Transportation device, image reading device, and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a transportation device, an image reading device, and an image forming device capable of preventing interaction between a discharging sheet and a transported sheet in a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A transportation device 100 is provided with a sheet transportation passage 1, a discharge outlet 7, and a discharge upper surface part 4. The sheet transportation passage 1 transports a sheet S. The discharge outlet 7 discharges the sheet S transported by the sheet transportation passage 1. The discharge upper surface part 4 configures an upper surface of the discharge outlet 7 as being consecutively connected to an upper surface of the sheet transportation passage 1. The discharge upper surface part 4 comprises an upstream surface part 5 at an upstream side and an upper surface part 6 at a downstream side. The upper surface part 5 at the upstream side is positioned at an upstream side in a transportation direction of the sheet S. The upper surface part 6 at the downstream side is positioned at a downstream side in the transportation direction of the sheet S. The upper surface part 6 at the downstream side is placed at a lower place than that of the upper surface part 5 at the upstream side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The conveying device conveys the sheet and discharges it to the discharge port. The sheet discharged to the discharge port is stacked at the discharge port as conveyed sheets.

[0003] The conveying device described in Patent Document 1 suppresses curl, which is warping of sheets. By suppressing sheet curl, interference between the sheet to be discharged and the conveyed sheet at the discharge port is prevented. Preventing interference suppresses stock problems, such as conveyed sheets being pushed out by the sheet to be discharged. In addition to stock problems, the problem of the order of conveyed sheets being disrupted is also suppressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-76897 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the conveying device described in Patent Document 1 requires a sheet pressing mechanism with a complex configuration to suppress warping of the sheet. On the other hand, if the sheet pressing mechanism has a simple configuration, the warping of the sheet is not sufficiently suppressed. If the conveying device described in Patent Document 1 does not sufficiently suppress the warping of the sheet, interference will occur between the sheet to be discharged and the sheet already conveyed at the discharge port.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a conveying device, an image reading device, and an image forming device that have a simple configuration and can prevent interference between a sheet to be discharged and a sheet that has already been conveyed at the discharge outlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a conveying device includes a sheet conveying path, a discharge outlet, and a discharge upper surface portion. A sheet is conveyed through the sheet conveying path. The discharge outlet discharges the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path. The discharge upper surface portion is continuous with the upper surface of the sheet conveying path and forms the upper surface of the discharge outlet. The discharge upper surface portion has an upstream upper surface portion and a downstream upper surface portion. The upstream upper surface portion is located upstream in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The downstream upper surface portion is located downstream in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The downstream upper surface portion is located lower than the upstream upper surface portion.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image reading device includes a conveying device and an image reading unit. The conveying device is described in the first aspect. The image reading unit reads an image on a sheet being conveyed by the conveying device.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image reading device and an image forming unit. The image reading device is described in the second aspect. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the conveying device, image reading device, and image forming apparatus of the present invention, interference between a sheet to be discharged and a conveyed sheet can be prevented with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conveying device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a sheet guide frame included in the conveying device. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a sheet conveying path in the vicinity of a discharge port. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view of an image reading device and an image forming device, each including a conveying device, with an upper portion cut away. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description will not be repeated. Furthermore, in the following description, terms meaning specific positions and directions, such as "left," "right," "front," or "rear," may be used, but these terms are used for convenience to facilitate understanding of the contents of the embodiments, and do not relate to the directions when actually implemented. <Embodiment>

[0013] A conveying device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conveying device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 100 includes a sheet conveying path 1, a discharge opening 7, and an upper discharge surface portion 4. A sheet S is conveyed along the sheet conveying path 1. The sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveying path 1 is discharged from the discharge opening 7. The upper discharge surface portion 4 is continuous with the upper surface of the sheet conveying path 1 and forms the upper surface of the discharge opening 7. In FIG. 1, the direction from the sheet conveying path 1 facing the discharge opening 7 to the discharge opening 7 is the forward direction, and the direction opposite to the forward direction is the rearward direction.

[0015] The discharge upper surface portion 4 has an upstream upper surface portion 5 and a downstream upper surface portion 6. The upstream upper surface portion 5 is located upstream in the direction in which the sheet S is transported. The downstream upper surface portion 6 is located downstream in the direction in which the sheet S is transported. The downstream upper surface portion 6 is located lower than the upstream upper surface portion 5.

[0016] The downstream upper surface portion 6, which is positioned lower than the upstream upper surface portion 5, discharges the sheet S from above downward to the discharge outlet 7. Therefore, the sheet S discharged to the discharge outlet 7 is stacked from above on top of the conveyed sheet 8 at the discharge outlet 7. As a result, the conveying device 100 can prevent interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0017] The conveying device 100 further includes a sheet placement tray 2, a main body 10, a feed roller 20, a paper feed roller 21, and multiple conveying rollers (not shown). The sheet S placed on the sheet placement tray 2 is fed to a sheet conveying path 1 by the feed roller 20 and the paper feed roller 21. The sheet conveying path 1 is formed inside the main body 10. The sheet conveying path 1 is made up of, in order from the upstream side, an upper conveying path 11, a reversing conveying path 12, and a lower conveying path 13. The multiple conveying rollers are arranged so as to sandwich the sheet S inside the sheet conveying path 1. The multiple conveying rollers convey the sheet S by rotating.

[0018] The upper conveying path 11 communicates with the surface of the sheet loading tray 2 on which the sheet S is placed. The reversing conveying path 12 reverses the sheet S being transported. The lower conveying path 13 communicates with the discharge opening 7. The upper surface of the lower conveying path 13 forms part of the discharge upper surface portion 4.

[0019] The conveying device 100 will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a side view of a sheet guide frame 3 included in the conveying device 100. Fig. 3 is an upper perspective view of the sheet guide frame 3. Fig. 4 is a lower perspective view of the sheet guide frame 3.

[0020] 2, the conveying device 100 has a sheet guide frame 3. A part of the lower surface of the sheet guide frame 3 corresponds to the discharge upper surface portion 4. Therefore, the sheet guide frame 3 has an upstream upper surface portion 5 and a downstream upper surface portion 6 located below the upstream upper surface portion 5.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, the sheet guide frame 3 extends in the left-right direction. The left-right direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet S is transported (forward) and the up-down direction. Hereinafter, the left-right direction may also be referred to as the first direction. Therefore, the downstream upper surface portion 6 extends in the first direction, which is perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet S is transported and the up-down direction.

[0022] 3 and 4, the downstream upper surface portion 6 has both end portions 31 in the first direction and a central portion 32 located between the both end portions 31. The central portion 32 is located higher than the both end portions 31. The both end portions 31 are located lower than the upstream upper surface portion 5.

[0023] Even if the conveyed sheet 8 is warped upward at both ends in the first direction, which is the left-right direction, the warping is regulated by both end portions 31. Therefore, the conveying device 100 can further prevent interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0024] 3 and 4, the sheet guide frame 3 further has an upper surface mounting portion 36 and a lower surface recess 37. For example, equipment (not shown) required for the operation of the conveying device 100 is mounted on the upper surface mounting portion 36. For example, equipment (not shown) required for reading an image on the sheet S is disposed in the lower surface recess 37.

[0025] The central portion 32 has a wide portion 33 and a groove portion 34. The wide portion 33 is wider in the left-right direction than the groove portion 34. The groove portion 34 is located higher than the wide portion 33.

[0026] Hereinafter, the conveying device 100 in which conveyed sheets 8 are stacked at the discharge port 7 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying device 100. In Fig. 5, for the sake of simplicity, the wide portion 33 and the groove portion 34 that constitute the central portion 32 are omitted.

[0027] 5, conveyed sheets 8 conveyed from the sheet conveying path 1 are stacked at the discharge outlet 7. The stacked conveyed sheets 8 are warped upward as they approach both ends in the first direction, which is the left-right direction.

[0028] Both end portions 31 restrict warping of the stacked conveyed sheets 8. A gap 35 is formed between the center portion 32 and the stacked conveyed sheets 8. The center portion 32 guides the sheet S into the gap 35.

[0029] Even if the conveyed sheet 8 abuts against both end portions 31 due to warping, the sheet S is discharged from the gap 35 between the center portion 32 and the conveyed sheet 8. Therefore, the conveying device 100 can further prevent interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the warped conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration. As a result, the conveying device 100 can reduce the size of the discharge opening 7 to a size at which the conveyed sheet 8 is likely to warp, that is, the discharge opening 7 can be made smaller.

[0030] 6, the sheet transport path 1 in the vicinity of the discharge outlet 7 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet transport path 1 in the vicinity of the discharge outlet 7.

[0031] 6, the conveying device 100 further includes a pair of discharge rollers 9. The pair of discharge rollers 9 sandwich the sheet S from above and below, and discharge the sheet S from the sheet conveying path 1 to the discharge opening 7. The position N where the sheet S is sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers 9 is located above both end portions 31.

[0032] The sheet S is sandwiched above both end portions 31 before being discharged, and is therefore discharged from the upper portion of the gap 35 between the center portion 32 and the conveyed sheet 8 to the discharge outlet 7. Therefore, the conveying device 100 can further prevent interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0033] The pair of discharge rollers 9 includes an upper roller 91 and a lower roller 93. An axis 92 of the upper roller 91 is located upstream of an axis 94 of the lower roller 93. In other words, the axis 92 of the upper roller 91 is located rearward of a vertical plane V that passes through the axis 94 of the lower roller 93. In other words, the vertical plane V that passes through the axis 94 of the lower roller 93 and a plane that passes through the axis 92 of the upper roller 91 and the axis 94 of the lower roller 93 form a predetermined acute angle φ.

[0034] The sheet S sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers 9 is transported upward, and is therefore discharged from the upper part of the gap 35 between the central portion 32 and the transported sheet 8 to the discharge outlet 7. Therefore, the transport device 100 can further prevent interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the transported sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0035] The upper roller 91 constituting the pair of discharge rollers 9 may not only transport the sheet S in the lower transport path 13 but also transport the sheet S in the upper transport path 11. When the upper roller 91 also transports the sheet S in the upper transport path 11, the main body 10 further includes a separate roller (not shown) that protrudes from above into the upper transport path 11. The upper roller 91 and the separate roller sandwich the sheet S in the upper transport path 11 and transport it.

[0036] The image reading device 200 and the image forming device 300, which are provided with the conveying device 100, will be described below with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a side view of the image reading device 200 and the image forming device 300, which are provided with the conveying device 100, with the top cut away.

[0037] 7, the image reading device 200 includes the conveying device 100 and an image reading unit 201. The image reading unit 201 reads an image of the sheet S being conveyed by the conveying device 100. The image reading unit 201 includes, for example, a contact glass, a slit glass, an irradiation unit, a photoelectric conversion element, and a reading unit.

[0038] The image reading device 200 can read an image from the sheet S using the conveying device 100 and the image reading unit 201, while preventing interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0039] The image forming apparatus 300 includes an image reading device 200 and an image forming unit 301. The image forming unit 301 forms an image on a recording medium M. The image forming unit 301 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a replenishment device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, and a neutralization device. Note that the image forming unit 301 is not limited to an electrophotographic type. The image forming unit 301 may also be an inkjet type.

[0040] The image forming apparatus 300 can form an image on the recording medium M using the image reading device 200 and the image forming section 301, while preventing interference between the sheet S to be discharged and the conveyed sheet 8 with a simple configuration.

[0041] 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 embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual ones due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the speed, material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the configuration of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The present invention provides a conveying device, an image reading device, and an image forming device, and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Sheet transport path 4 Discharge top section 5 Upper part of upstream side 6 Upper downstream side 7 Outlet 8 Conveyed sheets 9 Ejection roller 31 Both ends 32 Central part 35 Gap 91 Upper roller 93 Lower Roller 100 conveying device 200 Image reader 201 Image reading unit 300 Image forming device 301 Image forming unit

Claims

1. a sheet transport path along which the sheet is transported; a discharge port through which the sheet conveyed in the sheet conveying path is discharged; an upper discharge surface portion that is continuous with an upper surface of the sheet transport path and forms an upper surface of the discharge outlet; Equipped with The discharge upper surface portion is an upstream upper surface portion located upstream in the sheet conveying direction; a downstream upper surface portion located downstream in a direction in which the sheet is conveyed; and The conveying device, wherein the downstream upper surface portion is located lower than the upstream upper surface portion.

2. the downstream upper surface portion extends in a first direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and the up-down direction, The downstream upper surface portion is Both ends in the first direction; a central portion located between the both end portions and above the both end portions; and The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the opposite end portions are located below the upstream upper surface portion.

3. The discharge port is configured to stack the sheets that have been conveyed from the sheet conveying path, the stacked conveyed sheets are warped upward as they approach both ends in the first direction, the both end portions restrict warping of the stacked conveyed sheets, a gap is provided between the central portion and the stacked conveyed sheets; The conveying device according to claim 2 , wherein the central portion guides the sheet into the gap.

4. a pair of discharge rollers that sandwich the sheet from above and below and discharge the sheet from the sheet conveying path to the discharge outlet; The conveying device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a position where the sheet is sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers is located above the both end portions.

5. The pair of discharge rollers an upper roller protruding upward into the sheet conveying path; a lower roller protruding downward into the sheet conveying path; and The conveying device according to claim 4 , wherein the axis of the upper roller is located upstream of the axis of the lower roller.

6. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2; an image reading unit that reads an image on the sheet being conveyed by the conveying device; An image reading device comprising:

7. The image reading device according to claim 6 ; an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images