JP2013063860A - Sheet conveyance device, image forming apparatus, sheet post-processing device, and image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

An easy, safe, low-cost, wheelchair user or a user with a low line of sight can easily place a bundle of documents on a document table.
A paper feed cover member that covers a document transport section, a document placement table that is placed outside the upstream side of the paper feed cover member and on which a document bundle is placed, and is movable in the width direction of the document. And a side fence 410 that regulates the position of the document bundle in the paper width direction by contacting and pressing one end of the document bundle, and transporting the document to the image reading means 26 that is fixedly arranged. In the document conveying device, the side fence 410 is disposed in the paper feed cover member 450 and in the vicinity of the pickup roller 3, and when the document bundle P is disposed on the document placing table 420, the side fence 410 is driven to operate the document. Side fence driving means 500 for adjusting the position of the bundle P in the paper width direction is provided.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper transport device, an image forming apparatus, a paper post-processing device, and an image reading device, and in particular, a paper transport device capable of easily placing a document on a document placing table and an image forming apparatus including the same. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a sheet post-processing apparatus, and an image reading apparatus.

  Some image forming apparatuses include an automatic document feeder (ADF). FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of such an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an automatic document feeder. The image forming apparatus 200 includes a document discharge tray 135 for stacking documents sent from the automatic document feeder (ADF) 100, an image reading device 220 for reading documents, and sheet feeding cassettes 231, 232, 233, and 234. A unit 230, an image forming unit 225 for forming an image, a paper discharge unit 240 for stacking recorded sheets, and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the automatic document feeder 100 includes a document placing table 120 on which a document bundle (in this specification, a plurality of documents or one document is placed), and a cover. A document transport unit is disposed that is disposed in 150, separates the documents one by one and transports them to the document reading unit 28, and transports the documents one by one from the document stack disposed on the document placing table 120. The document transporting section transports the document from the stop claw 2 that regulates the position of the front end of the document bundle P, the pickup roller 3 that picks up documents one by one from the top of the document bundle, and the document from the pickup roller 3 along the transport path. Reverse roller 4 and paper feed belt 5, pull-out roller 6, pull-out driven roller 7, reading inlet roller 8 that conveys the document toward the image reading means 26, reading inlet driven roller 9, and the original from the image reading means 26 is a reversing mechanism or A reading exit roller 10 that conveys the document toward the document delivery tray 135, a reading exit delivery roller 11, a delivery roller 12, a lower delivery driven roller 13, a switching claw 15 that constitutes a reversing mechanism, a reversing roller 16, a reversing driven roller 17, A discharge roller 18 is provided. The document taken in from the document table 120 by the pickup roller 3 is transported along the transport path by various rollers, and the image is read by the image reading means 26. Reference numeral 40 denotes a reading inlet mylar, 41 denotes a reading glass, and 42 denotes a reading inlet guide.

  The document whose image has been read by the document reading unit 40 is discharged to the document discharge tray 135 via the path A or reversed via the path B and the path C as necessary, so that the image on the back surface is changed. The document is read by the document reading unit 40 and is discharged to the document discharge tray 135 via the path A.

  In the figure, reference numeral 19 is an original detection sensor, 20, 21 and 22 are original length detection sensors provided on the original mounting table 120 for detecting the length of the original, 23 is a separation sensor, 24 is an abutment sensor, and 25 is an original. A width sensor, 26 a reading entrance sensor, 27 a registration sensor, 29 a paper discharge sensor, and 30 a reverse sensor.

  In such an automatic document feeder 100, the side fence 110 is disposed on the document table 120. The side fence 110 is configured to be manually movable on the document placing table 120 along a paper width direction (arrow D in FIG. 7) perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the document bundle P. Then, with the document bundle P placed on the document placement table 120, the operator moves the side fence 110 and contacts and presses one side edge of the document bundle with the side fence 110. The end is brought into contact with the position regulating member 136 on the side opposite to the side fence 110 to align the document bundle P in the paper width direction.

  In such an image forming apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. 9, when an operator O on the wheelchair W or an operator with a low line of sight places the document bundle P on the document placement table 120 of the automatic document feeder 100. As shown in FIG. 9, since the document placing table 120 is looked up from below, the side fence 110 disposed on the document placing table 120 obstructs the field of view and it is difficult to set the document bundle. Further, since the side fence 110 becomes an obstacle to the installation of the document bundle P, it is necessary to install the document bundle P from above the document placement table 120, and there is a problem that it is difficult to install the document bundle.

  In order to deal with such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a document feeding unit that loads and places documents, a pair of regulating plates that regulate the movement of the document in a direction perpendicular to the document transport direction, In a document transport apparatus having a document transport unit that transports a document loaded on a document feed unit and a document discharge unit that discharges a document below the document feed unit, a pair of regulation plates is transparent. Have been described.

  However, in Patent Document 1, although the side fence is transparent, it is an obstacle to installing the document bundle, and the problem that the document bundle needs to be installed on the document placement table from above has not been solved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a document conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet post-processing apparatus that can easily and safely place a document bundle on a document placing table even for a wheelchair user or a user with a low line of sight. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus.

  The paper transport device of the present invention includes a cover member that covers a paper transport unit, a paper mounting table that is disposed upstream of the cover member, on which paper is mounted, and is disposed in proximity to the paper mounting table, Pickup means for separating one sheet from a bundle of sheets arranged on the placing table, and a means arranged on the paper placing table and movable in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. In a paper conveying apparatus having a side fence that contacts a side end portion and regulates a position of the paper in the paper width direction, and a conveying means that conveys the paper separated by the pickup means, the side fence is provided in the cover member. And is visible from the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of the pickup means.

  According to the present invention, since the side fence is arranged inside the paper feed cover member, when the operator looks at the apparatus from the front, the side fence does not appear on the document placement table. Visibility at the time of stacking is improved, it is easy to place a bundle of documents, and there is an effect that the stack of documents can be placed on the document placement table from the front side or the lateral direction, not from the top.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a side fence drive means. FIG. 2 shows a side fence provided with a pressure detection sensor, (a) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is separated from a document bundle, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is in contact with the document bundle. is there. 1A and 1B show a side fence provided with an optical sensor, in which FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is separated from a document bundle, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is in contact with the document bundle. . 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage state of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the conventional image forming apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional automatic document feeder. It is a schematic diagram which shows the use condition of the conventional image forming apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A digital copying machine will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 200 is the same as the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 except for the configuration of the automatic document feeder 400. That is, the image forming apparatus 300 includes a document discharge tray 235 that stacks documents sent from the automatic document feeder 400, an image reading device 220 that reads documents, and sheet feeding units 231 232, 233, and 234. 230, an image forming unit 225 that forms an image, a paper discharge unit 240 that stacks recorded sheets, and the like.

  Next, the automatic document feeder 400 according to the present embodiment will be described. The automatic document feeder 400 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the conventional automatic document feeder except that the side fence is disposed in the vicinity of the pickup roller and inside the paper feed cover member, and the side fence is automatically driven. Is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the automatic document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention. An automatic document feeder 400 according to the present embodiment is arranged in a document placing table 420 on which a document bundle is placed and a paper feed cover member 450, separates the documents one by one and conveys them to the document reading unit 28, A document transport unit that transports the documents one by one from the document stack placed on the document table 120 is disposed. The document transporting section transports the document from the stop claw 2 that regulates the position of the front end of the document bundle P, the pickup roller 3 that picks up documents one by one from the top of the document bundle, and the document from the pickup roller 3 along the transport path. Reverse roller 4 and paper feed belt 5, pull-out roller 6, pull-out driven roller 7, reading inlet roller 8 that conveys the document toward the image reading means 26, reading inlet driven roller 9, and the original from the image reading means 26 is a reversing mechanism or A reading exit roller 10 that conveys the document toward the document delivery tray 135, a reading exit delivery roller 11, a delivery roller 12, a lower delivery driven roller 13, a switching claw 15 that constitutes a reversing mechanism, a reversing roller 16, a reversing driven roller 17, A discharge roller 18 is provided. The documents on the document table 420 are taken one by one by the pickup roller 3, conveyed by the rollers along the conveyance path, and the image is read by the image reading means 26. Reference numeral 40 denotes a reading inlet mylar, 41 denotes a reading glass, and 42 denotes a reading inlet guide.

  The document whose image has been read by the document reading unit 40 is discharged to the document discharge tray 135 via the path A or reversed via the path B and the path C as necessary, so that the image on the back surface is changed. The document is read by the document reading unit 40 and is discharged to the document discharge tray 135 via the path A.

  In the figure, reference numeral 19 is a document detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document bundle, 20, 21 and 22 are document length detection sensors for detecting the length of a document provided on the document table 120, 23 is a separation sensor, and 24 is An abutting sensor, 25 is a document width sensor, 26 is a reading entrance sensor, 27 is a registration sensor, 29 is a paper discharge sensor, and 30 is a reverse sensor.

  In the automatic document feeder 400 according to this embodiment, a side fence 410 is disposed inside the paper feed cover member 450 and adjacent to the pickup roller 3. The side fence 410 is configured to automatically move in the paper feed cover member 450 along the paper width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the document bundle P. In this example, when the document bundle P is placed on the document placement table 420, this is detected, and the side fence driving means 500 automatically moves the side fence 410, and the side fence 410 moves the one of the document bundles. The side edge is contacted and pressed, and the other end of the document bundle P is brought into contact with the document position restricting portion 436 opposite to the side fence 410 to align the document bundle P in the paper width direction.

  Next, driving of the side fence will be described. In this example, the side fence 410 is driven by the side fence driving means 500. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the side fence driving means. In this example, a rack 530 is disposed on the side fence 410. Further, a pinion 520 that is driven by a motor 510 and meshes with the rack 530 is disposed in the main body of the automatic document feeder 400. The side fence driving means can be realized by other mechanisms such as a screw mechanism without using the rack and pinion. The motor 510 is driven and controlled by a drive control device (not shown). This drive control device can be part of the function of the control device that controls the automatic document feeder 400.

  In the present embodiment, the drive control device is connected to the document detection sensor 19 that detects the presence or absence of a document bundle on the document placement table 420, and the side fence 410 is in contact with the side edge of the document bundle P. A pressure detection sensor is connected as a document sensor 540 which is a document bundle detection means for detecting a document bundle by detecting the above. 4A and 4B show a side fence provided with a pressure detection sensor. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is separated from the document bundle, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the side fence is in contact with the document bundle. It is a schematic diagram. In the document sensor 540, the side fence 410 is driven by the side fence driving means 500 from the state in which the side fence 410 is separated from the document bundle P (FIG. 4A), and the side fence 410 comes into contact with the document bundle P ( FIG. 4B is detected.

  Although an example in which a pressure sensor is used as the document bundle detecting means has been described, other means such as a micro switch or an optical sensor can be used. 5A and 5B show a side fence provided with an optical sensor. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is separated from the document bundle, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side fence is in contact with the document bundle. FIG. In this embodiment, the optical sensor 550 includes a filler (baffle plate) 551 attached to a contact plate 553 that is rotatably supported by a side fence 410 by a shaft 554, and the contact plate 553 comes into contact with the document bundle P. A photo interrupter 552 whose optical path is blocked by the filler 551 is formed. In the arc example, when the document bundle P contacts the side fence 410, the photo interrupter 552 detects that fact. As described above, when the optical sensor is used, it is possible to accurately determine the contact detection of the document, and it is possible to prevent the document from being damaged or from being uneven.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit controls the driving of the side fence driving unit as follows. First, in the initial state, the side fence driving unit 500 moves the side fence driving unit 500 to a position farthest from the document position regulating unit 436 in the movement range. As a result, the operator can easily place the document bundle without contacting the side fence 410 regardless of the size of the document bundle P.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the side fence driving unit 500 is driven by the control unit to control the position of the document bundle in the paper width direction when the document detection sensor 19 detects the document bundle. Is done. Then, the document sensor 540 detects that the side fence 410 has come into contact with the side surface of the document bundle P, and the movement of the side fence 410 is stopped. With these configurations, the side fence 410 is automatically driven only by installing the document bundle P, and the document bundle P can be aligned, and the document bundle P is not damaged.

  In the present embodiment, the side fence driving means 500 controls the side fence 410 to the opposite position regulating member side position in the movement range when the document detection sensor 19 no longer detects the document bundle P under the control of the control device. Move. Thus, it is possible to prepare for the next document reading.

  In the above embodiment, the side fence driving unit 500 is automatically driven by the document detection by the document detection sensor. However, the side fence driving unit 500 may be driven manually. In this case, an operation button is arranged on the operation panel or the like so that the side fence driving means 500 is driven by the operation of the operator. In this way, the configuration of the control system of the side fence driving means 500 becomes simple, and the cost can be reduced. Even when the side fence driving unit 500 is manually driven, it is desirable that the side fence 410 automatically stops when the side fence 410 contacts the original bundle.

  According to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the side fence is disposed inside the paper feed cover member, the side fence is hidden when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. The visibility of the operator O using the document when placing the original is improved, and the original can be placed from the side, making it easy to place the original. Further, since the side fence is also moved automatically, the manual operation by the operator is reduced and the operability is improved.

2 Stop claw 3 Pickup roller 4 Reverse roller 5 Feed belt 6 Pull-out roller 7 Pull-out driven roller 8 Reading inlet roller 9 Reading inlet driven roller 10 Reading outlet roller 11 Reading outlet paper discharge roller 12 Paper discharge roller 13 Paper discharge lower driven roller 15 Switching claw 16 Reverse roller 17 Reverse driven roller 18 Driven upper driven roller 19 Document detection sensors 20, 21, 22 Document length detection sensor 26 Image reading means 28 Document reading unit 40 Document reading unit 100 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
110 Side Fence 120 Document Placement Stand 135 Document Discharge Tray 136 Position Restricting Member 150 Cover 200 Image Forming Device 220 Image Reading Device 225 Image Forming Unit 230 Paper Feed Units 231, 232, 233, 234 Paper Feed Cassette 235 Document Paper Discharge Tray 240 Paper discharge unit 300 Image forming device 400 Automatic document feeder 410 Side fence 420 Document placement table 436 Document position restriction unit 450 Paper feed cover member 500 Side fence driving means 510 Motor 520 Rack 530 Pinion 540 Document sensor 550 Optical sensor 551 Filler (baffle) Board)
552 photo interrupter 553 contact plate 554 axis

JP 2003-63667 A

Claims (12)

A cover member that covers the paper transport section;
A paper placement table disposed upstream of the cover member and on which paper is placed;
Pick-up means that is arranged in the vicinity of the paper mounting table and separates a sheet of paper from a bundle of papers arranged on the paper mounting table;
A side fence disposed on the paper mounting table, movable in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and contacting a side edge of the paper to regulate the position of the paper in the paper width direction; ,
In a paper conveying apparatus having conveying means for conveying the paper separated by the pickup means,
The paper transport device, wherein the side fence is hidden in the cover member and visible from the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of the pickup means.   The paper transport device according to claim 1, further comprising: a paper position regulating unit that is disposed on the paper placing table and is disposed to face the side fence in the paper width direction.   The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a side fence driving unit that moves the side fence in the paper width direction. 4. The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the side fence driving means moves the side fence to a position farthest from the paper position regulating portion in the movement range in an initial state. A paper detection unit configured to detect that the paper is placed on the paper mounting table; and the side fence driving unit regulates the position of the side fence in the paper width direction when the paper detection unit detects the paper. The paper conveying device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the paper conveying device moves. The side fence includes contact detection means for detecting that one end of the paper is in contact, and the side fence drive means is configured to detect a side when the contact detection means detects contact between the side fence and the paper. 6. The paper conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the movement of the fence is stopped. The paper conveyance device according to claim 6, wherein the contact detection means is a pressure detection sensor or an optical sensor. The said side fence drive means moves the said side fence to the position opposite to a position control member in the movement range, when the said paper detection means stops detecting paper, The any one of Claim 3 thru | or 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. Paper transport device. 4. The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the side fence driving means moves the side fence by an operation from outside. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper conveying device according to claim 1. A paper post-processing apparatus comprising the paper transport device according to claim 1. An image reading apparatus comprising the paper conveying device according to claim 1.