Image reading device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To reduce an impact received by a reading unit when the reading unit is moved.SOLUTION: An image reading device comprises: a cover unit that is provided rotatably centered on a first rotation axis and forms a top face of the image reading device; sheet conveyance means that conveys a sheet; a conveyance guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance means, the conveyance guide provided rotatably centered on a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; and a reading unit that has a transparent member and a reading part for reading an image of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance means through the transparent member, the reading unit provided rotatably centered on a third rotation axis different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. The cover unit, the conveyance guide, and the reading unit rotate to expose the transparent member to the outside of the image reading device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, and an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an image reading device mounted on a copying machine or the like in which a reading unit is arranged inside an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF) that separates and transports documents one by one. When the reading unit is arranged inside the ADF, the reading unit may be configured to be movable so that the glass surface facing the documents is exposed in order to clean the glass surface or to clear document jams. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which the reading unit arranged inside the ADF is supported by a transport guide that forms a document transport path, and when the transport guide is rotated, the reading unit rotates integrally with the transport guide. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-194011 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration described in the above document, the reading unit rotates integrally with the transport guide, and when the transport guide hits another member, an impact corresponding to the overall weight of the rotatable unit including the reading unit and the transport guide occurs. The reading unit is a precision device equipped with electronic circuits and optical elements inside, and if a large impact is applied, the internal parts may be damaged or shifted, so it has been desired to reduce the impact that the reading unit receives.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image reading device that can reduce the impact that the reading unit receives when the reading unit is moved, and an image forming apparatus that includes the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the invention according to the present disclosure is an image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, the image reading device including: a cover unit that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and that forms an upper surface of the image reading device; sheet conveying means that conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a conveying guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a transparent member; and a reading unit that reads an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the reading unit including: a cover unit that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and that forms an upper surface of the image reading device; a sheet conveying means that conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a conveying guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a transparent member; and a reading unit rotatable about a third rotation axis different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, and a linkage mechanism that rotates the reading unit in conjunction with the rotation of the transport guide, wherein the cover unit is rotatable between a closed position in which it forms part of the sheet transport path together with the transport guide, and an open position in which it opens part of the sheet transport path, and when the cover unit is in the open position, the linkage mechanism causes the reading unit to rotate in conjunction with the transport guide, exposing the transparent member to the outside of the image reading device. Another aspect of the invention according to the present disclosure is an image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, the image reading device including: a cover unit that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and that forms an upper surface of the image reading device; a sheet conveying means that conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a conveying guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a transparent member; and a reading unit that reads an image of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the reading unit being rotatable about a third rotation axis different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, the reading unit being configured to abut against the reading unit to move the reading unit from a first position where the transparent member faces the sheet conveying path to a position where the transparent member faces the sheet conveying path. and an arm member that moves the cover unit to a second position exposed to the outside of the image reading device, wherein the cover unit is rotatable between a closed position in which it forms part of the sheet transport path together with the transport guide and an open position in which it opens part of the sheet transport path, and when the cover unit is in the open position, the transport guide and the reading unit rotate to expose the transparent member to the outside of the image reading device, the transport guide is rotatable between a third position in which it covers the reading unit when viewed from above and a fourth position in which it exposes the reading unit when viewed from above, and the arm member has an operating unit for operating the arm member to move the reading unit from the first position to the second position when the transport guide is rotated from the third position to the fourth position. Another aspect of the invention disclosed herein is an image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, comprising: a device main body; a sheet conveying means that conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a cover unit that is rotatably arranged relative to the device main body and forms the top surface of the image reading device; a conveying guide that forms the sheet conveying path together with the cover unit and guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatably arranged relative to the device main body; a transparent member; a reading unit that reads an image of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the image reading device being characterized by comprising: a reading unit that is rotatably arranged relative to the device main body; and a linkage mechanism that rotates the reading unit in conjunction with the rotation of the conveying guide. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the impact that the reading unit receives when the reading unit is moved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a document reading device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the ADF according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a reading unit and its surroundings according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reading unit and its surroundings at the cutting position shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the movement of a rotation guide and a reading unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the reading unit according to the first embodiment has moved to a maintenance position. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a force acting on a reading unit from an arm. [Figure 8]10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the maximum rotation angle when the arm abuts against only one surface of the reading unit. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a modified example. [Figure 17] 3A to 3C are diagrams showing electric wires connected to a reading unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of an ADF according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] [Image forming device] First, the schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1(a). The image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is a color electrophotographic apparatus equipped with an image forming mechanism 1B including four image forming sections PY, PM, PC, and PK as image forming means. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a sheet S based on image information received from a document reading device 2 provided on the top of the apparatus main body 1A or from an external device. The sheet S, which is the recording material, can be a variety of sheet materials of different sizes and materials, including paper such as plain paper and cardboard, surface-treated sheet materials such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and sheet materials of special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main control unit 12. The main control unit 12 includes a CPU as a means for executing a control program for the image forming apparatus 1, a ROM for storing the program, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and an input / output circuit for inputting and outputting signals to and from the outside. The CPU reads and executes the program from the ROM and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by sending commands to each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 via the input / output circuit. For example, the main control unit 12 is electrically connected to a control unit 2C of the document reading device 2. The main control unit 12 receives image information read from a document by the reading units 110 and 210 via the control unit 2C of the document reading device 2, and can perform an image forming operation (copying) that forms an image on a sheet S based on the received image information.

[0012] The image forming stations PY, PM, PC, and PK are units that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, respectively. The image forming stations PY to PK are also called process units or image forming stations. The four image forming stations PY, PM, PC, and PK have substantially the same configuration, except for the color of toner used to create the toner images. Each image forming station PY to PK has a photosensitive drum 3, which is a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a charging device 4, developing device 6, and drum cleaner 8 as process means that act on the photosensitive member to perform the electrophotographic process. An exposure device 5 is disposed below the image forming stations PY to PK as process means (exposure means) that exposes the photosensitive drum 3 of each image forming station PY to light. A supply container 9 that supplies developer to the developing device 6 of each image forming station PY to PK is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1A above the image forming stations PY to PK.

[0013] An intermediate transfer unit 19 is disposed above the image forming stations PY to PK. The intermediate transfer unit 19 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21, which is an intermediate transfer body made of an endless flexible member, and a plurality of rollers around which the intermediate transfer belt 21 is stretched. The plurality of rollers includes an inner secondary transfer roller 22. A secondary transfer roller 23 is disposed on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 21, facing the inner secondary transfer roller 22 with the intermediate transfer belt 21 sandwiched therebetween. A nip between the secondary transfer roller 23 and the inner secondary transfer roller 22 forms a transfer section (secondary transfer section T2) where an image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the sheet S. A primary transfer roller 7 is disposed on the inner periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 21, facing each photosensitive drum 3 with the intermediate transfer belt 21 sandwiched therebetween. A belt cleaner 24 is disposed on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 21.

[0014] A sheet feeding section that feeds sheets S is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1A. The sheet feeding section includes a cassette 40 that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1A, and a feeding unit that separates and feeds the sheets S stacked and stored in the cassette 40 one by one. A conveying roller 41 and a registration roller 42 are arranged on a conveying path from the sheet feeding section to the secondary transfer section T2.

[0015] A fixing device 30 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion T2 in the sheet conveyance direction. The fixing device 30 includes a fixing roller 31 as a heating member, a pressure roller 32 as a pressure member, and a heating means (not shown) for heating the fixing roller 31. A halogen lamp or an electromagnetic induction heating unit can be used as the heating means. Further downstream of the fixing device 30, a discharge roller 43 is disposed as a discharge means for discharging the image-formed sheet S to the outside of the apparatus main body 1A. A discharge tray 11 is provided on the top surface of the apparatus main body 1A as a stacking section on which the image-formed sheet S is stacked. This embodiment employs a so-called internal discharge configuration in which a space for discharging and stacking the image-formed sheet S is provided between the apparatus main body 1A and the document reading device 2 in the vertical direction (the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface).

[0016] When the main control unit 12 receives image information and an instruction to perform an image forming operation, the main control unit 12 executes the image forming operation as follows. First, the photosensitive drums 3 in the image forming units PY to PK begin to rotate, and the charging devices 4 uniformly charge the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 3 to a predetermined polarity and potential. The exposure device 5 irradiates each photosensitive drum 3 with laser light modulated according to an image signal (video signal) based on image information, writing electrostatic latent images corresponding to the component images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black onto the photosensitive drums 3. These electrostatic latent images are developed by the developing device 6 with developers containing toner of each color, creating toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black on the photosensitive drums 3. The toner images carried on each photosensitive drum 3 are primarily transferred from the photosensitive drums 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 21 by the primary transfer roller 7. At this time, the toner images of each color overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 21, forming a full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21. Any deposits such as residual toner that remain on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 are removed by a drum cleaner 8. The image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 is transported to the secondary transfer portion T2 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21.

[0017] In parallel with the toner image creation process in the image forming units PY to PK, one sheet S is fed from a cassette 40 and conveyed to registration rollers 42 via conveyance rollers 41. The registration rollers 42 correct any skew of the sheet S, and then convey the sheet S to secondary transfer unit T2 so that the arrival of the image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 21 at secondary transfer unit T2 and the arrival of the sheet S at secondary transfer unit T2 are synchronized. At secondary transfer unit T2, a bias voltage is applied to secondary transfer roller 23, thereby transferring the image from intermediate transfer belt 21 to sheet S (secondary transfer). Any deposits that remain on the intermediate transfer belt 21 without being transferred to the sheet S are removed by belt cleaner 24.

[0018] The sheet S that has passed through the secondary transfer portion T2 is transported to the fixing device 30. The fixing device 30 heats and pressurizes the image on the sheet S while nipping and transporting the sheet S at a nip portion (fixing nip) between a fixing roller 31 and a pressure roller 32. This causes the toner to melt, mix colors, and then solidify, resulting in a fixed image on the sheet S. The sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 30 is discharged by discharge rollers 43 and stacked on a discharge tray 11. This completes a series of image forming operations.

[0019] Although an intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic device has been exemplified in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 may also be provided with a direct transfer type image forming means that transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier to a sheet S without using an intermediate transfer body. Furthermore, the image forming means is not limited to the electrophotographic type, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also be provided with an inkjet type printing unit or an offset printing mechanism.

[0020] [Document reader] An example of an image reading device, a document reading device 2, will be described with reference to Fig. 1(b). The document reading device 2 has a scanner unit 20 (main body, lower unit) and an ADF 10 as an upper unit that is provided above the scanner unit 20 and rotatably supported by the scanner unit 20. The document reading device 2 can perform an operation (fixed reading operation) of reading image information from a stationary document placed on the document platen glass of the scanner unit 20, and an operation (flick reading operation) of reading image information from a sheet as a document while conveying it using the ADF 10.

[0021] The scanner unit 20 includes a platen glass on which a document is placed, and a reading unit 210 that reads image information of the document placed on the platen glass while moving in the sub-scanning direction (left and right direction in the figure) below the platen glass. The scanner unit 20 also includes a glass 201 as a transparent member. The reading unit 210 can optically scan the document transported by the ADF 10 through the glass 201 to read the image information.

[0022] The reading unit 210 has a sensor board 213 on which a CCD image sensor is mounted as a light receiving element, an illumination unit 211 that irradiates the original with light, and a reduction optical system that includes multiple mirrors 212 and focuses light reflected from the original on the imaging surface of the light receiving element. While a CCD-type reading unit 210 is shown here, a CIS-type reading unit 210 configured to focus light reflected from the original on the imaging surface of a CMOS image sensor disposed opposite the original via a 1:1 optical system may also be used. Image information read by the reading unit 210 is transmitted to the control unit 2C via a signal line 151.

[0023] The ADF 10 includes a document tray 121, a discharge tray 122, an ADF main body 10A having a document transport path P1 formed therein, and a reading unit 110 disposed on the document transport path P1. The ADF main body 10A includes a feed roller 101, a separation roller pair 102, transport roller pairs 103, 104, and 105, and a discharge roller pair 106 disposed along the document transport path P1 as sheet transport means for transporting sheets. The document tray 121 is a loading section on which sheets serving as documents are placed, and the discharge tray 122 is a discharging section on which sheets from which image information has been read are discharged. The document tray 121 is located above the discharge tray 122, and from the perspective of FIG. 1(b) (viewed in the sheet width direction), the document transport path P1 is curved in a U-shape that opens to one side in the horizontal direction.

[0024] The reading unit 110 has a contact image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CIS 112) as a reading section, a reading frame 119 that holds the CIS 112, and a glass 111 (see also FIG. 3). The glass 111 is a transparent member that faces the document transport path P1 (sheet transport path), and the CIS 112 functions as a reading section that reads image information from a document (sheet) transported through the transparent member on the document transport path P1.

[0025] The reading frame 119 and the glass 111 form a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space that houses the CIS 112. The CIS 112 has a sensor board 112c on which a CMOS image sensor is mounted as a light receiving element, an illumination unit 112a that irradiates the document with light, and a lens 112b that constitutes a life-size optical system that focuses reflected light from the document on the imaging plane of the light receiving element (see also FIG. 3). Although a CIS-type reading unit 110 is shown here, a CCD-type image sensor unit may also be used as the reading unit 110. Image information read by the reading unit 110 is transmitted to the control unit 2C via an electric wire 150. The wiring path of the electric wire 150 will be described in detail later.

[0026] The document transport operation by the ADF 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1B. When a user places a stack of documents on the document tray 121 and issues a command to start the scanning operation via an operation unit (not shown), the documents are fed out of the document tray 121, starting with the top document, by the feed roller 101. The fed documents are transported, separated one by one, by the separation roller pair 102, and then transported along the document transport path P1 while being transferred in sequence through the transport roller pairs 103, 104, and 105. As the documents pass through the glass 201 of the scanner unit 20, the reading unit 210 reads image information on the first side of the documents. Similarly, as the documents pass through the glass 111, the CIS 112 of the reading unit 110 reads image information on the second side, which is opposite to the first side. The documents from which the image information has been read are discharged to the outside of the ADF main body 10A by the discharge roller pair 106 and stacked on the discharge tray 122.

[0027] In the following description and drawings, the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is referred to as the "Z direction." The sheet width direction perpendicular to the document transport direction of the document transported along the document transport path P1 is referred to as the "X direction." The X direction is the main scanning direction during image reading, and is preferably a direction perpendicular to the Z direction (horizontal direction). The horizontal direction when viewed in the X direction is referred to as the "Y direction." The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are directions that intersect with each other, and are preferably directions that are perpendicular to each other.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1B, the ADF 10 includes an upper cover 147 as a cover unit constituting the upper surface of the ADF main body 10A. The upper cover 147 is rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF main body 10A via a support portion 147a and rotates about an axis (first rotation axis) extending in the X direction. The upper cover 147 is provided with a transport guide 148 as an opposing guide (upper guide surface) that forms a document transport path P1 between itself and a guide surface (lower guide surface) of a rotating guide 141 supported by the ADF main body 10A. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the upper cover 147 is closed, a portion of the rotating guide 141 is covered by the upper cover 147. Here, when the upper cover 147 is closed, the entire rotating guide 141 may be covered by the upper cover 147. In addition, the upper cover 147 is provided with the feed roller 101, the pair of separation rollers 102, and one roller (upper in the figure) of the pair of transport rollers 103. Therefore, when the upper cover 147 is rotated upward from the closed position shown in Fig. 1(b), a part of the document transport path P1 is opened and the rotary guide 141 is exposed to the outside of the ADF 10, and the rotary guide 141 becomes capable of rotating as described below.

[0029] [Glass cleaning] Incidentally, while the document reading device 2 repeats the skimming operation, foreign matter such as dust such as paper powder or stains such as glue or ink that were attached to the document may adhere to the glass 201, 111. If the skimming operation is performed with foreign matter attached within the reading range of the reading unit 210, 110 on the glass 201, 111, a streaky image that does not actually exist on the document will be read at the position corresponding to the foreign matter. This is a phenomenon (hereinafter referred to as image streaks) that occurs when the foreign matter attached to the glass 201, 111 blocks the optical path during reading by the reading unit 210, 110, casting a shadow.

[0030] To eliminate the occurrence of image streaks, it is effective to properly clean the glass 201, 111 to remove the foreign matter that is causing the streaks. The reading unit 210 of the scanner unit 20 can be cleaned from above because the glass 201 of the reading unit 210 is exposed by rotating the ADF 10 upward from the scanner unit 20. Meanwhile, the reading unit 110 of the ADF 10 is disposed inside the ADF main body 10A. As shown in FIG. 1(b), in this embodiment, the reading unit 110 is disposed below the pivot guide 141, in an area inside the U-shaped document transport path P1. Therefore, a configuration for exposing the glass 111 (means for enabling access to the glass 111) is required.

[0031] One possible method for exposing the glass 111 of the reading unit 110 is to support the reading unit 110 on a rotating guide 141 and rotate the reading unit 110 together with the rotating guide 141. However, in such a configuration, the reading unit 110 rotates together with the rotating guide 141. When the rotating guide 141 hits another component, an impact corresponding to the overall weight of the rotatable unit including the reading unit 110 and the rotating guide 141 occurs. The reading unit 110 is a precision device that houses electronic circuits including a light receiving element, an illumination unit, and optical elements constituting a unit-to-unit or reduction optical system. Therefore, if a large impact is applied to the reading unit 110 when the rotating guide 141 is rotated to expose the glass 111, internal components may be damaged or misaligned.

[0032] Therefore, as will be described below, in this embodiment, a rotation guide 141 is provided as a rotatable transport guide, and the reading unit 110 is configured to be rotatable independently of the rotation guide 141 around a rotation axis different from the rotation axis of the rotation guide 141. By rotating the rotation guide 141 and the reading unit 110, the glass 111, which is the surface of the reading unit 110 that faces the sheet (the object to be read), is exposed. This makes it possible to reduce the impact that the reading unit 110 receives when the reading unit 110 is moved to clean the glass 111 or to clear a jam. Furthermore, by configuring the reading unit 110 to be rotatable independently of the rotation guide 141, it is also possible to reduce stress on the electric wire connecting the reading unit 110 and the control unit 2C.

[0033] The specific configuration of the reading unit 110 and its surroundings will be described below with reference to examples. [Example]

[0034] First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Figure 2 is a side view showing some parts of the ADF 10. When viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 in the X direction, the illustration shows members located inside the document transport path P1, a base transport guide 143, and an arm 131. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reading unit 110 cut along a plane perpendicular to the X direction.

[0035] 2 and 3, a glass 111 is attached to the bottom (the opening of a reading frame 119 having a substantially U-shaped cross section) of the reading unit 110 that houses the CIS 112. Furthermore, gap sheets 115 are attached to both ends of the glass 111 in the X direction (the longitudinal direction of the CIS 112, the main scanning direction).

[0036] 4 shows the state of the IV-IV cross section in FIG. 2. The IV-IV cross section is a cross section of the reading unit 110 cut along a plane perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction D1 at the scanning position of the reading unit 110 (a plane extending in the X direction and the sheet thickness direction D2 at the scanning position). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the two gap sheets 115 attached to both ends of the glass 111 in the X direction abuts against a shading plate 144, which is an opposing member facing the glass 111. As a result, in the region between the gap sheets 115 in the X direction (the document passing region), as shown in FIG. 3, a gap corresponding to the thickness of the gap sheet 115 is ensured between the glass 111 and the shading plate 144. In other words, the gap sheet 115 functions as a gap forming member that abuts against the opposing member facing the glass 111 and forms a gap between the glass 111 and the opposing member. As long as the gap width is guaranteed (defined), the gap sheet 115 is not limited to the gap sheet 115, and for example, a protrusion protruding from the glass 111 may be formed integrally with the reading frame 119.

[0037] The shading plate 144 is attached to a base transport guide 143, which is a transport guide facing the reading unit 110, and the base transport guide 143 is attached to the frame of the ADF 10. In other words, the shading plate 144 and the base transport guide 143 are members fixed to the frame of the ADF 10.

[0038] Furthermore, a pressure applying section 114 is provided to apply pressure to the reading unit 110 so that the reading unit 110 can stably come to a standstill at the abutting position of the gap sheet 115 (FIG. 4). The pressure applying section 114 is provided on the upper part of the reading unit 110 (the side opposite to the glass 111). The pressure applying section 114 has a resin cover 114a as a contacted section that comes into contact with a pressure applying surface 141a (FIG. 2) provided on the bottom surface of the rotation guide 141, and a compression spring 114b as an elastic member interposed between the resin cover 114a and the reading frame 119.

[0039] The rotating guide 141 has a shaft 141c rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF 10 and is rotatable around a rotation axis A1 (second rotation axis). In this embodiment, the rotation axis A1 is provided at the upstream end (one end in the Y direction) of the rotating guide 141 in the conveying direction of the sheet conveyed from the feed roller 101 to the separation roller pair 102, but the rotation axis A1 may be provided at another position. Furthermore, any support portion for rotatably supporting the rotating guide 141 is not limited to the shaft 141c, and a hole (bearing) may be provided in the rotating guide 141 to fit into a shaft shape provided in the frame of the ADF 10. The rotating guide 141 is rotatable between a position for guiding the bottom surface of a document conveyed through the document conveyance path P1 (see FIG. 2; hereinafter referred to as the closed position) and a position moved upward from the closed position (see FIG. 6; hereinafter referred to as the open position). The closed position is a position (third position) where the rotating guide 141 covers the reading unit 110 when viewed from above, and the open position is a position (fourth position) where the rotating guide 141 exposes the reading unit 110 when viewed from above. The rotating guide 141 is held in the closed position by a fixed portion 141d provided at the tip end engaging with a conveyance guide 142 fixed to the ADF main body 10A.

[0040] When the rotating guide 141 is in the closed position, the pressure surface 141a of the rotating guide 141 abuts against the resin cover 114a of the pressure section 114. Then, the elasticity of the compression spring 114b generated by pressing the resin cover 114a presses the reading unit 110 against the shading plate 144. This stabilizes the position of the reading unit 110 in the sheet thickness direction D2, contributing to highly accurate reading of image information.

[0041] The reading unit 110 has a shaft 113 rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF 10, and is rotatable about a rotation axis A2 (third rotation axis) different from the rotation axis A1 of the rotation guide 141. Note that any support for rotatably supporting the reading unit 110 is not limited to the shaft 113, and a hole (bearing) may be provided in the reading frame 119 to fit into a shaft shape provided in the frame of the ADF 10. The reading unit 110 is rotatable between a position where it can read image information from a document transported through the document transport path P1 (see FIG. 2; hereinafter referred to as the reading position) and a position where the glass 111 is exposed (see FIG. 6; hereinafter referred to as the maintenance position). The reading position is a position (first position) of the reading unit 110 where the glass 111, which is a transparent member, faces the document transport path P1, and the maintenance position is a position (second position) of the reading unit 110 where the glass 111 is exposed when viewed from outside the ADF 10.

[0042] When the reading unit 110 is located at the reading position, the glass 111 faces the shading plate 144 or the base transport guide 143 across the document transport path P1, and the glass 111 is hidden by the reading frame 119 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. The maintenance position is a position of the reading unit 110 where at least a portion of the glass 111 (preferably, an area including the reading range of the CIS 110 or the entire glass 111) is exposed when the ADF 10 is viewed from a predetermined direction (for example, from above in the vertical direction).

[0043] The shafts 113 are provided, for example, protruding outward in the X direction (longitudinal direction) from both ends of the reading frame 119, and are held by holding portions B1 provided on the frame of the ADF 10. Therefore, the rotation axis A1 of the rotation guide 141 and the rotation axis of the reading unit 110 are substantially parallel to each other and both extend substantially in the X direction. The holding portions B1 have a recessed shape (opening) that rotatably holds the shafts 113, and in this embodiment, the holding portions B1 are elongated holes (grooves) that extend in the sheet thickness direction D2. The holding portions B1 as elongated holes are provided, for example, on side plates (plate-like members that extend in the Y and Z directions outside the document passage area in the X direction) that form the frame of the ADF 10.

[0044] The rotation axis A1 of the rotation guide 141 is provided at an end of the rotation guide 141 on one side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 2), whereas the shaft 113 in this embodiment is provided at an end of the reading unit 110 on the other side in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 2) and on the upper side in the Z direction. Therefore, the reading unit 110 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing (first rotation direction) from the reading position to the maintenance position, whereas the rotation guide 141 rotates clockwise in the drawing (second rotation direction) from the closed position to the open position. Configuring the rotation guide 141 and the reading unit 110 to rotate in opposite directions in this manner has the advantage of making it easier to ensure the rotation range of the reading unit 110 without being affected by the rotation guide 141 in the open position. Note that the rotation direction of the rotation guide 141 when opened is also opposite to the rotation direction when the upper cover 147 is opened.

[0045] Next, the arm 131 will be described. The arm 131 is a member that is rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF 10, and moves the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position by rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating guide 141 from the closed position to the open position. In other words, the arm 131 is an example of an interlocking mechanism that moves the reading unit 110 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating guide 141. The arm 131 of this embodiment rotates about a rotation axis A1 that is common to the rotating guide 141, and is a member that can rotate independently of the rotating guide 141.

[0046] 5(a) and 5(b), the rotation guide 141 is provided with an arm abutment portion 141b, and the arm 131 is provided with a contacted portion 131e that comes into contact with the arm abutment portion 141b. When the rotation guide 141 is in the closed position and the reading unit 110 is in the reading position, the arm abutment portion 141b is spaced apart from the contacted portion 131e. In addition, the tip side of the arm 131 is provided with arc profiles 131a, 131b, and 131c as contact portions for pressing the reading unit 110. The arc profiles 131a, 131b, and 131c will be described in detail later.

[0047] In this embodiment, the arm 131 moves in conjunction with the rotating guide 141 only within a range in which they are united, and the rotation range of the arm 131 is narrower than the rotation range of the rotating guide 141. Specifically, when the rotating guide 141 is in the closed position, the arm abutment portion 141b of the rotating guide 141 does not abut against the arm 131, and the arm abutment portion 141b abuts against the arm 131 while the rotating guide 141 is being rotated to the open position (FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)). Therefore, the rotation locus of the arm 131 is smaller than when the arm 131 rotates integrally with the rotating guide 141, and less space is required to accommodate the arm 131.

[0048] The operation of moving the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position during maintenance work will be described below. Note that it is assumed that the worker (user or maintenance person) has previously opened the upper cover 147 by rotating it upward from the closed position shown in FIG. 1(b).

[0049] 2, to ensure a rotation space for the reading unit 110, the worker places his / her hand on the rotation guide 141 and rotates it clockwise in the figure around the rotation axis A1. As a result, the rotation guide 141 moves upward away from the reading unit 110, and the arm abutment portion 141b approaches the abutted portion 131e of the arm 131, as shown in FIG.

[0050] 5(b), when the rotation guide 141 is further rotated, the arm abutment portion 141b abuts against the abutted portion 131e of the arm 131, and the arm 131 rotates clockwise in the figure around the rotation axis A1. As the arm 131 rotates, the arc profiles 131a and 131c provided on the tip side of the arm 131 abut against and press the reading unit 110, rotating the reading unit 110 counterclockwise in the figure around the shaft portion 113. As a result, the reading unit 110 moves from the reading position shown in FIG. 2 to the maintenance position shown in FIG. 6.

[0051] An operator can easily perform work such as cleaning the glass 111 of the reading unit 110 that has been moved to the maintenance position. The rotating guide 141 can be configured to remain in the open position, for example, by its own weight, thereby holding the reading unit 110 at the maintenance position via the arm 131. As will be described in detail later, when the reading unit 110 reaches the maintenance position, the pressure applying portion 114 of the reading unit 110 abuts against an abutment surface 142a (FIG. 6) of a conveyance guide 142 fixed to the frame of the ADF main body 10A.

[0052] After completing work such as cleaning the glass 111, in the state shown in FIG. 6, the worker rotates the rotating guide 141 counterclockwise in the figure from the open position to the closed position. Then, following the rotation of the rotating guide 141, the arm 131 rotates counterclockwise in the figure. Furthermore, while being supported by the arm 131, the reading unit 110 rotates clockwise in the figure from the maintenance position to the reading position. Then, when the rotating guide 141 reaches the closed position, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 2 in which the reading unit 110 is held at the reading position. That is, in this embodiment, the reading unit 110 moves from the reading position to the maintenance position in conjunction with the operation of opening the rotating guide 141, and the reading unit 110 moves from the maintenance position to the reading position in conjunction with the operation of closing the rotating guide 141.

[0053] In this way, by configuring the reading unit 110 to be rotatable around a rotation axis separate from the rotation guide 141, it is possible to reduce the impact that the reading unit 110 receives when it is moved to clean the glass 111 or to clear a jam.

[0054] In this embodiment, the holding portion B1 on the mating side (the frame side of the ADF 10) of the shaft portion 113 of the reading unit 110 is configured as an elongated round hole extending in the sheet thickness direction D2. To enable the reading unit 110 to rotate separately from the rotation guide 141, the holding portion B1 may be configured as a cylindrical hole corresponding to the shaft portion 113. However, in this embodiment, by configuring the holding portion B1 as an elongated round hole, movement of the reading unit 110 in the sheet thickness direction D2 is permitted in addition to rotation. This restricts positional deviation of the reading unit 110 in the sheet conveyance direction D1, while absorbing positional variations of the reading unit 110 due to component tolerances of the ADF 10, etc., by movement of the shaft portion 113 relative to the holding portion B1. By absorbing positional variations of the reading unit 110, the glass 111 can be more stably positioned relative to the shading plate 144 via the gap sheet 115.

[0055] 6, when the reading unit 110 is rotated to the maintenance position, the reading unit 110 can be lifted upward by the length of the holding portion B1, thereby improving the workability of maintenance and the like. In this case, if the abutting surface 142a of the conveyance guide 142 is configured as an inclined surface inclined along the holding portion B1, it also functions as a guide when lifting the reading unit 110. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole of the holding portion B1 is configured to substantially coincide with the sheet thickness direction D2 at the reading position of the reading unit 110. However, the holding portion B1 may be an elongated hole extending in a direction different from the sheet thickness direction D2 within a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction D1 as viewed in the X direction, as long as it can regulate positional deviation of the reading unit 110 in the sheet conveyance direction D1 at the reading position.

[0056] [Wiring to the reading unit] Next, the wiring path of the reading unit 110 in this embodiment and its advantages will be described. As described above, the reading unit 110 is electrically connected to the control unit 2C (FIG. 1(b)) of the document reading device 2 via the electric wire 150. The electric wire 150 is a signal line that transmits image information read by the reading unit 110 to the control unit 2C, and also a power line that supplies power to the reading unit 110. In this embodiment, an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) is used as the electric wire 150.

[0057] 2 and 3, the electric wire 150 is connected to the sensor board 112c inside the reading unit 110 and is drawn out to the outside of the reading unit 110 through an opening (exit 146) provided in the reading frame 119. Outside the reading unit 110, the electric wire 150 is guided by a guide member attached to the frame of the ADF 10, routed inside the ADF main body 10A, and connected to the control unit 2C of the scanner section 20. Therefore, the electric wire 150 includes an internal portion 150a held in the reading unit 110, a main body side portion 150b held in the frame of the ADF main body 10A, and an intermediate portion 150c connecting the internal portion 150a and the main body side portion 150b. The intermediate portion 150c is a portion between the exit 146 of the reading unit 110 and an entrance 149 on the ADF main body side (an opening that receives the electric wire 150 or a guide member that holds the electric wire 150). In order to allow the intermediate portion 150c to bend easily, the electric wire 150 (FFC) is arranged so that the width direction of the electric wire 150 in the intermediate portion 150c is substantially parallel to the X direction, which is the main scanning direction of the reading unit 110.

[0058] When the reading unit 110, which is a movable member movable relative to the frame of the ADF main body 10A, moves, the electric wire 150 bends, thereby allowing the movement of the reading unit 110. That is, when the reading unit 110 is rotated from the reading position shown in Fig. 17(a) to the maintenance position shown in Fig. 17(b), mainly the middle portion 150c of the electric wire 150 bends in response to the change in posture of the reading unit 110, thereby allowing the reading unit 110 to rotate. Also, as shown in Fig. 17(c), when the reading unit 110 in the maintenance position is lifted upward along the holder B1, the middle portion 150c of the electric wire 150 stretches (the bending due to the excess length is eliminated), thereby allowing the reading unit 110 to move upward.

[0059] Here, it will be explained that in this embodiment, the reading unit 110 is configured to be rotatable separately from the rotation guide 141, which makes it possible to reduce the stress applied to the electric wire 150 when the reading unit 110 is rotated.

[0060] 3, the electric wire 150 is drawn from the inside to the outside of the reading unit 110 via the vicinity of the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110. When viewed in the X direction, the distance from the rotation axis A2 (third rotation axis) of the reading unit 110 to the outlet 146 through which the electric wire 150 is drawn from the reading unit 110 is shorter than at least the distance from the rotation axis A1 (second rotation axis) of the rotation guide 141 to the outlet 146. Therefore, the movement amount of the outlet 146 when the reading unit 110 is rotated is smaller than when the reading unit 110 is attached to the rotation guide 141. Specifically, the vicinity of the rotation axis A2 is preferably such that the electric wire 150 passes through a position that overlaps with the shaft portion 113 when viewed in the X direction. Furthermore, it is preferable to arrange the four corners of the reading frame 119, which is approximately rectangular when viewed in the X direction, so that the corner closest to the outlet 146 through which the electric wire 150 is pulled out is the same as the corner closest to the shaft portion 113.

[0061] In this way, when the electric wire 150 is routed through the vicinity of the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110, when the reading unit 110 is rotated around the rotation axis A2, the electric wire 150 bends mainly near the rotation axis A2 (see FIG. 17(b)). In other words, the electric wire 150 bends so that an internal portion 150a of the electric wire 150 rotates around the vicinity of the rotation axis A2 as a fulcrum. Therefore, there is little variation in the distance from the outlet 146 of the electric wire 150 on the reading unit 110 side to the inlet 149 of the electric wire 150 on the ADF main body 10A side. If there were a large variation in the distance from the outlet of the electric wire 150 on the reading unit 110 side to the inlet of the electric wire 150 on the ADF main body 10A side, there is a risk that the electric wire 150 will break or come off due to tension. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the excess length of intermediate portion 150c in consideration of the amount of variation, but increasing the excess length of intermediate portion 150c would lead to increased costs and an increase in the size of the device. In contrast, in this embodiment, the amount of variation in the distance from the outlet of electric wire 150 on the reading unit 110 side to the inlet of electric wire 150 on the ADF main body 10A side is small, so even if the excess length of intermediate portion 150c is set short, breakage is unlikely to occur, and it is possible to prevent increases in costs and an increase in the size of the device.

[0062] However, if the reading unit 110 is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating guide 141, it becomes difficult to route the electric wires 150 near the rotating shaft A2. This is due to the following reasons. First, a transport guide that guides a sheet, such as the rotating guide 141, is a relatively large member that extends along the sheet transport path. Therefore, when attempting to rotate such a large member, it is natural to position the rotation shaft of the transport guide near the upstream or downstream end of the transport guide in the transport direction of the sheet being guided. On the other hand, since the reading unit is positioned away from the guide surface of the transport guide (below the rotating guide 141 in the case of the reading unit 110) so as not to interfere with the sheet transport, it becomes difficult to position the outlet of the electric wires from the reading unit near the rotation shaft of the transport guide. Furthermore, transport rollers that transport sheets are often positioned near the transport guide, and if an attempt is made to position the reading unit so as to avoid interference with the transport rollers, it becomes even more difficult to position the outlet of the electric wires from the reading unit near the rotation shaft of the transport guide. The farther the outlet of the electric wire from the reading unit is from the rotation axis of the conveyance guide, the greater the fluctuation in the distance from the outlet of the electric wire on the reading unit side to the inlet of the electric wire on the ADF main body side when the conveyance guide is rotated, which results in a risk of the electric wire 150 being broken.

[0063] In contrast, in this embodiment, the reading unit 110 is configured to rotate separately from the rotation guide 141, so the electric wire 150 can be routed near the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110. In addition, the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110 can be positioned below the guide surface of the rotation guide 141. As a result, as described above, it is possible to make it less likely for the electric wire 150 to break.

[0064] [Arm details] Next, a configuration that allows the reading unit 110 to be rotated within a wide rotation range and that can improve operability when moving the reading unit 110 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0065] In the reading position, the reading unit 110 is in a position where the glass 111 faces downward in the Z direction, and in the maintenance position, the glass 111 is exposed when viewed from above in the Z direction. That is, in this embodiment, when the reading unit is in the first position, the transparent member faces downward in the vertical direction, and when the reading unit is in the second position, the transparent member faces upward in the vertical direction.

[0066] If the inclination of the glass 111 relative to the horizontal at the reading position is too great, the document transport path P1 will be curved too sharply, making it difficult to transport cardboard and the like, so the inclination of the glass 111 is set to, for example, 45 degrees or less, preferably 30 degrees or less. Therefore, the reading unit 110 is configured to be rotatable between the reading position and the maintenance position within a wide rotation range of, for example, 60 degrees or more, preferably 75 degrees or more, and more preferably 90 degrees or more.

[0067] When rotating the reading unit 110 over such a wide rotation range, if the operator places their hands directly on the reading unit 110 to rotate it, their hands are likely to get caught between the rotated reading unit 110 and other parts of the ADF 10, leaving room for improvement in operability.

[0068] As described above, in this embodiment, the tip of the arm 131, which is linked to the rotation of the rotation guide 141, abuts against the reading unit 110 from below, causing the reading unit 110 to rotate in conjunction with the rotation guide 141 (see FIGS. 5(b) and 6). At this time, the arm 131 rotates in the opposite rotation direction to the reading unit 110, and rotates the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position while changing the abutment position with respect to the reading unit 110. This makes it possible to rotate the reading unit 110 over a wide rotation range, while improving operability. Furthermore, since it is possible to move the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position with as little operating force as possible, it is possible to reduce the operating load. This will be explained in detail below.

[0069] 7 shows the positional relationship between the reading unit 110, the rotation axis A1 of the arm 131, and the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110 when the arm 131 first comes into contact with the reading unit 110. In order to rotate the reading unit 110 counterclockwise by bringing the arm 131 into contact from below, it is efficient to bring the arm 131 into contact with the first contact surface 110a, which is the lower surface of the reading unit 110 at the reading position (the surface on which the glass 111 is disposed). Next, to consider at which position on the first contact surface 110a the arm 131 should come into contact, three points, a, b, and c, are considered. The two-dot chain line passing through each point represents the rotation locus around the rotation axis A1 at that point, and the arrows represent the tangent direction (the direction of the load when the arm 131 presses against the reading unit 110 at each point).

[0070] When the arm 131 abuts against the reading unit 110 at point a, the load direction is almost toward the rotation axis A2 of the reading unit 110, which makes it inefficient to rotate the reading unit 110. When the arm 131 abuts against the reading unit 110 at point c, a moment acts on the reading unit 110 in the clockwise direction in the figure, which is the opposite direction to the desired direction of rotation of the reading unit 110. On the other hand, when the arm 131 abuts against the reading unit 110 at point b on the first abutment surface 110a at a position away from the rotation axis A2 to the right in the figure, the reading unit 110 rotates even if the load with which the arm 131 presses against the reading unit 110 is relatively small.

[0071] 8 shows the maximum angle at which the reading unit 110 can be rotated by pressing the first contact surface 110a from below. If the arm 131 is in contact with the first contact surface 110a at point d in the figure, when the reading unit 110 rotates to a position where the first contact surface 110a is vertical, the arm 131 will no longer be able to press the reading unit 110 at point d. To further rotate the reading unit 110, the arm 131 will be configured to contact the reading unit 110 at a second contact surface 110b different from the first contact surface 110a, as shown at point e, and press the reading unit 110.

[0072] In this embodiment, taking the above into consideration, two abutment portions (131a, 131c) are provided on the arm 131, and the two abutment portions are configured to abut and press against the first abutment surface 110a and the second abutment surface 110b of the reading unit 110 in sequence.

[0073] The configuration will be described in detail below. As shown in Fig. 5(b), three arcuate profiles 131a, 131b, and 131c are provided at the tip of the arm 131 in this embodiment. These are referred to as the first arcuate profile 131a, the second arcuate profile 131b, and the third arcuate profile 131c, extending radially outward from the rotation axis A1 of the arm 131. The first arcuate profile 131a and the third arcuate profile 131c are arcuate curved surfaces that convex toward the downstream side in the rotation direction (clockwise direction in the figure) of the arm 131 when pressing the reading unit 110. The first arcuate profile 131a is a first convex portion that presses against a first contact surface 110a (first surface) of the reading unit 110. The third arc profile 131c is a second convex portion that presses against the second contact surface 110b (second surface) of the reading unit 110. The second arc profile 131b is an arc-shaped curved surface recessed between the first arc profile 131a and the third arc profile 131c, and forms a space that receives a corner 110c between the first contact surface 110a and the second contact surface 110b. Note that in this embodiment, the first contact surface 110a and the second contact surface 110b are two adjacent surfaces (surfaces that intersect perpendicularly) of the reading unit 110 that is substantially rectangular when viewed in the X direction, but the first surface and the second surface may be surfaces that extend in directions that intersect with each other at an angle other than perpendicular.

[0074] In this embodiment, the first contact surface 110a of the reading unit 110 is the surface of a gap sheet 115 (gap forming member) attached to the glass 111. By preventing the arm 131 from coming into direct contact with the glass 111, the possibility of the glass 111 being damaged is reduced. As shown in FIG. 4, the contact position of the arm 131 with the gap sheet 115 is shifted in the X direction from the contact area of ​​the shading plate 144 with the gap sheet 115. Therefore, even if the surface of the first contact surface 110a of the gap sheet 115, which is repeatedly brought into contact with the arm 131, becomes rough, the accuracy of the gap width formed between the glass 111 and the shading plate 144 does not decrease.

[0075] 5(b), when the arm 131 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation guide 141, the first arc-shaped profile 131a first abuts against the first abutment surface 110a of the reading unit 110, causing the reading unit 110 to start rotating from the reading position. At this time, the third arc-shaped profile 131c is not in contact with the second abutment surface 110b of the reading unit 110.

[0076] When the arm 131 further rotates and the reading unit 110 reaches a predetermined angle, the third arc-shaped profile 131c abuts against the second abutment surface 110b, and the first arc-shaped profile 131a moves away from the first abutment surface 110a. Then, the third arc-shaped profile 131c presses against the second abutment surface 110b, and the reading unit 110 is rotated to the maintenance position as shown in FIG. 6.

[0077] 6, when the reading unit 110 reaches the maintenance position, the pressure applying portion 114 of the reading unit 110 abuts against an abutment surface 142a of a transport guide 142 fixed to the frame of the ADF main body 10A. At this time, the impact of the reading unit 110 abutting against the transport guide 142 is absorbed by the elasticity of an elastic member (compression spring 114b) provided in the pressure applying portion 114. In other words, the pressure applying portion 114 not only acts to position the reading unit 110 when reading an image, but also serves as a buffer when the reading unit 110 is moved to the maintenance position.

[0078] In this way, by configuring the abutment position between the arm 131 and the reading unit 110 to switch depending on the rotation angle of the reading unit 110, it is possible to rotate the reading unit 110 over a wide rotation range while reducing the operational load. Furthermore, since the concave arc profile 131c is provided between the two convex portions of the arm 131 that abut against the first abutment surface 110a and the second abutment surface 110b of the reading unit 110, the arm 131 and the reading unit 110 are not locked by the two convex portions. That is, since the corners 110c of the first abutment surface 110a and the second abutment surface 110b are accommodated in the space inside the arc profile 131c, a smooth transition is made from the abutment state between the first arc profile 131a and the first abutment surface 110a to the abutment state between the third arc profile 131c and the second abutment surface 110b.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the three arc profiles 131a, 131b, and 131c are smoothly connected (the tangential direction does not change discontinuously), allowing for smooth rotation even when the contact position of the reading unit 110 switches between each profile.

[0080] In this embodiment, the two convex portions and the concave portion therebetween are described as being formed by arc curves, but they may be formed by curves other than arcs.

[0081] (Variation 1) In the first embodiment, the reading unit 110 is configured to rotate via the arm 131 that is linked to the rotating guide 141 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the rotating guide 141. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which the reading unit 110 is directly rotated by hand by an operator without providing the arm 131, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, to move the reading unit 110 to the maintenance position, the operator first grasps the rotating guide 141 and rotates it from the closed position to the open position, and then grasps the reading unit 110 and rotates it from the reading position to the maintenance position.

[0082] (Variation 2) As another configuration in which the reading unit 110 rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the rotating guide 141, the arm 131 may be formed integrally with the rotating guide 141, so that a part of the rotating guide 141 abuts against the reading unit 110. In the first embodiment, the arm 131 is rotatable relative to the rotating guide 141, and the rotation range of the arm 131 is narrower than the rotation range of the rotating guide 141, so that the device can be made smaller than this modified example, as described above.

[0083] (Variation 3) In the first embodiment, the arm 131 is described as being arranged on one side of the reading unit 110 and the rotating guide 141 in the X direction, but the arm 131 may be arranged on both sides in the X direction. In this case, torsional load is less likely to be applied to the reading unit 110 and the rotating guide 141. [Example]

[0084] Example 2 will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. This example differs from Example 1 in that the reading unit 110 is rotated by an operator gripping the operating portion of the arm 131 and operating the arm 131 with the rotating guide 141 moved to the open position in advance. Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as Example 1 will be considered to have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 1, and elements different from Example 1 will be mainly described.

[0085] 10, the arm 131 of this embodiment has an arm operating unit 131d as an operating unit (lever, handle). The arm operating unit 131d is disposed, for example, on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 relative to the rotation guide 141 and protrudes above the guide surface of the rotation guide 141 so that it can be easily accessed by an operator when the upper cover 147 is open. The arm operating unit 131d will be described as rotating integrally with the other parts of the arm 131, but it may also be connected to the other parts of the arm 131 so as to be rotatable relative to each other only within a predetermined rotation range.

[0086] When moving the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position during maintenance work, the worker first opens the upper cover 147 and then moves the rotation guide 141 to the open position. In this state, the worker places his or her hand on the arm operating part 131d and rotates the arm 131 clockwise in the drawing.

[0087] 11 and 12, arc profiles 131a and 131c provided on the tip side of the arm 131 come into contact with and press against the reading unit 110, causing the reading unit 110 to rotate counterclockwise in the figures around the shaft 113. This causes the reading unit 110 to move from the reading position shown in FIG. 10 to the maintenance position shown in FIG. 12. In this way, by configuring the reading unit 110 to be rotatable independently of the rotation guide 141, it is possible to reduce the impact that the reading unit 110 receives when it is moved to clean the glass 111 or clear a jam.

[0088] Furthermore, in the process of rotating the arm 131, similarly to the first embodiment, the two arcuate profiles 131a and 131c provided on the arm 131 sequentially abut against the first abutment surface 110a and the second abutment surface 110b of the reading unit 110. At this time, when the operator moves the reading unit 110 to the maintenance position, the operator only needs to operate the arm operating part 131d, and there is little possibility that the operator's hand will be caught between the reading unit 110 and the ADF main body 10. Therefore, the reading unit 110 can be rotated within a wide rotation range, and operability can be improved.

[0089] In this embodiment as well, the reading unit 110 is configured to be rotatable independently of the rotation guide 141, thereby reducing the risk of the wire 150 breaking when the reading unit 110 is rotated. [Example]

[0090] Example 3 will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. This example differs from Example 1 in the position of the rotation axis of the reading unit 110 and the rotation direction of the reading unit 110. Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as Example 1 will be considered to have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 1, and elements that differ from Example 1 will be mainly described.

[0091] 13, the reading unit 110 has a shaft 113 rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF 10, and is rotatable about a rotation axis A3 (second rotation axis) separate from the rotation axis A1 of the rotating guide 141 serving as a conveying guide. In this embodiment, the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110 is provided at one end of the reading unit 110 in the Y direction (the negative Y direction) and at the upper end in the Z direction. That is, in this embodiment, the first rotation axis is provided at the upstream end of the conveying guide in the sheet conveying direction (left side in the figure) of the sheet guided by the conveying guide. The second rotation axis is provided at the upstream end of the reading unit in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide.

[0092] Therefore, the rotation guide 141 rotates clockwise in the figure about the rotation axis A1 from the closed position to the open position, and the reading unit 110 rotates clockwise in the figure about the rotation axis A3 from the reading position to the maintenance position. In this way, even if the rotation directions of the rotation guide 141 and the reading unit 110 are the same when exposing the glass 111 as a transparent member, the same effects as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained. Whether the rotation directions of the rotation guide 141 and the reading unit 110 are the same or opposite is selected depending on the specific configuration of the ADF 10, such as the positional relationship with the members arranged around them.

[0093] Incidentally, in this embodiment, the position of the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110 is different from that of Embodiments 1 and 2, and therefore, it is preferable to change the wiring path of the electric wire 150 connected to the reading unit 110 from that of Embodiments 1 and 2. As shown in Fig. 13, the electric wire 150 is drawn from the inside to the outside of the reading unit 110 via the vicinity of the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110. At this time, unlike in Embodiment 1, the electric wire 150 is drawn to the negative side in the Y direction (the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction D1 at the reading position) and is guided and wired by a guide member 152 provided on the frame of the ADF main body 10.

[0094] The distance from the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110 to the outlet through which the electric wire 150 is pulled out from the reading unit 110 is at least shorter than the distance from the rotation axis A1 of the rotation guide 141 to the outlet. Specifically, the vicinity of the rotation axis A3 is preferably such that the electric wire 150 passes through a position that overlaps with the shaft portion 113 when viewed in the X direction. Furthermore, it is preferably arranged such that, of the four corners of the reading frame 119, which is substantially rectangular when viewed in the X direction, the corner closest to the outlet through which the electric wire 150 is pulled out is the same as the corner closest to the shaft portion 113.

[0095] In this way, when the electric wire 150 is routed near the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110, the electric wire 150 bends mainly near the rotation axis A3 when the reading unit 110 is rotated around the rotation axis A3 (see FIG. 13). Therefore, there is little variation in the distance from the outlet of the electric wire 150 on the side of the reading unit 110 to the inlet 149 of the electric wire 150 on the side of the ADF main body 10A (an opening that receives the electric wire 150 or a guide member that holds the electric wire 150). Therefore, even with the configuration of this embodiment, the possibility of the electric wire 150 being broken can be reduced. [Example]

[0096] Example 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 15. This example differs from Example 2 in the position of the rotation axis of the rotation guide 141 and the rotation direction of the rotation guide 141. Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as Example 2 will be considered to have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 2, and elements different from Example 2 will be mainly described.

[0097] 15, the rotating guide 141 serving as a conveying guide is provided rotatably around a rotation axis A4 (first rotation axis). The rotation axis A1 is provided at the downstream end (left side in the figure, plus side in the Y direction) of the rotating guide 141 in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the rotating guide 141. That is, in this embodiment, the first rotation axis is provided at the downstream end of the conveying guide in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide. The second rotation axis is provided at the downstream end of the reading unit in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide.

[0098] Therefore, the rotation guide 141 rotates counterclockwise in the figure about the rotation axis A4 from the closed position to the open position, and the reading unit 110 rotates counterclockwise in the figure about the rotation axis A2 from the reading position to the maintenance position. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

[0099] (Variation) A modified example will be described with reference to Fig. 16. This example combines the position of the rotation axis A4 of the rotation guide 141 and the rotation direction of the rotation guide 141 in Example 4 with the position of the rotation axis A3 of the reading unit 110 and the rotation direction of the reading unit 110 in Example 3. That is, in this example, the first rotation axis is provided at the downstream end of the conveyance guide in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. The second rotation axis is provided at the upstream end of the reading unit in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide.

[0100] Therefore, the rotation guide 141 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing about the rotation axis A4 from the closed position to the open position, and the reading unit 110 rotates clockwise in the drawing about the rotation axis A3 from the reading position to the maintenance position. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained. [Example]

[0101] Example 5 will be described with reference to Figures 18 and 19. This example differs from Example 2 in that it has a configuration in which multiple arm members abut against first and second abutment surfaces of the reading unit. Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as Example 2 will be considered to have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 2, and elements that differ from Example 2 will be mainly described.

[0102] The ADF 10 of this embodiment includes an arm 132 as a first arm member and an arm 133 as a second arm member. The arms 132 and 133 are rotatably supported by the frame of the ADF main body 10A, and both rotate about a rotation axis A1. The arms 132 and 133 overlap each other when viewed in the X direction. Furthermore, both of the two arms 132 and 133 can be rotated by operating the arm operating unit 131d. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

[0103] When the arm operating unit 131d is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 18, the arm 132 first rotates and abuts against the first abutment surface 110a of the reading unit 110. Thereafter, when the arm 132 rotates a predetermined angle, the arm 133 starts rotating and abuts against the second abutment surface 110b of the reading unit 110. As a result, the reading unit 110 is rotated to the maintenance position as shown in FIG. 19. In this way, by pressing multiple surfaces of the reading unit 110 with the two arms 132 and 133, the reading unit 110 can be rotated within a wide rotation range. Furthermore, by configuring the two overlapping arms 132 and 133 to move in conjunction with each other with a time lag, the space required for arranging the arms 132 and 133 can be reduced. [Example]

[0104] Example 6 will be described with reference to Figures 20 and 21. This example differs from Example 2 in that the contact surface of the reading unit that contacts the arm member is curved, thereby ensuring a rotation range for the reading unit. Below, elements that are given the same reference numerals as Example 2 have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 2, and the following description will mainly focus on elements that are different from Example 2.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 20, the reading unit 110 of this embodiment is provided with an arm abutment surface 110d that is separate from the surface on which the glass 111 is disposed. When viewed in the X direction, the arm abutment surface 110d is a curved surface that is approximately arc-shaped and convex toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the arm 131 (clockwise direction in the figure). On the other hand, the tip of the arm 131 is formed in an approximately linear shape along a line passing through the rotation axis A1. The arm abutment surface 110d is a substantially continuous curved surface at least between a first abutment point d1 ( FIG. 20 ) and a second abutment point d2 ( FIG. 21 ). The first abutment point d1 is a position where the arm 131 abuts when the reading unit 110 is located at the reading position. The second abutment point d2 is a position where the arm 131 abuts when the reading unit 110 is located at the maintenance position.

[0106] When the arm 131 is rotated clockwise in the figure, the arm 131 rotates the reading unit 110 from the reading position to the maintenance position while continuously changing the contact position with respect to the arm contact surface 110d from the first contact point d1 to the second contact point d2. Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, even if the arm 131 has a simple shape, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in Example 2, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

[0107] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the present technology is applied to an image reading device installed on top of the main body of an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present technology is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an image reading device independent of an image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 2...Image reading device (document reading device) / 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106...Sheet conveying means / 110...Reading unit / 111...Transparent member (glass) / 112...Reading section (CIS) / 113...Axis section / 141...Conveying guide (rotating guide) / 147...Cover unit (upper cover) / 147a...First rotating shaft (support section) / A1...Second rotating shaft / A2...Third rotating shaft

Claims

1. An image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, a cover unit that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and that constitutes an upper surface of the image reading device; a sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a conveying guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a reading unit including a transparent member and a reading section that reads an image on a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the reading unit being provided rotatable about a third rotation axis different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis; a linkage mechanism that rotates the reading unit in conjunction with the rotation of the transport guide; Equipped with the cover unit is rotatable between a closed position where the cover unit forms a part of the sheet transport path together with the transport guide and an open position where the cover unit opens a part of the sheet transport path; An image reading device characterized in that when the cover unit is positioned in the open position, the reading unit rotates in conjunction with the transport guide via the linkage mechanism, thereby exposing the transparent member to the outside of the image reading device.

2. The image reading device described in claim 1, characterized in that the linkage mechanism has an arm member that abuts against the reading unit to move the reading unit from a first position where the transparent member faces the sheet transport path to a second position where the transparent member is exposed to the outside of the image reading device.

3. the transport guide is rotatable between a third position where the transport guide covers the reading unit when viewed from above and a fourth position where the transport guide exposes the reading unit when viewed from above; 3. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the arm member is configured to move from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the movement of the transport guide pivoting from the third position to the fourth position.

4. An image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, a cover unit that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and that constitutes an upper surface of the image reading device; a sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a conveying guide that guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, the conveying guide being rotatable about a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a reading unit including a transparent member and a reading section that reads an image on a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the reading unit being provided rotatable about a third rotation axis different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis; an arm member that abuts against the reading unit to move the reading unit from a first position where the transparent member faces the sheet transport path to a second position where the transparent member is exposed to the outside of the image reading device; Equipped with the cover unit is rotatable between a closed position where the cover unit forms a part of the sheet transport path together with the transport guide and an open position where the cover unit opens a part of the sheet transport path; When the cover unit is in the open position, the conveyance guide and the reading unit rotate to expose the transparent member to the outside of the image reading device, The image reading device is characterized in that the transport guide is rotatable between a third position that covers the reading unit when viewed from above and a fourth position that exposes the reading unit when viewed from above, and the arm member has an operating portion for operating the arm member to move the reading unit from the first position to the second position when the transport guide is rotated from the third position to the fourth position.

5. The image reading device described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the arm member is configured to rotate around the second rotation axis in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction when the reading unit moves from the first position to the second position around the third rotation axis, and to rotate the reading unit from the first position to the second position while changing the abutment position with respect to the reading unit.

6. the reading unit has a first surface on which the transparent member is disposed and a second surface extending in a direction intersecting the first surface when viewed in the sheet width direction; the arm member has a first protrusion for pressing the first surface and a second protrusion for contacting the second surface, 6. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein when the arm member rotates in the second rotation direction, the first convex portion abuts against the first surface and then the second convex portion abuts against the second surface.

7. The arm member is a first arm member, a second arm member that abuts against the reading unit to move the reading unit from the first position to the second position; the reading unit has a first surface on which the transparent member is disposed and a second surface extending in a direction intersecting the first surface when viewed in the sheet width direction; 6. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein when the first arm member and the second arm member rotate in the second rotation direction, the first arm member abuts against the first surface and then the second arm member abuts against the second surface.

8. the reading unit has a curved surface when viewed in the sheet width direction, 6. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein when the arm member rotates in the second rotation direction, the contact position between the arm member and the curved surface changes continuously.

9. an opposing member facing the transparent member; a gap forming member attached to the transparent member and abutting against the opposing member to form a gap between the transparent member and the opposing member through which a sheet can pass; and 9. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the arm member abuts against the gap forming member.

10. When the reading unit is located at the first position, the transparent member faces downward in the vertical direction; 10. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the transparent member faces upward in the vertical direction when the reading unit is located at the second position.

11. the reading unit is rotatable between a first position where the transparent member faces the sheet transport path and a second position where the transparent member is exposed; the reading unit further includes a pressure applying unit including an elastic member and an abutment portion that abuts against the transport guide, and the reading unit is positioned at the first position by the elasticity of the elastic member when the transport guide presses the abutment portion; An image reading device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that when the reading unit moves from the first position to the second position, the abutting portion abuts against a member fixed to the frame body of the image reading device, and the reading unit is cushioned by the elasticity of the elastic member.

12. the reading unit has a shaft portion provided on the third rotation shaft, a holding portion provided on a frame of the image reading device, the holding portion holding the shaft portion rotatably and movably in a direction intersecting a sheet conveying direction at a reading position of the reading unit; 12. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is movable in a direction intersecting the sheet transport direction when the reading unit is rotated to a position where the transparent member is exposed.

13. further comprising an electric wire connected to the reading unit and transmitting image information read by the reading unit; the reading unit has an opening for drawing out the electric wire to the outside of the reading unit, 13. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the sheet width direction, the distance from the third rotation axis to the opening is shorter than the distance from the second rotation axis to the opening.

14. the reading unit has a shaft portion provided on the third rotation shaft, a holding portion provided on a frame of the image reading device and configured to rotatably hold the shaft portion; 14. The image reading device according to claim 13, wherein the electric wire routed through the opening and the shaft portion overlap each other when viewed in the sheet width direction.

15. the reading unit is rectangular when viewed in the sheet width direction, 15. The image reading device according to claim 14, wherein, when viewed in the sheet width direction, a corner of the reading unit closest to the shaft portion is the same as a corner of the reading unit closest to the opening.

16. the cover unit has an upper guide surface that guides an upper surface of the sheet, the conveying guide has a lower guide surface that forms the sheet conveying path together with the upper guide surface and guides a lower surface of the sheet; 16. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the third rotation shaft is disposed below the lower guide surface.

17. a placement section on which a sheet is placed; a discharge section provided below the mounting section and into which the sheet from which image information has been read is discharged; Further provided with the sheet conveying path is curved when viewed in the sheet width direction so that the sheet is fed from the sheet placement section toward one side in the horizontal direction and is discharged to the discharge section toward the other side in the horizontal direction, the conveyance guide guides a lower surface of the sheet fed from the stacking section toward one side in the horizontal direction, 17. The image reading device according to claim 16, wherein the reading unit is disposed below the conveying guide and inside the curved sheet conveying path.

18. the second rotation shaft is provided at an upstream end of the conveyance guide in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide, the third rotation shaft is provided at an end portion on a downstream side of the reading unit in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated so that the transparent member is exposed, the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated in opposite directions.

19. the second rotation shaft is provided at an upstream end of the conveyance guide in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide, the third rotation shaft is provided at an end portion on an upstream side of the reading unit in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated so that the transparent member is exposed, the rotating direction of the transport guide and the rotating direction of the reading unit are the same.

20. the second rotation shaft is provided at a downstream end of the conveyance guide in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide, the third rotation shaft is provided at an end portion on a downstream side of the reading unit in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated so that the transparent member is exposed, the rotating direction of the transport guide and the rotating direction of the reading unit are the same.

21. the second rotation shaft is provided at a downstream end of the conveyance guide in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveyance guide, the third rotation shaft is provided at an end portion on an upstream side of the reading unit in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet guided by the conveying guide, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated so that the transparent member is exposed, the transport guide and the reading unit are rotated in opposite directions.

22. An image reading device that reads image information from a sheet, A device body, a sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet along a sheet conveying path; a cover unit that is rotatably provided with respect to the device body and that forms an upper surface of the image reading device; a conveyance guide that forms the sheet conveyance path together with the cover unit and guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance means, the conveyance guide being rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body; a reading unit having a transparent member and a reading section that reads an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means through the transparent member, the reading unit being rotatably provided with respect to the device body; a linkage mechanism that rotates the reading unit in conjunction with the rotation of the transport guide; Equipped with An image reading device characterized by:

23. the reading unit is rotatable between a first position where the transparent member faces the sheet transport path and a second position where the transparent member is exposed to the outside of the image reading device; the transport guide is rotatable between a third position where the transport guide covers the reading unit when viewed from above and a fourth position where the transport guide exposes the reading unit when viewed from above; when the transport guide is rotated from the first position toward the second position, the interlocking mechanism rotates the reading unit from the third position to the fourth position in conjunction with the transport guide while the transport guide passes through a predetermined range that is a part of a rotation range from the first position to the second position, and does not interlock the reading unit with the transport guide when the transport guide is outside the predetermined range; 21. The image reading device according to claim 20.

24. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 23; an image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image information read by the image reading device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images