Image reader

Abstract

To adjust an attitude of a medium conveyed appropriately.SOLUTION: An image reader 1 includes: a feeder unit 10 having a feeding roller 11 and a separation roller 12; a first conveyance roller pair 20 disposed downstream of the feeder unit 10 in a conveyance direction; a second conveyance roller pair 30 disposed downstream of the first conveyance roller pair 20 in the conveyance direction; and a reading unit 4 disposed downstream of the second conveyance roller pair 30 in the conveyance direction. The feeder unit 10 conveys a medium M nipped with a nip width L2 smaller than a nip width L1 of the medium M. The first conveyance roller pair 20 conveys the medium M nipped with the nip width L2 larger than the nip width L1 of the feeder unit 10. The second conveyance roller pair 30 uses a plurality of roller pairs to convey the medium M with a nip width L3 larger than the nip width L2 of the first conveyance roller pair 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Various image reading devices have been used in the past. Among them, there is an image reading device that reads an image on a medium being transported. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a feeding device that bends a medium upward toward a reading unit midway along the medium transport path and transports the medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-120742 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the feeding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a medium deformed into a V-shape as viewed from the conveying direction in the feeding unit is conveyed along a conveying path that curves upward, thereby correcting the medium deformation. In this way, the medium is deformed into a V-shape as viewed from the conveying direction in the feeding unit, and then bent as viewed from the width direction, which intersects with the conveying direction, to flatten the V-shaped medium and make it flat in the area facing the reading unit. However, in conventional image reading devices that read images on conveyed media, such as the feeding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, even with this configuration, it is difficult to properly adjust the posture of the conveyed medium. For example, if the medium is bent too much into a V-shape, stiff media such as cardboard may not be properly conveyed. Furthermore, if the V-shape deformed medium cannot be completely flattened in the area facing the reading unit, reading accuracy may be reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The image reading device of the present invention, which solves the above problem, comprises a feeding section which has a feed roller and a separation roller which nips the medium together with the feed roller to separate the medium, and which transports the medium in a transport direction along a transport path, a first pair of transport rollers which are arranged downstream in the transport direction from the feeding section and which nip the medium while transporting it in the transport direction, a second pair of transport rollers which are arranged downstream in the transport direction from the first pair of transport rollers and which transport the medium in the transport direction, and a reading section which is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the second pair of transport rollers and which reads an image on the medium, wherein the feeding section transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping it with a nip width which is narrower than the width of the medium in a width direction which intersects the transport direction, the first pair of transport rollers transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping it with a nip width which is wider than the nip width of the feeding section, and the second pair of transport rollers transports the medium in the transport direction in the width direction using multiple roller pairs with a nip width which is wider than the nip width of the first pair of transport rollers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an image reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the image reading device of FIG. 1, showing a side view of the vicinity of a feeding section, a first transport roller pair, and a second transport roller pair. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base unit of the image reading device of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opening / closing unit of the image reading device of FIG. 1; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic side view of the feeding unit, the first transport roller pair, and the second transport roller pair of the image reading device in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the periphery of the second transport roller pair of the image reading device of FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] First, the present invention will be briefly described. In order to solve the above problem, an image reading device of a first aspect of the present invention has a feed roller and a separation roller that nips the medium together with the feed roller to separate the medium, and is equipped with a feeding unit that transports the medium in a transport direction along a transport path, a first pair of transport rollers that is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the feeding unit and transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping it, a second pair of transport rollers that is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the first pair of transport rollers and transports the medium in the transport direction, and a reading unit that is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the second pair of transport rollers and reads an image on the medium, wherein the feeding unit transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping it with a nip width that is narrower than the width of the medium in a width direction that intersects the transport direction, the first pair of transport rollers transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping it with a nip width that is wider than the nip width of the feeding unit, and the second pair of transport rollers transports the medium in the transport direction in the width direction using multiple roller pairs with a nip width that is wider than the nip width of the first pair of transport rollers.

[0008] According to this aspect, the feeding unit conveys the medium in the conveying direction while nipping the medium with a nip width narrower than the width of the medium in the width direction, allowing the medium to be fed in a V-shaped state and preventing feeding problems. Furthermore, the first conveying roller pair conveys the medium while nipping it with a nip width wider than the nip width of the feeding unit, and the second conveying roller pair conveys the medium with a nip width wider than the nip width of the first conveying roller pair using multiple roller pairs. This configuration allows the V-shaped medium to be flattened appropriately before reaching the reading unit. Therefore, the posture of the conveyed medium can be optimized.

[0009] A second aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that the nip position in the feeding section and the nip position in the first conveying roller pair are arranged horizontally, the first conveying roller pair has an upper roller and a lower roller arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis of the upper roller is arranged downstream in the conveying direction from the rotation axis of the lower roller.

[0010] According to this aspect, the rotation axis of the upper roller of the first transport roller pair is positioned downstream in the transport direction from the rotation axis of the lower roller. This configuration allows the medium to be bent at a suitable angle when viewed from the width direction, and the V-shaped medium can be flattened appropriately before reaching the reading unit. Furthermore, the nip position in the feeding unit and the nip position in the first transport roller pair are positioned horizontally. A configuration in which the transport path faces upward near the feeding unit can easily lead to an increase in the device's height, but this configuration can prevent the device from becoming larger in height.

[0011] A third aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the second aspect, and is characterized in that the first pair of conveying rollers is configured so that, when viewed from the width direction, the line connecting the rotation axis of the upper roller and the rotation axis of the lower roller forms an angle of 3° or more and 12° or less with respect to a line extending vertically upward from the rotation axis of the lower roller.

[0012] According to this aspect, when viewed from the width direction, the line connecting the rotation axis of the upper roller and the rotation axis of the lower roller forms an angle of 3° to 12° with a line extending vertically upward from the rotation axis of the lower roller. This configuration makes it possible to suppress feeding problems and to appropriately flatten a V-shaped medium before it reaches the reading unit.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to third aspects, and is characterized in that the nip position in the feeding section is positioned at a higher position than the nip position in the first conveying roller pair.

[0014] According to this aspect, the nip position in the feeding unit is positioned higher than the nip position in the first transport roller pair. This configuration allows the V-shaped medium to be flattened appropriately before reaching the reading unit, and prevents the transport path from pointing upward near the feeding unit, thereby preventing the device from becoming larger in height.

[0015] The fifth aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fourth aspect, and is characterized in that the line connecting the nip position in the feeding section and the nip position in the first conveying roller pair is configured to form an angle of 2° or more and less than 15° with respect to the horizontal line.

[0016] According to this aspect, the line connecting the nip position in the feeding unit and the nip position in the first conveying roller pair is configured to form an angle of 2° or more and less than 15° with respect to the horizontal line. This configuration can effectively flatten a V-shaped medium before it reaches the reading unit while suppressing feeding problems. In particular, stiff media such as cardboard can be effectively conveyed.

[0017] The sixth aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to fifth aspects, and is characterized in that the nip width of the second conveying roller pair is wider than the width of the medium in the width direction.

[0018] According to this aspect, the nip width of the second transport roller pair is wider than the width of the medium in the width direction, and this configuration allows the V-shaped medium to be flattened across the entire width direction before reaching the reading unit.

[0019] A seventh aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the sixth aspect, and is characterized in that the second pair of conveying rollers nip at least the center and both end portions of the medium in the width direction.

[0020] According to this aspect, the second transport roller pair nip at least the center and both ends of the medium in the width direction. This configuration simplifies the configuration of the second transport roller pair and makes it possible to suitably flatten the V-shaped medium across the entire width direction before it reaches the reading unit.

[0021] An eighth aspect of the image reading device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to seventh aspects, and is characterized in that the reading unit comprises a first reading unit that reads an image on a first side of the medium, and a second reading unit that is arranged opposite the first reading unit and reads an image on a second side of the medium opposite the first side.

[0022] According to this aspect, the reading unit includes a first reading unit that reads an image on a first side of the medium, and a second reading unit that is disposed opposite the first reading unit and reads an image on a second side of the medium. With this configuration, the necessary length can be shortened by disposing the first reading unit and the second reading unit in the transport direction, and an increase in the size of the device in the depth direction can be suppressed.

[0023] [Example 1] An embodiment of an image reading device 1 according to the present invention will be described below. First, an image reading device 1A according to a first embodiment of the image reading device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the following description, three mutually orthogonal axes are referred to as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively, as shown in each drawing. The directions indicated by the arrows on the three axes (X, Y, Z) are the + directions of each axis, and the opposite directions are the - directions. The Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction, i.e., the direction in which gravity acts, the +Z direction indicates a vertically upward direction, and the -Z direction indicates a vertically downward direction. The X-axis and Y-axis directions correspond to horizontal directions, and of these, the X-axis corresponds to the width direction B. The +Y direction indicates the front direction of the device, and the -Y direction indicates the rear direction of the device. The +X direction indicates the right direction of the device, and the -X direction indicates the left direction of the device.

[0024] The image reading device 1A of this embodiment is a scanner capable of reading an image on a medium M, which is an original document. Here, the image refers to something visually recorded on the medium, such as characters, figures, tables, pictures, photographs, etc. The medium M is not limited to sheets, but also includes cards, booklets, etc. The image reading device 1 is not limited to a scanner, but may also be a copy machine, a facsimile machine, etc.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment includes a first reading unit 4A and a second reading unit 4B as a reading unit 4 that reads an image on a medium M. The first reading unit 4A and the second reading unit 4B are provided facing each other on a transport path 5 through which the medium M is conveyed. The first reading unit 4A can read an image on a first side M1 of the medium M, and the second reading unit 4B can read an image on a second side M2 ​​of the medium M. The first reading unit 4A and the second reading unit 4B include, for example, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) type sensor or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type sensor.

[0026] The image reading device 1A of this embodiment transports a medium M in a transport direction A along a transport path 5, and includes a first transport roller pair 20 provided upstream of the reading unit 4 in the transport direction A, and a second transport roller pair 30 provided downstream of the first transport roller pair 20 and upstream of the reading unit 4 in the transport direction A. The image reading device 1A further includes multiple transport roller pairs 6 provided downstream of the reading unit 4 in the transport direction A, specifically transport roller pair 6A, transport roller pair 6B, transport roller pair 6C, and transport roller pair 6D.

[0027] A feeding unit 10 is provided upstream of the first transport roller pair 20 in the transport direction A. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 10 is a pair of rollers made up of a feed roller 11 that rotates about a rotation axis 11A and a separation roller 12 that rotates about a rotation axis 12A. The feed roller 11 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of a drive unit (not shown) (for example, a motor), and transports the medium M in the transport direction A. The separation roller 12 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of a drive unit (not shown) (for example, a motor), and is a roller that separates one sheet of medium M from multiple sheets of medium M.

[0028] Here, separation roller 12 rotates in a direction that sends medium M upstream in transport direction A. Separation roller 12 is equipped with a torque limiter (not shown), and when torque exceeding a set value is applied to the torque limiter, separation roller 12 is driven to rotate in a direction that sends medium M downstream in transport direction A. Pick roller 13 is disposed upstream of separation roller 12. Pick roller 13 is a drive roller that rotates by the power of a drive unit (not shown, for example, a motor), and sends medium M toward transport direction A.

[0029] The first transport roller pair 20 and the second transport roller pair 30, as well as the transport roller pairs 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D that transport the medium M in the transport direction A, also include drive rollers that rotate by the power of a drive unit (e.g., a motor) not shown. The lower roller 22 of the first transport roller pair 20 and the lower roller 32 of the second transport roller pair 30 are drive rollers. Note that the upper roller 21 and the lower roller 22 of the first transport roller pair 20 may both be drive rollers. Also, the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 of the second transport roller pair 30 may both be drive rollers.

[0030] 1, the section from the feed roller 11 to the transport roller pair 6A is a straight path 5A, which is a substantially straight transport path 5, and downstream in the transport direction A of the straight path 5A, i.e., downstream in the transport direction A of the transport roller pair 6A, a curved inverting path 5B is provided as part of the transport path 5. The transport roller pair 6B, the transport roller pair 6C, and the transport roller pair 6D are provided on the curved inverting path 5B. The discharge receiver 7 that receives the medium M discharged from the curved inverting path 5B is disposed above the straight path 5A, thereby making the device more compact.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 , medium M, which is an original document to be imaged, is set in medium setting unit 8. Medium M on medium setting unit 8 is transported along transport path 5 and ultimately discharged to discharge receiver 7. Medium setting unit 8 is configured to move up and down. When medium M set in medium setting unit 8 is to be sent in transport direction A, power is first transmitted from a drive source (not shown) to medium setting unit 8, which moves upward, and the uppermost medium M among the set media M stops in contact with pick roller 13. In this state, pick roller 13 rotates to send medium M in transport direction A, and the leading edge of medium M in transport direction A reaches the nip position of the roller pair consisting of feed roller 11 and separation roller 12.

[0032] A plurality of media M can be stacked and set on the medium setting unit 8, but if the stacked media M result in a multiple feed state where multiple media M are sent together, they are separated into a single sheet by separation roller 12. Then, that single sheet is transported in the transport direction A by first transport roller pair 20 and second transport roller pair 30, and the image on the medium M is read by reading unit 4. After the image on the medium M has been read by reading unit 4, it is sent to curved reversal path 5B by transport roller pair 6A, transport roller pair 6B, transport roller pair 6C, and transport roller pair 6D, and is discharged to discharge receiver 7 by transport roller pair 6D, which also serves as a discharge unit.

[0033] 1, the image reading device 1A is made up of a base unit 2 and an opening / closing unit 3. The opening / closing unit 3 is configured to be able to rotate up and down relative to the base unit 2 to be opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown). The base unit 2 has a second reading section 4B, a separation roller 12, a lower roller 22 of a first transport roller pair 20, a lower roller 32 of a second transport roller pair 30, and drive rollers of transport roller pair 6A, transport roller pair 6B, transport roller pair 6C, and transport roller pair 6D.

[0034] The opening / closing unit 3 has a first reading unit 4A, a pick roller 13, a feed roller 11, an upper roller 21 of the first transport roller pair 20, an upper roller 31 of the second transport roller pair 30, and the driven rollers of the transport roller pair 6A, the transport roller pair 6B, the transport roller pair 6C, and the transport roller pair 6D. When the opening / closing unit 3 is closed relative to the base unit 2, the feed roller 11 and the separation roller 12, the upper roller 21 and the lower roller 22, the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32, and the driven rollers of the transport roller pair 6A, the transport roller pair 6B, the transport roller pair 6C, and the transport roller pair 6D are arranged to face each other, as shown in FIG.

[0035] Although not shown, when the opening / closing unit 3 is opened relative to the base unit 2, the feed roller 11 and separation roller 12, the upper roller 21 and lower roller 22, the upper roller 31 and lower roller 32, and the driven rollers of the transport roller pair 6A, the transport roller pair 6B, the transport roller pair 6C, and the transport roller pair 6D do not face each other. In other words, the opposing surfaces of the base unit 2 and the opening / closing unit 3 are exposed, allowing the user to access the transport path 5 corresponding to these opposing surfaces.

[0036] Next, details of the feeding unit 10, first transport roller pair 20, and second transport roller pair 30, which are essential parts of the image reading device 1A of this embodiment, will be described. As described above, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment is equipped with a feeding unit 10 that has a feed roller 11 and a separation roller 12 that nips the medium M together with the feed roller 11 to separate the medium M, and that transports the medium M in the transport direction A along the transport path 5. The image reading device 1A also includes a first transport roller pair 20 that is disposed downstream of the feeding unit 10 in the transport direction A and transports the medium M in the transport direction A while nipping it. The image reading device 1A also includes a second transport roller pair 30 that is disposed downstream of the first transport roller pair 20 in the transport direction A and transports the medium M in the transport direction A. The image reading device 1A also includes a reading unit 4 that is disposed downstream of the second transport roller pair 30 in the transport direction A and reads an image on the medium M.

[0037] 3, the feeding unit 10 conveys the medium M in the conveying direction A while nipping the medium M with a nip width L2 that is narrower than the width L1 of the medium M in a width direction B that intersects with the conveying direction A. As a result, the medium M can be fed in a V-shaped state when viewed from the conveying direction A, and a feeding force can be efficiently applied to the medium M, thereby suppressing feeding failures.

[0038] 3 and 4, the first transport roller pair 20 transports the medium M in the transport direction A while nipping it with a nip width L3 that is wider than the nip width L2 of the feeding unit 10 in the width direction B, and the second transport roller pair 30 transports the medium M in the transport direction A with a nip width L4 that is wider than the nip width L3 of the first transport roller pair 20 in the width direction B using multiple roller pairs aligned in the width direction B. This configuration allows the V-shaped medium M to be suitably flattened before it reaches the reading unit 4. Therefore, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment can optimize the posture of the medium M being transported.

[0039] Furthermore, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment is configured so that the nip width L4 of the second transport roller pair 30 is wider than the width L1 of the medium M in the width direction B. With this configuration, the V-shaped medium M can be suitably flattened over the entire width direction B before reaching the reading unit 4.

[0040] In the image reading device 1A of this embodiment, the second transport roller pair 30 is preferably configured to nip at least the center and both ends of the medium in the width direction B. This configuration simplifies the configuration of the second transport roller pair 30 and makes it possible to suitably flatten the V-shaped medium M across the entire width direction B before it reaches the reading unit 4, without necessarily using rollers that are long across the entire width direction and require high-precision manufacturing.

[0041] 2, in image reading device 1A of this embodiment, nip position P1 in feeding unit 10 and nip position P2 in first conveying roller pair 20 are arranged horizontally. If conveying path 5 were configured to face upward near feeding unit 10, the device would likely become larger in height, but image reading device 1A of this embodiment is configured in this way, which makes it possible to prevent the device from becoming larger in height. Note that the installation position of image reading device 1 may not be horizontal in the strict sense, so the term "horizontal direction" here may mean a substantially horizontal direction, and also includes cases where the installation position is slightly deviated from horizontal in the strict sense.

[0042] 2, the first transport roller pair 20 has an upper roller 21 and a lower roller 22 arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, with the rotation axis 21A of the upper roller 21 being arranged downstream of the rotation axis 22A of the lower roller 22 in the transport direction A. With this configuration, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment can be configured to bend the medium M at a suitable angle when viewed from the width direction B, and can suitably flatten the V-shaped medium M before it reaches the reading unit 4.

[0043] 2, the first transport roller pair 20 is configured such that, when viewed from the width direction B, a line LA connecting the rotation axis 21A of the upper roller 21 and the rotation axis 22A of the lower roller 22 forms an angle Θ1 of 3° to 12° with a line LB extending vertically upward from the rotation axis 22A of the lower roller 22. With this configuration, the image reading device 1A of the present embodiment can appropriately flatten the V-shaped medium M before it reaches the reading unit 4 while suppressing feeding problems.

[0044] 2, the second transport roller pair 30 has an upper roller 31 and a lower roller 32 arranged facing each other in the vertical direction, and the rotation shaft 31A of the upper roller 31 and the rotation shaft 32A of the lower roller 32 are arranged at the same position in the transport direction A. Furthermore, a nip position P3 between the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 of the second transport roller pair 30 is located horizontally relative to a nip position P2 between the upper roller 21 and the lower roller 22 of the first transport roller pair 20. With this configuration, the straight path 5A is horizontal, preventing the device from becoming large in height.

[0045] As described above, in the image reading device 1A of this embodiment, the reading unit 4 includes a first reading unit 4A that reads an image on a first side M1 of the medium M, and a second reading unit 4B that is disposed opposite the first reading unit 4A and reads an image on a second side M2 ​​of the medium M opposite the first side M1. With this configuration, the image reading device 1A of this embodiment can shorten the required length in the Y-axis direction by disposing the first reading unit 4A and the second reading unit 4B in the transport direction A, thereby preventing the device from becoming larger.

[0046] [Example 2] Next, an image reading device 1B of a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. Here, Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 1 of the image reading device 1A of the first embodiment, and Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 2 of the image reading device 1A of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the image reading device 1B of this embodiment is similar to the image reading device 1A of the first embodiment except for the following description, and therefore has similar features to the image reading device 1A of the first embodiment. Therefore, in Figs. 5 to 7, parts common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 5, like image reading device 1A of embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 1, image reading device 1B of this embodiment includes a feed roller 11 and a separation roller 12 that nips medium M together with feed roller 11 to separate medium M, and is equipped with a feeding unit 10 that transports medium M in transport direction A along a transport path 5. It also includes a first transport roller pair 20 that is disposed downstream of feed roller 10 in the transport direction A and transports medium M in the transport direction A while nipping it. It also includes a second transport roller pair 30 that is disposed downstream of first transport roller pair 20 in the transport direction A and transports medium M in the transport direction A. It also includes a reading unit 4 that is disposed downstream of second transport roller pair 30 in the transport direction A and reads an image on medium M.

[0048] Similarly to image reading device 1A of Example 1, image reading device 1B of this example also has feeding unit 10 which nip medium M at nip width L2 narrower than width L1 of medium M in width direction B intersecting with conveying direction A and conveys medium M in conveying direction A. Furthermore, first conveying roller pair 20 nip medium M at nip width L3 wider than nip width L2 of feeding unit 10 in width direction B and conveys medium M in conveying direction A, and second conveying roller pair 30 is a plurality of roller pairs aligned in width direction B which convey medium M in conveying direction A at nip width L4 wider than nip width L3 of first conveying roller pair 20 in width direction B.

[0049] 5, image reading device 1B of this embodiment differs from image reading device 1A of the first embodiment in that first reading unit 4A and second reading unit 4B do not face each other, and a pair of transport rollers 6E is provided between first reading unit 4A and second reading unit 4B on transport path 5. The configuration of straight path 5A of transport path 5, as well as the configurations of feeding unit 10 and first transport roller pair 20, are also different between image reading device 1B of this embodiment and image reading device 1A of the first embodiment.

[0050] 6, in image reading device 1B of this embodiment, nip position P1 in feeding unit 10 is positioned higher than nip position P2 in first conveying roller pair 20. With this configuration, V-shaped medium M can be flattened appropriately before reaching reading unit 4, and conveying path 5 can be configured to face downward near feeding unit 10, i.e., not upward, which prevents the device from becoming larger in height.

[0051] In a configuration in which nip position P1 is positioned higher than nip position P2, it is preferable that the line LC connecting nip position P1 in the feeding unit 10 and nip position P2 in the first transport roller pair 20 is configured to form an angle of 2° or more and less than 15° with respect to the horizontal line LD. This configuration can suppress feeding problems and suitably flatten the V-shaped medium M before it reaches the reading unit 4. In particular, stiff media M such as cardboard can be suitably transported.

[0052] Here, we explain why it is preferable that the line LC connecting the nip positions P1 and P2 be configured to form an angle of 2° or more and less than 15° with respect to the horizontal line LD. In Table 1 below, the transportability (carton transportability) when cardboard is used as the medium M and whether commercially available copy paper can be flattened appropriately near the reading unit 4 (copy paper flexure) are evaluated with A being acceptable and B being unacceptable. The transportability of cardboard was evaluated based on whether the cardboard could be transported without any problems, and the flexure of the copy paper was evaluated based on whether the flatness of the medium M near the reading unit 4 was unspecified. As shown in Table 1 below, when the line LC connecting the nip positions P1 and P2 is less than 2° with respect to the horizontal line LD, the transportability of cardboard is unacceptable. When the line LC connecting the nip positions P1 and P2 is more than 15° with respect to the horizontal line LD, the flexure of the copy paper is unacceptable.

[0053] [Table 1]

[0054] Furthermore, the image reading device 1B of this embodiment differs from the image reading device 1A of Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the second transport roller pair 30. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, more rollers narrower than the upper roller 31 and the lower roller 32 of the image reading device 1A of Embodiment 1 are arranged in the width direction B. However, like the second transport roller pair 30 of the image reading device 1A of Embodiment 1, the second transport roller pair 30 of the image reading device 1B of this embodiment is configured so that the nip width L4 of the second transport roller pair 30 is wider than the width L1 of the medium M in the width direction B.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...image reading device, 1A...image reading device, 1B...image reading device, 2...base unit, 3...opening / closing unit, 4...reading section, 4A...first reading section, 4B...second reading section, 5...conveying path, 5A...straight path, 5B...curved inversion path, 6...pair of conveying rollers, 6A...pair of conveying rollers, 6B...pair of conveying rollers, 6C...pair of conveying rollers, 6D...pair of conveying rollers, 6E...pair of conveying rollers, 7...discharge receiving section, 8...medium setting section, 10...feeding section, 11...feed roller, 11A...rotating shaft, 12...separation roller roller, 12A...rotation shaft, 13...pick roller, 20...first pair of transport rollers, 21...upper roller, 21A...rotation shaft, 22...lower roller, 22A...rotation shaft, 30...second pair of transport rollers, 31...upper roller, 31A...rotation shaft, 32...lower roller, 32A...rotation shaft, L1...width, L2...nip width, L3...nip width, L4...nip width, LA...line, LB...line, LC...line, LD...line, M...medium, M1...first side, M2...second side, P1...nip position, P2...nip position, P3...nip position

Claims

1. a feeding unit that includes a feed roller and a separation roller that nips the medium together with the feed roller to separate the medium, and that conveys the medium in a conveyance direction along a conveyance path; a first conveyance roller pair disposed downstream of the feeding unit in the conveyance direction and configured to nip the medium while conveying the medium in the conveyance direction; a second pair of transport rollers disposed downstream of the first pair of transport rollers in the transport direction and configured to transport the medium in the transport direction; a reading unit disposed downstream of the second pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction and configured to read an image on the medium; Equipped with the feeding unit conveys the medium in the conveyance direction while nipping the medium with a nip width that is narrower than the width of the medium in a width direction that intersects the conveyance direction; the first transport roller pair transports the medium in the transport direction while nipping the medium with a nip width wider than a nip width of the feeding unit in the width direction; The image reading device is characterized in that the second transport roller pair transports the medium in the transport direction by using a plurality of roller pairs with a nip width in the width direction that is wider than the nip width of the first transport roller pair.

2. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, a nip position in the feeding section and a nip position in the first conveying roller pair are arranged in a horizontal direction, An image reading device characterized in that the first transport roller pair comprises an upper roller and a lower roller arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis of the upper roller is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the rotation axis of the lower roller.

3. 3. The image reading device according to claim 2, An image reading device characterized in that the first conveying roller pair is configured so that, when viewed from the width direction, the line connecting the rotation axis of the upper roller and the rotation axis of the lower roller forms an angle of 3° to 12° with a line extending vertically upward from the rotation axis of the lower roller.

4. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein a nip position in the feeding section is located at a higher position than a nip position in the first transport roller pair.

5. 5. The image reading device according to claim 4, An image reading device, characterized in that a line connecting a nip position in the feeding section and a nip position in the first transport roller pair is configured to form an angle of 2° or more and less than 15° with respect to a horizontal line.

6. 6. The image reading device according to claim 1, The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein a nip width of the second transport roller pair is wider than a width of the medium in the width direction.

7. 7. The image reading device according to claim 6, The image reading device is characterized in that the second transport roller pair nip at least the center and both end portions of the medium in the width direction.

8. 6. The image reading device according to claim 1, The reading unit a first reading unit that reads an image on a first surface of the medium; an image reading device comprising: a second reading unit disposed opposite the first reading unit and configured to read an image on a second surface of the medium opposite the first surface;

Images