JP2017085374A - Image reader and image forming apparatus with image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce burden on a user in cleaning of a contact glass of an image reader that conveys a document and reads an image.SOLUTION: An image reader 200 mounted on a laser printer 1 comprises: a first contact glass for successive feed reading; a second contact glass for fixed reading; a document pressing cover 220 that covers the upper surfaces of the first and second contact glasses so as to be opened and closed; and a cleaning mechanism 70 for cleaning the first contact glass. The cleaning mechanism 70 moves a cleaning member onto the upper surface of the first contact glass in conjunction with an opening operation of the document pressing cover 220, and moves the cleaning member to a retraction position where the member is retracted from the upper surface of the first contact glass, in conjunction with a closing operation of the document pressing cover 220, thereby cleaning the upper surface of the first contact glass.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus.

  Conventionally, a flow reading operation for reading an image of the original by moving the original with respect to the image reading unit, and a fixed reading operation for reading an image of the original by moving the image reading unit with respect to a fixed original. There is known an image reading apparatus capable of executing the following.

  This type of image reading apparatus includes a first contact glass, a second contact glass, and a document pressing cover. The first contact glass and the second contact glass are fitted into an opening formed on the upper wall surface of the housing. A reading unit that can move in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction is accommodated in the housing. The document pressing cover is pivotally supported on one side of the upper wall surface of the housing via a pivotal support portion. The document pressing cover covers the first contact glass and the second contact glass so as to be openable and closable by rotating about the shaft support portion. A document feeder is provided on the upper surface side of the document pressing cover.

  The above-described flow reading operation is performed with the document pressing cover closed. In the flow reading operation, a document feeding operation is performed by the document feeding device, whereby the document is passed between the document pressing cover and the first contact glass, and the document image being passed is read by the reading unit. .

  The fixed reading operation is performed with the document pressing cover closed after the document is placed on the second contact glass. In the fixed reading operation, the image of the original is read by moving the reading unit in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the original fixed on the second contact glass.

JP 2004-297443 A

  However, in the conventional image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the image surface of the document passing between the document pressing cover and the first contact glass rubs the upper surface of the first contact glass during the flow reading operation. Therefore, there is a problem that toner and ink adhering to the document, paper dust, dust and the like adhere to the first contact glass. As a result, there is a problem in that an image defect such as black streaks occurs in the image read by the reading unit, and the image quality of the read image is reduced.

  In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary for the user himself to wipe off the upper surface of the first contact glass by cutting off the cloth. Therefore, the conventional image reading apparatus has a problem that the burden of cleaning the first contact glass by the user is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus including a first contact glass for sink reading operation and a second contact glass for fixed reading operation. The object is to reduce the burden of cleaning the first contact glass by the user.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a first contact glass and a second contact glass, and a document pressing cover that covers the top surfaces of the first contact glass and the second contact glass so as to be openable and closable. A flow reading operation for reading an image of the original while allowing the original to pass between the first contact glass and a fixed reading operation for reading an image of the original placed on the second contact glass. Has been.

  The cleaning member for wiping and cleaning the upper surface of the first contact glass and the cleaning member is moved in a predetermined direction relative to the upper surface of the first contact glass in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the document pressing cover. And an interlocking mechanism for cleaning the upper surface of the first contact glass by the cleaning member.

  According to the present invention, in the image reading apparatus including the first contact glass for the sink reading operation and the second contact glass for the fixed reading operation, the burden of cleaning the first contact glass by the user can be reduced. .

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus including an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an internal structure of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an internal structure of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cleaning mechanism for the first contact glass. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the link bar is removed from the cleaning mechanism. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the cleaning mechanism viewed from the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cleaning mechanism, corresponding to a state in which the document pressing cover is closed. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cleaning mechanism, corresponding to a state in which the document pressing cover is opened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a laser printer 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) as an image forming apparatus in the present embodiment. The printer 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body 100, an image reading apparatus 200 attached to an upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and an operation panel 300 that can be operated by a user. In the following description, the front side and the rear side mean the front side of the printer 1 (the side where the operation panel 300 is located) and the rear side, respectively, and the left side and the right side are the left side when the printer 1 is viewed from the front side. Means the right side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body 100 has a box-shaped housing 60. An image reading device 200 is provided on the upper side of the housing 60. A paper discharge tray unit 50 is provided between the housing 60 and the image reading apparatus 200.

  In the housing 60, the paper feeding unit 10, the image forming unit 20, and the fixing unit 40 are accommodated. A plurality of transport roller pairs 11 to 13 that sandwich and transport the paper P are disposed in the paper transport path L from the paper supply unit 10 to the paper discharge tray unit 50. In addition, a reversal conveyance path L ′ that branches from the downstream side of the sheet conveyance path L and joins the upstream side is provided in the upper part of the housing 60. Conveying roller pairs 14 to 16 are arranged in the reverse conveying path L ′.

  The paper feeding unit 10 is disposed in the lower part of the housing 60. The paper feed unit 10 includes a paper feed cassette 10a in which sheet-like paper P is accommodated, and a pickup roller 10b for taking out the paper P in the paper feed cassette 10a and sending it out of the cassette. The paper P sent out of the cassette from the paper feed cassette 10 a is supplied to the image forming unit 20 through the transport roller pair 11. In the image forming unit 20, image forming units 20Bk, 20M, 20C, and 20Y that form toner images corresponding to the respective colors of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow are arranged in a row. Each of the image forming units 20Bk, 20M, 20C, and 20Y includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charging device 22, a developing device 23, and a cleaning device 24. Below the image forming units 20Bk, 20M, 20C, and 20Y, an exposure device 25 that irradiates the surface of each photosensitive drum 21 with laser light is disposed. An intermediate transfer unit 26 is disposed above the image forming units 20Bk, 20M, 20C, and 20Y. The intermediate transfer unit 26 is provided with an intermediate transfer belt 27 that travels in contact with each photosensitive drum 21. A primary transfer roller 28 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 27 so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 27 between the photosensitive drums 21. A secondary transfer roller 29 is provided on the left side of the image forming unit 20Bk so as to be in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 27. Above the intermediate transfer unit 26, toner containers 30Bk, 30M, 30C, and 30Y that store toner of each color to be supplied to the developing devices 23 of the image forming units 20Bk, 20M, 20C, and 20Y are disposed.

  In the image forming unit 20, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating laser light based on predetermined image data (for example, original image data read by the image reading device 200) onto the surface of each photosensitive drum 21 by the exposure device 25. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 23 to form a toner image of each color. Each color toner image formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 21 is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 27 by the primary transfer roller 28 and superimposed. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 27 is transferred onto the paper P supplied from the paper supply unit 10 by the secondary transfer roller 29. The sheet P after the transfer is supplied to the fixing unit 40. The fixing unit 40 fixes the toner image on the paper P by pressing the paper P supplied from the image forming unit 20 between the fixing roller 40a and the pressure roller 40b. Then, the paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 40 is sent out to the downstream side by both rollers 40a and 40b. The paper P sent out from the fixing unit 40 is discharged to the paper discharge tray unit 50 through a plurality of conveying roller pairs 12 and 13. When toner images are formed on both sides of the paper P, the paper P is switched back by the transport roller pair 13 and transported to the reverse transport path L ′.

  The image reading apparatus 200 is configured to be able to execute a sink reading operation and a fixed reading operation which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading apparatus 200 includes a reading apparatus main body 201 and a document pressing cover 220. The reading apparatus main body 201 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case body. A document reading mechanism 210 is accommodated in the reading apparatus main body 201. The document reading mechanism 210 includes a reading unit 211, a reflection mirror 212, and a CCD sensor 213.

  As shown in FIG. 4, two openings 201 a and 201 b are formed on the upper wall surface of the reading apparatus main body 201 so as to be spaced apart in the left-right direction. A first contact glass 202 is fitted into the left opening 201a, and a second contact glass 203 is fitted into the right opening 201b. The first contact glass 202 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction (main scanning direction), and the second contact glass 203 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. A cleaning mechanism 70 is provided on the left side of the first contact glass 202. Details of the cleaning mechanism 70 will be described later.

  A shaft portion 204 (see FIG. 2) extending in the left-right direction is provided at the rear end portion of the document pressing cover 220. The shaft portion 204 is rotatably supported on the rear end portion of the upper surface of the reading apparatus main body 201. The document pressing cover 220 is configured to cover the first and second contact glasses 202 and 203 so as to be openable and closable by rotating about the shaft portion 204 as a fulcrum. An automatic document feeder 222 is assembled on the upper side of the document pressing cover 220.

  The fixed reading operation is performed in a state where the document placed on the second contact glass 203 is pressed and fixed by the document pressing cover 220. In the fixed reading operation, the image of the original is read by moving the reading unit 211 in the sub-scanning direction (predetermined direction) with respect to the original placed (fixed) on the second contact glass 203. Specifically, the reading unit 211 moves in the sub-scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) while irradiating light from the LED light source 211a toward the document on the second contact glass 203, and the reflection mirror 212 is moved to the document. The reflected light from the light is guided to the CCD sensor 213, and the CCD sensor 213 photoelectrically converts the received light to generate image data of the document image.

  The flow reading operation is executed with the document pressing cover 220 closed. In the flow reading operation, the reading unit 211 is kept stationary below the first contact glass 202 without moving in the sub-scanning direction. In this state, the automatic document feeder 222 performs an automatic conveyance operation of the document placed on the document feed tray 223 by the document conveyance roller pairs 224 to 226 to discharge the document to the discharge tray 225. The original is passed between the original pressing cover 220 and the first contact glass 202, and the original image being passed is read by the reading unit 211.

  During the flow reading operation, the image surface of the document passing between the document pressing cover 220 and the first contact glass 202 slides while rubbing the upper surface of the first contact glass 202, so that the toner adhering to the document. Ink, ink, paper dust, dust and the like adhere to the first contact glass 202. As a result, an image defect such as a black streak occurs in an image read by the reading unit 211, and the image quality of the read image may be deteriorated.

  In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning mechanism 70 is provided on the left side of the first contact glass 202. The cleaning mechanism 70 is attached to the upper surface of the reading apparatus main body 201. A recess 220 a (shown only in FIG. 3) for avoiding interference with the cleaning mechanism 70 is formed on the lower surface of the document pressing cover 220. When the document pressing cover 220 is closed, the entire cleaning mechanism 70 is accommodated in the recess 220a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cleaning mechanism 70 includes a cleaning member 71 and an interlocking mechanism 72. The cleaning member 71 is made of a rectangular plate-like rubber material that is long in the main scanning direction (front-rear direction). The cleaning member 71 is fixed to the lower surface of a rectangular support plate (support member) 78 that also extends in the main scanning direction in a replaceable manner. In the present embodiment, the cleaning member 71 is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 78 with screws. For example, a flexible claw portion that is caught on the peripheral edge portion of the cleaning member 71 may be formed on the lower surface of the support plate 78. Thereby, the exchange work of the cleaning member 71 can be performed easily.

  The interlocking mechanism 72 moves the cleaning member 71 between the cleaning position and the retracted position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the document pressing cover 220. Here, the cleaning position is a position where the cleaning member 71 covers the entire top surface of the first contact glass 202 (see FIG. 9), and the retracted position is one side (left side) in the sub-scanning direction from the cleaning position. It is a position (see FIG. 8) that is separated and retracted from the upper surface of the first contact glass 202.

  The interlocking mechanism 72 includes a slide bar 73 (see FIG. 5) that is slidable in the main scanning direction, and a pair of slide plates 75 that are connected to the slide bar via cam pins 74 and are movable in the sub-scanning direction. Have. Both ends of the support plate 78 that supports the cleaning member 71 are fixed to the pair of slide plates 75, and can move together with the pair of slide plates 75 in the sub-scanning direction.

  At the center of each slide plate 75 in the sub-scanning direction, a projecting plate portion 75a (see FIG. 6) projecting inward from each other is formed, and the cam pin 74 is erected at the tip of the projecting plate portion 75a. Has been. Each slide plate 75 is formed with two guide holes 75b arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction. Each guide hole 75b is formed in a long hole shape extending in the main scanning direction. A fixing pin 76 fixed to the upper surface of the reading apparatus main body 201 is engaged (inserted) into each guide hole 75b.

  The slide bar 73 is slidably mounted on the upper surfaces of the pair of slide plates 75. The slide bar 73 is formed with a pair of cam holes 73 b that engage with the cam pins 74 fixed to the slide plates 75. As shown in FIG. 8, the cam hole 73b has a linear hole 73c extending in the main scanning direction and an inclined hole 73d connected to one end of the linear hole 73c in the main scanning direction. ing. The inclined hole portion 73d is inclined from one side in the main scanning direction to the other side in the sub scanning direction (left side in FIG. 8). Between the pair of cam holes 73b in the slide bar 73, a long hole-shaped guide hole 73a extending in the main scanning direction is formed. A fixing pin 77 is engaged (inserted) into the guide hole 73a. The fixing pin 77 is fixed to the upper surface of the reading apparatus main body 201. A rack gear portion 73g is formed at one end of the upper surface of the slide bar 73 in the main scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a pinion gear 205 is engaged with the rack gear portion 73g. The pinion gear 205 is fixed coaxially to the shaft portion 204 (see FIG. 2) formed on the document pressing cover 220. The pinion gear 205 is rotated in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the document pressing cover 220.

  Next, the operation of the cleaning mechanism 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the document pressing cover 220 is fully closed. In this state, the cleaning member 71 is located at the retracted position. When the document pressing cover 220 is opened to the open side, the pinion gear 205 rotates together with the document pressing cover 220. As a result, a driving force in the main scanning direction is applied from the pinion gear 205 to the rack gear portion 73g, and the slide bar 73 moves from one side to the other side in the main scanning direction as the pinion gear 205 rotates. As a result, the cam pin 74 moves along the inclined hole portion 73d of the cam hole 73b formed in the slide bar 73, and the slide plate 75 moves from one side to the other side in the sub-scanning direction. When the document pressing cover 220 is opened to a preset upper limit angle (when it is fully opened), the slide plate 75 reaches the cleaning position. On the other hand, when the document pressing cover 220 is moved to the closing side from this state, the slide plate 75 moves from the other side in the sub-scanning direction toward one side, and when the document pressing cover 220 is fully closed, the cleaning member 71 is moved. Return to the retracted position.

  Accordingly, the cleaning member 71 reciprocates between the cleaning position and the retracted position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the document pressing cover 220, and the cleaning member 71 wipes the toner, paper dust, and the like on the upper surface of the first contact glass 202. Taken. Therefore, there is no need for the user to periodically wipe the upper surface of the first contact glass 202 using cloth or the like. Therefore, the user's cleaning burden can be reduced. Further, the document pressing cover 220 is opened and closed more frequently than the side cover of the printer 1, and the first contact glass is moved by moving the cleaning member 71 in conjunction with the member that is frequently opened and closed. The cleaning frequency of 202 can be increased as much as possible. Therefore, before the dirt such as toner adhering to the upper surface of the first contact glass 202 hardens, the dirt can be appropriately wiped off by the cleaning member 71. In addition, since there is no need to provide a dedicated motor or the like for driving the cleaning member 71, the cost of the cleaning mechanism 70 can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the interlocking mechanism 72 is configured to position the cleaning member 71 at the cleaning position when the document pressing cover 220 is in the open state.

  As a result, the entire upper surface of the first contact glass 202 is covered with the cleaning member 71 in a state where the document pressing cover 220 is opened. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first contact glass 202 from being exposed to the outside. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the user from inadvertently touching the upper surface of the first contact glass 202 and attaching fingerprints and dirt to the first contact glass 202.

  In the above embodiment, the moving direction of the cleaning member 71 is the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. According to this, compared with the case where the moving direction of the cleaning member 71 is a main scanning direction, the moving stroke required in order to retract the cleaning member 71 from the upper surface of the 1st contact glass 202 can be shortened, for example. Therefore, the entire cleaning mechanism 70 can be made compact.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the cleaning member 71 is fixed with respect to the support plate 78 so that replacement | exchange is possible. Therefore, even if toner or paper dust accumulates on the cleaning member 71 and the function of the cleaning member 71 is lost, the cleaning function can be restored by replacing the cleaning member 71.

  In the above embodiment, the laser printer 1 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the laser printer 1, and may be a copier, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), a facsimile, or the like. It may be.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus, and in particular, an image reading apparatus including an original pressing cover that rotates about a predetermined axis and an image forming apparatus. This is useful when applied to an apparatus.

1 Laser printer (image forming device)
71 Cleaning member 72 Interlocking mechanism 78 Support plate (support member)
200 Image Reading Device 202 First Contact Glass 203 Second Contact Glass 220 Document Holding Cover

Claims (5)

A first contact glass and a second contact glass; and a document pressing cover that covers the top surfaces of the first contact glass and the second contact glass so as to be openable and closable, and is provided between the document pressing cover and the first contact glass. An image reading apparatus capable of performing a flow reading operation for reading an image of the original while passing the original and a fixed reading operation for reading an image of the original placed on the second contact glass,
A cleaning member for wiping and cleaning the upper surface of the first contact glass;
In conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the document pressing cover, the cleaning member is moved in a predetermined direction with respect to the upper surface of the first contact glass, whereby the upper surface of the first contact glass is cleaned by the cleaning member. And an image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.
The interlocking mechanism positions the cleaning member at a cleaning position that covers the entire upper surface of the first contact glass when the document pressing cover is in an open state, and when the document pressing cover is in a closed state, An image reading apparatus configured to position the cleaning member at a retracted position that is spaced apart from the cleaning position in the predetermined direction and retracted from the upper surface of the first contact glass. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The image reading apparatus, wherein the predetermined direction is a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The interlocking mechanism is an image reading apparatus including a support member that supports the cleaning member in a replaceable manner.   An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

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