feed roller 5, and the document is discharged to the exit side of the document feed roller 5 by paper output rollers 13, 14 and paper output rollers 15, 16.

Next, when the document table 2 starts moving from the forward direction to the backward direction, the rear end of the document is moved between the document feed roller 5 and the glass plate 3.
Since the document is located in the conveyance path between the contact point with the paper output rollers 15 and 16, the document begins to return to the document tray 7 side again after receiving the conveyance force that causes the document to be conveyed in the opposite direction. That is, when the document table 2 finishes moving in the forward direction and then returns at one end and moves in the backward direction, the document feed roller 5
is reversed, and accordingly, the rollers other than the document feed roller 5 are also reversed, and the document moves in the opposite direction to the direction in which the document feed roller 5 moves toward the exit side. Then, when the document table 2 returns to the copy start position, the document is ejected to the document tray 7 along the document feed guide 26, and returns to the same state as when the document was inserted.

Through the operations described above, it is possible to automatically take in the original from the original tray 7 and return the original to the original 1-layer with the reciprocating stroke of the original platen 2. - When the first copy is completed, the original is returned to the original tray 7. Therefore, in the case of second and subsequent copies, the original is taken in and returned to the original tray 7 in the same manner as described above, making continuous copying possible. As described above, by using the document feeder 4, the document is reciprocated between the document tray 7 and the exit side of the document feed roller 5 in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the document table 2 for each copying operation. You can make multiple copies from a single original. As shown in the following, the document feeder 4 that enables continuous copying is composed of a simple roller drive mechanism that drives the document feed roller 5 in accordance with the movement of the document table 2. No interface or the like is required for electrical connection to devices or copying machines. Therefore, the document feeder 4 can be easily attached and detached from the copying machine 1 without any effort, and the document feeder can be made smaller and lighter by using a mechanical document feeder mechanism mainly including the document feeder roller 5. I can do it.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the document feeder is constructed by vertically standing the document tray and the auxiliary tray. In this figure, a document tray 33 and an auxiliary tray 34 are shown in the apparatus.Similar to the above example, the document feed roller 32 is brought into contact with the glass surface of the document table 2, and the document feed roller 32 is driven by the movement of the document table 2. A pressure roller 35 and a feed guide 39 are arranged on the entrance side of the document feed roller 32, and a paper output roller 36 and a feed guide 40 are arranged on the exit side of the roller. The pressure roller 35 and the paper output roller 36 are rotated by a gear mechanism (not shown) in response to the rotational force of the document feed roller 32, but simply by pressing these rollers against the document feed roller 32, there is no friction between the rollers and the document feed roller 32. It may also be rotated by. The document tray 33 and the document presser plate 37 are vertically oriented at the contact point between the document feed roller 32 and the pressing roller 35. The auxiliary tray 34 is also vertically oriented together with the document pressing plate 38 at the contact point with the document feed roller 324 and paper output roller 36.

When making multiple copies using the document feeder 30 with such a configuration, the document is inserted between the document tray 33 and the document presser plate 37, but the tray and presser plate are vertically erected. Therefore, the document inserted between them falls vertically downward due to its own weight, and the lower end of the document always comes into contact with the contact portion between the document feed roller 32 and the pressing roller 35. In this way, since the document always reaches the contact portion of the pressing roller 35 under its own weight, the timing for document capture at the start of copying can be set accurately.

When the document table 2 moves in the forward direction due to copy start,
The document passes through the document feed roller 32 along the feed guide 39 while being in close contact with the glass surface of the document table 2, and further moves to the auxiliary tray 34 side along the feed guide 40. In this forward conveyance process, at the time when the exposure process is finished, the document feed roller 32 and paper output roller 36 are used for tU feeding, so that at least the trailing edge of the largest document is transferred to the document feed roller 36.
The document is transported so that it is located on the exit side. At this time, shorter originals pass through the output roller 36 and are ejected between the auxiliary tray 34 and the document presser plate 38, but the originals that have passed through the output roller 36 fall downward under their own weight and are always sent to the document feeder. It contacts the contact portion between the roller 32 and the paper output roller 6. Therefore, when the document table 2 returns at the other end of the upper part of the cabinet and moves in the backward direction, a shorter document is held between the document feed roller 32 and the paper ejection roller 36, and each roller is driven in the reverse direction to return to the document tray 33. can be returned to. By erecting the auxiliary tray 34 vertically as described above, short documents that pass through the paper output roller 36 can always fall to the contact portion of the paper output roller 3G due to their own weight, and are transferred to the document tray 33 side. It is possible to reliably return manuscripts. Moreover, only one paper output roller 36 is provided on the exit side of the document feed roller 32 (the document feed mechanism can be further simplified. Also, when the document passes through the pressing roller 35 and is returned to the document tray 33, , the original falls vertically so as to come into contact with the contact portion of the pressure roller 3 - 5 in the same way as at the start of copying, and the original can be transported without any hindrance during the next copying operation. When reciprocating, the edges of the original can be made to come into contact with the contact points on the entrance side and the exit side of the original feed roller 32, and the original can be automatically transported back and forth to make continuous copies as in the above embodiment. enable.

In the above two examples, the document feed roller is brought into contact with the glass plate of the document table, and the document feed roller is rotated according to the movement of the document table. The force generated when the document table is moved may be transmitted to the document feed roller to rotate it. In the apparatus shown in FIG.
A pinion 54 that meshes with a rack 53 is attached to an end of the document feed roller 52.

The rotating surface of the document feed roller 52 is connected to the glass plate 5 of the document table 50.
1 or facing each other at a very small distance. In such a configuration, the linear reciprocating movement of the document table 50 causes the document feed roller 54 to rotate forward or reverse due to the engagement between the rack 53 and the pinion 54, and as in the above example, the document is brought into close contact with the glass handle 51. It can be transported back and forth.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the present invention, by rotating the document feed roller using the reciprocating movement of the document table in a copying machine with a movable document table, the document can be brought into close contact with the glass plate of the document table. Since it enables continuous copying of a single document by transporting it back and forth, there is no need for a drive device such as a drive motor to rotate the document feed roller, and the document feed mechanism using the document feed roller is all that is required. Accordingly, the document feeding device can be made smaller and lighter.

Moreover, since there is no need for electrical connection to the movable document table type copying machine, and there is no need for mechanical connection, it can be easily installed in the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an external view and a plan view, respectively, of the upper part of a movable document table copying machine to which a document feeder according to the present invention is attached. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the upper part of the copying machine showing the general structure of the document feeder and the positional relationship between the device and the document table, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the document feeder configured with the document tray standing vertically FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example. FIG. 5 is an external view of a document table and a document feed roller showing an example in which the document feed roller is driven by a drive mechanism using a rank and a pinion. ■-(Original platen movement j-0 copying machine, 2-Original platen, 3-(
4--original feeder, 5--original feeding roller, 7--original 1--ray. Applicant Sharp Corporation Agent Patent Attorney Hisao Komori Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a copying machine with a movable document table in which the document table moves back and forth, there is a document feed roller that contacts the glass plate of the document table and rotates in accordance with the movement of the document table, and a document feed roller provided on the entrance side of the roller. and a document tray, and when the document table is moved in the forward direction, the document feeding roller is rotated to transport the document from the document tray to the exit side of the roller without bringing the document into close contact between the roller and the glass plate. , the document feed roller is reversed by the movement of the document table in the backward direction, and the document is transferred to the document tray in the opposite direction to the direction in which the document was conveyed to the exit side of the roller.
A document feeder that is designed to send documents.