Image reading device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that can improve convenience for a user.SOLUTION: An image reading device 100 comprises a body 1, a document feeding unit 2, a document placement tray 3, and a lock mechanism 4. The body 1 reads an image of a document. The document feeding unit 2 is openable and closable with respect to the body 1. The document placement tray 3 is openable and closable with respect to the document feeding unit 2. The lock mechanism 4 can lock the opening and closing of the document placement tray 3. When the document feeding unit 2 is opened with respect to the body 1, the lock mechanism 4 locks the opening and closing of the document placement tray 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The image reading device described in Patent Document 1 includes a restricting member that restricts the movement of a document, thereby preventing the document placed on the main body from shifting from its original position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-137437 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the image reading device of Patent Document 1 is considered to have an openable and closable document placement tray in the document feed section. However, in the image reading device of Patent Document 1, the document placement tray opens and closes when the document feed section opens relative to the main body, which is inconvenient for users.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an image reading device and an image forming device that can improve user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image reading device includes a main body, an original feeding unit, an original placement tray, and a locking mechanism. The main body reads an image of an original. The original feeding unit is openable and closable relative to the main body. The original placement tray is openable and closable relative to the original feeding unit. The locking mechanism can lock the original placement tray against opening and closing. The locking mechanism locks the original placement tray against opening and closing when the original feeding unit opens relative to the main body.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image reading device and an image forming section. The image reading device is as described in the first aspect. The image forming section forms an image on a recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the image reading device and image forming device of the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience for the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device with the document feed unit open relative to the main body. FIG. [Diagram 2] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the document feeding section and the document placement tray are closed; FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the document feed section is closed and the document placement tray is open. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of members related to a hinge in the locking mechanism. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism in a state where the document feed unit and the document placement tray are both closed. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism in a state where the document placement tray is closed relative to the document feeding section. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism in a state where the document placement tray is open relative to the document feeding section. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 with an opening angle of 0°. [Figure 10] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the opening angle of 5°. [Figure 11] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 with an opening angle of 85°. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the details of a push-out portion and a slider. [Figure 13] 2 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus including the image reading device of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, 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 numerals, and the description will not be repeated. In addition, even if the terms "upper" or "lower" meaning a specific position and direction are used in the following description, these terms are used for convenience to facilitate understanding of the contents of the embodiment, and are not related to the directions in which the embodiment is actually implemented. <Embodiment>

[0011] Hereinafter, an image reading device 100 and an image forming device 200 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the image reading device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the image reading device 100 in a state where a document feed unit 2 is open relative to a main body 1.

[0012] The image reading device 100 is, for example, a multifunction device having a scanner function. In addition to the scanner function, the multifunction device has a copy function, a printer function, a fax receiving function, a fax sending function, a finisher function, and an optional paper feeding function. The image reading device 100 only needs to have the scanner function, and does not need to have other functions.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading device 100 includes a main body 1, a document feeder 2, a document placement tray 3, and a locking mechanism 4.

[0014] The main body 1 reads an image of a document. The document feed section 2 can be opened and closed freely relative to the main body 1. The document placement tray 3 can be opened and closed freely relative to the document feed section 2. The locking mechanism 4 can lock the document placement tray 3 against opening and closing. When the document feed section 2 is opened relative to the main body 1, the locking mechanism 4 locks the document placement tray 3 against opening and closing.

[0015] When the document feed unit 2 opens relative to the main body 1, the document placement tray 3 does not open or close due to the lock mechanism 4. Therefore, the image reading device 100 can improve the convenience for the user. Furthermore, the document placement tray 3 opens and closes when the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1. Therefore, the user can easily remove the document from under the document placement tray 3 by opening the document placement tray 3 from the document feed unit 2 that is closed relative to the main body 1. As a result, the image reading device 100 can improve the convenience for the user.

[0016] The locking mechanism 4 locks the document placement tray 3 in a closed state when the document feeding unit 2 opens relative to the main body 1. Therefore, when the document feeding unit 2 opens relative to the main body 1, the document placement tray 3 is maintained in a closed state by the locking mechanism 4. As a result, the image reading device 100 can further improve the convenience for the user.

[0017] The image reading device 100 will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 has a display panel 10, an operation button 11, and an image scanner unit 12.

[0019] The display panel 10 and the operation buttons 11 are used for displaying and operating the scanner function. If the image reading device 100 has other functions, the display panel 10 and the operation buttons 11 are also used for displaying and operating the other functions.

[0020] The image scanner unit 12 is a part that reads an image of a document. The image scanner unit 12 is located at the upper part of the main body 1. The image scanner unit 12 has a platen glass 13 at its upper end. The image scanner unit 12 reads an image of a document placed on the platen glass 13.

[0021] The state in which the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1 is a state in which the upper surface of the main body 1 and the lower surface of the document feed unit 2 are in surface contact. The part of the main body 1 that is in surface contact with the document feed unit 2 is, for example, the platen glass 13. Hereinafter, the angle formed between the upper surface of the main body 1 and the lower surface of the document feed unit 2 may also be referred to as the opening angle. When the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1, the opening angle is 0°.

[0022] The opening of the document feeder 2 with respect to the main body 1 is not limited to the opening angle changing from 0° to more than 0°, but also includes the opening angle changing from a small angle to more than a small angle. Here, a small angle is, for example, any angle greater than 0° and less than 5°.

[0023] 2 and 3, the opening and closing of the document placement tray 3 relative to the document feeding unit 2 will be described below. Both Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are perspective views showing a state in which the document feeding unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1. However, Fig. 2 shows a state in which the document placement tray 3 is closed relative to the document feeding unit 2. On the other hand, Fig. 3 shows a state in which the document placement tray 3 is open relative to the document feeding unit 2.

[0024] 2, when the document placement tray 3 is closed relative to the document feeding section 2, the document can be fed from the document placement tray 3 to the document feeding section 2. Therefore, when the document placement tray 3 is closed relative to the document feeding section 2, it is tilted down relative to the document feeding section 2 in order to smoothly feed the document into the document feeding section 2. The tilted document placement tray 3 does not protrude from the upper surface of the document feeding section 2, for example. The gap between the tilted document placement tray 3 and the document feeding section 2 is, for example, about 18 mm.

[0025] The document feeder 2 has an automatic document transport mechanism called an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) (not shown) inside. The ADF transports a document from the document placement tray 3, reads the image of the document in the main body 1, and then discharges the document below the document placement tray 3.

[0026] 3, when the document placement tray 3 is open relative to the document feeding section 2, even a small document D can be taken out from under the document placement tray 3. Therefore, when the document placement tray 3 is open relative to the document feeding section 2, it stands upright relative to the document feeding section 2 to increase the gap between the document placement tray 3 and the document feeding section 2. The upright document placement tray 3 protrudes from the upper surface of the document feeding section 2, for example.

[0027] The lock mechanism 4 and the vicinity of the lock mechanism 4 will be described below with reference to Figs. 4 to 7. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of members related to the hinge of the lock mechanism 4. Fig. 5 is an assembly view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism 4 when both the document feed section 2 and the document placement tray 3 are closed. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism 4 when the document placement tray 3 is closed relative to the document feed section 2.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking mechanism 4 has a lower hinge 44, an upper hinge 46, and a slider 47.

[0029] 6, the locking mechanism 4 further has a regulating portion 48 that can regulate the document placement tray 3. The lower hinge 44 is provided on the main body 1. The upper hinge 46 is provided on the document feeding portion 2. The upper hinge 46 is rotatable relative to the lower hinge 44. The slider 47 slides in response to the rotation of the upper hinge 46.

[0030] 7, when the document feed unit 2 opens relative to the main body 1, the upper hinge 46 rotates relative to the lower hinge 44 by a predetermined angle or more. When the upper hinge 46 rotates relative to the lower hinge 44 by a predetermined angle or more, the slider 47 causes the restricting unit 48 to restrict the document placement tray 3. Note that the predetermined angle is, for example, the minute angle described above.

[0031] When the document feeder 2 opens relative to the main body 1, the document placement tray 3 is restricted by the restricting portion 48 and does not open or close reliably. Therefore, the image reading device 100 can further improve the convenience for the user.

[0032] The lock mechanism 4 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lock mechanism 4 in a state in which the document placement tray 3 is open relative to the document feeding section 2.

[0033] 7, the lock mechanism 4 has a rotating shaft 40 and a spring 41. The rotating shaft 40 ensures rotation of the upper hinge 46 relative to the lower hinge 44. The rotating shaft 40 passes through the lower hinge 44 and the upper hinge 46. The spring 41 biases the slider 47 toward the lower hinge 44 inside the upper hinge 46.

[0034] 8, when the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1, the document placement tray 3 is not restricted by the restricting portion 48. Therefore, when the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1, the document placement tray 3 is not restricted by the restricting portion 48, and can be opened (standing up) and closed (laying down).

[0035] The regulating portion 48 has a regulating protrusion 81 that protrudes towards the document loading tray 3. The document loading tray 3 has a regulated protrusion 31 that protrudes towards the regulating portion 48. The regulated protrusion 31 moves towards and away from the document feeding portion 2 as the document loading tray 3 is opened and closed. The state in which the regulating portion 48 regulates the document loading tray 3 is a state in which the regulating protrusion 81 prevents the regulated protrusion 31 from moving away from the document feeding portion 2.

[0036] The lock mechanism 4 will be described in further detail below with reference to Figs. 9 to 11. Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 6 with an opening angle of 0°. Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 with an opening angle of 85°.

[0037] 9 to 11, the lower hinge 44 has a cam portion 45. The cam portion 45 slides on a slider 47 due to the rotation of the upper hinge 46. The slider 47 slides on the cam portion 45 in response to the rotation of the upper hinge 46.

[0038] The slider 47 is mechanically slid by the cam portion 45, thereby reliably causing the restricting portion 48 to restrict the document placement tray 3. Therefore, the image reading device 100 can further improve the convenience for the user.

[0039] 9, the slider 47 is placed on the lower hinge 44 when the document feed unit 2 is closed relative to the main body 1. As shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the slider 47 slides in a direction approaching the lower hinge 44 as the document feed unit 2 opens more relative to the main body 1.

[0040] Gravity assists the slider 47 in sliding against the restricting portion 48. This reduces the burden on the user in restricting the document placement tray 3. As a result, the image reading device 100 can further improve the user's convenience.

[0041] Hereinafter, the slide that the slider 47 slides to cause the restricting portion 48 to restrict the slider 47 may be referred to as a restricting slide. In the example shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the restricting slide is a slide in a direction in which the slider 47 approaches the lower hinge 44.

[0042] The cam portion 45 has a curved sliding surface 50. The curved sliding surface 50 has a first gently curved surface 51, a second gently curved surface 52, and a sharply curved surface 53. The first gently curved surface 51 is located on the main body 1 side. The second gently curved surface 52 is located on the rotating shaft 40 side. The sharply curved surface 53 is located between the first gently curved surface 51 and the second gently curved surface 52. The sharply curved surface 53 is more sharply curved than the first gently curved surface 51 and the second gently curved surface 52.

[0043] The slider 47 has a stepped underside 70. The stepped underside 70 has a first underside 71, a second underside 72, and a connecting underside 73. The first underside 71 is located on the side of the document feeding unit 2. The second underside 72 is located on the opposite side of the document feeding unit 2. The connecting underside 73 connects the first underside 71 and the second underside 72. The first underside 71 and the second underside 72 form a step. The first underside 71 is located on the tip side of the regulating slide, and the second underside 72 is located on the base side of the regulating slide.

[0044] 9 to 11, as the document feed section 2 opens, the portion in contact with the sliding surface 50 shifts from only the first lower surface 71 (or the connecting lower surface 73) to both the connecting lower surface 73 and the second lower surface 72. On the other hand, as the document feed section 2 opens, the portion in contact with the stepped lower surface 70 shifts from the first gently curved surface 51 (or the sharply curved surface 53), beyond the sharply curved surface 53, to only the second gently curved surface 52.

[0045] The sliding surface 50 slides on the stepped lower surface 70, so that the document feeder 2 opens smoothly, while the document placement tray 3 is regulated by the regulating slide of the slider 47. Therefore, the image reading device 100 can further improve the convenience for the user.

[0046] The locking mechanism 4 further has a pushing portion 49 that pushes out the restricting portion 48. The pushing portion 49 has an inclined surface 90 that is inclined with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 47. The inclined surface 90 receives a force from the sliding slider 47 in a direction that pushes out the restricting portion 48. The restricting portion 48 is pushed out by the pushing portion 49, thereby restricting the document placement tray 3.

[0047] Therefore, the process from the sliding of the slider 47 to the regulation by the regulation portion 48 is performed mechanically, so that the document placement tray 3 is reliably regulated. As a result, the image reading device 100 can further improve the convenience for the user.

[0048] The inclined surface 90 may have a steeply inclined surface 91 and a gently inclined surface 92. The steeply inclined surface 91 is inclined at a larger angle than the gently inclined surface 92 with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 47. Therefore, the steeply inclined surface 91 pushes out the restricting portion 48 more than the gently inclined surface 92. The steeply inclined surface 91 is located on the base side of the restricting slide, and the gently inclined surface 92 is located on the tip side of the restricting slide.

[0049] As the document feeder 2 opens, the slider 47 slides in the direction of the regulating slide. The sliding slider 47 first comes into contact with the push-out portion 49 so as to trace the steeply inclined surface 91. Therefore, the push-out portion 49 significantly pushes the regulating portion 48 toward the document loading tray 3 side. As a result, the regulating portion 48 immediately regulates the document loading tray 3. As the slider 47 slides further, the sliding slider 47 then comes into contact with the push-out portion 49 so as to trace the gently inclined surface 92. Therefore, the push-out portion 49 gradually pushes the regulating portion 48 toward the document loading tray 3 side. As a result, the regulating portion 48 reliably regulates the document loading tray 3.

[0050] Hereinafter, the relationship between the pushing portion 49 and the slider 47 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the pushing portion 49 and the slider 47 in detail.

[0051] 12, the pushing portion 49 is two plate members attached to the restricting portion 48. The inclined surface 90 is formed by the edge of each plate member on the slider 47 side.

[0052] The slider 47 has a U-shaped member 74 protruding toward the extrusion portion 49. The U-shaped member 74 has one horizontal plate portion 75 and two vertical plate portions 77. Both short sides of the horizontal plate portion 75 are connected to the short sides of the vertical plate portions 77. The long side 76 of the horizontal plate portion 75 on the extrusion portion 49 side contacts the inclined surface 90.

[0053] Next, an image forming apparatus 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 200 including the image reading device 100 of Fig. 1.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 13, the image forming apparatus 200 includes the image reading device 100 and an image forming unit 220. The image forming unit 220 forms an image on a recording medium M. The image forming unit 220 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a replenishing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, and a charge removing device. Note that the image forming unit 220 is not limited to an electrophotographic type. The image forming unit 220 may be an inkjet type.

[0055] Therefore, by including the image reading device 100, the image forming device 200 prevents the document placement tray 3 from being opened or closed by the lock mechanism 4 when the document feeder 2 is opened relative to the main body 1. As a result, the image forming device 200, like the image reading device 100, can further improve user convenience.

[0056] 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 embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings are mainly schematic illustrations of each component for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are different from the actual ones due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, the speed, material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the configuration of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present invention provides an image reading device and an image forming device, and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1: Main unit 2: Document feed section 3: Document tray 4: Locking mechanism 44: Lower hinge 45: Cam section 46: Upper hinge 47: Slider 48: Regulation Department 49: Extrusion section 90: Inclined surface 100: Image reader 200: Image forming device 220: Image forming unit D: Manuscript M: Recording medium

Claims

1. A main body that reads images of documents; a document feed section that can be opened and closed relative to the main body; a document placement tray that can be opened and closed relative to the document feed section; a lock mechanism capable of locking the opening and closing of the document placement tray; Equipped with The locking mechanism locks the document placement tray from being opened or closed when the document feeding unit is opened relative to the main body.

2. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism locks the document placement tray in a closed state when the document feeding unit opens relative to the main body.

3. The locking mechanism includes: A lower hinge provided on the main body; an upper hinge provided in the document feed section and rotatable relative to the lower hinge; a slider that slides in response to rotation of the upper hinge; a regulating portion capable of regulating the document placement tray; having the upper hinge rotates relative to the lower hinge by a predetermined angle or more when the document feed unit opens relative to the main body, 3. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the slider causes the regulating portion to regulate the document placement tray when the upper hinge rotates relative to the lower hinge by the predetermined angle or more.

4. the lower hinge has a cam portion that slides on the slider as the upper hinge rotates, The image reading device according to claim 3 , wherein the slider slides in response to the rotation by sliding on the cam portion.

5. the slider is placed on the lower hinge when the document feed unit is closed relative to the main body, The image reading device according to claim 3 , wherein the slider slides in a direction approaching the lower hinge as the document feeder opens more with respect to the main body.

6. The lock mechanism further includes a push-out portion that pushes out the restricting portion, the push-out portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to a sliding direction of the slider, the inclined surface receives a force from the sliding slider in a direction to push out the restriction portion, The image reading device according to claim 3 , wherein the regulating portion regulates the document placement tray by being pushed out by the pushing portion.

7. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images