JP4521037B2 - Image reading apparatus and composite apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus such as a scanner or a copying machine, or a multifunction machine in which an image reading apparatus is mounted on an upper part of an image forming apparatus.

  An image reading apparatus such as a scanner or a copying machine has a flat bed scanner (FBS) device in its main body, and automatically conveys a document to an upper portion of a document pressing device that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body. Some include an automatic document feeder (ADF) device (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-242670 A

  When the FBS apparatus is used, an image is read by placing an image on a document placing surface as an image reading surface provided in the image reading apparatus main body, and then placing an image reading unit positioned below the document placing surface. Is realized by reading the image on the document while moving in the sub-scanning line direction.

  On the other hand, when the ADF device is used, the image reading is performed by conveying a document set on the ADF device to an image reading surface provided separately from the image reading surface in the FSB device. This is realized by reading an image on the document passing over by the document reading unit.

  In general, in an image reading apparatus having the above-described configuration, an image reading surface serving as a document placement surface on which a document is placed when the document is read by the FBS device and a document reading by the ADF device. A document reading surface through which the document passes is separately provided in parallel. Therefore, with such a configuration, there is a problem that the structure of the image reading apparatus is complicated and the apparatus itself is further increased in size.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a document reading surface by an ADF device in an image reading surface as a document placement surface in an FBS device, thereby simplifying the device structure and reducing the size of the device itself. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus and a multi-function machine that can perform the above-described functions.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is positioned on a document placement surface on which a document is placed when reading an image on a stationary document, and below the document placement surface. A document reading unit that reads an image movably in a direction parallel to the document placement surface; and a document pressing member that covers the document placement surface and presses the document placed on the document placement surface toward the document reading unit. A document transport unit that transports the document to a document reading position by a document reading unit that is positioned above the document pressing member and formed at a predetermined position within the document mounting surface; and the document is placed on the document placing surface Switching means for moving the document pressing member to either the position covering the reading position or the position not covering in the document placement surface in accordance with either the case where the document is conveyed or the case where the document is conveyed by the document conveying unit It is characterized by having .

  The document pressing member according to the present invention covers the document placement surface and presses the document placed on the document placement surface toward the document reading unit. Further, the document pressing member can move between a position where the document reading portion is covered by the document reading unit and a position where it is not covered. Accordingly, when the image on the document conveyed by the document conveying unit is read, the document pressing member retracts from the position covering the reading position of the document reading unit, so that the document reading / reading unit reads the image on the document. It becomes possible.

  According to the present invention, an image reading device having a simple device structure and a small device itself is provided by providing a document reading surface by an ADF device in a document placing surface which is a document reading surface by an FBS device. A multifunction device can be provided.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a composite apparatus including a scanner as an image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described as an example. The composite apparatus is an image processing apparatus that includes an image reading apparatus such as a scanner and an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium based on image information of a document read by the image reading apparatus. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following description, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

[First embodiment]
1 and 2 are schematic external views of the composite apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the multifunction device 1 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a right side view of the multifunction device 1 as viewed from the right with respect to the front.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the composite apparatus 1 includes a printer 2 as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, a scanner 3 as an image reading apparatus that reads an image formed on a document, and a document. And an ADF device 26 as a document conveying section that automatically and sequentially conveys the image to the scanner 3.

  The scanner 3 is provided in the upper part of the printer 2 as shown in FIGS. Further, the ADF device 26 is provided on the upper portion of the scanner 3, and an image is read by the scanner 3 on the documents sequentially conveyed from the ADF device 26. Image information generated based on the original read by the scanner 3 is output to the printer 2, and the printer 2 forms an image on a recording medium based on the input image information.

  Next, the printer 2 and the scanner 3 provided in the composite apparatus 1 will be described in more detail. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the III-III direction in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the IV-IV direction in FIG. First, the printer 2 will be described, and then the scanner 3 will be described.

  The printer 2 includes a paper feed cassette 4 that stores a recording medium (not shown) on which an image is formed, and a mechanism unit 5 that forms an image on the recording medium fed from the paper feed cassette 4.

  The paper feed cassette 4 stores a recording medium (not shown) on which an image is formed. The paper feed cassette 4 is a box-shaped member having an opening on the upper surface so that the recording medium can be taken out by the paper feed roller 6.

  The paper feed cassette 4 is provided with a paper feed roller 6 so as to come into contact with a recording medium stored in the paper feed cassette 4. The paper feed roller 6 has a built-in one-way clutch function, and is driven by a driving force transmitted from a driving system (not shown) to separate the recording media one by one and supplies the recording medium to the mechanism unit 5. The recording medium fed from the paper feed cassette 4 is transported to the mechanism unit 5 along the transport path 21.

  A mechanism 5 that forms a transport path for the recording medium fed from the paper feed cassette 4 and forms an image on the recording medium in the middle of transport is a sensor 7 that detects that the recording medium has been fed from the paper feed roller 6. A registration roller 8 having a skew correction means for the recording medium, a sensor 9 for detecting that the recording medium has passed the registration roller 8, a conveyance roller 10 for conveying the recording medium to the image forming unit 12, and image formation A light sensor 11 that detects the passage of the recording medium immediately before being conveyed to the unit 12 and notifies the control unit (not shown) of the detection result as an image formation start timing by the image forming unit 12 and an image are formed on the recording medium. An image forming unit 12, and a fixing unit 19 for fixing the image by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 12. The recording medium having passed through the fixing unit 19 and a discharge unit 20 for discharging the composite device 1 outside.

  The sensor 7, the registration roller 8, the sensor 9, the transport roller 10, and the light sensor 11 are arranged in order from the downstream in the recording medium transport direction along the transport path 50a. The sensor 7, the sensor 9, and the light sensor 11 are not particularly limited, and for example, a light transmission type or a light reflection type photo interrupter can be used. The conveyance roller 10 is composed of at least a pair of rollers, and is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a driving system (not shown) to convey the recording medium to the image forming unit 12.

  The image forming unit 12 is an electrophotographic printing unit, and uses a process cartridge 16 for forming a toner image, an endless transport belt 17 for transporting a recording medium, and a toner image formed by the process cartridge 16 as a recording medium. A transfer roller 18 for transferring.

  The process cartridge 16 includes an electrostatic latent image formed by a toner cartridge 13 that contains toner as a developer, a charge roller 14 that uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 15, and light emitted from a printer head (not shown). The photosensitive drum 15 is formed.

  The toner cartridge 13 is a hollow box-shaped member that contains toner corresponding to each color and has an opening for supplying the toner to a developing roller (not shown).

  The charge roller 14 has a conductive metal core made of, for example, a metal shaft, and has a conductive elastic layer on the outer peripheral surface excluding both ends of the metal core. A high voltage is applied to the metal core from a power supply system (not shown). The charge roller 14 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 15 with a certain pressure, and is rotated by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15 to charge the photosensitive drum 15.

  The photosensitive drum 15 includes a photosensitive layer portion obtained by coating a photosensitive layer on a conductive support processed into a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive layer portion has a laminated structure having a blocking layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer in order from the surface of the conductive support. At the time of printing, the photosensitive drum 15 rotates around the central axis by a driving force transmitted by a driving system (not shown).

  The transport belt 17 is an endless belt member that electrostatically attracts and transports the recording medium, and both ends thereof are stretched by a pair of drive rollers. When power is transmitted to the drive roller from a drive system (not shown), the drive roller rotates, and the conveyor belt 17 is driven following the rotation. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor belt 17 is provided so as to contact the photosensitive drum 15 described above.

  The transfer roller 18 has a conductive metal core made of, for example, a metal shaft, and has a conductive elastic layer on the outer peripheral surface except for both ends of the metal core. A high voltage is applied from a power supply system (not shown). The transfer roller 18 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 15 through the conveyance belt 17 with a certain pressure.

  The fixing unit 19 includes a heat roller that can rotate around a central axis, and a pressure roller that is provided so as to be in pressure contact with the heat roller. The heat roller has a metal cored bar such as aluminum or iron in which a halogen lamp as a heating member is incorporated, and an elastic body such as silicon rubber is provided on the surface thereof. The pressure roller is provided so as to come into contact with the surface of the heat roller with a constant pressure by a tension spring (not shown). The fixing unit 19 applies heat and pressure to the recording medium by nipping and conveying the recording medium at a nip portion formed by a heat roller and a pressure roller.

  The discharge unit 20 includes a transport roller that transports the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 19 in the recording medium discharge direction, and a discharge roller that discharges the recording medium transported by the transport roller to the outside of the printer 2.

  The transport roller is composed of a pair of rollers, and is provided at the start end of the transport path 50b in the recording medium transport direction. The conveyance roller conveys the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 19 to the discharge roller.

  The discharge roller is composed of at least a pair of rollers, and is provided at the end of the conveyance path 22 in the recording medium conveyance direction. The discharge roller discharges the recording medium transported along the transport path 22 to the stacker.

  A printing operation of the printer 2 having such a configuration will be described. First, when image information is input from the scanner 3 to the printer 2, a driving system (not shown) transmits driving force to each roller. A power supply system (not shown) starts an initial operation for applying a high voltage.

  The sheet feeding roller 6 to which the driving force is transmitted by the driving system starts rotating, separates the recording medium from the sheet feeding cassette 4 one by one, and then conveys the recording medium to the registration roller 8. The registration roller 8 conveys the recording medium to the image forming unit 12 while correcting the skew of the recording medium.

  At this time, a printer head (not shown) irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 15 with light based on image information. As a result, an electrostatic latent image based on the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 15 charged by the charge roller 14. The electrostatic latent image is supplied with toner from a developing roller (not shown), and is developed to form a toner image.

  The toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred to the recording medium by the high voltage applied to the transfer roller 18 when the recording medium is nipped and conveyed between the photosensitive drum 15 and the conveying belt 17. The

  The recording medium on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 19. Heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium by the heat roller and pressure roller of the fixing unit 19, and the toner image on the recording medium is fixed.

  The recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the discharge unit 20 and discharged to the outside of the printer 2 by the discharge roller.

  Next, the configuration of the scanner 3 that outputs image information to the printer 2 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the scanner 3 reads a document placed on a document placing surface 24 made of flat glass, and generates a plurality of documents on the flat bed unit 21 that generates image information. And a document cover unit 22 including an ADF device 26 that can be sequentially conveyed.

  In addition to the document placement surface 24, the flat bed unit 21 includes a carriage 23 that performs a reading operation of a document placed on the document placement surface 24 while reciprocating in the sub-scanning line direction.

  The carriage 23 is an image sensor unit 25 as a means for reading an image on a scanning line of a document placed on the document placement surface 24, a cold cathode tube 100 as a light source, and light emitted from the cold cathode tube 100. It is a box-shaped member provided with mirrors 101a and 101b that reflect at a predetermined angle.

  The image sensor unit 25 includes a lens 102 that collects the light reflected by the mirrors 101a and 101b, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor 103 that converts the received light into a digital signal.

  The cold cathode tube 100 is disposed on the upper surface of the carriage 23 and irradiates light on the original placed on the original placement surface 24 from below. The electrode of the cold cathode tube 100 is not particularly limited. For example, an electrode such as a molybdenum electrode having a long life and low power consumption can be used.

  The mirror 101a is provided below the cold cathode tube 100, and guides the light emitted from the cold cathode tube 100 and the light reflected on the document to the mirror 101b. The mirror 101b is provided at a predetermined position that reflects the light reflected by the mirror 101a toward the lens 102. The light reflected by the mirror 101 b is collected through the lens 102 and imaged on the CCD image sensor 103.

  The CCD image sensor 103 is one of image pickup devices, and converts light and darkness of light imaged through the lens 102 into a digital signal. In the CCD image sensor 103, the image information converted into a digital signal is output to the printer 2.

  The carriage 23 having such a configuration moves the area A from the point B to the point C of the document reading surface 24 in FIG. 5 in the sub-scanning line direction perpendicular to the document reading direction. The image on the document placed on the document 24 is read. 5 is a home position position of the carriage 23, and a point G is a position where the carriage 23 decelerates and stops after the carriage 23 has moved in the sub-scanning line direction to complete the reading operation.

  On the other hand, the document cover unit 22 is provided with the ADF device 26 on the document cover unit 22 as described above. The ADF device 26 aligns the document tray 27 for placing a plurality of documents and the width direction of the documents placed on the document tray 27, and prevents the skew in conveying the document. And a document width guide 28 provided as a pair. The document width guide 28 is slidable on the document tray 27 in a direction perpendicular to the document transport direction.

  Further, on the back side of the document cover unit 22, there is provided a document pressing member 29 for pressing the lifting of the document placed on the document placing surface 24 provided in the flat bed unit 21. The document pressing member 29 is a rectangular plate member having substantially the same area as the document placing surface 24. Further, the leading end portion of the document pressing member 29 is provided so as to be movable in the moving region D in FIG. 5 in the sub scanning line direction. The moving area D is such that the carriage 23 moves from the point B where the carriage 23 starts reading an image on the document placed on the document placement surface 24 when the document is conveyed by the ADF device 26 described later. Is slightly larger than the area F up to the point E, which is the reading position, and the relationship between the areas is D> F. Further, the document pressing member 29 includes a light reflective white sheet 30 on the contact surface with the document. The white sheet 30 has a size that covers the entire reading range in which the carriage 23 performs a reading operation, and is attached to the document pressing member 29 with, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape.

  Next, the main part of the document cover unit 22 provided with the ADF device 26 on the upper part will be described in detail with reference to a detailed cross-sectional view of the main part of FIG. The ADF device 26 rotates the document by 1 by rotating it with a hopper 31 for bringing the leading edge of the document placed on the document tray 27 into contact with the paper feed roller 32 and a driving force transmitted from a driving system (not shown). A sheet feed roller 32 that takes in the ADF device 26 sheet by sheet, a spring 33 that applies a biasing force to the hopper 31, a separation pad 34 that feeds the document one by one by biasing the sheet feeding roller 32, and a separation pad A spring 35 that applies an urging force to the paper 34, a transport roller 36 a that transports the document, a paper weight 37 that presses the document against the document reading surface 39, an ADF window 38 in which the document reading surface 39 is formed, and a paper weight 37. A spring 40 for applying an urging force, a discharge roller 36b for discharging the document to the outside of the ADF device 26, and the document is placed on the document tray 27. And a document detection sensor 203 that detects that it has been set in Tsu path 31.

  The hopper 31 is provided above the spring 33 and moves up and down by the urging force of the spring 33 and urges the paper feed roller 32 to feed the document. A separation pad 34 is provided below the paper feed roller 32, and the separation pad 34 feeds documents one by one by being urged against the paper feed roller 32 by the urging force of a spring 35.

  The transport roller 36a is provided in the middle of the document transport path, and transports the fed document. An ADF window 38 on which a document reading surface 39 by the image sensor unit 25 provided in the carriage 23 is formed is provided downstream of the document transport path after the transport roller 36a. The ADF window 38 is formed of a colorless and transparent material, and constitutes a part of the document conveyance path.

  A paper weight 37 is pressed against the image reading surface 39 where the image is read by the image sensor unit 25 by the urging force of the spring 40. Further, a discharge roller 36b is provided at the end of the document transport path, and the document on which the image has been read is discharged outside the ADF device 26.

  By the cooperative operation of these members, the original document taken into the ADF device 26 is transported to the image reading surface 39 by the image sensor unit 25, and then the original document read by the image sensor unit 25 is moved outside the ADF device 26. It becomes possible to discharge.

  Further, the document cover unit 22 according to the present embodiment applies a biasing force to the document pressing member 29, the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 that detects the position of the document pressing member 29, and the document pressing member 29. A spring 201 and a stopper 202 that holds the document pressing member 29 are provided.

  The document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is, for example, an optical sensor that detects the position of the document pressing member based on the inclination angle of the contact member 200 a that contacts the document pressing member 29. For example, when the contact member 200a is inclined to the state of (I) in FIG. 6, the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is turned on, and the document pressing member 29 comes into contact with the stopper 202 and stops. A signal indicating the state is output to a control unit (not shown). On the other hand, when the contact member 200a is inclined to the state of (J) in FIG. 6, the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is turned off, and the document pressing member 29 is in a state of being separated from the stopper 202. Is output to a control unit (not shown). When an image is read by placing a document on the document placing surface 24, the document pressing member 29 is pulled toward the ADF device 26 by the urging force of the spring 201 and is in a position in contact with the stopper 202. It has stopped.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the document pressing member 29 has an operation lever 41 protruding in part. The operation lever 41 protrudes outside the apparatus from a through hole 42 provided in the document cover unit 22 so that the movement operation of the document pressing member 29 can be switched from outside the document cover unit 22. As described above, the document pressing member 29 is pulled toward the ADF device 26 by the urging force of the spring 201. However, when the operating lever 41 is pulled to the opposite side of the ADF device 26, the position of the document pressing member 29 is moved to the opposite side of the ADF device 26. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the operation lever 41. The through hole 42 provided in the document cover unit 22 includes an engagement hole 46 formed of a substantially triangular projection 45 formed of a slope 43 and a vertical surface 44 on the lower side. The position of the document pressing member 29 can be fixed by pulling the operation lever 41 to the opposite side of the ADF device 26 and engaging the tip of the operation lever 41 with the engagement hole 46.

  An operation of the multifunction apparatus 1 including the document cover unit 22 having such a configuration will be described.

[Image reading operation using ADF device 26]
Normally, the document pressing member 29 provided on the back side of the document cover unit 22 is stopped at a position in contact with the stopper 202 by the urging force of the spring 201. At this time, the inclination of the contact member 200a of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the state (I) in FIG. 6, and the output of the document pressing member detection sensor 200 is in the ON state. A control unit (not shown) to which a signal indicating that the document pressing member detection sensor 200 is in the ON state is not output to the ADF device 26 as a start process execution command. Therefore, the ADF device 26 cannot execute the document transport process. Further, since the image reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 is covered with the white sheet 30, even if the carriage 23 is moved directly below the document reading surface 39, the image on the document cannot be read. Can not. Further, even if the document detection sensor 203 is turned on by setting the document on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26, the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the ON state. As long as the activation process of the ADF device 26 is not performed.

  On the other hand, when the operation lever 41 is pulled by the operator to the opposite side of the ADF device 26 and the front end portion of the operation lever 41 is engaged with the engagement hole 46 of the through hole 42, the document pressing member 29 is separated from the stopper 202. It becomes a state. At this time, the inclination of the contact member 200a of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in a state (J) in FIG. 6, and the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the OFF state. A control unit (not shown) to which a signal indicating that the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the OFF state outputs a start processing execution command to the ADF device 26. The ADF device 26 to which the start process execution command is input executes the start process. Further, as the document pressing member 29 moves, the white sheet 30 moves to the opposite side of the ADF device 26, so that the document reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 is exposed as shown in FIG. . At this time, when a document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26, the document detection sensor 203 is turned on, and the document transport process by the ADF device 26 can be executed.

  Next, the operation of the ADF device 26 accompanying document detection by the document detection sensor 203 will be described. When a document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 shown in FIG. 10, the document detection sensor 203 detects the document and outputs a signal indicating that the document has been detected to a control unit (not shown) (document detection sensor 203). Output ON state). A control unit (not shown) to which a signal is input from the document detection sensor 203 supplies an instruction to the motor 300 to rotate the drive shaft 301 counterclockwise. Upon receiving the instruction, the motor 300 starts driving and rotates the drive shaft 301 counterclockwise. The lock member 302 connected to the drive shaft 301 rotates counterclockwise around the drive shaft 301 by driving the motor 300, and pushes up the hopper 31 to release the lock. The lock member 302 abuts on the rib 304 provided on the base unit 303 and stops.

  When the lock of the hopper 31 is released, the hopper 31 rotates around the rotation shaft 305 to bring the document set on the hopper 31 into close contact with the paper feed roller 32. The adhered documents are fed one by one by the sheet feeding roller 32 and conveyed to the document reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 by the rotation of the conveying roller 36a connected to the drive shaft 306. The original conveyed on the original reading surface 39 passes while being pressed by the paper weight 37, and the original on which the image has been read is discharged outside the ADF device 26 by the discharge roller 36 b connected to the drive shaft 307.

  Simultaneously with these series of operations, the carriage 23 moves from the home position H shown in FIG. 5 to the point E where the carriage 23 reads an image on the document when the ADF device 26 transports the document. Move up. The image sensor unit 25 included in the moved carriage 23 reads an image of a document passing on an image reading surface 39 (point E) provided on the ADF window 38, and generates image information based on the read image.

  When all the documents set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 are exhausted, the document detection sensor 203 outputs a signal indicating that there is no document to a control unit (not shown) (output of the document detection sensor 203 is OFF). A control unit (not shown) to which a signal is input from the document detection sensor 203 supplies an instruction to the motor 300 to rotate the drive shaft 301 clockwise. Upon receiving the instruction, the motor 300 starts driving and rotates the driving shaft 301 clockwise. The lock member 302 connected to the drive shaft 301 rotates clockwise around the drive shaft 301 by driving the motor 300, and pushes down the hopper 31 to lock it (FIG. 11).

  As described above, the document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 (the output of the document detection sensor 203 is ON), and the operator pulls the operation lever 41 to the side opposite to the ADF device 26, When the distal end portion of the operation lever 41 is engaged with the engagement hole 46 (the output of the document pressing member position sensor 200 is in an OFF state), it is possible to execute document conveyance processing by the ADF device 26. Further, by manually moving the position of the document pressing member, it is possible to make the light reflection surface uniform with a simple mechanism during an image reading operation using a flat bed.

[Image reading operation using flatbed unit 21]
Next, an image reading operation on a document placed on the document placement surface 24 will be described. In the case of image reading using the flat bed unit 21, since an original is not set on the hopper 31 on the original tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26, the output of the original detection sensor 203 is in an OFF state. It is locked.

  Further, the document pressing member 29 provided on the back side of the document cover unit 22 is stopped at a position where it abuts against the stopper 202 by the urging force of the spring 201. Accordingly, the inclination of the contact member 200a of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the state (I) in FIG. 6, and the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the ON state. Therefore, a control unit (not shown) does not output a start process execution command to the ADF device 26. Further, since the image reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 is covered with the white sheet 30, even if the carriage 23 is moved to the point E in FIG. I can't. Further, even when the output of the document detection sensor 203 is turned on by setting the document on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26, the output of the document pressing member detection sensor 200 is turned on. As long as there is, the activation process of the ADF device 26 is not executed.

  In the apparatus state as described above, an image reading operation using the flat bed unit 21 is possible. That is, when a signal indicating that the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is ON is input to a control unit (not shown), the control unit (not shown) reads the reading start point in FIG. An instruction is supplied to move to the B point. The carriage 23 that has received the movement instruction moves to the point B and waits until the operator receives the image reading instruction.

  A control unit (not shown), which receives an image reading instruction from the operator when the original is placed on the original placing surface 24, supplies an instruction to the carriage 23 to read an image on the original. The carriage 23 that has received an instruction from a control unit (not shown) starts moving in the sub-scanning line direction from the point B in FIG. 5 and reads the image on the document while moving to the point C where the reading operation ends. . The carriage 23 that has reached point C is then decelerated and moved to point G, which is the stop position, and then retracts to point H, which is the home position, to complete the image reading operation.

  When the image reading operation using the flat bed unit 21 is executed, the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in an OFF state, that is, the operator pulls the operation lever 41 to the opposite side of the ADF device 26 and penetrates. When the distal end portion of the operation lever 41 is engaged with the engagement hole 46 of the hole 42, the distal end portion of the operation lever 41 is separated from the engagement hole 46, and the operation lever 41 is moved to the original position shown in FIG. 7. By returning to, the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 can be turned on.

  Even when a document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26, if the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the ON state, the image reading using the flat bed unit 21 is performed. The action can be performed.

  Table 1 is used for the output ON / OFF relationship of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 and the document detection sensor 203 in the image reading operation using the ADF device 26 and the image reading operation using the flat bed unit 21 described so far. I will explain. In Table 1, the ADF device 26 is referred to as ADF, and the flat bed unit 21 is referred to as FB.

  In Table 1, when the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is ON, that is, when the inclination of the contact member 200a of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the state (I) in FIG. It is possible to execute an image reading operation using. In this case, an image reading operation using the flat bed unit 21 is performed even when a document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26 (output ON / OFF of the document detection sensor 203). Is feasible.

  Further, the document pressing member position sensor 200 is in the OFF state, that is, the inclination of the contact member 200a of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is in the state (J) in FIG. By being set in the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 (the output of the document detection sensor 200 is ON), it is possible to execute an image reading operation using the ADF device 26. When the output of the document pressing member position detection sensor 200 is OFF and the output of the document detection sensor 203 is OFF, that is, the document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26. If there is no document, there is no document to be read. Of course, it goes without saying that the image reading operation using the ADF device 26 can be executed by setting the document on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 provided in the ADF device 26.

  The image information generated based on the image read using the ADF device 26 and the flat bed unit 21 described so far is output to the printer 2, and the printer 2 is based on the input image information. An image is formed on a recording medium.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the outer shape of the scanner unit can be reduced by providing the image reading position by the ADF device within the image reading range of the flat bed. Further, by manually moving the position of the document pressing member, it is possible to make the light reflection surface uniform with a simple mechanism during an image reading operation using a flat bed.

[Second Embodiment]
The configuration and operation of the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the multifunction machine 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the same part is omitted, and a different part will be described. The document pressing member 29 according to the second embodiment has a rack 400 that meshes with a gear 401 provided in the ADF device 26 at the tip thereof, and is driven in conjunction with the operation of the ADF device 26.

  FIG. 12 is a main part detailed cross-sectional view for explaining the main part of the document cover unit 22 provided with the ADF device 26 on the upper part. The document cover unit 22 according to the present embodiment includes a gear 400 and a document pressing member 29 including a rack 400 that can mesh with the gear 401 in addition to the configuration of the ADF device 26 according to the first embodiment.

  When the rack 400 meshes with the gear 401 and the gear 400 rotates, the document pressing member 29 can move in the sub scanning line direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the document pressing member 29 includes posts 500a and 500b on the side surfaces. The posts 500a and 500b are movably locked in elongated holes 501a and 501b provided in the document cover unit 22, respectively.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, the ADF device 26 according to the present embodiment includes a torque limiter 402 that idles the gear 401 when a torque exceeding a specified value is applied. The rule here is 700 g * cm. This specified value is not limited, but at least a specified value equal to or greater than the torque for moving the document pressing member 29 is required.

  An operation of the multifunction apparatus 1 including the document cover unit 22 having such a configuration will be described.

[Image reading operation using ADF device 26]
When a document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 shown in FIG. 14, the document detection sensor 203 detects the document and outputs a signal indicating that the document has been detected to a control unit (not shown) (document detection sensor 203). Output ON state). A control unit (not shown) to which a signal is input from the document detection sensor 203 supplies an instruction to the motor 300 to rotate the drive shaft 301 counterclockwise. Upon receiving the instruction, the motor 300 starts driving and rotates the drive shaft 301 counterclockwise. The lock member 302 connected to the drive shaft 301 rotates counterclockwise around the drive shaft 301 by driving the motor 300, and pushes up the hopper 31 to release the lock. The lock member 302 abuts on the rib 304 provided on the base unit 303 and stops.

  Further, simultaneously with the rotation of the lock member 302, the gears 403a and 403b connected to the drive shaft 601 rotate, and the document pressing member 29 is moved in the K direction. As the document pressing member 29 moves, when the posts 500 a and 500 b provided on the side surface of the document pressing member 29 come into contact with the end surfaces of the long holes 501 a and 501 b provided in the document cover unit 22, a load is applied to the drive shaft 601. . As a result, the gear 401 is idled by the action of the torque limiter 402, and the gears 403a and 403b are stopped.

  When the lock of the hopper 31 is released, the hopper 31 rotates about the rotation shaft 305 to bring the document set on the hopper 31 into close contact with the paper feed roller 32. The adhered documents are fed one by one by the sheet feeding roller 32 and conveyed to the document reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 by the rotation of the conveying roller 36a connected to the drive shaft 306. The original conveyed on the original reading surface 39 passes while being pressed by the paper weight 37, and the original on which the image has been read is discharged outside the ADF device 26 by the discharge roller 36 b connected to the drive shaft 307.

  Simultaneously with these series of operations, the carriage 23 moves from the H point of the home position shown in FIG. 5 to the E point where the carriage 23 reads the image on the original when the ADF device 26 conveys the original. Moving. The image sensor unit 25 provided in the moved carriage 23 reads an image of a document passing on an image reading surface 39 (point E) provided on the ADF window 38, and generates image information based on the read image.

  When all the documents set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 are exhausted, the document detection sensor 203 outputs a signal indicating that there is no document to a control unit (not shown) (output of the document detection sensor 203 is OFF). A control unit (not shown) to which a signal is input from the document detection sensor 203 supplies an instruction to the motor 300 to rotate the drive shaft 301 clockwise. Upon receiving the instruction, the motor 300 starts driving and rotates the driving shaft 301 clockwise. The lock member 302 connected to the drive shaft 301 rotates clockwise around the drive shaft 301 by driving the motor 300, and pushes down the hopper 31 to lock it.

  Further, simultaneously with the rotation of the lock member 302, the gears 403 a and 403 b connected to the drive shaft 601 are rotated, and the document pressing member 29 is moved in the L direction in FIG. 14 before the image reading operation using the ADF device 26. Return to position.

  As described above, when the document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27 (the output of the document detection sensor 203 is ON), the document pressing member 29 is moved with the activation of the ADF device 26, and the white sheet 30 is moved to the ADF. Since it moves to the opposite side of the apparatus 26, the document reading surface 39 provided on the ADF window 38 is exposed. As a result, an image reading operation using the ADF device 26 can be executed.

[Image reading operation using flatbed unit 21]
Unless the document is set on the hopper 31 on the document tray 27, that is, when the document detection sensor 203 is in the OFF state, the document pressing member 29 is not moved, so that the image reading operation using the flat bed unit 21 is performed. Can be performed.

  The image information generated based on the image read using the ADF device 26 and the flat bed unit 21 described so far is output to the printer 2, and the printer 2 is based on the input image information. An image is formed on a recording medium.

  In the second embodiment, the cooling that links the movement of the document pressing member 21 with the operation of the ADF 26 has been described. However, the movement of the document pressing member 21 can also be linked to the flat bed unit 21.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the movement of the document pressing member is performed in conjunction with the operation of the ADF apparatus, the labor for switching the position of the document pressing member is saved and a flat bed is used. In the image reading operation, the light reflecting surface can be made uniform with a simple structure.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is an external view of a composite device 1. FIG. 1 is an external view of a composite device 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the cross section of the III-III direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the cross section of the IV-IV direction in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a document reading area. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining a main part of the document cover unit 22. FIG. It is a figure explaining the operation lever. It is a figure explaining the operation lever. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image reading surface is exposed by operating an operation lever. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ADF device 26. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ADF device 26. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining a main part of the document cover unit 22. FIG. It is a figure explaining posts 500a and 500b. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ADF device 26.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound apparatus 2 Printer 3 Scanner 4 Paper feed cassette 5 Mechanism part 6 Paper feed roller 7 Sensor 8 Registration roller 9 Sensor 10 Conveyance roller 11 Light sensor 12 Image forming unit 13 Toner cartridge 14 Charge roller 15 Photosensitive drum 16 Process cartridge 17 Conveyance belt 18 Transfer roller 19 Fixing unit 20 Discharge unit 50a Transport path 50b Transport path 21 Flat bed unit 22 Document cover unit 23 Carriage 24 Document placement surface 25 Image sensor unit 26 ADF device 27 Document tray 28 Document width guide 29 Document pressing member 30 White Sheet 31 Hopper 32 Feed roller 33 Spring 34 Separation pad 35 Spring 36a Transport roller 36b Transport roller 37 Paper weight 38 ADF window 39 Reading surface 41 Operation lever 42 Through hole 43 Slope 44 Vertical surface 45 Projection portion 46 Engagement hole 100 Cold cathode tube 101a Mirror 101b Mirror 102 Lens 103 CCD image sensor 200 Document pressing member position detection sensor 200a Contact member 201 Spring 202 Stopper 203 Document Detection sensor 300 Motor 301 Drive shaft 302 Lock member 303 Base unit 304 Rib 305 Rotating shaft 306 Drive shaft 307 Drive shaft 400 Rack 401 Gear 402 Torque limiter 403a Gear 403b Gear 500a Post 500b Post 501a Slot 501b Slot 601 Drive shaft

Claims (4)

A document placement surface on which the document is placed when reading an image on a stationary document;
A document reading unit that is positioned below the document placement surface and reads the image movably in a direction parallel to the document placement surface;
A document pressing member that covers the document placement surface and presses the document placed on the document placement surface toward the document reading unit;
A document conveying unit that is positioned above the document pressing member and that conveys the document to a reading position of the document by the document reading unit formed at a predetermined position in the document placing surface ;
When the original is placed on the original placement surface or when the original is conveyed by the original conveyance unit, the original holding member is moved to the reading position within the original placement surface. An image reading apparatus comprising: a switching unit that moves the cover to any one of a cover position and a non-cover position . The document pressing member is an image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing the entire surface of the document placement surface in a state in which a position to cover the reading position. 3. The moving mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a moving mechanism that moves the document pressing member to a position that covers the reading position or a position that does not cover in conjunction with driving of the document conveying section. Image reading device. A multifunction machine comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.