JPH0431982B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder, and more specifically, it is used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a recording apparatus that has an image area specification function, and The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder equipped with a digitizer (coordinate position detection device) that indicates an area of a document image.

(b) Conventional technology In the past, in copying machines, originals were manually placed on the original platen. Since it was inefficient to keep the sheet originals on the original table, automatic document feeders that automatically feed sheet originals to the original table and automatically eject them have come to be installed. Furthermore, the copying device has a multiple copying function that copies multiple originals on the same side of one sheet of transfer material, and uses a color (for example, red, blue, etc.) developer instead of the usual black developer to produce colored images. Some devices are designed to be multi-functional by having a multicolor copying function to obtain a copy image and an area designation function (or coordinate position detection function). That is, the above area specification function extracts and copies only the image of the necessary area from one original image, and first measures the desired image area in X and Y dimensions, and then inputs the values on the operation panel. Then, in response to the signal, a light emitting element array provided near the photoreceptor that forms the image emits light partially and in a time series, erasing the electrostatic latent image on the unnecessary area on the photoreceptor. In this way, an image of the required area is obtained. Furthermore, digitizer (coordinate position detection device)
There is also a method of specifying the area using .If you use this method, you can place the document on the digitizer and press the desired image area from above the document, and that area will be automatically detected and the measurement of the necessary area described above will be performed. No work required.

Furthermore, by combining the multiple copying function, multicolor copying function, and area designation function described above, further multifunctionality can be achieved. In the case of multiple copying, each document had a different part of the image, and it was necessary to select the documents so that the duplicated images would not overlap, but with the addition of the area specification function, Image areas that cause overlap can be erased, eliminating the need to select documents. Therefore, by combining these three functions, it is possible to obtain a multi-layered, multi-color image from any document. of course,
As described above, it is easy to erase unnecessary area images from a document and obtain necessary area images.

Hereinafter, a conventional copying apparatus having the above-mentioned area designation function and equipped with an automatic document feeder will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, this copying apparatus has an automatic document feeder 2 on the top of the main body M of the apparatus, and also includes an area indicating device 3 configured separately from the main body M of the copying apparatus. In the area indicating device 3, a digitizer 6 is installed on the digitizer installation stand 5, and a stylus pen 7 is also provided, and the document P is placed on the digitizer 6 with the image surface facing upward. Further, the right end is placed in contact with a document abutment (not shown), and the back side is placed in contact with a document abutment (not shown). Next, a desired area on the image surface of the document P is pressed with the stylus pen 7, and the area is designated/inputted. Note that various input methods or detection methods have been proposed, but will not be described in detail. When the desired area is input, a desired mode such as displaying the image of the input desired area or color specification is selected using the function keys 9, and the digitizer 6 and the corresponding mode are selected. A signal input through the function key 9 is transmitted to the main body M of the copying machine via a signal line 10. Next, the original P placed on the digitizer 6 of the area specifying device 3 and having the desired area designated and inputted is placed on the original tray 11 of the automatic document feeder 2 disposed at the upper part of the main body M of the copying machine. The document is moved onto the document tray 11 with its image surface facing downward and with the right end that has come into contact with the document abutment on the digitizer 6 first, until it reaches a predetermined abutment position on the automatic document feeder 2. inserted. Then, the automatic document feeder 2 operates to feed the document P to the image forming section of the copying apparatus main body M, and the copying apparatus M performs a predetermined copying operation.

However, since the above-mentioned conventional copying apparatus M has a separate area indicating device 3, an extra installation space is required for the area indicating device 3. Furthermore, since the area indicating device 3 is configured as a separate body, the operator must perform many work steps. That is, there is a standard for abutting a document on the digitizer 6, and a standard for abutting a document on the automatic document feeder 2.
The right edge of the document that has come into contact with the document abutment reference of the automatic document feeder 2 must be accurately abutted with the abutment reference of the automatic document feeder 2, and the image surface of the document P must be changed from upward to downward so that it is placed on the document tray 11. This is troublesome for the operator. Moreover, especially when a mistake is made in specifying an area and the area is to be specified again, the work is doubled, which is extremely inconvenient.

Therefore, the present applicant has devised an automatic document feeder that integrates a digitizer.

An automatic document feeder devised by the applicant will be described below.

The automatic document feeder 20 devised by the present applicant is placed above a copying machine M having an area designation function, as shown in FIG. The automatic document feeder 20 has a full-surface belt 22 located approximately in the center facing the platen glass 21 of the copying machine M.
It also has an entrance tray 23 on one side on which a sheet document is placed. A feed roller shaft 25 is provided near the tray 23, and a feed roller 26 is fixed to the shaft 25 and rotates integrally with the feed roller shaft 25. Also,
A paper feed arm 27 is rotatably supported at one end of the feed roller shaft 25, and a pick-up roller 29 is rotatably supported at the other end of the paper feed arm 27. roller 2
9 swings up and down integrally with the paper feed arm 27 using the feed roller shaft 25 as a fulcrum. The rotation of the feed roller 26 is transmitted to the pick-up roller 29 via a gear (not shown), and the feed roller 26 and the pick-up roller 29 are configured so that their rotation direction and peripheral speed are the same. Further, a front paper feed roller 30 is rotatably provided facing the pick-up roller 29, and a rear paper feed roller 31 is rotatably provided facing the feed roller 26. In addition, the paper feed arm 2
A pick-up arm 33 having one end fixed to the pick-up arm shaft 32 is provided near 7, and a slide groove 33a is formed at the other end of the pick-up arm 33.
A pin 27a protruding from the paper feed arm 27 is fitted into the pin 3a, and when the pick-up arm shaft 32 rotates, the pick-up arm 33 swings, and as the pick-up arm 33 swings, the pick-up roller 29 swings up and down. the front paper feed roller 30
be pressed together or separated. When the pick-up roller 29 comes into pressure contact with the front paper feed roller 30, the sheet original held between these rollers 29 and 30 is fed. Also, near the pick-up roller 29, there is a document presence/absence sensor which is a reflective sensor.
_S1 is provided. On the other hand, a drive roller 35 and a turn roller 36 are disposed above both ends of the platen glass 21, respectively, and the entire surface belt 22 is wound around both rollers 35, 36. The full-surface belt 22 is an endless belt having a width large enough to cover the entire surface of the sheet document, and its surface is made of a rubber-based material with a sufficient coefficient of friction so that the document can be conveyed by frictional force. It is coated with. The turn roller 36 is movable left and right, and is biased to the left when the full-surface belt 22 is wrapped around it, so that the full-surface belt 22 has sufficient tension and is driven. It is configured to prevent slipping between the roller 35 and the roller 35. Furthermore, full-face belt 2
Presser rollers 37a, 37b, 37c...
are provided, and these presser rollers 37a, 37
b and 37c are arranged at a pitch slightly narrower than the size of the sheet document to be conveyed, respectively.
Furthermore, these pressing rollers 37a, 37b, and 37c press the full-surface belt 22 against the platen glass 21 with a weak pressure, thereby increasing the sheet document conveyance force of the full-surface belt 22. Further, a pair of lower discharge rollers 39 and a pair of upper discharge rollers 40 are arranged near the turn roller 36 around which the full-surface belt 22 is wound, and a discharge detection sensor S ₂ is arranged close to the pair of lower discharge rollers 39. If a sheet document is detected to be discharged and a sheet document is not detected after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the jam lamp is turned on. Further, a pair of curved discharge document guides 41 is provided between the pair of upper and lower discharge rollers 39 and 40.
The discharge sheet document is guided from the lower discharge roller pair 39 to the upper discharge roller pair 40. Further, a digitizer 42 is disposed above the entire surface belt 22, and the digitizer 42 uses a stylus pen or other means to indicate the area of the sheet document placed with the image side facing upward as described above. input. Also,
A document abutment reference 43 is fixedly provided near one end of the digitizer 42 facing the drive roller 35, so that when the sheet document is placed on the digitizer 42, the right end of the sheet document is placed in the document abutment position. Criterion 4
3, and the rear side of the sheet original abuts on an abutment (not shown) for positioning. Further, a pair of carry-in sheet guides 45 is provided from the document abutting reference 43 to the platen 21, and furthermore, the pair of carry-in sheet guides 45
A pair of carry-in rollers 46 is arranged in the middle of the
A document carrying path 47 is formed by the pair of carrying sheet guides 45 . A document carry-in section sensor _S3 is arranged facing upstream of the document carry-in path 47, and a leading edge detection sensor _S4 is further arranged facing the lower end of the pair of carried sheet guides 45.

Note that what is indicated by the reference numeral 49 below the platen glass 21 is an optical system of the copying apparatus M.

When simply copying using the sheet original Pa, first place the sheet original Pa with the image side facing down on the entrance tray 23, and then
Insert the paper between the pick-up roller 29 and the front paper feed roller 30. Then, the document presence sensor S ₁ detects the sheet document Pa, and after a certain period of time, the pick-up roller 29 descends, and the pick-up roller 29 and the front paper feed roller 30 pick up the sheet document Pa.
(When there is no sheet original, the pick-up roller 29 is lifted upward.)
At the same time, the drive roller 35 rotates, and the entire surface belt 22 rotates. Then, the pick-up roller 29 rotates and starts feeding the sheet document Pa. Then, the leading edge of the sheet document Pa is picked up by a feed roller 26 that rotates at the same time as a pick-up roller 29.
When the sheet document Pa passes between the paper feed roller 31 and the rear paper feed roller 31 and reaches the leading edge detection sensor S ₄ , the leading edge of the sheet document Pa is detected by the leading edge detection sensor S ₄ , and from this time a photo interrupter (not shown) detects the sheet document Pa. Start measuring the timing of Pa's transport. Next, the sheet document Pa enters between the entire surface belt 22 and the platen glass 21, and its leading edge reaches the first presser roller 37.
When it comes to below a, the conveying force of the full-surface belt 22 increases, and the sheet document Pa reaches the same speed as the circumferential speed of the full-surface belt 22, and becomes faster than the circumferential speed of the feed roller 26, so that the feed roller 26 moves the sheet document Pa. Take Pa around. Then, when the trailing edge of the sheet document Pa is detected by the leading edge detection sensor _S4 , the rotation of the feed roller 26 and the pick-up roller 29 is stopped, and the next sheet document is not fed. Then, at a predetermined timing determined by the photointerrupter, the full-surface belt 22 is stopped, and the sheet document Pa conveyed by the full-surface belt 22 is placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass 21. Ru. Immediately, the exposure operation of the copying apparatus M is started. Then, in response to a copy end signal from the copying device M, the full-surface belt 22 starts rotating and conveyance of the sheet original Pa is started, and the sheet original Pa is held between a pair of lower ejection rollers 39 and guided to a pair of ejection original guides 41. The paper is then held between the pair of upper discharge rollers 40 and discharged. Then, after discharging the sheet original Pa,
The full-surface belt 22 stops rotating. Note that when the next sheet document is detected by the document presence/absence sensor _S1 , feeding of the next sheet document is started after the discharge detection sensor _S2 detects the leading edge of the sheet document Pa.

Next, when specifying an area using the sheet original Pb, place the sheet original Pb on the digitizer 42 with the image side facing up, and place the right end of the sheet against the original abutment 43.
The sheet document Pb is placed with the rear side thereof in contact with an abutment (not shown). Then, a desired area on the document screen is designated and inputted using a means such as a stylus pen. After the input is completed, a function key (not shown) is used to set a mode such as whether to display the image of the specified area or not. Next, the sheet document Pb is released from the document abutment 43 with its leading edge in contact with the document abutment 43, is inserted into the document carrying path 47 with its leading edge leading, and is pushed into the nip portion of the carrying roller pair 46. Can be guessed. At this time, the document input section sensor _S3 detects the document Pb,
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the sensor _S3 sensed the driving roller 35, the driving roller 35 rotates, and the entire belt 22 rotates. Thereafter, the pair of carry-in rollers 46 rotates, and the sheet document
Pb is guided by a pair of carry-in sheet guides 45 and conveyed toward the platen glass 21. When the leading edge of the sheet original Pb is detected by the leading edge detection sensor _S4 , the photo interrupter activates the sheet original Pb.
Start measuring the timing of Pb transport. and,
The sheet original Pb enters between the full surface belt 22 and the platen glass 21, is conveyed by the full surface belt 22, and is stopped and placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass 21 at a predetermined timing. Note that the trailing edge of the sheet original Pb is detected by the leading edge detection sensor _S4.
When detected, the carry-in roller pair 46 stops rotating. Then, the exposure operation of the copying machine M is started. Then, in response to a copy end signal from the copying device M, the full-surface belt 22 starts rotating, and the sheet original Pb is ejected as described above.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Incidentally, the automatic document feeder 20 devised by the applicant mentioned above does not require extra installation space for an area specifying device, and also allows the image surface of the document to be This is effective in that it is not necessary to change the orientation from upward to downward, but if the document Pb after the area designation operation is released from the document abutment reference 43 by the operator and reaches the nip of the pair of carry-in rollers 46. must be sent. The work of releasing the document Pb from the document abutment reference 43 and feeding it into the nip portion of the pair of carry-in rollers 46 is complicated, and the abutment side of the document may be bent, or the document may be conveyed incorrectly or the document may be There is a risk of skewing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document feeder that eliminates the above-mentioned problems by eliminating the need for manual operations such as canceling the document abutting reference and feeding the document.

(d) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and includes a document feed belt 22 for conveying a sheet document onto the platen glass 21 of the image forming apparatus M, and a document feed belt 22 for conveying a sheet document onto the platen glass 21 of the image forming apparatus M. 22, and has a coordinate position detection device 42 that can indicate the document image area of a sheet document directly placed thereon; A document abutting position that is used as a placement reference for placing the sheet document by abutting the leading edge of the sheet document in the feeding direction when placing the document; a document placement reference member 61 that is released and displaced to an abutting release position that serves as a guide when feeding a sheet document;
a document feeding means 65 capable of switching between a feeding state and a non-feeding state in which a sheet document placed on the coordinate position detection device 42 is fed from the placement position; The document feeding means 65
switching control means 7 for switching the original document placement reference member 61 to the release position;
1, other document feeding means 25 to 31 having a conveyance path for feeding the document to the document feeding belt 22 without passing through the coordinate position detection device 42, and feeding by the document feeding means 65. A guiding guide 45 is provided to guide the original document to the junction with the conveyance path.

(E) Effect Based on the above-described configuration, when specifying the image area of a sheet document, the document placement reference member 61 is held at the document abutting position, and the document feeding means 65 is held in a non-feeding state. In this state, the sheet document is placed on the coordinate position detection device 42 and positioned by abutting its leading edge against the document placement reference member 61, and a predetermined area is indicated to the coordinate position detection device 42.

Next, based on the switching control means 71, the document placement reference member 61 is switched to the release position serving as a guide, and the document feeding means 65 is switched to the feeding state. As a result, the sheet original placed on the coordinate position detection device 42 is fed as is, and passes through the guide guide 45 to the original feeding belt 2.
2 and conveyed onto the platen glass 21.

On the other hand, sheet originals that do not require image area instructions
Pa is directly sent to the document feed belt 22 via the conveyance path by other document feed means 25 to 31, and is conveyed onto the platen glass 21.

Note that the symbols in the brackets above are for comparison with the drawings. This is not intended to limit the configuration of the present invention in any way.

(f) Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Incidentally, the same parts as those of the automatic document feeder 20 devised by the applicant described above are given the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic document feeder 60 of this embodiment is disposed on the top of a copying machine M having an area designation function, similar to the automatic document feeder 20 devised by the applicant mentioned above. It is equipped with a full-surface belt 22, and further includes a full-surface belt 22.
A document mounting table 44 having a digitizer 42 above is provided. A cover 64 is provided above the digitizer 42 so as to be openable and closable, and a discharged sheet original is placed on the upper surface of the cover 61 which is closed toward the digitizer 42 .

On the other hand, facing one side end of the digitizer 42 above the drive roller 35, a document abutment reference 61 is rotatably supported by a document abutment reference support shaft 62. One side end 6 of the document abutment reference 61
A feeding roller support shaft 63 is rotatably supported on 1a, and a feeding roller 65 is fixed to the feeding roller supporting shaft 63.
5 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the pair of carry-in rollers 46. Also, the other end 6 of the document abutting reference 61
A plunger 67 is connected to 1b via a lever 66, and a spring 69 is further tensioned.
When the sheet document Pb is placed on the digitizer 42, the document abutting reference 61 is erected by the tension of the spring 69. Then, the sheet document Pb is positioned by bringing its leading edge in the feeding direction into contact with the other end 61b of the document abutting reference 61 when being fed.
Furthermore, the document abutting reference 61 is
7 is energized and activated, it is tilted toward the digitizer 42 against the tension of the spring 69, and the other side end 61b is pushed toward the digitizer 42, as shown in FIG.
2 is displaced from the position where it contacts the sheet original Pb placed on the sheet original Pb to the position where it releases the contact with the sheet original Pb. At this time, the other end 61b of the original abutment reference 61 serves as a guide for guiding the sheet original Pb to the original carrying path 47, and even the sheet original Pb with a large curl can be reliably guided to the original carrying path 47. . At the same time, the feeding roller 65 provided at one side end 61a of the document abutting reference 61 descends onto the sheet document Pb placed on the digitizer 42, and the sheet document Pb is moved between the sheet document Pb and the digitizer 42. Sandwich Pb. The automatic document feeder 60
The control unit 70 includes a switching means 71 for controlling the document abutment reference 61 to be switched between a position where it comes into contact with the sheet document Pb and a position where it releases the contact.
is provided, and the switching means 71 energizes the plunger 67 based on a signal 72 which is a signal 72 that serves as an end signal for specifying an image area of a sheet original, such as a mode setting signal after specifying an area of an original image or a copy start signal. and set the document butting reference 61 to the sheet document Pb.
Switch to the position where the contact is released, and after a predetermined period of time has passed after receiving the above mode setting signal and copy start signal, or when the sheet document of the leading edge detection sensor S ₄ is detected.
By detecting the rear end of Pb, the plunger 67 is electrically interrupted and the document abutment reference 61 is switched to a position where it abuts the sheet document Pb. At this time, the feeding roller 65 disposed at one side end 61a of the document abutting reference 61 hits the upper surface of the sheet document Pb placed on the digitizer 42 according to the displacement of the document abutting reference 61. The sheet is moved to a position where it is in contact with the document, or a position where it is separated from the sheet document. Then, the feeding roller 65
is in the position where it touches the sheet original Pb,
The sheet document Pb is rotated in the direction of the arrow in conjunction with the rotation of the pair of carry-in rollers 46 to transport the sheet document Pb to the document carry-in path 47.
to be sent to.

The operation of the automatic document feeder 60 of this embodiment will be described below.

Note that the sheet original placed on the entrance tray 23
When simply copying Pa, the operation is the same as that of the automatic document feeder 20 devised by the applicant mentioned above, so the explanation will be omitted.

When specifying an area using sheet document Pb,
First, open the cover 64, place the sheet document Pb at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the digitizer 42 with the image surface facing upward, and place the leading end in the feeding direction in contact with the other end 61b of the upright document abutting reference 61, and then is placed in contact with an abutment (not shown). Then, a desired area on the document surface is designated/inputted by means such as a stylus pen. After inputting, cover 64
is closed, and mode settings are made, such as displaying an image of the area designated by a function key (not shown). Therefore, the signal for the mode setting,
Alternatively, when a signal 72 serving as an end signal for specifying the image area of a sheet original, such as another copy start signal, is output, the switching means 71 of the control unit 70 energizes the plunger 67 based on the signal, and the original abutting reference 61 switch to the sheet document contact release position. Then, the other end 61b of the document abutment reference 61 is retracted upward, and the sheet document is
It serves as a guide when feeding Pb. On the other hand, according to the displacement of the guide abutting reference 61, the feeding roller 6
5 is displaced to the sheet original abutting position and abuts against the sheet original Pb placed on the digitizer 42.
Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting signal or the copy start signal, the drive roller 35 rotates, and the entire surface belt 22 further rotates. after that,
The feed roller 65 and the carry-in roller pair 46 rotate,
The sheet document Pb is moved to the other end 61b of the document abutting reference 61 by the feeding roller 65 and the pair of carry-in rollers 46.
The document is guided by the pair of carry-in sheet guides 45 and automatically fed along the document carry-in path 47 toward the platen glass 21. The subsequent operation is the same as that of the automatic document feeder devised by the applicant mentioned above, so the explanation will be omitted. Note that the sheet original Pb is discharged onto the upper surface of the closed cover 64.

In this embodiment, a so-called DF, which feeds sheet originals one by one, is used as the automatic document feeder.
Although the explanation has been given as an example of a type that has a digitizer attached to a document feeder, it is also possible to attach a digitizer to a so-called ADF (auto document feeder) that sets a large number of originals and feeds them one by one. .

(g) Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the document placement table having the coordinate position detection device is disposed above the outside of the document feed belt in the automatic document feeder having the document feed belt. The document image area of a sheet document can be indicated at a position above the glass with extremely good workability, and a special space for a coordinate position detection device is not required, making it possible to have both workability and compactness.

Furthermore, when placing a sheet original on the coordinate position detection device, the leading edge of the sheet original in the feeding direction is brought into contact with the original placement reference member and used as a placement reference, so it is extremely easy to place the sheet original at the reference position. The document image area can be specified accurately and reliably.

In addition, since it is equipped with another document feeding means that feeds the document to the document feed belt without passing through the coordinate position detection device, when automatically feeding a normal sheet document that does not specify the document image area, the coordinate position detection device Sheet originals can be automatically fed without being affected in any way.

Then, based on the switching of the switching control means, the original document placement reference member serves as a guide when feeding the sheet original, and the original feeding means moves the sheet original placed on the coordinate position detection device at that position. Since the document can be switched to feed the sheet document, it is possible to feed the document with the image area specified very easily and reliably without having to perform complicated manual operations such as resetting the document. The image area can remain in the specified state, and it is possible to reliably prevent the image area from shifting due to manual intervention such as resetting. Coupled with the ability to eliminate transport errors such as lines, it is possible to accurately and reliably feed the image area designated document.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are side views of an automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 shows the feeding roller at a position away from the sheet document, and FIG. 2 shows the feeding roller at the feeding position. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder and has an area designation function, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an automatic document feeder devised by the applicant. FIG. 3 is a side view of the device. Pb…Sheet original placed on the coordinate position detection device,
21... Image forming area (platen glass), 42...
Coordinate position detection device (digitizer), 44... document placement table, 60... document automatic feeder, 61... document placement reference member (document abutting reference), 65... document feeding means (feeding roller), 71... switching Control means (switching means), 72... Signal of end of image area instruction (mode setting signal, copy start signal).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A document feed belt that conveys a sheet document onto a platen glass of an image forming apparatus, and a document image area of the sheet document placed directly above and outside of the document feed belt. an original document mounting table having a coordinate position detecting device that can indicate the coordinate position detecting device; A document placement device that is displaced between a document abutment position that serves as a reference and an abutment release position that releases the abutment of the sheet document when feeding the sheet document and serves as a guide when feeding the sheet document. a reference member; a document feeding means capable of switching between a feeding state and a non-feeding state in which a sheet original placed on the coordinate position detection device is fed from the placement position; switching control means for switching the document feeding means to a feeding state and switching the document placement reference member to a release position based on a signal indicating the end of image area designation of the placed sheet document; and a switching control means for switching the document placement reference member to a release position; another document feeding means having a conveyance path that feeds the document to the document feeding belt without passing through the document feeding belt; and a guide guide that guides the document fed by the document feeding means to a junction with the conveyance path. An automatic document feeder comprising: and. 2. The document feeding means is a feeding rotary body that can be switched between a feeding state and a non-feeding state by vertically swinging.
An automatic document feeder according to claim 1.