JP4618564B2 - Image reading apparatus and facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads an original while being conveyed by an automatic document feeder.

  This type of image reading apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an apparatus main body including an image reading unit and an automatic conveyance mechanism (automatic document feeder). By the automatic conveyance mechanism, the image is discharged from a document tray through the reading position of the apparatus main body. The document is configured to be conveyed to a paper tray. An ADF frame that accommodates the automatic document transport mechanism is provided on the upper surface of the main body so as to be freely opened and closed via a hinge member.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the hinge member is configured such that a frame support portion fixed to one end side of the ADF frame and a base portion attached to the apparatus main body so as to be movable up and down within a predetermined range are pivotally attached. . Further, the ADF frame is provided with at least three convex portions that contact the upper surface of the apparatus main body and perform positioning of the ADF frame.

According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620, when the ADF frame is closed, the convex portion comes into contact with the upper surface of the apparatus main body to perform the positioning operation, and the ADF frame is accurately positioned with respect to the reading line of the image reading unit. Suppose you can close it.
JP 2005-269450 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, any one of the three convex portions is lifted from the upper surface of the apparatus main body depending on the warp of the resin cover that covers the ADF frame and the movement of the base portion of the hinge member. In some cases, the ADF frame cannot be closed at an accurate position with respect to the apparatus main body. As a result, the positioning of the document conveyance path of the automatic conveyance device becomes insufficient, and the read image may be distorted or the document may be jammed.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image reading apparatus having the following configuration is provided. That is, a body having a contact glass, provided vertically movable relative to the body, a slide base flange portion Ru formed near the upper end portion, with respect to the main body by being pivotally supported on the slide base An ADF frame that is openable and closable, an automatic document feeder that is disposed on the ADF frame and conveys a sheet-shaped read document so as to pass over the contact glass, and a read document that passes over the contact glass. A reading unit for reading, a contact portion that comes in contact with the main body when the ADF frame is closed, and is provided at at least two locations on the ADF frame near and far from the rotation fulcrum. It is attached to the collar part located outside the ADF frame when viewed in the axial direction, and its vertical position is adjusted from the upper end side. It makes comprises an adjustable adjusting member the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base, and a biasing spring for biasing in the opening direction of the ADF frame.

Thereby, even if the contact part is separated from the main body side due to warpage of the ADF frame, etc., the lower part of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base is adjusted by the adjustment member, so that the contact part is again brought into contact with the main body side The ADF frame can be well positioned with respect to the main body. As a result, stable document conveyance by the automatic document feeder is realized. Further, by providing the biasing spring, the weight of the ADF frame can be canceled and opening and closing can be facilitated. Further, in this configuration, the contact portion on the side farther from the rotation fulcrum of the ADF frame tends to be lifted, but according to the present invention, the lift of the contact portion can be easily eliminated by the adjustment member. .

  In the image reading apparatus, the adjustment member is preferably an adjustment screw.

  Thereby, the delicate adjustment of the lower limit position of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base can be easily performed by screw movement by rotation of the adjustment screw.

In the image reading apparatus, when the slide base reaches the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke, the lower end of the adjustment screw attached to the slide base comes into contact with the upper surface of the main body, so that the further slide It is preferable to prevent the base from descending.

  Thereby, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

  In the image reading apparatus, it is preferable that the adjustment member is provided with a lock mechanism.

  As a result, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base can be locked so as not to change unexpectedly, and the ADF frame can be positioned stably.

  The image reading apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the main body includes a flatbed scanner platen glass. A document table cover for pressing the read document on the platen glass is configured to open and close with respect to the main body integrally with the ADF frame.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an auto document feeder and a flatbed scanner that have a simple configuration and excellent document conveyance stability. In addition, since the ADF frame is configured integrally with the platen cover, it becomes a large component and is easily affected by warpage or the like. However, the ADF frame can be stably positioned by adjusting the stroke of the slide base. it can.

  The image reading apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the main body includes a document tray for setting a document to be supplied to the automatic document feeder, and a paper discharge tray for discharging the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. When the ADF frame is opened, the ADF frame is separated from the document tray and the paper discharge tray.

  Accordingly, it is possible to provide an auto document feeder type scanner having a simple configuration and excellent document conveyance stability.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus as the image reading apparatus is provided.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the overall configuration of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the ADF frame.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral 101 as an image reading apparatus and a facsimile apparatus includes a scanner main body (main body) 103 provided with a transparent platen glass 102 on which a read original is placed, An original platen cover 104 for holding the read original on the platen glass 102 and an operation panel 105 (FIG. 2) for instructing the start of reading the original are provided.

  A casing unit 106 is disposed below the scanner main body 103. The casing unit 106 is configured to record image data on an unillustrated image recording unit that records an image on a sheet as a recording medium, or image data via a communication line. A transmission / reception unit (not shown) for transmitting the signal is incorporated.

  An ADF frame 109 is integrally formed on the document table cover 104, and an auto document feeder (automatic document feeder) 107 is disposed on the ADF frame 109.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a curved document conveyance path 113 is formed inside the ADF frame 109. The document transport path 113 is formed so as to connect the document tray 111 and the discharge tray 112 provided on the document table cover 104 to each other.

  Inside the ADF frame 109, a pickup roller 51 for feeding a read document on the document tray 111, a separation roller 52 and a separation pad 53 for separating the read documents one by one, in the document transport path 113. A transport roller 55 for transporting the read document toward the document reading position P, and a discharge roller 58 for discharging the read document to the discharge tray 112.

  At the document reading position P, the platen glass 102 is adjacent to the document transport path 113. Hereinafter, this part of the platen glass is particularly referred to as contact glass 108.

  With the above-described configuration, the read originals set on the original tray 111 are separated one by one and conveyed along the curved original conveyance path 113, and the original reading position P (the position of the contact glass 108) is set. The paper passes through and is read by a scanner unit 21 described later, and is then discharged to the paper discharge tray 112.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a scanner unit (reading unit) 21 is provided inside the scanner body 103. The scanner unit 21 includes a carriage 30. The carriage 30 includes a fluorescent lamp that irradiates light to the read original, a plurality of reflection mirrors that reflect the reflected light from the read original, and a collection that converges the reflected light. An optical lens and a charge coupled device (CCD) that converts the converged light into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal are provided.

  With this configuration, the auto document feeder 107 is driven in a state where the carriage 30 is moved in advance to a position corresponding to the document reading position P (the contact glass 108). Then, the read original conveyed on the original conveyance path 113 is scanned by the scanner unit 21 at the original reading position P.

  When the copy facsimile multifunction machine 101 is used as a flatbed scanner, the carriage 30 is placed on the platen glass 102 while moving the carriage 30 along the platen glass 102 at a constant speed by a drive mechanism (not shown). Scan the scanned document. Thereby, the scanner unit 21 can read the contents of the document.

  The content of the document read by the scanner unit 21 is sent to the image recording unit after appropriate conversion processing and printed, or transmitted to another facsimile apparatus via the communication line by the transmission / reception unit. .

  Next, a configuration of a hinge mechanism for allowing the document table cover 104 (ADF frame 109) to be opened and closed with respect to the scanner body 103 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, slide holes 11 are formed at two positions on the upper surface of the scanner main body 103 on the left and right sides of the apparatus. The slide bases 12 and 12 are fitted in the slide holes 11 and 11 so as to be movable up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 3 as an AA cross-sectional arrow view of FIG. 1, the slide base 12 is formed in an elongated bar shape, and a flange 15 is formed in the vicinity of the upper end thereof. A frame support portion 13 is pivotally supported on the upper end portion of the slide base portion 12 via a hinge pin 14. The frame support portion 13 is fixed to one end of the document table cover 104 by a fixing screw (not shown).

  In the above configuration, for example, when a thick book original is placed on the platen glass 102 and read by a flat bed scanner, the slide base 12 is slightly pulled upward so as to come out of the slide hole 11, and the original is The position of the hinge fulcrum of the base cover 104 can be increased. As a result, a thick book document can be pressed straight against the platen glass 102, and distortion of the read image is prevented.

  An enlarged sectional view of the hinge mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the slide base 12 is formed in a bottomed hollow shape, and an urging spring 18 is disposed therein. The urging spring 18 constantly pushes up the frame support 13 through a push-up member 19 that is slidably provided in the internal space of the slide base 12. Thus, the weight of the ADF frame 109 (original table cover 104) is canceled by the pushing force of the urging spring 18, and the user can open and close the ADF frame 109 and the original table cover 104 with a small force.

  A screw hole is formed in the flange portion 15 formed in the slide base 12 in the vertical direction, and an adjustment screw (adjustment member) 16 is screwed into the screw hole. The lower end portion of the adjustment screw 16 is in contact with the upper surface of the scanner main body 103, thereby determining the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base portion 12.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment screw 16 is configured as a hexagon socket set screw, and can be rotated by inserting a tool into an unillustrated hexagon socket formed at the upper end (head) thereof. A disc-shaped lock nut 17 is attached to the adjustment screw 16.

  Next, a configuration for positioning the document conveyance path 113 of the auto document feeder 107 with respect to the contact glass 108 will be described. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two positioning protrusions (contact portions) 31 and 32 are formed on the lower surface of the ADF frame 109 so as to protrude downward. Specifically, a first positioning projection 31 is provided on the side closer to the rotation center (hinge pin 14) of the ADF frame 109, and a second positioning projection 32 is provided on the side far from the center.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the two positioning protrusions 31 and 32 are provided on both the back side and the front side of the apparatus so as to sandwich the contact glass 108. When the ADF frame 109 is closed, the positioning protrusions 31 and 32 both come into contact with the upper surface of the scanner main body 103 as shown in FIG. As a result, the ADF frame 109 forms a predetermined gap between the contact glass 108 and the ADF frame 109, and the document conveyance path 113 formed in the ADF frame 109 is parallel to the contact glass 108. So that it is accurately positioned.

  In the present embodiment, most of the ADF frame 109 and the document table cover 104 are made of synthetic resin. For this reason, the ADF frame 109 may be slightly warped or distorted due to a change with time or a temperature change. Further, since the ADF frame 109 is constantly urged in the opening direction by the urging spring 18, the second positioning projection 32 particularly on the side far from the hinge pin 14 is separated so as to be lifted from the upper surface of the scanner body 103. The frame 109 may tilt. As a result, the auto document feeder 107 cannot convey the document straight to the contact glass 108, which causes image distortion during reading and document jamming.

  In this regard, in this embodiment, when the second positioning protrusion 32 is lifted, the adjustment screw 16 may be rotated with an appropriate tool after the lock nut 17 of the adjustment screw 16 shown in FIG. 4 is loosened. Then, since the downward protrusion amount of the adjustment screw 16 from the flange portion 15 gradually increases, the slide base portion 12 relatively rises so as to come out of the slide hole 11. As a result, the rotation fulcrum (the hinge pin 14) of the ADF frame 109 is raised, so that the ADF frame 109 is slightly rotated around the first positioning protrusion 31 to correct its inclination, and the second positioning protrusion 32 is moved. It can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the scanner body 103 again.

  Then, the lock nut 17 is tightened in the above state and fixed so that the adjustment screw 16 does not move unexpectedly (double nut). As a result, since the ADF frame 109 can be accurately positioned with respect to the contact glass 108 again, it is possible to prevent the reading image quality from being deteriorated.

  As described above, the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral 101 according to the present embodiment includes the scanner main body 103 including the contact glass 108, the slide base 12 provided to be movable up and down with respect to the scanner main body 103, and the slide base 12. And an ADF frame 109 that can be opened and closed with respect to the scanner main body 103 by being pivotally supported via a hinge pin 14. The ADF frame 109 is provided with an auto document feeder 107 that conveys a sheet-like read original so as to pass over the contact glass 108. The copy facsimile multifunction machine 101 includes a scanner unit 21 that reads a read document passing over the contact glass 108. Further, the ADF frame 109 is provided with positioning projections 31 and 32 at at least two locations on the side close to and far from the rotation fulcrum, and the positioning projections 31 and 32 are located on the scanner when the ADF frame 109 is closed. It is comprised so that the main body 103 side may be contacted. Further, the copy facsimile multifunction machine 101 includes an adjustment screw 16 that can adjust the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12.

  As a result, even if the ADF frame 109 is warped and the positioning protrusions 31 and 32 are lifted from the upper surface of the scanner main body 103, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12 is adjusted by the adjusting screw 16. The positioning protrusions 31 and 32 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the scanner main body 103, so that the ADF frame 109 can be satisfactorily positioned.

  In the present embodiment, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12 is adjusted by the adjusting screw 16.

  Thereby, delicate adjustment of the lower limit position of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12 can be easily performed by screw movement by rotation of the adjustment screw 16.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment screw 16 is attached to the slide base 12. When the slide base 12 reaches the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke, the lower end of the adjustment screw 16 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the scanner main body 103 to prevent the slide base 12 from further descending. ing.

  Thereby, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12 can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment screw 16 is provided with a lock mechanism including a lock nut 17.

  As a result, the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke of the slide base 12 can be locked so as not to change unexpectedly, and the ADF frame 109 can be positioned stably.

  In the present embodiment, a biasing spring 18 that biases the ADF frame 109 (original table cover 104) in the opening direction is provided.

  In this configuration, the weight of the ADF frame 109 can be canceled to easily open and close, but the second positioning protrusion 32 on the side far from the pivot point of the ADF frame 109 tends to be lifted. However, in the present embodiment, the lifting of the second positioning protrusion 32 can be easily eliminated by the adjustment screw 16.

  Further, the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral 101 of this embodiment includes a platen glass 102 of a flat bed scanner in the scanner body 103. A document table cover 104 for pressing the read document on the platen glass 102 is integrally formed with the ADF frame 109.

  As a result, an auto document feeder and a flatbed scanner can be simply configured. In addition, since the ADF frame 109 is integrally formed with the platen cover 104, it becomes a large part and easily affected by warpage or the like. However, the ADF frame 109 is stably adjusted by adjusting the stroke of the slide base 12. Can be positioned.

  Note that the stroke adjusting mechanism of the slide base 12 can also be applied to an image scanner device as shown in FIG. In the description of the configuration in FIG. 5, members that are the same as or similar to those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  An image scanner device 201 shown in FIG. 5 is configured exclusively for an auto document feed scanner, and a flatbed scanner is omitted.

  Therefore, the document table cover is omitted, and the document tray 111 and the paper discharge tray 112 are provided on the scanner body 103 side. An ADF frame 109 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body.

  Slide holes 11 are formed in the scanner main body 103, and a slide base 12 is inserted into each slide hole 11. A frame support portion 13 is pivotally supported on the upper end portion of the slide base portion 12 via a hinge pin 14, and the frame support portion 13 is fixed to one end portion of the ADF frame 109.

  Further, on the lower surface of the ADF frame 109, a first positioning protrusion 31 is formed on the side close to the hinge pin 14, and a second positioning protrusion 32 is formed on the far side. When the ADF frame 109 is closed from the state of FIG. 5, the two positioning projections 31 and 32 come into contact with the upper surface of the scanner body 103 to position the ADF frame 109.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, the hinge mechanism includes a stroke lower limit position adjusting mechanism for the slide base 12, which includes the adjusting screw 16 and the lock nut 17 having the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment (FIG. 4).

  As described above, in the image scanner apparatus 201 having the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the scanner body 103 is conveyed by the document tray 111 for setting a document to be supplied to the auto document feeder 107 and the auto document feeder 107. A paper discharge tray 112 for discharging the original. When the ADF frame 109 is opened, the ADF frame 109 is separated from the document tray 111 and the paper discharge tray 112 as shown in FIG.

  The ADF frame 109 is supported by the scanner main body 103 so as to be freely opened and closed through a hinge mechanism including the slide base 12, the hinge pin 14, the frame support 13 and the like. The slide base 12 is provided with a stroke lower limit position adjusting mechanism.

  As described above, the ADF frame 109 can be stably positioned with respect to the contact glass 108 of the scanner main body 103.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described above, the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.

  The adjustment screw 16 can be attached to the scanner main body 103 side instead of being attached to the slide base 12.

  The urging spring 18 can be disposed in the frame support 13 or the ADF frame 109, for example, instead of being disposed in the slide base 12.

  The adjustment screw 16 can be changed to, for example, a thumbscrew instead of being configured as a hexagon socket set screw. Further, instead of providing the adjustment screw 16, an adjustment pin whose position can be finely adjusted in the vertical direction using, for example, a worm gear and a rack can be provided as the adjustment member.

  The number of positioning protrusions 31 and 32 is not limited to two, and can be changed to provide three or more. In addition, the arrangement position can be appropriately changed according to circumstances.

  The shape of the positioning protrusions 31 and 32 can be variously changed. Further, instead of forming the positioning protrusions 31 and 32 on the ADF frame 109 side, a configuration in which positioning protrusions are provided on the scanner main body 103 side and a contact surface as a contact portion is provided on the ADF frame 109 can be changed.

  The shape of the slide base 12 is not limited to a square bar shape, and can be arbitrarily changed, for example, a round bar shape. Further, the ADF frame 109 can be changed to a configuration in which the ADF frame 109 is pivotally supported directly on the hinge pin 14 rather than pivotally supported via the frame support portion 13.

  The hinge mechanism for pivotally supporting the ADF frame 109 (original table cover 104) is not limited to the case where two hinge mechanisms are provided as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and can be changed to include only one or three or more. . Further, when a plurality of hinge mechanisms are provided, all of them may be provided with a stroke lower limit position adjusting mechanism using the adjusting screw 16 or may be provided only in part.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, the platen glass 102 and the contact glass 108 are integrally formed. However, the contact glass 108 can be changed to be configured separately from the platen glass 102 instead.

  The configuration of the above embodiment can be applied not only to the copy facsimile multifunction machine 101 and the image scanner apparatus 201 but also to a copy apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or the like that has only a copy function or only a facsimile function.

1 is a front sectional view showing an overall configuration of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. The expanded sectional view of the hinge mechanism which pivotally supports an ADF frame. The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the image scanner apparatus which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

12 Slide base 13 Frame support 14 Hinge pin 16 Adjustment screw (Adjustment member)
17 Lock nut (lock mechanism)
21 Scanner unit (reading unit)
31, 32 Positioning protrusion (contact part)
101 Copy facsimile machine (facsimile device, image reading device)
102 Platen glass 103 Scanner body 104 Document table cover 107 Auto document feeder (automatic document feeder)
108 Contact Glass 109 ADF Frame 111 Document Tray 112 Paper Discharge Tray 113 Document Transport Path 201 Image Scanner Device (Image Reading Device)

Claims (7)

A body with contact glass;
Provided vertically movable relative to the body, a slide base flange portion Ru formed near an upper end portion,
An ADF frame that can be opened and closed relative to the main body by being pivotally supported by the slide base;
An automatic document feeder that is arranged on the ADF frame and conveys a sheet-like read document so as to pass over the contact glass;
A reading unit for reading a reading document passing on the contact glass;
In the ADF frame, provided at at least two locations near the rotation fulcrum and the far side, and a contact portion that contacts the main body when the ADF frame is closed,
When viewed in the axial direction of the rotation fulcrum, it is attached to the flange portion located outside the ADF frame, and the vertical movement position of the slide base is adjusted by adjusting the vertical position from the upper end side . An adjustment member capable of adjusting the lower limit;
A biasing spring that biases the ADF frame in the opening direction;
An image reading apparatus comprising: The image reading apparatus according to claim 1,
The image reading apparatus, wherein the adjustment member is an adjustment screw. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2,
When the slide base reaches the lower limit of the vertical movement stroke, the lower end of the adjustment screw attached to the slide base comes into contact with the upper surface of the main body, thereby preventing further lowering of the slide base. A characteristic image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image reading apparatus, wherein the adjustment member is provided with a lock mechanism. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The body includes a flatbed scanner platen glass,
An image reading apparatus, wherein a document table cover for pressing a read document on the platen glass is configured to open and close with respect to the main body integrally with the ADF frame. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The main body includes a document tray for setting a document to be supplied to the automatic document feeder, and a paper discharge tray for discharging a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder,
An image reading apparatus, wherein when the ADF frame is opened, the ADF frame is separated from the document tray and the paper discharge tray. A facsimile apparatus as an image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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