JP5157985B2 - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus having an automatic document conveying (ADF) unit that automatically conveys an original, a scanner unit that reads an image of an original conveyed by the ADF unit, and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus. .

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, in order to improve operability, reading efficiency, etc. when reading images of a plurality of originals, the originals are automatically applied to the scanner unit on the scanner unit that reads the original images. An image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document conveyance unit (ADF unit) for conveyance is employed. In such an image reading apparatus, the ADF unit is usually installed in the scanner unit so that the manuscript is manually set on the platen glass provided on the upper surface of the scanner unit without using the ADF unit. On the other hand, it is the structure connected so that opening and closing is possible by a hinge mechanism.

  When the ADF unit is rotated upward, the upper surface of the scanner unit is opened, and an operator can place a document on the platen glass of the scanner unit. However, when the ADF unit is rotated upward by the operator's manual operation, the operation is not always easy for the operator because the ADF unit is relatively heavy. In particular, an ADF unit having a high function such as a high-speed function is large in size and increased in weight due to the large number of parts, and the operator is further burdened by opening and closing the ADF unit.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a document transporting device for preventing the document transporting device from rotating suddenly when the document transporting device (ADF unit) is about to return to the original state (closed state). A configuration is disclosed in which a load is applied to the device in a direction opposite to the direction of returning to the closed state. With such a configuration, when the original conveying apparatus tries to return to the original state from the opened state, the original conveying apparatus is prevented from colliding with the scanner unit or the like. However, in this case, when the operator opens the document conveying device, there is a problem that a large force is required to rotate the document conveying device upward as in the conventional case.

  Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a user present at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus is detected by a user detection unit, and a document pressing unit (ADF unit) is automatically opened and closed. . Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which an opening / closing speed corresponding to an opening / closing angle of the document conveying device is set in a configuration in which the document conveying device (ADF unit) is automatically opened and closed by pressing an operation button.

JP 2000-253206 A JP 7-271115 A JP 2006-50225 A

  However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the operation of setting the document on the document pressing unit (ADF unit) without being located within the range where the user is detected by the user detection unit, and processing for paper jam When the user detection unit detects a person other than the user, an object, or the like during the process, the document pressing unit is automatically opened and closed. In this case, since the document pressing portion is automatically opened and closed against the user's will, the document pressing portion may collide with the user. Further, when a document is set on the document pressing portion, the document pressing portion is automatically opened, so that the set document may be disturbed or scattered.

  Even in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the operation button is pressed against the operator's will while the document is set on the document transport device, the document transport device is automatically opened. In addition, the document conveying device may collide with the operator, and the document set on the document conveying device may be disturbed. In order to prevent such a collision, the document conveying device does not automatically open and close by a button operation, but the operator tries to open or close the document conveying device with the operator's intention. It is desirable that the opening / closing operation of the document conveying device is performed at a speed that follows the hand operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is to prevent the ADF unit from colliding with the operator, and the ADF unit can be opened at an opening / closing speed suitable for the operator. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that can be opened and closed.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus in which an automatic document conveyance unit is mounted on a scanner unit by a hinge mechanism so as to be freely opened and closed, and is provided in the automatic document conveyance unit. An open / close operation unit to which an operator applies a push-up pressure and a push-down pressure when opening / closing the automatic document transport unit, a pressure detection unit that detects a pressure applied to the open / close operation unit at predetermined time intervals, and the pressure Control means for outputting an instruction to open and close the automatic document conveyance unit at an opening and closing speed corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure in a direction to decrease the detected pressure each time the pressure is detected by the detection means; Each time an open / close instruction is received from the control means, the direction in accordance with the open / close instruction and until the next open / close instruction is output and In closing speed, and having a opening and closing drive means for opening and closing the automatic document transport unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the image reading device.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, since the ADF unit is opened / closed by the opening / closing drive means when the operator applies pressure to the opening / closing operation unit, the ADF unit may be opened / closed against the operator's will. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ADF unit from colliding with the operator. In addition, since the ADF unit is opened and closed at a speed corresponding to the pressure applied to the ADF unit by the operator, for example, the operator can open it vigorously and if a stronger force is applied, the opening operation can be executed at a faster speed. On the contrary, if the operator tries to open with a slow motion and a weak force is applied, the opening operation can be executed at a slower speed, so that the operator can open and close at a speed suitable for the operator.

Preferably, the control means increases or decreases an opening / closing speed according to a difference between a pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit and a preset target pressure.
Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes an opening / closing angle detection unit that detects an opening / closing angle of the automatic document conveyance unit with respect to the scanner unit, and the control unit is configured to perform the opening / closing according to the opening / closing angle detected by the opening / closing angle detection unit. It is characterized by correcting the speed.

  Preferably, the automatic document conveyance unit has its own weight and urging force when the opening / closing angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined opening / closing angle with respect to the scanner unit, even if no driving force is applied by the opening / closing driving means. When the automatic document transport unit determines that the closing operation is performed by an operator, the opening / closing angle becomes equal to or less than the predetermined angle. If so, power supply to the opening / closing drive means is stopped.

  Preferably, the automatic document conveyance unit is configured such that upward rotation with respect to the scanner unit is restricted by a stopper, and the control unit is configured such that the automatic document conveyance unit is opened by an operator. When it is determined that the opening / closing drive means is stopped, the supply of power to the opening / closing drive means is stopped at an opening / closing angle that is a predetermined angle before the opening / closing angle regulated by the stopper.

Preferably, when the weight and / or the position of the center of gravity of the automatic document transport unit changes due to attachment / detachment of the mounting unit, the control means is configured to detect the pressure based on the changed weight and / or position of the center of gravity. The pressure detected by is corrected.
Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes operator information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the operator, and the control means changes the target pressure based on information acquired by the operator information acquisition means. And

  Preferably, the pressure detecting means is arranged so that the push-up pressure and the push-down pressure are applied, and a support body integrally attached to the opening / closing operation section, and a pair of attachments attached to the automatic document transport unit. The support body can be moved in the up-and-down direction to each pressure sensor so that the pressure sensor and the pressure in the up-and-down direction applied to the opening / closing operation unit are detected by the respective pressure sensors through the support body. And an attachment member to be attached.

  Preferably, the pressure detection means is substantially uniform with respect to the lower elastic plate in order to detect the lower elastic plate disposed so that the push-up pressure is applied and the push-up pressure applied to the lower elastic plate. A plurality of lower pressure sensors arranged in a distributed state, an upper elastic plate arranged to apply the push-down pressure, and an upper elastic plate for detecting the push-down pressure applied to the upper elastic plate And a plurality of upper pressure sensors arranged in a substantially uniform distribution state.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. (A) is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of the hinge mechanism 30 at the connecting portion between the ADF unit and the scanner unit in the image reading apparatus B, and (b) is an operation explanatory view thereof. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a pressure detection mechanism in an opening / closing operation unit provided in an ADF unit main body. (A) shows the relationship between the operation position in the left-right direction of the opening / closing operation part by the operator and the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor when the operator opens the ADF unit. The graph shown in FIG. 6B shows the operation position in the left-right direction of the opening / closing operation unit by the operator and the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor when the operator closes the ADF unit. It is a graph which shows the relationship. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the control system in the image reading apparatus of this embodiment. In the image reading apparatus, the pressure detection value Pv of the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor when the opening / closing operation unit is opened upward and the opening / closing driving motor is driven forward by the control of the ADF-CPU, and the opening / closing It is a graph which shows the relationship with the drive speed of a drive motor. It is an example of the table in which the rotational speed of the opening / closing drive motor was set according to the pressure difference. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the pressure detection value Pv and drive speed when an opening-and-closing operation part is opened upwards and an opening-and-closing drive motor is rotated forward. It is an example of a table in which a rotation angle correction value μθm is set according to the rotation angle of the ADF unit. (A) is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus in a state where various units such as a back surface image reading unit are not attached to the ADF unit, (b) is a graph showing a load balance of the ADF unit in that case, (c) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus in a state where the back surface image reading unit is mounted on the ADF unit, and FIG. 4D is a graph showing the load balance of the ADF unit in that case. It is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus showing the range of the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit in which the opening / closing speed is changed in the drive control of the opening / closing drive motor executed in the ADF-CPU. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the setting process of the opening / closing speed in the drive control of the opening / closing drive motor performed by ADF-CPU. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of a pressure detection mechanism, (b) is a graph which shows the state of the pressure detected in the pressure detection mechanism.

<Configuration of MFP>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a MFP (Multiple Function Peripheral) having functions such as a copying machine, a scanner, a printer, and a fax machine, and can transmit and receive data to and from a terminal device or the like via a network. .

  As shown in the figure, the MFP includes an image forming apparatus main body A that forms a toner image on a recording sheet such as recording paper, and an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention provided on the image forming apparatus main body A. Device B. The image reading apparatus B includes a scanner unit 10 that reads a document image, and an ADF unit (automatic document transport unit) 20 provided on the scanner unit 10.

  The ADF unit 20 constituting the image reading apparatus B of the present embodiment is attached to the scanner unit 10 by a hinge mechanism so as to be freely opened and closed, and reads an image in a closed state covering the upper surface of the scanner unit 10. Are automatically supplied to the scanner unit 10. The scanner unit 10 is manually placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass in the scanner unit 10 with the image of the document supplied by the ADF unit 20 or an operator opening the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 by the operator. Image data is generated by optically reading the image of the set original.

  The image forming apparatus main body A is provided with a printer unit 61 and a paper feeding unit 62 provided on the lower side of the printer unit 61, and a recording sheet of the paper feeding unit 62 is supplied to the printer unit 61. The printer unit 61 generates a color toner image on a recording sheet by a known electrophotographic method based on image data generated by the scanner unit 10 or image data sent from a terminal device or the like via a network. Print. The recording sheet on which the toner image is printed by the printer unit 61 is discharged onto a discharge tray 63 of the image forming apparatus main body A provided on the lower side of the scanner unit 10.

An operation panel 14 that is operated for inputting various information is provided on the front side portion of the scanner unit 10. The operation panel 14 includes a key input unit provided with a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numbers, and the like, and a display unit for displaying an instruction menu, information about the acquired image, and the like. The display unit is configured by a liquid crystal panel, for example.
The ADF unit 20 is placed so that an ADF unit main body 21 that is opened by rotating upward from a closed state that covers the entire upper surface of the scanner unit 10 and a document that is transported to the scanner unit 10 are placed thereon. The document feeding tray 22 attached to the ADF unit main body 21 and the substantially central portion in the left-right direction on the side surface on the front side of the ADF unit main body 21 so that the operator operates when opening and closing the ADF unit 20. And an opening / closing operation section 23 provided in the. The opening / closing operation unit 23 projects in a horizontal state forward from the front side surface of the ADF unit 20, and moves in the vertical direction with respect to the ADF unit 20 with the back side portion inserted into the ADF unit 20. Supported as possible. A detailed configuration will be described later.

<Configuration of ADF Unit in Image Reading Apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image reading apparatus B according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. A document placed on the document feed tray 22 is conveyed to the left side of the ADF unit main body 21 (hereinafter simply referred to as “left side” and the opposite side as “right side”). A paper feed main body 21a having a document transport path therein is provided. A reversing path forming portion 21b having a reversing path 21p formed therein is provided below the paper feed main body 21a from the paper feed main body 21a. It is provided so as to extend horizontally on the right side.

  The paper feed main body 21a and the reverse path forming portion 21b of the ADF unit main body 21 are integrally configured to cover the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 over almost the entire area. The document feed tray 22 is attached to the upper portion of the feed body portion 21a in a state where the left side portion is inclined above the reverse path forming portion 21b. The ADF unit 20 selectively selects a single-sided reading mode in which the scanner unit 10 reads only one side of a document, and a double-sided reading mode in which the scanner unit 10 sequentially reads both sides (front and back) of the document. In the single-sided reading mode, the document is placed on the document feeding tray 22 with the document surface read by the scanner unit 10 facing upward.

  A document on the document feed tray 22 is supplied to a first transport path 21d that is in a substantially horizontal state by a pickup roller 21c provided in the paper feed main body 21a, and is fed through the first transport path 21d. The paper is supplied to a pair of first registration rollers 21j provided on the upper left side in the paper body 21a. The first registration roller 21j is a pair of second rollers provided in the lower part on the left side in the paper feed main body 21a via the second conveyance path 21e curved in a semicircular shape. 1 is supplied to the reading roller 21f. A pair of second reading rollers 21g is provided on the right side of the first reading roller 21f, and the original surface of the conveyed document is placed between the first reading roller 21f and the second reading roller 21g. An opening is provided to face the slit glass 16 provided on the upper surface of the scanner unit 10.

  A first branch guide 21h arranged in a substantially horizontal state is provided above the right side of the second reading roller 21g. The first branch guide 21h is configured such that the tip portion located on the second reading roller 21g side rotates in the vertical direction, whereby the document conveyed from the second reading roller 21g is transferred to the fourth lower portion below the first branch guide 21h. A state in which the conveying path 21s is passed to the reversing path 21p in the reversing path forming unit 21 via the pair of reversing rollers 21z, and the right side of the first branching guide 21h is passed above the first branching guide 21h. The state is switched to the state of supplying to the pair of second registration rollers 21k disposed close to the upper side.

  The reversing roller 21z is capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation, and the original is conveyed to the reversing path 21p by the normal rotation of the reversing roller 21z. The second registration roller 21k is also capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation. By the normal rotation of the second registration roller 21k, the original is moved to the second branch guide 21m disposed close to the second registration roller 21k. Be transported. The second branch guide 21m has a state in which the document conveyed from the second registration roller 21k passes below the second branch guide 21m and is conveyed to the pair of paper discharge rollers 21q, and above the second branch guide 21m. In addition, the state is switched to a state in which the paper passes above the paper discharge roller 21q and is discharged onto a reversing guide (not shown) disposed along the lower surface of the document feed tray 22.

  When the ADF unit 20 is in the single-sided reading mode, the document placed on the document feed tray 22 is supplied to the first transport path 21d by the pickup roller 21c, and the first registration roller 21j and the second transport are performed. It is conveyed to the first reading roller 21f via the path 21e, is tilt-corrected by the first reading roller 21f, and passes over the slit glass 16 provided on the upper surface of the scanner unit 10. While the document passes over the slit glass 16, the scanner unit 10 reads an image of the surface of the document facing the slit glass 16.

  Thereafter, the original is conveyed to the first branch guide 21h by the second registration roller 21k, passes above the first branch guide 21h, and is moved in the forward direction by the second registration roller 21k. , And passes below the second branch guide 21m, and is discharged onto the document discharge portion provided on the reverse path forming portion 21b via the discharge roller 21q.

  When the ADF unit 20 is in the duplex reading mode, the document placed on the document feeding tray 22 passes through the first transport path 21d and the second transport path 21e as in the single-sided scanning mode. It is conveyed to the second registration roller 21k. When the document passes over the slit glass 16, an image on the document surface (first surface) facing the slit glass 16 is read by the scanner unit 10. The document conveyed to the second registration roller 21k is conveyed to the second branch guide 21m by the second registration roller 21k that is driven to rotate forward. At this time, the second branch guide 21m is switched so that the document passes over the second branch guide 21m, and the document is guided to the upper surface of the second branch guide 21m, so that the document feed tray 22 It is discharged onto a reversing guide arranged along the lower surface.

  The second registration roller 21k that conveys the document on the reversing guide is reversely driven immediately before the trailing edge of the document passes. As a result, the document is switched back and conveyed to the first registration roller 21j through the third conveyance path 21n provided along the lower side of the first conveyance path 21d. Thereafter, the document passes through the second conveyance path 21e with the front and back reversed, and is conveyed above the slit glass 16 by the first reading roller 21f. Then, while the document passes over the slit glass 16, an image on the document surface (second surface) facing the slit glass 16 is read by the scanner unit 10.

  The document from which the image on the second surface has been read is conveyed to the first branch guide 21h. In this case, the first branch guide 21h is switched so that the document passes through the lower side, and the document is guided to the lower surface of the first branch guide 21h, passes through the fourth conveyance path 21s, and the reverse roller. It is conveyed to 21z, and is conveyed to the reverse path 21p in the reverse path forming portion 21b by the normal rotation of the reverse roller 21z. The reversing roller 21z is driven in reverse rotation immediately before the trailing edge of the original passes, whereby the original is switched back and conveyed to the paper discharge roller 21q, and the original on the reverse path forming portion 21b is discharged by the paper discharge roller 21q. It is discharged to the discharge part.

  The pickup roller 21c is driven by a paper feed unit motor 25a, the first registration roller 21j and the second registration roller 21k are driven by a registration unit motor 25b, and the first reading roller 21f and the second reading roller 21g are driven by a reading unit motor 25c. The paper discharge roller 21q is driven by a discharge motor 25d. Each of the motors 25a to 25d is constituted by, for example, a stepping motor.

  In the sheet feed main body 21a, a first sheet passing sensor 27a for detecting a document conveyed to the first registration roller 21j through the first conveyance path 21d or the third conveyance path 21n is provided in the first registration roller 21j. It is provided in the vicinity. Further, in order to detect a document that is supplied to the first reading roller 21f through the second conveyance path 21e and passes on the slit glass 16, the second side is adjacent to the right side of the first reading roller 21f. A paper passing sensor 27b is provided. Further, a third paper passing sensor 27c that detects a document conveyed from the reverse path 21p to the paper discharge roller 21q is provided close to the left side of the paper discharge roller 21q. These first to third paper passing sensors 27a to 27c are kept in an on state by contacting a paper jammed document.

  The right side surface 21t of the ADF unit main body 21 where the document feeding tray 22 of the paper feeding body portion 21a is provided can be opened and closed, and the first and third sheet passing sensors are opened by opening the right side surface 21t. Documents remaining in the first transport path 21d and the third transport path 21n detected by 27a and 27c can be removed. Similarly, the left upper surface 21x provided in an inclined state in the upper left portion of the paper feed main body 21a can also be opened and closed. By opening the left upper surface 21x, the first and second paper passing sensors 27a and 27b are opened. The document remaining on either the first conveyance path 21d or the third conveyance path 21n detected by the above can be removed. Further, the upper surface 21w of the reverse path forming portion 21b can be opened and closed. By opening the upper surface 21w, it is possible to remove the document remaining on the reverse path 21p detected by the third paper passing sensor 27c.

  An opening / closing door 21y that opens and closes the left side of the second reading roller 21g is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feeding main body 21a, and the front side of the ADF unit 20 is opened so that the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is largely opened. With the portion rotated upward, the open / close door 21y is rotated downward to open, thereby removing the document remaining in the vicinity of the second reading roller 21g detected by the second paper passing sensor 27b. it can.

  Inside the ADF unit main body 21, a back image reading unit 28 for reading an image on the back surface (second surface opposite to the surface facing the scanner unit 10) of the document that has passed through the second reading roller 21g. May be installed as an option. By attaching the back surface image reading unit 28, the document on which the image on the first surface facing the slit glass 16 is read while passing on the slit glass 16 while passing under the back surface image reading unit 28. The image on the second side (back side) of the document is read by the back side image reading unit 28.

<Configuration of Scanner Unit in Image Reading Apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 10 includes a housing 11 formed in a flat rectangular shape, and an upper surface of the housing 11 is provided between the first reading roller 21f and the second reading roller 21g. A slit glass (contact glass) 16 disposed along the front-rear direction so as to face the rectangular platen, and a rectangular platen glass (contact glass) 18 disposed on the left side of the slit glass 16 are provided. Yes. The platen glass 18 has a length in the front-rear direction that is approximately the same as the length in the front-rear direction (main scanning direction) of the slit glass 16 and extends in the left-right direction (sub-direction) from the position close to the slit glass 16 to the vicinity of the right end of the housing 11. It has a length in the scanning direction).

  A first slider 12 configured to be slidable in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 2 is provided inside the housing 11, and a linear light source 12 a is provided in the main scanning direction on the first slider 12. It is mounted along. The first slider 12 is normally located at a home position between the slit glass 16 and the platen glass 18, and when the document is conveyed by the ADF unit 20, the scanner motor 43 causes the slit glass 16 to move. It is moved to the lower seat through position and stopped. On the other hand, when reading a document on the platen glass 18, the first slider 12 is reciprocated in the sub-scanning direction along the platen glass 18 by the scanner motor 43.

  The first slider 12 reflects the reflected light from the document passing on the slit glass 16 or the document placed on the platen glass 18 at a substantially right angle in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow X. 12b is provided. Mounted on the left side of the first slider 12 is a second mirror 13a and a third mirror 13b which are paired so as to invert the light reflected by the first mirror 12b in the direction of the arrow X. A second slider 13 is provided.

  The light inverted in the direction of the arrow X by the second mirror 13a and the third mirror 13b is irradiated to the CCD 17 serving as an image reading means via a reduction lens (not shown). When reading the image of the document placed on the platen glass 18, the second slider 13 is ½ of the speed of the first slider 12 in synchronization with the movement of the first slider 12 by the scanner motor 43. Is moved in the same direction as the first slider 12.

<Configuration of Hinge Mechanism in Image Reading Apparatus>
The ADF unit 20 in the image reading apparatus B has a back side portion connected to the back side portion of the scanner unit 10 by a hinge mechanism so that the front side portion can be rotated up and down with respect to the scanner unit 10. It is like that. FIG. 3A is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of the hinge mechanism 30. The hinge mechanism 30 includes a fixed-side hinge body 31 attached to the back side of the scanner unit 10, a rotating-side hinge body 32 attached to the back side of the ADF unit 20, and a fixed-side hinge. It has a hinge fulcrum shaft 33 that rotatably supports the end portions on the back side of the body 31 and the rotation side hinge body 32. A rotational force of an opening / closing drive motor 34 for opening / closing the ADF unit 20 is transmitted to the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 through a pair of gears 35 and 36. As the opening / closing drive motor 34, for example, a pulse motor is used.

  The rotation-side hinge body 32 attached to the ADF unit 20 is rotated with the front end on the front side about the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 when the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven to rotate forward. . As a result, the side edge of the front side of the ADF unit 20 moves upward and opens the upper surface of the housing 11 in the scanner unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3B, the ADF unit 20 is rotatable to a state substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing 11 in the scanner unit 10. Normally, the scanner unit 10 is stopped by a stopper 38. The rotation is restricted at an opening / closing angle of about 70 ° with respect to the upper surface of the plate. When the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven in reverse, the side edge portion on the front side of the ADF unit 20 is rotated downward. The ADF unit 20 is restricted from rotating by contacting the upper surface of the housing 11 in the scanner unit 10, and is in a closed state covering the platen glass 18 provided on the upper surface of the housing 11.

  The hinge fulcrum shaft 33 is provided with a rotation angle detector 37 for detecting the rotation angle (opening / closing angle) of the ADF unit 20. The rotation angle detector 37 uses, for example, a rotary volume, and a voltage corresponding to the rotation angle of the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 that rotates the ADF unit 20, that is, the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 (in the scanner unit 10). A voltage corresponding to the angle between the upper surface of the housing 11 and the lower surface of the ADF unit 20 facing the upper surface) is output.

<Configuration of pressure detection mechanism in ADF unit>
The ADF unit 20 is provided with a pressure detection mechanism for detecting an upward pressure and a downward pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 upward and downward.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a pressure detection mechanism that detects a pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23, and a part thereof is cut away. In addition, a two-dot chain line in the figure shows an exterior cover of the ADF unit 20. The opening / closing operation unit 23 is in a state where the front side portion protrudes forward with the back side portion inserted into the ADF unit 20, and the portion inserted into the ADF unit 20 is the end on the back side. The ADF unit 20 is supported by the pressure detection mechanism 26 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with the portion as a fulcrum.

  The pressure detection mechanism 26 includes a first pressure sensor 26 a fixedly installed in the ADF unit 20 on each of the left side and the right side of the back side portion of the opening / closing operation unit 23 inserted into the ADF unit 20. A second pressure sensor 26b is provided. Each of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b has a pressure detection surface facing downward, and the central portion of the pressure detection surface is connected to the opening / closing operation unit 23 via coil springs 26c and 26d. Ends on both the left and right sides of the support body 26e are embedded. Therefore, the coil springs 26c and 26d constitute attachment members for attaching the left and right end portions of the support 26e to the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b.

  The left and right ends of the support 26e are suspended by the coil springs 26c and 26d, respectively, and the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor are within the expansion and contraction range of the coil springs 26c and 26d. It can move up and down with respect to each of 26b. The opening / closing operation unit 23 integrated with the support 26e is in a horizontal state when the ADF unit main body 21 is in a closed state covering the upper surface of the scanner unit 10, and in such a state, the operator's force Is added, the left and right ends are moved in the vertical direction by the coil springs 26c and 26d.

  When the opening / closing operation unit 23 is in a horizontal state and is not operated by the operator, equal pressure is applied to each of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. In such a state, when the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b is set as the reference pressure value Po and the operator operates the opening / closing operation unit 23, the first pressure sensor The pressure detected by 26a and the 2nd pressure sensor 26b is demonstrated based on Fig.5 (a) and (b).

FIG. 5A shows the operation position of the push-up pressure in the left-right direction of the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the operator and the first pressure when the operator opens the ADF unit 20 upward via the opening / closing operation unit 23. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the pressure PvL detected by the sensor 26a, and the pressure PvR detected by the 2nd pressure sensor 26b.
The first pressure obtained when the operator applies the upward pressure (2 · Pu) upward to the center position in the left-right direction of the opening / closing operation unit 23 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the “reference position” of the operation). The average value of the pressures PvL and PvR detected by the sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b is 2 · Pu / 2 = Pu. When this average value Pu is an open-side average pressure value, the open-side average pressure value Pu is larger than the pressure reference value Po when no pressure is applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23.

  The detected pressure PvL output from the first pressure sensor 26a is based on this open-side average pressure average value Pu, as shown by a solid line in FIG. As it approaches 26a (to the left), it increases in proportion to the distance from the reference position, and as it moves away from the first pressure sensor 26a with respect to the reference position (to the right), the distance from the reference position increases. Proportionally decreases.

  Similarly, the detected pressure PvR output from the second pressure sensor 26b is increased as the operation position approaches the second pressure sensor 26b with respect to the reference position (as shown on the right side), as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As the distance from the reference position increases, the distance increases from the second pressure sensor 26b (toward the left side) and decreases in proportion to the distance from the reference position. However, even if the operation position changes, the open-side average pressure value Pu that is the average value of the pressure detected by each of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b is constant.

FIG. 5B shows the operation position of the opening / closing operation unit 23 in the left-right direction by the operator and the first pressure sensor 26a when the operator turns the ADF unit 20 downward to perform the closing operation. It is a graph which shows the relationship between pressure PvL and PvR detected by the 2nd pressure sensor 26b.
When the operator applies a downward pressure (2 · Pd) downward to the reference position in the opening / closing operation unit 23, the pressures PvL and PvR detected by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b, respectively. The average value is 2 · Pd / 2 = Pd. If this average value Pd is the closed side pressure average value, the closed side pressure average value Pd is smaller than the pressure reference value Po when no pressure is applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23.

  The detected pressure PvL output from the first pressure sensor 26a is, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 5B, the operation position at the first pressure sensor 26a with respect to the reference position with respect to the closed side pressure average value Pd. As it approaches (to the left), it becomes smaller in proportion to the distance from the reference position, and as it moves away from the first pressure sensor 26a with respect to the reference position (to the right), it becomes proportional to the distance from the reference position. Become bigger. Similarly, the detected pressure PvR output from the second pressure sensor 26b is detected as the operation position approaches the second pressure sensor 26b with respect to the reference position (as shown on the right side), as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. As the distance from the reference position becomes smaller, and the distance from the second pressure sensor 26b with respect to the reference position (toward the left) increases in proportion to the distance from the reference position. However, even if the operation position changes, the closed-side pressure average value Pd that is the average value of the pressure detected by each of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b is constant.

  From the above, when the average value of the detected pressures PvL and PvR changes with respect to the pressure reference value Po, it is determined that the opening / closing operation unit 23 has been operated. Specifically, when the average value {(PvL + PvR) / 2} of the detected pressures PvL and PvR is greater than the pressure reference value Po, the opening / closing operation unit 23 is operated to open by opening pressure. If it is determined that the pressure is smaller than the pressure reference value Po, it can be determined that the opening / closing operation portion 23 has been closed by applying a pressing pressure. Further, the total value (PvL + PvR) of the detected pressure is obtained as the detected pressure value Pv applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23.

<Configuration of control system in image reading apparatus>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main part of the control system in the image reading apparatus of this embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the scanner unit 10 is provided with a scanner CPU 41 for controlling the scanner unit 10. The scanner CPU 41 controls the scanner motor 43 by the motor driving IC 42 at the time of image reading, and moves the first slider 12 and the second slider 13 in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. Further, the scanner CPU 41 controls an image processing unit 44 that processes image data read by the CCD 17.

  The ADF unit 20 is provided with an ADF-CPU 51 that controls the ADF unit 20. The ADF-CPU 51 can communicate with the scanner CPU 41 and controls the motor drive IC 52 that drives the open / close drive motor 34 to set the open / close drive motor 34 to a predetermined open / close speed so that the ADF unit 20 has a predetermined open / close speed. The normal rotation drive and the reverse rotation drive are performed at the number of rotations.

The ADF-CPU 51 is provided with respective pressure detection values PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b of the pressure detection mechanism 26 for detecting the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23, and An output of a rotation angle detector 37 that detects the rotation angle of the ADF unit 20 is also provided.
Furthermore, when various mounting units such as the back surface image reading unit 28 are mounted on the ADF unit 20, the ADF-CPU 51 receives signals corresponding to the mounted units through signal lines connected to the mounted units. A unit mounting signal is input.

Further, the ADF-CPU 51 includes various information such as ID information input to the operation panel 14, a first sheet passing sensor 27 a, a second sheet passing sensor 27 b, and a third sheet passing sensor 27 c provided in the ADF unit main body 21. Are given respectively.
The ADF-CPU 51 controls the motor driving ICs 53 to 56 for driving the paper feeding unit motor 25a, the registration unit motor 25b, the reading unit motor 25c, and the discharging unit motor 25d provided in the ADF unit main body 21, respectively. It is supposed to be.

<First Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
In the MFP having such a configuration, when the ADF unit 20 is opened / closed by an operation of the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the operator, the opening / closing drive motor 34 applies a driving force in the operation direction so that the operator The operation force applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 is reduced. As a result, the burden on the operator's hand when the operator tries to open the ADF unit 20 upward by holding the opening / closing operation part 23 by hand or closes downward is reduced. In this case, the driving speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is controlled by the ADF-CPU 51 so that the opening / closing speed is set in accordance with the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23.

  As described above, the ADF-CPU 51 determines whether an opening operation is performed upward or a closing operation is performed downward based on the average value of the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. When it is determined that the opening / closing drive motor 34 is opened upward, the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven forward, and when it is determined that the opening / closing drive motor 34 is closed downward, the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven reversely.

  In the ADF-CPU 51, target pressures Puo and Pdo applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 are preset in each of the case where the opening operation is performed upward and the case where the opening operation is performed downward. When the opening operation is performed, the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 during normal rotation is controlled based on the difference between the actual pressure detection value Pv (= PvL + PvR) and a preset target pressure Puo. Further, when the closing operation is performed, the speed at the time of reverse rotation of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is controlled based on the difference between the actual pressure detection value Pv and a preset target pressure Pdo.

  That is, since the difference between the speed at which the operator manually opens and closes and the speed at which the ADF actually opens and closes appears as the pressure detection value Pv, standard detection pressures are set as target pressures Puo and Pdo in advance. By controlling the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 so as to reduce the difference between the target pressure and the actually detected pressure detection value Pv, the ADF is driven to open / close with a sense of incongruity following the opening / closing operation of the operator. It is possible to prevent the operator from being stressed.

FIG. 7 shows the pressure detection value Pv by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b when the opening / closing operation unit 23 is opened upward and the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven to rotate forward by the control of the ADF-CPU 51. 4 is a graph showing the relationship with the drive speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34.
In the graph, the horizontal axis indicates the magnitude of the pressure detection value Pv, and the vertical axis indicates the magnitude of the control speed when the opening / closing drive motor 34 is rotating forward.

  When the opening / closing operation unit 23 is opened upward, when the detected pressure value Pv (= PvL + PvR) becomes larger than the target pressure Puo, the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven forward at a speed corresponding to the difference. On the contrary, when the detected pressure value Pv becomes smaller than the target pressure Puo, it indicates that the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven forward at a speed slower than the difference. FIG. 7 shows an example of the relationship between the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 and the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34. For example, the optimum relationship between pressure and speed is arbitrarily changed for each operator, or It may be set.

  When the opening / closing operation unit 23 is pushed down to be closed, the relationship between the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 and the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is opposite to that in the upward opening operation. That is, if the detected pressure value Pv becomes larger than the target pressure Pdo, the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven in reverse at a speed that is slower than the difference. Further, when the detected pressure value Pv becomes smaller than the target pressure Pdo, the drive motor 34 is driven to rotate in reverse at a speed corresponding to the difference.

  In the memory inside the ADF-CPU 51, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the pressure difference (Pv-Puo) between the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure value Puo when the opening / closing operation unit 23 is opened is shown. A table in which the driving speed Vun during forward rotation of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is set is stored in advance. The table shown in FIG. 7 shows an example of the driving speed in the range where the pressure difference (Pv−Puo) is 0 or more in FIG. 7. When the pressure difference is less than the value P1 in the range, the driving speed Vu1. Indicates that it corresponds.

  The pressure differences P1, P2,... And the driving speeds Vu1, Vu2,... In the same table are set so that the values increase in this order, and the relationship between the detected pressure value and the driving speed in the graph shown in FIG. It has the same relationship. Although not shown, when the pressure difference is negative, a table in which the pressure difference and the driving speed are associated with each other is stored in the same manner as in the graph shown in FIG. The ADF-CPU 51 can determine the driving speed when the opening / closing drive motor 34 is rotated forward by referring to these tables.

  In addition, although not shown here, the internal memory of the ADF-CPU 51 is provided with a table relating to the driving speed V when the opening / closing drive motor 34 is reversed when the opening / closing operation unit 23 is closed downward. ing. In this table, as described above, the pressure difference and the driving speed are set so that the relationship between the pressure detection value Pv and the driving speed V at the time of reverse rotation is opposite to that in the case of the opening operation.

  That is, the pressure detection value Pv decreases as the downward pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 increases. Therefore, when the pressure difference is (target pressure Pdo−Pv), the pressure detection value Pv is within the range of Pv <Pdo. As the pressure decreases (the pressure difference increases), the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven in reverse so that the drive speed increases. On the contrary, the reverse rotation driving is performed so that the pressure detection value Pv increases (the pressure difference decreases) as the pressure detection value Pv increases.

In the range of Pv ≧ Pdo, assuming that the pressure difference is “Pv−Pdo (target pressure)”, as the pressure detection value Pv increases (the pressure difference increases), the opening / closing drive motor 34 becomes slower in driving speed and pressure detection. As the value Pv decreases (the pressure difference decreases), the reverse rotation is performed so as to increase.
FIG. 9A is a graph showing a change in the pressure detection value Pv when the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven forward when the opening / closing operation unit 23 is opened upward, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the actual opening operation speed of the ADF unit 20 in that case.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the operator starts an upward rotation operation of the opening / closing operation unit 23 (operation for lifting the opening / closing operation unit 23 by hand to open the ADF unit 20). When the detected pressure value Pv becomes equal to or higher than the target pressure Puo, the forward drive of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is started after a slight response delay. The driving speed is determined by referring to the table shown in FIG. 8 and the magnitude of the pressure difference between the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure Puo. If the pressure difference is small, the speed is determined to be a speed such as Vu1 or Vu2, and if it is large, the speed is determined to be a speed such as Vu10 or Vu11.

  When the operator rushes the opening operation, it is assumed that the opening / closing operation unit 23 is lifted (strong pressure is applied). In this case, since the pressure difference becomes large, the driving speed is determined to be a high speed, and the opening / closing operation is performed. The drive motor 34 is also driven at a high speed, so that the rising speed of the opening operation speed of the ADF unit 20 is accelerated. On the contrary, when the operator desires a slow opening operation, it is assumed that the pressure to the opening / closing operation unit 23 is weakened. In this case, the pressure difference becomes small, and the opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven at a low speed. The rise of the opening operation speed of the ADF unit 20 becomes slow.

  When the opening operation of the ADF unit 20 is started, the force received by the operator's hand from the opening / closing operation unit 23 is reduced as compared with when the ADF unit 20 is stopped. The decrease in the rate becomes remarkable as the speed of the opening operation of the ADF unit 20 increases. When the pressure detection value Pv reaches a peak at time B, the pressure detection value P decreases thereafter. When the detected pressure value P becomes smaller, the difference from the target pressure Puo becomes smaller. Therefore, control is started in a direction in which the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is reduced more than before the peak of the detected pressure value Pv (after time B). Near the time point C, the pressure detection value P approaches the target pressure Puo, and the opening / closing drive motor 34 is controlled so that the pressure difference becomes smaller and approaches the target pressure Puo. At the time point D, the ADF unit 20 is opened at a speed at which the pressure detection value P becomes substantially equal to the target pressure Puo.

Since the pressure detection value Pv corresponds to the pressure felt by the operator when he / she tries to lift the ADF unit 20 by hand, the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure Puo are substantially equal. This means that the pressure felt at the point approximately matches the target pressure Puo.
Accordingly, the target pressure Puo is set to an appropriate pressure that is suitable for the operator when the operator lifts the ADF unit 20, and the target pressure Puo is increased or decreased according to the difference between the target pressure Puo and the detected pressure value Pv. If the size (inclination of the straight line in FIG. 7; see the table in FIG. 8) is obtained and set in advance through experiments or the like, the opening speed of the ADF unit 20 when the operator opens is determined by the operator. You can adjust to the speed you feel.

  After the time point D, the ADF unit 20 is opened at a speed that substantially follows the movement of the operator's hand while being lifted at substantially the same pressure as the target pressure Puo by the operation of the operator. The operator can perform the opening operation while touching the ADF unit 20 while feeling a certain pressure (target pressure Puo) in his / her hand, and the gap between the opening operation speed desired by the operator and the actual speed. It is possible to reduce stress due to being too large.

In the above, an example of drive control in a minute period when the opening operation is started by the operator has been described. For example, when the pressure detection value Pv falls below the target pressure Puo after the time point D, Control is performed to slow down the opening operation speed according to the magnitude of the pressure difference (slow opening operation is performed).
Further, when the operator releases his / her hand from the opening / closing operation unit 23 in order to cancel the opening operation, the pressure detection value Pv becomes zero. In this case, the speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is controlled to be zero (stopped). When the operator again tries to start the opening operation by holding the opening / closing operation unit 23 by hand, the control shown in FIG. 9 is started.

  Further, in the case of the closing operation, when the downward pressure is applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the operator and the pressure detection value Pv becomes equal to or lower than the pressure reference value Po, the reverse rotation driving of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is started. The closing operation of the ADF unit 20 downward is started after a certain time from the start. The reverse drive speed is determined by referring to a table (not shown) according to the magnitude of the difference between the detected pressure value Pv and the target pressure Pdo, as in the case of the opening operation.

  In the case of the opening operation start, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the rate of increase of the pressure detection value Pv is large, and then the pressure detection value Pv becomes a peak (maximum value) and decreases after passing the peak, Although it converged to the target pressure Puo over time, the graph of the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure Pdo is almost vertically symmetrical with the graph of FIG. It becomes a relationship.

  That is, at first, the rate of decrease of the pressure detection value Pv is large, and then the pressure detection value Pv becomes a peak (minimum value), increases after the peak, and converges to the target pressure Pdo as time elapses. Thus, the closing operation is performed at the closing operation speed corresponding to the target pressure Pdo. Therefore, when the closing operation is performed, as in the case of the opening operation, the burden on the operator is reduced, and the stress on the operator can be reduced.

<Second Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
In the first embodiment, the target pressure values Puo and Pdo are set to the same value for any operator. However, the target pressure values Puo and Pdo may be changed according to operator ID information input to the ADF-CPU 51, for example. . The operator ID information can be acquired from login information that is input by an operator operating the operation panel 14 during login. Further, an RFID receiver is provided on the operation panel 14, and an operator ID for identifying the operator from the user ID information transmitted from the wireless IC chip attached to the operator's name plate or the like by the RFID receiver. Information may be acquired.

  The memory inside the ADF-CPU 51 is provided with a table in which target pressures Puo and Pdo are set for each operator identified from the operator ID information. When the ADF-CPU 51 acquires the operator ID information, the ADF-CPU 51 identifies the operator from the acquired information, and refers to a table provided corresponding to the identified operator to set the target pressure Puo set in advance. And Pdo are changed to target pressures Puo and Pdo corresponding to the identified operator.

  For example, when the operator is an elderly person, a woman, a disabled person, or the like, the target pressure Puo ′ for the opening operation can be set to a value smaller than the reference value Puo. If the target pressure Puo ′ is set to a value smaller than the reference value, the driving speed corresponding to the target pressure Puo ′ is also controlled to a slow speed (FIG. 7), so that the operator performs the opening operation with a relatively small force. However, the ADF unit 20 can be opened, and the opening operation is performed at a slow speed.

  It is assumed that the elderly and the like have a weaker force applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 in the opening operation than adult men and tend to prefer a slow opening operation. Therefore, by setting Puo ′ <Puo, It becomes possible to realize the opening operation. In the case of the closing operation, by setting the target pressure Pdo ′ to a value larger than the reference value Pdo, the same operation as in the case of the opening operation can be performed.

On the other hand, when the operator is a man, a young man or the like, the target pressure Puo ′ for the opening operation can be set to a value larger than the reference value Puo. It is assumed that young people have a strong force at the time of opening operation and tend to prefer a faster opening operation. Therefore, by setting Puo ′> Puo, the opening speed according to the physical strength of the operator is ADF. The opening operation of the unit 20 is performed.
In addition to or instead of the target pressure values Puo and Pdo, the speed change rate (gradient) shown in FIG. 7 may be changed according to the operator. In this case, an operator having no physical strength such as an elderly person may reduce the rate of change of the speed.

<Third Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
When the opening / closing speed of the ADF unit 20 is controlled based on the pressure applied by the operator to the opening / closing operation unit 23 as in the first embodiment, the ADF unit 20 actually rotates upward with respect to the scanner unit 10. By being moved, the position of the center of gravity in the horizontal direction of the ADF unit 20 itself is close to the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 which is the center of rotation on the back side, so that the rotational moment generated around the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 by gravity is reduced. Therefore, as the rotation angle θ of the ADF unit 20 increases, the force required for the opening operation for the operator can be reduced.

The fact that the force required for the operation is small means that the pressure detection value Pv should be small. Therefore, if the value of the target pressure Puo is lowered accordingly, the drive with respect to the target pressure is performed in the same way as when the rotation angle θ is small. The opening operation can be controlled to converge to the speed.
Accordingly, the speed of the hand when the operator tries to lift the opening / closing operation unit 23 when opening the ADF unit 20 and the opening operation speed by the opening / closing drive motor 34 are from the opening start to the opening end. In order to perform control so as to have a substantially constant relationship, it is desirable to reduce the value of the target pressure Puo as the rotation (opening / closing) angle θ of the ADF unit 20 increases.

  In the present embodiment, without changing the target pressure Puo, the detection pressure Pv is corrected by multiplying the detection pressure Pv by a certain coefficient that increases as the opening / closing angle θ increases. . Specifically, the rotation angle θ of the ADF unit 20 is detected based on the output of the rotation angle detector 37, and a rotation angle correction value μθm set in advance for the detected rotation angle θ is acquired. Then, the pressures PvL and PvR respectively detected by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b are corrected by the acquired rotation angle correction value μθm.

  In the memory inside the ADF-CPU 51, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a table in which a rotation angle correction value μθm corresponding to the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detector 37 is set in advance. Based on the table, the ADF-CPU 51 selects a rotation angle correction value μθm corresponding to the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detector 37. Then, the pressure detection value Pv is corrected by multiplying the pressure detection value Pv by the selected rotation angle correction value μm, and the opening / closing drive is performed based on the obtained correction pressure detection value Pv ′ (= Pv × μθm). The driving speed of the motor 34 is controlled. The rotation angle range in which the rotation angle correction value μm in the table of FIG. 10 is set is set to 5 °, for example.

The memory inside the ADF-CPU 51 is provided with two tables in which different rotation angle correction values μθm are set when the ADF unit 20 is opened and when the ADF unit 20 is closed. It has been.
In the closing operation, the rotational moment generated around the hinge fulcrum shaft 33 due to gravity decreases as the opening / closing angle decreases from large to small, and therefore the magnitude relationship is reversed from the correction value in the opening operation. Therefore, in the table used for the closing operation, the correction value μθm for the opening / closing angle θ is set so as to increase as the angle θ decreases from the maximum. If the correction value is set in this way, the closing drive can be performed while maintaining substantially the same relative relationship with the speed of the closing operation of the operator when the opening / closing angle θ is large and small during the closing operation. For the operator, the closing operation can be performed without a sense of incongruity.

<Fourth Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
In the first embodiment described above, when various units such as the back surface image reading unit 28 are mounted on the ADF unit 20, the weight of the entire ADF unit 20 and the position of the center of gravity thereof change. The relationship between the operation position in the operation unit 23 and the pressure detection value Pv obtained from the outputs of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b changes.

For example, the load balance of the ADF unit 20 in the case shown in FIG. 11A in which various units such as the back image reading unit 28 are not mounted is substantially uniform in the left-right direction as shown in the graph of FIG. 11C, for example, the back surface image reading unit 28 is attached to the paper feed main body 21a located on the left side of the ADF unit 20 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the center of gravity moves to the left, and the load balance of the ADF unit 20 is such that the left side to which the back surface image reading unit 28 is attached is heavy and the left side is offset as shown in the graph of FIG. When the operator opens the ADF unit 20 having a load balance as shown in the graph of FIG. When the operating position is close to the first pressure sensor 26a on the left side of the opening / closing operation unit 23, a larger upward force is applied than in the case of uniform load balance as shown in the graph of FIG. Therefore, the detected pressure value PvL of the left first pressure sensor 26a and the detected pressure value PvR of the right second pressure sensor 26b are not symmetrical with respect to the center position in the left-right direction.

  Therefore, when the back surface image reading unit 28 is attached, the weight increases in order to control the speed of the open / close drive motor 34 in the same manner as when the back surface image reading unit 28 is not attached. On the basis of the position of the center of gravity, a correction value that is opposite to the load balance in the left-right direction is applied to the pressure detection value PvL of the first pressure sensor 26a and the pressure detection value PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b. Just do it. However, in the case of correction, it is necessary to consider the weight that increases due to the mounting of the unit.

  As described above, when various units are attached to the ADF-CPU 51, the unit can be identified by inputting a unit attachment signal corresponding to the attached unit. In the internal memory, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 (e), in order to correct the pressure detection values PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b, according to the type of the mounting unit. In addition, a table in which the first unit correction coefficient μLk and the second unit correction coefficient μRk (where k (= 1, 2,... Indicates the type of the mounted unit) is set is stored. Note that the first unit correction coefficient μLk and the second unit correction coefficient μRk are different depending on whether the operator opens or closes the opening / closing operation unit 23. Two tables are stored.

  The ADF-CPU 51 obtains the first unit correction coefficient μLk and the second unit correction coefficient μRk corresponding to the type of the mounting unit identified by the input of the unit mounting signal with reference to the table, and the first pressure sensor 26a. The detected pressure value PvL and the detected value PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b are corrected by the acquired first unit correction coefficient μLk and second unit correction coefficient μRk.

  The unit 1 shown in the table shown in FIG. 11E corresponds to, for example, the back image reading unit 28, and when the back image reading unit 28 is mounted, the pressure detection value PvL of the first pressure sensor 26a. For example, the first unit correction coefficient μL1 (for example, 0 <μL1 <1) is multiplied by PvL so that the detection value PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b becomes a different value before the correction but becomes the same value after the correction. The second unit correction coefficient μR1 (for example, μL1 <μR1 <1) is corrected by being multiplied by PvR.

  In addition, even when various units are not attached to the ADF unit 20 and the load balance of the ADF unit 20 is not uniform left and right, the first pressure sensor 26a and the first pressure sensor 26b with respect to the first pressure sensor 26b are similar to the above. If the unit correction coefficient μL0 and the second unit correction coefficient μR0 are set in advance, the pressure detection value PvL and the second pressure of the first pressure sensor 26a are determined based on the first unit correction coefficient μL0 and the second unit correction coefficient μR0. The pressure detection value PvR of the sensor 26b can be corrected. In this way, in a configuration in which the load balance is not symmetrical, the ADF unit 20 can be operated at the same speed as long as the operator applies the same pressure regardless of the position of the opening / closing operation unit 23 in the left-right direction. The opening operation and the closing operation can be controlled.

<Fifth Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
As shown in FIG. 12, the ADF unit 20 is normally rotated upward by about 70 ° with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 in a horizontal state, thereby being stopped by a stopper 38 (see FIG. 3). The upward opening operation is restricted. Therefore, when the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 is opened to an angle (about 65 °) smaller than 70 ° regulated by the stopper 38, the rotation speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is increased at a high speed. If the ADF unit 20 is opened upward, the ADF unit 20 may collide with the stopper 38 and cause a large impact.

  Similarly to the conventional ADF unit, when the rotation angle with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 becomes smaller than, for example, 25 °, the ADF unit 20 causes the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 to be biased by a tension spring (not shown) and its own weight. It may be configured to automatically rotate downward until a closed state is covered. Further, when the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 is 25 ° or more with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10, the hinge fulcrum is stopped at the position where the opening / closing operation is performed unless the opening / closing operation member 23 is opened / closed by the operator. You may comprise so that rotation of the axis | shaft 33 may be controlled.

  In such a case, in the range where the opening / closing angle is 0 to θa1 (= 25 °) (the range indicated by α1 in FIG. 12), the operator opens and closes the ADF unit 20 so as to open upward. It is necessary to apply a large pressure against the urging force of the tension spring to the portion 23. Therefore, in this embodiment, the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is detected by the rotation angle detector 37, and in this range α1, based on the pressure detection value Pv for the opening / closing operation unit 23. For example, a value obtained by multiplying the pressure detection value Pv by an opening / closing initial correction value μu smaller than a predetermined amount by 1 is used so that the set forward rotation speed Vun of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is increased. For this purpose, the memory in the ADF-CPU 51 stores a table in which the opening / closing initial correction value μu is set in advance.

  When the ADF unit 20 is closed, when the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is in the range α1 of 0 to 25 °, the ADF unit 20 is automatically rotated downward by the tension spring and its own weight. Thus, in the present embodiment, the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 relative to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is detected by the rotation angle detector 37, and in this range α1, the ADF-CPU 51 stops the reverse drive of the opening / closing drive motor 34. Is configured to do.

  Further, when the ADF unit 20 is opened, when the opening / closing angle with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is in the range of θa2 to θa3 (= 60 ° to 70 °) (range indicated by α3 in FIG. 12), the rotation by the stopper 38 is performed. In this embodiment, the rotation angle of the ADF unit 20 with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is detected by the rotation angle detector 37 in order to prevent the impact applied to the stopper 38 at the time of regulation. The supply is cut off and the forward drive of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is stopped. In the range where the opening / closing angle with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10 is 25 ° to 60 ° (the range indicated by α2 in FIG. 12), as described above, the rotation set based on the pressure detection value Pv for the opening / closing operation unit 23. The opening / closing drive motor 34 is driven by the speeds Vun and Vdn.

<Sixth Embodiment of Control by ADF-CPU>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an opening / closing speed setting process in the drive control of the opening / closing drive motor 34 that is executed by the ADF-CPU 51 when the aspects of all the first to fifth embodiments are included. This process is repeatedly executed by being called at regular intervals by a main routine (not shown).

  As shown in the figure, the ADF-CPU 51 determines whether or not the pressure detection values PvL and PvR acquired from the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b have changed from the initial pressure reference value Po. (Step S1). If it is determined that the change has occurred (“YES” in step S1), it is determined whether the operator has performed an opening operation of the ADF unit 20 based on the acquired pressure detection values PvL and PvR (step S2). .

  If it is determined in step S2 that the opening operation of the ADF unit 20 is being performed (“YES” in step S2), the opening / closing angle of the ADF unit 20 is determined based on the output of the rotation angle detector 37. 12 is determined (step S3), and if it is determined that the range is α3 (“YES” in step S3), the ADF unit 20 by the opening / closing drive motor 34 is determined. It is determined that the opening / closing operation is not necessary, and the opening / closing drive motor 34 is stopped (step S15).

  If the operator has not performed the opening operation of the ADF unit 20 in step S2 (“NO” in step S2), it is determined that the closing operation has been performed, and the ADF unit 20 is opened / closed. It is determined whether the angle is in the range α1 shown in FIG. 12 (step S4). If the angle is in the range α1 (“YES” in step S4), the opening / closing operation of the ADF unit 20 of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is performed. Is determined to be unnecessary, and the opening / closing drive motor 34 is stopped (step S16).

  If “NO” in each of Steps S3 and S4, it is determined that the drive speed of the opening / closing drive motor 34 needs to be controlled, and the process proceeds to Step S5. The presence / absence of a unit is determined (step S5). When the unit mounting signal is input (“YES” in step S5), it is determined that the mounting unit is mounted, and the type of the mounting unit is determined based on the unit mounting signal, and FIG. The first unit correction coefficient μLk and the second unit correction coefficient μRk are acquired from the table shown in FIG. Further, the rotation angle correction value μθm is also acquired based on the output of the rotation angle detector 37 (step S7).

  Thereafter, the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b are corrected with the acquired first unit correction coefficient μLk and second unit correction coefficient μRk (step S8), and pressure detection after correction is performed. A pressure detection value Pv that is the sum of the values PvL and PvR is calculated (step S9). Next, the calculated pressure detection value Pv is corrected with the rotation angle correction value μθm (step S10).

  When the pressure detection value Pv is corrected, when the operator ID information is input by the login information or the like, target pressure values Puo and Pdo corresponding to the operator ID specified by the operator ID information are set. It is determined whether it has been performed (step S11). If the registered target pressure values Puo and Pdo corresponding to the operator ID exist (“YES” in step S11), the registered target pressure values Puo and Pdo are set as the target pressure values Puo and Pdo (step S12). Proceed to step S13. If the registered target pressure values Puo and Pdo corresponding to the operator ID do not exist (“NO” in step S11), the process proceeds to step S13 without updating the preset target pressure values Puo and Pdo.

  In step S13, the drive speed Vun or Vdn of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is set based on the difference between the detected pressure value Pv and the set target pressure values Puo and Pdo (step S13). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S14, where it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the previous setting of the opening / closing speed based on the pressure detection value Pv. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is not the sampling timing for setting the opening / closing speed. Judgment is made (“NO” in step S 14), and waits for a predetermined time to elapse. The predetermined time of the sampling timing is a short time of about 50 ms.

  When the drive speed Vun or Vdn of the opening / closing drive motor 34 is set in this way, the ADF-CPU 51 waits until the next drive speed is set for the motor drive IC 52 which is an example of the opening / closing drive means. In the meantime, an instruction is issued to perform forward rotation (open direction) at the set drive speed Vun or reverse rotation (close direction) at Vdn. The motor drive IC 52 controls the rotation of the opening / closing drive motor 34 in accordance with an instruction from the ADF-CPU 51.

Thus, when the operator is opening / closing the opening / closing operation part 23 of the ADF unit 20, the ADF unit 20 is rotated by the opening / closing drive motor 34 in the same direction as the direction in which the pressure is applied to the opening / closing operation part 23. For the operator, the force required to open and close the ADF unit 20 is reduced, and the burden of the opening and closing operation is reduced.
In addition, since the ADF unit 20 is driven to open and close at an opening / closing speed corresponding to the pressure, the operator only needs to apply a substantially constant pressure to the ADF unit 20, thereby reducing the feeling of stress. Furthermore, when the operator opens / closes the opening / closing operation unit 23, the ADF unit 20 does not rotate against the operator's intention, and the ADF unit 20 is prevented from colliding with the operator. be able to.

In addition, although the example of the processing flow in the case of including all the embodiments has been described with reference to FIG. 13, in a configuration including only one or a plurality of embodiments, only the steps according to the embodiment are executed. Become a flow.
<Modification 1>
In the above embodiment, the pressure detection mechanism 26 detects the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 14 (a), the upper elastic member disposed above the support plate 26r integrally formed with the opening / closing operation unit 23 with an appropriate interval from the support plate 26r. A lower elastic plate 26n disposed below the support plate 26r with an appropriate space below the support plate 26r, and a support plate 26r for detecting a pressing pressure applied to the upper elastic plate 26m. A plurality of upper pressure sensors 26s arranged in a substantially uniform distribution state on the upper surface and a substantially uniform distribution state on the lower surface of the support plate 26r in order to detect the pushing pressure applied to the lower elastic plate 26n. By a plurality of lower pressure sensors 26t that is, it may constitute a pressure detection mechanism 26.

  The upper elastic plate 26m is constituted by an elastic plate such as a flexible rubber plate that is bent by the action of the operator's pressing pressure, and the lower elastic plate 26n also has a pressure in the pressing direction of the operator. It is constituted by an elastic plate such as a rubber plate having flexibility such that it bends by acting. The support plate 26r may also be used as the opening / closing operation plate 23.

  In the pressure detection mechanism 26 having such a configuration, the pressure distribution in the left-right direction and the depth direction (front-rear direction) in the opening / closing operation unit 23 can be detected by all the upper pressure sensors 26s and the lower pressure sensors 26t. As shown in (b), a high pressure is detected at the position operated by the operator, and the pressure decreases so as to be proportional to the distance from the position. From this, based on the sensor in which the maximum pressure is detected in all of the upper pressure sensor 26s and the lower pressure sensor 26t, which of the pressing down pressure and the pressing up pressure is applied by the operator (whether the closing operation or the opening operation is performed) It is possible to determine the operation position.

  That is, when the sensor in which the maximum pressure is detected is the upper pressure sensor 26s, it is determined that the operator has applied the pressing pressure to the arrangement position, and the sensor in which the maximum pressure is detected is the lower pressure sensor. In the case of 26t, it is determined that the operator has applied a push-up pressure to the arrangement position. Further, based on the difference between the sum of the pressure values detected by all the upper pressure sensors 26s and the sum of the pressure values detected by all the lower pressure sensors 26t, the aforementioned pressure detection value Pv is obtained. .

  The pressure detection mechanism 26 having such a configuration can be applied to all the above-described first to sixth embodiments. In addition, since the operation position to which pressure is applied by the operator for the opening / closing operation can be detected not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-rear direction, the pressure detection value Pv is calculated based on the operation position in the front-rear direction. It may be corrected. In this case, since the push-up pressure for rotating the ADF unit 20 upwards becomes smaller as the operation position in the front-rear direction becomes the front side, the correction coefficient when the operator performs the opening operation is the pressure detection value. Pv is set to increase. The correction coefficient when the operator performs the closing operation is set so that the pressure detection value Pv decreases.

<Modification 2>
The pressure detection mechanism 26 described in the first embodiment is configured to detect the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b, and FIG. Based on the graphs shown in (b) and (b), the position at which the operator operates the opening / closing operation unit 23 can be obtained based on the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. Therefore, when the center of gravity position of the ADF unit 20 is shifted in the left-right direction with respect to the opening / closing operation unit 23, the operation pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the operator is constant regardless of the operation position. The detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26 a and the second pressure sensor 26 b may be corrected based on the operation position of the opening / closing operation unit 23.

  That is, as shown in the graph of FIG. 5A, when the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b are equal, the reference position of the central portion in the left-right direction in the opening / closing operation unit 23. Is opened by the operator, and the detection pressure PvL of the first pressure sensor 26a is larger than the detection pressure PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b, the opening operation position by the operator is on the left side of the reference position. Thus, the greater the difference between the two, the farther from the reference position. When the detected pressure PvL of the first pressure sensor 26a is smaller than the detected pressure PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b, the operation position of the opening / closing operation unit 23 by the operator is on the right side of the reference position, and the difference between the two The larger the is, the farther from the reference position.

  Accordingly, the position at which the operator opens the opening / closing operation unit 23 can be detected based on the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. Similarly, the position at which the operator closes the opening / closing operation unit 23 can be obtained from the graphs of FIG. 5B based on the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b. .

The correction of the detected pressures PvL and PvR of the first pressure sensor 26a and the second pressure sensor 26b when the center of gravity position of the ADF unit 20 is shifted leftward with respect to the opening / closing operation unit 23, for example, is as follows. is there.
That is, when the operation position by the operator is on the left side of the reference position, since it is close to the center of gravity position of the ADF unit 20, the distance to the reference position increases (closer to the center of gravity position of the ADF unit 20). The pressure detection value Pv, which is the average value of the detection pressure PvL of the first pressure sensor 26a and the detection pressure PvR of the second pressure sensor 26b, is corrected so as to increase. As a result, the difference between the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure is increased, and the forward rotation drive speed by the opening / closing drive motor 34 is increased. Therefore, the operator applies a pressure that is approximately the same as the pressure applied to the reference position. The ADF unit 20 can be opened.

  When the operator performs an opening operation on the right side of the reference position, the pressure detection value Pv is corrected to be small. As a result, the difference between the pressure detection value Pv and the target pressure is reduced, and the forward drive speed by the opening / closing drive motor 34 is reduced, so that the operator applies a pressure that is approximately the same as the pressure applied to the reference position. The ADF unit 20 can be opened upward.

  In the case of the closing operation, for example, when the center of gravity position of the ADF unit 20 is shifted to the left with respect to the opening / closing operation unit 23, the position when the operator closes the opening / closing operation unit 23 is on the left side of the reference position. If so, the pressure detection value Pv is corrected so that the reverse drive speed by the open / close drive motor 34 is increased, and if it is on the right side of the reference position, the reverse drive speed by the open / close drive motor 34 is decreased. Is done. Thus, the operator can close the ADF unit 20 by applying a pressure that is approximately the same as the pressure applied to the reference position.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to an MFP (Multiple Function Peripheral), but can be applied to a copying machine, a FAX, an image reading dedicated machine, and the like.

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in which an automatic document conveying (ADF) unit that automatically conveys a document and a scanner unit that reads an image of a document conveyed by the ADF unit are configured to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism. When opening / closing the ADF unit, the ADF unit can be opened / closed at an opening / closing speed corresponding to the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation plate.

10 Scanner unit 14 Operation panel 16 Slit glass 17 CCD
18 Platen glass 20 ADF unit 21 ADF unit main body 23 Opening / closing operation part 26 Pressure detection mechanism 26a First pressure sensor 26b Second pressure sensor 26c Coil spring 26d Coil spring 26e Support body 26m Upper elastic plate 26n Lower elastic plate 26r Support plate 26s Upper part Pressure sensor 26t Lower pressure sensor 30 Hinge mechanism 31 Fixed side hinge body 32 Rotation side hinge body 33 Hinge fulcrum shaft 34 Opening / closing drive motor 37 Rotation angle detector 40 Scanner control unit 41 Scanner CPU
43 Scanner Motor 50 ADF Control Unit 51 ADF-CPU

Claims (10)

An image reading apparatus in which an automatic document conveyance unit is mounted on a scanner unit by a hinge mechanism so as to be opened and closed.
An opening / closing operation unit provided in the automatic document conveying unit, to which a push-up pressure and a push-down pressure are applied by an operator when the automatic document conveyance unit is opened and closed;
Pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure applied to the opening / closing operation section at predetermined time intervals;
Control that outputs an instruction to open and close the automatic document conveyance unit at an opening and closing speed corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure in a direction to decrease the detected pressure each time the pressure is detected by the pressure detection unit Means,
An opening / closing driving means for driving the automatic document transport unit to open / close at a direction and an opening / closing speed in accordance with the opening / closing instruction every time an opening / closing instruction is received from the control means; ,
An image reading apparatus comprising:   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases or decreases an opening / closing speed according to a difference between a pressure applied to the opening / closing operation unit and a preset target pressure. An opening / closing angle detecting means for detecting an opening / closing angle of the automatic document conveying unit relative to the scanner unit;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit corrects the opening / closing speed according to the opening / closing angle detected by the opening / closing angle detection unit. The automatic document conveying unit is closed by its own weight and biasing means, even when the opening / closing driving means is not applied in the range where the opening / closing angle is not more than a predetermined opening / closing angle with respect to the scanner unit. Configured to work,
The control means supplies power to the opening / closing driving means when the opening / closing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined angle when it is determined that the automatic document transport unit is closed by an operator. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image reading apparatus is stopped. The automatic document conveyance unit is configured such that upward rotation with respect to the scanner unit is restricted by a stopper.
The control means, when it is determined that the automatic document transport unit is opened by an operator, opens and closes the opening / closing driving means at an opening angle that is a predetermined angle before the opening / closing angle regulated by the stopper. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power supply is stopped.   The control means is detected by the pressure detection means based on the changed weight and / or the position of the center of gravity when the weight and / or the position of the center of gravity of the automatic document transport unit changes due to the attachment / detachment of the mounting unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is corrected. Further comprising operator information acquisition means for acquiring information about the operator;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit changes the target pressure based on information acquired by the operator information acquisition unit. The pressure detecting means includes
A support body that is disposed so that the push-up pressure and the push-down pressure are applied, and is integrally attached to the opening / closing operation section;
A pair of pressure sensors attached to the automatic document feeder unit;
An attachment member that attaches the support body to the pressure sensors so as to be movable in the vertical direction so that the pressure in the up-down direction applied to the opening / closing operation unit is detected by the pressure sensors via the support bodies; ,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The pressure detecting means includes
A lower elastic plate arranged so that the pushing pressure is applied;
A plurality of lower pressure sensors arranged in a substantially uniform distribution state with respect to the lower elastic plate in order to detect the pushing pressure applied to the lower elastic plate;
An upper elastic plate arranged so that the pressing pressure is applied;
A plurality of upper pressure sensors arranged in a substantially uniform distribution state with respect to the upper elastic plate in order to detect a pressing pressure applied to the upper elastic plate;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:   An image forming apparatus, comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

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