JPS61226432A - Automatic original copy feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a frame from floating up, to make it possible to feed original copies, appropriately, by laying resilient members in the direction of original copy feed with one end thereof being fixed to the heavy component part side of upper surface of the frame, and by providing a positioning member between the other end of the resilient member and the frame. CONSTITUTION:The frame 28 of an original copy feeder is closably attached to the upper surface 18 of a copying machine through the intermediary of a hinge 20. Further, a pair of belt drive rollers 10 are attached to the frame 28, an endless belt 12 being stretched between the rollers 40. In this arrangement, the frame 28 is made of metal materials which may be hardly deformed, and two resilient members 38 made of general structural hard steel materials are laid on the upper surface of the frame 28. Further, each resilient member 38 is formed in a U-like cross-sectioned shape, and one end 381 of the member 38 is fixed to the sheet transfer means 14 side of upper surface of the device while a set screw 40 serving as a positioning member is screwed into the other end 382. With this arrangement it is possible to simply and surely prevent the frame 28 from floating up.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder used in a copying machine, and more particularly to an automatic document feeder used in a case where the document feeder is placed over a document table so that it can be opened and closed like a cover.

1. In a typical electrophotographic copying machine, the original is placed on a transparent platen glass installed on the top of the device, and the original is scanned and exposed from the bottom of the platen glass to imprint it on the photoreceptor. Electric W!
An I image is formed, developed with a developer, made visible, and then transferred and fixed onto transfer paper to obtain a copy. During scanning exposure, light emitted from a high-intensity lamp such as a halogen lamp scans the entire surface of the platen glass, so a document cover is usually provided on the top of the copying machine to prevent this light from leaking outside the copying machine. , the operator protects his eyes from high-intensity light by placing a document cover over the document placed on the platen glass.

When copying using a copying machine with the above configuration, if there is only one original, there is no problem since you only need to cover the cover once even if there are many copies, but when there are many originals, there is no problem. This method requires the operation of placing a cover over each document one by one, which poses a problem in that copying efficiency deteriorates.

Recently, in view of this problem, models have been provided that are equipped with an automatic document feeder that eliminates the need to open and close the cover each time when copying various types of documents. This is installed on the platen glass so that it can be opened and closed, and drives an endless belt that is stretched between a pair of belt drive rollers inside the belt to transport the original to the optimum position on the platen glass and finish copying. The original is then ejected.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The above-mentioned document feeding device is normally configured to be able to be opened and closed by a hinge provided on the opposite side of the top surface of the copying machine, and is shaped like a cover. However, the shape is not necessarily symmetrical, and some of the heavier components may be placed biased to either the left or right, and the center of gravity may be significantly far from the center. many.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are shown to explain the above-mentioned case, and include a pair of belt-driven rollers 10 and a belt 12 stretched between them, and an original that has been copied. A document feeder [16] having a paper conveying means 14 for discharging paper in a desired direction is provided on the upper surface 18 of the copying machine so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 20 provided on the opposite side of the surface. When document feeding operation is required, a platen glass 22 provided on the top surface 18 of the copying machine is used as shown in FIG. 3(b).
Document feeder 16 so that there is no gap between the
By placing the original and inserting the original in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the original is transported to a preset position on the platen glass 22, and after making the desired number of copies, the original is transferred to the paper transport means 14. The document is discharged onto the upper surface of the document feeder 16 by transport rollers 24 and 26 provided inside.

Further, when the document feeding operation is not required, the document feeding device 16 can be used simply as a cover without operating the belt drive control means (not shown).

In such a document feeding device 16, the weight of the portion a consisting of the paper conveying means 14 is generally heavier than the portion b consisting of the belt 12, belt drive roller 10, etc. Therefore, the document feeder 1 with respect to the document advancing direction
The center of gravity of 6 is significantly away from the approximate center of the device, as shown by arrow B in FIG. 3(b), for example. However, the hinge 20 that fixes the document feeder 16 to the copying machine body is usually not installed symmetrically with respect to the center of gravity due to the strength suitability of the device, and the deviation of the center of gravity from the center of the hinge In a model with a particularly large size, the upstream side of the document feeder 16 in the document advancing direction may be slightly raised above the platen glass 22. In such a case,
Conventional document feeders do not have a means to correct the above-mentioned floating deformation, so the document conveyed onto the platen glass 22 by the belt may be deviated from its proper position, or the document may not be conveyed. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and
The purpose is to provide a document feeding device in which even if the weight member is disposed biased to either the left or right side, the upstream side in the document feeding direction is unlikely to float up, and even if it does float, the deformation can be easily corrected. It's about doing.

Means for Resolving Problem 1 In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a pair of belt drive rollers, an endless belt stretched between the pair of belt drive rollers, and a system that supports the rotating shaft of the pair of belt drive rollers. an elastic member whose one end is fixed to a substantially side end of the first surface of the frame and whose other end presses a substantially side end opposite to the top surface of the frame via a positioning member that regulates the height from the top surface of the frame. Provided is a document feeder comprising:

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member fixed to the upper surface of the frame is made of common structural hard steel. Further, the positioning member provided at one end of the elastic member that is not fixed to the frame is desirably made of a screw member or the like that is screwed onto the frame and whose height can be freely changed.

Function: In the document feeding device of the present invention, the elastic member is disposed across the document feeding direction, one end of which is fixed to the frame and the heavy component side on the top surface, and a positioning member is provided between the other end and the frame. Because of this provision, the elastic force of the elastic body member acts on the frame in a direction opposite to the direction in which it tries to float.

Embodiments Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a plan view and a partial side view of the document feeder according to the present invention. It can be opened and closed freely.

A biasing member (not shown) that biases the document feeder M16 in the opening direction is installed inside the hinge 20, thereby reducing the apparent operating weight of the document feeder. Reference numeral 10 denotes a pair of belt driving rollers that are rotatably supported around a shaft (not shown) provided on the frame 28, and are rotationally driven by a rotation driving means (not shown), and the belt is wound between the pair of rollers. 12. The belt 12, which serves as a background during copying, is seamlessly formed from white rubber or the like, and a protruding pad 121 is formed on the front side of the belt so as to easily catch the leading edge of the document.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a feed roller provided on the frame 28 to capture and convey a manually inserted document. Lock it once. Locking claw 32
Two or more are disposed on the lower surface of the document feeder @16 in the direction of the rotation axis of the belt drive roller, and are configured to be able to move up and down, and lock the document conveyed by the feed roller 30 to correct its inclination. After that, it is hidden inside the document feeder. Reference numeral 34 denotes a registration shimming gate that is rotatably provided around a rotation shaft 341 provided on the top surface 18 of the copying machine, and holds the original conveyed by the belt 12 at an appropriate position on the platen glass 22. The device is configured so that the document is once locked and then hidden inside the copying machine after the desired number of copies have been made. After copying, the original is transported between a pair of paper guides 36 by a pair of transport rollers 24 and 26 that are rotationally driven within the paper transport means, and is discharged onto the top surface of a cover (not shown) of the original transport device.

The frame 28 of the document feeding device is made of a metal material or the like so as not to be easily deformed, and two elastic members 38 made of general structural hard steel are disposed on the upper surface thereof. The U-shaped elastic member 38 has one end 381 fixed to the side end on the paper transport means 14 side of the upper surface of the document feeder by a fixing means 39 such as a screw, and the other end 382
A set screw 40 serving as a positioning member is screwed into a female thread formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the frame 28 . Further, in order to prevent the long part 383 of the elastic member 38 from floating above the frame 28, the members 42a and 42b are attached to the upper surface of the frame 28 via the long part 383 of the elastic member 38. .

Next, the adjustment of the set screw 40 for positioning the elastic member 38 in the document feeding device of the present invention and its actual operation will be explained.

As mentioned above, the set screw 40 is provided on the top surface of the document feeder on the side opposite to the critical parts, and if the center of gravity is relatively shifted to the left as in this example, the set screw 40 should be tightened. As a result, one end 382 of the elastic member is lifted up, and the set screw presses the frame 28 due to its elastic force. In this case, due to the pressing force, torsional stress is elastically applied to the long portion 383 of the elastic member, and the one end 38 fixed to the upper surface of the frame 28
A reaction force acts on the document feeder 1 to lift the document feeder upward. As a result, the frame 28 is slightly bent in the document feeding direction, and the rotation axis of the belt drive roller 10 located on the upstream side in the direction is lowered relative to the rotation axis 10 on the downstream side, so that the center of gravity of the frame 28 is slightly bent. This eliminates lifting of one side of the document feeder due to misalignment.

Here, in a state where one end 382 of the elastic member 38 is lifted from the upper surface of the frame 28, the elongated portion 383 of the frame is not only subjected to torsional stress, but also the portion corresponding to the member 42a is attached upwardly. In the direction of attachment, a downward force acts on the portion corresponding to the member 42b. As a result, when the upper surface of the frame 28 is attached, the above-mentioned force acts in the same direction through the members 42a and 42b at positions corresponding to the members 42a and 42b. Thus, one @3 of the elastic member 38
81 and installation is done using member 42a and set screw 40.
and the member 42b is attached in opposite directions,
That is, a pressing force or a tensile force is exerted in the direction of twisting the frame 28, but in the document feeding device of the present invention, the U-shaped elastic member 38 is bent in two so that its long portions are parallel to each other.
Since the above-mentioned forces trying to twist the frame 28 conflict with each other, the frame 28 is deformed only in the direction of moving up and down relative to the rotation axis of the belt drive roller 10, which is the original purpose. do.

Therefore, by setting the degree of tightening of the set screw 40 according to the amount of floating of the document feeder due to the deviation of the center of gravity, it is possible to set the distance between the belt 12 and the platen to the lath 22 appropriately. Become.

FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the elastic member provided on the frame of the document feeder main body of the first embodiment is not U-shaped but simple. It is plate-shaped. That is, in FIG. 2, one end of a plate member 38' made of general structural hard steel is fixed to a fixing means 3 such as a screw.
It is fixed to the heavier side of the frame 28 by 9', and a set screw 40' is screwed into the other end as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the elastic force of the plate member 38' acts on the frame 28 only as a pressing force and its reaction force, so there is no need to take into account the torsion of the frame. The number of plate members 38' may be any number as long as they are provided.

In the document feeder of the present invention, an elastic member is provided, mainly for the purpose of correcting the frame when the center of gravity is deviated.
Although a set screw is provided as a positioning member, according to the above-described operational structure, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be used for the purpose of fine vertical adjustment of the belt, especially when the center of gravity of the document feeder is not biased. It is.

In addition, in the present invention, since the elastic strain stress of the elastic member is applied to the frame to correct it, if the shape of the elastic member is the same, a material with a large elastic modulus is used to correct the elastic member. With this structure, the frame can be corrected more effectively.

Effects of the Invention In the document feeding device of the present invention, the elastic member is arranged across the document feeding direction, one end of the elastic member is fixed to the weight member side of the upper surface of the frame, and a positioning member is provided between the other end and the frame. Therefore, even if one side of the document feeder is lifted up by a heavy component, the frame can be easily corrected to return to a normal state.

Therefore, it is possible to freely set the position of the hinge for attaching the document feeder to the copying machine body, regardless of the position of the center of gravity of the document feeder.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are a plan view and a partial side view of a document feeder showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are other preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are a plan view and a partial side view of a document feeding device showing an embodiment, and FIGS. It is a cross-sectional schematic side view. 10: Belt drive roller 12: Belt 14: Paper transport means 16: Document feeder 20: Hinge 22 Ni platen glass 24.26: Transport roller 28: Frame 30: Feed L]-L 32: Locking claw 34 Ni registration storage Young gate 38: Elastic member 38': Plate member 39.39': Fixing means 40.
40': Set screws 42a, 42b: Attachment is done using parts 4 (b) Fig. 2 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of belt drive rollers, an endless belt stretched between the pair of belt drive rollers, a frame that supports the rotating shaft of the pair of belt drive rollers, one end of which is fixed to a substantially side end of the upper surface of the frame, and the other end of which is fixed to a substantially side edge of the upper surface of the frame. An automatic document feeder comprising: an elastic member that presses a substantially opposite end of the upper surface of the frame via a positioning member that regulates the height from the upper surface.