Conveying device and reading device

Abstract

To allow a manuscript being conveyed currently to slide into under a manuscript which has been conveyed previously, even when the number of manuscripts to be conveyed continuously is increased.SOLUTION: In a compound machine 1, when a flap 180 is at a first position P51, a manuscript 12, under which a tip of another manuscript 12 being conveyed currently is caused to slide into, is supported by an intermediate discharge chute part 179. When the flap 180 is at a second position P52, the manuscript 12, under which a tip of the another manuscript 12 being conveyed currently is caused to slide into, is supported by a lower side discharge chute part 178. A rear end side in the plurality of manuscripts 12, on an ADF manuscript tray 33, conveyed continuously by a conveyance roller 171 and the like is supported separately by the intermediate discharge chute part 179 and the lower side discharge chute part 178.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device that ejects a currently conveyed document by sliding it under a previously conveyed document, and to a reading device including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conveying devices that convey documents from a document tray to a discharge tray through a conveying path are known. In conveying devices in which documents are discharged to the discharge tray face-up, with the reading surface of the document facing upward, it is preferable that the conveyed multiple documents are stacked on the discharge tray in page order. In the sheet conveying device described in Patent Document 1, the rear end of a document discharged to a partition plate 19 is lifted upward by a support member 33. Therefore, the leading edge of a document conveyed thereafter slips under the rear end of the previous document supported by the support member 33. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-197784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the sheet conveying device described in Patent Document 1, when multiple documents are conveyed in succession, the trailing ends of the multiple documents are stacked above the support member 33. Therefore, the weight of the documents acting on the support member 33 increases as the number of documents conveyed in succession increases, and the load acting on the document slipping under the document supported by the support member 33 increases. As a result, the document currently being conveyed may not be able to slip under the document that has already been conveyed, and may buckle.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technique that enables a document currently being transported to slip under a document that has been transported previously, even if the number of documents being transported in succession increases. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A transport device according to the present invention includes a first support member forming a first discharge path, a second support member disposed below the first support member and forming a second discharge path, a transport path continuous with the first discharge path and the second discharge path, a transport mechanism that transports a document in a transport direction along the transport path, and a guide member that is movable to a first position that guides the document from the transport path to the first discharge path and to a second position that guides the document from the transport path to the second discharge path, wherein the first support member and the second support member have dimensions along the transport direction that are shorter than the dimensions of the document along the transport direction, and the transport mechanism is configured to move the first support member The document is transported so that the leading edge of the document is located downstream in the transport direction of the downstream end of the first support member or the downstream end of the second support member in the transport direction, and the trailing edge of the document is located upstream in the transport direction of the upstream end of the first support member or the upstream end of the second support member in the transport direction, and when the guide member is at the first position, the next document is transported so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the first support member, and when the guide member is at the second position, the next document is transported so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the second support member.

[0007] With the above configuration, when the guide member is in the first position, the document into which the leading edge of the currently transported document will slide is supported by the first support member. When the guide member is in the second position, the document into which the leading edge of the currently transported document will slide is supported by the second support member. The leading edges of the multiple documents supported by the first support member and the multiple documents supported by the second support member are located in the same space downstream of the downstream end of the first support member and the downstream end of the second support member. As a result, the trailing edges of the multiple documents continuously transported by the transport mechanism are supported separately by the first support member and the second support member, thereby reducing the weight of the documents that will be applied to the leading edges of the documents when the leading edges of the documents are slided in. Furthermore, because the leading edges of the multiple documents continuously transported by the transport mechanism are located in the same space, the documents supported by the first support member and the documents supported by the second support member can be removed together.

[0008] (2) The conveying device further includes a cover that covers the downstream and upper sides of the conveying path and the upper side of the first discharge path, and the conveying mechanism includes a conveying roller located upstream of the guide member in the conveying direction, a nip member that sandwiches the document between the conveying roller and the conveying roller, a first protruding member located upstream of the guide member in the conveying direction and downstream of the nip position between the conveying roller and the nip member in the conveying direction and protruding downward into the conveying path, and a second protruding member located downstream of the first protruding member in the conveying direction and protruding upward, the guide member has a flap extending from a pivot axis toward the upstream side in the conveying direction and is positioned at the first position and the second position by pivoting around the pivot axis, and the guide member at the second position sandwiches the rear end of the document supported by the first support member between itself and the cover.

[0009] With the above configuration, the rear end of the document being transported along the transport path by the transport rollers and nip member is supported by the second protruding member and positioned above the transport path. The leading end of the document being transported along the transport path by the transport rollers and nip member is then guided below the transport path by the first protruding member and slides under the trailing end of the stopped document. When the guide member is in the second position, the trailing end of the document supported by the first support member is sandwiched between the guide member and the cover, preventing the leading end of the document being transported to the second support member from coming into contact with the trailing end of the document supported by the first support member.

[0010] (3) The conveying device further includes an ejection roller located in the first ejection path and a linkage mechanism that links the rotation of the guide member with the rotation of the ejection roller, and the linkage mechanism rotates the ejection roller in a rotational direction that transports the document in the transport direction in conjunction with the rotation of the guide member from the first position to the second position.

[0011] With the above configuration, when the guide member rotates from the first position to the second position, the document supported by the first support member is conveyed in the conveying direction by the discharge rollers, thereby preventing the leading edge of the document conveyed to the second support member from contacting the trailing edge of the document supported by the first support member.

[0012] (4) A first distance along the vertical direction between the uppermost position of the document guide surface of the guide member in the first position and the lower end of the first protruding member is shorter than a second distance along the horizontal direction between the uppermost position and the lower end.

[0013] The stiffness of the document prevents the rear end of the document supported by the guide member at the first position from moving in the conveyance direction beyond the lower end of the first protruding member.

[0014] (5) A third distance along the horizontal direction between the nip position and the lower end of the first protruding member is shorter than a fourth distance along the vertical direction between a first lower surface of the cover at a position facing the first support member and a second lower surface of the cover at a position where the document is sandwiched between the cover and the guide member.

[0015] With the above configuration, when the guide member rotates from the first position to the second position, the trailing edge of the document that has passed the nip position and is supported and stopped by the second protruding member is sandwiched between the guide member and the cover. Because the third distance is shorter than the fourth distance, the trailing edge of the document sandwiched between the guide member and the cover reliably moves downstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of the first protruding member. This makes it easy to remove the document supported by the first support member when the guide member is in the second position.

[0016] (6) The conveying device is further provided with a third support member that is positioned downstream of the first discharge path in the conveying direction and whose downstream end is located upstream of the leading edge of the document after conveyance, and the third support member supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

[0017] With the above configuration, the leading edge side of the document located downstream in the conveying direction from the downstream end of the third support member is made stiffer, and buckling of the document is suppressed.

[0018] (7) The conveying device is arranged downstream of the second discharge path in the conveying direction and further includes a fourth support member whose downstream end is located upstream of the leading edge of the document after conveyance, and the fourth support member supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

[0019] With the above configuration, the leading edge side of the document located downstream in the conveying direction from the downstream end of the fourth support member is made stiffer, and buckling of the document is suppressed.

[0020] (8) The conveying device further includes a document tray positioned below the first support member and the second support member, the conveying path extends from the document tray, curves upward, and connects to the first support member and the second support member, and the leading edge of the document supported by the first support member and the second support member is positioned on the document tray.

[0021] (9) The document tray supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

[0022] With the above-described configuration, the documents loaded on the document tray are made stronger, and buckling of the documents on the document tray is suppressed.

[0023] (10) A reading device comprising the above-mentioned conveying device and a reading sensor that reads a document in the conveying path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, even if the number of documents to be continuously transported increases, the document currently being transported can be placed under the document that has been transported previously. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing the external configuration of a multifunction peripheral 1 equipped with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a scanner unit 3. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main configuration of the scanner unit 3. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of an ADF 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a scanner unit 3. [Figure 6] 1A is a schematic diagram showing the flap 180 at the first position P51, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the flap 180 at the second position P52. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of a single-sided reading process. [Figure 8] 1A is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of originals 12 discharged in an upper discharge path 160, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of originals 12 discharged in a lower discharge path 161. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a discharge roller 191 according to a first modified example. [Figure 10] 10A is a schematic diagram showing a discharge roller 191 according to a second modified example, and FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of a first protruding member 158A and the like according to a third modified example. [Figure 11](A) is a schematic diagram showing an ADF discharge tray 34 according to a fourth modified example, (B) is a schematic diagram showing an ADF document tray 33 according to the fourth modified example, and (C) is a schematic diagram showing an intermediate discharge chute section 179 according to the fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and needless to say, they can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description, the direction of travel from the start point of an arrow to the end point is expressed as a "direction," and the movement along the line connecting the start point and end point of an arrow is expressed as a "direction." In the following description, the up-down direction 7 is defined based on the state in which the multifunction device 1 is installed and ready for use (the state shown in FIG. 1 ). The front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface on which the opening 4 is provided as the front face, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when viewing the multifunction device 1 from the front. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are perpendicular to one another. The up-down direction 7 is also the vertical direction. The horizontal direction is the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0027] [Overall structure of MFP 1] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the multifunction device 1 is a multifunction device (MFD) that integrally comprises an inkjet recording printer unit 2 provided at the bottom and a scanner unit 3 (an example of a reading device) provided at the top, and has functions such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile. In the present invention, it is sufficient if the multifunction device 1 is provided with only the scanner unit 3 equipped with the ADF 5. In other words, functions other than the scanning function are optional, and the present invention may be embodied as a scanner whose only function is the scanning function.

[0029] In the copy function, image data read by the scanner unit 3 is recorded on recording paper by the printer unit 2. In the facsimile function, image data read by the scanner unit 3 is transmitted by facsimile over a telephone line or the like. Received facsimile data is also recorded on recording paper by the printer unit 2.

[0030] In the scanning function, image data of the document 12 read by the scanner unit 3 is transferred to a computer connected to the device by wire or wirelessly. The read image data can also be transferred and stored in various storage media such as a memory card or USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0031] [Configuration of Scanner Unit 3] 1 to 4, the scanner unit 3 includes an ADF document tray 33, an ADF discharge tray 34, a transport path 151, a transport mechanism 16 for transporting the document 12, a first contact image sensor (an example of a reading sensor, referred to as a Contact Image Sensor, hereinafter as the "first CIS") 85, and a second contact image sensor (hereinafter also referred to as the "second CIS") 95.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 has a generally wide, thin, rectangular parallelepiped exterior with its width and depth greater than its height. The printer unit 2 at the bottom of the multifunction device 1 has a housing 10 that forms the frame of the printer unit 2. An opening 4 is formed in a front panel 11 that forms the front of the housing 10. Inside the opening 4, a paper feed tray 20 and a paper output tray 21 are arranged in two rows, one above the other. A connector panel 13 on which various connectors are arranged is provided above the opening 4. A slot 18 is located at the right end of the connector panel 13. The slot 18 allows various memory cards to be inserted and electrically connects the memory card to the control unit 100 (see FIG. 5) of the multifunction device 1. A memory card is a card-type storage device with a built-in flash memory as a storage medium. The slot 18 has a first card slot 19 and a second card slot 22, each of different slot types, arranged side by side to accommodate different types of memory cards. An ink cartridge is housed near the right end of the front panel 11.

[0033] An operation panel 6 for operating the printer unit 2 and scanner unit 3 is provided on the upper front surface of the multifunction device 1. The operation panel 6 is configured with various operation buttons 35 and a liquid crystal display 36 provided as appropriate. The multifunction device 1 operates based on instructions input through the operation panel 6. If the multifunction device 1 is connected to an external computer, the multifunction device 1 also operates based on instructions sent from the computer via a printer driver or scanner driver.

[0034] In FIG. 2, the scanner unit 3 has a document cover 30 attached to a support base 15 that functions as an FBS (Flatbed Scanner) via a hinge on the rear side so that the document cover 30 can be opened and closed in the direction of arrow P1. The document cover 30 is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the support base 15, which has a platen glass 80 (see FIG. 4). In the closed position, the document cover 30 covers the platen glass 80. The document cover 30 is integrally provided with an ADF 5 (an example of a transport device), and the ADF 5 also moves as the document cover 30 is opened and closed. The ADF document tray 33, the ADF discharge tray 34, the transport path 151 (see FIG. 4), the transport mechanism 16, and the second CIS 95 are located on the document cover 30, and the first CIS 85 is located on the support base 15.

[0035] 4, a platen glass 80 is provided on the upper surface of the support base 15. When the document cover 30 is closed on the support base 15, the platen glass 80 is covered by the document cover 30. An elastic plate 82 is provided on the lower surface of the document cover 30, i.e., the surface facing the platen glass 80.

[0036] The elastic plate 82 abuts against the platen glass 80 when the document cover 30 is in the closed position. The elastic plate 82 presses down and secures the document 12 placed on the platen glass 80. The elastic plate 82 includes a plate member 74 and a sponge member 75. The plate member 74 is a single color, such as white, over its entire area to obtain stable reflected light from the document 12. The plate member 74 is attached to the document cover 30 via the sponge member 75. The elastic plate 82 is located at the lowest part of the document cover 30 when in the closed position. In other words, the elastic plate 82 including the sponge member 75 is located below the second CIS 95 when the document cover 30 is in the closed position.

[0037] The platen glass 80 is, for example, a transparent glass plate or acrylic plate. A positioning member 83 is provided on the left end of the platen glass 80 to separate a reading area 80A when the ADF 5 is used to read an image of the original 12 from a reading area 80B when the scanner unit 3 is used as an FBS. The positioning member 83 serves as a positioning reference when placing the original 12 on the platen glass 80. Marks indicating the placement position are provided on the top surface of the positioning member 83 according to the size of the original 12, such as A4 size or B5 size. When the ADF 5 is used, the positioning member 83 functions as a guide to guide the original 12 passing over the reading area 80A back to the transport path 151 provided within the ADF 5.

[0038] 4, a first image reading unit 32 is built into the support base 15. When the scanner unit 3 is used as an FBS, the document cover 30 is opened and the document 12 is placed on the platen glass 80. Then, the document cover 30 is closed and the document 12 is fixed on the platen glass 80. The first image reading unit 32 moves below the platen glass 80 and reads the image of the document 12 placed on the platen glass 80.

[0039] The first image reading unit 32 includes a first CIS 85 and a CIS carriage 86 shaped like an elongated rectangular parallelepiped. The CIS carriage 86 carries the first CIS 85 on its upper side, so that the first CIS 85 faces the underside of the platen glass 80. The first CIS 85 is located upstream of the curved path 157 of the conveying path 151 in the conveying direction 17. The first CIS 85 optically reads the image of the original 12 from below the conveying path 151. The first CIS 85 is a so-called contact-type line image sensor that emits light from a light source such as an LED to irradiate the original 12, guides the reflected light from the original 12 to a photoelectric conversion element via a lens, and the photoelectric conversion element outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light. The first CIS 85 is mounted on the CIS carriage 86 and reciprocates below the platen glass 80.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3 , a guide shaft 87 is installed across the casing 84 in the left-right direction 9. The first image reading unit 32 is supported below the platen glass 80 so that the CIS carriage 86 is fitted onto the guide shaft 87 and can move smoothly in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the CIS carriage 86 (left-right direction 9). A CIS carriage drive mechanism 88 is installed along the guide shaft 87. The CIS carriage drive mechanism 88 has a timing belt 89 installed between pulleys. The CIS carriage 86 is fixed to the timing belt 89 of the CIS carriage drive mechanism 88 and is reciprocated by the circular motion of the timing belt 89. This allows the CIS carriage 86 to move parallel to the underside of the platen glass 80 when the scanner unit 3 is used as an FBS, and at that time, the first CIS 85 mounted on the CIS carriage 86 can read an image of the document 12 placed on the platen glass 80.

[0041] 1 and 2, an ADF document tray 33 (an example of a document tray) and an ADF discharge tray 34 (an example of a discharge tray) are arranged in two stages, one above the other, in the document cover 30 above the scanner unit 3. A pair of ADF document guides 93 are provided on the ADF document tray 33, spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction 8 of the multifunction device 1, so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction 8. The ADF document guides 93 stand upright from the ADF document tray 33 and regulate the widthwise position of the document 12 placed on the ADF document tray 33.

[0042] The ADF document guides 93 are linked by a well-known interlocking mechanism such as a rack and pinion, so that when one of the ADF document guides 93 is slid, the other ADF document guide 93 is also slid in the opposite direction in an interlocking manner.

[0043] The pair of ADF document guides 93 are integrally formed with an ADF discharge tray 34, spaced apart above the ADF document tray 33. The ADF discharge tray 34 is configured as a flat, eave-shaped plate that extends inward from the top of the ADF document guide 93. The ADF discharge tray 34 is located below an upper discharge chute section 158 and an intermediate discharge chute section 179, which will be described later, in the up-down direction 7.

[0044] The document 12 discharged from the ADF 5 is supported on both sides by the ADF discharge tray 34 and held in a state separated from the document on the ADF document tray 33. Since the length of the ADF discharge tray 34 in the discharge direction is shorter than the length of the document 12, the leading edge of the document 12 in the discharge direction is held on the ADF document tray 33 so as to hang down from the ADF discharge tray 34.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 4, the housing of the ADF 5 is composed of an ADF main body 152 molded integrally with the document cover 30, and an ADF cover 153 provided rotatably relative to the ADF main body. This ADF cover 153 mainly forms the top surface of the housing of the ADF 5. The ADF cover 153 rotates relative to the ADF main body 152 in the direction of arrow P2 in the figure, around a rotation shaft (not shown) provided on the side of the ADF main body 152 (on the left side in Fig. 4). This exposes part of the interior of the ADF 5.

[0046] 4 and an open position by being rotated relative to the ADF main body 152. When the ADF 5 is in use, the ADF cover 153 is in the closed position. In the closed position, the ADF cover 153 is engaged with the ADF main body 152.

[0047] ADF 5 is provided inside with a transport mechanism 16 that transports document 12 in transport path 151 in transport direction 17 from ADF document tray 33 to ADF discharge tray 34. Transport mechanism 16 has an intake roller 164 and an intake nip piece 165, a separation roller 166 and a separation nip piece 167, a registration roller (hereinafter also referred to as an "R roller") 168 and a pinch roller 169, and a transport roller 171 and a pinch roller 172 (an example of a nip member).

[0048] The transport path 151 is formed in a horizontally-facing, approximately U-shaped cross section and is divided into an inclined path 159, a curved path 157, an upper discharge path 160 (an example of a first discharge path), and a lower discharge path 161 (an example of a second discharge path). The transport path 151 is composed of an ADF main body 152 and an ADF cover 153.

[0049] Suction chute 154 is formed so as to continue from ADF document tray 33 to transport path 151. Suction chute 154 of ADF 5 is formed so as to continue to the space above ADF document tray 33. Suction chute 154 has an upper surface that serves as a guide surface for document 12, and is configured as a passage of a predetermined width in vertical direction 7. If the downward facing surface of document 12 placed on ADF document tray 33 is referred to as first surface 51 and the upward facing surface is referred to as second surface 52, document 12 from which an image is to be read is placed on ADF document tray 33 with first surface 51 facing downward, with the leading edge in transport direction 17 inserted into suction chute 154.

[0050] The suction chute 154 is provided with a sheet supply mechanism made up of a plurality of rollers, etc. The sheet supply mechanism has a suction roller 164 and a suction nip piece 165 that is pressed against the suction roller 164, and a separation roller 166 and a separation nip piece 167 that is pressed against the suction roller 164. Note that the configuration of each roller and nip piece is merely one example of the sheet supply mechanism, and it goes without saying that the configuration can be changed to other known sheet supply mechanisms by changing the number and arrangement of rollers, using pinch rollers instead of each nip piece, or the like.

[0051] The intake roller 164 is rotatably mounted near the center of the intake chute 154 in the paper width direction (front-rear direction 8). Although not shown in the figure, the intake roller 164 has a key groove that fits into a key on the roller shaft, and the circumferential width of this key groove is sufficiently long compared to the width of the key. Therefore, the intake roller 164 can rotate idly around the roller shaft for about one revolution.

[0052] Separation roller 166 is rotatably provided at a position spaced downstream from intake roller 164 in recording paper conveyance direction 17. The intake roller 164 and separation roller 166 are rotated by the driving force transmitted from LF motor 110 (see FIG. 5).

[0053] The suction nip piece 165 is provided at a position opposite the suction roller 164 so as to be movable up and down in a direction toward and away from the suction roller 164. The suction nip piece 165 is biased downward by a spring member (not shown), and is in contact with the suction roller 164 without nipping the document 12.

[0054] The separation nip piece 167 is provided at a position facing the separation roller 166 so as to be movable up and down in a direction to move toward and away from the separation roller 166. The separation nip piece 167 is biased downward by a spring member (not shown), and is pressed against the roller surface of the separation roller 166 in a state where it does not nip the document 12.

[0055] Transport path 151 connects ADF document tray 33 and ADF discharge tray 34, and curves upward. More specifically, transport path 151 has an inclined path 159, a curved path 157, an upper discharge path 160, and a lower discharge path 161, as shown in Fig. 4. Transport path 151 is formed in either a horizontally oriented, approximately U-shaped path that continues from suction chute portion 154, through inclined path 159, curved path 157, and upper discharge path 160, to upper discharge chute portion 158, or a horizontally oriented, approximately U-shaped path that continues from curved path 157, through lower discharge path 161, to lower discharge chute portion 178.

[0056] The inclined path 159 of the conveying path 151 is formed as a continuous path with a predetermined width, gently inclined from the vicinity of the exit of the suction chute portion 154 to the vicinity of the exit of the reading area 80A. The document 12 sent out from the suction chute portion 154 is smoothly guided along the inclined path 159 without being curved sharply.

[0057] On the inclined path 159, from upstream to downstream in the conveying direction 17, an R roller 168, a pinch roller 169, a document sensor 116, a positioning member 83, a second image reading unit 94, a document guide 173, and a first image reading unit 32 are arranged.

[0058] The pinch roller 169 is provided with its axial direction aligned with the width direction (front-rear direction 8) of the ramp 159. The pinch roller 169 is provided rotatably with a part of its roller surface exposed to the ramp 159.

[0059] An R roller 168 is provided at a position facing the pinch roller 169 across the ramp 159. The R roller 168 is provided with its axial direction aligned with the width direction (front-rear direction 8) of the ramp 159. The R roller 168 is rotatably supported by the ADF main body 152, and a portion of its roller surface is exposed to the ramp 159.

[0060] Pinch roller 169 is supported in a state where it is biased toward R roller 168 by an elastic member such as a coil spring (not shown), and the roller surface of pinch roller 169 is pressed against the roller surface of R roller 168 on ramp 159. R roller 168 is connected to LF motor 110 (see FIG. 5) via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown), and is rotated by the driving force transmitted from LF motor 110. The outer diameter of R roller 168 is sufficiently larger than that of pinch roller 169.

[0061] On the inclined path 159, a document sensor 116 is positioned downstream of the R roller 168 and the pinch roller 169. The document sensor 116 outputs a detection signal indicating the leading and trailing ends of the document 12 fed by the R roller 168 and the pinch roller 169.

[0062] On the ramp 159, the second image reading unit 94 is located downstream of the document sensor 116. The second image reading unit 94 has a second CIS 95, a platen 96, and a document support member 97. The second image reading unit 94 reads the second side 52 of the document 12.

[0063] The second CIS 95 is disposed opposite the upper surface of the platen 96. The second CIS 95 is located upstream of the first CIS 85 in the conveying path 151 in the conveying direction 17. The second CIS 95 optically reads the image of the original 12 from above the conveying path 151. The second CIS 95 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is placed on the upper surface of the platen 96.

[0064] The platen 96 is located above the ramp 159. The platen 96 is a plate with a predetermined thickness. The lower surface of the platen 96 is parallel to the document 12 being transported on the ramp 159. The platen 96 has a reading surface 120, an upstream end 121, and a downstream end 122.

[0065] The reading surface 120 is aligned with the conveying direction 17. The reading surface 120 is parallel to the second surface 52 of the document 12 conveyed on the inclined path 159.

[0066] The upstream end 121 is the upstream end of the second CIS 95 in the conveying direction 17. The downstream end 122 is the downstream end of the second CIS 95 in the conveying direction 17. The upstream end 121 is located higher than the downstream end 122 in the conveying direction 17.

[0067] The document support member 97 is supported so as to be rotatable around an end portion on the upstream side in the conveying direction 17 as an axis (along the front-rear direction 8). The document support member 97 is provided so as to be rotatable in a direction to move toward and away from the platen 96. The document support member 97 is biased toward the reading surface 120 by a spring member (not shown). In a state where no external force is being applied, the document support member 97 is positioned opposite the reading surface 120 of the second CIS 95 across the conveying path 151.

[0068] In the inclined path 159, a positioning member 83 is located downstream of the second image reading unit 94 in the conveying direction 17. The left end portion (the downstream end portion in the conveying direction 17) of the positioning member 83 is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the conveying direction 17. The positioning member 83 guides the original 12 that has passed through the second image reading unit 94 to between the platen glass 80 and the original guide 173.

[0069] On the inclined path 159, the first image reading unit 32 is located downstream of the positioning member 83 in the transport direction 17. The first image reading unit 32 reads the first side 51 of the document 12. Note that the first image reading unit 32 only needs to be located downstream of the positioning member 83 in the transport direction 17 during image reading by the ADF 5.

[0070] The document guide 173 is provided at a position facing the first image reading unit 32 of the document cover 30 (see FIG. 2). The document guide 173 has a horizontal portion facing the reading area 80A and inclined portions extending upward on the upstream and downstream sides from both ends of the horizontal portion. The document guide 173 is biased toward the reading area 80A by a spring member fixed to the ADF main body 152. Convex portions are formed on both ends of the horizontal portion of the document guide 173 in the front-rear direction 8. When the convex portions abut against the reading area 80A, a gap is formed between the horizontal portion of the document guide 173 and the reading area 80A in the up-down direction 7, allowing the document 12 to pass through.

[0071] The curved path 157 of the conveying path 151 starts near the exit of the reading area 80A, extends upward, and curves significantly from left to right in Fig. 4. The downstream end of the curved path 157 in the conveying direction 17 continues to the upper discharge path 160 and the lower discharge path 161. The curved path 157 is formed with the conveying roller 171 as an inner conveying guide surface and the ADF main body 152 and the ADF cover 153 as outer conveying guide surfaces.

[0072] A conveying roller 171 and a pinch roller 172 are provided on the curved path 157. The conveying roller 171 is located on the inside of the curve of the curved path 157, and the pinch roller 172 is located on the outside of the curve of the curved path 157. Part of the roller surfaces of the conveying roller 171 and the pinch roller 172 are exposed to the curved path 157.

[0073] The pinch roller 172 is biased toward the transport roller 171 by an elastic member such as a coil spring (not shown). As a result, the roller surface of the pinch roller 172 is pressed against the roller surface of the transport roller 171 in the curved path 157, and a nip for sandwiching the document 12 is formed at the contact portion between the transport roller 171 and the pinch roller 172. The transport roller 171 is connected to the LF motor 110 (see FIG. 5) via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown), and is rotated by the driving force transmitted from the LF motor 110.

[0074] In Fig. 4, the scanner unit 3 includes an upper discharge chute unit 158, a lower discharge chute unit 178, a spring piece 190, an intermediate discharge chute unit 179, and a flap 180. Only one spring piece 190 is shown in Fig. 4. The intermediate discharge chute unit 179 is an example of a first support member. The lower discharge chute unit 178 is an example of a second support member. The flap 180 is an example of a guide member.

[0075] The upper discharge chute section 158 is integral with the ADF main body 152 and is a guide member extending left and right between the front wall 152A and the rear wall 152B (see FIG. 2) of the ADF main body 152. The lower end of the upper discharge chute section 158 forms the downstream end of the curved path 157 and the upper side of the upper discharge path 160. The lower end of the upper discharge chute section 158 forms a first protruding member 158A that protrudes downward toward the upwardly inclined surface of the spring piece 190, immediately downstream of the pinch roller 172 in the left-right direction 9. The lower end of the upper discharge chute section 158 forms a curved section 158B that curves upward and extends to the right, within the range from the right end of the first protruding member 158A to the right end of the flap 180. The lower end of the upper discharge chute portion 158 extends generally straight to the right within the range from the right end of the flap 180 to the right end of the upper discharge chute portion 158 .

[0076] The lower discharge chute 178 is a guide member extending laterally between the front wall 152A and the rear wall 152B of the ADF main body 152. The lower discharge chute 178 is disposed below the upper discharge chute 158 in the up-down direction 7 and at approximately the same position as the ADF discharge tray 34. At this position, the upper end of the lower discharge chute 178 extends approximately horizontally within a range between the right end of the transport roller 171 and the right end of the ADF discharge tray 34 in the left-right direction 9. The upper end of the lower discharge chute 178 mainly forms the lower side of the lower discharge path 161. The dimension in the transport direction 17 in which the document 12 is transported in the lower discharge chute 178 (i.e., the left-right dimension of the lower discharge chute 178) is shorter than the dimension of the document 12 in the same direction. The transport direction 17 is an example of a transport direction, and is rightward.

[0077] Each spring piece 190 is made of a flexible sheet material. The sheet material may be a synthetic resin (such as polyethylene terephthalate) with a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. When viewed from the front, the spring piece 190 has a shape resembling the Greek letter Λ, and has an upwardly inclined surface that extends diagonally upward to the right from the outlet of the nip N1 toward the first protruding member 158A. Each spring piece 190 bends downward at a position to the right of the first protruding member 158A and reaches the lower discharge chute portion 178. In other words, each spring piece 190 is an example of a second protruding member that protrudes upward.

[0078] The intermediate discharge chute portion 179 is located between the upper discharge chute portion 158 and the lower discharge chute portion 178 in the vertical direction 7. The intermediate discharge chute portion 179 occupies a range from a position spaced to the right from the upper ends of the spring pieces 190 to the right end of the ADF cover 153 in the horizontal direction 9. At this position, the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 extends approximately horizontally between the front wall 152A and the rear wall 152B of the ADF main body 152. The upper end of the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 forms the lower side of the upper discharge path 160, and the lower end forms the upper side of the lower discharge path 161.

[0079] [Flap 180] The flap 180 is located between the curved portion 158B of the upper discharge chute portion 158 and the lower discharge chute portion 178 in the up-down direction 7, and between each spring piece 190 and the left end of the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 in the left-right direction 9. The flap 180 extends leftward from a rotation axis A23 that extends in the front-rear direction 8 along the left end of the intermediate discharge chute portion 179. The extending end of the flap 180 can swing circumferentially about the rotation axis A23 between a first position P51 (see FIG. 6A) and a second position P52 (see FIG. 6B). As shown in FIG. 6A, at the first position P51, the flap 180 opens the upstream end of the upper discharge path 160 and closes the upstream end of the lower discharge path 161, communicating them so that the document 12 can be transported from the curved path 157 to the upper discharge path 160. On the other hand, in FIG. 6(B), the flap 180 blocks the upstream end of the upper discharge path 160 and opens the upstream end of the lower discharge path 161, thereby connecting them so that the document 12 can be transported from the curved path 157 to the lower discharge path 161.

[0080] [Scanner unit 3 drive control] 5 shows the configuration of the control unit 100 and its peripheral devices of the multifunction peripheral 1. The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral 1, including not only the scanner unit 3 but also the printer unit 2, but in the description of this embodiment, the components of the printer unit 2 are omitted from Fig. 5. The control unit 100 is configured as a microcomputer mainly including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 104, and is connected to an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 106 via a bus 105.

[0081] The ROM 102 stores programs and the like for controlling various operations of the multifunction device 1. The EEPROM 104 stores various data used in processing according to the programs. The RAM 103 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording various data used when the CPU 101 executes the programs, or as an area for expanding data and programs.

[0082] The CPU 101 comprehensively controls the peripheral devices that make up the control unit 100 or the controlled devices that are controlled by the control unit 100. The CPU 101 reads out programs stored in the ROM 102 and data stored in the RAM 103 or the EEPROM 104, and performs calculations in accordance with the programs.

[0083] In accordance with instructions from the CPU 101, the ASIC 106 generates phase excitation signals and the like to energize a carriage motor (also referred to as a "CR motor") 108 of the scanner unit 3 and an LF transport motor (also referred to as an "LF motor") 110 of the ADF 5, and provides the signals to a CR drive circuit 107 of the CR motor 108 and an R drive circuit 109 of the LF motor 110. Drive signals are applied to the CR motor 108 and the LF motor 110 via the CR drive circuit 107 and the R drive circuit 109, thereby controlling the rotation of the CR motor 108 and the LF motor 110.

[0084] The CR drive circuit 107 drives the CR motor 108 connected to the CIS carriage 86 of the scanner unit 3. The CR drive circuit 107 receives an output signal from the ASIC 106 and generates an electrical signal for rotating the CR motor 108. The CR motor 108 receives the electrical signal and rotates, and the rotational force of the CR motor 108 is transmitted to the CIS carriage 86 via a well-known scanning mechanism, thereby moving the CIS carriage 86.

[0085] The R drive circuit 109 drives the LF motor 110, which is connected to the intake roller 164, separation roller 166, R roller 168, and transport roller 171 of the ADF 5. The R drive circuit 109 receives an output signal from the ASIC 106 and generates an electric signal for rotating the LF motor 110. The LF motor 110 rotates upon receiving the electric signal, and the rotational force of the LF motor 110 is transmitted to the intake roller 164, separation roller 166, R roller 168, and transport roller 171 via a well-known drive mechanism including gears, drive shafts, etc.

[0086] ASIC 106 is connected to a first CIS 85 and a second CIS 95 that read images of original 12 in scanner unit 3. Based on commands from CPU 101, ASIC 106 provides the first CIS 85 with electrical signals for irradiating light from the light source and timing signals for outputting image data from the photoelectric conversion elements. Upon receiving these signals, first CIS 85 and second CIS 95 irradiate light onto original 12 at predetermined timings and output image data converted by the photoelectric conversion elements.

[0087] A panel gate array (panel G / A) 111 that controls the operation buttons 35 that input desired commands to the multifunction device 1 is connected to the ASIC 106. The panel gate array 111 detects pressing of the operation buttons 35 on the operation panel 6 and outputs a predetermined code signal. This key code is assigned to each of the multiple operation buttons 35. When the CPU 101 receives a predetermined key code from the panel gate array 111, it performs the control processing to be executed in accordance with a predetermined key processing table. The key processing table is a table that associates key codes with control processing, and is stored in, for example, the ROM 102.

[0088] An LCD controller 112 that controls the screen display of the liquid crystal display (LCD) 36 is connected to the ASIC 106. Based on a command from the CPU 101, the LCD controller 112 causes the liquid crystal display 36 to display information relating to the operation of the printer unit 2 or the scanner unit 3 on the screen.

[0089] The ASIC 106 is connected to a slot 18 into which various small memory cards are inserted, a parallel interface 113 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a computer via a parallel cable or a USB cable, and a USB connector 14 .

[0090] The ASIC 106 is connected to a document sensor 116 for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the document 12 on a conveyance path 151 in the ADF 5 (see FIG. 4).

[0091] The ASIC 106 is connected to an actuator 182. The actuator 182 generates power by means of a motor, an electromagnetic solenoid, or the like to move the flap 180 to the first position P51 and the second position P52.

[0092] [Single-sided reading processing by scanner unit 3] Hereinafter, the single-sided reading process by the scanner unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0093] The user places multiple originals 12 on the ADF original tray 33. Assume that each original 12 has an image recorded on only one side. Each original 12 is placed on the ADF original tray 33 so that the image-recorded side is the first side 51. Next, the user operates the operation panel 6 to start the single-sided reading process. In response to this user operation, the scanner unit 3 starts the single-sided reading process shown in FIG. 7.

[0094] 7, the control unit 100 drives the CR motor 108 to move the first image reading unit 32 to the reading area 80A (see FIG. 4) using the CIS carriage drive mechanism 88. In S101, the control unit 100 also initializes an internal sheet number counter. The sheet number counter counts a sheet number count value indicating the number of sheets of the original 12 that have passed the original sensor 116.

[0095] In S102, the control unit 100 drives the actuator 182 to move the flap 180 to the first position P51 (see FIG. 6(A)). The order of execution of S101 and S102 may be reversed.

[0096] In S103, the control unit 100 drives the LF motor 110 to start conveying the originals 12. That is, the control unit 100 starts rotating the intake roller 164, the separation roller 166, the R roller 168, and the conveyance roller 171. The intake roller 164, together with the intake nip piece 165, nips the originals 12 supported by the ADF original tray 33, and sends them downstream of the ramp 159. The separation roller 166, together with the separation nip piece 167, nips the originals 12 fed from the intake roller 164, and sends the bottommost sheet of the nipped originals 12 downstream of the ramp 159. The R roller 168, together with the pinch roller 169, nips the originals 12, and sends them downstream of the ramp 159. As a result, the intake roller 164, separation roller 166 and R roller 168 transport the originals 12 one by one in the ADF original tray 33 starting from the bottom one along the inclined path 159.

[0097] In S104, the control unit 100 starts periodically acquiring a detection signal from the document sensor 116.

[0098] In S105, the control unit 100 detects the leading edge of the document 12 in the transport direction 17 being transported on the inclined path 159 based on the detection signal. In S105, the control unit 100 further causes the first image reading unit 32 to start the reading process after a first time has elapsed since the detection of the leading edge, and begins to acquire image data from the first image reading unit 32.

[0099] In S106, the control unit 100 detects the rear end of the document 12 in the transport direction 17 being transported on the inclined path 159 based on the detection signal. In S106, the control unit 100 further increments the sheet count value by 1. In S106, the control unit 100 further causes the first image reading unit 32 to temporarily suspend the reading process after a first time has elapsed since the detection of the rear end. As a result, the control unit 100 stores image data representing the image recorded on the bottom surface of one document 12 in a RAM or the like.

[0100] In S107, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the single-sided reading process is to be ended. The control unit 100 determines whether or not the original 12 remains on the ADF original tray 33 based on an output signal from an original sensor (not shown) provided on the ADF original tray 33. If the original 12 does not remain, the control unit 100 determines Yes in S107 and ends the single-sided reading process. If the original 12 remains, the control unit 100 determines No in S107 and executes S108.

[0101] In S108, the control unit 100 determines whether the sheet count value is equal to or greater than the sheet count threshold Nth. The sheet count threshold Nth is set to, for example, about 20 sheets. If the control unit 100 determines that the sheet count value is not equal to or greater than the sheet count threshold Nth (No in S108), it executes S105. If the control unit 100 determines that the sheet count value is equal to or greater than the sheet count threshold Nth (Yes in S108), it executes S109.

[0102] In S109, the control unit 100 drives the actuator 182 to move the flap 180 from the first position P51 to the second position P52 (see FIG. 6). Here, the control unit 100 may stop outputting a control signal to the LF motor 110 while the flap 180 is moving to the second position P52.

[0103] [Transportation of original 12 in single-sided reading processing] Hereinafter, the original 12 that is the first target of the reading process will also be simply referred to as the "first page." The originals 12 that are the second or subsequent target of the reading process will also be simply referred to as the "second page" or subsequent pages.

[0104] As a result of the above-described reading process, the first sheet passes through the reading area 80A from its front in the conveying direction 17, and is then conveyed within the curved path 157. The first sheet is then fed from its front into a space between the conveying roller 171 and the pinch roller 172. The conveying roller 171, together with the pinch roller 172, nips the first sheet and sends it downstream along the curved path 157. As a result, the front of the first sheet is sent diagonally upward to the right from the nip N1 and then contacts the first protruding member 158A. As a result, the orientation of the front of the first sheet changes diagonally downward to the right. The front of the first sheet then contacts the upwardly inclined surfaces of the spring pieces 190 extending from the nip N1, and is conveyed along the upwardly inclined surfaces within the curved path 157. At this time, each spring piece 190 is elastically deformed by the load from the first sheet, and its posture changes downward. Each spring piece 190 also supports the first sheet from below. Since the flap 180 is at the first position P51, the first sheet passes the upper ends of the spring pieces 190, is transported rightward in the upper discharge path 160, and is discharged onto the ADF discharge tray .

[0105] The trailing edge of the first sheet that has passed through the reading area 80A is transported through the curved path 157 and then sent out from the nip N1. The trailing edge of the first sheet stops on each spring piece 190 immediately after exiting the nip N1. Each spring piece 190 is only subjected to a load due to the weight of the first sheet near its trailing edge. As shown in FIG. 8A, the lower end of the first protruding member 158A abuts from above near the trailing edge of the first sheet, and the upper ends of each spring piece 190 abut from below at a position downstream of the first protruding member 158A in the transport direction 17. At this time, each spring piece 190 elastically deforms downward due to the load received from the document 12. As a result, the trailing edge of the document 12 moves slightly upward away from the upwardly inclined surface of the spring piece 190. In other words, the control unit 100 controls the conveying rollers 171 and the like to convey the original 12 so that the leading edge of the original 12 is located downstream of the downstream end of the intermediate discharge chute section 179 in the conveying direction 17, and the trailing edge of the original 12 is located upstream of the upstream end of the intermediate discharge chute section 179 in the conveying direction 17. This also applies to the second to Nth sheets. The ADF discharge tray 34 is located to the right of and below the intermediate discharge chute section 179. Therefore, a relatively large load is applied to a portion of the first sheet close to the leading edge, and the trailing edge of the first sheet is spaced slightly upward from the upwardly inclined surface of the spring piece 190.

[0106] When the trailing end of the first sheet is stopped by spring piece 190, it is supported by intermediate discharge chute portion 179 (see FIG. 8A) and also supported by ADF discharge tray 34. At this time, the leading end of the first sheet exceeds the downstream end of ADF discharge tray 34 in conveyance direction 17, and the first sheet is held on ADF document tray 33 so as to hang down from ADF discharge tray 34 to ADF document tray 33. This also applies to the second to Nth sheets.

[0107] When the leading edges of the second to Nth sheets of paper are sent out of the nip N1, one or more sheets of paper 12 are supported on the intermediate discharge chute section 179. The trailing edges of the sheets of paper 12 on the intermediate discharge chute section 179 are separated from the upwardly inclined surfaces of the spring pieces 190. Therefore, when the second to Nth sheets of paper are transported along the upwardly inclined surfaces of the spring pieces 190, the leading edges of the sheets of paper 12 move downward below the trailing edges of the sheets of paper 12 already supported by the upper ends of the spring pieces 190. The second to Nth sheets of paper 12 are transported to the right in the upper discharge path 160 below the lowest sheet of paper 12 on the intermediate discharge chute section 179 and are discharged onto the ADF discharge tray 34.

[0108] In response to a Yes determination in S108, the flap 180 moves from the first position P51 to the second position P52. This movement causes the flap 180 to apply an upward force from below to the rear ends of the first through Nth sheets. The curved portion 158B of the upper discharge chute section 158 is curved to bulge upward so that its shape matches the upper surface of the flap 180. As a result, when the flap 180 moves to the second position P52, the documents 12 located at the upper ends of the spring pieces 190 are lifted upward, and as a result, the rear ends of the documents 12 are released from between the first protruding member 158A and the spring pieces 190. The flap 180 then supports the documents 12 supported on the intermediate discharge chute section 179 by sandwiching the vicinity of their rear ends between the flap 180 and the curved portion 158B.

[0109] The Nth+1th sheet is transported in the transport path 151 in the same manner as the Nth sheets until it abuts against the upwardly inclined surfaces of each spring piece 190. However, because the flap 180 is located at the second position P52, the Nth+1th sheet climbs over the upper ends of each spring piece 190, is transported to the right in the lower discharge path 161, is discharged onto the ADF discharge tray 34, slips under the Nth sheets of documents 12 already supported on the ADF discharge tray 34, and is then transported further to the right. That is, the control unit 100 transports the documents 12 by the transport rollers 171 etc. so that the leading edge of the documents 12 is located downstream of the downstream end of the lower discharge chute section 178 in the transport direction 17, and the trailing edge of the documents 12 is located upstream of the upstream end of the lower discharge chute section 178 in the transport direction 17. At this time, the leading edge of the Nth+1th sheet exceeds the downstream end of the ADF discharge tray 34 in the conveying direction 17 and hangs down from the ADF discharge tray 34 to the ADF document tray 33, so that the Nth+1th sheet is held on the ADF document tray 33. In other words, the leading edge side of the Nth sheet of documents 12 supported on the intermediate discharge chute section 179 and the leading edge side of the Nth+1th sheet of documents 12 supported on the lower discharge chute section 178 are both supported on the ADF document tray 33. This is also true for the Nth+2nd to last sheets.

[0110] As the rear end of the (Nth+1)th sheet comes out of the nip N1, it comes into contact with the lowest end of the first protruding member 158A and stops. In addition, a portion of the (Nth+1)th sheet slightly closer to the front end than the rear end stops at the upper end of the spring pieces 190, so each spring piece 190 essentially receives a load from near the rear end of the (Nth+1)th sheet. As shown in FIG. 8(B), the rear end of the (Nth+1)th sheet is lifted upward by the upward biasing force received from each spring piece 190. Because the lower discharge chute portion 178 is located below the upper ends of the spring pieces 190, the rear end of the (Nth+1)th sheet tends to extend diagonally upward to the left from each spring piece 190.

[0111] When the leading edges of the (Nth+2)th to last documents are sent out of the nip N1, one or more documents 12 are supported in the lower discharge chute section 178. The trailing ends of the documents 12 on the lower discharge chute section 178 are separated from the upwardly inclined surfaces of the spring pieces 190. Therefore, each of the (Nth+2)th to last documents comes into contact with the upwardly inclined surfaces of the spring pieces 190, is transported along the upwardly inclined surfaces, and then slips below the trailing ends of the documents 12 already supported by the upper ends of the spring pieces 190. Each of the (Nth+2)th to last documents is transported to the right in the lower discharge path 161 below the lowest document 12 in the lower discharge chute section 178, just like the other documents 12.

[0112] As described above, the multiple documents 12 are stacked in the ADF discharge tray 34 in the order of reading processing, in a so-called face-up manner, starting from the top. Face-up means that the image recording surface of the documents 12 faces upward. After the single-sided reading processing is completed, the user pulls out the multiple documents 12 from the ADF discharge tray 34.

[0113] [Double-sided scanning processing] When a plurality of original documents 12 with images recorded on both sides are placed on the ADF original tray 33, the user operates the operation panel 6 to start a double-sided reading process for both sides of the original documents 12. In response to this user operation, the scanner unit 3 starts the double-sided reading process. In this case, the control unit 100 further causes the second image reading unit 94 to start the reading process after a second time period shorter than the first time period has elapsed after detecting the leading edge of the original document 12 in S105, and starts acquiring image data from the second image reading unit 94. In S106, the control unit 100 causes the second image reading unit 94 to end the reading process after the second time period has elapsed after detecting the trailing edge of the original document 12.

[0114] [Use of image data, etc.] The image data stored in the RAM or the like in S106 can be used for various purposes (such as sending a fax) as described above.

[0115] [Actions and Effects of the Embodiments] According to this embodiment, when the flap 180 is at the first position P51, the original 12 into which the leading edge of the currently transported original 12 is to slip is supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179. When the flap 180 is at the second position P52, the original 12 into which the leading edge of the currently transported original 12 is to slip is supported by the lower discharge chute section 178. The leading edges of the multiple originals 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179 and the leading edges of the multiple originals 12 supported by the lower discharge chute section 178 are transported further downstream than the downstream end of the intermediate discharge chute section 179 and the downstream end of the lower discharge chute section 178. In this way, the trailing ends of the multiple documents 12 on the ADF document tray 33 that are continuously transported by the transport rollers 171 and the like are supported separately by the intermediate discharge chute section 179 and the lower discharge chute section 178, so that when the leading ends of the documents 12 are slipped in, the load applied to the leading ends of the documents 12 by the previous documents 12 can be reduced. As a result, the document 12 currently being transported is prevented from slipping in below the documents 12 that have already been transported, and buckling is prevented.

[0116] Furthermore, since the leading edges of the multiple documents 12 that have been transported are in roughly the same position, it is easy to remove all of the documents 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 and the lower discharge chute portion 178 together. In other words, the ease of collecting the documents 12 is improved.

[0117] The rear end of the document 12 transported through the curved path 157 is supported by the spring piece 190. Subsequently, the leading end of the document 12 transported through the transport path 151 by the transport rollers 171 and the pinch rollers 172 is guided by the flap 180 from the curved path 157 to the lower discharge path 161 and slips downward from the rear end of the document 12 supported by the lower discharge chute section 178. When the flap 180 is at the second position P52, the vicinity of the rear end of the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179 is sandwiched between the flap 180 and the curved section 158B, so that the leading end of the document 12 transported to the lower discharge chute section 178 is prevented from abutting against the rear end of the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179.

[0118] [First Modification] 9, the first modified example differs from the embodiment in that the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 further includes a discharge roller 187. Therefore, in the following, a description of the common parts with the embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

[0119] 9, a through hole 187A that passes through the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 from top to bottom and extends in the front-rear direction is formed in the intermediate discharge chute portion 179. The discharge roller 187 is located within the through hole 187A and is rotatable in the circumferential direction of a rotation axis A28 that extends in the front-rear direction 8.

[0120] The rotation axis A28 is connected to the rotation axis A23 of the flap 180 by a link member 188 provided in front of and behind the flap 180 and the intermediate discharge chute section 179. The link member 188 can be positioned at a lower position P71 and an upper position P72 in the vertical direction 7 by an actuator 182 such as an electromagnetic solenoid. The lower position P71 is the vertical position of the link member 188 when the flap 180 is positioned at a first position P51 (see FIG. 6). The upper position P72 is the vertical position of the link member 188 when the flap 180 is positioned at a second position P52 (see FIG. 6).

[0121] In S109 (see FIG. 7), the control unit 100 (see FIG. 5) moves the link member 188 from the lower position P71 to the upper position P72 using the actuator 182. In conjunction with this, the rotation axes A23 and A28 of the flap 180 rotate, and as a result, the flap 180 moves from the first position P51 to the second position P52, and the discharge roller 187 rotates so as to convey the document 12 on the intermediate discharge chute unit 179 in the conveying direction 17.

[0122] [Second Modification] 10(A), the second modified example differs from the embodiment in that the intermediate discharge chute section 179 further includes a discharge roller 191. Therefore, in the following, a description of the common parts with the embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

[0123] 10(A), a through hole 191A that passes through the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 from top to bottom and extends in the front-rear direction is formed in the intermediate discharge chute portion 179. The discharge roller 191 is located within the through hole 191A and is rotatable in the circumferential direction of a rotation axis A31 that extends in the front-rear direction 8.

[0124] In S109 (see FIG. 7 ), the control unit 100 controls the LF motor 110 to transmit power to the discharge roller 191 via, for example, the clutch 192 while the flap 180 is being moved from the first position P51 to the second position P52. The LF motor 110 and the clutch 192 are an example of an interlocking mechanism. By this control, the discharge roller 191 rotates clockwise (an example of a rotation direction) in FIG. 10(A) in conjunction with the movement of the flap 180 from the first position P51 to the second position P52. As a result, the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute unit 179 is transported in the transport direction 17.

[0125] According to the second modified example, when the flap 180 moves, the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179 is conveyed in the conveying direction 17 by the discharge rollers 191. This prevents the leading end of the document 12 conveyed to the lower discharge chute section 178 from contacting the trailing end of the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179.

[0126] [Third Modification] 10(B), the vertical distance Z11 (an example of a first distance) is the distance in the vertical direction 7 between the uppermost position P61 of the upper surface (an example of a document guiding surface) of the flap 180 at the first position P51 and the lowermost position P62 of the first protruding member 158A. The horizontal distance X11 (an example of a second distance) is the distance in the horizontal direction 9 between the position P61 and the position P62. By making the vertical distance Z11 shorter than the horizontal distance X11, the stiffness of the document 12 prevents the vicinity of the rear end of the document 12 located directly below the first protruding member 158A from slipping out of the first protruding member 158A in the conveying direction 17.

[0127] As shown in FIG. 10B, a left-right distance X12 (an example of a third distance) is defined as the distance in the left-right direction 9 between the nip N1 and a position P62 of the lowest end of the first protruding member 158A. A vertical distance Z12 (an example of a fourth distance) is defined as the distance in the up-down direction 7 between a portion of the upper discharge chute section 158 that faces the intermediate discharge chute section 179 (an example of a first lower surface) and the position of the upper end of the upper discharge chute section 158 where the document 12 is sandwiched between the flap 180 and the portion of the upper discharge chute section 158. Making the left-right distance X12 shorter than the vertical distance Z12 improves the ease of collection of the document 12. Specifically, the rear end of the document 12 that has passed through the nip N1 and is stopped by being supported by the spring piece 190 as shown in FIG. 8A is sandwiched between the flap 180 and the upper discharge chute section 158 when the flap 180 swings from the first position P51 to the second position P52 as shown in FIG. 8B. In other words, when the left-right distance X12 is shorter than the up-down distance Z12, the rear end of the document 12 sandwiched between the flap 180 and the upper discharge chute section 158 reliably moves downstream in the conveying direction 17 from the lowest end of the upper discharge chute section 158. As a result, with the flap 180 in the second position P52, the subsequent document 12 is conveyed to the lower discharge path 161 without hitting the rear end of the preceding document 12, improving the ease of collection of the document 12.

[0128] [Fourth Modification] In FIG. 4, the ADF discharge tray 34 is located downstream of the upper discharge path 160 in the conveying direction 17. The downstream end of the ADF discharge tray 34 is located upstream of the leading edge of the document 12 that has been conveyed in the conveying direction 17. As shown in FIG. 11(A), the position of each top surface of the ADF discharge tray 34 becomes lower in the up-down direction 7 as it approaches the extended end. Note that FIG. 11(A) is a schematic diagram of a vertical cross section of the ADF discharge tray 34 taken along line Xa-Xa in FIG. 2, as viewed from the right. FIG. 11(B) is a schematic diagram of a vertical cross section of the ADF document tray 33 taken along line Xb-Xb in FIG. 2, as viewed from the right. The ADF discharge tray 34 is an example of a fourth support member.

[0129] The ADF document tray 33 is located downstream of the lower discharge path 161 in the conveying direction 17. The downstream end of the ADF discharge tray 34 is located upstream of the leading edge of the document 12 that has already been conveyed in the conveying direction 17. As shown in FIG. 11(B) , on the top surface of the ADF document tray 33, the portion downstream of the ADF discharge tray 34 in the conveying direction 17 becomes lower in the up-down direction 7 as it approaches the center of the front-to-back of the ADF document tray 33 in a plan view from the left-right direction 9. The ADF document tray 33 is an example of a document tray.

[0130] According to the fourth modification, the leading edge of the document 12 (conveyed document 12 or document 12 to be conveyed) positioned on the ADF document tray 33 in the conveying direction 17 is strengthened, and buckling of the document 12 is suppressed.

[0131] In addition, the downstream end of the intermediate discharge chute portion 179 in the conveying direction 17 is located further away from the downstream end of the cover 153 in the same direction. right The more it protrudes toward the lower discharge chute section 178, the more the load that the portion of the document 12 supported by the intermediate discharge chute section 179 near the leading edge applies to the document 12 supported on the lower discharge chute section 178 can be reduced. As shown in FIG. 11(C), the position of the upper surface of the intermediate discharge chute section 179 in the vertical direction 7 decreases as it approaches the center of the front and rear of the intermediate discharge chute section 179 in a plan view from the left and right direction 9. This increases the stiffness of the document 12 positioned on the intermediate discharge chute section 179, and suppresses buckling of the document 12. 。

[0132] [Other variations] In the embodiment, the conveying path 151 is a U-turn path, but is not limited to this, and the conveying path 151 may be a straight path.

[0133] In order to improve the collection of the document 12, a resin roller that rotates in the circumferential direction of a rotation shaft extending in the front-rear direction 8 may be provided on the upper surface of the flap 180. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 1...Multifunction device 3. Scanner unit (reading device) 5. ADF (transport device) 16. Transfer mechanism 32 First image reading unit (reading sensor) 33 ADF document tray (document tray) 34 ADF discharge tray stomach 94 Second image reading unit (reading sensor) 150...Transport path 157···Curved Road 158 Upper discharge chute 160...Upper discharge passage (1st discharge passage) 161...Lower discharge passage (second discharge passage) 178 Lower discharge chute portion (second support member) 179... Intermediate discharge chute section (first support member ) 180 Flap (guide member) P51...1st position P52...2nd position 100 Control unit

Claims

1. a first support member that forms a first discharge passage; a second support member disposed below the first support member and forming a second discharge path; a conveying path continuous with the first discharge path and the second discharge path; a transport mechanism that transports the document in a transport direction along the transport path; a guide member movable to a first position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the first discharge path and to a second position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the second discharge path; a control unit; and the first support member and the second support member have a dimension along the transport direction that is shorter than a dimension along the transport direction of the document; The transport mechanism includes: transporting the document so that a leading edge of the document is located downstream in the transport direction of the downstream end of the first support member or the downstream end of the second support member, and a trailing edge of the document is located upstream in the transport direction of the upstream end of the first support member or the upstream end of the second support member; When the guide member is at the first position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the first support member; When the guide member is at the second position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the second support member; The control unit With the guide member positioned at the first position, N sheets of originals, which represent a natural number, are transported to the first discharge path by the transport mechanism; After the N originals have been transported, the transport device moves the guide member from the first position to the second position, and then causes the transport mechanism to transport the originals to the second discharge path.

2. A first support member forming a first discharge path; a second support member disposed below the first support member and forming a second discharge path; a conveying path continuous with the first discharge path and the second discharge path; a transport mechanism that transports the document in a transport direction along the transport path; a guide member movable to a first position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the first discharge path and to a second position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the second discharge path; a cover that covers the downstream side and the upper side of the conveying path and the upper side of the first discharge path, the first support member and the second support member have a dimension along the transport direction that is shorter than a dimension along the transport direction of the document; The transport mechanism includes: a conveying roller located upstream of the guide member in the conveying direction; a nip member for nipping the document between itself and the conveying roller; a first protruding member that is located upstream of the guide member in the conveying direction and downstream of a nip position between the conveying roller and the nip member in the conveying direction and that protrudes downward into the conveying path; a second protruding member located downstream of the first protruding member in the conveying direction and protruding upward, transporting the document so that a leading edge of the document is located downstream in the transport direction of the downstream end of the first support member or the downstream end of the second support member, and a trailing edge of the document is located upstream in the transport direction of the upstream end of the first support member or the upstream end of the second support member; When the guide member is at the first position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the first support member; When the guide member is at the second position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the second support member; the guide member has a flap extending from a pivot shaft toward the upstream side in the conveying direction, and is positioned at the first position and the second position by pivoting about the pivot shaft; The guide member at the second position sandwiches the rear end of the document supported by the first support member between itself and the cover.

3. a discharge roller located in the first discharge path; a linking mechanism that links the rotation of the guide member with the rotation of the discharge roller, 3. The transport device according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking mechanism rotates the discharge roller in a rotation direction for transporting the document in the transport direction in conjunction with the rotation of the guide member from the first position to the second position.

4. A conveying device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein a first distance along the vertical direction between the uppermost position of the document guide surface of the guide member at the first position and the lower end of the first protruding member is shorter than a second distance along the horizontal direction between the uppermost position and the lower end.

5. A conveying device as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a third distance along the horizontal direction between the nip position and the lower end of the first protruding member is shorter than a fourth distance along the vertical direction between a first lower surface of the cover at a position facing the first support member and a second lower surface of the cover at a position where the document is sandwiched between the cover and the guide member.

6. A first support member forming a first discharge path; a second support member disposed below the first support member and forming a second discharge path; a conveying path continuous with the first discharge path and the second discharge path; a transport mechanism that transports the document in a transport direction along the transport path; a guide member movable to a first position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the first discharge path and to a second position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the second discharge path; a discharge support member located downstream in the conveying direction relative to a downstream end of the first support member and a downstream end of the second support member in the conveying direction, the first support member and the second support member have a dimension along the transport direction that is shorter than a dimension along the transport direction of the document; The transport mechanism includes: transporting the document so that a leading edge of the document is located downstream in the transport direction of the downstream end of the first support member or the downstream end of the second support member, and a trailing edge of the document is located upstream in the transport direction of the upstream end of the first support member or the upstream end of the second support member; When the guide member is at the first position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the first support member; When the guide member is at the second position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the second support member; The discharge support member is a transport device that supports a portion of the document supported by the first support member and a portion of the document supported by the second support member.

7. 7. The transport device according to claim 6, wherein the downstream end of the discharge support member is located upstream of the leading edge of the document after transport, and supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

8. A first support member forming a first discharge path; a second support member disposed below the first support member and forming a second discharge path; a conveying path continuous with the first discharge path and the second discharge path; a transport mechanism that transports the document in a transport direction along the transport path; a guide member movable to a first position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the first discharge path and to a second position where the guide member guides the document from the transport path to the second discharge path; a document tray disposed below the first support member and the second support member, the first support member and the second support member have a dimension along the transport direction that is shorter than a dimension along the transport direction of the document; The transport mechanism includes: transporting the document so that a leading edge of the document is located downstream in the transport direction of the downstream end of the first support member or the downstream end of the second support member, and a trailing edge of the document is located upstream in the transport direction of the upstream end of the first support member or the upstream end of the second support member; When the guide member is at the first position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the first support member; When the guide member is at the second position, the next document is conveyed so that the leading edge of the next document slips under the trailing edge of the previous document supported by the second support member; the transport path extends from the document tray, curves upward, and is connected to the first support member and the second support member; a conveying device in which leading ends of the documents supported by the first support member and the second support member are positioned above the document tray;

9. 9. The transport device according to claim 8, wherein the document tray supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

10. 10. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the first support member supports the document in a downwardly curved position.

11. A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a reading sensor that reads the document in the transport path;

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