Image reading device and recording device

Abstract

To provide a sheet discharge device capable of improving alignment of sheets.SOLUTION: A sheet discharge device comprises: a conveyance part for conveying a sheet; a discharge part for discharging the sheet conveyed by the conveyance part in the discharge direction; and a sheet placement part having a first placement portion which is located below the discharge part and on which the sheet discharged from the discharge part is placed and a second placement portion which is located on the downstream side of the first placement portion in the discharge direction and is inclined with respect to the first placement portion so as to go upward toward the downstream side in the discharge direction. A distance from the discharge part to the upstream end of the second placement portion is larger than a distance from the upstream end of the second placement portion to the downstream end of the placement part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field] 【0001】 The present invention relates to a sheet discharge device that discharges a sheet, an image reading device including the sheet discharge device, and a recording device including the sheet discharge device. [Background technology] 【0002】 Conventionally, a sheet discharge device is provided that includes a discharge section that discharges sheets to a device such as a recording device or an image reading device that conveys the sheets and performs a printing process or a reading process, and a stacking section that stacks the discharged sheets. In such a sheet discharge device, in order to maintain the alignment of the sheets stacked on the stacking section, it is necessary to prevent the stacked sheets after discharge from being pushed out by the subsequent sheets that are discharged later. 【0003】 Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet discharge device in which a stacking section is provided with a blocking section that blocks the movement of the sheet by hitting the leading edge of the sheet. In this configuration, the sheet is prevented from jumping out of the stacking section and falling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents] 【0004】 [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-26370 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention] 【0005】 However, when the above-mentioned configuration is applied to a small-sized sheet discharge device, sheets larger than the discharge sheet stacking section cannot be stacked on the discharge sheet stacking section, and the sheets that can be handled are significantly limited. On the other hand, in a configuration in which a blocking section is not provided, it is difficult to maintain the alignment of the stacked sheets. 【0006】 The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a sheet ejection device capable of improving sheet alignment. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 In order to achieve the above object, the sheet ejection device of the present invention comprises: A conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a discharge section that discharges the sheet conveyed by the conveyance section in a discharge direction; a sheet stacking section including a first stacking section located below the discharge section and on which sheets discharged from the discharge section are stacked, and a second stacking section located downstream of the first stacking section in the discharge direction and inclined with respect to the first stacking section so as to face upward toward the downstream in the discharge direction; Equipped with In the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the upstream end of the second stacking section is greater than the distance from the upstream end of the second stacking section to the downstream end of the stacking section. Effect of the Invention 【0008】 According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet discharging device capable of improving sheet alignment. [Brief description of the drawings] 【0009】 [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an image reading device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image reading device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a scanner unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the glass frame unit according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a top view showing an internal configuration of an image reading device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to a comparative example. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a discharged sheet stacking section according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a discharged sheet stacking portion according to the second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 【0010】 Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the embodiment may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions. In other words, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. 【0011】 The sheet ejection device of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a flatbed scanner device, or a copying machine, a facsimile, a multifunction machine, etc., which combines a flatbed scanner device and a printing device, etc. The present invention is particularly suitable for a sheet ejection device provided in an image reading device provided in the above-mentioned multifunction machine, etc. Below, an image reading device that imports a sheet image into a computer, etc. will be described as an example of an image reading device to which the present invention is applied. Note that the same reference numerals throughout the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts. The X direction shown in the drawings as appropriate is the width direction of the image reading device, the Y direction is the depth direction, and the Z direction is the height direction. In the embodiment described below, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are perpendicular to each other. 【0012】 First Embodiment [Image reading device 100] 1(a) and (b) are external perspective views of a multifunction machine 1 in which an image reading device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is combined with a printing device 400, which is an inkjet printer. The image reading device 100 is broadly composed of a scanner unit 200 as a reading unit that reads an image on a sheet, and an ADF unit 300 configured to be capable of conveying a sheet. The ADF unit 300 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the scanner unit 200 so that a sheet can be placed on the scanner unit 200. FIG. 1(a) shows the image reading device 100 in a state in which the ADF unit 300 is open. FIG. 1(b) shows the image reading device 100 in a state in which the ADF unit 300 is closed. 【0013】 Next, the configuration of the image reading device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the scanner unit 200 and ADF unit 300 of the image reading device 100. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the image reading device 100 in the XZ plane with the ADF unit 300 closed. In Fig. 2, the ADF unit 300 shows the path of a sheet passing through a sheet transport path 311 with a solid arrow. A part of the sheet transport path 311 is formed by a part of the scanner unit 200. 【0014】 The ADF unit 300 includes a sheet placement table 301 on which sheets to be automatically transported are placed, a sheet transport mechanism configured to be able to transport sheets, and a discharged sheet stacking unit 320. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a plurality of sheets 310 are placed on the sheet placement table 301. The sheet transport mechanism is a transport means including a sheet transport mechanism from a pickup roller 304 to a discharge roller 309, which will be described below. In other words, the sheet transport mechanism is composed of a transport unit that transports the sheets 310, and a discharge unit that includes the discharge roller 309 and discharges the sheets 310. The ADF unit 300 also includes a sheet placement table 301 on which sheets to be automatically transported are placed, a sheet transport mechanism configured to be able to transport sheets 310, and a discharge unit that includes the discharge roller 309 and discharges the sheets 310. 09 can be regarded as a kind of sheet ejection device that ejects the sheet 310. 【0015】 A sheet to be automatically conveyed is first placed on a sheet placement table 301 provided on the upper part of the ADF unit 300. A sheet 310 placed on the sheet placement table 301 is conveyed toward a separation roller 305 by a pickup roller 304 of a sheet conveying mechanism. Thereafter, the sheet 310 is conveyed one by one by a separation roller 305 and a separation pad 306 to a conveying roller 307 on the downstream side in the conveying direction. Next, the sheet 310 is conveyed by the conveying roller 307 to a conveying guide 203 on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The conveying guide 203 is a guide unit that is detachably provided with respect to the image reading device 100. When the sheet 310 passes through the conveying guide 203, the sheet 310 is pressed by a white pressing plate 308 and is brought into close contact with the conveying guide 203. At this time, the sheet 310 is read by an image sensor 206. The white pressing plate 308 has a size that covers the entire area of ​​the image sensor 206 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). 【0016】 The sheet 310 that has passed through the conveying guide 203 passes through a sheet size indicator member 205 located downstream of the conveying guide 203 in the conveying direction, and is discharged to a discharged sheet stacking unit 320 by a discharge roller 309 located downstream of the sheet size indicator member 205 in the conveying direction. The conveying guide 203 and the sheet size indicator member 205 are components of the scanner unit 200. Various sheet detection sensors (not shown) are arranged in the sheet conveying mechanism unit, and the sheet conveying mechanism unit is configured to be able to detect the passage of the leading and trailing ends of a sheet. The detection results (outputs) of the various sheet detection sensors are used by the control unit 500 to control the timing of reading by the image sensor 206. The control unit 500 may be a common unit provided for the image reading device 100 and the printing device 400, or may be provided separately for each of the image reading device 100 and the printing device 400. 【0017】 There are two sheet reading methods of the image reading device 100: a fixed sheet reading method (flatbed reading) and a sheet conveying reading method (ADF reading). The fixed sheet reading method is a method in which a sheet is fixed on a glass table 202 of the scanner section 200, and the sheet is read by moving a reading unit 207 in the sub-scanning direction (X direction). The sheet conveying reading method is a method in which the reading unit 207 is fixed at a predetermined position (ADF position) below a detachable conveying guide 203, and the sheet is conveyed by the ADF section 300 while being read. 【0018】 The reading unit 207 of the scanner section 200 in FIG. 2 is in a standby state at the ADF position to read a sheet 310 that is automatically conveyed by the ADF section 300 . 【0019】 [Scanner section 200] Next, the configuration of the scanner unit 200 of the image reading device 100 will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3(a)-(d), 4, and 5. Fig. 3(a) is a top view of the scanner unit 200 with the ADF unit 300 removed from the image reading device 100, showing the entire glass frame unit 201. Fig. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 3(a), showing the scanner unit 200 as viewed from the main scanning direction (Y direction). Fig. 3(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 3(a), showing the scanner unit 200 as viewed from the sub-scanning direction (X direction). Fig. 3(d) is an enlarged view of part C in Fig. 3(b), showing the configuration of the sheet size indicator member 205 of the glass frame unit 201 and its surroundings. 【0020】 The glass frame unit 201 is composed of a glass base 202 on which a sheet 310 is placed, a transport guide 203 that guides the automatically transported sheet 310, and a glass frame 204 that holds the transport guide 203. The transport guide 203 is detachably held by the glass frame 204. The glass frame 204 includes a sheet size index member 205 and a sheet abutment reference 226 between the glass base 202 and the transport guide 203. 【0021】 A white sheet 224 is placed on the sheet placement surface side of glass table 202. Fig. 3(d) shows a simplified view of white area 224W and black area 224B of white sheet 224. Details of white area 224W and black area 224B of white sheet 224 are shown in Fig. 4. 【0022】 4 is a rear view of the glass frame unit 201 in FIG. 3(a), and is a view of the glass frame unit 201 viewed from the printing device 400 side. FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the white sheet 224. The glass table 202 is abutted against two glass frame abutment portions 228 of the glass frame 204, and the position in the X direction is determined. The white sheet 224 is located on the rear side of the glass table 202, on the sheet placement surface, as viewed in this figure. As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the white sheet 224 in the X direction is between the glass frame abutment portions 228 and the stationary sheet reading area 237. 【0023】 White sheet 224 integrally comprises white area 224W for performing shading correction of image sensor 206 of reading unit 207, and black area 224B which serves as a reference position in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) of image sensor 206. In order to perform shading processing, white sheet 224 is sized to cover the entire area in the main scanning direction (Y direction) of image sensor 206. The sub-scanning direction position of black area 224B in white sheet 224 is closer to stationary sheet reading area 237 than white area 224W. 【0024】 Fig. 5 is a top view of the scanner unit 200 with the glass frame unit 201 removed. The scanner unit 200 includes a motor 220, a guide rail 221, a belt 222, and a base frame 223. Fig. 5 shows the internal configuration of the entire scanner unit 200, and illustrates the relative positions of the reading unit 207 and the base frame 223. 【0025】 A guide rail 221 with the sub-scanning direction (X direction) as its longitudinal direction is disposed in the center of the base frame 223 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). The slider 218 of the reading unit 207 is disposed on the guide rail 221 so as to be slidable in the sub-scanning direction (X direction). The reading unit 207 is connected to a belt 222 through a drive transmission unit. When a driving input is input to the motor 220, the belt 222 moves in response to the input, and the reading unit 207 scans back and forth along the guide rail 221. With this configuration, the reading unit 207 is configured to be movable in the sub-scanning direction. 【0026】 In addition, the first embodiment is a belt-driven type in which the drive unit is arranged on the base frame 223 and the drive force is transmitted by the belt 222, but the reading unit may also be a self-propelled type in which the drive unit is arranged in the reading unit 207. 【0027】 [Discharged sheet stacking section 320] Next, the configuration of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 of the ADF section 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6(a), (b), 7(a), (b), 8(a) to (d), 10(a) to (c), and 11. 【0028】 FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ADF unit 300. FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view showing the discharged sheet stacking unit 320 in the ADF unit 300. The discharged sheet stacking unit 320 shown by the dashed line in FIG. 6(b) is composed of an ADF base 302 which is a base member, and a discharged sheet stacking tray 312 which is a tray member attached to the ADF base 302. The discharged sheet stacking unit 320 has a first stacking unit 321, a second stacking unit 322 which is inclined with respect to the first stacking unit 321, a recessed portion 324 which is recessed downward with respect to the second stacking unit 322, and a flat portion 327 which extends substantially horizontally. In the following description, a portion where the first stacking unit 321 switches to the second stacking unit 322 will be described as an inflection portion 323. 【0029】 The sheet conveyed by the conveying section in the ADF section 300 is discharged in the X direction by discharge rollers 309 constituting the discharge section. In the following description, the discharge direction of the sheet is referred to as the discharge direction EJD, and the width direction of the discharged sheet, which is parallel to the Y direction, is referred to as the width direction EWD. In the first embodiment, the control unit 500 of the image reading device 100 controls the rotation speed and the like of the discharge rollers 309 so that the sheet abuts against the first stacking section 321 before reaching the second stacking section 322. For example, the control unit 500 may rotate the discharge rollers 309 at a preset rotation speed according to the sheet type selected by the user, and discharge the sheet at a predetermined discharge speed. 【0030】 FIG. 7(a) is a top view of the discharged sheet stacking section 320, and is a view of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 as viewed in the Z direction. FIG. 7(b) is a cross section of FIG. 7(a) taken along the FF line, and shows a cross section of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 in the XZ plane. As described above, the discharged sheet stacking section 320 has the first stacking section 321, the second stacking section 322, the inflection section 323, the recessed section 324, and the flat section 327. In the discharge direction EJD, the discharge roller 309, the first stacking section 321, the inflection section 323, the second stacking section 322 (recessed section 324), the flat section 327, and the downstream end 325 of the ADF section 300 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. The downstream end 325 is a surface of the housing of the image reading device 100 facing the downstream side in the discharge direction EJD. 【0031】 The first stacking portion 321 is located below the discharge rollers 309, and extends substantially parallel to the discharge direction EJD. In addition, the first stacking portion 321 extends over the entire area of ​​the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 in the width direction EWD. 【0032】 The second stacking portion 322 is located downstream of the first stacking portion 321 in the discharge direction EJD, and is formed contiguous to the first stacking portion 321. The second stacking portion 322 is inclined relative to the first stacking portion 321 so as to face upward toward the downstream in the discharge direction EJD. In addition, the second stacking portion 322 is formed divided in the width direction EWD, and is located at both ends of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 in the width direction EWD. 【0033】 The recessed portion 324 is located between the second stacking portion 322 at one end side and the second stacking portion 322 at the other end side in the width direction EWD of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320. The recessed portion 324 is formed on the same plane as the first stacking portion 321, and is recessed downward in the gravity direction with respect to the second stacking portion 322. 【0034】 The flat portion 327 is located downstream of the second stacker 322 in the discharge direction EJD, and is formed continuously with the second stacker 322. The flat portion 327 extends approximately horizontally from the downstream end of the second stacker 322 to the downstream end 325 of the ADF unit 300 in the discharge direction EJD. That is, the flat portion 327 is provided downstream of the second stacker 322, and has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the first stacker 321 than the second stacker 322. 【0035】 The inflection portion 323 is a boundary between the first stacking portion 321 and the second stacking portion 322 in the discharge direction EJD, and is the downstream end of the first stacking portion 321 and the upstream end of the second stacking portion 322. In other words, the inflection portion 323 is a boundary where the angle of the sheet stacking surface of the discharge sheet stacking portion 320 changes. 【0036】 In the discharge direction EJD, a distance EL1 from the discharge roller 309 to the inflection portion 323 is greater than a distance EL2 from the inflection portion 323 to the downstream end 325 of the ADF unit 300. By configuring the discharged sheet stacking unit 320 in this manner, it is possible to improve the alignment of sheets stacked on the discharged sheet stacking unit 320. The effect of improving the alignment of sheets by the above-mentioned configuration will be described in detail later. 【0037】 8(a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams of the discharge operation of the sheet 310. 8A to 8D, conveying sheet 310a being conveyed (discharged) is shown by a solid line with an arrow, and discharged and stacked sheet 310b is shown by a solid line without an arrow. 【0038】 8(a) shows how first conveying sheet 310a is discharged from discharge rollers 309 and the leading edge of conveying sheet 310a comes into contact with first stacker 321. The leading edge of conveying sheet 310a discharged from discharge rollers 309 is bent by gravity and first comes into contact with first stacker 321. In the first embodiment, distance EL1 is sufficiently long, so that conveying sheet 310a first comes into contact with first stacker 321, not second stacker 322. 【0039】 Fig. 8(b) shows conveying sheet 310a continuing to be discharged from the state in Fig. 8(a), and the leading edge of conveying sheet 310a passing through inflection portion 323 and contacting second stacker 322. Conveying sheet 310a that has contacted first stacker 321 is conveyed in discharge direction EJD while in sliding contact with first stacker 321, passes through inflection portion 323, and reaches second stacker 322. 【0040】 8(c) shows a state where the trailing end of conveying sheet 310a in the discharge direction EJD is discharged from discharge rollers 309, and the discharge operation of conveying sheet 310a to discharged sheet stacking section 320 is completed. Through this series of operations, conveying sheet 310a is discharged to discharged sheet stacking section 320 and stacked as stacked sheet 310b. Stacked sheet 310b is stacked on discharged sheet stacking section 320 in such a way that, in the discharge direction EJD, the shape of stacked sheet 310b conforms to the shape of first stacking section 321 near discharge rollers 309, and the shape of second stacking section 322 at a position away from discharge rollers 309. 【0041】 As described above, the second stacking section 322 is provided at both ends in the width direction EWD of the discharged sheet stacking section 320. Therefore, downstream of the first stacking section 321, both ends of the stacked sheets 310b in the width direction EWD are supported by the second stacking section 322, and the center part in the width direction EWD sinks downward and curves. In this way, since the leading end of the stacked sheets 310b is supported in a curved state, bending due to gravity is reduced, and a gap is formed in the gravity direction (Z direction) between the stacked sheets 310b and the flat part 327. This allows the user to easily remove the stacked sheets 310b from the discharged sheet stacking section 320. 【0042】 8(d) shows how the second conveying sheet 310a is discharged onto the stack of sheets 310b previously discharged by the discharge rollers 309. The leading edge of the discharged conveying sheet 310a is bent by gravity and comes into contact with the stack of sheets 310b. Then, the conveying sheet 310a is discharged in the discharge direction EJD while sliding against the stack of sheets 310b that are stacked following the first stacking unit 321 and the second stacking unit 322, and is stacked on the stack of sheets 310b. 【0043】 In order to explain the effect of improving sheet alignment by the above-mentioned configuration, a sheet discharge operation in a comparative example will be explained first. Figures 9(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of the discharge operation of a sheet 310 in the comparative example. 【0044】 9A shows a configuration of a first comparative example in which the second stacking portion 322 is not provided and the discharged sheet stacking portion 1320 is formed on one plane. In such a configuration, the movement of the conveying sheet 310a and the stacked sheet 310b in the discharge direction EJD is not suppressed by the second stacking portion 322. Therefore, when the conveying sheet 310a is discharged, the leading end of the conveying sheet 310a may protrude significantly from the discharged sheet stacking portion 1320 and fall from the discharged sheet stacking portion 1320. Furthermore, when the conveying sheet 310a is discharged onto the stacked sheet 310b, the stacked sheet 310b may move in the discharge direction EJD together with the conveying sheet 310a and protrude from the discharged sheet stacking portion 1320, which may cause a deterioration in the alignment of the sheets 310. 【0045】 9B shows a configuration of a second comparative example in which a first stacking portion 321 and a second stacking portion 322 are provided in the discharge sheet stacking portion 2320. In the second comparative example, a distance EL1 from the discharge roller 309 to the inflection portion 323 in the discharge direction EJD is equal to or less than a distance EL2 from the inflection portion 323 to a downstream end 325 of the ADF portion 300. Note that the distance EL1 may be, for example, the distance from the downstream end of the discharge roller 309 in the discharge direction EJD. 【0046】 In the configuration of the second comparative example, movement of conveying sheet 310a and stacked sheet 310b in the discharge direction EJD is suppressed by second stacking portion 322. Therefore, conveying sheet 310a discharged from discharge rollers 309 is stacked following first stacking portion 321 and second stacking portion 322 without jumping out of discharged sheet stacking portion 2320. 【0047】 However, in the second comparative example, because the distance from discharge rollers 309 to second stacking section 322 is short, conveying sheet 310a runs up second stacking section 322 via stacked sheets 310b with little deflection. Then, most of the conveying force of conveying sheet 310a by discharge rollers 309 etc. is transmitted to stacked sheets 310b, so a large force acts to move stacked sheets 310b in the discharge direction EJD. Therefore, also in the second comparative example, stacked sheets 310b move in the discharge direction EJD together with conveying sheet 310a and are likely to jump out of discharged sheet stacking section 2320, which may reduce the alignment of sheets 310. 【0048】 On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, since the second stacking portion 322 is disposed at a position away from the discharge roller 309, the conveying sheet 310a runs up the second stacking portion 322 through the stacked sheet 310b in a state of being largely bent. The bending of the conveying sheet 310a reduces the conveying force of the conveying sheet 310a transmitted to the stacked sheet 310b. In this manner, according to the configuration of the first embodiment, the movement of the stacked sheet 310b in the discharge direction EJD is suppressed by the second stacking portion 322, and the conveying force of the conveying sheet 310a transmitted to the stacked sheet 310b can be suppressed to be small. As a result, it is possible to suppress both the conveying sheet 310a from jumping out of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 and the previously discharged stacked sheet 310b from being pushed out of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 by the conveying sheet 310a discharged later, thereby improving sheet alignment. 【0049】 In the first embodiment, output sheet stacking section 320 is configured so that conveying sheet 310a discharged to output sheet stacking section 320 first comes into contact with first stacking section 321, and the sheet discharge speed is controlled, but the application of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, if the amount of bending of conveying sheet 310a is sufficiently large, the leading end of conveying sheet 310a to be discharged may jump over first stacking section 321 and come into contact with the upstream end of second stacking section 322. 【0050】 Next, the configuration of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10(a) to (c). Fig. 10(a) is a top view of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 showing the positional relationship between the discharged sheet stacking section 320 and the stacked sheets 310b in the first embodiment. Fig. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the multifunction device 1 and the stacked sheets 310b in the first embodiment. Fig. 10(c) is an HH cross-sectional view of Fig. 10(b), showing a cross section of the ADF section 300 on the XZ plane. 【0051】 Image reading device 100 is configured to be capable of handling sheets 310 of a size within a preset range. In Fig. 10(a), a state in which a maximum sheet 310L, which is the maximum size, and a minimum sheet 310S, which is the minimum size, among sheets 310 of the compatible sizes, are stacked on discharged sheet stacking section 320 is shown by dotted lines. 【0052】 The discharge sheet stacking unit 320 is disposed between the discharge rollers 309 and the ADF unit 310 in the discharge direction EJD. The distance EL3 from the discharge roller 309 to the downstream end 325 of the ADF unit 300 is configured to be shorter than the entire length of the largest sheet 310L. The distance EL3 is equal to the sum of the distance EL1 from the discharge roller 309 to the inflection portion 323 and the distance EL2 from the inflection portion 323 to the downstream end 325 of the ADF unit 300. In the discharge direction EJD, no structure is provided from the second stacking unit 322 to the downstream end 325 to impede the movement of the sheet 310. Therefore, when the largest sheet 310L is discharged and stacked on the discharged sheet stacking unit 320, the leading end of the largest sheet 310L protrudes from the downstream end 325 of the ADF unit 300 in the discharge direction EJD. Even in the configuration in which the stacked sheets 310b are stacked in such a state, the second stacking unit 322 prevents the stacked sheets 310b from falling from the discharged sheet stacking unit 320. 【0053】 By making the length of the discharge sheet stacking section 320 in the discharge direction EJD shorter than the overall length of the largest sheet 310L and stacking the sheets 310 with a part of them protruding from the ADF section 300, the user can easily take out the sheets 310 from the ADF section 300. Furthermore, since there is no need to make the size of the ADF section 300 excessively large to match the largest sheet 310L, the image reading device 100 and the multifunction device 1 can be made smaller. 【0054】 On the other hand, the distance EL3 in the discharge direction EJD of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 is larger than the smallest sheet 310S. In the first embodiment, the distance EL1 in the discharge direction EJD of the discharged sheet stacking portion 320 is smaller than the entire length of the smallest sheet 310S. In the width direction EWD, the recessed portion 324 has a curved surface 324R that curves upward as it approaches the second stacking portion 322. The second stacking portion 322 and the recessed portion 324 are disposed so that both ends of the smallest sheet 310S are located on the curved surface 324R in the width direction EWD. 【0055】 With the discharged sheet stacking section 320 configured as described above, when the smallest sheet 310S is stacked on the discharged sheet stacking section 320, the leading edge of the smallest sheet 310S fits inside the discharged sheet stacking section 320. At this time, both ends of the leading edge of the smallest sheet 310S in the width direction EWD are supported by the curved surface 324R. Therefore, a user can insert his / her hands into the recessed portion 324 and easily remove the stacked sheet 310b from the discharged sheet stacking section 320. Thus, according to the configuration of the first embodiment, even if a stacked sheet 310b of a size whose leading edge does not protrude from the discharged sheet stacking section 320 is stacked on the discharged sheet stacking section 320, the user can easily remove the stacked sheet 310b. 【0056】 Next, the feed sheet stacking tray 331 attached to the sheet placement table 301 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 10(c). The ADF unit 300 is provided with the feed sheet stacking tray 331 capable of stacking the sheets 310 to be fed to the sheet transport mechanism. The feed sheet stacking tray 331 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the width direction EWD with respect to the sheet placement table 301 on the upper part of the ADF unit 300. Fig. 10(c) shows a state in which the feed sheet stacking tray 331 is positioned above the second stacking unit 322 and is available for use, and shows a rotation center 331a of the feed sheet stacking tray 331. 【0057】 In the discharge direction EJD, the rotation center 331a of the feed sheet stacking tray 331 is located between the discharge roller 309 and the inflection portion 323. In addition, the inclination angle of the feed sheet stacking tray 331 relative to the horizontal plane in the used state and the inclination angle of the second stacking portion 322 relative to the horizontal plane are substantially the same, and the sheet stacking surface of the feed sheet stacking tray 331 and the sheet stacking surface of the second stacking portion 322 are substantially parallel to each other. This configuration ensures a wide space for the user to take out the smallest sheet 310S. 【0058】 In addition, since the rotation center 331a of the feed sheet stacking tray 331 is located above the discharge roller 309, the feed sheet stacking tray 331 is disposed so as not to interfere with the discharge of the sheet 310. Furthermore, in the discharge direction EJD, the feed sheet stacking tray 331 in the used state 1 is located between the inflection portion 323 and the downstream end 325 of the ADF portion 300. Therefore, the feed sheet stacking tray 331 is configured to be contained inside the image reading device 100 and does not protrude from, for example, the downstream end 325. With this configuration, the feed sheet stacking tray 331 does not become a speed limiter for the size of the image reading device 100 or the like, and the feed sheet stacking tray 331 can be used even in a small space. 【0059】 As described above, according to the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to improve the alignment of stacked sheets 310b by preventing conveying sheets 310a and stacked sheets 310b from falling from discharged sheet stacking section 320 while suppressing an increase in size of the sheet discharge device. In order to efficiently improve sheet alignment, it is preferable that distance EL1 be greater than distance EL2, and it is particularly preferable that distance EL1 be 1.2 times or more greater than distance EL2. 【0060】 11 is an exploded view of the ADF unit 300 in the first embodiment. The discharged sheet stacking unit 320 is configured by attaching a discharged sheet stacking tray 312 onto an ADF base 302. A part of a first stacking unit 321 of the discharged sheet stacking unit 320 is formed on the ADF base 302, and a part of the first stacking unit 321 of the discharged sheet stacking unit 320, a second stacking unit 322, a flat unit 327, etc. are formed on the discharged sheet stacking tray 312. 【0061】 Further, the ADF base 302 is provided with an ADF hinge 326 as a hinge unit that supports the ADF unit 300 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the scanner unit 200. The ADF hinge 326 holds the ADF unit 300 in an open state as shown in FIG. 1(a). When the discharge sheet stacking tray 312 is attached to the ADF base 302, the ADF hinge 326 is covered by the discharge sheet stacking tray 312. That is, in the first embodiment, the discharge sheet stacking tray 312 including the first stacking unit 321 and the second stacking unit 322 functions as a cover member that covers the ADF hinge 326. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a user from touching the ADF hinge 326 and to suppress an increase in the number of parts. 【0062】 <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 12. As the first embodiment, the configuration of the sheet discharge device provided in the image reading device 100 has been described, but the sheet discharge device provided in the printing device 400 as a recording device having a conveying section that conveys a sheet and a recording section that records an image on the sheet can also be configured in the same way. Only the differences between the configuration of the second embodiment and the configuration of the first embodiment will be described below. In the configuration of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for the same components as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted. 【0063】 Figures 12(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of the discharged sheet stacking section 320 of the printing apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment. Figure 12(a) is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 400. Figure 12(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G in Figure 12(a), and is a view of the printing apparatus 400 as seen in the width direction EWD of the discharged sheets. 【0064】 The printing apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment includes discharge rollers 409 constituting a discharge section that discharges sheets on which a recording operation has been performed, and a discharged sheet stacking section 420 to which sheets are discharged and stacked. The discharged sheet stacking section 420 includes a first stacking section 421, a second stacking section 422 that is inclined with respect to the first stacking section 421 and is located downstream of the first stacking section 421, and an inflection section 423 that is the boundary between the first stacking section 421 and the second stacking section 422. 【0065】 In the discharge direction EJD, a distance EL1 from the discharge roller 409 to the inflection point 423 is greater than a distance EL2 from the inflection point 423 to a downstream end 425 of the printing device 400. The downstream end 425 of the printing device 400 is located downstream of the housing of the printing device 400 in the discharge direction EJD. Further, a distance EL3 from the discharge roller 409 to the downstream end 425, which is the sum of the distance EL1 and the distance EL2, is smaller than the maximum sheet length 310L. 【0066】 The above-described configuration can prevent both the conveying sheet 310a from jumping out of the discharged sheet stacking section 420 and the previously discharged stacked sheet 310b from being pushed out of the discharged sheet stacking section 420 by the conveying sheet 310a discharged later. As a result, sheet alignment can be improved while preventing the printing device 400 from becoming larger in size. 【0067】 The application of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be applied to other configurations as long as the identity of the invention is not lost. For example, the sheet discharge device is not limited to being provided in the image reading device 100 or the printing device 400, and may be provided in other devices. 【0068】 The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) A conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a discharge section that discharges the sheet conveyed by the conveyance section in a discharge direction; a sheet stacking section including a first stacking section located below the discharge section and on which sheets discharged from the discharge section are stacked, and a second stacking section located downstream of the first stacking section in the discharge direction and inclined with respect to the first stacking section so as to face upward toward the downstream in the discharge direction; Equipped with 2. A sheet discharging device, wherein in the discharge direction, a distance from the discharge section to an upstream end of the second stacking section is greater than a distance from the upstream end of the second stacking section to a downstream end of the sheet stacking section. (Configuration 2) the second stacking portion is provided at both ends of the sheet stacking portion in a width direction perpendicular to the discharge direction, The sheet discharge device described in configuration 1, characterized in that the sheet stacking portion is located between the second stacking portion on one end side of the sheet stacking portion and the second stacking portion on the other end side in the width direction, and has a recessed portion recessed downward in the direction of gravity relative to the second stacking portion. (Configuration 3) The sheet discharge device described in configuration 2, characterized in that the sheet stacking section is located downstream of the second stacking section in the discharge direction and has a flat section whose inclination angle with respect to the first stacking section is smaller than the inclination angle of the second stacking section with respect to the first stacking section. (Configuration 4) 4. The sheet discharging device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the second stacking portion is formed continuous with the first stacking portion in the discharging direction. (Configuration 5) A sheet discharge device described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that in the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the downstream end of the sheet stacking section is shorter than the entire length of a sheet of a maximum size that the sheet discharge device can handle, which is preset. (Configuration 6) A sheet discharge device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that in the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the upstream end of the second stacking section is shorter than the entire length of a sheet of a minimum size that can be handled by the sheet discharge device, which is preset. (Configuration 7) The sheet discharge device described in configuration 2 is characterized in that the recessed portion has a curved surface that curves upward as it approaches the second stacking section in the width direction, and the curved surface on which both ends of the sheet are placed when a sheet of a minimum size that is preset and compatible with the sheet discharge device is loaded in the discharge section is formed at both ends in the width direction. (Configuration 8) The sheet discharge device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, further comprising a control unit that controls the discharge section so as to discharge the sheet at a speed at which the leading end of the sheet in the discharge direction abuts against the first stacking section before reaching the second stacking section. (Configuration 9) a stacking tray on which sheets to be fed to the conveying section are stacked and which is located above the second stacking section; A sheet discharge device described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that the sheet loading surface of the loading tray is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and the inclination angle of the loading tray is approximately the same as the inclination angle of the second loading section. (Configuration 10) the stacking tray is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a width direction of the sheets placed on the placement surface, 10. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 9, wherein the center of rotation of the stacking tray is located above the ejection section. (Configuration 11) 11. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 9 or 10, wherein a downstream end of the stacking tray is located upstream of a downstream end of the sheet stacking portion in the ejection direction. (Configuration 12) The sheet discharge device described in any one of configurations 1 to 11, characterized in that the sheet stacking section is composed of a base member on which a portion of the first stacking section is formed, and a tray member on which a portion of the first stacking section and the second stacking section are formed and which is attached to the base member. (Configuration 13) A sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, a reading unit that reads an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; An image reading device comprising: (Configuration 14) a hinge portion that supports the sheet ejection device so as to be openable and closable relative to the reading portion, 14. The image reading device according to configuration 13, wherein the sheet ejection device includes a cover member that covers the hinge portion and includes the first stacking portion and the second stacking portion. (Configuration 15) A sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet transported by the transport unit; A recording device comprising: [Explanation of symbols] 【0069】 309: discharge roller (discharge section), 320: discharge sheet stacking section (stack section), 321: first stacking section, 322: second stacking section

Claims

[Claim 1] A conveying unit that transports the sheets, A discharge unit that discharges the sheets conveyed by the conveying unit in the discharge direction, A sheet stacking section having: a first stacking section located below the discharge section and on which sheets discharged from the discharge section are stacked; and a second stacking section located downstream of the first stacking section in the discharge direction and inclined with respect to the first stacking section so as it moves downstream in the discharge direction, A reading unit reads an image on a sheet that has been transported by the transport unit, Equipped with, An image reading device characterized in that, in the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the upstream end of the second loading section is greater than the distance from the upstream end of the second loading section to the downstream end of the sheet loading section. [Claim 2] The second loading section is provided at both ends of the sheet loading section in the width direction perpendicular to the discharge direction, The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet loading section is located in the width direction between the second loading section on one end of the sheet loading section and the second loading section on the other end, and has a recessed section that is recessed downward in the direction of gravity relative to the second loading section. [Claim 3] The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheet loading section is located downstream of the second loading section in the discharge direction and has a flat section whose inclination angle with respect to the first loading section is smaller than the inclination angle of the second loading section with respect to the first loading section. [Claim 4] The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second loading section is formed continuously with respect to the first loading section in the discharge direction. [Claim 5] The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the downstream end of the sheet loading section is shorter than the total length of the maximum size sheet that the image reading device can handle, which is set in advance. [Claim 6] The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the discharge direction, the distance from the discharge section to the upstream end of the second loading section is shorter than the total length of the smallest size sheet that the image reading device can handle, which is set in advance. [Claim 7] The image reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that the recessed portion has curved surfaces formed at both ends in the width direction, which curve upward as it approaches the second loading portion in the width direction, and the curved surfaces on which both ends of the sheet are placed when the smallest size sheet that the image reading device can handle is loaded into the discharge portion. [Claim 8] The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the discharge unit to discharge the sheet at a speed such that the leading edge of the sheet in the discharge direction contacts the first loading unit before it reaches the second loading unit. [Claim 9] The conveying section is equipped with a loading tray located above the second loading section, on which the sheets to be supplied are loaded. The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet mounting surface of the loading tray is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the inclination angle of the loading tray is substantially the same as the inclination angle of the second loading section. [Claim 10] The aforementioned loading tray is configured to be rotatable about a pivot axis extending in the width direction of the sheet placed on the aforementioned surface, The image reading device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pivot point of the loading tray is located above the discharge section. [Claim 11] The image reading device according to claim 9, characterized in that, in the discharge direction, the downstream end of the loading tray is located upstream of the downstream end of the sheet loading section. [Claim 12] The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet loading section comprises a base member on which a part of the first loading section is formed, and a tray member on which a part of the first loading section and the second loading section are formed and which is attached to the base member. [Claim 13] A sheet discharge device including the conveying section, the discharge section, and the sheet loading section, A hinge portion that supports the sheet ejection device so that it can be opened and closed relative to the reading unit, Equipped with, The image reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet discharge device comprises a cover member that covers the hinge portion and includes the first loading portion and the second loading portion. [Claim 14] An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, A recording unit that records an image on a sheet transported by the transport unit, A recording device characterized by comprising the following features.

Images