Image reading device and image forming device

Abstract

To maintain the alignment of sheets by means of a swing member whose posture can be easily changed even in a narrow space.SOLUTION: A sheet discharge device has: discharge means for discharging a sheet; sheet loading parts (100 and 101) on which a sheet is loaded; a swing member (102) which has a contact part (506) capable of coming into contact with the sheet, swings between a first position where the movement of the discharged sheet in the sheet discharge direction is regulated by the contact part and a second position where the contact part is moved further downward than the first position, and swings around a swing axis located on an upstream side of the contact part in the sheet discharge direction in a state where it is located at the second position; an engaged part (602) which is disposed on the sheet loading part; and an engaging part (510) which is disposed on a surface of the swing member of the opposite side to the contact part, and regulates swinging of the swing member from the first position to the second position by engaging with the engaged part in a state where the swing member is located at the first position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image from a sheet and an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material.

Background Art

[0002] An image reading device mounted on an image forming device such as a copying machine or a multifunction peripheral includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF: Auto Document Feeder) that automatically feeds sheets serving as originals one by one. The sheets fed by the ADF are read for image information by an image sensor and then stacked on a sheet stacking unit such as a discharge tray. Patent Document 1 describes a sheet discharge unit of a multifunction peripheral having a discharge tray where sheets are discharged, an extension tray that can be pulled out from the discharge tray, and a rotatable tray rotatably supported on the extension tray.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It has been considered to provide a rotatable member that can rotate between a position where it stands up to restrict the movement of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction and a position where it retracts downward to allow the movement of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction. When providing the rotatable member, it has been required that the rotatable member makes it more difficult to obstruct the movement of the sheet when the rotatable member does not restrict the movement of the sheet.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device and an image forming device in which a rotatable member makes it more difficult to obstruct the movement of a sheet when the rotatable member does not restrict the movement of the sheet.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an image reading apparatus including a feeding tray on which sheets are loaded, conveying means for conveying the sheets loaded on the feeding tray, reading means for reading an image of the sheets conveyed by the conveying means, discharging means for discharging the sheets read by the reading means in a sheet discharging direction, and a sheet stacking unit on which the sheets discharged by the discharging means are stacked, wherein the sheet stacking unit is disposed below the feeding tray so as to overlap the feeding tray when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and includes a discharge tray for supporting the sheets discharged by the discharging means, and a rotating member that is movable in the sheet discharging direction with respect to the discharge tray and is rotatably provided about a rotation axis, and the rotating member stands up with respect to the discharge tray and rotates between a first position that restricts the movement of the sheets discharged by the discharging means in the sheet discharging direction and a second position that is retracted downward compared to the first position, and ribs provided on the upper surface of the discharge tray so as to extend in the sheet discharging direction and disposed on both sides of the rotating member in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction, and the rotating member has a contact portion that contacts the leading end of the sheets discharged by the discharging means when the rotating member is in the first position, and the contact portion is located on the upper surface of the rotating member and below the upper surface of the rib when viewed from the width direction in a state where the rotating member is in the second position at the most upstream side within a range where the rotating member is movable in the sheet discharging direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, when the movement of the sheet is not restricted by the rotating member, it is more difficult for the rotating member to interfere with the movement of the sheet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

EXAMPLE

[0010] An image reading apparatus including a sheet discharge device according to Example 1 and an image forming apparatus including this image reading apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 200 including the image reading apparatus 201 of this embodiment.

[0011] (Image forming apparatus) The image forming apparatus 200 is an electrophotographic multi-function machine. This image forming apparatus 200 is merely an example of an image forming apparatus, and a facsimile apparatus or a multi-function machine equipped with an image reading apparatus 201 is also included in the image forming apparatuses to which the present technology is applicable. Further, the image forming means mounted on the image forming apparatus is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and for example, one equipped with an inkjet printing unit may be used.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 includes an image forming apparatus main body 202 and an image reading apparatus 201 mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 202. In the image forming apparatus main body 202, an image forming unit 3 as an image forming means is disposed at a substantially central portion thereof, and a feeding means for feeding a recording material S including a feeding cassette 6 is located below it. As the recording material S, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, plastic film, cloth, a sheet material with surface treatment such as coated paper, and a sheet material with a special shape such as an envelope and index paper. Above the image forming apparatus main body 202, an image reading apparatus 201 equipped with image sensors 409 and 410 as image reading means for reading an image of a document is disposed.

[0013] In the image forming apparatus main body 202, the image forming unit 3 is configured as a print engine by the electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 3 of this embodiment has a tandem intermediate transfer method configuration and includes four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K and an intermediate transfer belt 23 as an intermediate transfer body.

[0014] The image forming unit 10Y forms a yellow toner image by an electrophotographic process. That is, the photosensitive drum 11, which is a photoreceptor, rotates, and the charging device 12 uniformly charges the surface of the drum. The laser scanner 13 irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with laser light modulated based on image information to write an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum. The developing device 14 supplies charged toner particles to the photosensitive drum 11 and develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum into a toner image. This toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 23 by the primary transfer roller 15. Adhesions such as residual transfer toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 without being transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 23 are removed by the drum cleaner 16. The above processes proceed in parallel in each image forming unit 10Y to 10K, and toner images of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed.

[0015] The intermediate transfer belt 23 is wound around a plurality of rollers including the secondary transfer inner roller 18 and is rotationally driven in the direction along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11 (clockwise direction in the figure). The toner images of each color formed in the image forming units 10Y to 10K are primarily transferred so as to overlap each other, and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 23. This toner image is conveyed to a secondary transfer portion formed between the secondary transfer inner roller 18 and the secondary transfer roller 19 facing the same by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 23.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 200 includes a cassette feeding unit 4 and a manual feeding unit 5 as a sheet feeding device for feeding the recording material S. The cassette feeding unit 4 has a plurality of feeding cassettes 6, and the feeding unit 7 feeds the recording material S one by one from any of the feeding cassettes 6 toward the registration roller 17. Also, the manual feeding unit 5 provided on the side portion of the image forming apparatus main body 202 feeds the recording material S one by one toward the registration roller 17 by the feeding unit 8. The feeding units 7 and 8 include feeding members such as feeding rollers that send out the recording material S from the feeding cassette 6 or the manual tray, and separating members such as separating rollers or separating pads that apply frictional force to another recording material S overlapping the recording material S conveyed by the feeding member to prevent double feeding.

[0017] The registration roller 17 feeds the recording material S into the secondary transfer unit in synchronization with the toner image formation operation by the image forming unit 3. The recording material S on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the secondary transfer unit is conveyed to the fixing device 21. The fixing device 21 sandwiches and conveys the recording material S, and applies heat and pressure to the toner image on the sheet, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording material S. In the case of double-sided printing, the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 21 is guided to the reverse path 26, and is fed again to the image forming unit 3 in a state where the first side and the second side are reversed by the switchback conveyance, and an image is formed on the second side. In the case of single-sided printing, and when the image formation on the second side in double-sided printing is completed, the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 21 is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 202 by the discharge roller 25.

[0018] Note that in FIG. 1, the recording material on which the image has been formed is configured to be discharged to a discharge tray (or a sheet processing device connected to the image forming apparatus main body 202) disposed on the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 202. Instead of this, a so-called in-body discharge type configuration may be adopted in which a space is provided between the image reading device 201 and the image forming apparatus main body 202 in the vertical direction, and a main body discharge portion for discharging and stacking the recording material on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body 202 is formed.

[0019] (Image Reading Device) Next, the schematic configuration of the image reading device 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device 201. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image reading device 201.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus 201 is composed of an ADF 300 and a reader unit 301. The ADF 300 is a device that feeds the original documents one by one while separating a plurality of original documents when performing a continuous reading operation of reading the image on the original document by an image sensor while conveying the original document. The reader unit 301 is a device for reading the image of the moving original document conveyed by the ADF 300 in the continuous reading operation, or for reading the image of the stationary original document including thick objects such as books. As the original document, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper including plain paper and cardboard, plastic film, cloth, sheet materials with surface treatment such as coated paper, and special-shaped sheet materials such as envelopes and index paper.

[0021] The ADF 300 is provided with a feed tray 302 for placing the original document and a discharge tray 100 for discharging the original document after the image reading is completed. The reader unit 301 is located below the ADF 300 and supports the ADF 300 so that it can be opened and closed. In this embodiment, the reader unit 301 is fixed to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 202, but it is also possible to use the image reading apparatus 201 as an apparatus independent of the image forming apparatus.

[0022] Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from the user side (the front side of the image forming apparatus), the left-right direction of the image reading apparatus 201 is defined as the X direction. The front-back direction of the image reading apparatus 201 orthogonal to the X direction is defined as the Y direction (the main scanning direction of the original document, the width direction of the original document). Further, the up-down direction of the image reading apparatus 201 orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction (the vertical direction in the normal use state). The ADF 300 feeds the original document placed on the feed tray 302 toward one side in the X direction (referred to as the feed direction X1), and discharges it to the discharge tray 100 toward the other side in the X direction (the sheet discharge direction in this embodiment, hereinafter referred to as the original document discharge direction X2).

[0023] Next, the internal structure of the image reading device 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the image reading device 201 as viewed from the Y direction. The ADF 300 includes a pickup roller 401, a separation roller pair 402, and a plurality of conveyance roller pairs (403 to 406) as conveyance means for conveying a sheet. The pickup roller 401 abuts against the uppermost original document 400 placed on the feed tray 302 and feeds it toward the separation roller pair 402. The separation roller pair 402 conveys the original document 400 received from the pickup roller 401 one by one in a separated state.

[0024] The plurality of conveyance roller pairs convey the original document 400 while sequentially delivering it, via a reading position (the scanning position of the original document by the image sensors 409 and 410). Among these, the extraction roller pair 403 conveys the original document by pulling it out from the separation roller pair 402. The first lead roller pair 404 and the second lead roller pair 405 convey the original document 400 while passing through the reading positions of the image sensors 409 and 410, and contribute to improving the reading accuracy by stabilizing the position of the original document 400 at the reading position. The discharge roller pair 406 receives the original document 400 that has passed through the reading position and discharges it to the discharge tray 100.

[0025] Inside the reader unit 301, an image sensor 409 as the first reading means is provided. When reading an image from the first surface of the original document 400 conveyed by the ADF 300, the image sensor 409 stops at a position (the position in the figure) facing the through-glass 407. When reading an image from a stationary original document placed on the platen glass 408, the image sensor 409 reads the image by moving on a rail provided inside the reader unit 301 in the X direction, which is the sub-scanning direction.

[0026] Furthermore, inside the ADF300, an image sensor 410 as a second reading means is provided at a position facing the image sensor 409 of the leader unit 301. Therefore, from the document 400 conveyed by the ADF300, it is possible to simultaneously read images from both sides of the document using the two image sensors 409 and 410. Note that as the image sensors 409 and 410, either a contact image sensor (CIS) in which an imaging element such as a CMOS and an equal magnification optical system are modularized, or an image sensor of a CCD system in which a charge coupled device (CCD) and a reduction optical system are combined can be used.

[0027] As described above, the ADF300, which is the sheet discharging device of this embodiment, includes a pair of discharge rollers 406 as discharging means for discharging the document after the image reading, and a discharge tray 100 on which the discharged sheets are stacked.

[0028] (Swing guide) Next, the swing guide provided in the ADF300 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 attached to the ADF300. FIGS. 5(a, b) are perspective views showing the front and back surfaces of the swing guide 102. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the extension tray 101. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101. FIGS. 8(a, b) are cross-sectional views for explaining the attachment method of the swing guide 102 to the extension tray 101. FIGS. 9(a, b) and FIGS. 10(a, b) are diagrams for explaining the functions of the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the swing guide 102 and the feed tray 302.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, an extension tray 101 is provided on the discharge tray 100 of the ADF300 according to this embodiment. The extension tray 101 is slidable with respect to the discharge tray 100 between a storage position where it is stored in the discharge tray 100 and a pull-out position where it protrudes from the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2. The extension tray 101 can support the lower surface of the document discharged by the discharge roller pair 406 together with the discharge tray 100 at least in the pull-out position. That is, the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101 constitute the sheet stacking portion of this embodiment. Although the extension tray 101 of this embodiment is assumed to be used in either the storage position or the pull-out position, it may be configured to be movable between three or more use positions.

[0030] A swing guide 102 as a swing member swingable with respect to the extension tray 101 is provided on the extension tray 101. The swing guide 102 is a member having a function as a stopper that restricts the movement of the document in the document discharge direction X2 after the document has come out of the discharge roller pair 406 by abutting against the leading edge of the document in the document discharge direction X2. By providing the swing guide 102, it is possible to increase the discharge speed of the document by the discharge roller pair 406 to improve the throughput of the ADF300, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the alignment of the documents on the discharge tray 100.

[0031] The swing guide 102 is swingably supported by the extension tray 101. Specifically, the swing guide 102 is swingable between an upright posture (the state shown in FIGS. 4, 9(a), and 10(a)) that protrudes upward in the Z direction with respect to the extension tray 101 and a lying-down posture (the state shown in FIGS. 9(b) and 10(b)) that is retracted downward compared to the upright posture. The swing guide 102 in the upright posture can restrict the movement of the document in the document discharge direction X2 by an abutting portion against the sheet (the second rib portion 506 described later in this embodiment). On the other hand, the swing guide 102 in the lying-down posture is in a state where it does not interfere with the movement of the document because the abutting portion is retracted downward compared to the upright posture. The upright posture of the swing guide 102 is the first position of this embodiment, and the lying-down posture is the second position of this embodiment.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, a first opening 103 is provided on the upper surface of the discharge tray 100. The first opening 103 has a concave shape in which a part of the downstream end of the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2 is recessed toward the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2, and is provided at a position corresponding to the swing guide 102 in the Y direction. Due to the presence of this first opening 103, the swing guide 102 can be swung between the upright position and the lying position in the states of FIGS. 9(a, b) where the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. The functions of the swing guide 102 in the states of FIGS. 9(a, b) and 10(a, b) will be described later.

[0033] The detailed configuration of the swing guide 102 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 as viewed from the front side (the same side as the contact portion of the swing guide 102 with the sheet). FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 as viewed from the back side (the side opposite to the contact portion of the swing guide 102 with the sheet, the side facing the extension tray 101).

[0034] The swing guide 102 has a swing shaft 500, a first rib portion 502, a second rib portion 506, a first surface 501, a second surface 503, a third surface 504, a fourth surface 505, and a snap fit shape 510. Rear surfaces 511, 513, 514, 515 are provided on the back sides of the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505, respectively. As the swing guide 102, one integrally formed of these parts by a resin material can be used. Note that the swing guide 102 has a shape that is substantially symmetric with respect to the XZ plane passing through the center position of the swing guide 102 in the Y direction.

[0035] The swing shaft 500 is a substantially columnar member extending in the Y direction in the posture when assembled to the extension tray 101. When the swing shafts 500, 500 are engaged with the bearing portions of the extension tray 101 described later, the swing guide 102 swings with respect to the extension tray 101 about a swing axis Y0 extending in the Y direction through the swing shafts 500, 500. That is, the swing shaft 500 is an example of a shaft portion extending on the swing axis.

[0036] Hereinafter, among the circumferential directions centered on the rocking axis Y0, the rocking direction when the rocking guide 102 moves from the fallen posture to the standing posture is defined as the first rocking direction R1, and the rocking direction when the rocking guide 102 moves from the standing posture to the fallen posture is defined as the second rocking direction R2 (see Fig. 7).

[0037] The first rib portions 502, 502 are provided on both sides of the first surface 501 in the Y direction (front and forward direction), and extend substantially perpendicular to the Y direction. The rocking shafts 500, 500 are respectively provided on the first rib portions 502, 502 on both sides, and protrude outward in the Y direction from the first rib portions 502, 502.

[0038] The first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 are arranged so as to be away from the rocking axis Y0 in this order. That is, when the rocking guide 102 is in the second position, they are arranged in the order of the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 from the upstream to the downstream in the document discharge direction X2. The second surface 503 and the third surface 504, and the third surface 504 and the fourth surface 505 are adjacent to each other in the document discharge direction X2.

[0039] The second rib portions 506, 506 are provided on both sides of the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 in the Y direction (the front and forward direction of the image reading device), and extend substantially perpendicular to the Y direction. In a state where the rocking guide 102 is in the standing posture, it constitutes the upstream surface of the rocking guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2 (see Fig. 7). Therefore, the second rib portions 506, 506 function as the contact portions of this embodiment that can contact the leading end of the document in the document discharge direction X2.

[0040] The first concave portion 519 is formed by the second surface 503, the third surface 504, the fourth surface 505, and the second rib portions 506, 506. The first concave portion 519 is recessed downward in the Z direction from the upper ends of the second rib portions 506, 506 which are the contact portions with respect to the sheet in a state where the swing guide 102 is in the fallen posture. In other words, the first concave portion 519 is recessed on the downstream side in the swing direction (the second swing direction R2) when the swing guide 102 swings from the standing posture to the fallen posture with respect to the two rib portions 506, 506.

[0041] This first concave portion 519 functions as a finger hook portion that allows a user to hook a finger when pulling out the extension tray 101 in the storage position shown in FIG. 9(a) to the pull-out position shown in FIG. 10(a) in a state where the swing guide 102 is in the fallen posture. In particular, the third surface 504 facing the upstream side with respect to the document discharge direction X2 when the swing guide 102 is in the fallen posture serves as a pressing surface that receives the force with which the user presses the swing guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2 which is the pull-out direction.

[0042] Furthermore, on the fourth surface 505 on the downstream side in the document discharge direction X2 from the third surface 504, there is provided an anti-slip rib 507 that functions as an anti-slip uneven shape when the user hooks a finger on the first concave portion 519. The anti-slip rib 507 protrudes from the fourth surface 505 at a height such that it does not protrude from the second rib portion 506 when viewed in the Y direction (see FIG. 7). A plurality of anti-slip ribs 507 are provided, each extending in the Y direction. Note that the anti-slip rib 507 is an example of an anti-slip uneven shape, and for example, a structure in which hemispherical protrusions are arranged in a lattice pattern on the fourth surface 505 may be used as the anti-slip uneven shape.

[0043] Here, the swing axes 500, 500 are located at the upstream end of the swing guide 102 in the manuscript discharge direction X2 with the swing guide 102 in the fallen posture. That is, when the swing guide 102 of the present embodiment is in the second position, the second rib portions 506, 506 as the contact portions with respect to the sheet are located on the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction with respect to the swing axis Y0. Therefore, the swing guide 102 switches from the fallen posture to the standing posture such that the second rib portions 506, 506, which are downstream of the swing axis Y0 in the manuscript discharge direction X2, move upward.

[0044] In other words, when the swing guide 102 is in the standing posture, the inclination angle (θ1 in FIG. 7) of the second rib portion 506 in the direction in which it extends with respect to the horizontal plane when viewed from the Y direction is larger than the inclination angle (θ2 in FIG. 7) when the swing guide 102 is in the fallen posture. However, θ1 and θ2 represent angles in the counterclockwise direction in the figure with respect to a straight line extending downstream in the manuscript discharge direction X2. In order to provide the swing guide 102 with a function of contacting the leading end of the manuscript and maintaining the alignment of the manuscript, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ1 in the standing posture to, for example, 45 degrees or more, more preferably 60 degrees or more. On the other hand, in order to prevent the operability of the swing guide 102 from being impaired because the swing guide 102 interferes with a member above the discharge tray 100 such as the feed tray 302 or the distance to such a member is short, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ1 in the standing posture to 90 degrees or less.

[0045] On the side of the swing guide 102 opposite to the contact portion with the document, a snap-fit shape 510 is provided as a posture holding means for holding the swing guide 102 in the upright posture. However, the "side opposite to the contact portion" refers to the side surface of the swing guide 102 that faces the downstream side in the document discharge direction X2 in the upright posture. That is, the second rib portions 506, 506 as the contact portions constitute the surface in the first swing direction R1 from the lying posture to the upright posture of the swing guide 102. Further, the snap-fit shape 510 as the engaging portion is provided on the surface in the second swing direction R2 from the upright posture to the lying posture of the swing guide 102. Further, in other words, the snap-fit shape 510 is provided on the surface of the swing guide 102 facing the extension tray 101.

[0046] The snap-fit shape 510 of the present embodiment is a protrusion protruding from the back surface 513 of the second surface 503 to the downstream side in the second swing direction R2, and is formed of an elastically deformable material. As will be described later, the snap-fit shape 510 is configured to hold the upright posture of the swing guide 102 by engaging with the peripheral edge of the opening provided in the extension tray 101.

[0047] Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the detailed configuration of the extension tray 101 and the method of assembling the swing guide 102 to the extension tray 101 will be described.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, the extension tray 101 is provided with bearing portions 600, 600, a second opening 601, and a convex shape 603. The bearing portions 600, 600 engage with the swing shafts 500, 500 of the swing guide 102 and are portions that support the swing guide 102 so as to be swingable (rotatable) about the swing axis Y0. The second opening 601 is located downstream of the bearing portions 600, 600 in the document discharge direction X2. The second opening 601 functions as a space for receiving the snap-fit shape 510 when the swing guide 102 is in the lying posture to avoid interference with the extension tray 101.

[0049] When the swing guide 102 is in the upright position as shown in FIG. 7, the snap-fit shape 510 abuts against a receiving portion 602 provided at the peripheral edge on the downstream side of the second opening 601 in the document discharge direction X2. When a force in the second swing direction R2 acts on the swing guide 102 in the upright position, the receiving portion 602 receives the snap-fit shape 510, thereby restricting the rotation of the swing guide 102 in the second swing direction R2. That is, the receiving portion 602 as the engaged portion is configured to be engaged with the snap-fit shape 510 as the engaging portion, so that the swing of the swing guide 102 as the swing member is restricted.

[0050] When the swing guide 102 in the upright position receives a force in the second swing direction R2 with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the snap-fit shape 510 elastically deforms and disengages from the receiving portion 602 to the inside of the second opening 601. As a result, the swing of the swing guide 102 in the second swing direction R2 is allowed, so that the swing guide 102 switches from the upright position to the lying-down position. The predetermined threshold value is larger than the assumed value of the force received by the swing guide 102 when the document discharged from the discharge roller pair 406 hits the second rib portion 506, and is small enough to be realized by the user pressing with a finger.

[0051] Here, the snap-fit shape 510 as the engaging portion is a protrusion, and the configuration in which the receiving portion 602 as the engaged portion is provided at the peripheral edge of the opening for receiving the protrusion has been described. However, a configuration in which a snap-fit shape (protrusion) as the engaged portion is provided on the extension tray 101 and the receiving portion 602 as the engaging portion is arranged on the swing guide 102 also serves as a mechanism for holding the swing guide 102 in the upright position. However, in that case, it is desirable that the snap-fit shape does not protrude above the swing guide 102 when the swing guide 102 is in the lying-down position. In addition, as a mechanism in which the engaging portion and the engaged portion are engaged to hold the posture of the swing member, something other than the elastically deformable snap-fit shape may be used.

[0052] A swing restricting portion 700 is provided at the peripheral edge portion on the upstream side of the second opening 601 in the original document discharge direction X2. The swing restricting portion 700 is a surface (see FIG. 7) arranged to face the first rib portions 502, 502 with a predetermined clearance therebetween when the swing guide 102 is in the upright posture. The swing restricting portion 700 functions as a second restricting portion that abuts against the first rib portions 502, 502 when the swing guide 102 attempts to swing further in the first swing direction R1 from the upright posture, thereby restricting the swing of the swing guide 102.

[0053] The convex shape 603 protrudes upward in the Z direction on the downstream side in the original document discharge direction X2 from the second opening 601. The top surface 604 of the convex shape 603 is a surface that abuts against the back surface 515 (FIG. 5(b)) of the fourth surface 505 when the swing guide 102 is in the lying posture. When the back surface 515 of the fourth surface 505 of the swing guide 102 abuts against the top surface 604 of the convex shape 603, the swing guide 102 maintains the lying posture by its own weight. That is, the top surface 604 of the convex shape 603 functions as a first restricting portion that restricts the swing guide 102 from further swinging in the second swing direction R2 from the lying posture.

[0054] Furthermore, a second recess 605 is formed in the convex shape 603 to facilitate a user to place a finger on the swing guide 102 when raising the swing guide 102 in the lying posture to the upright posture. The second recess 605 is a concave shape in which the downstream end of the convex shape 603 in the original document discharge direction X2 is recessed upstream in a part of the convex shape 603 in the Y direction. When the swing guide 102 is in the lying posture, at least a part of the back surface 515 of the fourth surface 505 is in a positional relationship of being exposed inside the second recess 605. Therefore, the user can raise the swing guide 102 by placing a finger on the back surface 515 from below through the second recess 605.

[0055] Figures 8(a, b) show the state when the swing guide 102 is assembled to the extension tray 101. When assembling the swing guide 102, after moving the swing shafts 500, 500 downward through the second opening 601, move them to the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2, and then move them upward to fit the swing shafts 500, 500 into the bearing parts 600, 600. The arrow P in Fig. 8(a) represents an example of the movement locus of the swing shaft 500 in such an assembling operation.

[0056] Here, each bearing part 600 has a shape that is open downward, and protruding shapes 800, 800 are provided as dropout prevention means for preventing the dropout of the swing shaft 500 below the position of the swing shaft 500 in the assembled state. The protruding shapes 800, 800 are arranged sandwiching the movement locus of the swing shaft 500 in the assembling operation, and form a communication part through which the swing shaft 500 can pass toward the bearing part 600. Also, the width of the opening of the protruding shapes 800, 800 (the minimum distance between the protruding shapes 800, 800) is set slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the swing shaft 500. Therefore, when fitting the swing shaft 500 into the bearing part 600, the swing shaft 500 is passed through the protruding shapes 800, 800 and fitted in like a light press fit. The swing shaft 500 fitted into the bearing part 600 is prevented from dropping downward from the bearing part 600 by the protruding shapes 800, 800.

[0057] (Method of using the swing guide) Using Figs. 9(a, b) and 10(a, b), the states that the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101 can take, and the functions of the swing guide 102 in each state will be described.

[0058] Figure 9(a) shows a state (first state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the lying-down posture. In this state, the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 are located below the upper surface of the discharge tray 100. Specifically, the discharge tray 100 is provided with ribs 100r, 100r that support the lower surface of the sheet on both sides of the swing guide 102 in the Y direction and in a range overlapping the swing guide 102 in the original document discharge direction X2. When viewed from the Y direction in the state of Figure 9(a), the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 are retracted below the upper surfaces of the ribs 100r, 100r. Therefore, the swing guide 102 does not prevent the movement of the original document discharged onto the discharge tray 100 in the original document discharge direction X2.

[0059] Figure 9(b) shows a state (second state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the standing-up posture. In this state, at least a part of the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 protrudes above the upper surfaces of the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101. Also, the inclination angle (θ1 in Figure 7) of the second rib portions 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is closer to vertical than the angle (θ2 in Figure 7) in the lying-down posture. Therefore, the swing guide 102 can receive the leading end of the original document discharged in the original document discharge direction X2 by the discharge roller pair 406 with the second rib portions 506, 506 and regulate the movement in the original document discharge direction X2. Thereby, even when the discharge speed of the original document by the discharge roller pair 406 is high, the alignment of the original document on the discharge tray 100 can be maintained.

[0060] Here, in the first state shown in Figure 9(a), when viewed from the upper side in the Z direction, substantially the entire swing guide 102 is exposed through the first opening 103 provided in the discharge tray 100. Therefore, it is possible to change the posture of the swing guide 102 between the standing-up posture (Figure 9(a)) and the lying-down posture (Figure 9(b)) while the extension tray 101 is positioned in the storage position.

[0061] Figure 10(a) shows the state (the third state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the pulled-out position and the swing guide 102 is in the fallen position. In this state, the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 protrude above the upper surface of the extension tray 101, but the inclination angle of the second rib portions 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is kept relatively small. Therefore, the swing guide 102 does not prevent the movement of the document discharged onto the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2. Also, the swing guide 102 can support the lower surface of the document on the downstream side of the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2.

[0062] Figure 10(b) shows the state (the fourth state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the pulled-out position and the swing guide 102 is in the upright position. In this state, at least a part of the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 protrudes above the upper surface of the extension tray 101. Also, the inclination angle (θ1 in FIG. 7) of the second rib portions 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is closer to vertical than the angle (θ2 in FIG. 7) in the fallen position. Therefore, the swing guide 102 can receive the leading edge of the document discharged in the document discharge direction X2 by the discharge roller pair 406 with the second rib portions 506, 506 and regulate the movement in the document discharge direction X2. Thereby, even when the discharge speed of the document by the discharge roller pair 406 is high, the alignment of the documents on the discharge tray 100 can be maintained.

[0063] In this embodiment, when handling a document with a length in the conveyance direction of A4R size or less, the extension tray 101 is set to the storage position, and when handling a document with a length in the conveyance direction longer than the A4R size (for example, legal size), the extension tray 101 is set to the pulled-out position. However, the notation "R" regarding the document size indicates that the long side of the document extends in the conveyance direction and the short side extends in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and the document is set on the feed tray 302.

[0064] Thus, in this embodiment, in a configuration where the extension tray 101 is movable between a plurality of positions, the swing guide 102 can be set in an upright posture at at least two positions (FIGS. 9(b) and 10(b)). Thereby, the leading edges of a plurality of sizes of originals having different lengths in the conveyance direction can be regulated by the swing guide 102, and the alignment in the discharge tray 100 can be maintained.

[0065] In addition, in the state of FIG. 9(a) where the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the lying posture, the swing guide 102 is stored inside the discharge tray 100 when viewed from vertically above, and does not protrude downstream in the original discharge direction X2 from the discharge tray 100. Therefore, when neither the extension tray 101 nor the swing guide 102 is used, the occupancy width of the image reading device 201 in the X direction can be suppressed by setting the state of FIG. 9(a).

[0066] It is desirable to ensure the protruding amount of the second rib portion 506 with respect to the discharge tray 100 so that the swing guide 102 can sufficiently regulate the leading edge of the original even when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. For example, in a state where the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, the length from the upper end portion of the second rib portion 506 drawn vertically downward when viewed in the Y direction to the point where it first intersects the discharge tray 100 or the extension tray 101 is defined as the first protruding amount. Further, in a state where the extension tray 101 is in the pulled-out position and the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, the length from the upper end portion of the second rib portion 506 drawn vertically downward when viewed in the Y direction to the point where it intersects the extension tray 101 is defined as the second protruding amount. At this time, for example, if the first protruding amount is at least one-half of the second protruding amount, it is easy to expect the function of regulating the leading edge of the original by the swing guide 102 even when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. Also, for example, it is preferable that both the first protruding amount and the second protruding amount are 10 mm or more.

[0067] (Position relationship with the feed tray) Next, the swing direction of the swing guide 102 and its advantages will be described with reference to FIG. 11. As described above, the swing guide 102 is in a state of extending downstream in the document discharge direction with respect to the swing axis Y0 in the laid-down position. Therefore, when the swing guide 102 is raised from the laid-down position to the upright position, as shown in FIG. 11, the swing guide 102 is swung in a first swing direction R1 counterclockwise in the figure so as to move upward in the Z direction and toward the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2. Then, when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, a snap-fit ​​shape 510 provided on the side opposite to the abutment portion of the swing guide 102 against the sheet abuts against a receiving portion 602 of the extension tray 101, so that the swing guide 102 is maintained in the upright position.

[0068] In this configuration, even if there is another member such as the feeding tray 302 above the swingable guide 102, it is possible to avoid interference with the other member when swinging the swingable guide 102 between the laid-down position and the upright position. Therefore, the position of the swingable guide 102 can be easily changed even in a small space. In recent years, there has been a demand for higher throughput in image reading devices, and in order to meet this demand, there is a trend for the sheet discharge speed to be increased. Therefore, a study has been conducted on a method for maintaining the alignment of the sheets in the sheet stacking section by restricting the movement of the sheets in the discharge direction using a swinging member that can protrude above the sheet stacking section. However, in the rotation configuration of the rotating tray in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the rotating tray is configured to protrude downstream in the sheet discharge direction from a state in which it is stored upstream of the rotation axis in the sheet discharge direction. Therefore, a relatively large space is required to rotate the rotating tray. In addition, for example, the rotating tray cannot be rotated until the extension tray is pulled out to avoid the feeding tray located above the discharge tray, and improvements in operability are desired.

[0069] As an alternative configuration to this embodiment, the swing guide 102 extends upstream of the document discharge direction X2 from the swing axis Y0 in the fallen posture, and it is conceivable that the swing guide 102 can be swung to the standing posture at the same angle as in FIG. 11 by swinging the swing guide 102 clockwise in the drawing. However, in this alternative configuration, the highest point of the locus when swinging the swing guide 102 from the fallen posture to the standing posture becomes higher than in this embodiment. As a result, there is a concern that it becomes difficult to operate the swing guide 102 by a member located above the discharge tray 100, such as the feed tray 302. In order to avoid this, if the swing guide 102 is swung with the feed tray 302 retracted upward, even if the operation of the swing guide 102 itself becomes easy, it does not lead to an improvement in operability because the procedure for retracting the feed tray 302 increases.

[0070] On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, regardless of whether the extension tray 101 is in the storage position or the pulled-out position, the user can set the swing guide 102 to the standing posture by performing one operation of placing a finger on the swing guide 102 in the fallen posture and pressing it upward. That is, it is possible to improve the operability in that there is no need to secure the space above the swing guide 102 by pulling out the extension tray 101 from the storage position or by lifting the feed tray 302 upward.

[0071] The configuration of this embodiment can be preferably applied when the swing radius r1 of the swing guide 102 (the distance from the swing axis Y0 to the end on the side far from the swing axis Y0 of the swing guide 102) is smaller than the minimum distance (d1 in FIG. 11) between the swing axis Y0 and the feed tray 302. When trying to ensure the protruding amount by which the second rib portion 506 protrudes above the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101 in the standing posture, the length of the swing guide 102, that is, the radius of the swing locus, increases. On the other hand, in order to reduce the size of the image reading device 201 in the height direction, it is preferable to bring the discharge tray 100 and the feed tray 302 as close as possible in the Z direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the swing radius r1 of the swing guide 102 may be smaller than the minimum distance d1 between the swing axis Y0 and the feed tray 302. According to the configuration of this embodiment, even under such an arrangement relationship, it is possible to change the posture of the swing guide 102 without interfering with the feed tray 302.

[0072] Also, as another alternative configuration for this embodiment, it is conceivable to arrange an engaging portion for holding the posture of the swing guide 102, such as a snap-fit shape 510, on the same side as the contact portion of the swing guide 102 with respect to the document. In this alternative configuration, it may be a problem to arrange the engaging portion so as not to interfere with the function of the contact portion. In this embodiment, however, it is possible to hold the posture of the swing guide 102 with a simple configuration in which the snap-fit shape 510 is arranged on the side opposite to the contact portion.

[0073] In addition, when the engaging portion is disposed on the same side as the abutting portion, it is conceivable to dispose the engaging portion in the vicinity of the swing axis Y0 so as not to interfere with the function of the abutting portion for regulating the leading end of the document. However, the closer the engaging portion is to the swing axis Y0, the greater the force acting on the contact portion between the engaging portion and the engaged portion when regulating the swing of the swing guide 102 according to the lever principle. Therefore, in order to sufficiently regulate the swing of the swing guide 102, it is necessary to ensure the strength of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, which tends to lead to an increase in cost. In addition, there is a concern that the engaging portion strongly rubs against the engaged portion during posture change and wear progresses. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the snap-fit shape 510 can be disposed at a position relatively distant from the swing axis Y0. For example, the swing of the swing guide 102 can be sufficiently regulated using a relatively small snap-fit shape 510.

[0074] (Modification example) In the above-described first embodiment, the configuration in which the swing guide 102 is provided on the extension tray 101 movable with respect to the discharge tray 100 has been illustrated. However, the present technology may be applied to a configuration in which the sheet loading portion does not include the extension tray 101. For example, the discharge tray 100 is provided with a configuration equivalent to the bearing portion 600, the second opening 601, the receiving portion 602, the convex shape 603, etc. of the present embodiment, so that the swing guide 102 is assembled at the same position as when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position in the present embodiment.

[0075] In addition, in the above-described first embodiment, the feeding tray 302 has been illustrated as a member located above the sheet loading portion where the swing member is provided. However, the present technology is applicable regardless of the member above the sheet loading portion. For example, even in a configuration in which there is another sheet loading portion above the sheet loading portion, the present technology enables the posture of the swing member to be changed in a narrow space. Further, the present technology is not limited to a configuration in which there is always another member above the sheet loading portion.

Embodiment

[0076] Next, the configuration of the swing guide 102A according to Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. In this example, the swing axis of the swing guide 102A is attached to a flexible arm portion, and the swing guide is assembled to the extension tray by utilizing the elasticity of the arm portion, which is different from the swing guide 102 of Example 1. Hereinafter, those denoted by the same reference numerals as in Example 1 will be described as having substantially the same functions as in Example 1.

[0077] FIG. 12(a) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102A in this example as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 12(b) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102A as viewed from the back side. The swing guide 102A has a swing axis 500, rib portions 506A, a first surface 501, a second surface 503, a third surface 504, a fourth surface 505, and a snap-fit shape 510. Rear surfaces 511, 513, 514, 515 are provided on the back sides of the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505, respectively. Also, the rib portions 506A, 506A are provided on both sides of the swing guide 102A in the Y direction in the same manner as the second rib portions 506, 506 in Example 1, and function as contact portions with respect to the manuscript.

[0078] Here, the swing guide 102A has arm portions 520, 520 extending in a direction intersecting the swing axis line Y0, and the swing axes 500, 500 are provided on the arm portions 520, 520. The arm portions 520, 520 of this example extend in substantially the same direction as the rib portions 506A, 506A when viewed from the Y direction. Also, the swing guide 102A is formed of a resin material such as at least the arm portions 520, 520 made of ABS (a resin composed of a copolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) or PC + ABS (an alloy resin of polycarbonate and ABS resin). Further, slits 521, 521 are provided between the arm portions 520, 520 and the second surface 503, and the arm portions 520, 520 are set to have a rigidity such that a user can bend them inward in the Y direction by hand.

[0079] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the extension tray 101 of the present embodiment. The extension tray 101 is provided with bearing portions 600A, 600A, a second opening 601A, and a convex shape 603. The bearing portions 600A, 600A are portions that engage with the swing shafts 500, 500 of the swing guide 102A and support the swing guide 102 so as to be swingable (rotatable) about the swing axis Y0. The second opening 601A is located downstream of the bearing portions 600, 600 in the document discharge direction X2. The second opening 601A functions as a space for receiving the snap-fit shape 510 and avoiding interference with the extension tray 101 when the swing guide 102 is in the fallen posture.

[0080] However, in the swing guide 102A of the present embodiment, after the swing shafts 500 are moved to positions facing the corresponding bearing portions 600A with the arm portions 520, 520 deflected, the arm portions 520 are released so that the swing shafts 500 are fitted into the bearing portions 600A. Accordingly, the bearing portions 600A, 600A are formed in a hole shape that opens inward in the Y direction, and the lower side in the Z direction is closed. Further, the second opening 601A is smaller than the first opening 601 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment, and is set to a size through which the swing shafts 500, 500 cannot pass.

[0081] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the swing guide 102A assembled to the extension tray 101. Since the operations and functions of the swing guide 102A after being assembled to the extension tray 101 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. Therefore, even when the swing guide 102A of the present embodiment is used, it is possible to easily change the posture of the swing guide in a narrow space as in the first embodiment.

[0082] (Other Embodiments) In each of the above embodiments, a configuration example in which the present technology is applied to the image reading device 201 attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 202 has been illustrated. However, the present technology may be applied to an image reading device independent of the image forming apparatus. Further, the present technology is also applicable to a sheet discharging device other than the ADF that constitutes the image reading device (for example, a device that discharges a recording material on which an image has been formed in the image forming apparatus).

[0083] The present disclosure includes at least the following configurations.

[0084] (Configuration 1) Discharging means for discharging a sheet in a sheet discharging direction, A sheet stacking portion on which the sheet discharged by the discharging means is stacked, A swing member having an abutting portion that can abut on the sheet discharged by the discharging means, and that swings between a first position that restricts the movement of the sheet discharged by the discharging means in the sheet discharging direction by the abutting portion, and a second position in which the abutting portion has moved downward compared to the first position, and that swings about a swing axis located upstream of the abutting portion in the sheet discharging direction in a state where it is in the second position, An engaged portion provided on the sheet stacking portion, An engaging portion provided on a surface of the swing member opposite to the abutting portion, and configured to restrict the swing of the swing member from the first position to the second position by engaging with the engaged portion in a state where the swing member is in the first position, A sheet discharging device characterized by the above.

[0085] (Configuration 2) The sheet stacking portion includes a discharge tray and an extension tray that supports the sheet together with the discharge tray, and the extension tray moves relative to the discharge tray between a storage position stored in the discharge tray and a pull-out position protruding downstream in the sheet discharging direction from the discharge tray, The swing member is swingably supported by the extension tray, The engaged portion is provided on the extension tray. The sheet discharging device according to Configuration 1, characterized in that

[0086] (Configuration 3) The discharge tray is provided with a first opening that allows the swing member to swing between the first position and the second position with the extension tray in the storage position. The sheet discharging device according to Configuration 2, characterized in that

[0087] (Configuration 4) When viewed from the direction of the swing axis of the swing member, with the extension tray in the storage position and the swing member in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with a first protrusion amount with respect to the discharge tray and the extension tray, and when the extension tray is in the pulled-out position and the swing member is in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with a second protrusion amount with respect to the extension tray. The sheet discharging device according to Configuration 3, characterized in that

[0088] (Configuration 5) When viewed from the direction of the swing axis of the swing member, with the extension tray in the storage position and the swing member in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with a first protrusion amount with respect to the discharge tray and the extension tray, and when the extension tray is in the pulled-out position and the swing member is in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with a second protrusion amount with respect to the extension tray. The first protrusion amount is not less than one-half of the second protrusion amount. The sheet discharging device according to Configuration 3 or 4, characterized in that

[0089] (Configuration 6) The swing axis of the swing member is provided upstream of the downstream end of the extension tray in the sheet discharging direction. When the extension tray is in the storage position and the swing member is in the second position, the swing member is located inside the discharge tray when viewed from the vertical direction. The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 2 to 5, characterized in that

[0090] (Configuration 7) On the surface of the swing member on the same side as the contact portion, a first concave portion that is recessed downward compared to the contact portion in a state where the swing member is in the second position is provided. The first concave portion is configured such that when the swing member is in the second position and is pressed downstream in the sheet discharge direction, the extension tray slides from the storage position to the extraction position. The sheet discharge device according to any one of Configurations 2 to 6, characterized in that.

[0091] (Configuration 8) The swing member has an anti-slip uneven shape on the downstream side of the first concave portion in the sheet discharge direction in a state where the swing member is in the second position. The sheet discharge device according to Configuration 7, characterized in that.

[0092] (Configuration 9) The engaging portion is a protruding portion that protrudes from the surface of the swing member on the side opposite to the contact portion toward the downstream side in the swinging direction from the first position to the second position. The sheet discharge device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that.

[0093] (Configuration 10) An opening for receiving the protruding portion is formed in the sheet stacking portion when the swing member is in the second position. The engaged portion is the peripheral edge of the opening. The sheet discharge device according to Configuration 9, characterized in that.

[0094] (Configuration 11) The protruding portion is made of an elastically deformable material, and when the swing member in the first position receives a force equal to or greater than a threshold value toward the second position, it detaches from the engaged portion and allows the swing member to swing to the second position. The sheet discharge device according to Configuration 9 or 10, characterized in that.

[0095] (Configuration 12) The sheet loading portion has a first restricting portion that restricts the swing member in the second position from further swinging in the swinging direction from the first position to the second position by contacting a surface on the side opposite to the contact portion of the swing member. The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, characterized in that.

[0096] (Configuration 13) The first restricting portion is provided with a second concave portion formed so that at least a part of the surface on the side opposite to the contact portion of the swing member is exposed in a state where the swing member is in the second position. The sheet discharging device according to Configuration 12, characterized in that.

[0097] (Configuration 14) The sheet loading portion has a second restricting portion that restricts the swing member in the first position from further swinging in the swinging direction from the second position to the first position by contacting a surface on the same side as the contact portion of the swing member. The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 13, characterized in that.

[0098] (Configuration 15) The swing member has a shaft portion extending on the swing axis. The sheet loading portion has a bearing portion that rotatably supports the shaft portion, and a communication portion that forms an opening communicating with the bearing portion from a direction intersecting the swing axis. The communication portion is configured such that the width of the opening is set smaller than the outer diameter of the shaft portion, and the shaft portion is fitted into the bearing portion by being pushed in from a direction intersecting the swing axis. The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 14, characterized in that.

[0099] (Configuration 16) The swing member has a shaft portion extending on the swing axis and an arm portion that supports the shaft portion and is elastically deformable in the direction of the swing axis. The sheet loading part has a bearing part that rotatably supports the shaft part, and is configured such that the shaft part fits into the bearing part by flexing the arm part. The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 14, characterized in that.

[0100] (Configuration 17) A feeding tray on which sheets are loaded, Conveying means for feeding and conveying the sheets loaded on the feeding tray, Reading means for scanning the sheets being conveyed by the conveying means at a reading position to read image information, The sheet discharging device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 16, for discharging the sheets that have passed through the reading position, and comprising: An image reading device, characterized in that.

[0101] (Configuration 18) The sheet loading part is disposed below the feeding tray, When viewed in the direction of the swing axis, the swing radius of the swing member with respect to the swing axis is larger than the minimum distance from the swing axis to the feeding tray, and the swing member swings between the first position and the second position without contacting the feeding tray. The image reading device according to Configuration 17, characterized in that.

[0102] (Configuration 19) An image reading device according to any one of Configurations 16 to 18, And image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image information read by the image reading device, and comprising: An image forming device, characterized in that.

Explanation of Signs

[0103] 3…Image forming means (image forming unit) / 100…Sheet stacking unit (output tray) / 101…Sheet stacking unit (extension tray) / 102, 102A…Swinging member (swing guide) / 103…First opening / 500…Shaft portion / 506, 506A…Contact portion (second rib portion) / 507…Anti-slip uneven shape (anti-slip rib) / 510…Engaging portion (snap fit shape) / 519…First recess / 520…Arm portion / 600, 600A…Bearing portion / 601…Second opening / 602…Engaged portion (receiving portion) / 604…First restricting portion (convex top surface) / 605…Second recess / 700…Second restricting portion (swing restricting portion) / 800…Communication portion (projection shape) / 200…Image forming apparatus / 201…Image reading apparatus / 300…Sheet discharging apparatus (ADF) / 302…Feeding tray / 406…Discharging means (discharging roller pair) / 409, 410…Reading means (image sensor) / Y0…Swing axis of the swinging member

Claims

1. A feed tray on which sheets are loaded; a conveying means for conveying the sheets stacked on the feeding tray; a reading means for reading an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; a discharge means for discharging the sheet read by the reading means in a sheet discharge direction; a sheet stacking section on which the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked; An image reading device comprising: The sheet stacking unit includes: a discharge tray that is disposed below the feed tray so as to overlap with the feed tray when viewed from above in the vertical direction and that supports the sheet discharged by the discharge means; a rotating member that is movable in the sheet discharge direction relative to the discharge tray and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotating member standing upright with respect to the discharge tray and rotating between a first position that restricts movement of the sheet discharged by the discharge means in the sheet discharge direction and a second position that is retreated downward compared to the first position; a rib provided on an upper surface of the discharge tray so as to extend in the sheet discharge direction and disposed on both sides of the rotating member in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction; the rotating member has a contact portion against which a leading edge of a sheet discharged by the discharge means comes into contact when the rotating member is located at the first position, the contact portion is located on an upper surface of the rotating member and is located below an upper surface of the rib as viewed in the width direction when the rotating member is located at the second position on the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

2. the rotating member has a pressed surface that is pressed from below when the rotating member is moved from the second position to the first position, When the rotating member is located at the second position, the pressed surface is exposed to a downstream side in the sheet discharge direction through a space formed between the pressed surface and a surface of the sheet stacking unit facing the pressed surface in the vertical direction.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus comprises:

3. the discharge tray has a concave shape extending from a downstream end of the discharge tray toward an upstream side in the sheet discharge direction when viewed from above in the vertical direction, When the rotating member is located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction and when the rotating member is located at the second position, the rotating member is exposed inside the concave shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and the entire rotating member is located upstream of the downstream end of the discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

4. the sheet stacking section supports the rotation shaft so that the rotation member is rotatable, and includes a moving member that is movable together with the rotation member in the sheet discharge direction.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a scanning apparatus.

5. a holding means for holding the rotating member at the first position by restricting the rotating member from moving to the second position when the rotating member is located at the first position, The holding means is a contact body provided on the rotating member, at least a portion of which is made of an elastically deformable material; a receiving portion provided on the moving member, the receiving portion contacting the contact object when the rotating member rotates between the first position and the second position to elastically deform at least the part of the contact object; 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4,

6. The abutted body is provided on the opposite side to the abutting portion.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5,

7. the movable member is slidable between a third position located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction and a fourth position located downstream of the third position in the sheet discharge direction, the rotating member is rotatable between the first position and the second position in both a state in which the moving member is in a third position and a state in which the moving member is in a fourth position; 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

8. the moving member has an inclined surface inclined upward toward a downstream side in the sheet discharging direction, an end portion which is a lower end of the contact portion when the rotating member is at the first position is located downstream of the inclined surface in the sheet discharge direction and below an extension line of the inclined surface when viewed in the width direction, in each of a state in which the rotating member is at the first position and a state in which the rotating member is at the second position; 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is a scanning apparatus.

9. the movable member has a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotating member from further rotating from the first position in a rotation direction from the second position to the first position, the rotation restriction portion is provided downstream of the inclined surface in the sheet discharge direction.

9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8,

10. the rotation shaft is provided at a position that is a lower end of the rotation member that is located at the first position and is an upstream end in the sheet discharge direction of the rotation member that is located at the second position; 10. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

11. a direction in which the rotating member rotates from the second position to the first position is a direction toward an upstream side in the sheet discharge direction, When the rotating member is located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction, the rotating member is movable from the second position to the first position without interfering with the sheet feed tray.

11. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

12. the sheet stacking portion has a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation member from further rotating from the first position toward the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction.

12. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

13. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and an image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image information read by the reading means.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images