Patent Application
20110316217
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-144951 filed Jun. 25, 2010.
The present invention relates to an automatic document transport device, an image reading device, and an image forming apparatus.
According to an aspect of the invention, an automatic document transport device includes a document stacker on which a document having a document image recorded thereon is stacked, the document stacker being supported so as to be movable between a stacking position and an open position, the stacking position being a position in which the document stacker allows the document to be stacked thereon, and the open position being a position in which a space below the document stacker with respect to a direction of gravity is opened; a document transport path connected to the document stacker and through which the document stacked on the document stacker is transported; a document feed member that feeds the document stacked on the document stacker to an image reading position at which the document image recorded on the document is read, the image reading position being preset on the document transport path; a document output section to which the document is output, the document output section being disposed downstream of the document transport path with respect to a document transport direction and below the document stacker with respect to the direction of gravity; a document output member disposed downstream of the image reading position with respect to the document transport direction, the document output member outputting the document whose document image has been read to the document output section, and the document output member including an upper output member and a lower output member, the upper output member being disposed above the document transport path with respect to the direction of gravity, and the lower output member facing the upper output member and being disposed below the document transport path with respect to the direction of gravity; and a shielding member disposed above a document output slot with respect to the direction of gravity, the document output slot being disposed at a downstream end of the document transport path with respect to the document transport direction, the shielding member being disposed between the document output member and the document output section with respect to the document transport direction, the shielding member including a first shielding portion and a second shielding portion, the first shielding portion extending upward and having a lower end with respect to the direction of gravity disposed above a region in which the upper output member and the lower output member contact each other with respect to the direction of gravity, the second shielding portion extending downstream with respect to the document transport direction from the lower end of the first shielding portion with respect to the direction of gravity, and the shielding member shielding the upper output member from a space between the document stacker and the document output section.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described below. For ease of understanding, in the figures, it is assumed that the front-back direction is the X axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y axis direction, and the up-down direction is the Z axis direction. The direction or the side indicated by arrows X, −X, Y, −Y, Z, and −Z will be referred to as front, back, right, left, up (above), and down (below), or, the front side, the back side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side. In the figures, “◯” containing “·” represents an arrow extending from the back side to the front side of the paper surface, and “◯” containing “×” represents an arrow extending from the front side to the back side of the paper surface. For ease of understanding, in the following description using the figures, illustration of members that are not necessary for the description are omitted.
The operation unit UI includes input buttons U1a that are used to start copying, setting the number of copies, and other operations. The operation unit UI includes a display U1b on which inputs to the input buttons U1a and a state of the copier U are displayed.
Referring to
The image processing unit GS converts the electric signals for RGB, which have been input from the solid-state image pickup device CCD, to image information for black K, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, and temporarily stores the image information. At a predetermined timing, the image processing unit GS outputs the image information to a latent image forming device driving circuit D as image information for forming a latent image. If the document image is a monochrome image, image information for only black K is input to the latent image forming device driving circuit D described below. The flatbed image reading unit U1b according to the first exemplary embodiment is constituted by the document reading surface PG, the exposure optical system A, the solid-state image pickup device CCD, and the image processing unit GS. Description of Medium Feeding Device U2
Referring to
Referring to
A visible image forming device drawer U3c, which is an example of a drawer member, is disposed below the latent image forming devices ROSy, ROSm, ROSc, and ROSk for respective colors the Y to K. The visible image forming device drawer U3c is supported by slide rails R1, which are examples of a pair of left and right guide members, so as to be movable between a pulled-out position and a mount position. The pulled-out position is a position in which the visible image forming device drawer U3c is pulled out to the front of the image forming apparatus body U3, and the mount position is a position in which the visible image forming device drawer U3c is mounted in the image forming apparatus body U3.
Referring to
Referring to
When developer is consumed by the developing devices Gy to Gk for developing, new developer is supplied from toner cartridges Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk that are removably attached to the developer supplying device U3b. The toner cartridges are examples of a developer container. In the first exemplary embodiment, two-component developer composed of toner and carrier is used as the developer. The toner cartridges Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk supply concentrated developer that has a higher toner concentration than the developer contained in the developing devices Gy to Gk. Therefore, in the first exemplary embodiment, concentrated developer, which includes a small amount of carrier, is supplied to the developing devices Gy to Gk while gradually discharging developer including deteriorated carrier from the developing devices Gy to Gk, whereby the carrier is replaced. Such a technology of gradually replacing the carrier has been described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-81787 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-84570. Therefore, detailed description of the technology will be omitted.
Developer including deteriorated carrier is discharged to back end portions of the developing devices Gy to Gk from deteriorated developer discharging portions G1y to G1k. At the same time, the toner cartridges Ky to Kk supply new developer including new carrier to the developing devices Gy to Gk, so that the developer in the developing devices Gy to Gk is gradually replaced with the new developer. The developer that has been discharged from the deteriorated developer discharge portions G1y to G1k flows into deteriorated developer transport paths G2y to G2k, which extend backward. The developer is transported backward by deteriorated developer transport members G3y to G3k, which are disposed in the deteriorated developer transport paths G2y to G2k, and recovered in deteriorated developer recovery portions (not shown).
The toner images on the surfaces of the photoconductor drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are successively transferred by first transfer rollers T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k onto intermediate transfer belt B in first transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k in an overlapping manner, so that a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt B. The first transfer rollers are examples of a first transfer unit, the intermediate transfer belt B is an example of an intermediate transfer body, and the color toner image is an example of a multicolor visible image. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B is transported to a second transfer region Q4. When the image information is only for color K, only the photoconductor drum Pk and the developing device Gk are used, and a toner image in color K is formed. After the first transfer has been finished, residual materials such as residual developer and paper dust adhering to the surfaces of the photoconductor drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are removed by the cleaners CLy, CLm, CLc, and CLk.
An intermediate transfer device drawer U3d, which is an example of a drawer member, is disposed below the visible image forming device drawer U3c so as to be movable between a pulled-out position and a mount position. The pulled-out position is a position in which the intermediate transfer device drawer U3d is pulled out to the front of the image forming apparatus body U3, and the mount position is a position in which the intermediate transfer device drawer U3d is mounted in the image forming apparatus body U3. The intermediate transfer device drawer U3d supports a belt module BM, which is an example of an intermediate transfer device, so that the belt module BM is movable up and down between an upper position in which the belt module BM contacts the lower surfaces of the photoconductor drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk and a lower position in which the belt module BM is separated from these lower surfaces. The belt module BM includes the intermediate transfer belt B, a belt supporting roller Rd+Rt+Rw+Rf+T2a, and the first transfer rollers T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k. The belt supporting roller Rd+Rt+Rw+Rf+T2a, which is an example of an intermediate transfer body drive member, is constituted by a drive roller Rd, a tension roller Rt, a walking roller Rw, plural idler rollers Rf, and a backup roller T2. The drive roller Rd is an example of an intermediate transfer body drive member, the tension roller Rt is an example of a tension generating member, the walking roller Rw is an example of a meandering prevention member, the idler rollers Rf are examples of a driven member, and the backup roller T2 is an example of a second transfer facing member. The intermediate transfer belt B is supported by the belt supporting roller Rd+Rt+Rw+Rf+T2a so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow Y.
A second transfer unit Ut is disposed below the backup roller T2a. The second transfer unit Ut includes a second transfer roller T2b, which is an example of a second transfer member. The second transfer roller T2b may be in contact with or separated from the backup roller T2a with the intermediate transfer belt B therebetween. The second transfer region Q4 is a region in which the second transfer roller T2b is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt
B. A contact roller T2c, which is an example of a contact electricity feed member, is in contact with the backup roller T2a. The power supply circuit E, which is controlled by the controller C, applies a second transfer voltage to the contact roller T2c at a preset timing. A second transfer unit T2 is constituted by the backup roller T2a, the second transfer roller T2b, and the contact roller T2c.
A sheet transport path SH2 is disposed below the belt module BM. The recording sheet S, which has been fed through the medium feeding path SH1 of the medium feeding device U2, is transported by medium transport rollers Ra to registration rollers Rr in the sheet transport path SH2. The medium transport rollers Ra are examples of a recording medium transport member, and the registration rollers Rr are examples of a transport timing adjusting member. The registration rollers Rr transport the recording sheet S downstream at the same time as a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B is transported to the second transfer region Q4. The recording sheet S is guided by a registration-side sheet guide SGr and a pre-transfer sheet guide SG1, and transported to the second transfer region Q4. The registration-side sheet guide SGr and the registration rollers Rr are fixed to the image forming apparatus body U3. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred to the recording sheet S by the second transfer unit T2 when the toner image passes the second transfer region Q4. When forming a color toner image, toner images that have been successively first-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B in an overlapping manner are simultaneously second-transferred to the recording sheet S. A transfer device T1y to T1k+T2+B according to the first exemplary embodiment is constituted by the first transfer rollers T1y to T1k, the second transfer unit T2, and the intermediate transfer belt B.
After the second transfer has been finished, the intermediate transfer belt B is cleaned by a belt cleaner CLB, which is disposed below a right-side portion of the intermediate transfer belt B. The belt cleaner CLB is an example of an intermediate transfer body cleaner. The belt cleaner CLB removes residual materials on the intermediate transfer belt B, such as developer that was not used in the second transfer and paper dust, from the intermediate transfer belt B. Referring to
The recording sheet S, on which the toner image has been second-transferred, is transported to a fixing region Q5 of a fixing device F via a post-transfer sheet guide SG2 and a medium transport belt BH, which is an example of a transport member. The fixing region Q5 is a region in which a pressure roller Fp, which is an example of a pressure fixing member, is pressed against a fixing roller Fh. When the toner image formed on the recording sheet S passes the fixing region Q5, the toner image is heat-fixed by the fixing device F. The image recording unit U3a according to the first exemplary embodiment is constituted by the visible image forming devices UY+Gy to UK+Gk, the transfer devices T1y to T1k+T2+B, and the fixing device F. A switching gate GT1, which is an example of a switching member, is disposed downstream of the fixing device F. The switching gate GT1 switches the path of the sheet S, which has been transported through the sheet transport path SH2 and heat-fixed in the fixing region Q5, between the sheet output path SH3 and the sheet reversing path SH4 in accordance with selection by a user. The sheet output path SH3 and the sheet reversing path SH4 are near the medium handling device U4. The recording sheet S that has been transported to the sheet output path SH3 is transported to a sheet transport path SH5 of the medium handling device U4. A curl correction member U4a, which is an example of a media-warping correction member, is disposed in the sheet transport path SH5. The curl correction member U4a corrects a curl, which is warping of the recording sheet S. Then, the recording sheet S is output by output rollers Rh to an output tray TH1 with an image-fixed surface facing up. The output rollers Rh are examples of a medium output member, and the output tray TH1 is an example of a medium output section of the medium handling device U4.
The recording sheet S that has been transported by the switching gate GT1 to the sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus body U3 passes through a Mylar gate GT2, which is an example of a flexible switching member, and transported to a sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus body U3. At this time, when outputting the recording sheet S with the image-fixed surface facing down, the recording sheet S is reversed right after the trailing end of the recording sheet S in the transport direction has passed the Mylar gate GT2. In this case, the Mylar gate GT2 temporarily passes the recording sheet S that has been transported to the sheet reversing path SH4, and when the sheet S is transported back to the Mylar gate GT2, the Mylar gate GT2 transports the sheet S toward the sheet transport paths SH3 and SH5. Then, the recording sheet S is output to an output tray TH1 with the image-fixed surface facing down.
A sheet circulation path SH6 is connected to a middle portion of the sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus body U3, and a Mylar gate GT3 is disposed at the connection portion. The downstream end of the sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus body U3 is connected to the sheet reversing path SH7 of the medium handling device U4. The recording sheet S that has passed through the switching gate GT1 to the sheet transport path SH4 is transported by the Mylar gate GT3 toward the sheet reversing path SH7 of the medium handling device U4. The Mylar gate GT3 temporarily passes the recording sheet S that has been transported through the sheet reversing path SH4, and when the sheet S is transported back to the Mylar gate GT3, the Mylar gate GT3 transports the sheet S toward the sheet circulation path SH6. The recording sheet S, which has been transported to the sheet circulation path SH6, passes through the medium feed path SH1 and transported again to the transfer region Q4, subjected to duplex printing, transported to the medium handling device U4, and output to the output tray TH1. The sheet transport path SH is constituted by the members SH1 to SH7. The sheet transport device SU is constituted by the members SH, Ra, Rr, Rh, SGr, SG1, SG2, BH, and GT1 to GT3.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Forward and backward rotations are transmitted to the drive gear from a drive source (not shown), and the link shaft 8 is rotated forward and backward by the driven gear. In first exemplary embodiment, the driven gear of the link shaft 8 may be in contact with or separated from the drive gear of the document transport apparatus body U1a2. The driven gear moves between the stacking position and the take-out position together with the tray body 1. That is, when the tray body 1 is held in the stacking position, the driven gear and the drive gear mesh with each other. When the tray body 1 is held in the take-out position, the driven gear and the drive gear do not mesh with each other. Such a mechanism including the driven gear and the drive gear is known, and detailed description of the structure will be omitted.
A plate push-up portion 9, which extends rightward, is supported on the link shaft 8 between the front wall 4 and the back wall 6. The plate push-up portion 9 is an example of a stacker body push-up member. Therefore, when the link shaft 8 rotates forward and backward, the plate push-up portion 9 moves between a flat position illustrated in
Referring to
When the plate push-up portion 9 rotates from the flat position toward the erect position, the elevation plate 11 is pushed up by the plate push-up portion 9 and rotated around the support shaft 12, so that the left end portion 11b of the elevation plate 11 is raised. That is, the elevation plate 11 moves between a document set position illustrated in
Referring to
A document feed member 21+22+23 of the first exemplary embodiment is constituted by the document pickup roller 21, the document feed roller 22, and the document retard roller 23. That is, the document feed member 21+22+23 feeds the document Gi stacked on the document feed tray U1a1 toward the image reading position X1. Document transport rollers 24, which are examples of a first document transport member, are supported at a position downstream of the document feed member 21+22+23 with respect to the document transport direction. The document transport rollers 24 transport the document Gi toward the second document transport path GH2. Pre-registration rollers 26, which are examples of a second document transport member, are supported at the upstream end of the second document transport path GH2 with respect to the document transport direction. Document registration rollers 27 are supported at a position in a downstream portion of the second document transport path GH2 with respect to the document transport direction. The document registration rollers 27, which are examples of a document transport timing adjusting member, adjust the timing at which the document Gi is transported toward the image reading position X1.
A platen roller 28, which is an example of a reading assisting member, is supported at the downstream end of the second document transport path GH2. The platen roller 28 is disposed so as to face the transported-document reading surface PG1, and transports the document Gi while pressing the document Gi against the transported-document reading surface PG1. An image reading sensor 29, which is an example of a second image reading unit, is supported at a position downstream of the platen roller 28 with respect to the document transport direction. The image reading sensor 29 is disposed so as to face the transported-document guide portion PG3, and reads a document image on the second surface of the document Gi. The image reading sensor 29 of first exemplary embodiment includes a contact image sensor (CIS). Thus, in the first exemplary embodiment, a document image recorded on the first surface of the document Gi is read at the image reading position X1 by the flatbed image reading unit U1b. When a document image is recorded on the second surface of the document Gi, the document image on the second surface is read at the second image reading position X2 by the image reading sensor 29. An image reading unit U1b+29 of the first exemplary embodiment is constituted by the flatbed image reading unit U1b and the image reading sensor 29.
An out roller 31, which is an example of a third document transport member, is disposed at a position downstream of the image reading sensor 29 with respect to the document transport direction. A document output roller 32 is supported at a position downstream of the out roller 31 with respect to the document transport direction. The document output roller 32, which is an example of a document output member, outputs the document Gi whose document image has been read to the document output tray U1a3. The document output roller 32 includes a document output drive roller 33 and a document output driven roller 34. The document output drive roller 33, which is an example of an upper output member and an example of a document output drive member, is disposed above the third document transport path GH3 with respect to the direction of gravity. The document output driven roller 34, which is an example of a lower output member and an example of document output driven member, is disposed below the third document transport path GH3 with respect to the direction of gravity so as to face the document output drive roller 33. In the first exemplary embodiment, the document output roller 32 is disposed on the left side of the document feed member 21+22+23.
A document output tray U1a3 is disposed at a position downstream of the third document transport path GH3 with respect to the document transport direction and above the document feed tray U1a1 with respect to the direction of gravity. The document output tray U1a3 has a document stacking surface 41 on which the document Gi that has been output is stacked. An upright wall 42 stands up at the left end of the document stacking surface 41. The upper end of the upright wall 42 extends to the document output driven roller 34. A document take-out assist portion 43 is disposed in the middle of the document stacking surface 41 in the left-right direction. The document take-out assist portion 43, which is an example of an output document support portion, supports the document Gi that has been output. The document take-out assist portion 43 has an inclined surface 43a that is inclined upward with respect to the document stacking surface 41. Therefore, when the document Gi is output to the document output tray U1a3 and supported by the inclined surface 43a of the document take-out assist portion 43, a gap is generated between the document stacking surface 41 and the lower surface of the document Gi, whereby a user may easily take out the document Gi from below.
The vertical plate portion 52 and the retard roller 23 are supported by a frame U1a2c of the document transport apparatus body U1a2, which is an example of a frame body. The retard roller 23 is contained in the retard roller containing recess 52a. As illustrated in
Referring to
With the copier U according to the first exemplary embodiment having the structure described above, when copying is started, if the document Gi is placed on the placed-document reading surface PG2, a manual reading operation of reading a document image on the document Gi is started, and if the document Gi is stacked on the elevation plate 11, an automatic reading operation of reading the document Gi that is transported is started. When the automatic reading operation is started, the elevation plate 11 is raised while the tray body 1 is in the stacking position. That is, the elevation plate 11, on which the documents Gi is stacked, is raised from the document set position toward the pickup roller 21, and moved to the document feed position in which the document Gi, which is stacked on the elevation plate 11, contacts the pickup roller 21. Then, the pickup roller 21 is rotated, and the document Gi on the document feed tray U1a1 is fed into the document transport apparatus body U1a2 by the document feed member 21+22+23.
The document Gi, which has been fed into the document transport apparatus body U1a2, is transported along the document transport path GH, and the document image recorded on the document Gi is read at the image reading positions X1 and X2. Then, the document Gi, which has passed the image reading positions X1 and X2, is output to the document output tray U1a3 by the document output roller 32, and stacked on the document stacking surface 41 of the document output tray U1a3. When a user takes out the document Gi, whose document image has been read, the document feed tray U1a1, which is above the document output tray U1a3, is rotated from the stacking position to the take-out position, so that a space 57 between the document feed tray U1a1 and the document output tray U1a3 is opened. As compared with the case where the space 57 is not opened, a user may easily insert his/her hand into the space 57, and document Gi is easily taken out from the document output tray U1a3. At this time, with the automatic document transport device U1a according to the first exemplary embodiment, the document output drive roller 33 is shielded from the space 57 by the protection member 51, so that, when the space 57 is opened, the document output drive roller 33 is not exposed to the outside, in particular, in an upward direction from which a user inserts his/her hand.
With an existing structure that does not include the protection member 51, when the space 57 is opened, the document output slot PG3a is exposed to the outside, and the document output drive roller 33 is exposed to the outside. Therefore, if a user directly inserts his/her hand into the space 57 when, for example, the user tries to pick up a writing instrument or the like that has been dropped or to remove dust, or if the writing instrument or the like rolls down over the elevation plate 11 of the document feed tray U1a1, such foreign substances may contact an exposed portion of the document output drive roller 33 and the document output drive roller 33 or the inside of the document transport path GH may be smudged, so that document transportation performance may be impaired or the document Gi may be damaged. Moreover, for example, when a user takes out the document Gi that that has been stacked while other documents Gi are being transported, his/her hand may contact the document output drive roller 33.
In particular, when a large number of documents Gi are to be stacked on the document feed tray U1a1 using the elevation plate 11 as in the first exemplary embodiment, in order to allow a large number of sheets to be stacked on the sheet feed tray U1a, the height (i.e., the length) of the document-end aligning portion 3 is increased and the distance between the document feed member 21+22+23 and the document output drive roller 33 is increased. Therefore, when the document feed tray U1a1 is rotated upward, the space 57 is opened widely, and the document output slot GH3a and the document output drive roller 33 are more widely exposed. As a result, foreign substances may easily contact the document output drive roller 33.
In contrast, in the automatic document transport device U1a according to the first exemplary embodiment, the protection member 51 is supported at a position between the document output roller 32 and the document output tray U1a3, so that the document output drive roller 33 and the document output slot GH3a are shielded from the space 57 and are not widely exposed to the outside. Therefore, with the first exemplary embodiment, even if foreign substances enter the space 57, the document output drive roller 33 and the document transport path GH are shielded and protected by the protection member 51 and thereby not easily smudged. In particular, the protection member 51 of the first exemplary embodiment is disposed on the document output tray U1a3 side with respect to the document output roller 32, and the protection member 51 includes the horizontal plate portion 56 extending toward the document output tray U1a3. Therefore, when the space 57 is opened and a user's hand or foreign substances enter the space 57 from the upper right side, the horizontal plate portion 56 shields the entry of the foreign substances or the like, and document output drive roller 33 is protected. If the user inserts his/her hand from the document output tray U1a3 side toward the document output roller 32, the user's hand may easily contact the horizontal plate portion 56 of the protection member 51 before contacting the document output drive roller 33. That is, because the user's hand contacts the protection member 51 before contacting the document output drive roller 33, entry of the user's hand is restricted and contact between the user's hand and the document output drive roller 33 is suppressed. Thus, with the first exemplary embodiment, as compared with a structure in which the protection member 51 is not disposed, entry of foreign substance in the document output slot GH3a is suppressed.
The protection member 51 of the first exemplary embodiment includes the document guide portion 56a, and the document Gi is guided to the document output tray U1a3. In a structure where the document guide portion 56a is omitted, for example, if the downstream end of the document Gi with respect to the document transport direction is warped upward, i.e., curled, and the document Gi is output from the document output slot GH3a, the document Gi may be caught on the bottom portion 2 of the document feed tray U1a1 above and may cause deterioration in the stackability of the document output tray U1a3, a paper jam, or damage of the document Gi. In contrast, in first exemplary embodiment, the document guide portion 56a guides the document Gi to the document output tray U1a3 below, so that it is unlikely that the document Gi is caught on the document feed tray U1a1 and deterioration in the stackability of the document output tray U1a3 is reduced. Moreover, the document guide portion 56a has a shelter-like shape with respect to the horizontal plate portion 56, so that entry of a user's hand or foreign substances into the document output drive roller 33 is likely to be prevented and the document guide portion 56a has a function of protecting the document output drive roller 33.
In the first exemplary embodiment, the protection member 51 and the retard roller 23 are supported by the frame U1a2c. The upper end 52b of the protection member 51 with respect to the direction of gravity is disposed above, with respect to the direction of gravity, the lower end of the retard roller 23 with respect to the direction of gravity. If the upper end 52b of the protection member 51 with respect to the direction of gravity is disposed below the retard roller 23 with respect to the direction of gravity, a gap is formed between the protection member 51 and the retard roller 23. Therefore, for example, if a writing instrument or the like rolls down over the elevation plate 11, the writing instrument may enter the gap between the upper end 52b of the protection member 51 with respect to the direction of gravity and the retard roller 23, and may contact the document output drive roller 33. In contrast, in the first exemplary embodiment, the upper end 52b of the protection member 51 extends to a position above the lower end of the retard roller 23 with respect to the direction of gravity, so the protection member 51 protects the document output drive roller 33 from foreign substances.
Next, a second exemplary embodiment according to the of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second exemplary embodiment, the elements the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment will be denoted by the same numerals, and detailed description of such elements will be omitted. The second exemplary embodiment is the same as the first exemplary embodiment except for the following respects.
In the image forming apparatus U according to the second exemplary embodiment having the structure described above, the protection member 51′ is supported between the retard roller 23 and the document feed tray U1a1, so that the document output slot GH3a and the document output drive roller 33 are shielded from the space 57 by the protection member 51′ and protected from foreign substances. That is, with the second exemplary embodiment, as with the first exemplary embodiment, entry of foreign substances in the document output slot GH3a is reduced. In the second exemplary embodiment, the upper end 52b′ of the protection member 51′ with respect to the direction of gravity is disposed on the right side of the retard roller 23 and above, with respect to the direction of gravity, the lower end of the retard roller 23 with respect to the direction of gravity. Therefore, with the image forming apparatus U according to the second exemplary embodiment, the protection member 51′ prevents the retard roller 23 from being exposed and protects the retard roller 23, and it is unlikely that a gap is formed between the protection member 51 and the retard roller 23.
Heretofore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and may be modified in various ways within the sprit and scope of the present invention described in the claims. Modifications (H01) to (H09) according to the present invention will be described below.
(H01) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the copier U is used as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is applicable to a multifunctional apparatus having functions of a copier, a printer, and a facsimile.
(H02) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the automatic document transport device U1a is included in the copier U. However, the present invention is applicable the copier U from which the image forming apparatus body U3 having he image recording unit U3a, the feed device U2, and the medium handling device U4 are omitted. That is, the present invention is applicable to the image reading device U1 as an independent device, i.e., a standalone scanner.
(H03) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the document guide portion 56a extends from the right end of the horizontal plate portion 56 to the document output tray U1a3. However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the document guide portion 56a may be branched from the middle portion of the horizontal plate portion 56 in the left-right direction toward the document output tray U1a3. For example, the second shielding portion may extend diagonally downward, and the entirety of the second shielding portion may guide the document Gi. In other words, the second shielding portion may also serve as a document guide portion.
(H04) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the document feed tray U1a1 is supported by the support arm 7 and the guided shafts 4b and 6b, and the document feed tray U1a1 rotates between the stacking position and the open position, which is an example of take-out position, while moving back and forth. However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the document feed tray U1a1 may be supported by the support shaft and rotate around the support shaft. As long as the document feed tray U1a1 is movable between the stacking position and the open position, any movement structures may be used.
(H05) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the elevation plate 11 of the document feed tray U1a1 is pushed up and down by the plate push-up portion 9. However, a mechanism for moving the elevation plate 11 is not limited thereto. For example, the elevation plate 11 may be moved up and down by being urged by a spring or the like, and the elevation plate 11 may be moved up and down while maintaining a horizontal position in an elevator-like manner, or other known elevation structures may be used.
(H06) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the elevation plate 11 of the document feed tray U1a1 is moved up and down and the document Gi is fed. However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the elevation plate 11 may be omitted, and the pickup roller 21 may be moved up and down to pick up the document Gi. As a further alternative, both the elevation plate 11 and the pickup roller 11 may be moved up and down.
(H07) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the document output drive roller 33 is used as an example of an upper output member. However, the upper output member is not limited thereto. The document output driven roller 34 may be used as an example of the upper output member, and the document output drive roller 33 may be used as the lower output member.
(H08) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the retard roller 23 is used as a lower feed member. However, the lower feed member is not limited thereto. For example, a pad-like retard pad may be used.
(H09) In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the automatic document transport device U1a includes the image reading sensor 29. However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the image reading sensor 29 may be omitted from the automatic document transport device U1a, and only the flatbed image reading unit U1b having the exposure optical system A may read a document image, a reverse path may be provided, or other known structures may be used. The image reading sensor 29 may be disposed at the document reading position X1 of the automatic document transport device U1a, and instead of the flatbed image reading unit U1b, the image reading sensor 29 may read a document image.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-144951 | Jun 2010 | JP | national |
