Image reader

Abstract

To provide an image reading device which improves jam processability.SOLUTION: An image reading device includes a first guide part having a first guide member for guiding a sheet, and a first reading part which is supported integrally with the first guide member and reads an image of a first surface of a sheet passing through a conveyance path, and a second guide part having a second guide member which is arranged so as to face the first guide member and forms the conveyance path together with the first guide member, and a second reading part which is supported integrally with the second guide member and reads an image on a second surface opposite to a first surface of the sheet passing through the conveyance path. The first guide part is movably provided so as to open the conveyance path with respect to the second guide part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image on a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an image reading device has been proposed that uses a reading unit to read an image formed on a sheet output from an image forming device and detects image defects in the read image (see Patent Document 1). The image reading device has a first reading unit that is disposed above the sheet transport path and reads an image on the upper side of the sheet, and a second reading unit that is disposed below the sheet transport path and reads an image on the lower side of the sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-98525 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, when a sheet jams in the conveying path of the image reading device described in the above Patent Document 1, a possible configuration for removing the jammed sheet is to manually rotate a pair of rollers arranged between the first reading unit and the second reading unit to send the sheet downstream in the sheet conveying direction. However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to manually convey the sheet to the discharge outlet of the image reading device, which poses a problem in terms of jamming clearance.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device with improved jamming disposal capabilities. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the sheet, the image reading apparatus including a first guide member for guiding the sheet,, transportation a first reading unit for reading an image on a first surface of a sheet passing through the sheet feed path; unit and the first Reading unit is disposed opposite to Guide the seat A second guide member ,before a second reading unit for reading an image on a second side of the sheet passing through the conveying path, the second side being opposite to the first side of the sheet; unit and, a housing including a top surface of the image reading device and accommodating the first unit and the second unit; Equipped with the first unit is movable relative to the second unit inside the housing, and the transport path is opened by the first unit moving upward so as to approach the top surface; It is characterized by: The present invention also provides an image reading device that reads an image of a sheet discharged from an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet, the image reading device comprising: a first unit having a first guide member that guides the sheet and a first reading section that reads an image of a first side of the sheet passing through a transport path; a second unit arranged opposite the first reading section and having a second guide member that guides the sheet and a second reading section that reads an image of a second side opposite the first side of the sheet passing through the transport path; and a housing that includes a top surface of the image reading device and accommodates the first unit and the second unit, the second unit being movable relative to the first unit inside the housing, and the transport path being opened by the second unit moving downward away from the top surface. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve jamming disposal performance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an image forming system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper transport guide unit and a lower transport guide unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper conveying guide unit in the open position. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper transport guide unit and a lower transport guide unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower conveying guide unit located at the open position. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper transport guide unit and a lower transport guide unit according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper transport guide unit located at an open position and a lower transport guide unit located at an open position; FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an image reading device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the embodiments may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0010] <First embodiment> [Overall structure] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, an image forming system 100 according to the first embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101, an image reading apparatus 102, and a stacking apparatus 103. The image forming apparatus 101 is connected to the upstream side of the image reading apparatus 102 in the sheet conveying direction, and the stacking apparatus 103 is connected to the downstream side of the image reading apparatus 102 in the sheet conveying direction.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 101 is an electrophotographic full-color laser printer that forms a toner image on a sheet P based on an image signal input to a control unit 301 from an external device 300 such as an information terminal such as a personal computer or an image reader. An operation unit 28 having a liquid crystal panel, various physical buttons, etc. is connected to the image forming apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 101 is a POD machine that can handle printing other than general office use, and can use various sheets as recording media, such as paper and envelopes, glossy paper, plastic films such as overhead projector sheets (OHT), and cloth.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 101 has a feeding unit 30 that feeds a sheet P, and an image forming engine 31 that forms an image on the sheet P fed from the feeding unit 30. The image forming engine 31, which is an example of an image forming unit, is of a tandem intermediate transfer type that includes four image forming stations PY, PM, PC, and PK that form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and an intermediate transfer belt 50 that is an intermediate transfer body. Each of the image forming stations PY to PK is an electrophotographic unit that has a photosensitive drum that is a photosensitive body.

[0013] The image forming units PY to PK have the same configuration except for the color of the toner used for development, so the configuration of the image forming units and the toner image forming process (image forming operation) will be described using the yellow image forming unit PY as an example. In addition to the photosensitive drum 1, the image forming unit PY has a charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, and a drum cleaner 7. The photosensitive drum 1 is a drum-shaped photosensitive body having a photosensitive layer on its outer periphery, and rotates in a direction parallel to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is charged by being supplied with an electric charge from the charging device 2.

[0014] The exposure device 3 emits a laser beam modulated according to image information, and scans the photosensitive drum 1 by an optical system, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The development device 4 contains a developer including toner, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by supplying the toner to the photosensitive drum 1. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 50 at a primary transfer portion, which is a nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 50 and a primary transfer roller 6Y, which is a primary transfer device. Residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer is removed by a drum cleaner 7.

[0015] The intermediate transfer belt 50 is wound around a driving roller 51, a driven roller 52, a secondary transfer inner roller 53, and primary transfer rollers 6Y to 6K, and is driven to rotate in a clockwise direction in the drawing by the driving roller 51. The image forming operations described above are carried out in parallel in each image forming portion PY to PK, and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 50 by multiple transfer of four color toner images so that they overlap each other. This toner image is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 50 and conveyed to the secondary transfer portion. The secondary transfer portion is configured as a nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 14 and the secondary transfer inner roller 53 as a transfer portion, and a bias voltage of a polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 14, so that the toner image is secondarily transferred to the sheet P. Residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 50 after transfer is removed by a belt cleaner.

[0016] The sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is delivered to the fixing unit 16 by the pre-fixing transport section 22. The fixing unit 16 has a pair of fixing rollers that sandwich and transport the sheet P, and a heat source such as a halogen heater, and applies pressure and heat to the toner image carried on the sheet P. This causes the toner particles to melt and adhere, resulting in a fixed image fixed on the sheet P.

[0017] Next, the configuration and operation of a sheet conveying system that conveys the sheet P by the feeding unit 30 and discharges the sheet P on which an image is formed to the outside of the apparatus will be described. The sheet conveying system roughly includes the feeding unit 30, a conveying section 13, a skew correction section 21, a branch conveying section 23, a reversing conveying section 25, and a double-sided conveying section 57.

[0018] The feeding unit 30 has a feeding cassette 24 that stores sheets P, and a pickup roller 26. The sheets P stored in the feeding cassette 24 are fed by the pickup roller 26. The sheets P fed by the pickup roller 26 are transported along the feeding path 13a by a pair of transport rollers, pass through the transport section 13, and are delivered to the skew correction section 21.

[0019] The sheet P delivered to the skew correction unit 21 is conveyed toward the secondary transfer unit after skew correction and timing correction in the skew correction unit 21. At this time, the registration roller pair 21a included in the skew correction unit 21 sends the sheet P to the secondary transfer unit at a timing according to the progress of the image forming operation by the image forming units PY to PK based on a detection signal of a registration sensor (not shown). The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred in the secondary transfer unit and the image is fixed by the fixing unit 16 is conveyed to a branch conveying unit 23 having a switching member (not shown) capable of switching the conveying path of the sheet P. When the image formation on the sheet P is completed, the sheet P is delivered to the image reading device 102 by the discharge roller pair 23a. When the sheet P is to be delivered to the image reading device 102 after being turned over, the sheet P is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 23a via the reversing path 56.

[0020] When an image is formed on the back side of the sheet P, the sheet P is delivered to the duplex conveying section 57 via the reversing conveying section 25. The reversing conveying section 25 has a pair of reversing rollers that can rotate forward and backward, and switches back the sheet P to deliver it to the duplex conveying section 57. The duplex conveying section 57 conveys the sheet P towards the conveying section 13 via a re-conveying path 13b that merges with the feeding path 13a. Then, after an image is formed on the back side of the sheet P, the sheet P is delivered to the image reading device 102.

[0021] The above configuration is one example of an image forming apparatus, and may be an image forming apparatus equipped with an inkjet type image forming means instead of an electrophotographic type.

[0022] [Loading device] Next, the configuration of the loading device 103 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the loading device 103 has a first discharge path 153, a first discharge tray 158, a second discharge path 154, a second discharge tray 165, a switching member 155, pairs of transport rollers 151, 156, 159, 161, 163, and a control unit 303. The control unit 303 is connected to a control unit 302 (see Fig. 1) of the image reading device 102.

[0023] The sheet P delivered from the image reading device 102 is selectively guided to a first discharge path 153 or a second discharge path 154 by a switching member 155. For example, when an inspection process performed based on the image of the sheet P read by the image reading device 102 determines that there is no image defect in the image of the sheet P, the switching member 155 guides the sheet P to the first discharge path 153. The sheet P guided to the first discharge path 153 is discharged to a first discharge tray 158 by a conveying roller pair 156.

[0024] On the other hand, if the inspection process determines that the image on the sheet P has an image defect, the switching member 155 guides the sheet P to the second discharge path 154. The sheet P guided to the second discharge path 154 is discharged to a second discharge tray 165 by conveyance roller pairs 159, 161, and 163.

[0025] [Image reader] Next, the configuration of the image reading device 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 to Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the image reading device 102 has an inlet roller pair 111, 112, an outlet roller pair 119, 120, an upper conveyance guide unit 146, a lower conveyance guide unit 147, and a control unit 302. As shown in Fig. 1, the control unit 302 is connected to a control unit 301 of the image forming device 101, a control unit 303 of the loading device 103, an external device 300, and an inspection unit 305.

[0026] The control unit 302 transmits the image of the sheet P read by the image reading device 102 to the inspection unit 305. Then, the inspection unit 305 compares the read image data read from the image reading device 102 with preregistered data or the original image data transmitted to the exposure device 3 of the image forming apparatus 101, and executes an inspection process to inspect whether or not there is an image defect on the sheet P. The image defect on the sheet P includes stains on the sheet P, printing errors, and folds in the sheet P. Note that the inspection process is not limited to being performed by the inspection unit 305, and may be performed by any of the external device 300 and the control units 301, 302, and 303.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3, the entrance roller pair 111, 112 transports the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 101 (see Fig. 1) downstream in the sheet transport direction CD. The upper transport guide unit 146 and the lower transport guide unit 147 guide the sheet P while reading an image on the sheet P transported by the entrance roller pair 111, 112. The exit roller pair 119, 120 transports the sheet P guided by the upper transport guide unit 146 and the lower transport guide unit 147 downstream in the sheet transport direction CD, and delivers it to the stacking device 103 (see Fig. 1).

[0028] In this manner, the entrance roller pair 111, 112 as the first roller pair are disposed upstream of the upper conveying guide unit 146 and the lower conveying guide unit 147 in the sheet conveying direction CD. The exit roller pair 119, 120 as the second roller pair are disposed downstream of the upper conveying guide unit 146 and the lower conveying guide unit 147 in the sheet conveying direction CD, and discharge the sheet P outside the apparatus.

[0029] 3 and 4, the upper conveying guide unit 146 as a first guide portion has an upper conveying guide 121, an image reading sensor 116, a platen glass 117, a guide roller 115, and a cooling fan 134. The upper conveying guide 121 as a first guide member guides the upper surface side of the sheet P. The image reading sensor 116 as a first reading portion is supported integrally with the upper conveying guide 121, and reads an image on the upper surface as a first surface of the sheet P.

[0030] A platen glass 117 as a transparent member is fixed integrally to the upper transport guide 121 and has a transparent portion through which light passes when the image reading sensor 116 reads the image on the sheet P. A guide roller 115 is rotatably supported by the upper transport guide 121 and faces an image reading sensor 113 (described later) via the platen glass 114. The guide roller 115 guides the sheet P so as to press it against the platen glass 114 (described later), improving the accuracy of image reading by the image reading sensor 113. A cooling fan 134 as a first blower is supported integrally to the upper transport guide 121 and blows air toward the image reading sensor 116.

[0031] The lower conveying guide unit 147 as a second guide portion has a lower conveying guide 122, an image reading sensor 113, a platen glass 114, a guide roller 118, and a cooling fan 135. The lower conveying guide 122 as a second guide member is disposed facing the upper conveying guide 121. The lower conveying guide 122 forms a conveying path 123 through which the sheet P passes together with the upper conveying guide 121, and guides the lower surface side of the sheet P. The image reading sensor 113 as a second reading portion is supported integrally with the lower conveying guide 122, and reads an image on the lower surface as a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet P. Note that it is sufficient that the upper conveying guide 121 and the lower conveying guide 122 are disposed so as to at least partially overlap each other in the sheet conveying direction CD.

[0032] The platen glass 114 is fixed integrally to the lower transport guide 122 and has a transparent portion that allows light to pass through when the image reading sensor 113 reads the image on the sheet P. A guide roller 118 is rotatably supported by the lower transport guide 122 and guides the sheet P so as to press it against the platen glass 117, improving the accuracy of image reading by the image reading sensor 116. A cooling fan 135 serving as a second blower is supported integrally to the lower transport guide 122 and blows air toward the image reading sensor 113.

[0033] In this manner, the sheet P transported along the transport path 123 is transported while images on both sides of the sheet P are read by the upper transport guide unit 146 and the lower transport guide unit 147. Note that, in this embodiment, the image reading sensors 113 and 116 are CIS (Contact Image Sensors), but are not limited to this. For example, instead of the CIS, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) may be used.

[0034] In this embodiment, no roller pair is provided between the entrance roller pair 111, 112 and the exit roller pair 119, 120, particularly between the image reading sensors 113, 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD. This allows the width of the image reading device 102 in the sheet conveying direction CD to be reduced. Also, the distance L1 in the sheet conveying direction CD between the nip N1 of the entrance roller pair 111, 112 and the nip N2 of the exit roller pair 119, 120 is set to be shorter than the length of the minimum size sheet that can be conveyed by the image reading device 102. This allows the image reading device 102 to be made smaller without affecting the conveyance of the sheet P or the size of the sheet that can be conveyed.

[0035] [Upper transport guide unit opening and closing configuration] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper transport guide unit 146 and the lower transport guide unit 147 viewed from the sheet transport direction, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the upper transport guide unit 146 and the lower transport guide unit 147 viewed from the sheet transport direction in a state in which the transport path is open.

[0036] 4 and 5, the lower transport guide unit 147 is fixed to a frame 141 of the image reading device 102. More specifically, a lower transport guide 122 is fixed to the frame 141, and the image reading sensor 113, the platen glass 114, the guide roller 118 (see FIG. 3), and the cooling fan 135 are supported by the lower transport guide 122.

[0037] On the other hand, the upper conveying guide unit 146 is supported to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 131 serving as a first shaft with respect to the frame 141. More specifically, the upper conveying guide 121 is supported to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 131 by the frame 141. The upper conveying guide 121 supports an image reading sensor 116, a platen glass 117, a guide roller 115 (see FIG. 3), and a cooling fan 134.

[0038] That is, the upper conveying guide unit 146 is configured to be movable between a closed position where it is closed relative to the lower conveying guide unit 147 to form the conveying path 123, and an open position where it is opened relative to the lower conveying guide unit 147 to open the conveying path 123. The upper conveying guide unit 146 opens the conveying path 123 by being opened upward about the rotation shaft 131 relative to the lower conveying guide unit 147.

[0039] A user, for example, grasps a handle 132 provided on the upper transport guide 121 and lifts the handle 132 upward to rotate the upper transport guide unit 146 from the closed position to the open position. The handle 132 is disposed on the front side of the image reading device 102, and the upper transport guide unit 146 is opened upward about a rotation shaft 131 disposed on the rear side of the image reading device 102. This opens the transport path 123, and for example, a sheet jammed in the transport path 123 can be easily removed, improving jamming clearance.

[0040] The frame 141 or the lower transport guide 122 is provided with a positioning member 133 that positions the upper transport guide 121 relative to the lower transport guide 122. In this embodiment, the upper transport guide 121 is made of a steel plate, and a magnet is used for the positioning member 133. Therefore, by attracting the upper transport guide 121 with the positioning member 133, it is possible to position the upper transport guide unit 146 in the closed position.

[0041] In this embodiment, a CIS is used for the image reading sensors 113 and 116. For this reason, the cooling fans 134 and 135 blow air to the image reading sensors 113 and 116 to cool them so that the temperature of the image reading sensors 113 and 116 does not rise due to heat generated by the LEDs.

[0042] Here, the cooling fan 134 is disposed at the upper end portion of an upper transport guide unit 146 that is opened and closed by the user, and the rotation range of the upper transport guide unit 146 is defined as the range up to when the cooling fan 134 hits an upper frame 136 of the image reading device 102. The upper frame 136 forms the top surface of the image reading device 102, and when a number of devices are linked together to form a system such as the image forming system 100, the height from the floor surface to the transport path and the top surface of the devices are often uniform.

[0043] When the cooling fans 134 are arranged at the same height, the cooling fans 134 arranged closer to the pivot shaft 131 can provide a wider rotation range for the upper transport guide unit 146. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cooling fan 134 provided in the upper transport guide unit 146 is arranged closer to the pivot shaft 131 than the cooling fan 135 provided in the lower transport guide unit 147 when viewed in the axial direction of the pivot shaft 131, i.e., in the sheet transport direction. This allows the upper transport guide unit 146 to have a wider rotation range, and improves the ease of clearing a jammed sheet in the transport path 123.

[0044] As described above, in this embodiment, the conveying path 123 can be opened by opening the upper conveying guide unit 146 relative to the lower conveying guide unit 147. Therefore, no matter where a sheet is jammed in the conveying path 123, it is not necessary to convey the jammed sheet to the discharge outlet of the image reading device 102, and the sheet can be easily accessed, improving jam clearance.

[0045] In addition, since the jam is cleared with the upper conveying guide unit 146 open, there is no need to provide a pair of rollers between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, as shown in Fig. 3. This makes it possible to shorten the distance between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, and thus makes it possible to reduce the size of the image reading device 102.

[0046] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which only the lower transport guide unit is configured to be openable and closable. Therefore, the same configurations as those in the first embodiment will be omitted from the drawings or will be described by using the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0047] 3 and 6, the image reading device 102B of the present embodiment has an entrance roller pair 111, 112, an exit roller pair 119, 120, an upper conveying guide unit 246, a lower conveying guide unit 247, and a control unit 302. The upper conveying guide unit 246 has an upper conveying guide 221, an image reading sensor 116, a platen glass 117, a guide roller 115, and a cooling fan 134.

[0048] The upper conveying guide 221 is fixed to the frame 142 of the image reading device 102B, and guides the upper surface side of the sheet P. For this reason, the upper conveying guide unit 246 is provided so as to be immovable.

[0049] The lower conveying guide unit 247 has a lower conveying guide 222, an image reading sensor 113, a platen glass 114, a guide roller 118, and a cooling fan 135. The lower conveying guide 222 is disposed opposite to the upper conveying guide 221, and together with the upper conveying guide 221 forms a conveying path 123 through which a sheet passes. Note that it is sufficient that the upper conveying guide 221 and the lower conveying guide 222 are disposed so as to at least partially overlap each other in the sheet conveying direction CD.

[0050] 6 and 7, the lower transport guide unit 247 is supported by the frame 142 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 137. More specifically, the lower transport guide 222 is supported by the frame 142 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 137. The lower transport guide 222 supports the image reading sensor 113, the platen glass 114, the guide roller 118 (see FIG. 3), and the cooling fan 135.

[0051] That is, the lower conveying guide unit 247 is configured to be movable between a closed position where it is closed relative to the upper conveying guide unit 246 to form the conveying path 123, and an open position where it is opened relative to the upper conveying guide unit 246 to open the conveying path 123. The lower conveying guide unit 247 opens the conveying path 123 by being opened downwardly about the pivot shaft 137 relative to the upper conveying guide unit 246.

[0052] A user, for example, grasps handle 138 provided on lower conveying guide 222 and pushes handle 138 downward to rotate lower conveying guide unit 247 from the closed position to the open position. Handle 138 is disposed on the front side of image reading device 102B, and lower conveying guide unit 247 is opened downward about pivot shaft 137 disposed on the rear side of image reading device 102B. This opens conveying path 123, and for example, a sheet jammed in conveying path 123 can be easily removed, improving jamming clearance.

[0053] The frame 142 or the upper transport guide 221 is provided with a positioning member 233 that positions the lower transport guide 222 relative to the upper transport guide 221. In this embodiment, the lower transport guide 222 is made of a steel plate, and a magnet is used for the positioning member 233. Therefore, by attracting the lower transport guide 222 with the positioning member 233, it is possible to position the lower transport guide unit 247 in the closed position.

[0054] In addition, the cooling fan 135 is disposed at the lower end portion of the lower conveying guide unit 247 which is opened and closed by the user, and the rotation range of the lower conveying guide unit 247 is defined as the range up to which the cooling fan 135 collides with the lower frame of the image reading device 102B.

[0055] When the cooling fans 135 are arranged at the same height, the lower conveying guide unit 247 can have a wider rotation range if they are arranged closer to the pivot shaft 137. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cooling fan 135 provided in the lower conveying guide unit 247 is arranged closer to the pivot shaft 137 than the cooling fan 134 provided in the upper conveying guide unit 246, as viewed in the axial direction of the pivot shaft 137, i.e., in the sheet conveying direction. This allows the lower conveying guide unit 247 to have a wider rotation range, and improves the ease of clearing a jammed sheet in the conveying path 123.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment, the conveying path 123 can be opened by opening the lower conveying guide unit 247 downward relative to the upper conveying guide unit 246. Therefore, no matter where a sheet is jammed in the conveying path 123, it is not necessary to convey the jammed sheet to the discharge outlet of the image reading device 102B, and the sheet can be easily accessed, improving jamming clearance.

[0057] In addition, since jamming is cleared with the lower conveying guide unit 247 open, there is no need to provide a pair of rollers between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, as shown in Fig. 3. This makes it possible to shorten the distance between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, and thus makes it possible to reduce the size of the image reading device 102B.

[0058] In this embodiment, the lower transport guide unit 247 that is openable and closable corresponds to the first guide section. The lower transport guide 222 of the lower transport guide unit 247, the image reading sensor 113, and the platen glass 114 correspond to the first guide member, the first reading section, and the transparent member, respectively. The upper transport guide unit 246 corresponds to the second guide section, and the upper transport guide 221 and the image reading sensor 116 of the upper transport guide unit 246 correspond to the second guide member and the second reading section.

[0059] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which both the upper transport guide unit and the lower transport guide unit are configured to be openable and closable. Therefore, the same configurations as those in the first embodiment will be omitted from the illustrations or will be described by using the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0060] 3 and 8, the image reading device 102C of the present embodiment has an entrance roller pair 111, 112, an exit roller pair 119, 120, an upper conveying guide unit 346, a lower conveying guide unit 347, and a control unit 302. The upper conveying guide unit 346 serving as a first guide section has an upper conveying guide 321, an image reading sensor 116, a platen glass 117, a guide roller 115, and a cooling fan 134.

[0061] 8 and 9, the upper transport guide unit 346 is supported by the rear frame 143 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 131. More specifically, the upper transport guide 321 is supported by the rear frame 143 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 131. The upper transport guide 321 supports the image reading sensor 116, the platen glass 117, the guide roller 115 (see FIG. 3), and the cooling fan 134.

[0062] That is, the upper conveying guide unit 346 is configured to be movable between a closed position where it is closed relative to the lower conveying guide unit 347 to form the conveying path 123, and an open position where it is opened relative to the lower conveying guide unit 347 to open the conveying path 123. The upper conveying guide unit 346 opens the conveying path 123 by being opened upward about the rotation shaft 131 relative to the lower conveying guide unit 347.

[0063] A lower transport guide unit 347 as a second guide portion is supported by the rear frame 143 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 137 as a second shaft parallel to the rotation shaft 131. More specifically, the lower transport guide 322 is supported by the rear frame 143 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 137, and the image reading sensor 113, the platen glass 114, the guide roller 118, and the cooling fan 135 are supported by the lower transport guide 322.

[0064] That is, the lower conveying guide unit 347 is configured to be movable between a closed position where it is closed relative to the upper conveying guide unit 346 to form the conveying path 123, and an open position where it is opened relative to the upper conveying guide unit 346 to open the conveying path 123. The lower conveying guide unit 347 opens the conveying path 123 by being opened downward about the pivot shaft 137 relative to the upper conveying guide unit 346.

[0065] For example, a user grasps handle 132 provided on upper transport guide 321 and lifts handle 132 upward to rotate upper transport guide unit 346 from the closed position to the open position. Handle 132 is disposed on the front side of image reading device 102C, and upper transport guide unit 346 opens upward about rotation shaft 131 disposed on the rear side of image reading device 102C.

[0066] Also, the user grasps, for example, handle 138 provided on lower transport guide 322 and pushes handle 138 downward to rotate lower transport guide unit 347 from the closed position to the open position. Handle 138 is disposed on the front side of image reading device 102C, and lower transport guide unit 347 opens downward around rotation shaft 137 disposed on the rear side of image reading device 102C.

[0067] In this way, by opening both the upper transport guide unit 346 and the lower transport guide unit 347, the transport path 123 is opened widely, and the transport path 123 can be accessed from the opening 145 provided in the front frame 144. This makes it possible to easily remove a sheet that is jammed in the transport path 123, for example, thereby improving jamming clearance. Note that when opening the transport path 123, the user does not necessarily need to open both the upper transport guide unit 346 and the lower transport guide unit 347, and may open only one of them.

[0068] The front frame 144 of the image reading device 102C is provided with a positioning member 333 that positions the upper transport guide 321 and the lower transport guide 322 relative to the front frame 144. In this embodiment, the upper transport guide 321 and the lower transport guide 322 are made of steel plate, and a magnet is used for the positioning member 333. Therefore, by attracting the upper transport guide 321 and the lower transport guide 322 with the positioning member 333, the upper transport guide unit 346 and the lower transport guide unit 347 can be positioned in the closed position.

[0069] As described above, in this embodiment, the conveying path 123 can be opened by opening at least one of the upper conveying guide unit 346 and the lower conveying guide unit 347. Therefore, no matter where a sheet is jammed in the conveying path 123, it is not necessary to convey the jammed sheet to the discharge outlet of the image reading device 102C, and the sheet can be easily accessed, improving jamming clearance.

[0070] In addition, since jamming is cleared with at least one of the upper conveying guide unit 346 and the lower conveying guide unit 347 open, there is no need to provide a pair of rollers between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD as shown in Fig. 3. This makes it possible to shorten the distance between the image reading sensors 113 and 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, and thus makes it possible to miniaturize the image reading device 102C.

[0071] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which the upper transport guide unit and the lower transport guide unit are provided with inlet rollers and outlet rollers, respectively. Therefore, the same configuration as the first embodiment will be described by omitting illustrations or by assigning the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0072] As shown in Fig. 10, the image reading device 102D of the present embodiment has an upper conveying guide unit 446, a lower conveying guide unit 447, and a control unit 302. The upper conveying guide unit 446 has an upper conveying guide 421, an image reading sensor 116, a platen glass 117, a guide roller 115, a cooling fan 134 (see Fig. 8), an entrance roller 111, and an exit roller 119. The entrance roller 111 and the exit roller 119 are rotatably supported by the upper conveying guide 421. In other words, the entrance roller 111, which is one of the pair of entrance rollers, and the exit roller 119, which is one of the pair of exit rollers, are rotatably supported by the upper conveying guide 421 as a first guide member.

[0073] The lower transport guide unit 447 has a lower transport guide 422, an image reading sensor 113, a platen glass 114, a guide roller 118, a cooling fan 135 (see FIG. 8), an entrance roller 112, and an exit roller 120. The entrance roller 112 and the exit roller 120 are rotatably supported by the lower transport guide 422. The entrance rollers 111, 112 form an entrance roller pair, and the exit rollers 119, 120 form an exit roller pair.

[0074] In this embodiment, it is sufficient that at least one of the upper conveying guide unit 446 and the lower conveying guide unit 447 is configured to be openable and closable, and the opening and closing configurations of these upper conveying guide unit and lower conveying guide unit are as described in the first to third embodiments.

[0075] As described above, in this embodiment, by opening at least one of the upper conveying guide unit 446 and the lower conveying guide unit 447, it is possible to open the nips of the entrance roller pair 111, 112 and the exit roller pair 119, 120 in addition to the conveying path 123. This improves the ease of handling a sheet jammed in the conveying path 123.

[0076] In addition, since jamming is cleared with at least one of the upper conveying guide unit 446 and the lower conveying guide unit 447 open, there is no need to provide a roller pair between the image reading sensors 113, 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD. This makes it possible to shorten the distance between the image reading sensors 113, 116 in the sheet conveying direction CD, and to reduce the size of the image reading device 102D.

[0077] <Other embodiments> In the first and third embodiments, the upper transport guides 121, 321 are supported rotatably about the pivot shaft 131, but this is not limiting. For example, another member may be interposed between the upper transport guides 121, 321 and the pivot shaft 131. Furthermore, the upper transport guides 121, 321 may be provided so as to be slidable upward to open the transport path 123.

[0078] Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the lower transport guides 222, 322 are supported rotatably about the rotation shaft 137, but this is not limiting. For example, another member may be interposed between the lower transport guides 222, 322 and the rotation shaft 137. Furthermore, the lower transport guides 222, 322 may be provided so as to be slidable downward to open the transport path 123.

[0079] Moreover, the above-described first to fourth embodiments may be combined in any manner.

[0080] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 101 is directly connected to the image reading apparatuses 102, 102B, 102C, and 102D, but this is not limiting. For example, another device such as a decurling device that corrects curls in a sheet may be interposed between the image forming apparatus 101 and the image reading apparatuses 102, 102B, 102C, and 102D. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 101: image forming apparatus / 102, 102B, 102C, 102D: image reading apparatus / 111, 112: first roller pair (entrance roller pair) / 113: second reading unit (image reading sensor) / 115: guide roller / 116: first reading unit (image reading sensor) / 117: transparent member (platen glass) / 119, 120: second roller pair (exit roller pair) / 121, 222, 421: first guide member (upper conveying guide, lower conveying guide) / 122: second Guide member (lower conveying guide) / 123: conveying path / 131: first shaft (rotating shaft) / 134: first blowing section (cooling fan) / 135: second blowing section (cooling fan) / 137: second shaft (rotating shaft) / 141: frame / 146, 247, 346: first guide section (upper conveying guide unit, lower conveying guide unit) / 147, 347: second guide section (lower conveying guide unit) / CD: sheet conveying direction / L1: distance / N1, N2: nip / P: sheet

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus for reading an image on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the sheet, a first unit including a first guide member that guides a sheet and a first reading section that reads an image on a first surface of the sheet passing through a conveyance path; a second unit including a second guide member arranged opposite to the first reading section and configured to guide a sheet, and a second reading section configured to read an image on a second side of the sheet passing through the transport path, the second side being opposite to the first side; a housing including a top surface of the image reading device and accommodating the first unit and the second unit; the first unit is movable relative to the second unit inside the housing, and the transport path is opened by the first unit moving upward so as to approach the top surface; 1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

2. a frame for supporting the second unit; The first unit is supported rotatably relative to the frame.

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

3. An image reading device for reading an image on a sheet discharged from an image forming device that forms an image on the sheet, a first unit including a first guide member that guides a sheet and a first reading section that reads an image on a first surface of the sheet passing through a conveyance path; a second unit including a second guide member arranged opposite to the first reading section and configured to guide a sheet, and a second reading section configured to read an image on a second side of the sheet passing through the transport path, the second side being opposite to the first side; a housing including a top surface of the image reading device and accommodating the first unit and the second unit; the second unit is movable relative to the first unit inside the housing, and the transport path is opened by the second unit moving downward so as to move away from the top surface; 1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

4. A frame for supporting the first unit, The second unit is supported rotatably relative to the frame.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3,

5. The first guide member is a first guide roller arranged opposite the second reading unit, the second guide member is a second guide roller disposed opposite the first reading unit; 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

6. a first roller pair disposed upstream of the first reading unit and the second reading unit in a sheet conveying direction, the first roller pair receiving a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus; a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first reading unit and the second reading unit in the sheet conveying direction and configured to discharge the sheet to the outside of the apparatus; 6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

7. no roller pair is provided between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the sheet conveying direction; 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6,

8. The image forming apparatus; and the image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

1. An image forming system comprising:

Images