Sheet conveyance device, image reading device including the same, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a sheet conveyance device with improved stability of the relative position of an open / close member and a conveyance guide member in a configuration where the open / close member and the conveyance guide member are made rotatable, and to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An ADF 102 includes a housing 316, a document tray 200, an open / close cover 315 that is rotatably supported by the housing 316, and a rotation guide member 500 that is rotatably supported by the housing 316. In a state where the open / close cover 315 is closed, the position of the rotation guide member 500 in the width direction is determined by a protrusion 325 being fitted into the groove 512.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet transport device that transports a sheet, and an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image reading devices mounted on image forming devices such as copiers are known to have an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) that conveys documents placed on a document tray one by one. When a reading unit that reads images on documents is disposed inside such an ADF, the conveying path may be configured to be openable in order to clean the glass surface facing the documents or to handle jams. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which an opening / closing member that constitutes the upper surface of the ADF and a conveying guide member that forms the conveying path of the ADF are rotatable in order to expose the glass surface of the reading unit to the outside of the device.

[0003] Also, some ADFs are known that are provided with a regulating member that regulates the position of the leading edge of a sheet placed on the document tray and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet placed on the document tray. As for the sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet, there is one in which a flag member that is pushed by the sheet and rotates enters between a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the sensor, and the output signal of the sensor is switched. Patent Document 2 describes an original transport device that reduces the number of parts by using a regulating member that regulates the position of the leading edge of a sheet as a flag member that detects the sheet. In the configuration of Patent Document 2, a regulating member that functions as a flag member is arranged to hang down from an opening / closing member, and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet is provided on a transport guide member that faces the opening / closing member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-194011 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-18412 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, in a configuration in which the opening / closing member and the transport guide member are rotatable, the opening / closing member and the transport guide member are each supported on the ADF housing via a rotating shaft, so that the relative positions of the opening / closing member and the transport guide member in the sheet width direction may not be stable. In such a configuration, when the regulating member is used as a flag member, there is a risk that the regulating member and the transport guide member may interfere with each other in the process of entering the sensor inside the transport guide member by closing the opening / closing member, leading to damage to the regulating member and the sensor.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a sheet conveying device, an image reading device, and an image forming device in which the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member are rotatable, and in which the stability of the relative position between the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member is improved. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention includes a housing, a placement section on which a sheet is placed, a feeding section that feeds the sheet placed on the placement section, an opening / closing member having an upper guide that faces an upper surface of the sheet fed by the feeding section and guides the sheet, the opening / closing member being rotatably supported by the housing, a lower guide that faces an underside of the sheet fed by the feeding section and forms a transport path along which the sheet is transported together with the upper guide, the transport guide member being rotatably supported by the housing, the opening / closing member being provided with a first position that is not in contact with the sheet when pressed by the sheet placed on the placement section, and a second position that is in contact with the leading edge of the sheet placed on the placement section and guides the leading edge of the sheet. the sheet conveying device comprising a regulating member movable to a second position which regulates the position of the sheet conveyed by the feeding section and a third position which allows the passage of a sheet fed by the feeding section; a detection section provided on the conveying guide member which detects a sheet placed on the loading section based on the movement of the regulating member from the first position to the second position; a protrusion provided on one of the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member, and an engagement section provided on the other of the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member into which the protrusion engages; and when the opening / closing member is closed, the protrusion engages with the engagement section to determine the widthwise position of the conveying guide member. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the configuration of the present invention, in a configuration in which the opening / closing member and the transport guide member are rotatable, it is possible to improve the stability of the relative position between the opening / closing member and the transport guide member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device with the opening / closing cover open. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device with the opening / closing cover and the rotation guide member open. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the rear side of the opening / closing cover of the device. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the rear side of the rotating guide member of the device. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing the opening / closing cover and the rotation guide member when the opening / closing cover has a rotation angle of 8 degrees. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing the opening / closing cover and the rotation guide member when the opening / closing cover has a rotation angle of 6 degrees. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following embodiment is an example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] <Image forming device> First, an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 as viewed from the front. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus main body 104 and an image reading device 101 provided above the image forming apparatus main body 104. The image forming apparatus 100 forms a toner image on a sheet of paper P in response to image information read by the image reading device 101 or an image signal from a host device such as a personal computer communicatively connected to the image forming apparatus 100. Examples of the sheet of paper P that is a recording medium include sheet materials such as plain paper, plastic film, and cloth.

[0012] Inside the image forming apparatus main body 104, there are provided laser scanners 107-110 corresponding to the respective colors of YMCK, which are image forming sections using an electrophotographic method, image forming units 111-114, and a fixing unit 118. The laser scanners 107-110 irradiate lasers toward the photoconductors of the corresponding image forming units 111-114 in response to input image signals. These image forming units 111-114 are arranged along an intermediate transfer belt 115.

[0013] In the image forming unit 111, a yellow toner image is formed, and the formed yellow toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 115. In the image forming unit 112, a magenta toner image is formed, and the formed magenta toner image is primarily transferred and superimposed on the yellow toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 115. In the image forming unit 113, a cyan toner image is formed, and the formed cyan toner image is primarily transferred and superimposed on the yellow and magenta toner images transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 115. In the image forming unit 114, a black toner image is formed, and the formed black toner image is primarily transferred and superimposed on the yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 115.

[0014] A paper feed cassette 105 is disposed at the bottom of the image forming apparatus main body 104 so as to be able to be pulled out toward the front side. The image forming apparatus 100 feeds paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 105 by a pickup roller 106 toward a secondary transfer nip portion where an intermediate transfer belt 115 and a secondary transfer unit 116 come into contact with each other. When conveying the paper P, the image forming apparatus 100 conveys the paper P in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 115. Then, the multiple toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 115 is transferred onto the paper P at the secondary transfer nip portion by the action of a secondary transfer bias voltage applied to the secondary transfer unit 116.

[0015] The paper P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer section 116 is transported by a transport belt 117 to a fixing unit 118. The paper P is then heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 118 to fix the toner image thereon, and is then discharged onto a paper output tray 119 after the toner image has been fixed onto the surface of the paper P.

[0016] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an electrophotographic image forming means, but the image forming means is not limited to this, and may be other image forming means such as an inkjet type.

[0017] <Image reader> Next, the image reading device 101 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading device 101, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the image reading device 101. The image reading device 101 has a reader 103 and an ADF 102 provided on the upper part of the reader 103. The ADF 102 is rotatably supported with respect to the reader 103 by a hinge (not shown) provided at the rear side of the device. The image reading device 101 can perform an operation of reading image information from a stationary original placed on an original table glass 328 of the reader 103 (fixed reading operation), and an operation of reading image information while conveying a sheet as an original by the ADF 102 (flick reading operation).

[0018] The reader 103 includes a platen glass 328 on which an original is placed, and a reading unit 306 that reads image information of the original placed on the platen glass 328 while moving in the sub-scanning direction (left-right direction in the figure) below the platen glass 328. The reader 103 also includes a first running reading glass 312. The reading unit 306 can optically scan the original transported by the ADF 102 via the first running reading glass 312 to read image information.

[0019] The reading unit 306 has a sensor board 309 on which a CCD image sensor is mounted as a light receiving element, a light source 310 that irradiates the original with light, and a plurality of mirrors 308 that guide the light reflected from the original to the imaging surface of the light receiving element.

[0020] The ADF 102 has a document tray 200, a discharge tray 201 disposed below the document tray 200, and a reading unit 307. In the ADF 102, a feed roller 300, a separation roller pair 301, conveyance roller pairs 302, 303, 304, and a discharge roller pair 305 are disposed along a conveyance path P1. The document tray 200 is a placement section on which sheets as documents are placed, and the discharge tray 201 is a discharge section on which sheets from which image information has been read are discharged. The conveyance roller pairs 303, 304 and the discharge roller pair 305 are rotatably supported inside a housing 316 of the ADF 102. The document tray 200 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis (not shown) relative to the housing 316, and a user can easily remove a document on the discharge tray 201 by rotating the document tray 200 upward.

[0021] The reading unit 307 has a contact image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as CIS 311) as a reading section, and a second flow reading glass 313. The second flow reading glass 313 is a transparent member that transmits light from the original, and the CIS 311 reads image information from the original transported on the transport path P1 through the second flow reading glass 313. The reading unit 307 is rotatably supported on a housing 316 of the ADF 102 via a rotation shaft 314.

[0022] When a user sets a stack of documents on the document tray 200 and issues an instruction to start a reading operation via an operation unit (not shown), the documents are fed to the conveying path P1 in order from the top document by the feeding roller 300. The fed documents are separated one by one by the separation roller pair 301, and are conveyed along the conveying path P1 while being transferred in order to the conveying roller pairs 302, 303, and 304. Then, when the documents pass through the first moving reading glass 312 of the reader 103, the reading unit 306 reads image information on the first side (front side) of the documents. Similarly, when the documents pass through the second moving reading glass 313, the reading unit 307 reads image information on the second side (back side) opposite to the first side of the documents. The documents from which the image information has been read are discharged to the outside of the ADF 102 by the discharge roller pair 305, and are stacked on the discharge tray 201. It should be noted that the first side of the document is the upper side when the document is placed on document tray 200, and the second side of the document is the lower side when the document is placed on document tray 200.

[0023] The ADF 102 includes an opening / closing cover 315 as an opening / closing member that constitutes the upper surface of the device. The opening / closing cover 315 is supported by a housing 316 of the ADF 102 via a rotating shaft 327 so as to be rotatable (openable and closable), and rotates about an axis A (see FIG. 4 described later) that extends in the width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The opening / closing cover 315 is provided with an upper guide 315a that forms a conveying path P1 between the opening / closing cover 315 and a lower guide 500a of a rotating guide member 500 that serves as a conveying guide member. Here, the upper guide 315a is a guide surface that faces the upper surface of the sheet fed by the feed roller 300 to guide the sheet. The lower guide 500a is a guide surface that faces the lower surface of the sheet fed by the feed roller 300 to guide the sheet. The opening / closing cover 315 is fixed to the housing 316 by an opening / closing restriction mechanism (not shown) at the closed position (position shown in FIG. 3). When the user attempts to open opening / closing cover 315, by pulling opening / closing cover 315 upward, the restriction on opening / closing is released, and opening / closing cover 315 can be opened.

[0024] 3, when the opening / closing cover 315 is closed, a part of the rotating guide member 500 is covered by the opening / closing cover 315. Here, when the opening / closing cover 315 is closed, the entire rotating guide member 500 may be covered by the opening / closing cover 315. Also, the opening / closing cover 315 is provided with the feed roller 300, the pair of separation rollers 301, and one roller (the upper side in the figure) of the pair of transport rollers 302. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 315 rotates upward from the closed position to the open position, a part of the transport path P1 is opened and the rotating guide member 500 is exposed to the outside of the ADF 102, and the rotating guide member 500 can be rotated as described later.

[0025] <Glass cleaning> While the image reading device 101 repeats the flow-reading operation, foreign matter such as dust such as paper powder and stains such as glue and ink that were attached to the original may adhere to the first flow-reading glass 312 and the second flow-reading glass 313. If the flow-reading operation is performed with foreign matter attached within the reading range of the reading units 306, 307 on the first flow-reading glass 312 and the second flow-reading glass 312, a streaky image that does not actually exist on the original will be read at the position corresponding to the foreign matter. This is a phenomenon (hereinafter referred to as image streaks) that occurs when the foreign matter attached to the first flow-reading glass 312 and the second flow-reading glass 313 blocks the optical path during reading by the reading units 306, 307, creating a shadow.

[0026] In order to eliminate the occurrence of image streaks, it is effective to properly clean the first and second skimming glasses 312 and 313 to remove the foreign matter that is the cause. As for the reading unit 306 of the reader 103, the first skimming glass 312 is exposed by rotating the ADF 102 upward from the reader 103, so that the user can clean it from above. Meanwhile, the reading unit 307 of the ADF 102 is disposed inside the housing 316. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the reading unit 307 is disposed below the rotating guide member 500 and in an area inside the conveying path P1 curved in a U-shape. Therefore, a configuration for exposing the second skimming glass 313 to the outside of the device (means for enabling access to the second skimming glass 313) is required. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotation guide member 500 and the reading unit 307 are each configured to be rotatable with respect to the housing 316, making it possible to expose the second running glass 313 of the reading unit 307 to the outside of the ADF .

[0027] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of image reading device 101 with opening / closing cover 315 open. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of image reading device 101 with opening / closing cover 315 and pivot guide member 500 open. As shown in Fig. 3, when opening / closing cover 315 is in the closed position, opening / closing cover 315 covers the upper side of pivot guide member 500. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, when opening / closing cover 315 is in the open position, pivot guide member 500 is exposed to the outside of the device when viewed from above.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotating guide member 500 is rotatably supported by the housing 316 of the ADF 102 via a rotating shaft 502, and rotates around an axis B extending in the width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The rotating guide member 500 is rotatable between a position covering the reading unit 307 when viewed from above (FIG. 4) and a position exposing the reading unit 307 to the outside of the device when viewed from above (FIG. 5). On the other hand, a fixed guide member 507 that guides the sheet continuously to the lower guide 500a that is the guide surface of the rotating guide member 500 is fixed to the housing 316 of the ADF 102. The fixed guide member 507 is a downstream guide that is adjacent to the downstream end of the lower guide 500a and faces the upper guide 315a to form the conveying path P1. Furthermore, the reading unit 307 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating guide member 500. 5, when the pivot guide member 500 is opened with the opening / closing cover 315 open, the reading unit 307 pivots and the second running glass 313 is exposed to the outside of the device when viewed from above. In this state, the second running glass 313 faces diagonally upward. This configuration allows the user to clean the second running glass 313 of the reading unit 307.

[0029] <About the feeding section> Next, the feeding section of the ADF 102 will be described. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the feeding unit 330 held by the opening / closing cover 315, as viewed from the transport path P1 side. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the rotating guide member 500, as viewed from the transport path P1 side. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the feeding section with the opening / closing cover 315 closed. However, Figs. 6 to 8 show only parts necessary for the description.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, the opening / closing cover 315 detachably holds a feeding unit 330 for feeding sheets stacked on the document tray 200. The feeding unit 330 constituting the feeding section has a feeding roller 300 for feeding a sheet into the conveying path P1, and a conveying roller 323 for conveying the sheet fed by the feeding roller 300. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotating guide member 500 has a separation roller 513 for forming a separation nip together with the conveying roller 323, and a sensor S1 which is a photointerrupter having a light emitting section and a light receiving section. The conveying roller 323 and the separation roller 513 constitute the above-mentioned separation roller pair 301. In addition, a slit 501 is provided as a cutout section in the lower guide 500a of the rotating guide member 500. The sensor S1 as a detection section is provided inside the slit 501 and is located below the surface of the lower guide 500a that guides the sheet.

[0031] 8, the feeding unit 330 has a flag member 318 supported rotatably around a rotation fulcrum 317. The flag member 318, which is provided on the opening / closing cover 315 via the feeding unit 330, is configured to be able to swing when pressed by a sheet placed on the document tray 200. The flag member 318 also functions as a regulating member that regulates the leading edge position of the sheet placed on the document tray 200, as described below. A light-shielding portion 319 that moves in conjunction with the operation of the flag member 318 is integrally formed at the lower end of the flag member 318, and the light-shielding portion 319 enters the inside of the rotating guide member 500 through a slit 501. The sensor S1 disposed inside the slit 501 is switched between light-shielding and light-transmitting when the light-shielding portion 319 of the flag member 318 blocks the optical path of the sensor S1.

[0032] The flag member 318 is configured to be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by the operation of the feed roller 300. The operation will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a top view of the feed unit 330, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 9.

[0033] The feeding unit 330 has a flag holder 320 held by the opening / closing cover 315, and the flag member 318 is supported rotatably around a rotation fulcrum 317 provided on the flag holder 320. The feeding unit 330 also has an arm member 321 that rotatably supports the feeding roller 300. The arm member 321 is a member that extends in the feeding direction, and is supported rotatably around a paper feed shaft 322 that is the rotation shaft of the transport roller 323, and is configured so that the feeding roller 300 rises and falls as the arm member 321 rotates. Specifically, before feeding a sheet, the feeding roller 300 is located at a separation position separated from the sheet on the document tray 200, and when feeding a sheet, the feeding roller 300 descends to an abutment position where it abuts against the sheet on the document tray 200. In this way, the arm member 321 raises and lowers the feeding roller 300 between the abutment position and the separation position.

[0034] The arm member 321 is provided with a lock member 324 for restricting the swing of the flag member 318, and the lock member 324 is supported rotatably around a rotation fulcrum 321a on the arm member 321. On the other hand, the flag member 318 is provided with an abutment portion 318a, and is designed so that a gap W is formed between the abutment portion 318a of the flag member 318 and the lock member 324 when there is no sheet on the document tray 200. At this time, the flag member 318 is located at a non-abutment position (first position) shown in FIG. 10 due to its own weight, and the light shielding portion 319 of the flag member 318 is in a state where it does not shield the light path of the sensor S1. In other words, the sensor S1 is OFF, and outputs a signal indicating that there is no sheet on the document tray 200. In this embodiment, the non-abutment position as the first position is a position when the flag member 318 is not in contact with a sheet on the document tray 200.

[0035] When a user sets a sheet on the document tray 200, the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the upstream end of the flag member 318. At this time, the flag member 318 is pushed by the leading edge of the sheet and rotates in the direction of the arrow B by the gap W. As a result, the abutting portion 318a abuts against the lock member 324, and the flag member 318 is in a state (locked state) in which the rotation in the direction of the arrow B is restricted. The position of the leading edge of the sheet is restricted by the flag member 318 in the locked state. That is, the lock member 324 positions the flag member 318 at a restricting position (second position) that restricts the position of the leading edge of the sheet. The restricting position is a position where the flag member 318 has rotated downstream in the feeding direction from the non-abutting position, and is a position where the flag member 318 blocks the conveying path P1. At this time, the light blocking portion 319 of the flag member 318 blocks the optical path of the sensor S1. That is, the sensor S1 is ON, and outputs a signal indicating that a sheet is present in the document tray 200. In other words, the sensor S1 can detect a sheet placed on the document tray 200 based on the movement of the flag member 318 from the non-contact position to the regulating position.

[0036] Thereafter, in the process of the feed roller 300 descending from the separated position to the abutting position, the arm member 321 rotates downward about the feed shaft 322, and the lock member 324 rotates in the direction of the arrow C by contacting the rib 320a of the flag holder 320. As a result, the lock member 324 moves to a position where it does not abut against the abutting portion 318a of the flag member 318, and the flag member 318 enters a state (unlocked state) in which it can further rotate in the direction of the arrow B from the restricting position. Then, by being pushed by the sheet fed by the feed roller 300, the flag member 318 moves to a feed position (third position) that allows the sheet to pass. In other words, the lock member enters a state in which it allows the flag member 318 to rotate from the restricting position to the feed position as the feed roller 300 descends from the separated position to the abutting position. The feeding position is a position where the flag member 318 rotates downstream in the feeding direction from the restricting position, and is a position where the flag member 318 opens the conveying path P1. With the above mechanism, the flag member 318 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by the raising and lowering operation of the feeding roller 300. In this embodiment, the locking member 324 and the rib 320a form a locking mechanism.

[0037] <Regarding the positioning of the rotating guide member> As described above, the ADF 102 in this embodiment is configured so that the user can open the opening / closing cover 315 and the turning guide member 500 when cleaning the second running reading glass 313 of the reading unit 307 or when performing jam removal. After completing these tasks, the user must close the opening / closing cover 315 after closing the turning guide member 500, to set the ADF 102 in a state in which it can transport sheets.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rotation shaft 502 of the rotating guide member 500 has a clearance in the width direction (main scanning direction) necessary for the rotating guide member 500 to rotate. In other words, when the opening / closing cover 315 is in the open state, the rotating guide member 500 is configured to be able to move in the main scanning direction. The position of the rotating guide member 500 in the width direction is determined by closing the opening / closing cover 315. In this embodiment, this clearance is 1.6 [mm], and when the opening / closing cover 315 is in the open state, the rotating guide member 500 is able to move in the width direction by 1.6 [mm].

[0039] The process of the opening / closing cover 315 rotating from the open position to the closed position will be described in detail. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the part of the opening / closing cover 315 on the rear side of the device. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing the part of the rotating guide member 500 on the rear side of the device. On the rear side of the opening / closing cover 315, a gear 326 for driving the feed roller 300 and the conveying roller 323, and a protrusion 325 for positioning the rotating guide member 500 in the width direction are provided. The protrusion 325 is formed so as to protrude downward when the opening / closing cover 315 is closed. In addition, on the rear side of the rotating guide member 500, a groove portion 512 is provided as a fitting portion with an open upper portion at a position facing the protrusion portion 325. The protrusion portion 325 and the groove portion 512 are provided outside the area through which the sheet passes in the conveying path P1. In this embodiment, the position of the rotating guide member 500 in the width direction relative to the opening / closing cover 315 is determined by the protrusion portion 325 fitting into the groove portion 512.

[0040] Protrusion 325 fits into groove 512 as opening-closing cover 315 moves from an open state to a closed state. Taking the closed state of opening-closing cover 315 as the reference (0 degrees), Fig. 13 shows a state in which opening-closing cover 315 is opened by 8 degrees, and Fig. 14 shows a state in which opening-closing cover 315 is opened by 6 degrees. In Figs. 13 and 14, (a) is a side view of opening-closing cover 315 and pivot guide member 500 as viewed from the rear side of the device, and (b) is an enlarged view of the positioning portion of pivot guide member 500 as viewed from the arrow D in each state.

[0041] As the user closes opening / closing cover 315 toward pivot guide member 500, when the pivot angle of opening / closing cover 315 is 8 degrees, protrusion 325 of opening / closing cover 315 begins to fit into groove 512 of pivot guide member 500, as shown in Fig. 13(b). In other words, when the pivot angle of opening / closing cover 315 is 8 degrees, the tip of protrusion 325 enters groove 512. On the other hand, when the pivot angle of opening / closing cover 315 is 8 degrees, flag member 318 provided on feeding unit 330 does not enter slit 501 of pivot guide member 500, as shown in Fig. 13(a).

[0042] When the user further closes the opening / closing cover 315, when the rotation angle of the opening / closing cover 315 is 6 degrees, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the flag member 318 provided on the feeding unit 330 starts to enter the slit 501 of the rotation guide member 500. Also, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the protrusion 325 of the opening / closing cover 315 enters the groove 512 of the rotation guide member 500. Then, when the opening / closing cover 315 is in a closed state (rotation angle 0 degrees), the protrusion 325 of the opening / closing cover 315 is completely fitted into the groove 512 of the rotation guide member 500. In this state, since the protrusion 325 of the opening / closing cover 315 is fitted into the groove 512 of the rotation guide member 500, the position of the rotation guide member 500 in the width direction is determined. That is, the projection 325 and the groove 512 are fitted together, so that the movement of the rotation guide member 500 in the width direction by the amount of the clearance is restricted.

[0043] In this manner, when the user closes the opening / closing cover 315, first the tip of the protrusion 325 provided on the opening / closing cover 315 enters the groove 512 provided on the rotating guide member 500. After that, the flag member 318 provided on the feeding unit 330 enters the slit 501 of the rotating guide member 500. Then, when the opening / closing cover 315 is completely closed, the state shown in FIG. 2 is reached, and the ADF 102 becomes capable of conveying sheets. With the above configuration, when the flag member 318 enters the slit 501 of the rotating guide member 500, the position of the rotating guide member 500 in the width direction is determined by the opening / closing cover 315. This makes it possible to prevent the flag member 318 from coming off or being damaged by riding up onto the rotating guide member 500 or the sensor S1.

[0044] In this embodiment, protrusion 325 is provided on opening / closing cover 315 and groove 512 is provided on rotation guide member 500, but protrusion 325 may be provided on rotation guide member 500 and groove 512 may be provided on opening / closing cover 315. In other words, it is only necessary that protrusion 325 is provided on one of opening / closing cover 315 and rotation guide member 500, and groove 512 is provided on the other of opening / closing cover 315 and rotation guide member 500. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100 Image forming device 101 Image reading device 102 ADF 315 Opening and closing cover 318 Flag member 325 Protrusion 500 Rotating guide member 512 Groove

Claims

1. A housing, A placement portion on which a sheet is placed, A feeding unit that feeds the sheet placed on the placement portion, An opening / closing member that has an upper guide for guiding the sheet facing the upper surface of the sheet fed by the feeding unit and is rotatably supported by the housing, A conveying guide member that has a lower guide facing the lower surface of the sheet fed by the feeding unit and forms a conveying path through which the sheet is conveyed together with the upper guide, and is rotatably supported by the housing, A protruding portion provided on one of the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member, A fitting portion provided on the other of the opening / closing member and the conveying guide member, into which the protruding portion fits, Comprising, In a state where the opening / closing member is closed, the position of the conveying guide member in the width direction is determined by the protruding portion fitting into the fitting portion, A sheet conveying device characterized by the above.

2. A regulating member provided on the opening / closing member, movable between a regulating position that abuts against the leading end of the sheet placed on the placement portion to regulate the position of the leading end of the sheet and a feeding position that allows the passage of the sheet fed by the feeding unit, The conveying guide member has a notch portion into which the lower end portion of the regulating member intrudes in a state where the opening / closing member is closed. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The regulating member moves from a non-contact position where it is not in contact with the sheet to the regulating position by being pushed by the sheet placed on the placement portion, On the conveying guide member, a detection unit for detecting the sheet placed on the placement portion is arranged based on the movement of the regulating member from the non-contact position to the regulating position. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The detection unit is provided inside the notch portion. The sheet conveying device according to claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. The lower end portion of the regulating member intrudes into the notch portion after the leading end of the protruding portion intrudes into the fitting portion in the process of the opening / closing member closing from an open state. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

6. The feeding unit A feeding roller that rotates in contact with the sheet placed on the placement portion, An arm member that raises and lowers the feeding roller between a contact position where it contacts the sheet and a separation position where it is separated from the sheet. When the feed roller is in the separated position, the regulating member is restricted from moving from the regulating position to the feeding position, and when the feed roller is in the abutting position, a locking mechanism that allows the regulating member to move from the regulating position to the feeding position; having The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that.

7. The protruding portion is provided on the opening / closing member, The fitting portion is provided on the conveyance guide member. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The protruding portion and the fitting portion are provided outside the region through which the sheet in the conveyance path passes in the width direction. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. The fitting portion is a groove portion that sandwiches the protruding portion from both sides in the width direction. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. A sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a reading unit provided below the conveyance guide member for reading an image of a sheet fed by the feeding unit. An image reading device characterized by that.

11. The conveyance guide member is rotated with respect to the housing to expose the reading unit to the outside of the device when viewed from above. The reading unit has a transparent member through which light from the sheet passes, and is rotatably provided with respect to the housing so that the transparent member is exposed to the outside of the device when viewed from above. The image reading device according to claim 10, characterized in that.

12. An image reading device according to claim 10, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on the image information of the sheet read by the reading unit. An image forming device characterized by that.

Images