Image reading device and image forming device

Abstract

To maintain the alignment of sheets by means of a swing member whose posture can be easily changed even in a narrow space.SOLUTION: A sheet discharge device has: discharge means for discharging a sheet; sheet loading parts (100 and 101) on which a sheet is loaded; a swing member (102) which has a contact part (506) capable of coming into contact with the sheet, swings between a first position where the movement of the discharged sheet in the sheet discharge direction is regulated by the contact part and a second position where the contact part is moved further downward than the first position, and swings around a swing axis located on an upstream side of the contact part in the sheet discharge direction in a state where it is located at the second position; an engaged part (602) which is disposed on the sheet loading part; and an engaging part (510) which is disposed on a surface of the swing member of the opposite side to the contact part, and regulates swinging of the swing member from the first position to the second position by engaging with the engaged part in a state where the swing member is located at the first position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] An image reading device mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a multifunction machine is provided with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF: Auto Document Feeder) that automatically feeds original sheets one by one. The sheets fed by the ADF have their image information read by an image sensor, and then are loaded on a sheet stacking unit such as a discharge tray. Patent Document 1 describes a sheet discharge unit of a multifunction machine that has a discharge tray onto which sheets are discharged, an extension tray that can be pulled out from the discharge tray, and a rotating tray that is rotatably supported on the extension tray. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-67448 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Sheet Discharge direction Sheet Restrict movement and a retracted position downward to allow the sheet to move in the sheet discharge direction. It was considered that: When providing a rotating member, it has been required to make it less likely that the rotating member will impede the movement of the seat when the movement of the seat is not restricted by the rotating member.

[0006] Books The invention relates to When the movement of the seat is not restricted by the rotating member, the rotating member is less likely to hinder the movement of the seat. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device and an image forming device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an image reading device including a feed tray on which sheets are stacked, a transport means for transporting the sheets stacked on the feed tray, a reading means for reading an image of the sheet transported by the transport means, a discharge means for discharging the sheet read by the reading means in a sheet discharge direction, and a sheet stacking section on which the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked, the sheet stacking section comprising: When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the tray is aligned so as to overlap with the feeding tray. the sheet ejection device includes a discharge tray disposed below the feeding tray and supporting sheets ejected by the ejection means; a rotating member movable relative to the discharge tray in the sheet ejection direction and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotating member standing relative to the discharge tray and rotating between a first position at which the rotating member restricts movement of the sheets ejected by the ejection means in the sheet ejection direction and a second position retracted downward from the first position; and ribs provided on an upper surface of the discharge tray so as to extend in the sheet ejection direction and disposed on both sides of the rotating member in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet ejection direction, the rotating member having an abutment portion with which a leading edge of the sheet ejected by the ejection means abuts when the rotating member is located at the first position, The above The contact portion is located on an upper surface of the rotating member when the rotating member is located at the second position on the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction, and is look and is located below the upper surface of the rib. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, When the movement of the seat is not restricted by the rotating member, the rotating member is less likely to hinder the movement of the seat. . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image reading device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a discharge tray equipped with a swing guide according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a swing guide according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an extension tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a swing guide and an extension tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a method of assembling the swing guide according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining possible states of the swing guide and the extension tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining possible states of the swing guide and the extension tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the positional relationship between a swing guide and a feeding tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a swing guide according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an extension tray according to a second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a swing guide and an extension tray according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0011] An image reading apparatus including a sheet discharging device according to embodiment 1 and an image forming apparatus including this image reading apparatus will be described below. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 200 including an image reading apparatus 201 according to this embodiment.

[0012] (Image forming device) Image forming apparatus 200 is an electrophotographic multifunction peripheral. Image forming apparatus 200 is merely one example of an image forming apparatus, and facsimile machines and multifunction peripherals equipped with image reading apparatus 201 are also included in image forming apparatuses to which the present technology can be applied. In addition, the image forming means mounted in the image forming apparatus is not limited to an electrophotographic type, and may be, for example, an inkjet type printing unit.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 is composed of an image forming apparatus main body 202 and an image reading device 201 attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 202. The image forming apparatus main body 202 has an image forming unit 3 as an image forming means disposed in the approximate center thereof, and a feeding means for feeding a recording material S, including a feeding cassette 6, disposed below the image forming unit 3. As the recording material S, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, sheet materials with surface treatments such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper. The image reading device 201 equipped with image sensors 409 and 410 as image reading means for reading an image of a document is disposed above the image forming apparatus main body 202.

[0014] In the image forming apparatus main body 202, the image forming unit 3 is configured as an electrophotographic print engine. The image forming unit 3 in this embodiment is configured as a tandem intermediate transfer type, and includes four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, and an intermediate transfer belt 23 as an intermediate transfer body.

[0015] The image forming unit 10Y forms a yellow toner image by an electrophotographic process. That is, the photosensitive drum 11, which is a photosensitive member, rotates, and the charging device 12 uniformly charges the drum surface. The laser scanner 13 irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with laser light modulated based on image information, and writes an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The developing device 14 supplies charged toner particles to the photosensitive drum 11, and develops the electrostatic latent image on the drum surface into a toner image. This toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 23 by the primary transfer roller 15. Adherents such as transfer residual toner that remain on the photosensitive drum 11 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 23 are removed by the drum cleaner 16. The above process is carried out in parallel in each of the image forming units 10Y to 10K, and toner images of each color, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, are formed.

[0016] The intermediate transfer belt 23 is wound around a number of rollers including the secondary transfer inner roller 18, and is driven to rotate in a direction (clockwise direction in the figure) along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11. The toner images of the respective colors formed in the image forming units 10Y to 10K are primarily transferred so as to be superimposed on each other, and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 23. This toner image is transported by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 23 to a secondary transfer section formed between the secondary transfer inner roller 18 and the secondary transfer roller 19 facing it.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 200 includes a cassette feeding section 4 and a manual feeding section 5 as a sheet feeding device for feeding the recording material S. The cassette feeding section 4 has a plurality of feeding cassettes 6, and a feeding unit 7 feeds the recording material S from any one of the feeding cassettes 6 one by one toward the registration roller 17. The manual feeding section 5 provided on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 202 feeds the recording material S one by one toward the registration roller 17 by a feeding unit 8. The feeding units 7 and 8 include a feeding member such as a feeding roller that feeds the recording material S from the feeding cassette 6 or the manual feed tray, and a separating member such as a separating roller or a separating pad that applies a frictional force to other recording materials S overlapping the recording material S conveyed by the feeding member to prevent double feeding.

[0018] The registration roller 17 feeds the recording material S to the secondary transfer section in synchronization with the formation of the toner image by the image forming section 3. The recording material S to which the toner image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the secondary transfer section is conveyed to the fixing device 21. The fixing device 21 applies heat and pressure to the toner image on the sheet while sandwiching and conveying the recording material S, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording material S. In the case of double-sided printing, the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 21 is guided to the reversal path 26, and is fed again to the image forming section 3 with the first and second sides reversed by switchback conveyance, and an image is formed on the second side. In the case of single-sided printing, or when image formation on the second side in double-sided printing is completed, the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 21 is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 202 by the discharge roller 25.

[0019] 1, the recording material on which an image has been formed is discharged to a discharge tray (or a sheet processing device connected to the image forming apparatus body 202) arranged on the side of the image forming apparatus body 202. Alternatively, a so-called internal discharge type may be configured in which a space is provided between the image reading device 201 and the image forming apparatus body 202 in the vertical direction to form a main body discharge section for discharging and stacking the recording material on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus body 202.

[0020] (Image reader) Next, a schematic configuration of the image reading device 201 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device 201. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image reading device 201.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading device 201 is composed of an ADF 300 and a reader unit 301. The ADF 300 is a device that separates and feeds a plurality of originals one by one when performing a flow-reading operation in which an image on an original is read by an image sensor while the original is being transported. The reader unit 301 is a device for reading an image of a moving original transported by the ADF 300 during the flow-reading operation, or for reading an image of a stationary original including a thick original such as a book. As the original, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and cardboard, sheet materials with a surface treatment such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

[0022] The ADF 300 is provided with a feed tray 302 for placing an original document thereon, and a discharge tray 100 for discharging the original document after the image has been read. The reader unit 301 is located below the ADF 300, and supports the ADF 300 so that it can be opened and closed. Note that in this embodiment, the reader unit 301 is fixed to the top of the image forming apparatus main body 202, but the image reading device 201 can also be used as a device independent of the image forming apparatus.

[0023] 2, the left-right direction of the image reading device 201 as viewed from the user side (the front side of the image forming device) is defined as the X direction. The front-rear direction of the image reading device 201, which is perpendicular to the X direction, is defined as the Y direction (the main scanning direction of the document, the width direction of the document). The up-down direction of the image reading device 201, which is perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction, is defined as the Z direction (the vertical direction in normal use). The ADF 300 feeds the document placed on the feed tray 302 toward one side in the X direction (defined as the feed direction X1), and discharges the document onto the discharge tray 100 toward the other side in the X direction (the sheet discharge direction in this embodiment, hereinafter defined as the document discharge direction X2).

[0024] Next, the internal structure of image reading device 201 will be described with reference to Fig. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of image reading device 201 as seen from the Y direction. ADF 300 includes a pickup roller 401, a separation roller pair 402, and a plurality of conveying roller pairs (403 to 406) as conveying means for conveying sheets. Pickup roller 401 comes into contact with the topmost document of documents 400 placed on feed tray 302, and delivers the document toward separation roller pair 402. Separation roller pair 402 conveys documents 400 received from pickup roller 401 in a state of separating the documents one by one.

[0025] The conveying roller pairs sequentially deliver the original 400 and convey it through the reading position (the position where the original is scanned by the image sensors 409 and 410). Among them, the pull-out roller pair 403 conveys the original by pulling it out from the separation roller pair 402. The first read roller pair 404 and the second read roller pair 405 convey the original 400 while passing it through the reading positions of the image sensors 409 and 410, and stabilize the position of the original 400 at the reading positions, thereby contributing to improving the reading accuracy. The discharge roller pair 406 receives the original 400 that has passed the reading position and discharges it to the discharge tray 100.

[0026] An image sensor 409 serving as a first reading means is provided inside the reader unit 301. When reading an image from the first side of the original 400 transported by the ADF 300, the image sensor 409 stops at a position (position shown in the figure) facing the flow reading glass 407. When reading an image from a stationary original placed on the original platen glass 408, the image sensor 409 moves on rails provided inside the reader unit 301 in the X direction, which is the sub-scanning direction, to read the image.

[0027] Furthermore, inside the ADF 300, an image sensor 410 as a second reading means is provided at a position facing the image sensor 409 of the reader unit 301. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously read images from both sides of the document 400 conveyed by the ADF 300 using the two image sensors 409, 410. Note that as the image sensors 409, 410, it is possible to use either a contact image sensor (CIS) in which an imaging element such as a CMOS and a life-size optical system are modularized, or a CCD type image sensor in which a charge-coupled device (CCD) and a reduction optical system are combined.

[0028] Thus, the ADF 300, which is the sheet discharge device of this embodiment, is equipped with a pair of discharge rollers 406 as a discharge means for discharging sheets of a document after the image has been read, and a discharge tray 100 on which the discharged sheets are stacked.

[0029] (Swing guide) Next, the swing guide provided in the ADF 300 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 11. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 attached to the ADF 300. Figs. 5(a, b) are perspective views showing the front and back surfaces of the swing guide 102. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the extension tray 101. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101. Figs. 8(a, b) are cross-sectional views for explaining a method of attaching the swing guide 102 to the extension tray 101. Figs. 9(a, b) and 10(a, b) are diagrams for explaining the functions of the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101. Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the swing guide 102 and the feed tray 302.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge tray 100 of the ADF 300 according to this embodiment is provided with an extension tray 101. The extension tray 101 is slidable relative to the discharge tray 100 between a storage position where the extension tray 101 is stored in the discharge tray 100 and a pull-out position where the extension tray 101 protrudes from the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2. When the extension tray 101 is at least in the pull-out position, it is possible to support the lower surface of the document discharged by the pair of discharge rollers 406 together with the discharge tray 100. That is, the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101 constitute a sheet stacking unit according to this embodiment. Note that the extension tray 101 according to this embodiment is assumed to be used in either the storage position or the pull-out position, but may be configured to be movable between three or more use positions.

[0031] The extension tray 101 is provided with a swinging guide 102 as a swinging member that can swing relative to the extension tray 101. The swinging guide 102 is a member that functions as a stopper that restricts the movement of the document that has come out of the discharge roller pair 406 in the document discharge direction X2 by abutting against the leading edge of the document in the document discharge direction X2. By providing the swinging guide 102, it is possible to increase the discharge speed of the document by the discharge roller pair 406, thereby improving the throughput of the ADF 300, while suppressing a decrease in the alignment of the document in the discharge tray 100.

[0032] The swing guide 102 is swingably supported by the extension tray 101. Specifically, the swing guide 102 can swing between an upright position (the state of FIG. 4, FIG. 9(a), and FIG. 10(a)) in which the swing guide 102 protrudes upward in the Z direction with respect to the extension tray 101, and a laid-down position (the state of FIG. 9(b) and FIG. 10(b)) in which the swing guide 102 is retracted downward from the upright position. The swing guide 102 in the upright position can restrict the movement of the document in the document discharge direction X2 by the contact portion against the sheet (in this embodiment, a second rib portion 506 described later). On the other hand, the swing guide 102 in the laid-down position does not hinder the movement of the document by retracting the contact portion downward from the upright position. The upright position of the swing guide 102 is a first position in this embodiment, and the laid-down position is a second position in this embodiment.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4, a first opening 103 is provided on the top surface of the discharge tray 100. The first opening 103 has a concave shape in which a part of the downstream end of the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2 is concave toward the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2, and is provided at a position corresponding to the swing guide 102 in the Y direction. The presence of this first opening 103 allows the swing guide 102 to swing between an upright position and a laid-down position in the state of Figs. 9(a,b) where the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. The function of the swing guide 102 in each state of Figs. 9(a,b) and 10(a,b) will be described later.

[0034] A detailed configuration of the swing guide 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5(a) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 as viewed from the front side (the same side as the contact portion of the swing guide 102 with the sheet). Fig. 5(b) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102 as viewed from the back side (the opposite side to the contact portion of the swing guide 102 with the sheet, the side facing the extension tray 101).

[0035] The swing guide 102 has a swing shaft 500, a first rib portion 502, a second rib portion 506, a first surface 501, a second surface 503, a third surface 504, a fourth surface 505, and a snap-fit ​​shape 510. The back sides of the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 are provided with back surfaces 511, 513, 514, and 515, respectively. The swing guide 102 may be one in which these portions are integrally molded from a resin material. The swing guide 102 is substantially symmetrical with respect to an XZ plane passing through the center position of the swing guide 102 in the Y direction.

[0036] The oscillating shaft 500 is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the Y direction in a posture when assembled to the extension tray 101. When the oscillating shafts 500, 500 engage with a bearing portion of the extension tray 101 described later, the oscillating guide 102 oscillates relative to the extension tray 101 about an oscillating axis Y0 that passes through the oscillating shafts 500, 500 and extends in the Y direction. In other words, the oscillating shaft 500 is an example of a shaft portion that extends on the oscillating axis.

[0037] Hereinafter, among the circumferential directions centered on the swing axis Y0, the swing direction when the swing guide 102 moves from the lying down position to the standing position is referred to as a first swing direction R1, and the swing direction when the swing guide 102 moves from the standing position to the lying down position is referred to as a second swing direction R2 (see FIG. 7).

[0038] The first rib portions 502, 502 are provided on both sides in the Y direction (front-rear direction) of the first surface 501, and extend approximately perpendicular to the Y direction. The oscillation shafts 500, 500 are provided on the first rib portions 502, 502 on both sides, respectively, and protrude outward in the Y direction from the first rib portions 502, 502.

[0039] The first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 are arranged in this order, moving away from the swing axis Y0. That is, when the swing guide 102 is in the second position, the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream in the document discharge direction X2. The second surface 503 and the third surface 504, and the third surface 504 and the fourth surface 505 are adjacent to each other in the document discharge direction X2.

[0040] The second rib portions 506, 506 are provided on both sides of the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505 in the Y direction (the front-rear direction of the image reading device), and extend approximately perpendicular to the Y direction. They form the upstream surface of the swing guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2 when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the second rib portions 506, 506 function as a contact portion of this embodiment that can contact the leading edge of the document in the document discharge direction X2.

[0041] A first recess 519 is formed by the second surface 503, the third surface 504, the fourth surface 505 and the second rib portions 506, 506. The first recess 519 is recessed downward in the Z direction from the upper ends of the second rib portions 506, 506 which are contact portions with the sheet when the oscillating guide 102 is in the laid-down position. In other words, the first recess 519 is recessed downstream in the oscillating direction (second oscillating direction R2) when the oscillating guide 102 moves from the upright position to the laid-down position relative to the second rib portions 506, 506.

[0042] The first recess 519 functions as a finger hook on which a user can hook his / her finger when pulling out the extension tray 101 from the storage position shown in Fig. 9(a) to the pull-out position shown in Fig. 10(a) with the swing guide 102 in the laid-down position. In particular, the third surface 504 facing the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2 when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position serves as a pressing surface that receives the force of the user's finger pressing the swing guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2, which is the pull-out direction.

[0043] Furthermore, on the fourth surface 505 downstream of the third surface 504 in the document discharge direction X2, anti-slip ribs 507 are provided that function as uneven shapes to prevent slipping when a user places his / her finger on the first recessed portion 519. The anti-slip ribs 507 protrude from the fourth surface 505 at a height that does not protrude from the second rib portion 506 when viewed in the Y direction (see FIG. 7). A plurality of anti-slip ribs 507 are provided, each extending in the Y direction. Note that the anti-slip ribs 507 are one example of uneven shapes that function as anti-slip, and for example, the anti-slip uneven shapes may be formed by arranging hemispherical protrusions in a lattice pattern on the fourth surface 505.

[0044] Here, the swing shafts 500, 500 are located at the upstream end of the swing guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2 when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position. That is, when the swing guide 102 of this embodiment is in the second position, the second rib portions 506, 506 serving as a contact portion for the sheet are located downstream of the swing axis Y0 in the sheet discharge direction. Therefore, the swing guide 102 switches from the laid-down position to the upright position such that the second rib portions 506, 506 located downstream of the swing axis Y0 in the document discharge direction X2 move upward.

[0045] In other words, when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, the inclination angle (θ1 in FIG. 7) of the direction in which the second rib portion 506 extends as viewed from the Y direction with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the inclination angle (θ2 in FIG. 7) when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position. However, θ1 and θ2 represent angles in the counterclockwise direction in the figure with respect to a straight line toward the downstream of the document discharge direction X2 as a reference. In order to allow the swing guide 102 to have the function of abutting against the leading edge of the document to maintain the alignment of the document, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ1 in the upright position to, for example, 45 degrees or more, more preferably 60 degrees or more. On the other hand, in order to prevent the swing guide 102 from interfering with a member above the discharge tray 100, such as the feed tray 302, or to prevent the operability of the swing guide 102 from being impaired due to the proximity of such a member, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ1 in the upright position to 90 degrees or less.

[0046] A snap-fit ​​shape 510 is provided on the side of the swing guide 102 opposite to the contact portion with the document, as a position holding means for holding the swing guide 102 in the upright position. Here, "the side opposite to the contact portion" refers to the side of the swing guide 102 facing the downstream side in the document discharge direction X2 in the upright position. In other words, the second rib portions 506, 506 as the contact portion constitute the surface of the swing guide 102 in the first swing direction R1 from the lying down position to the upright position. Also, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 as the engagement portion is provided on the surface of the swing guide 102 in the second swing direction R2 from the lying down position to the lying down position. In other words, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 is provided on the surface of the swing guide 102 facing the extension tray 101.

[0047] The snap-fit ​​shape 510 of this embodiment is a protrusion that protrudes from the back surface 513 of the second surface 503 toward the downstream side in the second swing direction R2, and is made of an elastically deformable material. As will be described later, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 is configured to hold the swing guide 102 in an upright position by engaging with the periphery of an opening provided in the extension tray 101.

[0048] Next, a detailed configuration of the extension tray 101 and a method of assembling the swing guide 102 to the extension tray 101 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 6, the extension tray 101 is provided with bearings 600, 600, a second opening 601, and a convex shape 603. The bearings 600, 600 are engaged with the swing shafts 500, 500 of the swing guide 102, and support the swing guide 102 so that it can swing (rotatably) around the swing axis Y0. The second opening 601 is located downstream of the bearings 600, 600 in the document discharge direction X2. The second opening 601 functions as a space for receiving the snap fit shape 510 and avoiding interference with the extension tray 101 when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position.

[0050] 7, when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 comes into contact with a receiving portion 602 provided on the periphery on the downstream side of the second opening 601 in the document discharge direction X2. When a force in the second swing direction R2 acts on the swing guide 102 in the upright position, the receiving portion 602 receives the snap-fit ​​shape 510, thereby restricting the rotation of the swing guide 102 in the second swing direction R2. In other words, the receiving portion 602 as the engaged portion is engaged with the snap-fit ​​shape 510 as the engaging portion, thereby restricting the swing of the swing guide 102 as the swing member.

[0051] When the swing guide 102 in the upright position receives a force in the second swing direction R2 that is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the snap fit shape 510 elastically deforms and separates from the receiving portion 602 to the inside of the second opening 601. This allows the swing guide 102 to swing in the second swing direction R2, and the swing guide 102 switches from the upright position to the laid-down position. The predetermined threshold is a value that is larger than an expected value of the force that the swing guide 102 receives when the document discharged from the discharge roller pair 406 hits the second rib portion 506, and is small enough to be realized by a user pressing it with a finger.

[0052] Here, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 as the engaging portion is a protrusion, and the receiving portion 602 as the engaged portion is provided on the periphery of the opening for receiving the protrusion. However, a mechanism for holding the swing guide 102 in an upright position can also be established by providing the extension tray 101 with a snap-fit ​​shape (protrusion) as the engaged portion and arranging the receiving portion 602 as the engaging portion on the swing guide 102. In this case, however, it is preferable that the snap-fit ​​shape does not protrude above the swing guide 102 when the swing guide 102 is in a laid-down position. In addition, a mechanism other than an elastically deformable snap-fit ​​shape may be used as a mechanism for engaging an engaging portion with an engaged portion to hold the position of the swing member.

[0053] A swing regulating portion 700 is provided on the periphery on the upstream side of the second opening 601 in the document discharge direction X2. The swing regulating portion 700 is a surface (see FIG. 7) that is arranged to face the first rib portions 502, 502 with a predetermined clearance therebetween when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position. The swing regulating portion 700 comes into contact with the first rib portions 502, 502 when the swing guide 102 attempts to swing further from the upright position in the first swing direction R1, and functions as a second regulating portion that regulates the swing of the swing guide 102.

[0054] The convex shape 603 protrudes upward in the Z direction downstream of the second opening 601 in the document discharge direction X2. A top surface 604 of the convex shape 603 is a surface that abuts against a back surface 515 (FIG. 5(b)) of the fourth surface 505 when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position. The back surface 515 of the fourth surface 505 of the swing guide 102 abuts against the top surface 604 of the convex shape 603, so that the swing guide 102 maintains the laid-down position by its own weight. In other words, the top surface 604 of the convex shape 603 functions as a first restricting portion that restricts the swing guide 102 from further swinging in the second swing direction R2 from the laid-down position.

[0055] Furthermore, the convex shape 603 is formed with a second recess 605 for facilitating a user to place a finger on the oscillating guide 102 when raising the oscillating guide 102 from the lying down position to the standing position. The second recess 605 is a recessed shape in which a downstream end of the convex shape 603 in the document discharge direction X2 is recessed toward the upstream side in a part of the convex shape 603 in the Y direction. When the oscillating guide 102 is in the lying down position, at least a part of the back surface 515 of the fourth surface 505 is exposed inside the second recess 605. Therefore, the user can raise the oscillating guide 102 by placing a finger on the back surface 515 from below through the second recess 605.

[0056] 8(a) and 8(b) show the state when the swing guide 102 is assembled to the extension tray 101. When assembling the swing guide 102, the swing shafts 500, 500 are moved downward through the second opening 601, then moved upstream in the document discharge direction X2, and further moved upward, so that the swing shafts 500, 500 are fitted into the bearings 600, 600. The arrow P in FIG. 8(a) shows an example of the movement trajectory of the swing shaft 500 in such an assembly operation.

[0057] Here, each bearing portion 600 has a shape that opens downward, and protrusion shapes 800, 800 are provided below the position of the oscillating shaft 500 in the assembled state as a fall prevention means to prevent the oscillating shaft 500 from falling off. The protrusion shapes 800, 800 are arranged on either side of the moving trajectory of the oscillating shaft 500 during the assembly operation, forming a communication portion through which the oscillating shaft 500 can pass toward the bearing portion 600. In addition, the width of the opening of the protrusion shapes 800, 800 (the minimum distance between the protrusion shapes 800, 800) is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the oscillating shaft 500. Therefore, when the oscillating shaft 500 is fitted into the bearing portion 600, the oscillating shaft 500 is fitted in by passing the protrusion shapes 800, 800 in a manner similar to light press-fitting. The oscillating shaft 500 fitted into the bearing portion 600 is prevented from falling off downward from the bearing portion 600 by the protrusion shapes 800, 800.

[0058] (How to use the swing guide) 9(a, b) and 10(a, b), possible states of the swing guide 102 and the extension tray 101 and the function of the swing guide 102 in each state will be described.

[0059] FIG. 9(a) shows a state (first state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the lying position. In this state, the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 are located below the upper surface of the discharge tray 100. Specifically, the discharge tray 100 is provided with ribs 100r, 100r that support the lower surface of the sheet on both sides of the swing guide 102 in the Y direction and in a range that overlaps with the swing guide 102 in the document discharge direction X2. When viewed from the Y direction in the state of FIG. 9(a), the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 are retracted below the upper surfaces of the ribs 100r, 100r. Therefore, the swing guide 102 does not hinder the movement of the document discharged to the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2.

[0060] FIG. 9B shows a state (second state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the upright position. In this state, at least a part of the second rib portion 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 protrudes upward from the upper surfaces of the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101. Also, the inclination angle (θ1 in FIG. 7) of the second rib portion 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is closer to vertical than the angle (θ2 in FIG. 7) in the lying position. Therefore, the swing guide 102 can receive the leading edge of the document discharged in the document discharge direction X2 by the discharge roller pair 406 with the second rib portion 506, 506, and regulate the movement in the document discharge direction X2. This makes it possible to maintain the alignment of the document in the discharge tray 100 even when the discharge roller pair 406 discharges the document at a high speed.

[0061] 9(a), the swing guide 102 is exposed almost entirely through the first opening 103 provided in the discharge tray 100 when viewed from above in the Z direction. Therefore, the swing guide 102 can be changed between the upright position (FIG. 9(a)) and the laid-down position (FIG. 9(b)) with the extension tray 101 positioned at the storage position.

[0062] 10(a) shows a state (third state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the drawn-out position and the swingable guide 102 is in the laid-down position. In this state, the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swingable guide 102 protrude upward from the upper surface of the extension tray 101, but the inclination angle of the second rib portions 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is kept relatively small. Therefore, the swingable guide 102 does not prevent the movement of the document discharged to the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2. In addition, the swingable guide 102 can support the lower surface of the document downstream of the discharge tray 100 in the document discharge direction X2.

[0063] FIG. 10B shows a state (fourth state) in which the extension tray 101 is in the drawn-out position and the swing guide 102 is in the upright position. In this state, at least a part of the second rib portions 506, 506 of the swing guide 102 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the extension tray 101. Also, the inclination angle (θ1 in FIG. 7) of the second rib portions 506, 506 with respect to the horizontal plane is closer to vertical than the angle (θ2 in FIG. 7) in the lying-down position. Therefore, the swing guide 102 can receive the leading edge of the document discharged in the document discharge direction X2 by the discharge roller pair 406 with the second rib portions 506, 506, and regulate the movement in the document discharge direction X2. This allows the alignment of the document in the discharge tray 100 to be maintained even when the discharge speed of the document by the discharge roller pair 406 is high.

[0064] In this embodiment, when handling an original whose length in the transport direction is A4R size or less, the extension tray 101 is set to the stored position, and when handling an original whose length in the transport direction is longer than A4R size (for example, legal size), the extension tray 101 is set to the pulled-out position. However, the notation "R" regarding the original size indicates that the original is set in the feed tray 302 with the long side extending in the transport direction and the short side extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0065] In this embodiment, in a configuration in which the extension tray 101 can be moved between a plurality of positions, the swing guide 102 can be in an upright position at least in two positions (FIGS. 9(b) and 10(b)). This allows the swing guide 102 to regulate the leading edges of documents of a plurality of sizes with different lengths in the transport direction, thereby maintaining alignment in the discharge tray 100.

[0066] 9(a), when the extension tray 101 is in the stored position and the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position, the swing guide 102 is stored inside the discharge tray 100 when viewed from above in the vertical direction and does not protrude downstream in the document discharge direction X2 from the discharge tray 100. Therefore, when neither the extension tray 101 nor the swing guide 102 is used, the width of the image reading device 201 in the X direction can be reduced by setting them in the state shown in FIG.

[0067] It is desirable to secure a protruding amount of the second rib portion 506 with respect to the discharge tray 100 so that the swing guide 102 can sufficiently regulate the leading edge of the document even when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. For example, when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position and the swing guide 102 is in the standing position, the length from the upper end of the second rib portion 506 in the vertical direction downward as viewed from the Y direction to the point where the line segment intersects with the discharge tray 100 or the extension tray 101 is defined as the first protruding amount. Also, when the extension tray 101 is in the pulled-out position and the swing guide 102 is in the standing position, the length from the upper end of the second rib portion 506 in the vertical direction downward as viewed from the Y direction to the point where the line segment intersects with the extension tray 101 is defined as the second protruding amount. In this case, for example, if the first protruding amount is half or more of the second protruding amount, it is easy to expect the swing guide 102 to regulate the leading edge of the document even when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position. Also, for example, it is preferable that both the first protrusion amount and the second protrusion amount are 10 mm or more.

[0068] (Relative position to the feed tray) Next, the swing direction of the swing guide 102 and its advantages will be described with reference to FIG. 11. As described above, the swing guide 102 is in a state of extending downstream in the document discharge direction with respect to the swing axis Y0 in the laid-down position. Therefore, when the swing guide 102 is raised from the laid-down position to the upright position, as shown in FIG. 11, the swing guide 102 is swung in a first swing direction R1 counterclockwise in the figure so as to move upward in the Z direction and toward the upstream side in the document discharge direction X2. Then, when the swing guide 102 is in the upright position, a snap-fit ​​shape 510 provided on the side opposite to the abutment portion of the swing guide 102 against the sheet abuts against a receiving portion 602 of the extension tray 101, so that the swing guide 102 is maintained in the upright position.

[0069] In this configuration, even if there is another member such as the feeding tray 302 above the swingable guide 102, it is possible to avoid interference with the other member when swinging the swingable guide 102 between the laid-down position and the upright position. Therefore, the position of the swingable guide 102 can be easily changed even in a small space. In recent years, there has been a demand for higher throughput in image reading devices, and in order to meet this demand, there is a trend for the sheet discharge speed to be increased. Therefore, a study has been conducted on a method for maintaining the alignment of the sheets in the sheet stacking section by restricting the movement of the sheets in the discharge direction using a swinging member that can protrude above the sheet stacking section. However, in the rotation configuration of the rotating tray in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the rotating tray is configured to protrude downstream in the sheet discharge direction from a state in which it is stored upstream of the rotation axis in the sheet discharge direction. Therefore, a relatively large space is required to rotate the rotating tray. In addition, for example, the rotating tray cannot be rotated until the extension tray is pulled out to avoid the feeding tray located above the discharge tray, and improvements in operability are desired.

[0070] As an alternative configuration to this embodiment, it is possible to consider a configuration in which the swing guide 102 extends upstream of the swing axis Y0 in the document discharge direction X2 in the lying-down position, and the swing guide 102 can be swung to the standing position at the same angle as in FIG. 11 by swinging it clockwise in the figure. However, in this alternative configuration, the highest point of the trajectory when the swing guide 102 is swung from the lying-down position to the standing position is higher than in this embodiment. As a result, there is a concern that the operation of the swing guide 102 may be difficult due to a member located above the discharge tray 100, such as the feed tray 302. If the swing guide 102 is swung in a state in which the feed tray 302 is retracted upward to avoid this, even if the operation of the swing guide 102 itself becomes easier, the number of steps to retract the feed tray 302 increases, and this does not lead to improved operability.

[0071] In contrast, in the present embodiment, regardless of whether the extension tray 101 is in the stored position or the pulled-out position, the user can place the swinging guide 102 in the upright position by a single action of putting a finger on the swinging guide 102 in the collapsed position and pushing it upward. In other words, there is no need to secure a space above the swinging guide 102 by pulling out the extension tray 101 from the stored position, or to secure a space above the swinging guide 102 by lifting the feeding tray 302 upward, and this improves operability.

[0072] The configuration of this embodiment can be suitably applied when the swing radius r1 of the swing guide 102 (the distance from the swing axis Y0 to the end of the swing guide 102 far from the swing axis Y0) is smaller than the minimum distance (d1 in FIG. 11) between the swing axis Y0 and the feed tray 302. If the second rib portion 506 is to be secured to a protruding amount that protrudes upward from the discharge tray 100 and the extension tray 101 in the upright posture, the length of the swing guide 102, that is, the radius of the swing locus, becomes large. On the other hand, in order to reduce the size of the image reading device 201 in the height direction, it is preferable to bring the discharge tray 100 and the feed tray 302 as close as possible in the Z direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the swing radius r1 of the swing guide 102 may be smaller than the minimum distance d1 between the swing axis Y0 and the feed tray 302. According to the configuration of this embodiment, even under such an arrangement, it is possible to change the position of the swing guide 102 without interfering with the feeding tray 302 .

[0073] As another alternative configuration to this embodiment, it is possible to arrange an engagement portion for maintaining the posture of the oscillating guide 102, such as the snap-fit ​​shape 510, on the same side as the contact portion of the oscillating guide 102 with the document. With this alternative configuration, it can be problematic to arrange the engagement portion so as not to interfere with the function of the contact portion, but in this embodiment, it is possible to maintain the posture of the oscillating guide 102 with a simple configuration in which the snap-fit ​​shape 510 is arranged on the opposite side to the contact portion.

[0074] In addition, when the engaging portion is disposed on the same side as the contact portion, it is possible to dispose the engaging portion near the swing axis Y0 so that the contact portion does not interfere with the function of regulating the leading edge of the document. However, the closer the engaging portion is to the swing axis Y0, the greater the force acting on the contact portion between the engaging portion and the engaged portion when regulating the swing of the swing guide 102 due to the principle of leverage. Therefore, in order to sufficiently regulate the swing of the swing guide 102, it is necessary to ensure the strength of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, which is likely to lead to an increase in cost, and there is a concern that the engaging portion will rub strongly against the engaged portion when changing the position, causing wear. In contrast, in this embodiment, the snap-fit ​​shape 510 can be disposed at a position relatively far from the swing axis Y0, and the swing of the swing guide 102 can be sufficiently regulated using, for example, a relatively small snap-fit ​​shape 510.

[0075] (Modification) In the above-mentioned first embodiment, a configuration in which the swing guide 102 is provided on the extension tray 101 that is movable relative to the discharge tray 100 has been exemplified, but the present technology may be applied to a configuration in which the sheet stacking unit does not include the extension tray 101. For example, the discharge tray 100 may be provided with configurations equivalent to the bearing portion 600, the second opening 601, the receiving portion 602, the convex shape 603, and the like of this embodiment, so that the swing guide 102 can be assembled in the same position as when the extension tray 101 is in the storage position in this embodiment.

[0076] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the feed tray 302 is exemplified as a member located above the sheet stacking unit on which the swinging member is provided, but the present technology can be applied to any member located above the sheet stacking unit. For example, even in a configuration in which another sheet stacking unit is located above the sheet stacking unit, the present technology makes it possible to change the position of the swinging member in a narrow space. In addition, the present technology is not limited to a configuration in which another member is always located above the sheet stacking unit. EXAMPLES

[0077] Next, the configuration of the swing guide 102A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 14. This embodiment differs from the swing guide 102 of the first embodiment in that the swing shaft of the swing guide 102A is attached to a flexible arm, and the swing guide is assembled to the extension tray by utilizing the elasticity of the arm. Hereinafter, components with the same reference symbols as those of the first embodiment will be described as having substantially the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

[0078] FIG. 12(a) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102A in this embodiment as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 12(b) is a perspective view of the swing guide 102A as viewed from the back side. The swing guide 102A has a swing shaft 500, a rib portion 506A, a first surface 501, a second surface 503, a third surface 504, a fourth surface 505, and a snap-fit ​​shape 510. Back surfaces 511, 513, 514, and 515 are provided on the back sides of the first surface 501, the second surface 503, the third surface 504, and the fourth surface 505, respectively. The rib portions 506A, 506A are provided on both sides of the swing guide 102A in the Y direction, similar to the second rib portions 506, 506 in the first embodiment, and function as abutting portions for the document.

[0079] Here, the swing guide 102A has arms 520, 520 extending in a direction intersecting the swing axis Y0, and the swing shafts 500, 500 are provided on the arms 520, 520. In this embodiment, the arms 520, 520 extend in substantially the same direction as the ribs 506A, 506A when viewed from the Y direction. In addition, the swing guide 102A has at least the arms 520, 520 molded from a resin material such as ABS (a resin made of a copolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) or PC+ABS (an alloy resin of polycarbonate and ABS resin). In addition, slits 521, 521 are provided between the arms 520, 520 and the second surface 503, and the arms 520, 520 are set to a degree of rigidity that allows the user to bend them inward in the Y direction by hand.

[0080] 13 is a perspective view showing the extension tray 101 of this embodiment. The extension tray 101 is provided with bearings 600A, 600A, a second opening 601A, and a convex shape 603. The bearings 600A, 600A are engaged with the swing shafts 500, 500 of the swing guide 102A and support the swing guide 102 so that it can swing (rotatably) around the swing axis Y0. The second opening 601A is located downstream of the bearings 600, 600 in the document discharge direction X2. The second opening 601A functions as a space for receiving the snap fit shape 510 and avoiding interference with the extension tray 101 when the swing guide 102 is in the laid-down position.

[0081] However, in the swing guide 102A in this embodiment, the swing shafts 500 are moved to a position facing the corresponding bearings 600A with the arms 520, 520 bent, and then the arms 520 are released so that the swing shafts 500 fit into the bearings 600A. Accordingly, the bearings 600A, 600A are formed as holes that open inward in the Y direction and are closed on the lower side in the Z direction. The second opening 601A is smaller than the first opening 601 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment, and is set to a size that does not allow the swing shafts 500, 500 to pass through.

[0082] 14 is a perspective view showing the swing guide 102A attached to the extension tray 101. The operation and function of the swing guide 102A after being attached to the extension tray 101 are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted. Therefore, when using the swing guide 102A of this embodiment, the posture of the swing guide can be easily changed even in a narrow space, as in the first embodiment.

[0083] (Other embodiments) In each of the above embodiments, the present technology is applied to the image reading device 201 attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 202, but the present technology may be applied to an image reading device independent of the image forming apparatus. The present technology is also applicable to a sheet discharging device other than the ADF constituting the image reading apparatus (for example, a device that discharges recording material on which an image has been formed in the image forming apparatus).

[0084] The present disclosure includes at least the following configurations.

[0085] (Configuration 1) a discharge means for discharging the sheet in a sheet discharge direction; a sheet stacking section on which the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked; a swinging member having a contact portion capable of contacting a sheet discharged by the discharge means, the swinging member swinging between a first position where the contact portion restricts movement of the sheet discharged by the discharge means in the sheet discharge direction and a second position where the contact portion has moved downward compared to the first position, the swinging member swinging about a swing axis located upstream of the contact portion in the sheet discharge direction when in the second position; an engaged portion provided on the sheet stacking portion; an engaging portion provided on a surface of the swinging member opposite to the abutting portion, the engaging portion being configured to restrict swinging of the swinging member from the first position to the second position by engaging with the engaged portion when the swinging member is in the first position, A sheet discharging device comprising:

[0086] (Configuration 2) the sheet stacking unit includes a discharge tray and an extension tray that supports sheets together with the discharge tray, the extension tray moving relative to the discharge tray between a storage position where the extension tray is stored in the discharge tray and a pull-out position where the extension tray protrudes downstream in the sheet discharge direction from the discharge tray; The swinging member is swingably supported by the extension tray, The engaged portion is provided on the extension tray. 2. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 1.

[0087] (Configuration 3) The ejection tray is provided with a first opening that allows the swinging member to swing between the first position and the second position when the extension tray is in the storage position. 3. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 2.

[0088] (Configuration 4) the first opening has a concave shape in which a part of a downstream end of the discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction is concave toward the upstream side in the sheet discharge direction when viewed in a vertical direction; 4. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 3.

[0089] (Configuration 5) when viewed from the direction of the swing axis of the swing member, when the extension tray is in the storage position and the swing member is in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with respect to the discharge tray and the extension tray by a first protrusion amount, and when the extension tray is in the pull-out position and the swing member is in the first position, the contact portion protrudes with respect to the extension tray by a second protrusion amount; The first protrusion amount is equal to or greater than half of the second protrusion amount. 5. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 3 or 4.

[0090] (Configuration 6) the pivot axis of the pivot member is provided upstream of a downstream end of the extension tray in the sheet discharge direction, When the extension tray is in the storage position and the swinging member is in the second position, the swinging member is located inside the discharge tray when viewed in a vertical direction. 6. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 2 to 5.

[0091] (Configuration 7) a first recess that is recessed downward compared to the abutment portion when the swing member is in the second position is provided on a surface of the swing member on the same side as the abutment portion; the first recess is configured to slide the extension tray from the storage position to the pull-out position by being pressed downstream in the sheet ejection direction when the swinging member is in the second position, 7. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 2 to 6.

[0092] (Configuration 8) the rocking member has a non-slip concave / convex shape downstream of the first concave in the sheet discharge direction when the rocking member is in the second position, 8. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 7.

[0093] (Configuration 9) The engaging portion is a protrusion that protrudes from a surface of the swing member opposite to the abutting portion toward a downstream side in a swing direction from the first position to the second position. 9. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8.

[0094] (Configuration 10) an opening for receiving the protrusion when the swinging member is in the second position is formed in the sheet stacking portion; The engaged portion is a peripheral portion of the opening. 10. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 9.

[0095] (Configuration 11) the protrusion is made of an elastically deformable material, and when the swinging member at the first position receives a force equal to or greater than a threshold value toward the second position, the protrusion disengages from the engaged portion, allowing the swinging member to swing to the second position. 11. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 9 or 10.

[0096] (Configuration 12) the sheet stacking portion has a first regulating portion that abuts against a surface of the swinging member opposite to the abutting portion, thereby regulating the swinging member in the second position from further swinging in a swinging direction from the first position to the second position. 12. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11.

[0097] (Configuration 13) The first restricting portion is provided with a second recess formed so that at least a part of a surface of the pivot member opposite to the abutment portion is exposed when the pivot member is in the second position. 13. The sheet ejection device according to configuration 12.

[0098] (Configuration 14) the sheet stacking portion has a second regulating portion that abuts against a surface of the swinging member on the same side as the abutting portion, thereby regulating the swinging member in the first position from further swinging in a swinging direction from the second position to the first position. 14. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 13.

[0099] (Configuration 15) The swing member has a shaft portion extending on the swing axis, the sheet stacking portion has a bearing portion that rotatably supports the shaft portion, and a communication portion that forms an opening that communicates with the bearing portion from a direction intersecting the swing axis, The communication portion is configured such that a width of the opening is set smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft portion, and the shaft portion is pushed in from a direction intersecting the oscillation axis to be fitted into the bearing portion. 15. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 14.

[0100] (Configuration 16) The swing member has a shaft portion extending on the swing axis line, and an arm portion supporting the shaft portion and elastically deformable in the direction of the swing axis line, the sheet stacking portion has a bearing portion that rotatably supports the shaft portion, and is configured so that the shaft portion fits into the bearing portion by bending the arm portion. 15. The sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 14.

[0101] (Configuration 17) A feed tray on which sheets are loaded; a conveying means for feeding and conveying the sheets stacked on the feeding tray; a reading means for reading image information by scanning the sheet being conveyed by the conveying means at a reading position; and a sheet ejection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 16, which ejects the sheet that has passed the reading position. 1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

[0102] (Configuration 18) the sheet stacking unit is disposed below the feed tray, a swing radius of the swing member with respect to the swing axis as viewed in the direction of the swing axis is greater than a minimum distance from the swing axis to the feeding tray, and the swing member swings between the first position and the second position without contacting the feeding tray. 18. The image reading device according to configuration 17,

[0103] (Configuration 19) An image reading device according to any one of configurations 16 to 18, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material based on the image information read by the image reading device. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 3...Image forming means (image forming section) / 100...Sheet stacking section (discharge tray) / 101...Sheet stacking section (extension tray) / 102, 102A...Swing member (swing guide) / 103...First opening / 500...Shaft section / 506, 506A...Abutment section (second rib section) / 507...Anti-slip uneven shape (anti-slip rib) / 510...Engagement section (snap-fit ​​shape) / 519...First recess / 520...Arm section / 600, 600A...Bearing section / 601...second opening / 602...engaged portion (receiving portion) / 604...first regulating portion (convex top surface) / 605...second recess / 700...second regulating portion (swing regulating portion) / 800...communicating portion (projection shape) / 200...image forming apparatus / 201...image reading apparatus / 300...sheet discharge device (ADF) / 302...feed tray / 406...discharge means (pair of discharge rollers) / 409, 410...reading means (image sensor) / Y0...swing axis of swinging member

Claims

1. A feed tray on which sheets are loaded; a conveying means for conveying the sheets stacked on the feeding tray; a reading means for reading an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; a discharge means for discharging the sheet read by the reading means in a sheet discharge direction; a sheet stacking section on which the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked; An image reading device comprising: The sheet stacking unit includes: a discharge tray that is disposed below the feed tray so as to overlap with the feed tray when viewed from above in the vertical direction and that supports the sheet discharged by the discharge means; a rotating member that is movable in the sheet discharge direction relative to the discharge tray and rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotating member standing upright with respect to the discharge tray and rotating between a first position that restricts movement of the sheet discharged by the discharge means in the sheet discharge direction and a second position that is retreated downward compared to the first position; a rib provided on an upper surface of the discharge tray so as to extend in the sheet discharge direction and disposed on both sides of the rotating member in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction; the rotating member has a contact portion against which a leading edge of a sheet discharged by the discharge means comes into contact when the rotating member is located at the first position, the contact portion is located on an upper surface of the rotating member and is located below an upper surface of the rib as viewed in the width direction when the rotating member is located at the second position on the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

2. the rotating member has a pressed surface that is pressed from below when the rotating member is moved from the second position to the first position, When the rotating member is located at the second position, the pressed surface is exposed to a downstream side in the sheet discharge direction through a space formed between the pressed surface and a surface of the sheet stacking unit facing the pressed surface in the vertical direction.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus comprises:

3. the discharge tray has a concave shape extending from a downstream end of the discharge tray toward an upstream side in the sheet discharge direction when viewed from above in the vertical direction, When the rotating member is located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction and when the rotating member is located at the second position, the rotating member is exposed inside the concave shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and the entire rotating member is located upstream of the downstream end of the discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

4. the sheet stacking section supports the rotation shaft so that the rotation member is rotatable, and includes a moving member that is movable together with the rotation member in the sheet discharge direction.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a scanning apparatus.

5. a holding means for holding the rotating member at the first position by restricting the rotating member from moving to the second position when the rotating member is located at the first position, The holding means is a contact body provided on the rotating member, at least a portion of which is made of an elastically deformable material; a receiving portion provided on the moving member, the receiving portion contacting the contact object when the rotating member rotates between the first position and the second position to elastically deform at least the part of the contact object; 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4,

6. The abutted body is provided on the opposite side to the abutting portion.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5,

7. the movable member is slidable between a third position located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction and a fourth position located downstream of the third position in the sheet discharge direction, the rotating member is rotatable between the first position and the second position in both a state in which the moving member is in a third position and a state in which the moving member is in a fourth position; 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

8. The moving member has an inclined surface inclined upward toward a downstream side in the sheet discharge direction, an end portion which is a lower end of the contact portion when the rotating member is at the first position is located downstream of the inclined surface in the sheet discharge direction and below an extension line of the inclined surface when viewed in the width direction, in each of a state in which the rotating member is at the first position and a state in which the rotating member is at the second position; 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is a scanning apparatus.

9. The movable member has a rotation regulating portion that regulates the rotating member from further rotating from the first position in a rotation direction from the second position to the first position, the rotation restriction portion is provided downstream of the inclined surface in the sheet discharge direction.

9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8,

10. the rotation shaft is provided at a position that is a lower end of the rotation member that is located at the first position and is an upstream end in the sheet discharge direction of the rotation member that is located at the second position; 10. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

11. a direction in which the rotating member rotates from the second position to the first position is a direction toward an upstream side in the sheet discharge direction, When the rotating member is located at the most upstream side of a range in which the rotating member can move in the sheet discharge direction, the rotating member is movable from the second position to the first position without interfering with the sheet feed tray.

11. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

12. the sheet stacking portion has a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation member from further rotating from the first position toward the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction.

12. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

13. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and an image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image information read by the reading means.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images