Side guide, conveying device, reading device and image forming device

Abstract

To obtain a side guide that prevents a body to be conveyed from being conveyed in a posture inclined with respect to a conveyance direction compared with a configuration in which a projection height from a stand at a leading end is constant, a conveying device, a reading device, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A side guide 10 comprises: a stand 20 in which a side of an end 20A on the downstream side in a conveyance direction of a sheet S is rotatable around an axis along a width direction of the sheet S and the end 20A is covered by a cover 130; body parts 24 that are provided on an upper part of the stand 20, in contact with an end in the width direction of the sheet S, and narrowed to the width of a sheet S1 in a business card size; and leading ends 26 that extend from the body parts 24 to the end 20A along the conveyance direction of the sheet S and extend to get into a lower side of the cover 130. The leading ends 26 each include a first wall 27 that faces an end of the cover 130 during rotation of the stand 20, and a second wall 28 that is located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the first wall 27 and has a higher projection height from the stand 20 than that of the first wall 27.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet transporting device including a sheet loading platform, a sending-out means for sending out a sheet placed on the sheet loading platform, a first detection means provided downstream of the sending-out means in the sheet transport direction and for detecting the leading edge position of the sheet, a second detection means provided upstream of the sending-out means in the sheet transport direction and for detecting the leading edge position of a small-sized sheet that is smaller than the sheet detected by the first detection means, and a control means for starting the sending-out of the sheet based on the detection result of either the first detection means or the second detection means depending on the size of the sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-158284 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a side guide, a conveying device, a reading device, and an image forming device that prevent the transported object from being transported at an angle to the transport direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip end from the base is constant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The side guide of the first embodiment comprises a base having an end portion downstream in the transport direction of the transported object that is rotatable around an axis along the width direction of the transported object and that is covered by a cover; a main body portion provided on the top of the base, that contacts the width direction end portion of the transported object and narrows the width of the transported object to the size of a business card; and a tip portion extending from the main body portion to the end portion along the transport direction of the transported object and that extends so as to slip under the cover, the tip portion having a first wall that faces the end portion of the cover when the base rotates, and a second wall that is located downstream in the transport direction of the first wall and protrudes higher from the base than the first wall.

[0006] A side guide according to a second aspect is the side guide according to the first aspect, wherein the main body is provided with a groove that comes into contact with a rear end of the transported object, which is the size of a business card, in the transport direction.

[0007] The side guide of the third aspect is the side guide of the first or second aspect, wherein the tip portion is an extension of the widthwise inner portion of the main body portion in a width direction intersecting the transport direction of the transported object.

[0008] A side guide according to a fourth aspect is the side guide according to the third aspect, wherein the second wall has a curved shape.

[0009] The side guide of the fifth aspect is the side guide of the third aspect, wherein the main body portion has a hollowed-out portion in the width direction, and the hollowed-out portion is provided on the downstream side, which is the axis side during rotation in the conveying direction, and not on the upstream side.

[0010] A side guide according to a sixth aspect is the side guide according to the fifth aspect, wherein the thickness of a wall disposed on the inner side in the width direction with respect to the lightening portion is equal to the thickness of the tip portion.

[0011] The conveying device of the seventh aspect comprises a side guide described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a cover covering the upper side of the end portion of the platform of the side guide that is downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyed object, a hinge that rotatably supports the platform on the downstream end side of the conveyed object in the conveying direction about an axis along the width direction of the conveyed object, and a conveying section that sends the conveyed object out in the conveying direction.

[0012] The conveying device of the eighth aspect is the conveying device described in the seventh aspect, wherein the main body portion and the tip portion of the side guide are provided in a pair on both sides of the width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the conveyed object on the table, and at least the main body portion is L-shaped with a lower wall extending inward in the width direction when viewed from the conveying direction of the conveyed object, and when the pair of main body portions are narrowed to the width of the conveyed object which is the size of a business card, the lower walls of the pair of main body portions abut against each other.

[0013] A ninth aspect of the conveying device is the conveying device described in the eighth aspect, wherein the platform is provided with a pair of rail grooves which movably support a pair of the main body portions, and the pair of rail grooves are provided at positions such that the main body portions do not come into contact with the widthwise inner edges of the rail grooves when the lower walls come into contact with each other.

[0014] A conveying device according to a tenth aspect is a conveying device according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, in which the boss portion of the hinge is located at the widthwise end portion of the table, and the side guide is according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, and when the main body portion is opened to its maximum extent, the boss portion is located on the widthwise outer side of the tip portion and downstream in the conveying direction from the main body portion.

[0015] The reading device of the 11th aspect is a conveying device described in any one of the first to tenth aspects, and has a conveying device that conveys a document as the conveyed object, and a reading unit that reads information of the document conveyed by the conveying device.

[0016] An image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect includes the reading device according to the eleventh aspect, and a recording unit that records information read by the reading device on a recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The side guide according to the first aspect prevents the transported object from being transported in an inclined position with respect to the transport direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip end from the base is constant.

[0018] According to the side guide of the second aspect, the rear end of a business card-sized object to be transported in the transport direction is less likely to become misaligned, compared to when the main body is flat.

[0019] The side guide of the third aspect is less likely to get caught on the cover when the base is rotated, compared to when the tip portion is also provided on the widthwise outer portion of the main body.

[0020] According to the side guide of the fourth aspect, the height of the side guide can be maintained while preventing the cover from getting caught when the base is rotated, compared to when the second wall is inclined straight.

[0021] According to the side guide of the fifth aspect, foreign matter such as dust is less likely to get into the cutout portions compared to when the cutout portions are provided on the downstream side and the upstream side during rotation.

[0022] According to the side guide of the sixth aspect, it is easier to mold the main body and the tip portion compared to a case in which the thickness of the wall located on the widthwise inner side of the hollowed-out portion is different from the thickness of the tip portion.

[0023] According to the conveying device of the seventh aspect, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip end of the side guide from the base is constant, the conveyed object is prevented from being conveyed in an inclined position with respect to the conveying direction.

[0024] According to the transport device of the eighth aspect, the pair of body parts can be positioned more stably than when the pair of body parts are positioned by the inner edge parts in the width direction of the rail groove.

[0025] According to the conveyance device of the ninth aspect, the pair of body parts are prevented from being supported at an angle, compared to a configuration in which the pair of body parts each abut on an inner edge portion of the rail groove in the width direction.

[0026] According to the conveyance device of the tenth aspect, it is easier to ensure a space for providing the boss portion of the hinge, compared to a case in which the boss portion is disposed widthwise outward relative to the main body portion and the tip portion.

[0027] The reading device according to the eleventh aspect prevents the document from being read in an inclined position with respect to the transport direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip of the side guide from the platform is constant.

[0028] According to the image forming apparatus of the 12th aspect, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip of the side guide from the base is constant, the information read by the reading device is prevented from being recorded diagonally relative to the transport direction of the recording medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a side guide according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a reading device equipped with a side guide according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a conveying device including a side guide according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view showing a state in which a platform is rotated toward a cover side in a conveying device equipped with a side guide according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the side guide according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a side guide portion used in the side guide according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a lower wall portion of the side guide portion. [Figure 7] 1A is a plan view showing the side guide portion, FIG. 1B is a front view showing the side guide portion, and FIG. 1C is a side view showing the side guide portion as viewed from the downstream side in the sheet transport direction. [Figure 8] This is a plan view showing a state in which a pair of side guide portions are narrowed to the width of a business card-sized document in a conveying device equipped with side guides in the first embodiment, and a state in which the pair of side guide portions are spread outward in the width direction to their maximum extent. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a hinge that rotates a platform in a transport device equipped with a side guide according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which the tip portions of the side guide portions contact the boss portions of the hinges when the side guide portions are spread outward in the width direction to their maximum extent in a conveying device having side guides according to the first embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment for implementing the technology of the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow X in the drawings as appropriate is the device width direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow Y is the device height direction. In addition, the direction perpendicular to each of the device width direction and the device height direction (arrow Z direction) is the device depth direction.

[0031] [First embodiment] <Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus> FIG. 1 shows a front view of an example of an image forming apparatus 100 equipped with a side guide 10 according to a first embodiment.

[0032] 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus main body 102 as an example of a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, and a reading device 104 disposed on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 102. The reading device 104 is provided with a conveying device 12 equipped with a side guide 10 of this embodiment. A pillar portion 106 extending upward from the image forming apparatus main body 102 is provided on one side of the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 102 in the device width direction (arrow X direction), and the reading device 104 is provided on the upper portion of the pillar portion 106.

[0033] Although not shown, a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium (not shown) and a transport means for transporting the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording means are provided inside the image forming apparatus main body 102. The configurations of the recording means and the transport means are not particularly limited. For example, the image forming apparatus main body 102 may be configured to record an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method, or to record an image on a recording medium by an inkjet recording method.

[0034] Between the image forming apparatus main body 102 and the reading device 104, a discharge unit 108 that discharges a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the image forming apparatus main body 102 is provided on the side of the pillar portion 106. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with an operation unit 110 for performing various operations of the image forming apparatus 100, on the front side of the reading device 104 in the apparatus depth direction.

[0035] <Reader configuration> 2, the reading device 104 includes a conveying device 12 that conveys a sheet S as an example of an object to be conveyed, and a reading unit 114 that reads information on the sheet S conveyed by the conveying device 12. The sheet S is, for example, a document on which an image is recorded. The reading device 104 includes a housing 150 disposed below the conveying device 12, and the reading unit 114 is provided inside the housing 150.

[0036] The conveying device 12 includes a feed roll 120 that feeds out the multiple sheets S placed on the platform 20 one by one, and multiple conveying rolls 122 that convey the sheets S fed out by the feed roll 120. Here, the feed roll 120 and the conveying roll 122 are an example of a conveying section. The conveying roll 122 is composed of a pair of rolls that sandwich the sheet S and convey it.

[0037] The conveying device 12 also includes a support roll 124 that supports the back side of the sheet S at a position facing the reading unit 114. The conveying device 12 also includes a discharge section 126 to which the sheet S conveyed by the multiple conveying rolls 122 is discharged. The discharge section 126 is provided between the platform 20 and the housing 150. The configurations of the conveying device 12 and the side guide 10 will be described later.

[0038] The reading unit 114 is disposed at a position facing the surface (the surface on which information is recorded) of the sheet S conveyed upward in the vertical direction. The sheet S is supported by a support roll 124 at a position facing the reading unit 114, and the information on the sheet S is read by the reading unit 114. The information read by the reading unit 114 is recorded on a recording medium (not shown) by the image forming apparatus main body 102, for example.

[0039] <Configuration of main parts of the transport device>

[0040] 2, the conveying device 12 includes a side guide 10 and a cover 130 that covers one end of a table 20 provided on the side guide 10. The conveying device 12 also includes a hinge 58 that supports the table 20 rotatably around an axis along the width direction of the sheet S (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z). In the conveying device 12, the sheet S placed on the table 20 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow by a feed roll 120 and a conveying roll 122.

[0041] The cover 130 covers an upper side of an end 20A of the platform 20 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The cover 130 is supported by a housing 132 (see FIG. 9) provided in the conveying device 12. The hinge 58 rotatably supports the platform 20 on the downstream end side in the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0042] <Side guide configuration> As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the side guide 10 includes a base 20 and a side guide portion 22 provided on the top of the base 20. The base 20 has an end portion 20A on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S rotatable about an axis along the width direction of the sheet S by a hinge 58. The base 20 is rotatable upward from a normal position P1 shown in Fig. 2 by the hinge 58. The end portion 20A on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S of the base 20 is covered by a cover 130 arranged on the upper side in the up-down direction. The side guide portion 22 is provided in a pair on both sides of the width direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the sheet S of the base 20. In this embodiment, the pair of side guide portions 22 are arranged at an interval on both sides in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z.

[0043] (unit) As shown in Fig. 3, the platform 20 is a rectangular plate-like portion, and the sheet S is placed on the top of the platform 20 (see Fig. 2). The sheet S placed on the top of the platform 20 may be one sheet, or multiple sheets may be stacked. The platform 20 is disposed in a normal position P1 shown in Fig. 2 such that an end 20A of the platform 20 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S is inclined downward relative to a rear end 20D on the upstream side in the conveying direction. The normal position P1 shown in Fig. 2 is a position in which the platform 20 is rotated toward the housing 150 of the reading device 104.

[0044] As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the platform 20 is provided with a pair of rail grooves 52, 54 that movably support the pair of side guide parts 22, respectively. As an example, the rail grooves 52, 54 are rectangular slits. The pair of rail grooves 52, 54 are arranged to be shifted in position in the conveying direction of the sheet S on the platform 20 (the device width direction indicated by the arrow X), that is, arranged to be at different positions. One of the rail grooves 52 is provided in a range from one end 20B of the platform 20 in the width direction (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) to the center of the platform 20 in the width direction. The other rail groove 54 is provided in a range from the other end 20C of the platform 20 in the width direction (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) to the center of the platform 20 in the width direction.

[0045] Mounting parts 56 for mounting hinges 58 are provided at both ends of the end 20A side of the platform 20 in the width direction (the device depth direction shown by the arrow Z). The mounting parts 56 are block-shaped and rise upward from the upper surface of the platform 20. As an example, when the platform 20 is placed in the normal position P1 (see FIG. 2), the mounting parts 56 rise in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the platform 20 (a direction intersecting the device height direction shown by the arrow Y). The outer surface of the mounting parts 56 is disposed along the edge of the platform 20. A cylindrical boss part 56A into which the hinge 58 fits is provided at the upper part of the mounting part 56 along the width direction (the device depth direction shown by the arrow Z). A part of the boss part 56A protrudes outward in the width direction of the platform 20 (the device depth direction shown by the arrow Z). A receiving part 59 for supporting the hinge 58 is provided in the housing 132 of the transport device 12 (see FIG. 10). The base 20 is rotatably supported by the housing 132 via hinges 58 arranged on both sides in the width direction (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0046] The base 20 can rotate around the shaft 58A of the hinge 58 from a normal position P1 (see FIG. 2) disposed on the housing 150 side of the reading device 104 to a rotation position P2 (see FIG. 4) in which the rear end portion 20D side of the base 20 is rotated upward. That is, at the rotation position P2, the base 20 is rotated toward the cover 130 side.

[0047] (Overall structure of the side guide section) As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the pair of side guides 22 are symmetrical in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z. For this reason, the pair of side guides 22 are given the same reference numerals for configurations of similar parts. The side guides 22 are provided with a main body 24 that contacts the widthwise end of the sheet S, and a tip 26 that extends from the main body 24 to the end 20A of the platform 20 along the conveying direction of the sheet S. The main body 24 is configured to be narrowed to the width of a business card-sized sheet S1 (see FIG. 8). The main body 24 is configured to contact the widthwise end of the sheet S to guide the sheet S when it is conveyed in the conveying direction. Although not shown, a mechanism for operating the pair of side guides 22 may be, for example, a rack provided on each side guide 22 that engages with a common pinion. When one side guide 22 is operated, the other side guide 22 moves in conjunction with the operation, so that the distance between the pair of side guides 22 can be expanded or contracted.

[0048] (Main body) 6 and 7 show the side guide portion 22 disposed at the front side of the conveying device 12 in the device depth direction (arrow Z direction). As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the main body portion 24 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the conveying direction of the sheet S. More specifically, the main body portion 24 includes a vertical wall portion 24A disposed along the up-down direction, and a lower wall portion 24B extending from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 24A toward the inside in the width direction of the table 20 (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z). The lower wall portion 24B is an example of a lower wall. The vertical wall portion 24A extends in a direction intersecting with the upper surface of the table 20 (in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the upper surface). The lower wall portion 24B is in contact with the upper surface of the table 20.

[0049] A groove 30 is provided in the lower wall 24B of the main body 24, which comes into contact with the rear end of a business card-sized sheet S1 (see FIG. 8) in the transport direction. The groove 30 has a step portion that is recessed downward from the upper surface of the lower wall 24B on the upstream side of the transport direction of the sheet S to the downstream side of the transport direction of the sheet S. When a sheet S (see FIG. 2) larger than the business card-sized sheet S1 is placed on the top of the platform 20, the sheet S covers the upper side of the groove 30, and the rear end of the sheet S in the transport direction is positioned upstream of the platform 20 beyond the groove 30 in the transport direction.

[0050] The main body 24 has a protruding portion 32 that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lower wall portion 24B. The protruding portion 32 is inserted into a rail groove 54 provided on one side in the width direction of the table 20 (in this embodiment, the front side in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z). With this, with the protruding portion 32 inserted into the rail groove 54, the side guide portion 22 is movable along the rail groove 54 in the width direction of the table 20 (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z).

[0051] 5, in the side guide portion 22 at the rear side in the device depth direction (arrow Z direction) of the conveying device 12, the protrusion portion 32 is inserted into the rail groove 52. In this state, the side guide portion 22 is movable along the rail groove 52 in the width direction of the table 20 (the device depth direction shown by the arrow Z).

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6A, the vertical wall portion 24A of the main body portion 24 has a cutout portion 36 in the width direction (apparatus depth direction indicated by arrow Z). The cutout portion 36 is provided on the downstream side, which is the side of the hinge 58 when rotating in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The cutout portion 36 is not provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S. A pair of walls 38, 40 are provided on both sides of the cutout portion 36 in the width direction (apparatus depth direction indicated by arrow Z) (see FIG. 7C). The wall 38 is disposed inside the cutout portion 36 in the width direction (apparatus depth direction indicated by arrow Z), and the wall 40 is disposed outside the cutout portion 36 in the width direction (apparatus depth direction indicated by arrow Z).

[0053] (Tip) The leading end 26 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the conveying direction of the sheet S. More specifically, the leading end 26 includes a vertical wall portion 26A arranged along the up-down direction, and a bottom wall portion 26B extending inward in the width direction of the platform 20 (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 26A. The bottom wall portion 24B is an example of a bottom wall. The vertical wall portion 26A extends in a direction intersecting with the top surface of the platform 20 (in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the top surface).

[0054] The lower wall portion 26B is in contact with the upper surface of the platform 20. The lower wall portion 26B is connected to the lower wall portion 24B of the main body portion 24. The inner edge of the lower wall portion 24B in the width direction (the inner side in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) and the inner edge of the lower wall portion 26B in the width direction are linearly arranged along the conveying direction of the sheet S. The thickness of the lower wall portion 26B is equal to the thickness of the lower wall portion 24B of the main body portion 24, and the upper and lower surfaces of the lower wall portion 26B are continuous with the upper and lower surfaces of the lower wall portion 24B.

[0055] The tip 26 extends so as to slip under the cover 130 when the platform 20 is placed at the normal position P1 (see FIG. 2). The thickness of the vertical wall 26A of the tip 26 (thickness in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) is thinner than the thickness of the vertical wall 24A of the main body 24 (thickness in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z). In the width direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the sheet S, the vertical wall 26A of the tip 26 is provided by extending the inner portion of the vertical wall 26A of the main body 24 in the width direction.

[0056] The vertical wall portion 26A of the tip portion 26 includes a first wall 27 (see FIG. 4) that faces the end 130A of the cover 130 when the table 20 rotates, and a second wall 28 located downstream of the first wall 27 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The second wall 28 is provided continuously with the first wall 27. The second wall 28 protrudes higher from the top surface of the table 20 than the first wall 27. The first wall 27 is a curved recess that is cut out in a concave shape when viewed from the device depth direction (arrow Z direction). The first wall 27 is a curved recess, and thus has a function as an escape portion for escaping from the end 130A of the cover 130 when the table 20 is rotated to the rotation position P2 (FIG. 4). The second wall 28 is a curved shape that protrudes upward from the curved recess of the first wall 27. As an example, the boundary between the first wall 27 and the second wall 28 at the tip portion 26 is the middle part of the part where the upper end of the vertical wall portion 26A slopes upward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S. In this embodiment, the second wall 28 has a straight portion formed at the upper end in order to increase the area protruding higher from the upper surface of the platform 20 along the conveying direction of the sheet S. Note that instead of this shape, the second wall 28 may have a curved mountain-like shape.

[0057] The thickness of the vertical wall portion 26A of the tip portion 26 (thickness in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) is equal to the thickness of a wall 38 disposed inside the width direction (device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) of the lightening portion 36 (see FIG. 6(A)). In this embodiment, the vertical wall portion 26A of the tip portion 26 is provided so as to be continuous with the wall 38 of the vertical wall portion 24A of the main body portion 24.

[0058] (Configuration when a pair of side guide parts are narrowed) 8, when the pair of side guides 22 are narrowed to the width of a business card-sized sheet S, the lower wall portions 24B and 26B of the pair of side guides 22 come into contact with each other. Here, "up to the width of a business card-sized sheet S" is not limited to the width of the business card-sized sheet S, but also includes a width slightly shorter than the width of the business card-sized sheet S. The pair of rail grooves 52, 54 are provided up to a position where the protruding portion 32 of the side guide portion 22 does not come into contact with the inner edge portions of the rail grooves 52, 54 in the width direction when the lower wall portions 24B and 26B of the pair of side guides 22 come into contact with each other.

[0059] 8 to 10, in the conveying device 12, the boss portion 56A to which the hinge 58 is attached is located at an end portion in the width direction (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) on the platform 20. As shown in Fig. 10, when the main body portion 24 of the side guide portion 22 is expanded to the maximum extent, the boss portion 56A is located outside the tip portion 26 of the side guide portion 22 in the width direction (the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z) and downstream of the main body portion 24 in the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0060] <Action and Effects> Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0061] The side guide 10 is provided with a platform 20 on which the sheet S is placed. The platform 20 is rotatable around an axis along the width direction of the sheet S at an end 20A downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S, and the end 20A downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S is covered with a cover 130 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). A side guide section 22 is provided on the upper part of the platform 20 (see FIG. 3). The side guide section 22 has a main body section 24 that contacts the end in the width direction of the sheet S, and the main body section 24 is narrowed to the width of a business card-sized sheet S1 (see FIG. 8). The side guide section 22 also has a tip section 26 that extends from the main body section 24 to the end 20A of the platform 20 along the conveying direction of the sheet S. The tip section 26 extends so as to slip under the cover 130. In addition, the tip portion 26 is provided with a first wall 27 that faces the end portion 130A of the cover 130 when the table 20 rotates, and a second wall 28 that is located downstream of the first wall 27 in the conveying direction of the sheet S and protrudes higher from the table 20 than the first wall 27.

[0062] In the above-mentioned side guide 10, when the table 20 rotates, the first wall 27 of the tip portion 26 faces the end portion 130A of the cover 130, and the second wall 28 of the tip portion 26 is positioned downstream of the end portion 130A of the cover 130 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. Therefore, when the table 20 rotates, the tip portion 26 does not interfere with the cover 130. Also, the tip portion 26 of the side guide part 22 extends from the main body part 24 along the conveying direction of the sheet S to the end portion 20A of the table 20 downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S, and also extends so as to slip under the cover 130. As a result, the end portion in the width direction of the sheet S comes into contact with the main body part 24 and the tip portion 26, and in this state, the sheet S is sent out in the conveying direction.

[0063] Therefore, in the side guide 10, the sheet S is prevented from being transported in an inclined position with respect to the transport direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip portion from the platform is constant. In particular, even if the sheet S is curled, the sheet S is prevented from being transported in an inclined position with respect to the transport direction. Also, for example, even if a business card-sized sheet S1 is placed on the platform 20, the main body 24 is narrowed to the width of the business card-sized sheet S1, so that the business card-sized sheet S1 comes into contact with the main body 24 and the tip portion 26. Therefore, in the side guide 10, the sheet S1 is prevented from being transported in an inclined position with respect to the transport direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip portion from the platform is constant.

[0064] In addition, in the side guide 10, a groove 30 that comes into contact with the rear end of the business card-sized sheet S1 in the transport direction is provided in the lower wall 24B of the main body 24. Therefore, in the side guide 10, the rear end of the business card-sized sheet S1 in the transport direction is less likely to shift compared to when the main body is flat.

[0065] Furthermore, in the side guide 10, in the width direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the sheet S, the tip 26 is provided by extending the widthwise inner portion of the main body 24. Therefore, in the side guide 10, the tip 26 is prevented from getting caught on the cover 130 when the table 20 is rotated, compared to when the tip is also provided on the widthwise outer portion of the main body, i.e., when the tip remains the same width as the main body.

[0066] Moreover, in the side guide 10, the second wall 28 of the tip 26 is curved. Therefore, in the side guide 10, the height of the tip 26 of the side guide portion 22 can be maintained while preventing the cover 130 from getting caught when the base 20 is rotated, as compared to a case in which the second wall is inclined straight.

[0067] Moreover, in the side guide 10, the main body 24 has a hollowed-out portion 36 in the width direction. The hollowed-out portion 36 is provided on the downstream side, which is the side of the shaft 58A of the hinge 58 when rotating in the conveying direction of the sheet S, and is not provided on the upstream side. Therefore, in the side guide 10, foreign matter such as dust is less likely to enter the hollowed-out portion 36 compared to a case in which the hollowed-out portions are provided on the downstream side and the upstream side when rotating.

[0068] Furthermore, in the side guide 10, the thickness of the wall 38 disposed on the widthwise inner side of the hollowed-out portion 36 of the main body 24 is equivalent to the thickness of the first wall 27 and the second wall 28 of the tip portion 26. For this reason, in the side guide 10, it is easier to mold the main body 24 and the tip portion 26 compared to a case in which the thickness of the wall disposed on the widthwise inner side of the hollowed-out portion is different from the thickness of the tip portion.

[0069] The conveying device 12 also includes a side guide 10 and a cover 130 that covers the upper side of an end 20A of the platform 20 of the side guide 10 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The conveying device 12 also includes a hinge 58 that rotatably supports the platform 20 around an axis along the width direction of the sheet S on the side of the end 20A of the platform 20 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S, and a feed roll 120 and a conveying roll 122 that feed the sheet S in the conveying direction. Therefore, in the conveying device 12, the sheet S is prevented from being conveyed in an inclined position with respect to the conveying direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip of the side guide from the platform is constant.

[0070] Further, in the conveying device 12, a pair of side guide parts 22 are provided on both sides of the platform 20 in the width direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the sheet S. The side guide parts 22 are L-shaped when viewed from the conveying direction of the sheet S, with the lower wall part 24B of the main body part 24 and the lower wall part 26B of the tip part 26 extending inward in the width direction. When the pair of side guide parts 22 are narrowed to the width of the business card-sized sheet S1, the lower wall parts 24B and the lower wall parts 26B of the pair of side guide parts 22 come into contact with each other. Therefore, in the conveying device 12, the main body parts 24 of the pair of side guide parts 22 can be stably positioned compared to a case in which the pair of main body parts are positioned by the inner edge part of the rail groove in the width direction.

[0071] Moreover, in the conveying device 12, the platform 20 is provided with a pair of rail grooves 52, 54 that movably support the pair of side guide parts 22. The pair of rail grooves 52, 54 are provided up to a position where the protruding part 32 of the side guide part 22 does not come into contact with the inner edge parts of the rail grooves 52, 54 in the width direction when the lower wall parts 24B and the lower wall parts 26B of the pair of side guide parts 22 come into contact with each other. Therefore, according to the conveying device 12, the main body parts 24 of the pair of side guide parts 22 are prevented from being supported obliquely, compared to a configuration in which the pair of main body parts come into contact with the inner edge parts of the rail grooves in the width direction.

[0072] Furthermore, in the conveying device 12, the boss portion 56A of the hinge 58 is located at the widthwise end portion on the platform 20, and when the main body portion 24 of the side guide portion 22 is expanded to its maximum extent, the boss portion 56A is located on the widthwise outer side of the vertical wall portion 26A of the tip portion 26 and on the conveying direction downstream side of the vertical wall portion 24A of the main body portion 24. For this reason, in the conveying device 12, it is easier to ensure space for providing the boss portion 56A of the hinge 58, compared to a case in which the boss portion is located on the widthwise outer side of the main body portion and the tip portion.

[0073] The reading device 104 also includes a conveying device 12 that conveys the sheet S, which is an original document, and a reading unit 114 that reads information on the sheet S conveyed by the conveying device 12. Therefore, the reading device 104 prevents the sheet S from being read in an inclined position with respect to the conveying direction, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip of the side guide from the base is constant.

[0074] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a reading device 104 and an image forming apparatus main body 102 that records on a recording medium the information read by the reading device 104. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100, compared to a configuration in which the protruding height of the tip end of the side guide from the base is constant, the information read by the reading device 104 is prevented from being recorded in a direction oblique to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

[0075] 〔supplementary explanation〕 In the first embodiment, the lower wall 24B of the main body 24 and the lower wall 26B of the tip 26 of the pair of side guides 22 come into contact with each other when the pair of side guides 22 are narrowed to the width of the business card-sized sheet S1, but the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the conveying device may be configured such that either the lower wall of the main body or the lower wall of the tip of the pair of side guides come into contact with each other when the pair of side guides are narrowed to the width of the business card-sized sheet S1. Also, the lower walls of the pair of side guides may not come into contact with each other when the pair of side guides are narrowed to the width of the business card-sized sheet S1, that is, the protrusions of the pair of side guides come into contact with the inner edges of the rail grooves in the width direction.

[0076] In the first embodiment, the shapes of the first wall and the second wall can be changed as long as the protruding height of the second wall is higher than that of the first wall. In addition, although the second wall 28 is curved, the second wall may be rectangular.

[0077] In the first embodiment, the groove 30 is provided in the lower wall portion 24B of the main body portion 24, but the depth of the groove can be changed. Also, the main body portion may not have a groove.

[0078] In the first embodiment, the cutout portion 36 is provided only on the downstream side of the main body portion 24 in the conveying direction of the sheet S, but the cutout portion may be provided only on the upstream side of the main body portion in the conveying direction of the sheet S, or the cutout portion may be provided on both the upstream and downstream sides of the main body portion in the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0079] In the first embodiment, the thickness of the wall 38 on the widthwise inner side of the hollowed-out portion 36 is equal to the thickness of the tip portion 26, but the thickness of the wall on the widthwise inner side of the hollowed-out portion may be configured to be different from the thickness of the tip portion.

[0080] In the first embodiment, the position of the boss portion of the hinge that rotates the base is variable.

[0081] In the first embodiment, the transport device 12 and the reader 104 are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the configuration and arrangement of each member can be changed.

[0082] Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 10 Side guide 12. Conveyor 20 units 20A End 22 Side guide part 24 Main body 24B Lower wall (an example of the lower wall) 26 Tip 26B Lower wall (an example of a lower wall) 27 First wall 28 Second wall 30 Groove 32 Protrusion 36 Hollow section 38 Wall 52 Rail groove 54 Rail groove 56A Boss part 58 Hinge 58A axis 100 Image forming device 102 Image forming apparatus main body (an example of a recording unit) 104 Reading device 114 Reading unit 120 Sending roll (an example of a conveying section) 122 Transport roll 130 Cover 130A end S Sheet (an example of a transported object) S1 Sheet (an example of a business card-sized object to be transported)

Claims

1. a platform having an end portion on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the conveyed object, the end portion being rotatable around an axis along a width direction of the conveyed object and the end portion being covered by a cover; a main body provided on the top of the platform, contacting an end of the object in a width direction and narrowing the width of the object to a size of a business card; a tip portion extending from the main body portion to the end portion along a transport direction of the transported object and extending so as to slip under the cover, the tip portion including a first wall that faces the end portion of the cover when the table rotates, and a second wall that is located downstream of the first wall in the transport direction and protrudes higher from the table than the first wall; A side guide having

2. 2. The side guide according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion is provided with a groove portion that comes into contact with a rear end portion of the business card-sized object in the conveying direction.

3. 3. The side guide according to claim 1, wherein the tip portion is provided by extending an inner portion of the main body portion in a width direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the conveyed object.

4. The side guide of claim 3 wherein the second wall is curved.

5. The main body portion has a hollowed-out portion in the width direction, The side guide according to claim 3 , wherein the hollowed-out portion is provided on a downstream side that is a shaft side during the rotation in the conveying direction, and is not provided on an upstream side.

6. 6. The side guide according to claim 5, wherein a thickness of the wall disposed on the inner side in the width direction with respect to the hollowed portion is equal to a thickness of the tip portion.

7. A side guide according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a cover for covering an upper side of an end portion of the platform of the side guide on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the conveyed object; a hinge that rotatably supports the platform around an axis extending along a width direction of the transported object at an end portion on a downstream side in a transport direction of the transported object; A conveying section that sends out the object in a conveying direction; A conveying device having the above structure.

8. the main body and the tip of the side guide are provided in pairs on both sides of the width direction of the platform intersecting with the conveying direction of the conveyed object, At least the main body portion is L-shaped with a lower wall extending inward in the width direction when viewed from the conveying direction of the conveyed object, 8. The transport device according to claim 7, wherein the lower walls of the pair of main bodies abut against each other when the pair of main bodies is narrowed to the width of the transported object of a business card size.

9. The platform is provided with a pair of rail grooves that movably support the pair of main bodies, The transport device according to claim 8 , wherein the pair of rail grooves are provided to a position where the main body does not come into contact with an inner edge portion of the rail groove in the width direction when the lower walls come into contact with each other.

10. The boss portion of the hinge is located at an end portion in the width direction on the base, The side guide is any one of claims 3 to 6, The conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein when the main body is expanded to its maximum extent, the boss portion is located on the outer side in the width direction relative to the tip portion and on the downstream side in the conveying direction relative to the main body.

11. 11. The transport device according to claim 7, further comprising: a transport device configured to transport a document as the transport target; a reading unit that reads information of the document conveyed by the conveying device; A reading device having the above structure.

12. A reading device according to claim 11; a recording unit that records the information read by the reading device on a recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images