Medium ejection device and image reading device

Abstract

To provide a medium ejection device and an image reading device with improved alignment of a medium 3 ejected onto a placing surface 17.SOLUTION: A medium ejection device 21 includes a pair of ejection rollers 24 for ejecting a medium 3, and an ejected medium placing section 16 having a placing surface 17 on which the ejected medium 3 is placed. The pair of ejection rollers 24 can change an ejection angle θ1 in the ejection direction S of the medium ejected from the pair of ejection rollers 24, and the ejected medium placing section 16 can change a placing angle θ2 in the ejection direction S of the placing surface 17. At least one of the ejection angle θ1 and the placing angle θ2 can be changed according to the ejection speed of the medium 3 ejected from the pair of ejection rollers 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] An example of this type of device is described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet discharge device including a pair of first discharge rollers, a pair of second discharge rollers, a first protrusion (a stiffening roller), and a second protrusion (a stiffening lever). Discharged sheets are stacked on a sheet discharge stacking section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-210077 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The sheet discharge device described in Patent Document 1 does not have a mechanism for varying the sheet discharge speed. It also does not have a mechanism for varying the discharge angle of the sheets on the sheet discharge stacking section. Therefore, when a large number of sheets are discharged, the leading edges of the sheets tend to become misaligned on the sheet discharge stacking section, resulting in a problem of poor alignment of the discharged sheets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the media discharge device of the present invention comprises a pair of discharge rollers that discharge a medium, and an discharged medium loading section having a loading surface on which the discharged medium is placed, wherein the pair of discharge rollers is capable of changing the discharge angle in the discharge direction of the medium discharged from the pair of discharge rollers, the discharged medium loading section is capable of changing the loading angle of the loading surface in the discharge direction, and at least one of the discharge angle and the loading angle can be changed depending on the discharge speed of the medium discharged from the pair of discharge rollers.

[0006] In addition, the image reading device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a medium ejection device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects described below, and a reading unit that reads the medium being transported and is located upstream of the medium ejection device in the medium transport direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of the entire configuration of an image reading device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a main part of the medium ejection device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a discharge angle changing unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a first modified example of a discharge angle changing unit of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a second modified example of the mounting angle changing unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a medium ejection device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a modified example of the medium ejection device of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The present invention will first be briefly described below. The first aspect of the present invention relates to a media discharge device comprising a pair of discharge rollers for discharging a medium, and an discharged medium mounting section having a mounting surface for placing the discharged medium, wherein the pair of discharge rollers is capable of changing the discharge angle in the discharge direction of the medium discharged from the pair of discharge rollers, the discharged medium mounting section is capable of changing the mounting angle of the mounting surface in the discharge direction, and at least one of the discharge angle and the mounting angle can be changed depending on the discharge speed of the medium discharged from the pair of discharge rollers. Here, the "discharge angle" refers to the angle between the horizontal line and a line perpendicular to the line connecting the axis of the first roller of the discharge roller pair and the axis of the second roller of the discharge roller pair, and the "placement angle" refers to the angle between the placement surface and the horizontal plane.

[0009] (1) When a medium is discharged from the discharge roller pair and moves in the discharge direction, a pressing force acts on the already discharged medium in a direction further pushing the already discharged medium when the medium comes into contact with the previously discharged medium. If the medium is pushed out by the action of this pressing force, the alignment of the medium decreases. If the discharge speed is the same, the pressing force is larger when the discharge angle is smaller and is smaller when the discharge angle is larger. In other words, it is possible to reduce the effect of the pressing force by increasing the discharge angle. (2) When the medium is discharged from the discharge roller pair in the discharge direction and lands on the placement surface, the medium has an inertial force that moves the medium in the discharge direction. The greater the discharge speed, the greater the inertial force. The closer the placement angle on the placement surface is to 0 degrees, the greater the influence of the inertial force, causing the landing position to become distorted and reducing the alignment of the medium. In other words, by increasing the placement angle, it is possible to reduce the influence of the inertial force. According to this aspect, at least one of the discharge angle and the placement angle can be changed according to the discharge speed of the medium discharged from the discharge roller pair. This makes it possible to reduce the influence of the pushing force and the influence of the inertial force by changing one or both of the discharge angle and the placement angle according to the discharge speed of the medium, thereby improving the alignment of the medium discharged onto the placement surface.

[0010] A second aspect of the medium ejection device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that it includes an ejection angle change unit that enables the ejection angle to be changed, and the ejection angle change unit moves a second roller, which is one of the first rollers in the ejection roller pair, along the circumferential surface of the first roller to change the nip position between the first roller and the second roller.

[0011] According to this aspect, the discharge angle changer changes the nip position between the first roller and the second roller by moving the second roller along the circumferential surface relative to the first roller, thereby enabling the discharge angle to be changed with a simple structure that changes the nip position.

[0012] A third aspect of the medium ejection device according to the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that it includes a loading angle changer that makes it possible to change the loading angle, and the loading angle changer moves up and down on a downstream end side of the loading surface in the ejection direction, starting from an upstream end of the loading surface in the ejection direction. Note that this aspect can also be dependent on the second aspect.

[0013] According to this aspect, the placement angle change unit moves up and down on the downstream end side of the placement surface, starting from the upstream end of the placement surface in the discharge direction. That is, the placement angle change unit changes the placement angle by rotating the downstream end up and down with the upstream end of the placement surface as a rotation fulcrum. This makes it possible to change the placement angle with a simple structure of the rotation starting from the upstream end of the placement surface.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the medium ejection device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that the change in the ejection angle and the change in the placement angle are performed by a single drive unit.

[0015] According to this aspect, the change in the discharge angle and the change in the placement angle are configured to be performed by a single drive unit, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and miniaturization can be achieved.

[0016] A fifth aspect of the medium ejection device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and comprises a ejection angle change unit that enables the ejection angle to be changed, a loading angle change unit that enables the loading angle to be changed, a first drive unit that drives the ejection angle change unit, a second drive unit that drives the loading angle change unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is capable of driving the first drive unit to change the ejection angle based on first data, driving the second drive unit to change the loading angle based on second data, and changing the ejection angle and the loading angle based on third data, wherein the first data is set as an appropriate range of the ejection angle for the ejection speed of the medium, the second data is set as an appropriate range of the loading angle for the ejection speed of the medium, and the third data is set as an appropriate range of the ejection angle and the loading angle for the ejection speed of the medium. Here, the term "appropriate range" refers to a range that is set as a range in which the alignment of the media discharged onto the placement surface is good, and can be determined in advance.

[0017] According to this aspect, the control unit is capable of driving the first driving unit to change the discharge angle based on the first data, driving the second driving unit to change the placement angle based on the second data, and changing the discharge angle and the placement angle based on the third data. This allows the alignment of the media discharged onto the placement surface to be improved by selectively changing the discharge angle, the placement angle, or both the discharge angle and the placement angle, which is convenient for a user.

[0018] A sixth aspect of the medium ejection device according to the present invention is a mode dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that at least one of the ejection angle and the loading angle can be changed according to the basis weight of the medium. This mode can also be dependent on any one of the second to fifth aspects.

[0019] The pushing force and the inertial force tend to differ depending on the basis weight of the medium. For example, the pushing force and the inertial force are large for a medium with a large basis weight, whereas the pushing force and the inertial force are small for a medium with a small basis weight. According to this aspect, at least one of the discharge angle and the placement angle can be changed according to the basis weight of the medium, so that the discharge state can be stabilized according to the basis weight of the medium, thereby improving alignment.

[0020] An image reading device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a medium ejection device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects and a reading unit that is positioned upstream of the medium ejection device in the medium transport direction and reads the medium being transported. According to this aspect, in the image reading device, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the respective aspects of the medium ejection device.

[0021] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a medium ejection device according to the present invention and an image reading device including this medium ejection device will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. In the following explanation, the three mutually orthogonal axes are referred to as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, as shown in each figure. The directions indicated by the arrows on the three axes (X, Y, Z) are the + directions of each direction, and the opposite directions are the - directions. The Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction, i.e., the direction in which gravity acts, the +Z direction indicates a vertical upward direction, and the -Z direction indicates a vertical downward direction. The X-axis and Y-axis directions correspond to the horizontal direction. The +Y direction indicates the front direction of the device, and the -Y direction indicates the rear direction of the device. The +X direction indicates the right direction of the device, and the -X direction indicates the left direction of the device.

[0022] <Overall structure of image reading device> The image reading device 1 of this embodiment is a scanner capable of reading an image on a medium that is an original. Here, the image means something that is visually recorded on the medium, such as characters, figures, tables, pictures, photographs, etc. The medium is not limited to sheets, but also includes cards, booklets, etc. The image reading device 1 is not limited to a scanner, and may be a copy machine, a facsimile machine, etc. 1, the image reading device 1 is provided with two reading units, a first reading unit 51 and a second reading unit 52, which are used to read an image on a medium 3. Furthermore, the image reading device 1 transports the medium 3 along a transport path 2 in a transport direction F, and is provided with a first transport roller 4 provided upstream of the first reading unit 51, a second transport roller 6 provided upstream of a second reading unit 52 located downstream of the first reading unit 51, and a third transport roller 8 provided downstream of the second reading unit 52. A roller pair consisting of a feed roller 10 and a separation roller 7 is disposed upstream of the first transport roller 4 in the transport direction F. The feed roller 10 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of a third drive unit 15, and transports the medium 3 in the transport direction F. The separation roller 7 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of a drive source (not shown), and is a roller that separates multiple sheets of medium 3 into a single sheet.

[0023] Here, the separation roller 7 rotates by the power of the drive source in a direction to send the medium 3 upstream (+Y direction) in the transport direction F. The separation roller 7 is equipped with a torque limiter (not shown), and when a torque exceeding a set value is applied to this torque limiter, the separation roller 7 is driven to rotate in a direction to send the medium 3 downstream (-Y direction) in the transport direction F. A pick roller 12 is disposed upstream of the separation roller 7. The pick roller 12 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of the third drive unit 15, the same as the feed roller 10, and sends out the medium 3 in the transport direction F. The first transport roller 4, second transport roller 6, and third transport roller 8 that constitute the transport unit 5 that transports the medium 3 in the transport direction F also include drive rollers that rotate by the power of the third drive unit 15.

[0024] 1, in this embodiment, a curved inversion path 18 is provided downstream of a straight path 68 from the feed roller 10 to the third transport roller 8, i.e., downstream of the third transport roller 8. In the curved inversion path 18, a fourth transport roller 20, a fifth transport roller 22, and a discharge roller pair 24 are arranged in this order along the transport direction F. The discharged medium placement unit 16 that receives the medium 3 discharged from the curved inversion path 18 is disposed above the straight path 68, making it compact.

[0025] 1, reference numeral 71 denotes a control unit. The control unit 71 controls the driving of the third driving unit 15 and the driving of a fourth driving unit 27 described below in accordance with the transport of the medium 3. The third driving unit 15 and the fourth driving unit 27 are each constituted by a motor. The control unit 71 includes a CPU, a flash ROM, and a RAM. The CPU performs various arithmetic processing according to programs stored in the flash ROM, and controls the operation of the entire image reading device 1. The flash ROM, which is an example of a storage means, is a non-volatile memory that can be read and written. Various information is temporarily stored in the RAM, which is an example of a storage means.

[0026] 1, reference numeral 14 denotes a medium setting unit for setting the medium 3 to be read. The medium 3 on the medium setting unit 14 is transported along the transport path 2 and finally discharged to a discharged medium stacking unit 16. The medium setting unit 14 is configured to move up and down. When the medium 3 set in the medium setting unit 14 is to be sent in the transport direction F, first, the medium setting unit 14 is moved upward (in the +Z direction) by power transmitted from a drive source (not shown), and the uppermost set medium 3 stops in a state of contact with the pick roller 12. In this state, the pick roller 12 rotates to send the medium 3 in the transport direction F, and the leading edge of the medium 3 reaches the nip position of the roller pair of the feed roller 10 and the separation roller 7.

[0027] In the case of a multiple-feed state in which multiple sheets of medium 3 are fed, the sheets are separated into one by separation roller 7, and that one sheet is transported in transport direction F by first transport roller 4, and the image on the first side of medium 3 is read by first reading unit 51. Furthermore, medium 3 that has been read by first reading unit 51 is transported by second transport roller 6, and the image on the second side of medium 3, which is opposite to the first side, is read by second reading unit 52. The medium 3 that has been read by the second reading unit 52 is sent to the curved inversion path 18 by the third transport roller 8, transported by the fourth transport roller 20 and the fifth transport roller 22, and discharged to the discharge medium loading unit 16 by the discharge roller pair 24.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the first reading unit 51 and the second reading unit 52 that read an image of the medium 3 transported in the transport direction F are provided with a first light-transmitting member 431 and a second light-transmitting member 432, which are light-transmitting members 43 arranged between the transport path 2. 1, a first rotating member 31 and a second rotating member 32 are disposed as rotating members on the opposite side of the first reading unit 51 and the second reading unit 52 of the first light-transmitting member 431 and the second light-transmitting member 432. The first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 are disposed opposite the first reading unit 51 and the second reading unit 52, and are rotating members that can rotate around an axis 11. The first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 are substantially cylindrical in shape and are formed to a length that can cover the reading range (X-axis direction) of the first reading unit 51 and the second reading unit 52.

[0029] 1, the first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 rotate around the shaft 11 by the power of a fourth driving unit 27 which is a common driving source. The rotational operations of the first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 are controlled by a control unit 71. The first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 may be configured to rotate by the power of individual motors, rather than by the common fourth driving unit 27.

[0030] The first reading unit 51, the first light-transmitting member 431, and the second rotating member 32 are disposed above the transport path 2. The second reading unit 52, the second light-transmitting member 432, and the first rotating member 31 are disposed below the transport path 2. 1, in this embodiment, the image reading device 1 is made up of a lower unit 55 and an upper unit 56. The upper unit 56 is configured to be openable and closable by vertical rotation with respect to the lower unit 55 by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown). The lower unit 55 has a second reading unit 52, a second light-transmitting member 432, and a first rotating member 31. The upper unit 56 has a first reading unit 51, a first light-transmitting member 431, and a second rotating member 32. When the upper unit 56 is closed relative to the lower unit 55, as shown in FIG. 1, the second light-transmitting member 432 and the second rotating member 32 face each other, and the first light-transmitting member 431 and the first rotating member 31 face each other. Although not shown, in a state where the upper unit 56 is opened relative to the lower unit 55, the second light-transmitting member 432 and the second rotating member 32 do not face each other, and the first light-transmitting member 431 and the first rotating member 31 do not face each other. That is, the opposing surfaces of the lower unit 55 and the upper unit 56 are exposed, and are accessible to the user.

[0031] 1, in this embodiment, a first transport auxiliary unit 61 and a second transport auxiliary unit 62 are provided as transport auxiliary units that face the first light-transmitting member 431 and the second light-transmitting member 432, are disposed upstream of the first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32, and assist in transporting the medium 3. Here, the first transport auxiliary unit 61 and the second transport auxiliary unit 62 are configured as a drive roller 26 called a platen roller 26 that rotates by transmitting power from the third drive unit 15.

[0032] [Embodiment 1] Following the description of the overall structure of the image reading device 1 above, the medium ejection device 21 of the first embodiment will be described below, although it will be partially overlapping. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the medium discharge device 21 of the first embodiment includes a discharge roller pair 24 that discharges the medium 3, and a discharge medium placement unit 16 having a placement surface 17 on which the discharged medium is placed. The discharge roller pair 24 is configured to be able to change a discharge angle θ1 in a discharge direction S of the medium 3 discharged from the discharge roller pair 24. The discharge medium placement unit 16 is also configured to be able to change a placement angle θ2 in the discharge direction S of the placement surface 17. The discharge angle θ1 refers to an angle between a horizontal line and a line perpendicular to a line connecting the first shaft 23 of the first roller 241 of the discharge roller pair 24 and the second shaft 25 of the second roller 242 of the other discharge roller pair 24. The placement angle θ2 refers to an angle between the placement surface 17 and a horizontal plane. At least one of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 can be changed depending on the discharge speed of the medium 3 discharged from the discharge roller pair 24.

[0033] In this embodiment, the medium 3 can be discharged from the discharge roller pair 24 at a high discharge speed of 150 ppm or more, and at a low discharge speed of about 40 ppm, and is further configured to be able to discharge the medium 3 at a discharge speed between these. Here, ppm is a unit of discharge speed and is the number of sheets of media discharged per minute, and 150 ppm means that 150 sheets are discharged per minute. In the medium ejection device 21 of this embodiment, the ejection speed is configured so that the user can set it. Of course, the range of the ejection speed is not limited to the above range.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the medium ejection device 21 of the present embodiment includes an ejection angle change unit 19 that makes it possible to change the ejection angle θ1. The discharge angle change unit 19 is configured to change the nip position N between the first roller 241 and the second roller 242 by moving the second roller 242, which is the other of the first roller 241 in the discharge roller pair 24, along the peripheral surface 30 of the first roller 241 relative to the first roller 241. Here, the first roller 241 is a discharge drive roller 241 (with the same reference numeral), and the second roller 242 is a discharge driven roller 242 (with the same reference numeral). Reference numeral 23 denotes a first shaft which is the shaft of the discharge drive roller 241, and reference numeral 25 denotes a second shaft which is the shaft of the discharge driven roller 242.

[0035] An example of a specific structure that makes it possible to change the nip position N will be described with reference to Fig. 3. A first gear 33 for moving the discharge driven roller 242 as described below is attached to the first shaft 23. The first gear 33 is attached so as to be rotatable about the first shaft 23. That is, the first gear 33 is rotatable with respect to the first shaft 23 when the discharge drive roller 241 is stopped. The first gear 33 meshes with the transmission gear 29. The transmission gear 29 rotates by power transmitted from a motor, which is a drive source (not shown), and the rotation rotates the first gear 33 relative to the first shaft 23. The rotational operation of the transmission gear 29 is controlled by the control unit 71.

[0036] Both ends of the second shaft 25 are slidably attached to the sliding slits 28 provided in the frame 39, which is a structural member of the medium ejection device 21. Furthermore, the planetary gear 35 is attached to the second shaft 25 in a state of meshing with the first gear 33. The planetary gear 35 is attached to be rotatable around the second shaft 25. Furthermore, the planetary gear 35 is configured to be able to make planetary movements along the circumferential surface of the first gear 33 via the planetary gear arm 34. That is, when the first gear 33 rotates, the planetary gear 35 also rotates, but due to the existence of the planetary gear arm 34, it makes planetary movements along the circumferential surface of the first gear 33. When the planetary gear 35 makes the planetary movements, the second shaft 25 integrated with the planetary gear 35 also moves. Therefore, the sliding slits 28 are formed in a slit shape that enables this planetary movement. As a result, when the planetary gear 35 makes the planetary movement, the second shaft 25 also slides in the sliding slit 28, the discharge driven roller 242 moves along the peripheral surface 30 of the discharge drive roller 241, and the nip position N changes. That is, the state changes from the state shown on the left to the state shown on the right in Fig. 3. The change in nip position N changes the discharge angle θ1.

[0037] 1, the medium ejection device 21 of the present embodiment includes a loading angle change unit 36 ​​that can change the loading angle θ2. The loading angle change unit 36 ​​is configured to be able to move up and down on the downstream end 38 side of the loading surface 17 in the ejection direction S, with the upstream end 37 of the loading surface 17 in the ejection direction S as a starting point P. Here, the upstream end 37 of the mounting surface 17 serves as a pivot point, and a rack 40 is attached to the downstream end 38. A pinion 41 that meshes with the rack 40 is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the medium ejection device 21. When the pinion 41 rotates, the rack 40 moves, which causes the mounting surface 17 to move vertically and change the mounting angle θ2. In FIG. 1, the mounting angle θ2 at the position indicated by the dashed line on the mounting surface 17 is greater than the mounting angle θ2 at the position indicated by the solid line. The rotational movement of the pinion 41 is controlled by the control unit 71.

[0038] <Technical significance of changing the discharge angle θ1> When the medium 3 discharged from the discharge roller pair 24 and moving in the discharge direction S comes into contact with the already discharged medium 3, a pressing force acts in a direction further pushing the already discharged medium 3. If the medium 3 is pushed out by the action of this pressing force, the alignment of the medium 3 decreases. If the discharge speed is the same, the pressing force is larger when the discharge angle θ1 is smaller and is smaller when the discharge angle θ1 is larger. That is, by increasing the discharge angle θ1, the influence of the pressing force can be reduced, and the alignment of the media 3 discharged onto the placement surface 17 can be improved.

[0039] <Technical significance of changing the mounting angle θ2> When the medium 3 is discharged in the discharge direction S from the discharge roller pair 24 and lands on the placement surface 17, it has an inertial force that moves it in the discharge direction S. The faster the discharge speed is, the greater the inertial force becomes. As the placement angle θ2 of the placement surface 17 becomes closer to 0 degrees, the greater the influence of the inertial force becomes, causing the landing position to become distorted and the alignment of the medium 3 to become poor. That is, by increasing the placement angle θ2, the influence of the inertial force can be reduced, and the alignment of the media 3 discharged onto the placement surface 17 can be improved.

[0040] <Explanation of Effects of First Embodiment> (1) In this embodiment, at least one of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 can be changed depending on the discharge speed of the medium 3 discharged from the discharge roller pair 24. This makes it possible to reduce the influence of the pressing force and also reduce the influence of the inertial force by changing one or both of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 depending on the discharge speed of the medium 3, thereby improving the alignment of the medium 3 discharged onto the placement surface 17. It is desirable to change either or both of the discharge angle θ1 and the loading angle θ2 according to the discharge speed of the medium 3 by previously obtaining, for a specified type of medium 3, the relationship between the discharge angle θ1 and either or both of the loading angle θ2 that provides good alignment of the medium 3 relative to the discharge speed, and then automatically setting either or both of the discharge angle θ1 and the loading angle θ2 according to the actual discharge speed. Of course, this is not limited to the above, and the user may actually discharge several sheets of media 3 at the discharge speed set by the user, check the alignment state of the media 3 at that time, and if the user determines that the alignment is poor, the user may be allowed to change one or both of the discharge angle θ1 and the loading angle θ2 via the control unit 71, or may be allowed to change them manually.

[0041] (2) In this embodiment, the discharge angle change unit 19 moves the second roller 242, which is the other roller, along the circumferential surface 30 relative to the first roller 241, to change the nip position N between the first roller 241 and the second roller 242. This makes it possible to change the discharge angle θ1 with a simple structure that changes the nip position N.

[0042] (3) In this embodiment, the mounting angle change unit 36 ​​moves up and down on the downstream end 38 side of the mounting surface 17, with the upstream end 37 of the mounting surface 17 in the discharge direction S as the starting point P. That is, the mounting angle change unit 36 ​​changes the mounting angle θ2 by rotating the downstream end 38 up and down with the upstream end 37 of the mounting surface 17 as the rotation fulcrum. This makes it possible to change the mounting angle θ2 with a simple structure of the rotation with the upstream end 37 of the mounting surface 17 as the starting point P.

[0043] [Modification 1 of the first embodiment] Next, a first modified example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first modification, a second gear 46 is attached to the first shaft 23 in addition to the roller drive gear 45 for rotating the discharge drive roller 241. The second gear 46 is attached so as to be rotatable relative to the first shaft 23, i.e., so as to rotate freely, and is configured to be rotatable around the first shaft 23 as the center of rotation. There is provided a third gear 451 that meshes with the roller drive gear 45, and a fourth gear 461 that meshes with the second gear 46. The third gear 451 and the fourth gear 461 are attached to a third shaft 48 of the first pulley 47. The third gear 451 and the fourth gear 461 are configured so that they can be switched between a state in which they rotate integrally with the third shaft 48 and a state in which they rotate freely by a clutch (not shown). In other words, when the first pulley 47 is rotated to rotate the roller drive gear 45, the clutch causes the third gear 451 to rotate integrally with the third shaft 48, and the fourth gear 461 to rotate freely relative to the third shaft 48. Conversely, when the second gear 46 is rotated to change the discharge angle θ1, the fourth gear 461 rotates integrally with the third shaft 48, and the third gear 451 is made to rotate freely relative to the third shaft 48.

[0044] The first pulley 47 rotates by the power of the first drive unit 50, which is a motor, transmitted by a first transmission belt 49. In this embodiment, the first drive unit 50 is configured to be capable of decelerating discharge, slowing down the discharge speed of the medium 3 halfway when the medium 3 is discharged from the discharge roller pair 24. By combining this decelerating discharge, it becomes easier to further improve the alignment of the discharged medium 3. 3, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. This modified example 1 also makes it possible to move the nip position N and change the discharge angle θ1.

[0045] [Modification 2 of the first embodiment] Next, a second modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second modification, the upstream end 37 of the mounting surface 17 is attached to the rotating shaft 54 ​​so as to rotate integrally therewith. A fifth gear 57 is fixed to the rotating shaft 54. The fifth gear 57 meshes with a sixth gear 58. Power is transmitted to the sixth gear 58 from a second driving unit 77. When the sixth gear 58 rotates, the fifth gear 57 rotates, and as a result, the mounting surface 17 rotates in the vertical direction with the rotating shaft 54 ​​as a starting point P. The other structure is the same as in FIG. 1, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanation is omitted. This second modification also makes it possible to change the placement angle θ2.

[0046] [Embodiment 2] Next, a medium ejection device 21 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description of the configurations and corresponding effects will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the change in the discharge angle θ1 and the change in the placement angle θ2 are configured to be performed by a drive unit 66 that is a single motor. In this embodiment, the discharge angle change unit 19 that changes the discharge angle θ1 has a seventh gear 60 attached to the fourth shaft 78 of the second pulley 59 meshing with the first gear 33. When the second pulley 59 rotates, the seventh gear 60 also rotates integrally, thereby rotating the first gear 33. By rotating the first gear 33, it is possible to change the discharge angle θ1 as described above.

[0047] In the mounting angle change unit 36 ​​that changes the mounting angle θ2, the fifth gear 57 meshes with the eighth gear 63 attached to the fifth shaft 69 of the third pulley 64. When the third pulley 64 rotates, the eighth gear 63 also rotates integrally, thereby rotating the fifth gear 57. By rotating the fifth gear 57, the mounting angle θ2 can be changed as described above. The third pulley 64 rotates by the power of the drive unit 66 transmitted through a second transmission belt 67. A fourth pulley 65 is further attached to the fifth shaft 69. The rotation of the fourth pulley 65 is transmitted to the second pulley 59 through a third transmission belt 80. As a result, the second pulley 59 also rotates by the power of the drive unit 66. When the third pulley 64 rotates, the eighth gear 63 rotates integrally with it via the fifth shaft 69 and the fourth pulley 65 rotates freely, and a state in which the fourth pulley 65 rotates integrally with it via the fifth shaft 69 and the eighth gear 63 rotates freely can be switched by a clutch not shown. In this embodiment, the change in the discharge angle θ1 and the change in the placement angle θ2 are configured to be performed by a single drive unit 66, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and miniaturization can be achieved.

[0048] [Modification of the second embodiment] In this modified example, as shown in FIG. 7, the power of the first drive unit 50 is normally transmitted to the first pulley 47, the third shaft 48, and the third gear 451 via the fourth transmission belt 74, thereby driving the discharge roller pair 24 to discharge the medium 3 in the discharge direction S. When the discharge angle θ1 is to be changed, the power of the first drive unit 50 is transmitted to the first pulley 47, the third shaft 48, and the fourth gear 461 via the fourth transmission belt 74, causing the second gear 46 to rotate, thereby changing the discharge angle θ1 as described above. A clutch (not shown) can be used to switch between a state in which the third gear 451 rotates integrally with the third shaft 48 and the fourth gear 461 rotates freely and a state in which the fourth gear 461 rotates integrally with the third shaft 48 and the third gear 451 rotates freely.

[0049] A fifth pulley 70 is further attached to the third shaft 48. The fifth gear 57 meshes with a ninth gear 73. The ninth gear 73 is attached to a sixth shaft 76 of a sixth pulley 72. The rotation of the fifth pulley 70 is transmitted to the sixth pulley 72 via the fifth transmission belt 75. When the sixth pulley 72 rotates, the ninth gear 73 rotates, which causes the fifth gear 57 to rotate, and the mounting angle θ2 can be changed as described above. That is, the power of the first drive unit 50 can change the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2.

[0050] [Embodiment 3] Next, a medium ejection device 21 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. The same parts as those in the first embodiment and its modified example 1 and modified example 2 will be given the same reference numerals, and a description of the configurations and corresponding effects will be omitted. In this embodiment, the device includes a discharge angle change unit 19 that enables the discharge angle θ1 to be changed, a loading angle change unit 36 ​​that enables the loading angle θ2 to be changed, a first drive unit 50 (FIG. 4) that drives the discharge angle change unit 19, a second drive unit 77 (FIG. 5) that drives the loading angle change unit 36, and a control unit 71.

[0051] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 71 is configured to be capable of driving the first driving unit 50 based on the first data D1 to change the discharge angle θ1, driving the second driving unit 77 based on the second data D2 to change the loading angle θ2, and changing the discharge angle θ1 and the loading angle θ2 based on the third data D3. Here, the first data D1 is preset as an appropriate range of the discharge angle θ1 for the discharge speed of the medium 3. The second data D2 is preset as an appropriate range of the placement angle θ2 for the discharge speed of the medium 3. The third data D3 is preset as an appropriate range of the discharge angle θ1 and placement angle θ2 for the discharge speed of the medium 3.

[0052] In this embodiment, the control unit 71 can drive the first driving unit 50 to change the discharge angle θ1 based on the first data D1, drive the second driving unit 77 to change the placement angle θ2 based on the second data D2, and change the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 based on the third data D3. This allows the alignment of the media 3 discharged onto the placement surface 17 to be improved by changing only the discharge angle θ1, by changing only the placement angle θ2, or by changing both the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2, making it easy for the user to use.

[0053] [Embodiment 4] Next, a description will be given of a medium ejection device 21 according to embodiment 4. The same parts as those in embodiment 1 and its modified example 1 and modified example 2 are given the same reference numerals, and a description of the configurations and corresponding effects will be omitted. In this embodiment, at least one of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 is configured to be changeable according to the basis weight of the medium 3. 2 and a medium 3 called thin paper with a basis weight of 40 g / m 2 The magnitudes of the pushing force and the inertial force are different for the above media 3 even when they are discharged from the discharge roller pair 24 at the same discharge speed. The pushing force and the inertial force are large for media 3 with a large basis weight. On the other hand, the pushing force and the inertial force are small for media 3 with a small basis weight. Therefore, there is a difference in the alignment of the discharged media 3. Media 3 with a large basis weight have poorer alignment than media 3 with a small basis weight, and the range in which the alignment can be improved by changing the discharge angle θ1 or the placement angle θ2 tends to be narrower.

[0054] In this embodiment, at least one of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 can be changed according to the basis weight of the medium 3. For example, by setting the first data D1, the second data D2, and the third data D3 for each difference in the basis weight of the medium 3, it is possible to change at least one of the discharge angle θ1 and the placement angle θ2 according to the basis weight of the medium 3. This makes it possible to stabilize the discharge state according to the basis weight of the medium 3 and improve alignment.

[0055] Other Embodiments The medium ejection device 21 and image reading device 1 according to the present invention are based on the configuration of the embodiment described above, but it is of course possible to modify or omit some of the configuration without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, an image reading device has been described that is equipped with a first reading unit 51 and a second reading unit 52 as reading units and can read both sides of a medium 3, the first side and the second side, but the present invention can also be applied to an image reading device with a single-sided reading structure. In the above embodiment, the image reading device 1 is described in which the conveying path 2 includes the straight path 68 and the curved inverting path 18. However, the present invention is also applicable to a device that does not include the curved inverting path 18. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1... image reading device, 2... transport path, 3... medium, 4... first transport roller, 5... transport unit, 6: second conveying roller; 7: separation roller; 8: third conveying roller; 9: background member; 10: Feed roller; 11: Shaft; 12: Pick roller; 13: Periphery; 14...medium setting section, 15...third drive section, 16...ejected medium placement section, 17...placement surface, 18: curved inversion path; 19: discharge angle change unit; 20: fourth conveying roller; 21...medium discharge device, 22...fifth transport roller, 23...first shaft, 24: discharge roller pair; 25: second shaft; 26: drive roller (platen roller); 27...fourth drive portion, 28...sliding slit, 29...transmission gear, 30...periphery, 31: first rotating member; 32: second rotating member; 33: first gear; 34... planetary gear arm, 35... planetary gear, 36... mounting angle change portion, 37... upstream end portion, 38: downstream end portion, 40: rack, 41: pinion, 42: reading position, 43...translucent member, 45...roller drive gear, 46...second gear, 47...first pulley, 48: third shaft; 49: first transmission belt; 50: first drive unit; 51: first reading unit; 52: second reading unit, 54: rotation shaft, 55: lower unit, 56: upper unit, 57...5th gear, 58...6th gear, 59...2nd pulley, 60...7th gear, 61...first conveying auxiliary part, 62...first conveying auxiliary part, 63...eighth gear, 64...third pulley, 65...fourth pulley, 66...driving part, 67...second transmission belt, 68...straight path, 69...fifth shaft, 70...fifth pulley, 71...control unit, 72...6th pulley, 73...9th gear, 74...4th transmission belt, 75...fifth transmission belt, 76...sixth shaft, 77...second drive unit, 80...third transmission belt, 241...first roller (discharge driving roller), 242... second roller (discharge driven roller), 431... first light-transmitting member, 432: second light-transmitting member, 451: third gear, 461: fourth gear, D1: first data, D2: second data, D3: third data, F: conveying direction, N: Nip position, P: Starting point, S: Discharge direction, θ1: Discharge angle, θ2: Placement angle

Claims

1. a pair of discharge rollers for discharging the medium; a discharged medium placement section having a placement surface on which the discharged medium is placed, the discharge roller pair is capable of changing a discharge angle in a discharge direction of the medium discharged from the discharge roller pair, the ejection medium placement section is capable of changing a placement angle of the placement surface in the ejection direction, At least one of the discharge angle and the placement angle is changeable depending on the discharge speed of the medium discharged from the pair of discharge rollers. A medium ejection device.

2. The medium ejection device according to claim 1 , A discharge angle change unit that changes the discharge angle is provided, the discharge angle change unit moves a second roller, which is the other of the pair of discharge rollers, along a circumferential surface of a first roller relative to a first roller, to change a nip position between the first roller and the second roller. A medium ejection device.

3. The medium ejection device according to claim 1 , A mounting angle change unit that changes the mounting angle is provided, the placement angle changer moves up and down on a downstream end side of the placement surface in the discharge direction from an upstream end of the placement surface in the discharge direction as a starting point. A medium ejection device.

4. The medium ejection device according to claim 1 , The change in the discharge angle and the change in the placement angle are performed by a single drive unit. A medium ejection device.

5. The medium ejection device according to claim 1 , A discharge angle change unit that makes it possible to change the discharge angle; A mounting angle change unit that makes it possible to change the mounting angle; A first drive unit that drives the discharge angle change unit; A second drive unit that drives the mounting angle change unit; A control unit, the control unit is capable of driving the first driving unit based on first data to change the discharge angle, driving the second driving unit based on second data to change the placement angle, and changing the discharge angle and the placement angle based on third data, the first data is set as an appropriate range of the discharge angle with respect to a discharge speed of the medium, the second data is set as an appropriate range of the placement angle with respect to a discharge speed of the medium, the third data is set as an appropriate range of the ejection angle and the placement angle with respect to the ejection speed of the medium; A medium ejection device.

6. The medium ejection device according to claim 1 , At least one of the discharge angle and the placement angle is variable depending on the basis weight of the medium. A medium ejection device.

7. A medium ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a reading unit that is located upstream of the medium ejection device in a medium transport direction and that reads the medium being transported, 1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

Images