Image Processing Device

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus so that: even when a sheet-loading tray is extended in a transport direction, a support structure of the tray does not become deficient in support strength.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus (multi-functional machine 1) comprises a fixed tray 110, a rotary tray 120 that is rotatable about an axis X120 from a flip-up position where an upstream end in a transport direction is raised to a normal position where it is lowered, a feed roller 92, separation roller 54, transport roller 44, 45 and sheet-discharge roller 48 that are provided on a transport path P1 and convey a sheet SH placed on the fixed tray 110 and rotary tray 120, and a discharge tray 14 onto which the sheet SH conveyed is discharged. The rotary tray 120, in the normal position, is supported with its part positioned rear abutted against by an inclined portion 162U1 and horizontal portion 162U2 provided on a wall portion 160 provided upright on a rear side of the discharge tray 14 and with its part positioned downstream in the transport direction abutted against by a second support portion provided on an upstream side in the transport direction of the fixed tray 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a rotatable tray on which a sheet is placed. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a configuration in which a document tray is rotatably supported by a support means is known, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1. The document tray is rotatably supported between a first state in which the document sheet placed thereon can be conveyed, and a second state in which the document tray is raised higher than the first state. The document tray is provided with a pair of movably left and right side guide plates that position the document sheet set thereon in the sheet width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-202888 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is conceivable to extend the tray on which the sheets are placed in the conveying direction from the viewpoint of improving the conveying accuracy by the side guides that abut on both ends of the sheet in the width direction, or from the viewpoint of being able to handle long sheets, etc. However, in that case, it is necessary to consider whether the support structure of the rotatably provided tray has insufficient support strength.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can ensure that the support strength of the support structure of the tray is not insufficient even if the tray on which the sheets are placed is extended in the transport direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus main body having a transport path for transporting a sheet in a transport direction, a first tray fixed to the apparatus main body, the first tray being provided upstream of the transport path in the transport direction, a second tray connected to a connection portion of the first tray upstream in the transport direction, the second tray being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis from a first position where an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is raised to a second position where an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is lowered, and a second tray provided in the transport path, the second tray is provided with a roller for transporting the sheet placed on the sheet conveying member, and a third tray fixed to the device body and onto which the sheet transported by the roller is discharged, wherein at the second position, the second tray is supported by a first portion located on one side in a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the first portion being abutted against a first support portion provided on a wall portion erected on the one side of the third tray, and a second portion located on the downstream side in the transport direction being abutted against a second support portion provided on the upstream side of the first tray in the transport direction.

[0007] In the present invention, two trays, a first tray and a second tray, are provided. The first tray is a fixed tray that is fixed to the device body. The second tray is a rotatable tray that is configured to be rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis, and is connected to the upstream side of the first tray in the conveying direction. When a sheet is placed on the first tray or the second tray, it is conveyed by rollers provided in the conveying path of the device body, and is discharged to the third tray that is fixed to the device body.

[0008] The second tray, which is a rotatable tray, can rotate from a first position where the upstream end in the conveying direction is raised to a second position where the upstream end in the conveying direction is lowered. When the second tray is in the second position, it is supported at a first portion on one side in the width direction and a second portion on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The first portion of the second tray is abutted against and supported by a first support portion of a wall portion erected on one side in the width direction of the third tray. The second portion of the second tray is abutted against and supported by a second support portion provided on the upstream side of the first tray in the conveying direction.

[0009] According to the present invention, as described above, the tray on which the sheet is placed is composed of two trays, the first tray and the second tray. This allows the overall length of the tray to be extended in the conveying direction. Of the two trays, the first tray is configured as a fixed tray. Of the two trays, the second tray is configured as a rotating tray, and is supported at the second position by being separately abutted at a first portion on one side in the width direction and a second portion on the downstream side in the conveying direction. This support mode allows a strong tray support structure, and therefore insufficient support strength can be avoided. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, even if the tray on which the sheets are placed is extended in the transport direction, the support strength of the support structure of the tray can be maintained without becoming insufficient. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conceptual overall configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the external structure of the ADF unit. [Diagram 3] 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the rotating tray is in a flip-up position in the structure illustrated in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing the structure shown in FIG. 2 with the opening / closing cover omitted. [Diagram 5] 5 is a perspective view showing the structure shown in FIG. 4 with the rotating tray in a flip-up position. [Figure 6] 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the structure shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1 is a perspective view showing a main structure of a fixed tray for rotatably supporting a rotating tray. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit. [Figure 10]5 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 4 with some parts omitted to expose the fixed tray and the internal structure on the downstream side thereof in the conveying direction. [Figure 11] 5 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the opening / closing cover and the rotating tray with some parts omitted in the structure shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in another cross section. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in yet another cross section. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in yet another cross section. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in yet another cross section. FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in yet another cross section. FIG. [Figure 17] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the entire ADF unit in yet another cross section. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a fixed tray. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a fixed tray. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are used to explain technical features that may be adopted in the present disclosure, and the configurations of the devices described are not intended to be limiting, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0013] <Overall configuration of the multifunction device> Fig. 1 conceptually shows the overall schematic configuration of a multifunction device 1 of this embodiment. The multifunction device 1 is an example of an image processing device. In the multifunction device 1 shown in Fig. 1, the side facing you as you look at the page is defined as the front of the device, and the side to the left of the page is defined as the left, and the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are displayed. The directions shown in the subsequent figures are all displayed in correspondence with the directions shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a main body unit 2 and a reading unit 3. The reading unit 3 includes an ADF unit 9 and an FB unit 5. An operation panel, such as a touch panel, is provided on the front surface of the FB unit 5 of the ADF unit 9.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body unit 2 is a flat substantially box-shaped body and includes an image forming unit 4 therein. The image forming unit 4 forms an image on a recording paper by an inkjet method, a laser method, or the like. The reading unit 3 is disposed above the main body unit 2. The FB unit 5 is used when reading an image of a document placed on a document support surface 101A described later. The ADF unit 9 has a supply tray 12, a discharge tray 14, and a conveyance unit 6. The conveyance unit 6 conveys the sheet SH placed on the supply tray 12 along a conveyance path P1 and discharges it to the discharge tray 14. The ADF unit 9 is used when causing the image of the sheet SH placed on the supply tray 12 to be sequentially conveyed along the conveyance path P1 and read. Note that the sheets to be read include not only sheets such as paper and OHP sheets but also documents and the like.

[0016] <Appearance of ADF unit> The external configuration of the ADF unit 9 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ADF unit 9 is swingably supported around an opening and closing axis X9 extending in the left-right direction by a hinge (not shown) disposed at the rear. In the closed state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ADF unit 9 covers the document support surface 101A described later from above. Although not shown, the ADF unit 9 swings around the opening and closing axis X9 so that the front end portion thereof is displaced upward and rearward, thereby exposing the document support surface 101A. Thereby, the user can support the document to be read on the document support surface 101A.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an opening / closing cover 32 is provided on the upper part of the ADF section 9. The opening / closing cover 32 is supported at its left end and lower end so as to be swingable around an opening / closing axis X32 extending in the front-rear direction. This allows the opening / closing cover 32 to be displaced between a closed position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and an open position (not shown). In the closed position, the opening / closing cover 32 functions to cover the conveying path P1. The ADF section 9 is provided with a front cover 31F forming its front end and a rear cover 31R forming its rear end. A cutout portion 31Fa is provided on the front side of the front cover 31F to make it easier for a user to take out the sheet SH on which an image has been formed and which has been discharged to the discharge tray 14. As a result, the front cover 31F has a substantially C-shaped shape when viewed from the front side.

[0018] <Rotating tray and fixed tray> 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the structure shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 with the opening and closing cover 32 omitted. As one of the features of the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of being able to handle long sheets SH, improving the conveying accuracy by the side guides described later that abut against both ends of the sheets SH, and extending the length of the tray on which the sheets SH are placed in the conveying direction, the supply tray 12 is composed of two trays, a fixed tray 110 and a rotating tray 120, as shown in the figures. The fixed tray 110 is an example of a first tray, and the rotating tray 120 is an example of a second tray. The fixed tray 110 and the rotating tray 120 are formed in the right part of the ADF unit 9. The rotating tray 120 is provided upstream of the fixed tray 110 along the conveying direction of the sheets SH. The rotating tray 120 is configured to be rotatable from a normal position where the right end shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is lowered to a flip-up position where the right end shown in FIG. 3 is raised, with a substantially horizontal axis X120 as the center of rotation (see also FIG. 6 and the like described later). In Fig. 5, in order to clarify the rotational operation, both the normal position and the flip-up position are illustrated for convenience. The right end is an example of the upstream end in the conveying direction, the normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is an example of the second position, and the flip-up position shown in Fig. 3 is an example of the first position. In addition, the front-rear direction is an example of the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the rear side is an example of one side in the width direction.

[0019] The structure in which the rotating tray 120 is supported to be rotatable as described above will be described with reference to Figs. 6, 8, and 7. As shown in Fig. 6, the rotating tray 120 has a wide portion 120P through which the axis X120 passes, and a narrow portion 120Q having a smaller dimension in the front-rear direction than the wide portion 120P. As shown in Figs. 8 and 6, the wide portion 120P has a front end 120Pa and a rear end 120Pb. The brackets 120V provided on the front end 120Pa and the rear end 120Pb each have a substantially hollow round bar-shaped shaft portion 120Sa, 120Sb protruding in the front-rear direction. Note that Fig. 6 shows the substantially annular shape, which is a cross section of the substantially hollow round bar-shaped shaft portion 120Sa. Correspondingly, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 7, the fixed tray 110 is provided with two insertion holes 110Ha, 110Hb at the front and rear, respectively, whose inner diameters are slightly larger than the outer diameters of the shafts 120Sa, 120Sb. The wide portion 120P equipped with the shafts 120Sa, 120Sb is an example of a base end portion. The centers of the shafts 120Sa, 120Sb and the insertion holes 110Ha, 110Hb coincide with the axis X120. The shafts 120Sa, 120Sb are slidably inserted into the insertion holes 110Ha, 110Hb, respectively, so that the rotating tray 120 can rotate around the axis X120.

[0020] The fixed tray 110 is provided with a stopper projection 110T for restricting the rotation angle of the rotatable tray 120, which can rotate as described above, from the normal position shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 to the maximum rotation angle corresponding to the flip-up position shown in Fig. 3. In this example, the stopper projection 110T is provided so as to project rearward from the front wall surface 110B of the fixed tray 110, and is obliquely provided so that the left side is lowered in the left-right horizontal direction.

[0021] The front end 120Pa of the rotating tray 120 is provided with a locking piece 120T that can be locked to the stopper projection 110T. When the rotating tray 120 is in the normal position, the locking piece 120T faces the stopper projection 110T but is spaced from the stopper projection 110T, and the distance between the locking piece 120T and the stopper projection 110T decreases as the rotating tray 120 rotates from the normal position to the flip-up position. When the rotating tray 120 is in the flip-up position, the upper surface of the locking piece 120T abuts against the front surface 110Tb of the stopper projection 110T. The front surface 110Tb of the stopper projection 110T is a flat surface with a linear cross section, and the locking piece 120T engages with the stopper projection 110T due to the abutment. This prevents the rotating tray 120 from rotating any further.

[0022] In addition, in the engagement state between the stopper projection 110T and the locking piece 120T, an unexpected large upward force may act on the rotating tray 120, causing the locking piece 120T to climb over the stopper projection 110T and deviate upward. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear surface 110Ta of the stopper projection 110T is a curved surface having an arc-shaped cross section. As a result, after the locking piece 120T climbs over the stopper projection 110T and enters the above-mentioned deviated state, the user manually operates the rotating tray 120 to lower it toward the normal position, whereby the climbing over locking piece 120T is guided by the curved shape of the rear surface 110Tb and returns to below the stopper projection 110T, and the rotating tray 120 can be returned to within the original rotation range.

[0023] Returning to FIGS. 2 to 5, the upper surfaces of the fixed tray 110 and the rotating tray 120 are respectively the paper feed surfaces 110A and 120A that support the sheet SH from below. The paper feed surface 120A is a generally horizontal flat surface in the normal position of the rotating tray 120, and the paper feed surface 110A is a flat surface that slopes downward to the left. A plurality of sheets SH to be read, which are conveyed by the conveying unit 6, are stacked on these paper feed surfaces 110A and 120A. On the fixed tray 110, a front side guide 17F and a rear side guide 17R are respectively provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. By the front side guide 17F and the rear side guide 17R approaching or separating from each other, a plurality of types of sheets SH having different sizes supported by the fixed tray 110 are sandwiched from the front and rear. Among the fixed tray 110, the region on the right end side that vertically overlaps with the wide portion 120P of the rotating tray 120 and includes the stopper protrusion 110T is the rotation support region 110P that rotatably supports the rotating tray 120, and the region including the other side guides 17L and 17R is the side guide support region 110Q. The rotation support region 110P provided with the insertion hole 110Ha is an example of a connection site.

[0024] <Discharge Tray> As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the discharge tray 14 is located below the fixed tray 110 and the rotating tray 120. The upper surface of the discharge tray 14 is the paper discharge surface 14A that supports the sheet SH from below. On the paper discharge surface 14A, the sheets SH whose images are read by the image sensor 3S and discharged by the conveying unit 6 are stacked. The paper discharge surface 14A is a flat surface that slopes upward from left to right. Note that the discharge tray 14 is an example of a third tray.

[0025] <Cross-sectional Structure of ADF Unit> FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the ADF unit 9 as seen from the front. In FIG. 9, as in FIG. 5, both the normal position and the flip-up position of the rotating tray 120 are illustrated for convenience in order to clarify the rotating operation, and the detailed structure of the FB unit 5 including the image sensor 3S illustrated in FIG. 1 is omitted in order to prevent the illustration from becoming complicated. In FIG. 9, a platen glass 101 is disposed on the upper surface of the FB unit 5. The upper surface of the platen glass 101 forms a document support surface 101A. The image sensor 3S is provided in the FB unit 5 below the platen glass 101 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The document support surface 101A supports the document from below when the image of the document in a stationary state is read by the image sensor 3S.

[0026] A reading surface 101B is formed by the upper surface of the platen glass 101. The reading surface 101B guides the conveyed sheet SH from below when the image of the sheet SH conveyed one by one by the conveying unit 6 is read by the image sensor 3S in the FB unit 5. In this embodiment, the object whose image is read using the document support surface 101A is referred to as a document, and the object whose image is read while being conveyed by the conveying unit 6 is referred to as a sheet SH. The document and the sheet SH may be substantially the same thing.

[0027] The FB unit 5 has the image sensor 3S, a scanning mechanism (not shown), and the platen glass 101. The scanning mechanism reciprocates the image sensor 3S in the left-right direction below the document support surface 101A and the reading surface 101B. When reading an image of a document supported on the document support surface 101A, the image sensor 3S reads the image while moving below the document support surface 101A. When reading an image while the sheet SH is being conveyed by the conveying unit 6, the image sensor 3S is stopped at a predetermined stationary reading position. Here, the stationary reading position where the image sensor 3S stops is a position facing the reading surface 101B from below. As the image sensor 3S, a well-known image reading sensor such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used.

[0028] A base member 9A is provided at the lower portion of the ADF section 9. The base member 9A constitutes the bottom of the ADF section 9. The right portion of the base member 9A constitutes the discharge tray 14 described above. The transport section 6 is provided between the opening / closing cover 32 of the ADF section 9 and the left portion of the base member 9A. The transport section 6 has an upper chute member 130 and a lower chute member 140 assembled to the base member 9A. The lower chute member 140 is located below the upper chute member 130. The base member 9A is located below the lower chute member 140. Note that the portions of the ADF section 9 other than the fixed tray 110, the rotating tray 120, and the opening / closing cover 32, i.e., the base member 9A, the upper chute member 130, and the lower chute member 140, the FB section 5, and the main unit 2, are an example of the device main body.

[0029] A plurality of guide ribs 32R extending in the left-right direction are formed side by side in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the opening-closing cover 32. The lower edges of the guide ribs 32R form an upper guide surface 32A. The upper guide surface 32A defines an upper path P1A (described later) of the conveying path P1 from above.

[0030] A first upper transport surface 130A and a second upper transport surface 130B are formed on the upper surface of the upper chute member 130. The first upper transport surface 130A is adjacent to the left end of the supply tray 12 and is a flat surface that slopes downward to the left. The first upper transport surface 130A of the upper chute member 130 and the paper feed surface 110A of the fixed tray 110 form a stacking surface 150A. A plurality of sheets SH to be read and transported by the transport unit 6 are stacked on the stacking surface 150A. The second upper transport surface 130B is a substantially flat surface that slopes upward to the left following the first upper transport surface 130A.

[0031] Lower guide surfaces 140A1 and 140A2 are formed on the lower surface of the lower chute member 140. The lower guide surface 140A1 is a substantially flat surface that slopes down to the right from the vicinity of the left end portion of the ADF unit 9 toward the reading surface 101B. The lower guide surface 140A2 is a substantially flat surface that slopes up to the right following the lower guide surface 140A1. The upper surface of the base member 9A is formed with a lower conveying surface 140B1 that faces the lower guide surface 140A1 from below, and a lower conveying surface 140B2 that faces the lower guide surface 140A2 from below.

[0032] <Transportation route> The conveying path P1 in the conveying section 6 is defined as a space surrounded by the first upper conveying surface 130A and the second upper conveying surface 130B of the upper chute member 130, the lower guide surfaces 140A1 and 140A2 of the lower chute member 140, the upper guide surface 32A of the opening / closing cover 32, the lower conveying surfaces 140B1 and 140B2 of the base member 9A, various conveying rollers, etc. More specifically, the conveying path P1 includes an upper path P1A that is a portion extending leftward from the paper feed surface 110A of the fixed tray 110 along the first upper conveying surface 130A and the second upper conveying surface 130B of the upper chute member 130. Next, the conveying path P1 includes a curved path P1B that is a portion connected to the upper path P1A and curved downward. Next, the conveying path P1 includes a lower path P1C that is connected to the curved path P1B, and includes a portion that slopes downward from the lower end of the curved portion toward the reading surface 101B, then extends shortly to the right along the reading surface 101B, and a portion that slopes upward from the right end of the reading surface 101B to the right and reaches the discharge tray 14. The upper path P1A and the lower path P1C overlap in the vertical direction. The conveying direction of the sheet SH conveyed by the conveying unit 6 is leftward in the upper path P1A of the conveying path P1, changes from leftward to rightward in the curved path P1B of the conveying path P1, and is rightward in the lower path P1C of the conveying path P1. The extending direction and shape of the conveying path P1 are examples. In the conveying path P1, the portion of the conveying path P1A excluding the paper feed surface 110A of the fixed tray 110, the conveying path P1B, and the conveying path P1C are examples of conveying paths. Therefore, the fixed tray 110 is located upstream of the transport path in the transport direction, and the rotatable tray 120 is located further upstream than that.

[0033] <Separation rollers, separation pads, feed rollers, etc.> 9, the conveying section 6 includes a separation unit 50 and a separation pad 56A. The separation unit 50 includes a separation roller 54, a holder 51, and a feed roller 92.

[0034] The separation roller 54 is located to the left of the feed roller 92, that is, downstream in the conveying direction of the conveying path P1. The separation roller 54 is provided at a position facing the second upper conveying surface 130B of the upper chute member 130 from above. The front and rear ends of the rotation shaft of the separation roller 54 are rotatably supported by the front cover 31F and a frame (not shown) arranged inside the rear cover 31R, respectively.

[0035] The separation pad 56A, together with the second upper conveying surface 130B, forms a conveying surface for the sheet SH. The separation pad 56A is provided at a position facing the separation roller 54 from below. The separation pad 56A is a plate-like body made of a soft material such as rubber or elastomer. The separation pad 56A is pressed against the separation roller 54 by, for example, a biasing spring (not shown).

[0036] The holder 51 accommodates the separation roller 54 in a sandwiched state from the front and rear while covering the separation roller 54 from above, and is supported so as to be swingable about the rotation axis of the separation roller 54.

[0037] The sheet feed roller 92 is provided at a position facing the first upper conveying surface 130A of the upper chute member 130 from above. The sheet feed roller 92 is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the sheets SH stacked on the stacking surface 150A from above. The sheet feed roller 92 is located to the right of the separation roller 54 and is housed in the holder 51. The sheet feed roller 92 is supported by the holder 51 so as to be able to rotate about the rotation axis. Thus, the sheet feed roller 92 is configured to be displaceable between a position approaching the stacking surface 150A and a position away from the stacking surface 150A by the holder 51 swinging upward or downward about the rotation axis of the separation roller 54. Note that in FIG. 9, in order to clarify the swinging operation of the holder 51, for convenience, both the position of the holder 51 in the above-mentioned upward swinging state and the position of the holder 15 in the swinging state in the above-mentioned direction are illustrated. The paper feed roller 92 applies a conveying force to the uppermost sheet SH among the sheets SH stacked on the stacking surface 150A, and sends the sheet SH toward the separation roller 54. The separation roller 54 cooperates with the separation pad 56A to separate the sheets SH conveyed by the paper feed roller 92 one by one, and conveys them downstream in the conveying direction on the conveying path P1.

[0038] <Conveyor roller> The conveying section 6 has a first conveying roller 44 and a pinch roller 44P on the upper path P1A of the conveying path P1, to the left of the separation roller 54, i.e., at a position downstream in the conveying direction from the separation roller 54. The first conveying roller 44 and the pinch roller 44P nip the sheets SH separated one by one by the separation roller 54 and the separation pad 56A, and convey them downstream in the conveying direction.

[0039] The conveying section 6 also has a curved guide surface 45G, a curved guide surface 45H, a second conveying roller 45, and a pinch roller 45P in the curved path P1B of the conveying path P1. The curved guide surface 45G and the curved guide surface 45H face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. The curved guide surface 45G defines the portion of the curved path P1B that curves downward from the outside. The curved guide surface 45H defines the portion of the curved path P1B that curves downward from the inside. The second conveying roller 45 and the pinch roller 45P are disposed at the lower end of the curved path P1B. The second conveying roller 45 and the pinch roller 45P nip the sheet SH conveyed by the first conveying roller 44 and the pinch roller 44P, and further convey the sheet SH toward the reading surface 101B. Between the first conveying roller 44 and the pinch roller 44P and the reading surface 101B, a lower guide surface 140A1 and a lower conveying surface 140B1 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, thereby defining the left portion of the lower path P1C.

[0040] The conveying section 6 further includes a discharge roller 48 and a pinch roller (not shown). A lower guide surface 140A2 and a lower conveying surface 140B2 face each other at a predetermined interval between the reading surface 101B and the discharge roller 48 and pinch roller, thereby defining a right portion of the lower path P1C.

[0041] The path formed by the lower guide surface 140A2 and the lower conveying surface 140B2 is inclined upward toward the discharge roller 48 and the pinch roller, to the right of the pressing member 49. The discharge roller 48 is located at the right end of the lower guide surface 140A2 of the lower chute member 140. The pinch roller is located at the right end of the lower conveying surface 140B2. The discharge roller 48 and the pinch roller nip the sheet SH that has passed over the reading surface 101B, and discharge the sheet toward the discharge surface 14A of the discharge tray 14. The above-mentioned feed roller 92, separation roller 54, first conveying roller 44, second conveying roller 45, and discharge roller 48 are examples of rollers.

[0042] <Support strength of rotating tray> As described above, in this embodiment, in order to extend the length of the tray on which the sheet SH is placed in the transport direction, the supply tray 12 is composed of two trays, the fixed tray 110 and the rotatable tray 120. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the support structure of the rotatable tray 120, which is rotatably provided, does not lack support strength. From this point of view, in this embodiment, various configurations are provided for reinforcing the strength of the support structure of the rotatable tray 120 and the structure of the rotatable tray 120 itself. Details thereof will be described below with reference to Figs. 9 to 19.

[0043] <Inner strength reinforcement for rotating tray> As shown in Fig. 9, the rotating tray 120 has an upper surface portion 120U having the above-mentioned sheet feed surface 120A, which is a substantially plate-like surface constituting a flat surface, and a lower surface portion 120L assembled to the upper surface portion 120U. Fig. 11 shows an internal structure diagram of the ADF section 9 and the FB section 5 shown in Figs. 2 to 9, with the sheet feed surface 120A of the upper surface portion 120U and the opening / closing cover 32 omitted. As shown in Fig. 11, the lower surface portion 120L of the rotating tray 120 has a bottom surface 120B.

[0044] The paper feed surface 120A of the upper surface portion 120U and the bottom surface 120B of the lower surface portion 120L are fixed to each other by a plurality of screw fastening parts. In this example, four screw fastening parts 125A, 125B, 125C, and 125D are provided. The screw fastening part 125A is provided near the corner of the right rear end of the rotating tray 120, the screw fastening part 125B is provided near the corner of the right front end of the rotating tray 120, the screw fastening part 125C is provided on the left side of the rear end of the rotating tray 120, and the screw fastening part 125D is provided on the left side of the front end of the rotating tray 120. The screw fastening parts 125A to 125D are each fixed by an upper fastening part 121 integrally provided on the paper feed surface 120A and a lower fastening part 122 integrally provided on the bottom surface 120B, which are fastened and fixed by screws (not shown).

[0045] In addition, a plurality of outer edge abutting portions are provided between the paper feed surface 120A and the bottom surface 120B so as to follow the outer edges of the upper surface portion 120A and the lower surface portion 120B. In this example, six outer edge abutting portions 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D, 126E, and 126F are provided. The outer edge abutting portions 126A and 126B are disposed between the screw fastening portions 125A and 125B, i.e., in the middle portion, the outer edge abutting portion 126C is disposed in the middle portion of the screw fastening portions 125A and 125C, and the outer edge abutting portion 126D is disposed in the middle portion of the screw fastening portions 125B and 125D. The outer edge abutting portions 126E and 126F are disposed forward of the screw fastening portion 125D. Each of the outer edge abutting portions 126A to 126F is formed by abutting the lower surface of the flat upper abutting portion 123 integrally provided on the paper feed surface 120A with the upper surface of the approximately semi-cylindrical lower abutting portion 124 integrally provided on the bottom surface 120B. In addition, a central abutting portion 126G is provided at a portion between the paper feed surface 120A and the bottom surface 120B, far from the screw fastening portions 125A, 125B, 125C, and 125D, that is, at a portion equidistant from the screw fastening portions 125A to 125D in this example. The central abutting portion 126G is formed by abutting the lower surface of the cross flat upper abutting portion 127 integrally provided on the paper feed surface 120A with the upper surface of the approximately cylindrical lower abutting portion 128 integrally provided on the bottom surface 120B, like the outer edge abutting portions 126A to 126F.

[0046] By providing outer edge contact portions 126A-126F and central contact portion 126G, the internal strength of rotatable tray 120 is reinforced so that rotatable tray 120 does not deform in the thickness direction when rotated between the normal position and the flip-up position by the user's operation as described above.

[0047] <Almost vertical contact using ribs (part 1)> As shown in Figs. 11, 10, 12, and 13, the wide portion 120P of the rotating tray 120 is provided with a plurality of ribs, ten in this example, 120a1, 120a2, 120a3, 120a4, 120a5, 120a6, 120a7, 120a8, 120a9, and 120a10, at equal intervals in the front-rear direction of the wide portion 120P, in other words, in the direction along the axis X120. Each of these ribs 120a1 to 120a10 extends along the conveying direction of the sheet SH, in other words, approximately in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, these ribs 120a1 to 120a10 will be collectively referred to simply as "ribs 120a". The same applies to the illustrations in each figure.

[0048] 10, 12, and 13, the rotation support region 110P of the fixed tray 110 is provided with one long rib 110a extending in the front-rear direction, in other words, in the direction along the axis X120. When the rotatable tray 120 is in the normal position, the lower ends of the ribs 120a1-120a10 of the rotatable tray 120, which are located directly above the upper end of the rib 110a of the fixed tray 110, come into contact with the upper end of the rib 110a in the substantially vertical direction. Note that instead of contacting all of the ribs 120a1-120a10 with the rib 110a, only some of them, for example, the ribs 120a1 and 120a10 located at both ends in the front-rear direction, may come into contact with the rib 110a. In either case, the contact position between the rib 120a and the rib 110a is a predetermined distance away from the axis X120 on the upstream side in the transport direction (see FIG. 15 described later).

[0049] The rib 110a is an example of a second rib, the rib 120a is an example of a third rib, and the ribs 110a and 120a are an example of a first contact portion. The portion of the rotating tray 120 where the rib 120a is provided is an example of a second portion located on the downstream side of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction, and the portion of the fixed tray 110 where the rib 110a is provided is an example of a second support portion located on the upstream side of the fixed tray 110 in the transport direction.

[0050] <Almost vertical contact using ribs (part 2)> As shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 10, the rotation support area 110P of the fixed tray 110 is provided with a plurality of ribs, five in this example, 110b1, 110b2, 110b3, 110b4, and 110b5, at equal intervals along the front-rear direction of the rotation support area 110P. Each of these ribs 110b1 to 110b5 is erected on the support surface 110Pb of the rotation support area 110P so as to extend along the conveying direction of the sheet SH, in other words, the approximately left-right direction. Hereinafter, these ribs 110b1 to 110b5 will be collectively referred to simply as "ribs 110b" as appropriate. The same applies to the illustrations in each figure. Each rib 110b has a notch 110c that is spaced apart from the rotation path traced by the left edge 120Pc of the wide portion 120P when the rotating tray 120 rotates from the normal position to the flip-up position as described above, in other words, faces the rotation path with a predetermined gap therebetween.

[0051] Among the five ribs 110b1 to 110b5, the rib 110b3 corresponds to the intermediate position in the front-rear direction, in other words, the position that is approximately the middle between the screw fastening portion 125A and the screw fastening portion 125D in the front-rear direction. In correspondence with the rib 110b3, a substantially cylindrical projection 120c is provided so as to protrude downward at the intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the wide portion 120P of the rotating tray 120. In other words, the projection 120c extends toward the support surface 110Pb of the fixed tray 110. As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, etc., the projection 120c is provided integrally with the above-mentioned rib 120a5. When the rotating tray 120 is in the normal position, a portion of the lower end of the projection 120c of the rotating tray 120 that is directly above the upper end of the rib 110b3 of the fixed tray 110 and the upper end of the rib 110b3 abut against each other in the substantially vertical direction. In this case as well, the contact position between the projection 120c and the rib 110b3 is spaced a predetermined distance upstream in the transport direction from the axis X120 (see FIG. 16, described later).

[0052] The rib 110b is an example of a first rib, and the rib 110b and the protrusion 120c are another example of a first abutment portion. The portion of the rotating tray 120 where the protrusion 120c is provided is another example of a second portion located on the downstream side of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction, and the portion of the fixed tray 110 where the rib 110b is provided is another example of a second support portion located on the upstream side of the fixed tray 110 in the transport direction.

[0053] <Conveyance direction contact using ribs> As shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 17, etc., a rib 120d extending in the front-rear direction, in other words, along the axis X120, is provided at the left end of the lower surface portion 120L of the rotating tray 120. As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, a single long rib 110d extending in the front-rear direction, in other words, along the axis X120, is provided at the rotating support region 110P of the fixed tray 110. In addition, the rotating support region 110P is provided with a plurality of ribs 110e1, 110e2, 110e3, 110e4, and 110e5, which extend in the substantially vertical direction and protrude in the left-right direction, in other words, upstream of the conveying direction, in this example, five ribs 110e1, 110e2, 110e3, 110e4, and 110e5. The lower ends of these ribs 110e1 to 110e5 are each connected to the rib 110d. Hereinafter, these ribs 110e1 to 110e5 will be collectively referred to simply as "rib 110e" as appropriate. The same applies to the illustrations in each figure.

[0054] When the rotating tray 120 is in the normal position, the right end portions of the ribs 110e1-110e5 and rib 110d of the fixed tray 110 that face the rib 120d of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction, in other words, in the left-right direction, and the left end surface of the rib 120d abut against each other in the transport direction. Note that not all of the ribs 110e1-110e5 abut against the rib 120d, and only some of them, for example, the ribs 110e1 and 110e50 located at both ends in the front-rear direction, may abut against the rib 120d. Also, either one of the ribs 110e and 110d may be omitted.

[0055] The ribs 110e and 110d are an example of a fourth rib, the left end surface of the rib 120d is an example of a contact surface, and the ribs 110e and 110d and the left end surface of the rib 120d are an example of a second contact portion. The portion of the rotating tray 120 where the rib 120d is provided is yet another example of a second portion located on the downstream side of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction, and the portion of the fixed tray 110 where the ribs 110d, 110e are provided is yet another example of a second support portion located on the upstream side of the fixed tray 110 in the transport direction.

[0056] <Support for the rotating tray behind the ejection tray> 3 and 9, a wall portion 160 is provided vertically on the rear side of the discharge tray 14. The wall portion 160 has a first wall portion 161 located downstream in the transport direction, and a second wall portion 162 having a height dimension larger than that of the first wall portion 161. The second wall portion 162 has a substantially horizontal horizontal portion 162U2, and an inclined portion 162U1 located downstream in the transport direction from the horizontal portion 162U2 and inclined downward toward the downstream side in the transport direction.

[0057] When the rotating tray 120 is in the normal position, the portions of the bottom surface 120B of the rotating tray 120 directly above the horizontal portion 162U2 and the inclined portion 162U1 abut against the horizontal portion 162U2 and the inclined portion 162U1 in a substantially vertical direction. As a result, the rear portion of the rotating tray 120 is supported by the wall portion 160.

[0058] The horizontal portion 162U2 and the inclined portion 162U1 are an example of an upper surface of the second wall portion 162, and are also an example of a first support portion. A portion of the bottom surface 120B of the rotatable tray 120 directly above the horizontal portion 162U2 and the inclined portion 162U1 is an example of a first portion located on one side of the rotatable tray 120 in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0059] <Effects of the embodiment> As described above, in the multifunction device 1 of this embodiment, two trays, the fixed tray 110 and the rotatable tray 120, are provided as the supply tray 12. The fixed tray 110 is fixedly disposed in the ADF unit 9, and the rotatable tray 120 is configured to be rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis S120. When a sheet SH is placed on the fixed tray 110 and the rotatable tray 120, the sheet SH is transported by the feed roller 92, the separation roller 54, the transport rollers 44 and 45, and the discharge roller 48 provided on the transport path P1, and is discharged to the discharge tray 14 fixedly disposed in the ADF unit 9.

[0060] The rotating tray 120 can rotate from a flip-up position where the upstream end in the transport direction is raised to a normal position where the upstream end in the transport direction is lowered. When the rotating tray 120 is in the normal position, it is supported at the rear side and the downstream side in the transport direction. The rear side of the rotating tray 120 is supported by the inclined portion 612U1 and the horizontal portion 162U2 of the wall portion 160 erected on the rear side of the discharge tray 14. The downstream side of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction is supported by the ribs 110a, 110b, 110d, 110e, etc. provided on the upstream side of the fixed tray 110 in the transport direction.

[0061] As described above, according to this embodiment, the supply tray 12 on which the sheets SH are placed is composed of two trays, the fixed tray 110 and the rotatable tray 120. This allows the overall length of the tray to be extended in the transport direction. Of the two trays, the rotatable tray 120 is supported by being separately abutted at a rear side portion and a downstream side portion in the transport direction when in the normal position. This support mode allows a strong tray support structure to be achieved, making it possible to avoid insufficient support strength.

[0062] In particular, in this embodiment, as described above, the tray is configured with two trays, fixed tray 110 and rotatable tray 120, and side guides 17F, 17R are provided for fixed tray 110. This makes it possible to avoid interference between side guides 17F, 17R and the main body side of ADF unit 9, which may occur when the length of side guides 17F, 17R in the transport direction is increased to improve transport accuracy, and when the long side guides 17F, 17R are provided on a single rotatable tray.

[0063] Furthermore, particularly in this embodiment, the rotating tray 120 is supported by abutting against the inclined portion 162U1 and the horizontal portion 162U2 of the second wall portion 162 of the wall portion 160 on the rear side of the discharge tray 14. This makes it possible to realize a support structure for the rotating tray 120 by utilizing the wall portion 160 that is normally provided for partitioning on the rear side of the discharge tray 14, without adding any new members.

[0064] In particular, in this embodiment, at least one of the rotating tray 120 and the fixed tray 110 includes the above-mentioned first abutment portion that abuts in a substantially vertical direction. This ensures strength against a force component acting in a substantially vertical direction in a support structure in which the downstream part of the rotating tray 120 in the transport direction abuts against the upstream part of the fixed tray 110 in the transport direction.

[0065] Furthermore, particularly in this embodiment, the protrusion 120c of the rotating tray 120 and the rib 110b3 of the fixed tray 110 as the first abutment portion are provided in the middle between the screw fastening portions 125A, 125D that fasten the upper surface portion 120U and the lower surface portion 120L of the rotating tray 120. This makes it possible to reinforce the strength of the rotating tray 120 itself in the middle portion between the screw fastening portions where the rigidity is relatively weak, while ensuring the strength of the support structure of the rotating tray 120 against the force component M1 acting in the substantially vertical direction shown in Figs. 17 and 14.

[0066] In particular, in this embodiment, the first abutment portion is formed by the rib 110b on the fixed tray 110 side and the protrusion 120c on the rotating tray 120 side. This makes it possible to realize the first abutment portion that abuts against each other in a substantially vertical direction by a simple and reliable abutment configuration using the rib 110b and the protrusion 120c.

[0067] Furthermore, particularly in this embodiment, on the fixed tray 110 side, the first abutment portion is constituted by a rib 110b having a notch 11c that escapes the rotation trajectory of the wide portion 120P of the rotatable tray 120 and a support surface 110Pb that supports this rib 110b, and on the rotatable tray 120 side, the first abutment portion is constituted by a protrusion 120c that extends from the wide portion 120P toward the support surface 110Pb of the fixed tray 110. This allows the rotatable tray 120 to rotate in the rotation support area 110P of the fixed tray 110, while realizing the first abutment portion by a support configuration that uses the rib 110b and support surface 110Pb on the fixed tray 110 side and the protrusion 120c on the rotatable tray 120 side.

[0068] In particular, in this embodiment, the first contact portion is provided at a position upstream in the transport direction from the axis X120 of the rotating tray 120. This ensures a support strength against a force component M1 (see FIGS. 17 and 14) acting in a substantially vertical direction at a position upstream of the axis X120.

[0069] In particular, in this embodiment, the first abutment portion is constituted by a rib 110a in the direction of the axis X120 provided on the fixed tray 110 side and a rib 120a in the transport direction provided on the rotatable tray 120 side. In this manner, the first abutment portion that abuts against each other in a substantially vertical direction can be realized by a simple and reliable abutment configuration using two ribs 110a, 120a that are perpendicular to each other.

[0070] Particularly in this embodiment, the ribs 120a on the rotating tray 120 side are arranged in a plurality of rows in the direction of the axis X120. This allows the force component M1 (see FIGS. 17 and 14) acting in the substantially vertical direction to be distributed and borne in the direction of the axis X120.

[0071] In particular, in this embodiment, at least one of the rotating tray 120 and the fixed tray 110 includes a second abutment portion that abuts against each other in the transport direction. This ensures strength against a force component M2 (see FIGS. 17 and 14) acting in the transport direction in a support structure in which a portion of the rotating tray 120 located downstream in the transport direction is abutted against and supported in the transport direction by a portion of the fixed tray 110 located upstream in the transport direction.

[0072] In particular, in this embodiment, the first abutting portion is formed by abutting the ribs 110d, 110e extending in at least one of the axis 120X direction and the substantially vertical direction on the fixed tray 110 side with the left end face of the rib 120d provided on the rotatable tray 120 side in the transport direction. In this manner, the simple and reliable abutting configuration using the ribs 110d, 110e and the left end face can realize the second abutting portion that abuts against each other in the transport direction.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and technical concept of the present invention. Such modifications will be described below in order. These modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0074] That is, in the above, the rear portion of the bottom surface 120B of the rotatable tray 120 is supported by the first support portion consisting of the second wall portion 162 located on the rear side of the discharge tray 14, but this is not limited to this. That is, the rear portion of the rotatable tray 120 may be supported by an exterior component of the multifunction device 200 or the ADF unit 9, such as the rear cover 31R, or a member provided on the exterior component, such as a protruding piece provided to protrude forward of the rear cover 31R, as the first support portion. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0075] In the above, the downstream portion of the rotatable tray 120 in the transport direction is supported by the second support portion such as the rib 110a, the rib 110b, the ribs 110d, and the rib 110e provided on the fixed tray 110, but this is not limited to the above. That is, the downstream portion of the rotatable tray 120 in the transport direction may be supported by a member attached to the fixed tray 110, which is separate from the fixed tray 110, as the second support portion. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0076] In addition to the above, the methods according to the above embodiments and their modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

[0077] Although not specifically illustrated, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1. Multifunction printer (an example of an image processing device) 2 Main unit (example of device main unit) 5 FB section (example of device body) 9A Base member (an example of the device body) 14 Discharge tray (example of the third tray) 44 First conveying roller (an example of a roller) 45 Second conveyor roller (example of roller) 48 Discharge roller (example of roller) 51 Holder 54 Separation roller (example of roller) 92 Paper feed roller (example of roller) 110 Fixed tray (example of first tray) 110P Rotational support area (example of connection part) 110a Rib (an example of a second rib and a first contact portion) 110b Rib (first rib, an example of a first contact portion) 110d Rib (Example of the 4th rib and 2nd contact part) 110e Rib (an example of the fourth rib and the second contact portion) 120 Rotating tray (example of second tray) 120a Rib (third rib, an example of the first contact portion) 120c Protrusion (an example of the first contact portion) 120d Rib (contact surface, example of second contact part) 120P Wide section (example of base end) 130 Upper chute member (an example of the device body) 140 Lower chute member (an example of the device body) 160 Wall section 162U1 Inclined portion (upper surface of the second wall portion, an example of the first support portion) 162U2 Horizontal portion (top surface of second wall portion, an example of first support portion) SH Seat X120 Rotating tray axis

Claims

1. an apparatus body having a conveying path for conveying a sheet in a conveying direction; a first tray fixed to the apparatus body and provided upstream of the transport path in the transport direction; a second tray connected to a connection portion of the first tray on an upstream side in the transport direction, the second tray being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis from a first position where an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is raised to a second position where an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is lowered; a roller provided in the conveying path and configured to convey the sheet placed on the first tray and the second tray; a third tray fixed to the apparatus body, to which the sheet conveyed by the roller is discharged; Equipped with In the second position, the second tray a first portion located on one side in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is abutted against and supported by a first support portion provided on a wall portion erected on the one side of the third tray, a second portion located on the downstream side in the transport direction is abutted against and supported by a second support portion provided on the upstream side of the first tray in the transport direction; At least one of the second portion of the second tray and the second support portion of the first tray includes a first contact portion that contacts an object in a substantially vertical direction.

13. An image processing device comprising:

2. The sheet conveying device further includes a pair of side guides provided on the first tray to be movable in the width direction, the side guides being capable of contacting both ends of the sheet placed on the first tray in the width direction.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The wall portion is a first wall portion located downstream in the conveying direction and a second wall portion having a height dimension larger than that of the first wall portion, The first support portion is an upper surface of the second wall portion.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing device.

4. The second tray is The housing has an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion fixed to the upper surface portion via a plurality of screw fastening portions, The first contact portion is The screw fastening portion is provided at a position corresponding to an intermediate portion between the first screw fastening portion and the second screw fastening portion.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

5. The first contact portion is A first rib provided on the second support portion of the first tray; a substantially cylindrical protrusion provided on the second portion of the second tray; 5. The image processing device according to claim 4, further comprising:

6. The first rib of the first tray is a notch portion is provided which faces, with a predetermined gap therebetween, a rotation locus described by a base end portion of the second tray corresponding to the connection portion when the second tray rotates; The first contact portion is The first tray further includes a support surface that supports the first rib having the notch, The protrusion of the second tray is The base end extends toward the support surface of the first tray.

6. The image processing device according to claim 5,

7. The first contact portion is configured to contact the contact object. The roller abuts on the roller in a substantially vertical direction at a position a predetermined distance upstream from the shaft center in the conveying direction.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

8. The first contact portion is a second rib provided on the second support portion of the first tray and extending in a direction along the axis; a third rib provided in the second portion of the second tray and extending in the conveying direction; 8. The image processing device according to claim 7, further comprising:

9. The third rib of the second tray is A plurality of them are arranged in a line along the axis.

9. The image processing device according to claim 8,

10. At least one of the second portion of the second tray and the second support portion of the first tray includes a second contact portion that contacts a contact object in the transport direction.

10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

11. The second contact portion is a fourth rib provided on the second support portion of the first tray and extending in at least one of a direction along the axis and the transport direction; a contact surface provided in the second portion of the second tray and capable of contacting the fourth rib in the conveying direction; 11. The image processing device according to claim 10, further comprising:

Images