Image reading device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image reading device capable of reading a document without rumpling a document in a larger size than a contact member.SOLUTION: An image reading device 2 comprises: a contact member 22 including an area 221 in which a document is placed; a cover 23; a document feeding section 24 which is provided in the cover 23 and capable of feeding the document to a specific position on the contact member 22 along a feeding path 241; a guide 25 including a guide surface 251 forming a part of the feeding path 241; and an image reading section 26 disposed below the contact member 22. In a case where the cover 23 is closed and the document is located in the document feeding section 24, the guide 25 is moved from a lower position to an upper position in the process of locating the image reading section 26 below the specific position. In a case where the cover 23 is closed and the document is not located in the document feeding section 24, on the other hand, the image reading section 26 is moved below the area 221, and the guide 25 is stopped at the lower position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image reading device. The image reading device has a substantially rectangular contact member provided on the top surface of a housing. An ADF is provided on the housing above the contact member so as to be openable and closable. A document to be read is placed on the contact member. Furthermore, the document is covered from above by the ADF. An image reading unit is also disposed below the contact member. The image reading unit optically reads an image from the document on the contact member while being transported in the sub-scanning direction within the main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-287903 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A guide may be provided around the contact member on the top surface of the housing. The guide protrudes upward from the top surface and forms part of the transport path of the document by the ADF. Therefore, when attempting to read a document that is larger than the contact member, the ADF and the guide may cause the document to wrinkle.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of reading an original document larger than a contact member without causing wrinkles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image reading device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing, a contact member, a cover, a document transport unit, a guide, an image reading unit, a first mechanism, and a second mechanism. The contact member is provided on an upper surface of the housing and has an area on which a document is placed. The cover is capable of opening and closing the upper surface. The document transport unit is provided on the cover and is capable of transporting a document along a transport path to a specific position on the contact member. The guide is provided on the housing and has a guide surface that forms a part of the transport path. The image reading unit is disposed below the contact member. The first mechanism moves the image reading unit along the contact member. The second mechanism moves the guide between an upper position protruding from the upper surface and a lower position lower than the upper position. When the cover is closed and a document is present on the document transport unit, the second mechanism moves the guide from the lower position to the upper position during a process in which the first mechanism positions the image reading unit below the specific position. When the cover is closed and no document is present in the document transport section, the first mechanism moves the image reading section below the area, and the second mechanism stops the guide at the lower position.

[0007] An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the image reading device described above. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of reading a document larger than a contact member without causing wrinkles. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image reading device shown in FIG. 1 with the cover open. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image reading device shown in FIG. 1 with the cover closed. [Figure 4]3 is a diagram showing a guide and a vertical movement mechanism shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a vertical movement mechanism shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the image reading unit in the initial position shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the image reading unit in the reading position shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 3 is a vertical sectional view of the image reading device when it moves between the left end position and the right end position shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 and an image reading apparatus 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference characters and the description will be omitted.

[0011] In the following, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the following description may refer to mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions. For example, the X and Y directions are parallel to the installation surface of the multifunction device 100 (see FIG. 1), and the Z direction is a direction intersecting the installation surface.

[0012] In the embodiment, the Z direction is the up-down direction of the multifunction device 100. The X direction is the left-right direction of the multifunction device 100. The Y direction is the front-rear direction of the multifunction device 100. Hereinafter, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction will be referred to as the up-down direction Z, the left-right direction X, and the front-rear direction Y.

[0013] In the embodiment, the one and the other Z directions are, for example, the upward and downward directions of the multifunction device 100. The one and the other X directions are, for example, the left and right directions of the multifunction device 100. The one and the other Y directions are, for example, the front and rear directions of the multifunction device 100.

[0014] The term "intersection", in embodiments, refers to lines, surfaces, or lines and surfaces meeting each other at right angles, as well as to lines and surfaces meeting each other at non-right angles within a small range (such as tolerances and errors).

[0015] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a multifunction peripheral 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes an image forming device 1 and an image reading device 2. The image forming device 1 is located above the image reading device 2.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a feeding unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a fixing unit 14, and a discharge tray 15.

[0017] The control unit 11 controls the operations of the feeding unit 12, the image forming unit 13, and the fixing unit 14. In the embodiment, the control unit 11 also controls the operations of each unit of the image reading device 2. However, this is not limiting, and the control unit 11 may be provided in the image reading device 2. Furthermore, the control unit 11 may be provided in each of the image forming device 1 and the image reading device 2. The control unit 11 is a computer that operates according to a program, or an application specific integrated circuit (so-called ASIC) that executes a predetermined operation.

[0018] The image forming unit 13 forms an image on the sheet S fed from the feeding unit 12 by electrophotography. The fixing unit 14 fixes the image on the sheet S. The sheet S with the fixed image is discharged to a discharge tray 15.

[0019] Figures 2 and 3 are external perspective views of the image reading device 2 shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 particularly shows a state in which the cover 23 is open, and Figure 3 particularly shows a state in which the cover 23 is closed.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image reading device 2 optically reads an image shown on a document D (see FIG. 1) by either a sheet-through method or a fixed sheet method.

[0021] In detail, the image reading device 2 includes a housing 21, a contact member 22, a cover 23, an original transport unit (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 24, at least one guide 25, an image reading unit 26, a horizontal transport mechanism 27, and a vertical movement mechanism 28. Note that the contact member 22, the guide 25, the image reading unit 26, and the horizontal transport mechanism 27 are not shown in FIG.

[0022] The housing 21 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flattened in the vertical direction Z. The housing 21 accommodates at least an image reading unit 26, a horizontal transport mechanism 27, and a vertical movement mechanism 28.

[0023] The contact member 22 is provided on the upper surface 211 of the housing 21. The contact member 22 has an area 221 on which the document D is placed. The area 221 is an example of the "area" of the present invention.

[0024] In detail, the upper surface 211 has openings 212 and 213 formed therein.

[0025] The opening 213 has a generally rectangular shape that is longer in the front-rear direction Y than in the left-right direction X. The opening 213 is formed at a position away from the left end of the housing 21 to the right (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0026] Opening 212 has a generally rectangular shape that is longer in left-right direction X than in front-rear direction Y. Opening 212 is formed at a position away to the right from opening 213. The area of ​​opening 212 occupies most of the area of ​​upper surface 211 and is larger than the area of ​​opening 213.

[0027] The contact member 22 is made of a light-transmitting material. Examples of this type of material include glass and resin. The contact member 22 has a plate shape that extends in both the front-rear direction Y and the left-right direction X. The contact member 22 is exposed from each of the openings 212 and 213.

[0028] The area 221 is a portion of the contact member 22 that is exposed from the opening 212. In the area 221, a document D that is to be read by the fixed sheet method is placed.

[0029] A portion of the contact member 22 exposed from the opening 213 is an area 222. A linear specific position P01 extending in the front-rear direction Y is predefined in the area 222. A document D conveyed by the ADF 24 passes over the specific position P01. The document D is also a target for document reading by the sheet-through method.

[0030] A hinge mechanism 231 for opening and closing the cover 23 is provided behind the contact members 22 in the housing 21.

[0031] At least one through hole 252 is formed on the upper surface 211 to the left of the contact member 22 (see FIG. 2). In the embodiment, the number of through holes 252 is four. The four through holes 252 are lined up at intervals in the front-rear direction Y to the left of the contact member 22. Each through hole 252 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view from the up-down direction Z.

[0032] The cover 23 is attached to the housing 21 via a hinge mechanism 231. The cover 23 is rotatable about a hinge shaft 232 extending in the left-right direction X at the hinge mechanism 231. This allows the cover 23 to open and close the top surface 211 of the housing 21 by manual operation by the user.

[0033] In either the fixed sheet method or the sheet-through method, the document D is read with the cover 23 closed on the top surface 211. The user can replace the document D in the area 221 by opening the cover 23.

[0034] The ADF 24 is provided in the cover 23. The ADF 24 includes a transport path 241, an upper tray 242, a lower tray 243, and a sensor 244.

[0035] The transport path 241 is a U-turn path formed between an upper tray 242 and a lower tray 243 .

[0036] On the upper tray 242, an original D to be read by the sheet-through method is placed.

[0037] The sensor 244 is located near the upper tray 242 on the transport path 241. When the original D is placed, the sensor 244 outputs a detection signal indicating that the original D is placed. The sensor 244 is, for example, a photointerrupter.

[0038] The document D that has been read is discharged onto the lower tray 243.

[0039] The ADF 24 is capable of transporting the document D on the upper tray 242 along a transport path 241 (see FIG. 2 and the like) toward a specific position P01 on the contact member 22 and discharging the document D onto the lower tray 243.

[0040] The guide 25 is provided in the housing 21 and has a guide surface 251 that forms part of the transport path 241 (see FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the number of guides 25 is four. The four guides 25 can protrude above the upper surface 211 from within the housing 21 through the four through holes 252.

[0041] 4 is a diagram showing the guide 25 and the vertical movement mechanism 28 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide surface 251 is moved by the vertical movement mechanism 28 to an upper position P11 (see the upper part of FIG. 4) and a lower position P12 (see the lower part of FIG. 4). The upper position P11 is a position where each guide 25 protrudes from the upper surface 211. The lower position P12 is a position lower than the upper position P11. Preferably, the lower position P12 is a position where the upper end of the guide surface 251 is at the same position as the upper surface 211 in the vertical direction Z, or where the upper end is lower than the upper surface 211. The guide surface 251 forms a part of the conveying path 241 when the guide 25 is at the upper position P11.

[0042] As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the image reading unit 26 is disposed below the contact member 22 within the housing 21. The image reading unit 26 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction Y, and performs document reading. In the reading process, the image reading unit 26 emits linear light (hereinafter, referred to as "linear light") extending in the front-rear direction Y. The linear light is typically reflected by the document D on the contact member 22 and enters the image reading unit 26 as reflected light. In reading the document, the image reading unit 26 further performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light that is incident thereon, to generate image data representing the document D.

[0043] Image reading unit 26 is typically a contact image sensor that combines an LED array, a gradient index lens, and a light receiving element array into a unit. However, the image reading unit 26 is not limited to this, and may be configured to guide reflected light from document D by a reflecting mirror to a CCD sensor fixed to the bottom wall of housing 21.

[0044] 2, the horizontal conveying mechanism 27 is an example of the "first mechanism" in the present invention. The horizontal conveying mechanism 27 moves the image reading unit 26 along the contact member 22. Examples of the horizontal conveying mechanism 27 include a belt conveying mechanism or a ball screw mechanism.

[0045] In particular, in document reading using the sheet-through method, the horizontal transport mechanism 27 moves the image reading unit 26 to a reading position P02 and then stops the image reading unit 26 at the reading position P02. The reading position P02 is approximately directly below the specific position P01 in the vertical direction Z. The reading position P02 is approximately the same as the specific position P01 in the horizontal direction X. In document reading using the fixed sheet method, the horizontal transport mechanism 27 moves the image reading unit 26 back and forth between a left end position P03 and a right end position P04 on the area 221 in the horizontal direction X, which is below the area 221 in the vertical direction Z.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 4, the image reading device 2 further includes a vertical movement mechanism 28. The vertical movement mechanism 28 is an example of the "second mechanism" in the present invention. The vertical movement mechanism 28 moves each guide 25 between an upper position P11 (see the upper part of Fig. 4) where the guide 25 protrudes from the upper surface 211, and a lower position P12 (see the lower part of Fig. 4) below the upper position P11. The detailed configuration of the vertical movement mechanism 28 will be described later.

[0047] When the cover 23 is closed (see Figure 3) and there is a document D in the ADF 24, as shown in Figures 2 and the upper part of Figure 4, while the horizontal conveying mechanism 27 is positioning the image reading unit 26 at the reading position P02, the vertical movement mechanism 28 moves the guide 25 from the lower position P12 to the upper position P11.

[0048] When the cover 23 is closed (see FIG. 3) and there is no document D in the ADF 24, the horizontal transport mechanism 27 moves the image reading unit 26 below the area 221, as shown in FIG. 2 and the lower part of FIG. 4. While the image reading unit 26 is moving, the vertical movement mechanism 28 stops the guide 25 at the lower position P12.

[0049] Therefore, even if a large-sized document D is present in the area 221 of the contact member 22 during document reading using the fixed sheet method, the document D is unlikely to wrinkle even when the cover 23 is closed, since the guide 25 is stopped at the lower position P12.

[0050] On the other hand, in the case of the sheet-through method (that is, when the ADF 24 is used), the guide 25 is in the upper position P11, and the guide surface 251 defines the transport path 241. Therefore, the document D is transported along the guide surface 251 to the specific position P01.

[0051] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the vertical movement mechanism 28 shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the vertical movement mechanism 28 has a rack gear 281 and a spur gear 282.

[0052] The rack gear 281 extends leftward (i.e., one side of the X direction) from the image reading unit 26. One side of the X direction is a direction from the area 221 toward the specific position P01 among directions intersecting the Z direction. The X direction is an example of a "first direction" in the present invention.

[0053] In this embodiment, the number of rack gears 281 is two. One of the rack gears 281 extends from near the front end of the image reading unit 26 in the Y direction. The other of the rack gears 281 extends from near the center of the image reading unit 26 in the Y direction. A gear is formed on a side surface of each rack gear 281. The side surface is a surface that extends in the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction X.

[0054] Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the image reading unit 26 when it is located at the initial position P05 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the image reading unit 26 when it is located at the reading position P02 shown in Fig. 4.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, each rack gear 281 moves between an initial position P21 (see FIG. 6) and a left position P22 (see FIG. 7) in the left-right direction X below the contact member 22 as the image reading unit 26 moves between an initial position P05 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 6) and a reading position P02 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 7). The initial positions P05 and P21 are positions of the image reading unit 26 and each rack gear 281 when reading of the document D is not being performed in the sheet-through method or the fixed sheet method. In the embodiment, the initial position P05 is a middle position between the areas 221 and 222 in the left-right direction X. Also, in the initial position P05, the rack gear 281 is separated to the right from the spur gear 282. On the other hand, in the left position P22, the rack gear 281 meshes with the spur gear 282.

[0056] The spur gear 282 is disposed within the housing 21 at a position to the left of the image reading unit 26 and rotatably about an axis along the Y direction. The Y direction is a direction intersecting the Z direction and the X direction. The Y direction is an example of the "second direction" in the present invention.

[0057] In this embodiment, the number of spur gears 282 is two. Each spur gear 282 is located below the four through holes 252 in the up-down direction Z. Also, each spur gear 282 is located at approximately the same position in the left-right direction X. One side and the other side of the spur gear 282 are respectively arranged to mesh with one side and the other side of the rack gear 281.

[0058] Each spur gear 282 has a substantially disk shape in a plan view from the front-rear direction Y. A gear is formed on the outer periphery of the spur gear 282 along a circumferential direction θ1 of the axis of the spur gear 282.

[0059] The vertical movement mechanism 28 preferably further has a recess 283 in each spur gear 282. In this embodiment, one recess 283 is formed in each spur gear 282. Each recess 283 is recessed from the outer periphery of the spur gear 282 on which it is formed toward the axis.

[0060] The vertical movement mechanism 28 preferably further includes a link member 284. In this embodiment, the number of link members 284 is two. One of the link members 284 connects the front two of the four guides 25 to each other and extends in the front-rear direction Y below these guides 25. The other of the link members 284 connects the rear two guides 25 to each other and extends in the front-rear direction Y below these guides 25.

[0061] Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the image reading device 2 when it moves between the left end position P03 and the right end position P04 (see Fig. 2) shown in Fig. 2. Hereinafter, the operation of the image reading device 2 will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

[0062] When the image reading unit 26 is not reading the document D in the sheet-through or fixed sheet manner, the image reading unit 26 is located at the initial position P05, and the guide 5 is located at the lower position P12 (see FIG. 6).

[0063] When a user reads an original D by the sheet-through method using the image reading device 2, the user places the original D on the upper tray 242. The sensor 244 (see FIG. 3) of the ADF 24 outputs the above-mentioned detection signal to the control unit 11 (see FIG. 1). In this state, when the user performs an operation to start reading the original, in response to receiving the detection signal, the control unit 11 moves the image reading unit 26 by the horizontal transport mechanism 27 to one side in the X direction (i.e., leftward) from the initial position P05 (see FIG. 6, etc.) toward the reading position P02 (see FIG. 7, etc.) below the specific position P01.

[0064] As the image reading unit 26 moves, each rack gear 281 moves in one direction in the X direction from the initial position P21 (see FIG. 6) toward the left position P22 (see FIG. 7, etc.). In the process of moving toward the left position P22, each rack gear 281 meshes with the corresponding spur gear 282. As a result, each spur gear 282 and each recess 283 rotate in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A01 in FIG. 7. In the process of rotating each recess 283, each link member 284 fits into each recess 283. As a result, an upward force is applied from each spur gear 282 to each link member 284. As a result, each guide 5 starts moving from the lower position P12 toward the upper position P11 (see FIG. 7).

[0065] The control unit 11 stops the control of the horizontal conveyance mechanism 27 in response to the image reading unit 26 reaching the reading position P02 by the horizontal conveyance mechanism 27. As a result, the image reading unit 26 stops at the reading position P02, and each rack gear 281 stops at the left position P22. At this time, each guide 5 stops at the upper position P11 while being supported by the spur gear 282. As a result, a conveyance path 241 is formed in the image reading unit 26.

[0066] The control unit 11 controls the ADF 24 to sequentially transport the documents D on the upper tray 242 one by one along the transport path 241 (see FIG. 2 and the like) toward the specific position P01 on the contact member 22 and discharge them onto the lower tray 243.

[0067] The image reading unit 26, stopped at the reading position P02, emits linear light toward the original D passing through the specific position P01. The linear light is reflected by the original D at the specific position P01 and enters the image reading unit 26 as reflected light. The image reading unit 26 further generates the above-mentioned image data by photoelectric conversion.

[0068] When the user reads the document D using the image reading device 2 in the fixed-sheet method, the user places the document D in the area 222 of the contact member 22, but not on the upper tray 242. In this case, the sensor 244 (see FIG. 3) of the ADF 24 does not output the detection signal described above. When the user performs an operation to start reading the document in this state, the control unit 11 causes the horizontal transport mechanism 27 to move the image reading unit 26 from the initial position P05 (see FIG. 6, etc.) downward toward the area 222 to the other side in the X direction (i.e., rightward).

[0069] As the image reading unit 26 moves, each rack gear 281 moves from the initial position P21 (see FIG. 6) to the other side in the X direction. Therefore, each rack gear 281 does not mesh with the spur gear 282 when reading an original using the fixed sheet method. As a result, each guide 5 maintains a stopped state at the lower position P12 and does not abut against the original D on the area 222. That is, the original D is less likely to wrinkle.

[0070] The control unit 11 causes the horizontal transport mechanism 27 to move the image reading unit 26 rightward from the left end position P03 (see FIG. 8) toward the right end position P04. In the process of moving rightward from the left end position P03 toward the right end position P04, the image reading unit 26 emits linear light toward the original D. The linear light is reflected by the original D at the specific position P01 and enters the image reading unit 26 as reflected light. The image reading unit 26 further generates the above-mentioned image data by photoelectric conversion.

[0071] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist of the present invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components across different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings are mainly shown schematically for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual ones due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are only examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0072] The present invention provides an image reading device and an image forming device, and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1: Image forming device 2: Image reader 21: Housing 22: Contact material 23: Cover 24: Document feeder (ADF) 25: Guide 26: Image reading unit 27: Horizontal transport mechanism (first mechanism) 28: Vertical movement mechanism (second mechanism) 281: Rack gear 282: Spur gear 283: Recess 284: Link member

Claims

1. A housing and a contact member provided on an upper surface of the housing and having an area on which a document is placed; a cover whose upper surface is openable and closable; a document transport section provided in the cover and capable of transporting a document along a transport path to a specific position on the contact member; a guide provided on the housing and having a guide surface that forms a part of the transport path; an image reading unit disposed below the contact member; a first mechanism for moving the image reading unit along the contact member; a second mechanism for moving the guide between an upper position where the guide protrudes from the upper surface and a lower position that is lower than the upper position; Equipped with When the cover is closed and a document is present in the document transport section, the second mechanism moves the guide from the lower position to the upper position while the first mechanism is positioning the image reading section below the specific position, When the cover is closed and no document is present in the document transport section, the first mechanism moves the image reading section below the area, and the second mechanism stops the guide at the lower position.

2. The second mechanism includes: a rack gear extending from the image reading unit in a first direction from the area toward the specific position and intersecting the up-down direction; a spur gear that is rotatably disposed about an axis along a second direction intersecting the up-down direction and the first direction at a position in the first direction relative to the image reading unit; having 2. The image reading device of claim 1, wherein during the process of the image reading unit being moved in the first direction toward below the specific position by the first mechanism, the rack gear in the second mechanism meshes with the spur gear, causing the spur gear to move the guide from the lower position to the upper position.

3. An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images