JPH0699071B2 - Transport path switching device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a transport path switching device which is provided at a merging portion of a plurality of transport paths and controls switching of a paper transport path at the merging portion.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-
A multi-function image recorder shown in 165075 is known.
In this multifunctional image recording machine, as shown in FIG. 2 of the publication, a switching claw driven by a driving means such as a step motor is provided. This switching claw is rotationally driven in three stages as indicated by reference numerals 323 ₁ , 323 ₂ , and 323 ₃ in order to switch the sheet conveying path.

[Problems of background technology]

In a switching device using such a switching claw, for example, when trying to feed a sheet from the transport path 313 to the transport path 310, the leading edge of the sheet is curled, or the thickness of the sheet is thin, the switching claw is even been brought to the position shown by reference numeral 323 _1, the paper ends up enters the transport path 311 and the conveying path 312, there is a possibility that switching reliable paper is not performed.

[Object of the Invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport path switching device that can reliably feed a sheet to a switched transport path.

[Outline of the Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a transport path switching device according to the present invention is provided at a confluence portion of first to third transport paths, and from the first transport path to the second transport path. To or second
Is a conveyance path switching device that switches the conveyance of a sheet from a third conveyance path to a first conveyance path, which is provided below the conveyance path, and has a rotation fulcrum between the first and third conveyance paths. Have, first
And a rotation member rotatable between a first position lower than the first transport path and a second position slightly higher than the first transport path, and one end fixed between the second and third transport paths. And the other end of the pressing member is elastically pressed against the surface of the rotating member, and when the rotating member is in the first position, the paper is fed from the first transport path along the pressing member. The rotation member is conveyed to the second conveyance path
When the sheet is in the position, the sheet is conveyed to the first conveying path from the third conveying path through the rotating member and the pressing piece elastically pressed against the rotating member.

Example of Invention

An embodiment of the transport path switching device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 when applied to an automatic document feeder of an electronic copying machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 3 is detachably mounted on a platen glass 2 of an electronic copying machine 1 capable of double-sided copying.

The ADF 3 includes a separating unit 5, a conveying unit 7, a reversing unit 9, and a paper discharging unit 11.
Is equipped with. In the separating unit 5, the documents placed on the tray 13 and fed by the feeding roller 15 are separated one by one by the separating roller 17 and sent to the conveying unit 7. Documents are set on the tray 13 with the document surface facing downward.

The transport section 7 includes a transport belt 23 stretched between a pair of rollers 19 and 21. A take-in roller 24 and a pinch roller 4 pressed against the take-in roller 24 are provided between the conveyor belt 23 and the separating section 5. The original sent from the separating unit 5 is temporarily registered by the take-in roller 24 and the pinch roller 4 at the leading edge thereof, and then sent to the platen glass 2 by the rotation of the take-in roller 24, and the conveying belt 23
The platen glass 2 is moved toward the reversing unit 9 in accordance with the traveling of. When the document passes the copy position, the transport belt 23 is rotated in the reverse direction to transport the document in the reverse direction, or the document is inverted by the reversing unit 9 and then transported on the platen glass 2 to the separating unit 5 side. After that, the original is pressed against the stopper 25 and set at the copy position.

In this way, when the document is set at the copy position on the platen glass 2, the traveling of the conveyor belt 23 is stopped and the document is held at the copy position. The original that has been copied
As the transport belt 23 travels again, the transport belt 23 is transported along the first transport path L1 defined between the platen glass 2 and the transport belt 23, and is again inverted by the inversion unit 9 or the paper discharge unit 11
The sheet is ejected onto a sheet ejection tray 27 provided above the conveyor belt 23 via a second conveying path L2 provided in.

The transport section 7 is provided with a frame 26 integrated with the paper discharge section 11 on the back surface. The frame 26 is rotatably attached to the rear surface of the main body of the copying machine 1 via a hinge. Therefore, when the originals are manually set on the platen glass 2 one by one, the transport unit 7 and the paper discharge unit 11 are rotated about the hinges to open the platen glass 2. .

An opening 28 is formed in the connecting portion of the first and second conveying paths L1 and L2 of the frame 26, that is, a portion facing the confluence portion.

The reversing unit 9 is provided for reversing the original copied on the lower copy surface on the platen glass 2 and placing the original on the platen glass 2 with the opposite copy surface facing downward. . The reversing unit 9 is detachably attached to the copying machine 1 through the opening 28 of the frame 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the inverting portion 9 extends into the opening 28,
A lower guide 33 placed on the main body of the copying machine 1, and an upper guide placed on the lower guide 33 so that the upper surface of the lower guide 33 can be opened.
35 and an inversion guide 43 sandwiched between the upper and lower guides 33, 35. The upper guide 35 is rotatably attached to the lower guide 33 via a pivot 73.

A space is formed between the front end of the lower guide 33, the rear end of the frame 26 and the front end of the upper guide 35, and a transport guide 31 is provided in the space. The upper part of the space divided vertically by the transport guide 31 is the third
Is defined as transport path L3, and the lower part is the fourth transport path
Specified as L4. On the other hand, a space between the reverse guide 43 and the upper and lower guides 33, 35 is defined as a U-shaped fifth conveyance path L5. The proximal end of the fifth transport path L5 is connected to the fourth transport path L4, and the distal end of the fifth transport path L5 is connected to the third transport path L3. In addition, in the fifth transport path L5,
A first document detection sensor S1 for detecting the passage of the document is provided.

Here, the document sent to the fourth conveyance path L4 is the fifth conveyance path.
It is conveyed to the third conveyance path L3 via L5. Therefore, between the transport guide 31 and the tip of the reversing guide 43,
A transport roller 37 is provided. A reversing roller 45 is arranged at the rear end of the reversing guide 43. Further, the first pressure contact roller 39 engages the document brought to the third transport path L3 with the transport roller 37 to engage the document brought to the fourth transport path L4 with the transport roller 37. A second pressing roller 41 is provided in a state of rolling contact with each of the transport rollers 37 in order to bring them into contact with each other. On the other hand, the upper and lower portions of the reversing roller 45 are in contact with the third and fourth pressure contact rollers 47 and 49.

At the tip of the lower guide 33 described above, there is provided a transport path switching device 30 for controlling the switching of the document transport direction at the confluence of the first to fourth transport paths L1 to L4. The transport path switching device 30 includes a flapper 29 positioned in front of the above-described transport guide 31, and a pressure contact piece elastically pressed against the upper surface of the flapper 29, for example, a sheet-like elastic piece 75 that itself elastically deforms. , And a drive mechanism 32 for rotating the flapper 29.

The flapper 29 is rotatably supported at one end on the reversing device 9 side. Then, the drive device 32 causes the flapper to
The other end of 29 is formed at a first position lower than the surface of the platen glass 2, a second position slightly higher than the surface of the platen glass 2, and a position higher than this second position, and substantially the second and the third positions. The third conveyance path L2, L3 is closed, and the third conveyance path L4 is moved to and from the third position where the fourth conveyance path L4 is opened.

The elastic piece 75 described above is formed of a synthetic resin having elasticity such as a polyester film. One end of the elastic piece 75 on the reversing device 9 side is attached to the lower end of the paper ejection guide 77 located above the third transport path L3.
The other end is pressed against the upper surface of the flapper 29. The elastic piece 75 bends in accordance with the rotation of the flapper 29, and constantly prohibits the movement of the document from the first transport path L1 to the third transport path L3. As described above, the elastic piece 75 is provided on the discharge portion 11 side and closes the opening 28 when the reversing portion 9 is not attached. Therefore, in the state where the reversing unit 9 is not attached, the original document conveyed through the first conveyance path L1 is brought to the second conveyance path L2.

Next, the configuration of the driving device 32 will be described with reference to FIG.

The drive mechanism 32 includes first and second solenoids 51 and 53. A first plunger 57 is reciprocally inserted in the first solenoid 51. Also, the first
A stopper 55 is attached to the solenoid 51 so that the first plunger 57 does not protrude more than necessary. A rod 61 is attached to the tip of the plunger 57 via a connecting portion 61.
59 is attached integrally. On the other hand, one end of the flapper 29 is fixed to a rotary shaft 63 that is rotatably provided. An arm 65 is fixed to the rotary shaft 63, and a tip end portion of a rod 59 is rotatably connected to an upper portion of the arm 65 via a shaft 60. In this way, the solenoid 59
The plunger 57 is rotated by the reciprocating motion of the plunger 57 in response to the excitation / demagnetization.

On the other hand, the second solenoid 53 is provided below the first solenoid 51. A second plunger 67 is provided immediately above the second solenoid 53 so as to be rotatable around a hinge 68. One end of this second plunger 67 is
By engaging with the above-described coupling portion 61, the forward protrusion of the first plunger 53 is limited to a small extent by the engagement. The other end of this second plunger 67 is a spring
One end of the plunger 67 is biased by 71 so as to engage with the coupling portion 61.

Here, by exciting the second solenoid 53, the second solenoid 53
The plunger 67 is attracted and rotated against the biasing force of the spring 71, and the engagement between the second plunger 67 and the coupling portion 61 is released. That is, the first plunger 57 can move without any hindrance while the second solenoid 53 is excited.

The flapper 29 is urged to the first position by the elastic force of the elastic piece 75.

In the drive mechanism 32 having such a structure, when the first solenoid 51 is excited, the first plunger 57 is pulled in by the magnetic force, and the flapper 29 resists the elastic force of the elastic piece 75 to cause the third force. Is rotated to the position. In this state, the second solenoid 53 is demagnetized. Due to the flapper 29 at the third position, as shown in FIG.
Is closed and the fourth transport path L4 is opened. In this way, the document conveyed on the first conveyance path L1 is
Is brought to the transport path L4.

Next, when the first solenoid 51 is demagnetized, the flapper 29
The flapper 29 is rotated clockwise from the third position by the elastic force of the elastic piece 75 that is pressed against. Here, the coupling portion 61 is also pulled out in accordance with the rotation of the flapper 29, but since the second solenoid 53 is still demagnetized, it is coupled to the second plunger 67 as shown in FIG. The part 61 will be engaged and held in the second position.
As shown in FIG. 7, the flapper 29 at the second position allows the document brought from the third conveyance path L3 to reach the flapper 29.
And the elastic piece 75, and is brought to the first transport path L1.

If the second solenoid 53 is excited while the flapper 29 is held at the second position, the second plunger 67
Is attracted so as to rotate clockwise in the figure against the biasing force of the spring 71. In this way, the engagement between the other end of the second plunger 67 and the coupling portion 61 is released. Therefore, the flapper 29 is further rotated clockwise by the elastic force of the elastic piece 75 and brought to the first position as shown in FIG. By the flapper 29 at the first position, as shown in FIG. 8, the original document conveyed on the first conveyance path L1 is brought to the second conveyance path L2.

The paper discharge unit 11 described above includes first and second paper discharge guides 77 and 79 that are provided separately from each other. The second conveyance path L2 is defined by the space between the two paper ejection guides 77 and 79. First and second paper discharge rollers 81 and 83 are provided to convey a document along the second conveyance path L2. A leaf spring 85 is in contact with the upper second paper discharge roller, and a pressure contact roller 87 is in contact with the lower first paper discharge roller 81. The second conveyance path L2 is provided with a second document detection sensor S2 that detects that a document has passed therethrough.

The operation of the ADF3 configured as above will be described below.

The document is placed on the document tray 13 with the first page facing downward. The original is fed by the feeding roller 15 from the uppermost one, separated by the separating roller 17 one by one, and sent to the conveying unit 7. The document sent to the transport unit 7 is transported on the platen glass 2 toward the reversing unit 9 by the traveling of the transport belt 23.

Here, when copying only one side of the original, the first solenoid 51 of the drive device 32 of the transport path switching device 30 is demagnetized, the second solenoid 53 is excited, and as shown in FIG. The flapper 29 is brought to the first position. In this way, the original document that has undergone the copying operation on the platen glass 2 travels from the first transport path L1 through the flapper 29 at the first position of the transport path switching device 30 in accordance with the traveling of the transport belt 23. , As shown in FIG. 8, it is sent to the second transport path L2.
After that, the document is conveyed on the second conveyance path L2 by the rotation of the paper discharge rollers 81 and 83, and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 27.

Next, a case of copying both sides of a document will be described below.

In this case, when the document is supplied to the transport unit 7, the document reversing operation is first performed. That is, the first solenoid 51 is excited at the same time when the transport belt 23 starts traveling,
The solenoid 53 is demagnetized, and the flapper 29 is brought to the third position as shown in FIG. Therefore, the original conveyed on the first conveyance path L1 is transferred to the fourth conveyance path L4 via the flapper 29 located at the third position of the conveyance path switching device 30 as shown in FIG. Be brought.

The original conveyed to the fourth conveyance path L4 is conveyed to the fifth conveyance path L5 by the rotation of the conveyance roller 37. The original conveyed to the fifth conveyance path L5 is conveyed to the third conveyance path L3 by the rotation of the conveyance roller 37 while being turned upside down by the rotation of the reversing roller 45.

Here, the leading edge of the document brought to the fifth conveyance path L5 is
When reaching the first document detection sensor S1, this sensor S1 is turned on. When the sensor S1 is turned on, the first solenoid 51 is demagnetized and the traveling direction of the conveyor belt 23 is reversed. In this way, flapper 29 is brought to the second position, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the document brought to the third conveyance path L3 passes between the flapper 29 at the second position and the elastic piece 75 elastically pressed against the flapper 29. The first transport path
It is returned to L1 and is transported on the platen glass 2 until it contacts the stopper 25 by the transport belt 23 running in the opposite direction. Then, the original is contacted with the stopper 25 and is subjected to the copying operation on the back surface of the original.

When the copying operation on the back side of the document is completed, the transport belt 23 starts to run the document again toward the reversing unit 9. Simultaneously with the start of running of the conveyor belt 23, the flapper 29 is again rotated to the third position, and the original is inverted in accordance with the above-described inversion operation. In this way, the original document is brought onto the platen glass 2 with its front side facing downward. In this state,
The surface of the original will be subjected to a copying operation.

When the copying operation on the front side of the document is completed, the document discharging operation is then performed. That is, when the transport belt 23 starts traveling to eject the original, the second solenoid 53 is excited and the flapper 29 is brought to the first position as shown in FIG. Therefore, the original document conveyed through the first conveyance path L1 is the flapper at the first position of the conveyance path switching device 30.
It is brought to the second conveyance path L2 via 29 as shown in FIG.

The original brought to the second transport path L2 is discharged by the discharge rollers 81, 8
Along with the rotation of 3, the paper is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 27 with its surface facing upward. When the leading edge of the document is brought to the second document detection sensor S2, this sensor S2 is turned on. When the sensor S2 is turned on, the second solenoid 53 is demagnetized, and the flapper 29 is brought to the third position as shown in FIG.

In this way, by repeating the above-mentioned operation, both sides of a plurality of originals are copied.

According to this embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) When the document is fed from the conveying section 7 to the reversing section 9 in order to reverse the front and back of the document, the flapper 29 is brought to the third position as shown in FIG. The flapper 29 completely shields the second and third transport paths L2 and L3 and opens only the fourth transport path L4. In this way, the original conveyed on the first conveyance path L1 is reliably conveyed by the flapper 29 at the third position of the conveyance path switching device 30 via the fourth conveyance path L4 to the reversing section 9.
Will be supplied to.

Further, when the original is fed from the reversing unit 9 to the conveying unit 7, the flapper 20 is provided with the leading end at a position slightly higher than the surface on the platen glass 2 as shown in FIG. Has been rotated to the position. Therefore, the third transport path L3
The original sent from the sheet passes smoothly between the elastic piece 75 and the flapper 29 without being in contact with the end surface of the platen glass 2 into the first conveying path L1. In this way, the original document conveyed through the third conveyance path L3 has the flapper 29 at the second position of the conveyance path switching device 30 and the elastic piece.
With 75, the paper is smoothly fed to the first transport path L1 without causing a paper jam.

Further, when the document is transported from the transport unit 7 to the paper discharge unit 11 in order to discharge the document, the flapper 29 is, as shown in FIG. Has been brought to the position. Therefore, the third and fourth conveyance paths L3 and L4 are completely closed by the elastic piece 75 that is in pressure contact with the upper surface of the flapper 29 at the first position, and only the second conveyance path L2 is opened. . In this way, the original document conveyed along the first conveyance path L1 is guided by the elastic piece 75 pressed against the flapper 29 located at the first position of the conveyance path switching device 30 to surely move to the second position. Will be supplied to the carrier path L2.

(2) The drive device 32 of the flapper 29 includes first and second solenoids 51 and 53, and the flapper 29 is switched between three stages of the first, second, and third positions by these two solenoids. is doing. In this way, this complex operation will be reliably performed.

Further, since the turning position of the flapper 29 can be switched by turning on / off the two solenoids 51, 53, this drive control can be simplified.

(3) The elastic piece 75 is elastically pressed against the surface of the flapper 29. Therefore, as described in (1), the elastic piece 75 functions as a guide for transporting the original document from the transport unit 7 to the paper discharge unit 11 and also biases the flapper 29 to the first position. Is also functioning as. In this way, the urging member for urging the plunger 57 of the first solenoid 51 in a state where it is projected outward is not necessary, and the structure is simplified.

(4) When the original is conveyed from the reversing section 9 to the conveying section 7, the elastic piece 75 presses the original against the surface of the flapper 29. In this way, in the reversing unit 9, the bending tendency applied when the front side and the back side of the document are reversed is corrected, and the document is satisfactorily supplied onto the platen glass 2.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the drive mechanism of the flapper 29 is used.
The 32 was configured with two solenoids. However, in the present invention, the drive device is not limited to such a configuration, and may be configured as shown as another embodiment in FIGS. 9 to 11, for example.

Another embodiment of the drive mechanism for the flapper 29 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 9, the drive mechanism 90 includes a solenoid 91 having a plunger 89 therein so as to be reciprocally movable. One end of a switching lever 93 is connected to the tip of the plunger 89. The other end of this switching lever 93 is
It is attached to the frame of the lower guide 33 via a return spring 97. The return spring 97 biases the plunger 89 so as to project outward.

A switching plate 103 that functions as a cam plate is provided adjacent to one side of the switching lever 93. This switching plate 103
A cam groove 101 having a shape described later is formed in the.
An engagement pin 95 that engages with the cam groove 101 is attached to one side surface of the switching lever 93.

As shown in FIG. 10, the switching plate 103 is formed in a fan shape, and is attached rotatably around a support shaft 99 provided at a required position of the fan. The switching plate 103 is formed with an extension 104 that projects downward from the support shaft 99. One end of the rod 59 described in the above-described embodiment is rotatably connected to the lower end of the extending portion 104.
The flapper 29 is attached to the other end of the rod 59 via the arm 65 as described above. The switching plate 103 is urged via the presser spring 105 so as to always rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 11, the above-mentioned cam groove 101 includes six groove portions 101a, which are arranged in a zigzag shape from the top to the bottom.
It is composed of 101f. Here, the second to fifth groove portions
The lengths of 101b to 101e are set short, and the upper first and lower sixth groove portions 101a and 101f are set long.
Further, the respective tip portions of the first and sixth groove portions 101a and 101f are connected at one point, and thus the first to sixth groove portions 101a to 101f are made endless.

Here, in the joint portion of the first and second groove portions 101a and 101b, the upper first groove portion 101a is higher. At the joint between the second and third groove portions 101b and 101c, the second groove portion 101b is higher. In addition, in the joint portion of the third and fourth groove portions 101c and 101d,
The groove portion 101c is made higher. Further, in the joint portion of the fourth and fifth groove portions 101d and 101e, the fourth groove portion 1
01d is higher. In addition, the fifth groove portion 101e is higher in the joint portion of the fifth and sixth groove portions 101e and 101f. And the sixth and first groove portions
In the joint portion of 101f and 101a, the sixth groove portion 101f is higher. In this way, each groove 101a-101f
A step is provided at the joint portion. Due to this step, the engagement pin 95 can move from the first groove portion 101a to the second groove portion.
101b, third groove portion 101c, fourth groove portion 101d, fifth groove portion 101
It is formed so as to sequentially engage with the first groove portion 101a through the e, and the sixth groove portion 101f, and prohibit engagement in the opposite direction.

The operation of the drive device 90 configured as above will be described below.

In the initial state, when the solenoid 91 is demagnetized, the engagement pin 95 is provided with a return spring 97 at a portion adjacent to the fifth groove portion 101e of the sixth groove portion 101f, as indicated by a symbol A in FIG. It is urged by the urging force. In this state, the flapper 29 is held at the first position as shown in FIG.

From this state, the solenoid 91 is excited and the engagement pin 95
Moves against the biasing force of the return spring 97 from the sixth groove portion 101f from the right to the left in the drawing, and is brought to the left end portion of the first groove portion 101a as indicated by reference symbol B. And solenoid 91
Is demagnetized again, the engagement pin 95 moves the first groove portion 101a from the left to the right in the drawing by the urging force of the return spring 97, and as shown by the symbol C, moves to the right end portion of the second groove portion 101b. Be brought. In this state, the flapper 29 is brought to the third position as shown in FIG.

In this manner, the engagement pin 95 sequentially passes through the second and third groove portions 101b and 101c by causing the solenoid 91 to perform the excitation / demagnetization operation once from the position indicated by the symbol C. Then, as indicated by the reference sign D, it is brought to a portion adjacent to the third groove portion 101c of the fourth groove portion 101d. In this state,
The flapper 29 is brought to the second position, as shown in FIG.

Further, from the position indicated by the symbol D, the solenoid 91 performs the excitation / demagnetization operation once, so that the engagement pin 95 sequentially passes through the fourth and fifth groove portions 101d and 101e, As indicated by symbol A, the fifth groove portion of the sixth groove portion 101f
Brought adjacent to 101e. In this state, the flapper 29 is brought back to the first position as shown in FIG.

As described above, since the drive mechanism 90 is configured in another embodiment, the following effects can be further obtained.

(1) Since only one solenoid is provided as the drive source of the drive mechanism, the drive control is further simplified as compared with the above-described one embodiment.

(2) In the cam groove 101, a step is provided at a portion of the groove portion adjacent to each other so as to fall along the moving direction of the engagement pin 95. In this way, the engagement pin 95
Is restricted to one direction and does not move in the opposite direction, and the switching operation of the flapper 29 is always executed reliably.

Further, in addition to the other embodiments described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

For example, the above-described press-contact piece does not need to use the sheet-like elastic piece 75 that elastically deforms itself, and for example, a plate having rigidity is rotatably attached and the plate is biased by a spring. Alternatively, the flapper 29 may be pressed against the upper surface.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the flapper 29 is biased to the first position by the elastic force of the elastic piece 75.
A spring may be attached between the fixing member and the fixing member, and the flapper 29 may be biased to the first position by the restoring force of the spring.

Further, the drive mechanism of the flapper 29 does not have to include a solenoid as a drive source, and for example, a motor may be used as a drive source.

In one embodiment, the urging force of the first plunger 57 driven by the first solenoid 51 in the direction in which the first plunger 57 projects is obtained from the urging force of the elastic piece that is pressed against the flapper. However, the biasing force of the first plunger does not have to be provided by this elastic piece, but may be obtained by a separately provided spring.

Further, in one embodiment, a flapper and an elastic piece are used, and the flapper is rotationally driven in three steps to control the switching of the transport paths at the confluence of the four transport paths. However, in the present invention, the flapper and the elastic piece are used, and the flapper is rotationally driven in two stages.
You may make it control the switching of three conveyance paths.

Further, the transport path switching device according to the present invention is not only used for switching between the reversing unit and the paper discharging unit in the ADF, but also for switching the transport path of paper in an image processing device such as a copying machine or a sorter. It may be used.

[Advantages of the Invention] As described in detail above, the transport path switching device according to the present invention is provided at the confluence of the first to third transport paths, and the first transport path to the second transport path are connected to each other. Or a transport path switching device for switching the transport of a sheet from a third transport path provided below the second transport path to the first transport path, the switch being between the first and third transport paths. A rotation member having a rotation fulcrum and rotatable between a first position lower than the first transport path and a second position slightly higher than the first transport path; When the rotating member is in the first position, the sheet is in the first position when the rotating member is fixed between the third conveying paths and the other end is elastically pressed against the surface of the rotating member. When the rotating member is conveyed from the second conveying path to the second conveying path along the pressure contact piece and the rotating member is at the second position, the paper is elastically attached to the rotating member and the third conveying path from the third conveying path. It is characterized in that it is conveyed to the first conveying path through the gap between the pressure-contacting pieces that are in pressure contact with each other. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the transport path switching device capable of reliably feeding the sheet to the switched transport path.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view schematically showing an ADF equipped with an embodiment of a conveying path switching device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the ADF reversing section and the sheet discharge section shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the apparatus taken out together with the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the drive apparatus of the conveying path switching apparatus of one embodiment in a state where the flapper is in the third position, and FIG. 4 is the drive shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the device in a state where the flapper is in the second position, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the drive device shown in FIG. 3 in a state in which the flapper is in the first position, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the switching device with the flapper in the third position, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the transport path switching device with the flapper in the second position, and FIG. 8 is a transport path switching device. FIG. 9 is a side view showing the state in which the flapper is in the first position, and FIG. 9 is a conveyance path switching device according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a driving device of a flapper of another embodiment, FIG. 10 is a side view showing a switching plate of the driving device shown in FIG. 9 together with the flapper, and FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a switching plate shown in FIG. FIG. 29 ... Rotating member (flapper), 30 ... Conveyor path switching device,
32 ... Drive device, 75 ... Elastic piece, L1 ... First transport path,
L2 ... second transport path, L3 ... third transport path.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first or third conveyance path is provided at a confluence portion, and the first or second conveyance path is connected to the second conveyance path or the second conveyance path.
Is a conveyance path switching device for switching the conveyance of a sheet from a third conveyance path to a first conveyance path, which is provided below the conveyance path, and has a rotation fulcrum between the first and third conveyance paths. A rotating member that is rotatable between a first position that is lower than the first transport path and a second position that is slightly higher than the first transport path;
And a press contact piece fixed between the third transport path and the other end of the press member elastically pressed against the surface of the rotating member. When the rotating member is in the first position, the sheet is in the first position. When the sheet is conveyed from the first conveying path to the second conveying path along the pressure contact piece and the rotating member is at the second position, the sheet is elastically pressed against the rotating member from the third conveying path. The transfer path switching device is characterized in that the transfer path is transferred to the first transfer path while passing between the pressure contact piece and the pressure contact piece.