Image reading device

Abstract

To solve the following problem: user's operation is increased due to switching between a separation function and a non-separation function in addition to posture switching of an apparatus body.SOLUTION: An image reading apparatus includes a reading conveyance path. An apparatus body is turnably mounted on a body supporting portion. The apparatus body is turned so that the posture can be switched between a first posture and a second posture that forms a smaller angle between the reading conveyance path and a mounting surface than an angle formed in the first posture. The image reading apparatus includes separation switching means which can switch a state between a separation state in which a separation roller separates documents and a non-separation state in which the separation roller does not separate documents. The separation switching means sets the separation roller in the separation state when the apparatus body is in the first posture, and sets the separation roller in the non-separation state when the apparatus body is in the second posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image of a medium.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of an image reading apparatus, there is a sheet feed type scanner. In such an image reading apparatus, a configuration may be adopted in which a medium is nipped and separated by a separation roller and a feed roller. In addition to sheet-like originals, there are also booklet-like originals. When a separation action is applied to a booklet-like original, there is a risk of damage. Therefore, like the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is one that can switch between separation feeding for obtaining a separation function and non-separation feeding for stopping the separation function.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the separation function and the non-separation function are switched according to an instruction from an operator. However, in a configuration in which the posture of the apparatus main body can be switched between a posture suitable for a sheet-like original and a posture suitable for a booklet-like original, in addition to switching the posture of the apparatus main body, it is necessary to switch the separation function and the non-separation function, resulting in an increase in user operations.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a main body support portion placed on the mounting surface of the apparatus, and an apparatus main body supported by the main body support portion. The apparatus main body includes a document support portion for supporting a document, a feeding roller for feeding the document supported by the document support portion, a separating roller provided at a position facing the feeding roller, a reading portion for reading the document fed by the feeding roller, and a document conveyance path for conveying the document, including a reading conveyance path facing the reading portion. The apparatus main body is rotatably attached to the main body support portion and can be switched between a first posture by rotation and a second posture in which the angle formed by the reading conveyance path and the mounting surface is smaller than that in the first posture. The apparatus main body is provided with a separation switching means capable of switching between a separation state in which the separating roller separates the document and a non-separation state in which the separating roller does not separate the document. The separation switching means sets the separating roller in the separation state when the apparatus main body is in the first posture and sets the separating roller in the non-separation state when the apparatus main body is in the second posture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] The present invention will be outlined below. An image reading apparatus according to a first aspect includes a main body support portion placed on a mounting surface of the apparatus, and an apparatus main body supported by the main body support portion. The apparatus main body includes a document support portion for supporting a document, a feed roller for feeding the document supported by the document support portion, a separation roller provided at a position facing the feed roller, a reading portion for reading the document fed by the feed roller, and a document conveyance path for conveying the document, the reading conveyance path facing the reading portion. The apparatus main body is rotatably attached to the main body support portion, and can be switched between a first posture by rotation and a second posture in which an angle formed by the reading conveyance path and the mounting surface is smaller than that in the first posture. The apparatus main body is provided with separation switching means capable of switching between a separation state in which the separation roller separates the document and a non-separation state in which the separation roller does not separate the document. The separation switching means sets the separation roller in the separation state when the apparatus main body is in the first posture, and sets the separation roller in the non-separation state when the apparatus main body is in the second posture.

[0008] According to this aspect, since the separation switching means sets the separation roller in the separation state when the apparatus main body is in the first posture and sets the separation roller in the non-separation state when the apparatus main body is in the second posture, the user does not need a dedicated operation for switching between the separation state and the non-separation state of the separation roller, improving the usability of the apparatus.

[0009] A second aspect is, in the first aspect, characterized by including a resistance imparting portion for imparting rotational resistance to the separation roller, and the separation switching means regulates the rotation of the resistance imparting portion, the above-mentioned forms the separation state by regulating the rotation of the separation roller and the resistance imparting portion together, allows the rotation of the resistance imparting portion, and forms the non-separation state by allowing the rotation of the separation roller and the resistance imparting portion together.

[0010] According to this aspect, since it is configured to switch between the separated state and the non-separated state by switching between restricting and allowing the rotation of the resistance-imparting portion, the separated state and the non-separated state can be easily switched.

[0011] A third aspect is, in the second aspect, the separation switching means is a member that engages with a cam portion formed on the main body support portion, and includes a link member slidable in the apparatus main body and a pressing member that presses the link member toward the cam portion. The cam portion has a shape that slides the link member as the apparatus main body rotates, and by the link member sliding as the apparatus main body rotates, the separated state in which the rotation of the resistance-imparting portion is restricted and the non-separated state in which the rotation of the resistance-imparting portion is allowed are switched.

[0012] According to this aspect, since the separation switching means is configured to switch between restricting and allowing the rotation of the resistance-imparting portion by a link member that slides in response to the posture switching of the apparatus main body, the separation switching means can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0013] A fourth aspect is, in the third aspect, a first gear is provided on the resistance-imparting portion, and the separation switching means includes a first mechanism portion including the link member, a second mechanism portion that engages with the first gear, and a rotatable shaft that extends along the rotation axis direction of the resistance-imparting portion and connects the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion. According to this aspect, since the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion are connected by the connecting shaft, the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion can be arranged separately from each other, and the degree of freedom in the design of the apparatus is improved.

[0014] The fifth aspect is that, in the fourth aspect, the second mechanism part includes a second gear that meshes with the first gear, and a third gear that meshes with the second gear and is provided at one end of the connecting shaft. The first mechanism part includes a fourth gear provided at the other end of the connecting shaft, and a member having a tooth part that can mesh with the fourth gear, which engages with the link member and rotates as the link member slides, so that the tooth part advances and retreats with respect to the fourth gear, and a rotation restricting member. When the tooth part meshes with the fourth gear, the rotation of the resistance applying part is restricted to enter the separated state, and when the tooth part is separated from the fourth gear, the rotation of the resistance applying part is allowed to enter the non-separated state.

[0015] The sixth aspect is that, in the fourth aspect, the second mechanism part includes a rotation restricting member having a tooth part that meshes with the first gear and can advance and retreat with respect to the first gear, and a rotation cam provided at one end of the connecting shaft, which switches between a state of advancing the rotation restricting member toward the first gear and a state of retracting the rotation restricting member from the first gear by rotating. The first mechanism part is characterized by having a configuration that rotates the connecting shaft as it rotates along with the slide of the link member.

[0016] The seventh aspect is that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, it includes a frame that constitutes the base of the apparatus main body. The frame has a shape along the direction in which the reading conveyance path extends, and the separation switching means is arranged in a region formed below the frame.

[0017] According to this aspect, since it includes a frame that constitutes the base of the apparatus main body, the frame has a shape along the direction in which the reading conveyance path extends, and the separation switching means is arranged in a region formed below the frame, the size increase of the apparatus can be suppressed by arranging the separation switching means using the region formed below the frame.

[0018] The eighth aspect is as follows. In any one of the first to seventh aspects, a document conveyance path downstream of the reading conveyance path, which is a reversal conveyance path for reversing and discharging the read document upward, and a non-reversal conveyance path downstream of the reading conveyance path for discharging the read document without reversing it, and a conveyance path switching means for switching the document conveyance path connected to the reading conveyance path to either the reversal conveyance path or the non-reversal conveyance path, wherein the conveyance path switching means connects the reading conveyance path to the reversal conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the first posture, and connects the reading conveyance path to the non-reversal conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the second posture.

[0019] According to this aspect, since the image reading apparatus can switch between the reversal conveyance path and the non-reversal conveyance path, a document that is difficult to bend can be conveyed well by using the non-reversal conveyance path. Here, the apparatus main body can be switched between a first posture by rotating and a second posture in which the angle formed by the reading conveyance path and the placement surface is smaller than the first posture. And the conveyance path switching means connects the reading conveyance path to the reversal conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the first posture, and connects the reading conveyance path to the non-reversal conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the second posture. Thereby, the discharge direction of the document can be made along the placement surface rather than discharging the document using the non-reversal conveyance path when taking the first posture. As a result, a document of a larger size can be discharged compared to the form of discharging the document using the non-reversal conveyance path when taking the first posture. Also, by setting the apparatus main body to the first posture, the angle formed by the reading conveyance path and the placement surface can be made larger than the second posture, and the footprint of the apparatus main body can be suppressed.

[0020] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described. Hereinafter, as an example of an image reading apparatus, a scanner 1 capable of reading at least one of the first side and the opposite second side of a document will be taken as an example. The scanner 1 is a so-called sheet feed type scanner that reads a document while moving the document with respect to a reading unit described later. In this specification, the document is assumed to include not only a sheet-like document but also a card-like document and a booklet-like document.

[0021] In addition, in each figure, the X-Y-Z coordinate system shown has the X-axis direction being the width direction of the apparatus and also the width direction of the document. The Y-axis direction is the depth direction of the apparatus, and the Z-axis direction is the direction along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the +Y direction is the direction from the back surface to the front surface of the apparatus, and the -Y direction is the direction from the front surface to the back surface of the apparatus. Also, when viewed from the front surface of the apparatus, the left direction is the +X direction, and the right direction is the -X direction. Also, hereinafter, the direction in which the document is conveyed may be referred to as "downstream", and the opposite direction may be referred to as "upstream".

[0022] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the scanner 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 and a main body support portion 6 that rotatably supports the apparatus main body 2. The apparatus main body 2 is configured to include a first unit 3, a second unit 4, and a third unit 5.

[0023] The second unit 4 and the third unit 5 are rotatably provided about a frame rotation axis 64a (see FIG. 3). The frame rotation axis 64a is a rotation axis having a rotation axis center parallel to the X-axis direction. The second unit 4 and the third unit 5 can rotate integrally with respect to the first unit 3 about the frame rotation axis 64a (see FIG. 4). By rotating the second unit 4 and the third unit 5 with respect to the first unit 3, a part of the document conveyance path can be exposed as shown in FIG. 4. In particular, a document feed path R1 and a reading conveyance path R2 described later can be exposed. The user can unlock the second unit 4 with respect to the first unit 3 and open the second unit 4 by sliding the lock release portion 8a in the -X direction.

[0024] Further, the third unit 5 can rotate about the frame rotation axis 64a with respect to the first unit 3 and the second unit 4 (see FIG. 3). By rotating the third unit 5 with respect to the first unit 3 and the second unit 4, a part of the document conveyance path can be exposed as shown in FIG. 3. In particular, the reverse conveyance path R3 described later can be exposed.

[0025] The apparatus main body 2 can rotate about the main body rotation axis 6c (see FIGS. 7 and 8) with respect to the main body support portion 6, and in this embodiment, the apparatus main body 2 can hold two postures by rotating. The two postures of the apparatus main body 2 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and hereinafter, the posture in FIG. 5 is referred to as the normal reading posture, and the posture in FIG. 6 is referred to as the booklet reading posture. The normal reading posture is an example of the first posture of the apparatus main body 2, and the booklet reading posture is an example of the second posture of the apparatus main body 2.

[0026] The angle α1 shown in FIG. 5 and the angle α2 shown in FIG. 6 are respectively the angles formed by the reading conveyance path R2 described later and the mounting surface G of the apparatus. The angle α2 in the case of the booklet reading posture is smaller than the angle α1 in the case of the normal reading posture. In the normal reading posture, the projected area of the apparatus main body 2 on the mounting surface G on which the scanner 1 is mounted becomes the smallest, that is, the footprint of the apparatus main body 2 becomes the smallest. Note that the footprint in this specification is the occupied area of the apparatus main body 2 in the X - Y plane when the apparatus main body 2 is viewed from above. The normal reading posture is suitable for reading a sheet - like document, that is, a document with low rigidity and easy to bend. The booklet reading posture is suitable for reading a document with high rigidity and difficult to bend, such as a plastic card or a booklet.

[0027] An operation unit 7 composed of a plurality of operation buttons including a power button is provided on the front surface of the apparatus. On the side surface in the +X direction among the side surfaces constituting the periphery of the device, as shown in FIG. 2, a first connection part 71, a second connection part 72, and a third connection part 73 are provided. The first connection part 71 is a connection part to which a USB Type-A plug (not shown), which is an example of a connection target, is connected. The second connection part 72 is a connection part to which a USB Type-C plug (not shown), which is an example of a connection target, is connected. The third connection part 73 is a connection part to which a power plug (not shown) for supplying power to the device main body 2 is connected. Incidentally, USB is an abbreviation of Universal Serial Bus, and Type-A and Type-C are each one of a plurality of types defined in the USB standard.

[0028] An external device can be connected to the first connection part 71 via a USB cable (not shown), and a storage medium, for example, a USB memory (not shown), can also be connected. And the control part 80 (refer to FIG. 12) can save the read data with respect to the storage medium connected to the first connection part 71. Also, an external device can be connected to the second connection part 72 via a USB cable (not shown). The first connection part 71, the second connection part 72, and the third connection part 73 are provided on a circuit board 79 (refer to FIG. 7) located on the back side of the device. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the device main body 2 is also configured to be able to receive power supply from an external device connected to the second connection part 72.

[0029] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the configuration of the document conveyance path in the scanner 1 will be described. The document to be fed is supported in an inclined posture by the document support part 11. The symbol P indicates the document to be supported. When a plurality of documents are supported by the document support part 11, the uppermost document is sent downstream by the feed roller 14. The document support part 11 is formed in the upper opening / closing part 10. The upper opening / closing part 10 is rotatable about a rotation axis (not shown), and opens and closes the feed port 13 by rotating. FIG. 1 shows a state where the upper opening / closing part 10 is closed, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the upper opening / closing part 10 is open. The upper opening / closing part 10 constitutes the first unit 3.

[0030] The original document support section 11 is provided with a pair of edge guides 12a and 12b for guiding the side edges of the original document as shown in FIG. 3. The pair of edge guides 12a and 12b are provided so as to be slidable in the original document width direction (X-axis direction). The pair of edge guides 12a and 12b are provided so as to be interlocked by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown) so as to be separated from each other with the center position in the original document width direction interposed therebetween, or to approach each other. That is, the scanner 1 adopts a so-called center feed method.

[0031] Returning to FIGS. 5 and 6, the feed roller 14 is provided in the second unit 4. The feed roller 14 rotates by obtaining power from a conveyance motor 50 described later. A separation roller 15 is provided at a position facing the feed roller 14 in the first unit 3. The separation roller 15 is provided with rotational torque by a torque limiter (not shown) to suppress double feeding of the original document. The feed roller 14 and the separation roller 15 are provided at the center position in the original document width direction (see FIG. 4). Note that a separation pad may be provided instead of the separation roller 15. Also, in the present embodiment, the feed roller 14 is provided above the original document placed on the original document support section 11 and is configured to feed from the topmost original document, but the feed roller 14 may be provided below the original document placed on the original document support section 11 and may be configured to feed from the lowermost original document.

[0032] The separation roller 15 can take a separated state in which rotational torque is generated by the action of a torque limiter 98 (see FIG. 16) and a non-separated state in which the action of the torque limiter 98 does not occur. Separation switching means 100 (see FIGS. 14 and 17) described later switches between a separated state in which the separation roller 15 separates the original document and a non-separated state in which the separation roller 15 does not separate the original document. Further, the separation switching means 100 sets the separation roller 15 in a separated state when the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, and sets the separation roller 15 in a non-separated state when the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture. The separation switching means 100 will be described in detail later.

[0033] Downstream of the feed roller 14 and the separation roller 15, a first pair of conveying rollers 16 is provided. The first pair of conveying rollers 16 is composed of a first lower roller 17 provided in the first unit 3 and a first upper roller 18 provided in the second unit 4. The first upper roller 18 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the first lower roller 17, and is pressed toward the first lower roller 17 by a pressing member (not shown), for example, a coil spring. Both the first lower roller 17 and the first upper roller 18 are rotated by obtaining power from a conveying motor 50 described later. Two first lower rollers 17 and first upper rollers 18 are provided so as to sandwich the center position in the original width direction (see FIG. 4). When the second unit 4 is closed with respect to the first unit 3, the first lower roller 17 and the first upper roller 18 come into contact with each other. When the second unit 4 is opened with respect to the first unit 3, the first upper roller 18 separates from the first lower roller 17.

[0034] Downstream of the first pair of conveying rollers 16, a first reading unit 32 and a second reading unit 33 are arranged opposite to each other. The first reading unit 32 is provided in the first unit 3, and the second reading unit 33 is provided in the second unit 4. The first reading unit 32 reads the lower surface (first surface) of the original supported by the original support unit 11, and the second reading unit 33 reads the upper surface (second surface) of the original supported by the original support unit 11. The second reading unit 33 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the first reading unit 32, and is pressed toward the first reading unit 32 by a pressing member (not shown), for example, a coil spring. In the present embodiment, the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33 are each composed of a contact image sensor module (CISM). Reference numeral 32a is the contact glass constituting the first reading unit 32, and reference numeral 33a is the contact glass constituting the second reading unit 33.

[0035] Downstream of the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33, a second pair of conveying rollers 20 is provided. The second pair of conveying rollers 20 is composed of a second lower roller 21 provided in the first unit 3 and a second upper roller 22 provided in the second unit 4. The second upper roller 22 is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the second lower roller 21, and is pressed toward the second lower roller 21 by a pressing member (not shown), for example, a coil spring. Both the second lower roller 21 and the second upper roller 22 are rotated by obtaining power from a conveying motor 50 described later. Two second lower rollers 21 and second upper rollers 22 are provided so as to sandwich the center position in the original width direction (see FIG. 4). When the second unit 4 is closed with respect to the first unit 3, the second lower roller 21 and the second upper roller 22 come into contact. When the second unit 4 is opened with respect to the first unit 3, the second upper roller 22 separates from the second lower roller 21.

[0036] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the dashed-dotted line indicated by reference numeral R1 is the original feeding path, and the original feeding path R1 extends from the nip position between the feeding roller 14 and the separating roller 15 to the nip position of the first pair of conveying rollers 16. Also, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the broken line indicated by reference numeral R2 is the reading and conveying path, and the reading and conveying path R2 extends from the nip position of the first pair of conveying rollers 16 to the nip position of the second pair of conveying rollers 20. The reading and conveying path R2 is an original conveying path that faces the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33.

[0037] When the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture shown in FIG. 5, a reversing conveying path R3 is formed downstream of the reading and conveying path R2 for reversing and discharging the read original upward. The reversing conveying path R3 is an original conveying path downstream of the nip position of the second pair of conveying rollers 20, and is an original conveying path for bending and reversing the original conveyed obliquely downward as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5 and discharging it obliquely upward from the first discharge port 37. When the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture shown in FIG. 6, a non-inverting conveyance path R4 for discharging the read manuscript without inverting it is formed downstream of the reading conveyance path R2. The non-inverting conveyance path R4 is a manuscript conveyance path downstream of the nip position of the second conveyance roller pair 20, and is a manuscript conveyance path for discharging the manuscript conveyed obliquely downward in the reading conveyance path R2 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 obliquely downward from the second discharge port 38 without bending and inverting it as it is. In addition, the second conveyance roller pair 20 functions as a discharge roller pair for discharging the manuscript from the non-inverting conveyance path R4.

[0038] The switching between the inverting conveyance path R3 and the non-inverting conveyance path R4 is performed by a flap 35 as a flap member constituting the conveyance path switching means. The flap 35 is rotatable about a flap rotation shaft 35a, and by rotating, it connects the inverting conveyance path R3 to the reading conveyance path R2, or connects the non-inverting conveyance path R4 to the reading conveyance path R2. Connecting the inverting conveyance path R3 to the reading conveyance path R2 means making the inverting conveyance path R3 available and making the non-inverting conveyance path R4 unavailable. Similarly, connecting the non-inverting conveyance path R4 to the reading conveyance path R2 means making the non-inverting conveyance path R4 available and making the inverting conveyance path R3 unavailable.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the flap 35 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the posture switching of the apparatus main body 2. As a configuration for rotating the flap 35 in conjunction with the posture switching of the apparatus main body 2, the first solenoid 86 (see FIG. 12) is adopted in the present embodiment. A control unit 80 (see FIG. 12) that performs various controls detects the posture of the apparatus main body 2 based on the detection signals of the first posture detection sensor 87 or the second posture detection sensor 88 described later, and drives the first solenoid 86 based on this to rotate the flap 35. Note that the means for rotating the flap 35 is not limited to the first solenoid 86, and other actuators such as a motor may be used. Alternatively, the flap 35 may be configured to rotate mechanically in conjunction with the posture of the apparatus main body 2.

[0040] The reverse conveyance path R3 is provided with a third conveyance roller pair 24 and a fourth conveyance roller pair 28. The third conveyance roller pair 24 is composed of a third driving roller 25 provided in the third unit 5 and a third driven roller 26 provided in the second unit 4. The third driven roller 26 is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the third driving roller 25, and is pressed toward the third driving roller 25 by a pressing member (not shown), for example, a coil spring. The third driving roller 25 is driven by a conveyance motor 50. The third driven roller 26 is a roller that rotates passively.

[0041] The fourth conveyance roller pair 28 is composed of a fourth driving roller 29 provided in the third unit 5 and a fourth driven roller 30 provided in the second unit 4. The fourth driven roller 30 is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the fourth driving roller 29, and is pressed toward the fourth driving roller 29 by a pressing member (not shown), for example, a coil spring. The fourth driving roller 29 is driven by a conveyance motor 50. The fourth driven roller 30 is a roller that rotates passively.

[0042] Two third driving rollers 25, third driven rollers 26, fourth driving rollers 29, and fourth driven rollers 30 are provided so as to sandwich the center position in the original width direction (see FIG. 3). When the third unit 5 is closed with respect to the second unit 4, the third driving roller 25 and the third driven roller 26 come into contact, and the fourth driving roller 29 and the fourth driven roller 30 also come into contact. When the third unit 5 is opened with respect to the second unit 4, the third driving roller 25 and the third driven roller 26 are separated, and the fourth driving roller 29 and the fourth driven roller 30 are also separated.

[0043] The original conveyed through the reverse conveyance path R3 is discharged obliquely upward including a -Y direction component by the fourth conveyance roller pair 28 and is supported in an inclined posture by the upper surface 4a of the second unit 4.

[0044] Next, a configuration for rotating the apparatus main body 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 2 rotates under the control of the control unit 80 by the power of the attitude switching motor 40 (see FIGS. 7 to 10) to switch the attitude. The control unit 80 controls the attitude switching motor 40 based on input information from the external device 500 connected to the scanner 1.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a state where the back cover 66 (see FIG. 2) constituting the appearance of the back of the apparatus is removed. Reference numeral 41 indicates a rotation conversion means for converting the rotation of the attitude switching motor 40 into the rotation of the apparatus main body 2. The attitude switching motor 40 and the rotation conversion means 41 are provided closer to the side surface in the -X direction in the apparatus width direction. Closer to the side surface in the -X direction in the apparatus width direction means being located in the -X direction from the center position of the apparatus in the X-axis direction.

[0046] Two supported portions 63b are provided on the first frame 63 constituting the base of the first unit 3 at intervals in the X-axis direction. Two main body rotation shafts 6c are provided on the main body support portion 6 at intervals in the X-axis direction. The first frame 63, that is, the apparatus main body 2, can rotate about the main body rotation shaft 6c by the main body rotation shaft 6c passing through the supported portion 63b. The main body rotation shaft 6c is a rotation shaft having a rotation axis center parallel to the X-axis direction.

[0047] The attitude switching motor 40 is provided on the first frame 63. The first frame 63 has a shape along the reading conveyance path R2. The attitude switching motor 40 is provided on the back side of the first frame 63 provided in an inclined attitude. In FIG. 8, the rotation conversion means 41 is a gear rotatably provided in the first unit 3, and includes a gear 47b that rotates by the power of the attitude switching motor 40, and a tooth portion fixed to the main body support portion 6 and meshing with the gear 47b, that is, a tooth portion 6b. The tooth portion 6b is a tooth portion formed around the main body rotation shaft 6c on the standing wall portion 6a. The standing wall portion 6a is a member constituting the main body support portion 6.

[0048] More specifically, a worm gear 42 is provided on the rotating shaft of the posture switching motor 40, and power is transmitted from the worm gear 42 to the gear 43. The gear 43 is integrally formed with the gear 45 via the shaft 44. The gear 45 transmits power to the first compound gear 46, and the first compound gear 46 transmits power to the second compound gear 47. The gear 47b forms a part of the second compound gear 47.

[0049] The posture switching motor 40 and the configuration of the rotation conversion means 41 described above, excluding the tooth portion 6b, are provided in the first unit 3, that is, the apparatus main body 2. Therefore, when the gear 47b rotates by the power of the posture switching motor 40, the apparatus main body 2 rotates as shown by the change from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 or the change from FIG. 10 to FIG. 9, and the posture is switched. In addition, in the present embodiment, the posture switching motor 40 and the configuration of the rotation conversion means 41 described above, excluding the tooth portion 6b, are provided in the first unit 3, that is, the apparatus main body 2, and the tooth portion 6b is provided in the main body support portion 6. Instead, the configuration of the posture switching motor 40 and the rotation conversion means 41 described above, excluding the tooth portion 6b, may be provided in the main body support portion 6, and the tooth portion 6b may be provided in the apparatus main body 2.

[0050] In addition, a first contact portion 6e as the first rotation restricting means and a second contact portion 6f as the second rotation restricting means are formed on the vertical wall portion 6a. A boss 63a provided on the first frame 63 is inserted between the first contact portion 6e and the second contact portion 6f. When the apparatus main body 2 rotates from the booklet reading posture shown in FIG. 10 to the normal reading posture shown in FIG. 9, the normal reading posture of the apparatus main body 2 is defined by the boss 63a coming into contact with the first contact portion 6e. When the apparatus main body 2 rotates from the normal reading posture shown in FIG. 9 to the booklet reading posture shown in FIG. 10, the booklet reading posture of the apparatus main body 2 is defined by the boss 63a coming into contact with the second contact portion 6f.

[0051] When the boss 63a abuts against the first abutting portion 6e or when the boss 63a abuts against the second abutting portion 6f, the drive current value of the posture switching motor 40 increases. Therefore, the control unit 80 (see FIG. 12) can detect the posture of the apparatus main body 2 based on the rotation direction of the posture switching motor 40 and the increase in the drive current value. However, in the present embodiment, a first posture detection sensor 87 and a second posture detection sensor 88, which will be described later, are provided, and the control unit 80 can also detect the posture of the apparatus main body 2 based on the detection signals of these sensors. In addition, the normal reading posture and the booklet reading posture of the apparatus main body 2 are held by supplying power to the stopped posture switching motor 40 and setting it in the hold state.

[0052] The first posture detection sensor 87 is an optical sensor and is provided on the first frame 63, that is, the apparatus main body 2. When the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 6d provided on the main body support portion 6 blocks the optical axis of the first posture detection sensor 87. When the apparatus main body 2 rotates toward the booklet reading posture from this state, the protrusion 6d moves away from the optical axis of the first posture detection sensor 87.

[0053] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the second posture detection sensor 88 is provided on the second unit 4. A detected portion 35b is formed on the flap 35. When the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the detected portion 35b is out of the optical axis of the second posture detection sensor 88. When the apparatus main body 2 rotates toward the booklet reading posture from this state, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the detected portion 35b blocks the optical axis of the second posture detection sensor 88. As described above, the control unit 80 can detect the posture of the apparatus main body 2 based on the detection signal of the first posture detection sensor 87 and the detection signal of the second posture detection sensor 88.

[0054] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the posture of the apparatus main body 2 is switched by the power of the posture switching motor 40. Instead of this, or in addition to this, a configuration may be adopted in which the user applies a force to the apparatus main body 2 to switch the posture of the apparatus main body 2. FIG. 13 shows a configuration for switching the posture of the apparatus main body 2 by a user operation, and reference numeral 6a-1 indicates a standing wall portion provided on the main body support portion 6. A first contact portion 6e and a second contact portion 6f are formed on the standing wall portion 6a-1. When the boss 63a contacts the first contact portion 6e, the normal reading posture of the apparatus main body 2 is defined, and when the boss 63a contacts the second contact portion 6f, the booklet reading posture of the apparatus main body 2 is defined.

[0055] A protrusion 61 is provided on the standing wall portion 6a-1. A recess 62 is formed in the first frame 63. When the protrusion 61 enters the recess 62, the posture of the apparatus main body 2 is held. Note that FIG. 13 shows the normal reading posture. In FIG. 13, the protrusion 61 has entered a recess that is hidden, and the normal reading posture is held. The recess (not shown), the recess 62, and the protrusion 61 constitute a posture holding means 60 for holding the posture of the apparatus main body 2. In addition, in a configuration for switching the posture of the apparatus main body 2 by a user operation, it is also preferable to provide a handhold portion on the apparatus main body 2 for the user to place their hand.

[0056] Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the control system in the scanner 1 will be described. The control unit 80 performs various controls of the scanner 1 including control of feeding, transporting, discharging, and reading of the document. A signal from the operation unit 7 is input to the control unit 80.

[0057] The control unit 80 controls the transport motor 50 and the posture switching motor 40. In this embodiment, each motor is a DC motor. Reading data from the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33 is input to the control unit 80, and signals for controlling each reading unit are transmitted from the control unit 80 to each reading unit. Signals from these detection means, such as the placement detection unit 92, the double feed detection unit 91, the first document detection unit 93, the second document detection unit 94, the first posture detection sensor 87, the second posture detection sensor 88, the first rotation detection unit 89, and the second rotation detection unit 90, are also input to the control unit 80.

[0058] The first rotation detector 89 is a detector provided at the -X direction end of the apparatus main body 2 as shown in FIG. 7. The control unit 80 can grasp the rotation amounts of the respective rollers provided on the document conveyance path by detecting the rotation amount of the conveyance motor 50 with the first rotation detector 89. The first rotation detector 89 is a rotary encoder including a rotating disk 89a and a detector 89b.

[0059] Also, the second rotation detector 90 is a rotary encoder including a rotating disk 90a provided on the rotation shaft 40a of the posture switching motor 40 and the detector 89b as shown in FIG. 8. The control unit 80 can grasp the rotation direction and rotation amount of the posture switching motor 40 by detecting the rotation amount of the posture switching motor 40 with the second rotation detector 90.

[0060] Returning to FIG. 12, the control unit 80 includes a CPU 81, a flash ROM 82, and a RAM 83. The CPU 81 performs various arithmetic processes according to the programs stored in the flash ROM 82 and controls the operation of the entire scanner 1. The flash ROM 82, which is an example of a storage means, is a non-volatile memory that can be read from and written to. Various kinds of information are temporarily stored in the RAM 83, which is an example of a storage means. The interface 84 included in the control unit 80 is composed of the first connection part 71 and the second connection part 72 described with reference to FIG. 2. The control unit 80 transmits and receives data to and from the external device 500 via this interface 84.

[0061] Subsequently, other respective detectors will be described. The placement detector 92 is a detector provided upstream of the feed roller 14. The control unit 80 can detect the presence or absence of a document on the document support part 11 based on the signal transmitted from the placement detector 92. The first document detector 93 is a detector provided between the feed roller 14 and the first conveyance roller pair 16. The control unit 80 can detect the passage of the leading end or trailing end of the document at the detection position based on the signal transmitted from the first document detector 93.

[0062] The double-feed detection unit 91 is a detection unit provided between the feed roller 14 and the first pair of conveyance rollers 16, and includes an ultrasonic transmission unit and an ultrasonic reception unit that are arranged opposite to each other with the document feed path R1 therebetween. The control unit 80 can detect double-feeding of a document based on a signal transmitted from the double-feed detection unit 91. The second document detection unit 94 is a detection unit provided between the first pair of conveyance rollers 16 and the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33. The control unit 80 can detect passage of the leading edge or trailing edge of a document at the detection position based on a signal transmitted from the second document detection unit 94.

[0063] Next, an example of the processing performed by the control unit 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control unit 80 when switching the posture of the apparatus main body 2. In FIG. 25, when the control unit 80 receives a document reading instruction (Yes in step S101), it determines whether it is necessary to switch the posture of the apparatus main body 2 (step S102). Here, as an example, it is assumed that the document reading instruction is received from an external device 500 (see FIG. 12). In the external device 500, the type of document to be read can be set. When the type of document to be read is a card-shaped document or a booklet-shaped document, the control unit 80 sets the posture of the apparatus main body 2 to the booklet reading posture, and when the type of document to be read is a sheet-shaped document, the control unit 80 sets the posture of the apparatus main body 2 to the normal reading posture.

[0064] In step S102, the acquired document type is compared with the current posture of the apparatus main body 2 to determine whether to switch the posture of the apparatus main body 2. As a result, if posture switching is unnecessary (No in step S102), the document is read without performing posture switching control (step S106). If posture switching is necessary (Yes in step S102), the control unit 80, based on the target posture (step S103), if the target posture is the booklet reading posture, switches the posture of the apparatus main body 2 to the booklet reading posture (step S104), and also switches the document conveyance path to the non-inverted conveyance path R4 (step S105). Note that steps S104 and S105 may be executed simultaneously. Then, the document is read (step S106).

[0065] Also, based on the target posture (step S103), if the target posture is the normal reading posture, the control unit 80 switches the posture of the apparatus main body 2 to the normal reading posture (step S107), and also switches the document conveyance path to the reverse conveyance path R3 (step S108). Note that steps S107 and S108 may be executed simultaneously. Then, the document is read (step S106). Note that when the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, it is also preferable to enable the detection information of the double-feed detection unit 91, and when the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture, to disable the detection information of the double-feed detection unit 91.

[0066] As described above, the scanner 1 includes a main body support portion 6 placed on the placement surface G of the apparatus, and an apparatus main body 2 supported by the main body support portion 6. The apparatus main body 2 includes a document conveyance path for conveying a document, a reading conveyance path R2 facing the first reading unit 32 and the second reading unit 33 that read the document, a document conveyance path downstream of the reading conveyance path R2, a reverse conveyance path R3 for inverting and discharging the read document upward, and a non-reverse conveyance path R4 for discharging the read document without inverting it. The apparatus main body 2 is also provided with a flap 35 for switching the document conveyance path connected to the reading conveyance path R2 to either the reverse conveyance path R3 or the non-reverse conveyance path R4. The apparatus main body 2 is rotatably attached to the main body support portion 6, and can be switched between a normal reading posture (FIG. 5) and a booklet reading posture (FIG. 6) in which the angle formed by the reading conveyance path R2 and the placement surface G is smaller than that in the normal reading posture by rotating. The flap 35 connects the reading conveyance path R2 to the reverse conveyance path R3 when the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, and connects the reading conveyance path R2 to the non-reverse conveyance path R4 when the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture.

[0067] Scanner 1 can transport difficult-to-bend originals well by using the non-inverting transport path R4. Difficult-to-bend originals include booklets and cards. And the flap 35 connects the reading transport path R2 to the inverting transport path R3 when the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, and connects the reading transport path R2 to the non-inverting transport path R4 when the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture. Thereby, rather than discharging the original using the non-inverting transport path R4 when in the normal reading posture, the discharge direction of the original can be made in the direction along the placement surface G. As a result, it is possible to discharge an original larger in size than in the form of discharging the original using the non-inverting transport path R4 when in the normal reading posture. Also, by setting the apparatus main body 2 to the normal reading posture, the angle formed by the reading transport path R2 and the placement surface G can be made larger than in the booklet reading posture, and the footprint of the apparatus main body 2 can be suppressed.

[0068] Also, the posture switching of the apparatus main body 2 may be configured to be performed by a button constituting the operation unit 7. For example, one of the buttons constituting the operation unit 7 is assigned as the posture switching button. When the above posture switching button is pressed by the user when the current posture is the normal reading posture, the control unit 80 executes steps S104 and S105. Also, when the above posture switching button is pressed by the user when the current posture is the booklet reading posture, the control unit 80 controls the posture switching motor 40 to execute steps S107 and S108.

[0069] Of course, the posture switching of the apparatus main body 2 may be performed by the user applying force to the apparatus main body 2 as described above. In this case, when the control unit 80 detects that the posture of the apparatus main body 2 has been switched from the normal reading posture to the booklet reading posture, it executes steps S104 and S105. Alternatively, when the control unit 80 detects that the posture of the apparatus main body 2 has been switched from the booklet reading posture to the normal reading posture, it executes steps S107 and S108.

[0070] Next, the separation switching means 100 for switching between the separated state and the non-separated state of the separation roller 15 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, the separation switching means 100 is provided in the -Y direction with respect to the first frame 63, that is, on the back surface of the first frame 63. Regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body 2, the separation switching means 100 does not protrude in the -Y direction from the top of the first frame 63 in the +Z direction and is housed within the area formed on the back surface of the first frame 63. In the X-axis direction, the separation switching means 100 is located between the separation roller 15 and the rotation conversion means 41. A part of the separation switching means 100 and a part of the rotation conversion means 41 are at the same position in the Y-axis direction.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 16, the separation roller 15 is rotatably provided in the roller holder 97. As shown in FIG. 15, a shaft portion 97a is integrally formed on the roller holder 97. The shaft portion 97a is a shaft whose axis center line is parallel to the X-axis direction. The shaft portion 97a is pivotally supported by a bearing portion 63g formed on the first frame 63. Thereby, the roller holder 97 can swing about the shaft portion 97a, that is, the separation roller 15 can move forward and backward with respect to the feed roller 14. Incidentally, the roller holder 97 is pressed in the direction in which the separation roller 15 advances toward the feed roller 14 by a pressing means (not shown), for example, a torsion spring.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 16, a torque limiter 98, which is an example of a resistance imparting portion for imparting rotational resistance to the separation roller 15, is rotatably provided on the roller holder 97. The rotation axis center line of the torque limiter 98 is parallel to the X-axis direction. The separation roller 15 is provided with respect to the torque limiter 98, and in a state where the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted, the separation roller 15 receives rotational torque from the torque limiter 98. That is, it becomes a separated state in which the original document is separated. In a state where the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is not restricted, the separation roller 15 rotates together with the torque limiter 98 and does not receive rotational torque from the torque limiter 98. That is, it becomes a non-separated state in which the original document is not separated. The separation switching means 100 according to this embodiment switches between a state in which the rotation of the torque limiter 98 in the roller holder 97 is restricted and a state in which the rotation is not restricted, thereby switching between a separated state and a non-separated state of the separation roller 15.

[0073] The torque limiter 98 has a shaft portion 98a, and a first gear 99 is fixedly provided on the shaft portion 98a. That is, the first gear 99 and the torque limiter 98 do not rotate relative to each other. The roller holder 97 has a shaft portion 97b, and a second gear 107 is provided on the shaft portion 97b. The second gear 107 is rotatable with respect to the shaft portion 97b. The second gear 107 meshes with the first gear 99.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 17, the separation switching means 100 includes a connecting shaft 106. The connecting shaft 106 is a shaft whose axis center line is parallel to the X-axis direction, and is rotatably provided with respect to a bearing portion (not shown) formed on the first frame 63. A third gear 108 is fixedly provided at the end portion in the X direction of the connecting shaft 106. That is, the third gear 108 and the connecting shaft 106 do not rotate relative to each other. The second gear 107 and the third gear 108 constitute the second mechanism portion 102.

[0075] A fourth gear 109 is fixedly provided at the end portion in the -X direction of the connecting shaft 106. That is, the fourth gear 109 and the connecting shaft 106 do not rotate relative to each other. A rotation restricting member 110 is provided below the fourth gear 109. The rotation restricting member 110 is rotatably provided with respect to a shaft portion 105b formed on the guide member 105. The guide member 105 is a member fixed to the first frame 63 by fixing means (not shown).

[0076] The rotation restricting member 110 is formed with a tooth portion 110a. The tooth portion 110a switches between a state of meshing with the fourth gear 109 (FIGS. 17 and 18) and a state of being separated from the fourth gear 109 (FIGS. 19 and 20) by the rotation of the rotation restricting member 110. The rotation restricting member 110 is formed with a boss 110b protruding in the -X direction. The boss 110b is loosely inserted into a hole 103a formed in the link member 103.

[0077] The link member 103 is a rod-shaped member slidably provided with respect to the guide member 105, and the lower end thereof is in contact with a cam portion 6h formed in the main body support portion 6. This link member 103 is pressed toward the cam portion 6h by a compression coil spring 104 which is an example of a pressing member. Reference numeral 105a is a spring holding portion formed in the guide member 105. Since the link member 103 slides with respect to the guide member 105, the rotation restricting member 110 rotates due to the sliding operation of the link member 103. In other words, the linear motion of the link member 103 is converted into the rotational motion of the rotation restricting member 110. The fourth gear 109, the rotation restricting member 110, the guide member 105, the link member 103, the compression coil spring 104, and the cam portion 6h constitute the first mechanism portion 101.

[0078] When the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the tooth portion 110a of the rotation restricting member 110 meshes with the fourth gear 109. Thereby, the rotation of the fourth gear 109 is restricted, and consequently, the rotations of the connecting shaft 106, the third gear 108, the second gear 107, and the first gear 99 are restricted, and the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted. That is, the separation roller 15 is in a separated state.

[0079] When the apparatus main body 2 switches its posture from this state toward the booklet reading posture, the lower end portion of the link member 103 switches the position where it contacts the cam portion 6h. The cam portion 6h is formed such that the +Y direction is higher than the -Y direction. When the apparatus main body 2 switches its posture toward the booklet reading posture, the lower end portion of the link member 103 moves in the +Y direction with respect to the cam portion 6h (see Fig. 20). As a result, the link member 103 slides upward, the rotation restricting member 110 rotates, and the tooth portion 110a separates from the fourth gear 109. Thereby, the rotation of the fourth gear 109 is permitted, and thus the rotations of the connecting shaft 106, the third gear 108, the second gear 107, and the first gear 99 are permitted, and the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is permitted. That is, the separation roller 15 is in a non-separated state.

[0080] When the apparatus main body 2 switches from the state where the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture and the separation roller 15 is in the non-separated state (Figs. 19 and 20) to the normal reading posture, the lower end portion of the link member 103 moves in the -Y direction with respect to the cam portion 6h. As a result, the link member 103 slides downward, the rotation restricting member 110 rotates, and the tooth portion 110a meshes with the fourth gear 109. Thereby, the rotation of the fourth gear 109 is restricted, and thus the rotations of the connecting shaft 106, the third gear 108, the second gear 107, and the first gear 99 are restricted, and the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted. That is, the separation roller 15 is in a separated state.

[0081] As described above, the apparatus main body 2 of the scanner 1 is rotatably attached to the main body support portion 6, and by rotating, it can be switched between the normal reading posture and the booklet reading posture in which the angle formed by the reading conveyance path R2 and the placement surface G is smaller than that in the normal reading posture. And it is provided with a separation switching means 100 capable of switching between a separated state in which the separation roller 15 separates the document and a non-separated state in which the separation roller 15 does not separate the document. The separation switching means 100 sets the separation roller 15 in the separated state when the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, and sets the separation roller 15 in the non-separated state when the apparatus main body 2 is in the booklet reading posture. This eliminates the need for a dedicated operation for the user to switch between the separated state and the non-separated state of the separation roller 15, improving the usability of the device.

[0082] In addition, the scanner 1 is provided with a torque limiter 98 that applies a rotational resistance to the separation roller 15. The separation switching means 100 forms a separated state by restricting the rotation of the torque limiter 98 and restricting the rotation together of the separation roller 15 and the torque limiter 98. Also, a non-separated state is formed by allowing the rotation of the torque limiter 98 and allowing the rotation together of the separation roller 15 and the torque limiter 98. Thereby, the separated state and the non-separated state of the separation roller 15 can be easily switched.

[0083] The separation switching means 100 is a member that engages with a cam portion 6h formed on the main body support portion 6, and includes a link member 103 that is slidable in the apparatus main body 2, and a compression coil spring 104 that presses the link member 103 toward the cam portion 6h. The cam portion 6h has a shape that slides the link member 103 as the apparatus main body 2 rotates. As the link member 103 slides as the apparatus main body 2 rotates, the separated state in which the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted and the non-separated state in which the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is allowed are switched. Thereby, the separation switching means 100 can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0084] The torque limiter 98 is provided with a first gear 99. The separation switching means 100 includes a first mechanism portion 101 including the link member 103, a second mechanism portion 102 that engages with the first gear 99, and a rotatable shaft that extends along the rotational axis direction of the torque limiter 98 and that connects the first mechanism portion 101 and the second mechanism portion 102, namely, a connecting shaft 106. Since the first mechanism portion 101 and the second mechanism portion 102 are configured to be connected by the connecting shaft 106 in this way, the first mechanism portion 101 and the second mechanism portion 102 can be arranged separately from each other, improving the degree of freedom in the design of the device.

[0085] The second mechanism part 102 further includes a second gear 107 that meshes with the first gear 99, and a third gear 108 that meshes with the second gear 107 and is provided at one end of the connecting shaft 106. The first mechanism part 101 includes a fourth gear 109 provided at the other end of the connecting shaft 106, and a member having a tooth part 110a that can mesh with the fourth gear 109. This member engages with the link member 103 and rotates as the link member 103 slides, causing the tooth part 110a to advance and retreat with respect to the fourth gear 109, and also includes a rotation restricting member 110. When the tooth part 110a meshes with the fourth gear 109, the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted and it enters the separated state. When the tooth part 110a is separated from the fourth gear 109, the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is allowed and it enters the non-separated state.

[0086] The first frame 63 that constitutes the base of the apparatus main body 2 has a shape along the direction in which the reading conveyance path R2 extends, and the separation switching means 100 is arranged in a region formed below the first frame 63. By arranging the separation switching means 100 using the region formed below the first frame 63, an increase in the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

[0087] The separation switching means 100 described above can also be modified as follows. Hereinafter, the separation switching means 100A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 24. In FIGS. 21 to 24, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be avoided hereinafter. The separation switching means 100A has a first mechanism part 101A and a second mechanism part 102A, and the first mechanism part 101A and the second mechanism part 102A are connected by a connecting shaft 106. The second mechanism part 102A includes a rotation restricting member 113 and a rotation cam 112. The first mechanism part 101A includes a first rotating member 115, a second rotating member 116, a guide member 105, a link member 103, a compression coil spring 104, and a cam part 6h.

[0088] As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a rotation restricting member 113 is provided below the first gear 99. The rotation restricting member 113 is provided so as to be displaceable along a guide groove 63h formed in the first frame 63, and advances and retreats with respect to the first gear 99 by displacing along the guide groove 63h. A tooth portion 113a is formed on the rotation restricting member 113, and by the displacement of the rotation restricting member 113, the tooth portion 113a can be switched between a state of meshing with the first gear 99 and a state of being separated from the first gear 99. When the tooth portion 113a meshes with the first gear 99, the rotation of the first gear 99 is restricted, so the separation roller 15 is in a separated state. Also, when the tooth portion 113a is separated from the first gear 99, the rotation of the first gear 99 is allowed, so the separation roller 15 is in a non-separated state.

[0089] A long hole 113b is formed in the rotation restricting member 113 along the displacement direction of the rotation restricting member 113, and the connecting shaft 106 is passed through this long hole 113b. As shown in FIG. 22, a first cam follower 113c and a second cam follower 113d are formed on the +X direction surface of the rotation restricting member 113, and a rotation cam 112 faces these cam followers.

[0090] The rotation cam 112 is fixed to one end of the connecting shaft 106. That is, the rotation cam 112 and the connecting shaft 106 do not rotate relative to each other. The rotation cam 112 has a first cam portion 112a protruding in the radial direction and a second cam portion 112b.

[0091] A first rotating member 115 is fixedly provided at the -X direction end of the connecting shaft 106. That is, the first rotating member 115 and the connecting shaft 106 do not rotate relative to each other. A second rotating member 116 is rotatably provided on the shaft portion 105b of the guide member 105. A boss 116b is formed on the second rotating member 116, and the boss 116b is loosely inserted into a hole 103a formed in the link member 103. Therefore, by the sliding operation of the link member 103, the second rotating member 116 rotates.

[0092] A tooth portion 116a is formed on the second rotating member 116, and this tooth portion 116a meshes with a tooth portion 115a formed on the first rotating member 115. With such a configuration, when the second rotating member 116 rotates due to the sliding of the link member 103, the first rotating member 115, the connecting shaft 106, and the rotating cam 112 rotate.

[0093] When the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading posture, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a tooth portion 113a of the rotation restricting member 113 meshes with the first gear 99. This state is maintained by the first cam portion 112a of the rotating cam 112 pushing up the first cam follower 113c of the rotation restricting member 113. Thereby, the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted, and the separation roller 15 is in a separated state.

[0094] When the apparatus main body 2 switches its posture toward the booklet reading posture from this state, the link member 103 is pushed up by the cam portion 6h in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. Thereby, the second rotating member 116, the first rotating member 115, the connecting shaft 106, and the rotating cam 112 rotate from the state shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 to the state shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. The rotation direction of the rotating cam 112 at this time is counterclockwise in FIG. 22. When the rotating cam 112 rotates counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 22, as shown by the change from FIG. 22 to FIG. 24, the second cam portion 112b pushes down the second cam follower 113d. Thereby, the rotation restricting member 113 separates from the first gear 99, that is, the meshing between the tooth portion 113a and the first gear 99 is released, and the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is permitted. That is, the separation roller 15 is in a non-separated state.

[0095] When the apparatus main body 2 switches from the booklet reading position with the separation roller 15 in the non-separated state to the normal reading position, the link member 103 slides downward, the rotary cam 112 rotates in the clockwise direction from the state shown in Fig. 24, the first cam portion 112a pushes up the rotation restricting member 113, and the tooth portion 113a meshes with the first gear 99. As a result, the rotation of the torque limiter 98 is restricted, and the separation roller 15 is in the separated state.

[0096] Thus, in the second embodiment, the second mechanism portion 102A includes a rotation restricting member 113 having a tooth portion 113a that meshes with the first gear 99 and is movable forward and backward with respect to the first gear 99, and a rotary cam provided at one end of the connecting shaft 106. The rotary cam 112 switches between a state in which the rotation restricting member 113 is advanced toward the first gear 99 and a state in which the rotation restricting member 113 is retracted from the first gear 99 by rotating. The first mechanism portion 101A is configured to rotate the connecting shaft 106 by rotating as the link member 103 slides. In the first embodiment, since the rotation restricting member 113 directly restricts the rotation of the first gear 99, backlash in the gear meshing can be suppressed, and since there is no twist in the connecting shaft 106, the separated state of the separation roller 15 can be appropriately formed.

[0097] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that those are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, when the display means provided in the external device 500 (see Fig. 12) or the scanner 1 includes a display means, the display means may display whether the separation roller 15 is in the separated state or the non-separated state. At that time, it may also be displayed whether the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal reading position or the booklet reading position.

[0098] In addition, although the above-described embodiments have been described by taking an image reading apparatus typified by a scanner as an example, they can also be applied to a recording apparatus typified by a printer. That is, by using the document in the above-described embodiments as a recording medium and the reading unit as a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium, the same operational effects as those in the above-described embodiments can be obtained in the recording apparatus. As an example of the recording apparatus, an inkjet printer can be mentioned, and as an example of the recording unit, an inkjet recording head can be mentioned.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0099] 1... Scanner, 2... Apparatus main body, 3... First unit, 4... Second unit, 4a... Upper surface, 5... Third unit, 6... Main body support portion, 6a, 6a-1... Upright wall portion, 6b... Tooth portion, 6c... Main body rotation axis, 6d... Projection, 6e... First contact portion, 6f... Second contact portion, 6h... Cam portion, 7... Operation portion, 8a... Lock release portion, 10... Upper opening / closing portion, 11... Document support portion, 12a, 12b... Edge guide, 13... Feeding port, 14... Feeding roller, 15... Separation roller, 16... First pair of conveying rollers, 17... First lower roller, 18... First upper roller, 20... Second pair of conveying rollers, 21... Second lower roller, 22... Second upper roller, 24... Third pair of conveying rollers, 25... Third driving roller, 26... Third driven roller, 28... Fourth pair of conveying rollers, 29... Fourth driving roller, 30... Fourth driven roller, 32... First reading portion, 32a... Contact glass, 33... Second reading portion, 33a... Contact glass, 35... Flap, 35a... Flap rotation axis, 35b... Detected portion, 37... First discharge port, 38... Second discharge port, 40... Posture switching motor, 41... Rotation conversion means, 42... Worm gear, 43... Gear, 44... Shaft, 45... Gear, 46... First compound gear, 47... Second compound gear, 50... Conveying motor, 51... Driving pulley, 52... Belt, 53... Driven pulley, 60... Posture holding means, 61... Projection, 62... Recess, 63... First frame, 63a... Boss, 63b... Supported portion, 63g... Bearing portion, 63h... Guide groove, 64... Second frame, 64a... Frame rotation axis, 65... Third frame, 66... Rear cover, 71... First connection portion (USB Type-A), 72... Second connection portion (USBType-C), 73... The third connection part (DC jack), 79... Circuit board, 80... Control unit, 81... CPU, 82... Flash ROM, 83... RAM, 84... Interface, 86... The first solenoid, 87... The first posture detection sensor, 88... The second posture detection sensor, 89... The first rotation detection unit, 89a... Rotating disk, 89b... Detection unit, 90... The second rotation detection unit, 90a... Rotating disk, 90b... Detection unit, 91... Double feed detection unit, 92... Placement detection unit, 93... The first original document detection unit, 94... The second original document detection unit, 97... Roller holder, 97a... Shaft part, 97b... Shaft part, 98... Torque limiter, 98a... Shaft part, 99... The first gear, 100... Separation switching means, 101... The first mechanism part, 102... The second mechanism part, 103... Link member, 103a... Hole, 104... Compression coil spring, 105... Guide member, 105a... Spring holding part, 105b... Shaft part, 106... Connecting shaft, 107... The second gear, 108... The third gear, 109... The fourth gear, 110... Rotation restricting member, 110a... Tooth part, 110b... Boss, 112... Rotating cam, 112a... The first cam part, 112b... The second cam part, 113... Rotation restricting member, 113a... Tooth part, 113b... Long hole, 113c... The first cam follower, 113d... The second cam follower, 115... The first rotating member, 115a... Tooth part, 116... The second rotating member, 116a... Tooth part, 116b... Boss, 500... External device R1... Original document feeding path, R2... Reading and conveying path, R3... Reversal conveying path, R4... Non-reversal conveying path

Claims

1. A main body support portion placed on the mounting surface of the device, and a device main body supported by the main body support portion, The device main body includes a document support portion for supporting a document, a feed roller for feeding the document supported by the document support portion, a separation roller provided at a position facing the feed roller, a reading unit for reading the document fed by the feed roller, a document conveyance path for conveying the document, including a reading conveyance path facing the reading unit, The device main body is rotatably attached to the main body support portion, and can be switched between a first posture by rotation and a second posture in which the angle formed by the reading conveyance path and the mounting surface is smaller than the first posture, It is provided with separation switching means capable of switching between a separation state in which the separation roller separates the document and a non-separation state in which the separation roller does not separate the document, The separation switching means sets the separation roller in the separation state when the device main body is in the first posture, and sets the separation roller in the non-separation state when the device main body is in the second posture, An image reading device characterized by the above.

2. In the image reading device according to claim 1, it is provided with a resistance applying portion for applying rotational resistance to the separation roller, The separation switching means forms the separation state by restricting the rotation of the resistance applying portion and restricting the rotation together of the separation roller and the resistance applying portion, The non-separation state is formed by allowing the rotation of the resistance applying portion and allowing the rotation together of the separation roller and the resistance applying portion, An image reading device characterized by the above.

3. In the image reading device according to claim 2, the separation switching means is a member that engages with a cam portion formed on the main body support portion, and is a link member slidable in the device main body, A pressing member that presses the link member toward the cam portion, The cam portion has a shape that slides the link member as the apparatus main body rotates, As the link member slides as the apparatus main body rotates, the separation state in which the rotation of the resistance imparting portion is restricted and the non-separation state in which the rotation of the resistance imparting portion is allowed are switched. An image reading apparatus characterized by the above.

4. In the image reading apparatus according to claim 3, a first gear is provided on the resistance imparting portion, The separation switching means includes a first mechanism portion including the link member, A second mechanism portion engaged with the first gear, A rotatable shaft extending along the rotational axis direction of the resistance imparting portion, and a connecting shaft that connects the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion. An image reading apparatus characterized by the above.

5. In the image reading apparatus according to claim 4, the second mechanism portion includes a second gear that meshes with the first gear, and a third gear that meshes with the second gear and is provided at one end of the connecting shaft. The first mechanism portion includes a fourth gear provided at the other end of the connecting shaft, A member having a tooth portion that can mesh with the fourth gear, which engages with the link member and rotates as the link member slides, causing the tooth portion to advance and retreat with respect to the fourth gear. When the tooth portion meshes with the fourth gear, the rotation of the resistance imparting portion is restricted and the separation state is achieved. When the tooth portion is separated from the fourth gear, the rotation of the resistance imparting portion is allowed and the non-separation state is achieved. An image reading apparatus characterized by the above.

6. In the image reading apparatus according to claim 4, the second mechanism unit is a member having a tooth portion that meshes with the first gear and is a rotation restricting member that can move forward and backward with respect to the first gear, a rotary cam provided at one end of the connecting shaft, the rotary cam switching between a state of advancing the rotation restricting member toward the first gear and a state of retracting the rotation restricting member from the first gear by rotating, The first mechanism unit includes a configuration that rotates the connecting shaft by rotating as the link member slides. An image reading apparatus characterized by this.

7. In the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a frame constituting a base of the apparatus main body is provided, The frame has a shape along the direction in which the reading conveyance path extends, The separation switching means is disposed in a region formed below the frame. An image reading apparatus characterized by this.

8. In the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a document conveyance path downstream of the reading conveyance path, which is a reverse conveyance path for inverting and discharging a read document upward, a document conveyance path downstream of the reading conveyance path, which is a non-reverse conveyance path for discharging a read document without inverting it, and conveyance path switching means for switching the document conveyance path connected to the reading conveyance path to either the reverse conveyance path or the non-reverse conveyance path. The conveyance path switching means connects the reading conveyance path to the reverse conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the first posture, and connects the reading conveyance path to the non-reverse conveyance path when the apparatus main body takes the second posture. An image reading apparatus characterized by this.

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